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Current Affairs 01st February 2026
1. Novak Djokovic broke a 53-year-old Australian Open record
- Oldest Finalist in Open Era: By defeating Jannik Sinner in the 2026 semifinals, Djokovic became the oldest man in the Open Era to reach an Australian Open final.
- Broke a 54-Year-Old Record: He surpassed the mark previously held by Australian legend Ken Rosewall, who was 37 years and 2 months old when he reached (and won) the 1972 final.
- Remarkable Longevity: The victory also marked the longest time span between a player’s first and latest Grand Slam final appearance—over 18 years since his first major final at the 2007 US Open.
2. Patna Bird Sanctuary in UP designated as Ramsar wetlands
- Smallest Sanctuary, Huge Impact: Spanning only about 1.09 square kilometers, Patna Bird Sanctuary is the smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. Despite its size, it is a biodiversity hotspot that hosts over 180 species of birds and more than 250 plant species.
- Critical Habitat on the Central Asian Flyway: The site serves as a vital wintering ground for over 60,000 migratory birds annually. It is particularly known for supporting significant populations of the Northern Pintail, Rosy Pelican, and the endangered Sarus Crane.
- Boosting India's Conservation Tally: With this addition (alongside Gujarat's Chhari-Dhand), India’s total number of Ramsar sites has reached 98. This designation also makes it the 11th Ramsar site in Uttar Pradesh, the second-highest count for any Indian state.
3. Maharashtra won Best Tableau category
- Winning Theme: The tableau was titled "Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta" (Self-Reliance). It creatively portrayed the Ganesh festival not just as a religious event, but as a historical tool for community participation and economic self-reliance.
- Cultural Highlights: The display featured a vibrant blend of tradition and performance, including a high-impact Dhol-Tasha performance by Nagpur's Gajavakra troupe—the first time this traditional drumming style was featured on Kartavya Path—and a lively Lezim dance by women performers.
- Judges' Choice: Maharashtra secured the first prize in the States/Union Territories category (Judges' Choice), followed by Jammu & Kashmir (Handicrafts and Folk Dances) in second place and Kerala (Water Metro) in third.
4. India digitises Vintage Pechora Missile System
- Indigenous Digital Overhaul: Led by the Bengaluru-based firm Alpha Design Technologies, the upgrade replaced outdated analogue valve-and-transistor electronics with modern digital chips and a new radar transmitter. This has significantly improved target acquisition speed, tracking accuracy, and resistance to electronic jamming.
- Cost-Effective Life Extension: Instead of decommissioning the 50-year-old system, this ₹591.3 crore project extends its operational life toward 2030. It provides a high-readiness, "point-defense" shield for critical installations like airbases at a fraction of the cost of procuring entirely new missile systems.
- Integration into "Mission Sudarshan Chakra": The digitized Pechora is now integrated with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). This allows it to function as a networked component of India's multi-layered air defense grid, capable of neutralizing modern threats such as low-flying drones and cruise missiles.
5. PFRDA launched NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme
- Integrated Medical Corpus: The scheme allows subscribers to build a dedicated fund specifically for medical expenses. Unlike traditional NPS, these funds can be used for both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) costs. Existing non-government subscribers over the age of 40 can transfer up to 30% of their current NPS contributions into this new account.
- Flexible Withdrawal Rules: To ensure liquidity for health emergencies, PFRDA has relaxed standard withdrawal norms. Subscribers can make partial withdrawals of up to 25% of their own contributions once their corpus reaches ₹50,000. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals or a mandatory waiting period.
- Critical Illness Safeguard: In cases of severe medical emergencies where a single hospital bill exceeds 70% of the total corpus, the scheme allows for a 100% lump-sum premature exit. These payments are made directly to hospitals or Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) to ensure the funds are used exclusively for treatment.
6. Saurabh Joshi elected as Mayor of Chandigarh
- Clean Sweep for BJP: Saurabh Joshi secured 18 votes to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate, Yogesh Dhingra (11 votes), and the Congress candidate, Gurpreet Singh Gabi (7 votes). The BJP also won the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor (Jasmanpreet Singh) and Deputy Mayor (Suman Sharma), consolidating full control over the municipal leadership.
- Historic "Show of Hands" Voting: For the first time since 1996, the election was conducted by a show of hands rather than a secret ballot. This procedural change was aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing the "cross-voting" controversies that have plagued Chandigarh’s mayoral polls in recent years.
- Legacy and Experience: A second-generation politician and an advocate by profession, Joshi is a former student leader from Panjab University and has been a councillor since 2011. His one-year term represents the final year of the current five-year municipal corporation cycle (2022–2026).
7. Nitika Pawar appointed as GM of FCI
- Breaking a Six-Decade Tradition: Her appointment is significant as it breaks a long-standing administrative practice where the GM of FCI Punjab was almost exclusively an IAS officer from the Punjab cadre. Nitika Pawar is a 2012-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, leading to formal objections from the Punjab state government.
- Strategic Role in Food Security: Based in Chandigarh, she will oversee procurement, storage, and distribution in Punjab—one of India's most critical agricultural zones. The role is vital for coordinating the National Food Security Act operations between the Centre and the state.
- Lateral Shift and Tenure: Pawar was appointed on a lateral shift basis from her previous posting as Deputy Financial Advisor for the Border Security Force (BSF). Her tenure in this new role is set for three years, or until further orders.
8. Indian Navy won Best Marching Contingent Award
- Elite Composition & Leadership: The contingent consisted of 144 young sailors and was led by Lieutenant Karan Nagyal. He was supported by Platoon Commanders Lieutenant Pawan Kumar Gandi and Lieutenant Priti, showcasing the Navy's commitment to gender-neutral leadership.
- Symbolism of Strength: The Navy's performance was praised by the panel of judges for its flawless synchronization and discipline. It was officially described as a representation of a "modern, progressive, and powerful maritime force" capable of protecting India's vast maritime interests.
- Judges' Choice vs. Popular Choice: While the Indian Navy secured the top spot in the Judges' Choice category (Armed Forces), the Assam Regiment won the "Popular Choice" award through public voting on the MyGov portal.
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