IMPORTANT DAYS

International Epilepsy Day 2026

• International Epilepsy Day is a global awareness initiative jointly organised by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).

• The observance takes place every year on the second Monday of February across more than 120 countries.

• The day aims to raise awareness about epilepsy, reduce stigma related to seizures, and promote better understanding of the disorder.

• It encourages public education, community events, and discussions to improve access to diagnosis and treatment.

• Established in 2015, the observance has grown into the largest global event focused on epilepsy awareness.

• The theme for International Epilepsy Day 2026 highlights the #EpilepsyPledge campaign.

• The campaign motivates individuals, institutions, and organisations to take practical steps supporting people living with epilepsy.

• The initiative focuses on awareness, safety, inclusion, and community support, with pledges encouraged to be fulfilled by the end of 2026.

APPOINTMENT

Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Electoral Victory in Japan

• Japan witnessed a historic political milestone as Sanae Takaichi secured a major election victory, reinforcing her leadership as the country’s first female Prime Minister.

• Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 316 out of 465 seats in the lower house, achieving its strongest electoral performance.

• The coalition with Ishin Party resulted in a two-thirds supermajority, enabling smoother passage of legislation.

• The snap winter election was strategically announced to benefit from high public support for the government.

• The victory has strengthened the government’s ability to implement tax reduction measures.

• The administration is also expected to focus on enhanced defence expenditure as part of policy priorities.

• Financial markets reacted cautiously due to concerns regarding the funding of proposed sales tax relief measures.

• Young voters significantly contributed to the success, influenced by Takaichi’s strong and direct leadership approach.

STATE NEWS

Bastar Pandum Festival 2026

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Bastar Pandum Festival at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.

• The event was attended by Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

• The three-day festival celebrates the tribal heritage and cultural traditions of the Bastar region.

• Around 700 artists from 84 teams are participating in competitions across twelve cultural disciplines.

• The festival features tribal dance performances, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, and indigenous musical instruments.

• Divisional-level cultural competitions are scheduled to continue until February 9.

• The event is being organised at Lalbagh Ground by the Department of Culture, Government of Chhattisgarh.

• Bastar is home to major tribes such as Gond, Maria (Abujhmaria and Dandami Maria), Muria, Bhatra, Halba, and Dhurwa.

AWARDS

Bhutan’s Queen Mother Honoured with Upendra Nath Brahma Award

• Gyalyum Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan, received the Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award.

• The honour was conferred during the 22nd edition of the award (2025).

• The award ceremony was held at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, Assam.

• The recognition was given by the Upendra Nath Brahma Trust for her lifelong humanitarian and social service efforts.

• She founded and leads the Tarayana Foundation, which works for development in remote rural areas of Bhutan.

• The foundation focuses on poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, education, and healthcare services.

• The award included a citation, a statuette of Upendra Nath Brahma, and traditional Bodo cultural items such as the sereja instrument and aronai scarf.

• The honour also carried a cash prize of ₹2 lakh, while Upendra Nath Brahma is widely respected as ‘Bodofa’ by the Bodo community.

SPORTS

Jharkhand Women’s Team Wins Gold at Para Throwball Federation Cup 2026

• Jharkhand’s women’s para throwball team secured the gold medal at the 2026 National Federation Cup.

• The team defeated host state Rajasthan in the final with a score of 21–17.

• The championship final was played at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

• The Para Throwball National Federation Cup was organised from February 3 to February 5, 2026.

• Jharkhand’s women’s team displayed consistent performance and strong composure throughout the tournament.

• In the men’s category, Andhra Pradesh won the gold medal.

• Telangana secured the runner-up position, while Haryana claimed the bronze medal.

• Jharkhand’s men’s team finished fourth in the overall standings.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Emerges as a Nationwide Movement

• The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme has evolved from a government policy into a national social movement promoting the welfare of the girl child.

• The transformation has been driven by coordinated efforts of government bodies, civil society, media, and public participation.

• The scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 to tackle the declining child sex ratio and gender discrimination.

• According to the government, the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) improved from 918 in 2014–15 to 929 in 2024–25.

• The Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls in secondary education increased from 75.51% to 80.2% during the same period.

• Districts receive funding support based on SRB data under the Health Management Information System (HMIS).

• The scheme focuses on empowering girls and women throughout their life cycle.

• It promotes a cultural shift towards valuing the girl child through improved education, health awareness, and community engagement.

NSO Launches MCP Server to Make Government Data AI-Ready

• The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation launched the beta version of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.

• The MCP server has been integrated with the eSankhyiki portal, India’s national statistics platform.

• The initiative enables direct access to official government datasets through AI-based tools.

• The beta release includes seven major datasets such as PLFS, CPI, ASI, IIP, National Account Statistics, WPI, and Environmental Statistics.

• Users can analyse and query datasets without downloading large files, saving time and computational resources.

• The platform supports automated report generation and integration with private analytical software.

• The initiative promotes data-driven policymaking and greater citizen participation in governance.

• The launch aligns with the Viksit Bharat vision and demonstrates India’s commitment to strengthening the data ecosystem ahead of the AI Impact Summit (15–20 February 2026).