Wings India 2026 Awards: Delhi Airport Best

1 Wings India 2026 Awards: Delhi Airport Best

Delhi International Airport Limited has been awarded  the Best Airport of the Year   at  the Wings India 2026 Awards  . The Wings India 2026 Awards  were organized by  the Ministry of Civil Aviation  in collaboration with FICCI  and  the Airports Authority of India (AAI)  . The awards recognized outstanding performance across airports, airlines, service providers, manufacturing, innovation, and state governments. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu presented the awards to the winners. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, and FICCI in  Hyderabad, Telangana  , the biennial civil aviation show was attended by over 75,000 business visitors and 100,000 general visitors, as well as 2,000 delegates, including over 200 international participants.  Key winners  :

• Best Airport of the Year – Delhi International Airport Limited
• Best Airport (>25 MPPA) – Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
• Best Airport (10–25 MPPA) – Pune Airport
• Best Airport (5–10 MPPA) – Lucknow International Airport Limited
• Best Airport (<5 MPPA) – Veer Savarkar International Airport Port Blair
• Best Airport under RCS/UDAN – Hollongi Airport Itanagar
• Best Airline – Domestic Connectivity – Air India Express
• Best Airline – Regional/UDAN Connectivity – Ghodawat Enterprises Pvt Ltd

2 India and Gulf Cooperation Council sign terms of reference for free trade agreement

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)  signed the Terms of Reference for a Free Trade Agreement  in   New Delhi  . Presiding over the ceremony, Union Commerce and Industry Minister  Piyush Goyal  stated that  India’s free trade agreement with the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries  will open the door to another important trade corridor. Mr. Goyal stated that India will soon announce the first tranche of the trade agreement with the United States. He stated that the  India-US bilateral agreement will be the ninth free trade agreement . He noted that trade between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council  currently  stands at $170 billion, and approximately 10 million Indians live and work in the GCC countries. Mr. Goyal emphasized that the free trade agreement between India and the GCC will benefit India’s food processing, infrastructure, petrochemical, and ICT sectors, taking relations between the two sides to new heights.

3 India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform – Bharat Taxi formally launched

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah  formally  launched  Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform,   in  New Delhi . Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform , registered under  the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.  The platform operates on a commission-free and no-fee pricing model, directly benefiting drivers. It offers an indigenous alternative to foreign-invested aggregator platforms. On this occasion, nine MoUs were exchanged with key public and private stakeholders to strengthen operational integration, digital empowerment, security, and service delivery. The Home Minister stated that out of every ₹100 profit earned by Bharat Taxi, ₹80 will go directly to drivers’ accounts, while only ₹20 will be retained for company operations.

4 Plastindia-2026, one of the world’s leading plastics exhibitions, begins in New Delhi

 PlastIndia-2026, one of  the world’s leading plastics exhibitions , began in New Delhi  . The six-day event aims to build a self-reliant industrial base for manufacturing-led growth and large-scale employment generation. The theme of this global exhibition is ” India Next ,” which is in line with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India. The exhibition provides an opportunity for youth, innovators, and startups to showcase sustainable plastics solutions. Held at Bharat Mandapam, the exhibition will conclude on February 10.

5 The New Start Treaty between the superpowers US and Russia expires on February 5.

The New START Treaty between  the United States and Russia   expires on Thursday. With this, the United States and Russia  no longer have a legally binding agreement limiting their strategic nuclear forces  . With the expiration of this treaty, both countries will no longer have treaty control over their nuclear weapons.  The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was signed in  2010  by  then-US President Barack Obama  and his  Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev  . Under its terms, both countries pledged to reduce their strategic nuclear forces and opened the way for large-scale on-site inspections to verify compliance. This agreement between the two countries is formally known as the Treaty on Measures for the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. This treaty limited both sides to no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads on more than 700 missiles and bombers, deployed and ready for use. It was originally scheduled to expire in 2021, but was extended for five years. In February 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin blocked Moscow from participating in the inspections. Putin stated that the Kremlin could not allow Americans to inspect its nuclear sites at a time when Washington and its NATO allies have openly stated their objective is to defeat Russia in Ukraine.

6 Vayu Shakti 2026 will be held on February 27, on the lines of Operation Sindoor.

Indian Air Force fighter jets will once again   roar near the border.  On February 27th  , the Air Force will deploy its full force for an exercise  modeled after Operation Sindoor  . Having demonstrated its prowess in Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force is now conducting this year’s first and largest air exercise in  Jaisalmer  . This exercise is called Vayu Shakti 2026.  According to defense officials, airbases and assets from the Air Force’s Western and Southwestern Commands are participating in this exercise. All units have been fully activated. More than 100 aircraft are expected to participate in this exercise. Almost all of the Air Force’s fighter aircraft and air defense systems involved in Operation Sindoor will participate. According to defense officials, Rafale, Sukhoi-30, Tejas, MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, and Hawk aircraft will be seen carrying out precision strikes. Since the MiG-21 aircraft have been retired from the Air Force, this is the first time they will not be seen in this air exercise. Apart from this, attack helicopter Prachand will also be seen firing rockets.

7 Gati Shakti University in partnership with Airbus inaugurates a Centre of Excellence to promote sustainable aerospace research, innovation and skill development

Airbus  inaugurated a Center of Excellence (CoE)   for  aerospace studies at  Gati Shakti University (GSV)   in  Vadodara  ,   Gujarat . Gati Shakti University (GSV) is India’s unique industry-driven central university for the transportation and logistics sector. This center marks a significant milestone in the long-term collaboration between Airbus and GSV to strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem through research, innovation, and talent development. A key focus of this co-educational center will be research and development on sustainable aviation fuels and supporting student-led innovations in future aerospace technologies. Announced in 2024, this training center was inaugurated by Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, in the presence of Her Highness Rajmata Shubhangi Raje Gaekwad, Member of GSV, and Professor (Dr.) Manoj Chaudhary, Vice Chancellor, Gati Shakti University.

8 Tripartite Agreement for Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority

 In a significant step towards realizing  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ‘s vision of a peaceful and prosperous Northeast , a historic agreement was signed in New Delhi between  the Government of India ,  the Government of Nagaland ,  and  representatives of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO)  . ENPO  is the apex organization representing  the eight recognized Naga tribes  from  the six eastern districts of Nagaland .  The agreement was signed in the presence of  Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah  and Nagaland Chief Minister  Shri Neiphiu Rio . The agreement paves the way for the formation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) for  the six districts of Nagaland—Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator—  and devolves powers  to the FNTA  over 46 subjects . The agreement, among other things, provides for the formation of a mini-secretariat for the FNTA, headed by an Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary. It also provides for the sharing of development expenditure for the Eastern Nagaland region in proportion to its population and area. However, the agreement does not in any way affect the provisions of Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.

9 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the joint expedition to Mount Aconcagua from New Delhi.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh  flagged   off a joint expedition   from  New Delhi to Mount Aconcagua  in  Argentina . The joint expedition  is being conducted by  the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering  in  Uttarkashi  and   the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports  in Pahalgam . At approximately 6,960 meters,  the mountain  is the highest peak in South America  and the highest outside Asia.

10 The 16th Finance Commission fixed the share of states in the divisible pool at 41%.

The 16th Finance Commission  recommended  maintaining the states’ share in the divisible pool   of  central taxes at 41 percent , while emphasizing results-based spending, greater transparency in tax devolution data, and stronger fiscal discipline at the state level. The panel stated the need to improve efficiency in public spending and strengthen fiscal accountability frameworks across all states. Under the new formula, Karnataka’s share in central tax devolution has been increased to 4.13% for 2026-31, compared to 3.65% under the 15th Finance Commission. This will mean an additional ₹7,387 crore,  increasing Karnataka’s allocation  to ₹63,050 crore, compared to ₹55,663 crore under the previous formula. Kerala was the second largest beneficiary, with an allocation increase of ₹6,975 crore and its share increasing from 1.93% to 2.38%. Gujarat (Rs 4,228 crore) and Haryana (Rs 4,090 crore) also benefited significantly, as they have higher per capita income and contribute significantly to GDP. Madhya Pradesh benefited the least, with its allocation reduced by Rs 7,677 crore to Rs 1.12 lakh crore. Its share in the central divisible pool declined from 7.85% to 7.35%. The 16th FC was formally constituted on December 31, 2023, under the chairmanship of Arvind Panagariya, to make recommendations for the five-year period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body under Article 280. It submitted its report to the President of India on November 17, 2025, which was presented to Parliament by Ms. Sitharaman on Sunday (February 1, 2026).

11 Elon Musk becomes the richest person in history

 On  February 4th , American businessman Elon Musk   became  the richest person in history . His net worth surpassed $850 billion  , or approximately  ₹77 lakh crore  . Musk’s net worth increased by $84 billion, or approximately ₹7 lakh crore, in a single day. This increase in Musk’s wealth is due to the merger of his rocket manufacturing company, SpaceX, and his artificial intelligence startup, xAI. Musk’s net worth now exceeds the GDP of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Pakistan’s GDP for 2025 was approximately ₹410.5 billion, and Bangladesh’s was approximately ₹475 billion. Musk’s net worth exceeds the combined wealth of India’s top 40 richest people. Musk’s net worth has increased by 70% in the past four months. In October 2025, Musk’s net worth was ₹500 billion.

12 Bengaluru won the Women’s Premier League for the second time.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)  won the Women’s Premier League (WPL)   for the second time  . The team  defeated Delhi Capitals (DC)  by six wickets on Thursday. Bangalore became champions for the first time in 2024, while Delhi lost their fourth consecutive final.  At the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara,  Bangalore chased down the target of 204 runs with two balls to spare. This is the highest run chase in a WPL final. Captain Smriti Mandhana scored 87 runs, while Georgia Voll scored 79 runs. The two shared a 165-run partnership in 92 balls. Royal Challengers Bangalore, which won the tournament, received a prize money of ₹6 crore (60 million rupees), while Delhi Capitals had to settle for ₹3 crore (30 million rupees). Player of the Tournament Sophie Devine received ₹5 lakh (500,000 rupees). Best Players:

13 Music director S. P. Venkatesh passes away

Renowned music director S.P. Venkatesh  passed away  on  February 3rd . He was 70 years old  and breathed his last at his home in  Chennai .  Venkatesh made his independent music composer debut with  the Telugu film Prem Yudh .  1986’s Rajavinte Makan was Venkatesh ‘s most celebrated film as a composer. In 1993,  Venkatesh  received the Best Music Director  award   at  the Kerala State Film Awards. In 1993,  Venkatesh   received  the Filmfare Award for the music  of the film Pathrukam .