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Current Affairs 03rd February 2026
IMPORTANT FACTS
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Article 112 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Annual Financial Statement (Budget).
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Dandiya is a popular folk dance of Gujarat.
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The Butterfly Stroke is associated with the sport of swimming.
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The liver produces bile in the human body.
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Lake Baikal is the world’s largest freshwater lake in terms of volume.
1. Sunetra Pawar sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy CM
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A Historic First: Sunetra Pawar has become the first woman to hold the post of Deputy Chief Minister in Maharashtra's history. She was sworn in by Governor Acharya Devvrat at Raj Bhavan in a ceremony attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis.
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Key Portfolio Allocation: Transitioning from her role as a Rajya Sabha MP, she has been assigned high-visibility portfolios including State Excise, Sports and Youth Welfare, and Minority Development. The crucial Finance portfolio, previously held by her husband, has been temporarily taken over by CM Fadnavis.
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Ensuring Political Continuity: Her elevation was a strategic move by the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) to maintain stability within the Mahayuti alliance and the Pawar family legacy. She was unanimously elected as the NCP Legislature Party leader just three days after Ajit Pawar's funeral.
Footnotes: Maharashtra's Governor: Acharya Devvrat, Capital: Mumbai
2. Govt issues New Customs Baggage Regulations, 2026
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Significant Hike in Duty-Free Limits: The general duty-free allowance for Indian residents and tourists of Indian origin arriving by air or sea has been increased from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. For foreign tourists, the limit has been raised from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. These limits apply to items carried in accompanied baggage for personal use.
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Rationalized Jewellery & Laptop Allowances: For the first time, jewellery allowances are now based solely on weight rather than value to account for fluctuating gold prices. Returning residents (abroad for >1 year) can bring 40g (females) and 20g (others) duty-free. Additionally, the rules now explicitly permit one new laptop duty-free for any passenger aged 18 or older.
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Reduced Duty on Excess Goods: In a major relief for shoppers, the Union Budget 2026 slashed the customs duty on "personal imports" (goods exceeding the free limit) from 20% to 10%. This effectively halves the tax burden for travelers bringing home high-end electronics or luxury goods beyond their ₹75,000 quota.
3. Adampur Airport Renamed Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport
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Cultural Significance: The renaming honors Sri Guru Ravidas Ji, a revered social reformer whose teachings on equality and human rights have a profound influence in the Doaba region, where the airport is located.
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Infrastructure Expansion: The renaming coincided with the full operationalization of the airport's new terminal building, which was built at a cost of approximately 150 crore. This expansion allows the airport to handle up to 300 passengers during peak hours.
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Boost to Religious Tourism: This move is expected to significantly increase domestic and international footfall as the airport serves as a primary gateway for pilgrims visiting the Dera Sachkhand Ballan, a major spiritual center for the Ravidassia community located nearby.
4. Sarvesh Ranjan appointed as GM at UBI
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Succession and Seniority: Sarvesh Ranjan was promoted from his previous role as General Manager to fill the vacancy created by the superannuation of Shri Bhaskara Rao Kare, who retired on January 31, 2026. This elevation ensures leadership continuity in one of India's largest public sector banks.
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Specialized Expertise: Ranjan brings nearly three decades of banking experience, specifically excelling in high-stakes areas such as Central Reconciliation, Transaction Monitoring, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). His background is considered critical as the bank navigates increasing regulatory scrutiny and the rise of digital transaction monitoring.
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Strategic Qualifications: Beyond his 30-year tenure, Ranjan is an Engineering Graduate with advanced leadership training from the University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland) and ISB Hyderabad. He also holds a specialized certification in IT and Cyber Security from IDRBT, positioning him to lead the bank's focus on secure and compliant digital banking.
Footnotes: UBI's MD & CEO: Ashish Pandey, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1919
5. Elena Rybakina Clinches First Australian Open Crown
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Strategic Redemption: Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena. The win was a significant moment of redemption, reversing the result of the 2023 Australian Open final where Sabalenka had beaten her in three sets.
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The "0-3" Comeback: The match hinged on a dramatic third set where Rybakina trailed 0-3. Demonstrating immense mental resilience, she reeled off five consecutive games to seize control, eventually sealing the championship with a signature ace on her first match point.
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Historic Milestone & Ranking: Rybakina became the first Kazakhstani player to win the Australian Open singles title. With this victory and her recent WTA Finals trophy, she has reclaimed her career-high ranking of World No. 3, firmly cementing her position at the top of the women's game.
6. Devika Sihag Wins Maiden BWF Super 300 Title
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Elite Company: With this victory, Devika became only the third Indian woman to win a BWF Super 300 singles title, joining the legendary ranks of Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.
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Dominant Path to the Final: Ranked world No. 63 at the start of the tournament, the unseeded Haryana-born player pulled off several "giant-killing" upsets, including a straight-games victory over the top-seeded local favorite, Supanida Katethong, in the quarterfinals.
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The Final Match: Devika clinched the title after her opponent, Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei (a former two-time junior world champion), was forced to retire due to a hamstring injury. Devika was firmly in command of the match, leading 21-8, 6-3 at the time of the withdrawal.
7. Indian Scientist Ramanathan Wins Crafoord Prize 2026
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Pioneering "Super-Pollutant" Research: Ramanathan was honored for his 1975 discovery that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are thousands of times more potent as greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. This landmark finding proved that $CO_2$ is not the only driver of global warming and laid the scientific foundation for the Montreal Protocol.
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Discovery of Atmospheric Brown Clouds: His research identified "atmospheric brown clouds"—vast layers of soot and pollution over South Asia and the Indian Ocean. He demonstrated how these particles not only warm the atmosphere but also dim sunlight at the surface, disrupting the Indian Monsoon and accelerating the melting of Himalayan glaciers.
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Global Policy Influence: Beyond his 18 career Grammys—wait, wrong Ramanathan!—beyond his decades of research, he has served as a key advisor to global leaders and the Vatican, bridging the gap between climate science and ethics to protect the world's most vulnerable populations.
8. Maybelline New York Names Kiara Advani as India Brand Ambassador
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A "New Era" of Branding: Kiara Advani has been brought on board to represent a "new chapter" for Maybelline in India. The campaign moves away from traditional "transformative" beauty, instead focusing on self-expression and individuality, aligning the brand with Kiara’s authentic and confident public persona.
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Flagship Product Launch: The partnership was marked by the debut of the Maybelline Serum Lipstick in India. Kiara is the face of the collection, specifically highlighting the bold matte shade 'Wildcard'. The product is marketed as a hybrid of high-performance color and skincare, infused with Hyaluronic Acid.
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Focus on Inclusivity: As part of this new era, the brand emphasized that the product line includes 13 shades specifically formulated to complement the diverse range of Indian skin tones, further cementing Maybelline's goal to be the most inclusive and accessible makeup brand in the country.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
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1966 – Indira Gandhi became the 1st woman Prime Minister of India.
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1994 – The INTACH gained national prominence for heritage conservation efforts.
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