Current Affairs - February 9, 2026 Current Affairs

Jharkhand emerged as the gold medal winner in the women’s category of the National Federation Cup 2026 Para Throwball tournament. The team secured victory by defeating the host state Rajasthan with a score of 21–17 in the final held at Jhunjhunu. This achievement highlights Jharkhand’s growing presence and performance in para sports at the national level. The tournament, conducted from February 3 to 5, also acted as a selection trial for the upcoming 2nd Asian Para Throwball Championship in Malaysia, making the win particularly significant for future international representation.

Sanae Takaichi led the Liberal Democratic Party to a historic landslide victory in Japan’s 2026 general election, securing a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house of parliament. This decisive mandate came just months after she assumed office as Japan’s first female prime minister. The scale of the win strengthened her authority to pursue major reforms in the economy, defence, and national security. The outcome also reflected weak and fragmented opposition, high public support, and confidence in her leadership, marking a significant shift in Japan’s political landscape with global strategic implications.

South Africa rolled out its first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine in 20 years as part of a strategic effort to enhance self-sufficiency in animal healthcare. Developed by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the initiative aims to scale vaccine production to 20,000 doses per week. This move supports efforts to regain FMD-free status, which is critical for protecting cloven-hoofed livestock and maintaining access to global export markets. Beyond disease control, the science-driven approach helps stabilize rural economies by safeguarding livelihoods dependent on livestock farming.

February 9 is observed as International Epilepsy Day 2026 to raise global awareness about epilepsy, a neurological condition affecting over 50 million people worldwide. Led by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the day focuses on breaking myths and social stigma while promoting inclusion, empathy, and access to healthcare. The observance highlights education, community participation, and policy advocacy, aligning with global health goals. In 2026, special emphasis is placed on turning awareness into action through initiatives like the Epilepsy Pledge, encouraging meaningful and measurable societal change.

ICMR is the organisation spearheading the development of an improved Kyasanur Forest Disease vaccine in India. As the country’s apex body for biomedical research, it has taken responsibility for advancing an indigenous solution to protect vulnerable populations in the Western Ghats region. The vaccine has successfully completed animal studies and toxicity testing and has now entered Phase I human clinical trials after regulatory approval. Through collaboration with scientific and manufacturing partners, ICMR’s effort highlights India’s growing capability in vaccine research, regional disease control, and strengthening public health security.

Bengaluru is the city where Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated Zetwerk’s mega electronics plant. The facility is designed to support manufacturing for defence, automotive, and IT hardware sectors, strengthening India’s electronics ecosystem. This inauguration aligns with the government’s expanded manufacturing incentive scheme, which has been increased to ₹40,000 crore with an ambitious target of achieving $500 billion in electronics production by 2031 under the Silicon 2.0 initiative. The development also complements India’s long-term vision of building advanced semiconductor capabilities and supporting the journey toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Rohit Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Chair of the Global Value Chains Committee of the US–India Strategic Partnership Forum, marking an important step in strengthening India–US economic cooperation. A former Consumer Affairs Secretary and a senior IAS officer, he brings extensive experience in economic governance, regulatory reform, and technology-driven public administration. In his new role, he is expected to promote resilient and diversified global supply chains, enhance regulatory alignment, and support public-private partnerships. His appointment reflects growing trust in Indian policy expertise at a time of global trade realignment and supply chain restructuring.

France is the country with which India is finalizing a €300M deal for SCALP missiles. The agreement comes after the successful and precise deployment of these missiles during Operation Sindoor in 2025, reinforcing confidence in their effectiveness. This deal reflects the strong and long-standing defence partnership between India and France, which extends beyond arms procurement to include joint exercises, technology transfer, and strategic cooperation. The collaboration aligns with India’s broader goals of modernising its armed forces while strengthening ties with reliable international partners in defence, technology, and manufacturing sectors.

The Netherlands partnered with India to launch a Hydrogen Fellowship and an academic collaboration between IITs and the University of Groningen. These initiatives are aimed at advancing research and innovation in green hydrogen technologies, with a strong emphasis on capacity building and integrated energy systems. The partnership supports India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission by facilitating knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and technological development. It also aligns with India’s long-term climate commitments, particularly the goal of achieving Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2070, while strengthening bilateral cooperation in clean and sustainable energy solutions.

Madhya Pradesh is the state from which India launched its nationwide pulses revolution, marking a major shift in agricultural policy. The launch took place at Amlaha in the Sehore district under the leadership of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The initiative aims to end India’s dependence on imported pulses and transform the country into a global exporter. With a strong focus on farmer participation, seed-to-market integration, cluster-based farming, and local processing through pulse mills, the mission positions Madhya Pradesh as a central hub in strengthening food security, nutrition, rural employment, and farmer incomes.