Daily Current Affairs – 04-02-2026

Sports News

World Tennis Rankings Update after Australian Open

Following the conclusion of the Australian Open 2026 held at Melbourne, changes were recorded in the global tennis rankings, which are relevant for competitive examinations like TNPSC Group 1, Group 2, Group 4 and VAO. In the Men’s Singles category, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain continues as World No.1, while Italy’s Jannik Sinner retained the 2nd position despite losing in the semi-finals. Serbian player Novak Djokovic, who reached the final, moved up one place to secure the 3rd rank, resulting in Germany’s Alexander Zverev slipping to the 4th position. In the Women’s Singles category, Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka continued as World despite finishing runner-up, while Poland’s Iga Świątek remained at the 2nd rank. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who won the Australian Open for the first time, advanced two positions to World No.3, causing USA’s Coco Gauff to drop to the 5th position.

National News

Adani Group–Leonardo MoU for Helicopter Manufacturing in India

Adani Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italy’s defence company Leonardo to establish a facility for complete helicopter manufacturing in India, which is relevant for TNPSC Group 1, Group 2, Group 4 and VAO examinations. Under this agreement, Leonardo’s advanced AW169 and AW109 helicopters will be manufactured in India to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, and the collaboration will also cover maintenance, refurbishment, spare parts manufacturing, and pilot training. At present, India has fewer than 250 helicopters in operation, but the demand is projected at about 100 helicopters per year over the next 10 years, with the Indian Armed Forces alone requiring more than 1,000 helicopters during this period. Earlier, the Adani Group had signed an agreement with Brazil’s Embraer to establish a domestic aircraft manufacturing facility, and this latest MoU marks its expansion into helicopter manufacturing.

IIT Bombay’s New Silk Technology Funded by Coal India

IIT Bombay developed a new technology to produce silk without harming silkworms. This innovation was created by the Rural Technology Centre of IIT Bombay under the project named “Jeevedawa”. In this method, silkworms that feed on mulberry leaves are adapted to release silk fibres on a flat surface instead of spinning traditional cocoons, allowing them to complete their life cycle. This research received full funding from Coal India and was conducted over a period of three years. The technology is now ready for implementation and is expected to contribute to the increase in income of silk farmers and improvement in rural livelihoods

A.R. Rahman Appointed Brand Ambassador for DAC Developers

Renowned music composer A. R. Rahman was appointed as the brand ambassador of the construction company DAC Developers. The official announcement was made during an event held in Chennai. During the event, the company also launched five new residential housing projects comprising around 1,000 houses. These projects are planned in key locations within Chennai, including Kilpauk, Sowcarpet, Mannady, Sholinganallur, and Adyar. The event was attended by S. Sathish Kumar, the Managing Director of DAC Developers.

Y.M. Kheshchand Singh to Become New Chief Minister of Manipur

The President’s Rule in Manipur, which was extended for the second time, is scheduled to end on February 12, 2026. This followed the resignation of BJP Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February 2025, after prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities that began in May 2023, resulting in 260 deaths and displacement of thousands. With the Manipur Legislative Assembly under suspension, President’s Rule was imposed and later extended. A meeting of BJP MLAs from Manipur was recently held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, during which former minister Y.M. Kheshchand Singh was elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the state and is set to take charge as the Chief Minister of Manipur. Nemcha Kipgen, a former minister from the Kuki community, is expected to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister.

India and Bhutan Discuss Power Sector Cooperation and Punatsangchhu-II Project

India and Bhutan agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the power sector, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Power. Lyonpo Gem Tshering, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Bhutan, met with Manohar Lal Khattar, the Union Power Minister of India, to hold discussions. Both sides discussed the commercial optimisation of power output from the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, which has an installed capacity of 1020 MW.

Tamil Nadu News

VOC Port Sets Record with 40 Lakh Tonnes of Cargo in January 2026

V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi set a new record by handling 40 lakh tonnes of cargo, surpassing the previous highest cargo volume of 39.5 lakh tonnes handled in March 2024.

As of January in the current 2025–26 financial year, the port has managed a total of 3.597 crore tonnes of cargo, which is a 6% increase compared to 3.394 crore tonnes handled during the same period in the 2024–25 financial year.

The port has also handled 7,16,105 TEUs of cargo containers so far in this financial year, showing a 9.40% growth over the previous year. Additionally, year-on-year cargo growth has been recorded in key commodities such as industrial coal (12.78%), rock phosphate (12.65%), building materials (92.10%), fertilizers (40.12%), fertilizer raw materials (11.51%), and edible oil (17.52%). These achievements were supported by developments such as the addition of mobile harbor cranes, full commissioning of the third northern cargo berth, operation of the fourth non-self-propelled tugboat, and the expansion of cargo storage facilities, as reported by S. Narendra Kumar Prohith, Chairman of the V.O.C. Port Authority.

Chennai Metro Rail Revenue Increases in FY 2024–25

In the financial year 2024–25, the total revenue of Chennai Metro Rail Limited increased from ₹369.49 crore to ₹425.64 crore, marking a growth of over 15%. The revenue from non-fare segments rose significantly from ₹104.30 crore to ₹135.39 crore, reflecting a growth of more than 30%. Metro trains currently operate on two corridors in Chennai, serving over 3 lakh passengers daily. Apart from fare collection, the organization has been earning through other commercial avenues like long-term leasing of Metro-owned properties, increased parking facilities, and private advertisements on trains and at stations.

Chief Minister Launches ‘En Kanavu En Ethirkalam’ Scheme in Tindivanam

M. K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, launched the ‘En Kanavu En Ethirkalam’ (My Dream, My Future) scheme at a government event held at the SIPCOT complex in Konalur village near Tindivanam in Villupuram district. As part of the event, he also inaugurated a dedicated website developed for recording youth aspirations under the same scheme. The event included visual displays of the ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ scheme and Social Security Scheme, and the Chief Minister addressed a District Collector and two beneficiaries through video conferencing to review implementation progress. He also inaugurated completed projects, laid foundation stones for new schemes, and distributed welfare assistance to 1.80 lakh beneficiaries in Villupuram district

TNSCST Wins First Prize at 38th Kerala State Science Congress

The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology won the first prize at the National Science Expo conducted as part of the 38th Kerala State Science Congress. The award was received under the ‘Other State Councils’ category in recognition of its inter-disciplinary and outcome-oriented programmes benefiting students, researchers, academicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, and grassroots innovators. At the exhibition, the TNSCST pavilion showcased initiatives including Geographical Indication (GI) registered products, activities of the SC/ST cell, Women Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, and services offered through Patent Information Centres, Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres, and Technology Transfer Facilitation Centres

16th Finance Commission Report on Free Electricity Subsidy in Tamil Nadu

The Sixteenth Finance Commission in Volume I of its main report highlighted that Tamil Nadu provides free electricity to domestic consumers irrespective of income level, and identified the scheme as having regressive benefits. The findings were based on the 2023–24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and a study commissioned by the Commission and carried out by the Asian Development Bank. According to the report, households in the Q3 and Q4 consumption quintiles (middle and upper-middle income groups) receive a higher share of free electricity benefits compared to Q1 and Q2 groups (economically weaker sections). Currently, more than 2.3 crore consumers in Tamil Nadu receive free electricity up to 100 units once every two months, and the estimated subsidy expenditure for 2025–26 financial year is ₹7,752 crore, with the scheme being in force since May 2016. The Commission also noted that states such as Kerala, Goa, Gujarat and Odisha provide targeted free electricity mainly to SC/ST communities or consumers using less than 30 units per month, thereby limiting fiscal impact.

Science and Technology News

India Successfully Tests SFDR Missile Technology at Chandipur

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a flight demonstration of the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, located off the coast of Odisha, at around 10:45 AM. According to the Ministry of Defence, this test places India among an elite group of nations possessing SFDR technology, which is critical for developing long-range air-to-air missiles. The technology is significant in enhancing combat effectiveness and providing a tactical advantage against adversaries.

International News

Europe’s Digital Sovereignty Efforts: France to Replace Zoom by 2027

Several European countries are reducing dependence on US-based digital services in favour of domestic or open-source alternatives as part of a broader move towards digital sovereignty. In France, around 2.5 million civil servants will stop using platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and GoTo Meeting by the year 2027, and switch to a homegrown video conferencing system called Visio. In Austria, the military has replaced Microsoft Office with open-source office software for preparing reports. Similarly, a German state administration has shifted to free software for official tasks. This shift is influenced by data privacy concerns, international tensions such as those under the Trump administration, and the growing need for Europe to assert technological independence.