Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (2nd March 2026)

National News

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Micron’s Semiconductor ATMP Facility in Sanand

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Micron Technology’s Semiconductor Assembly, Test, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) facility in Sanand on 28 February 2026, marking the start of commercial production and a major milestone in India’s semiconductor journey.
• The plant will manufacture DRAM and NAND memory solutions critical for AI, data centres, and mobile devices.
• The project, fast-tracked under the India Semiconductor Mission, strengthens India’s role in the global chip value chain.
• With additional semiconductor projects planned nationwide and growing India-US cooperation, Sanand and nearby Dholera are emerging as key semiconductor hubs in western India.

After 100+ Years Waiting Khurda-Balangir Rail Line Nears Completion

• The 301-km Khurda Road–Balangir railway line in Odisha is nearing full completion, marking a major connectivity boost for interior districts.
• Implemented by East Coast Railway, the ₹5,000 crore project connects Khurda, Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir, with three districts receiving rail access for the first time.
• A key 75-km stretch runs near Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, part of Satkosia Tiger Reserve, incorporating seven tunnels, multiple wildlife underpasses and overpasses, and dedicated elephant corridors.
• The line also features a 4.77-km viaduct set to be the second-longest in Indian Railways while eco-sensitive construction methods helped preserve nearly two lakh trees, balancing infrastructure growth with environmental protection.

India Welcomes 9 Cheetahs from Botswana to Kuno National Park

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav welcomed nine cheetahs from Botswana to Kuno National Park on 28 February 2026 under Project Cheetah.
• The group six females and three males will remain in quarantine before gradual release into the wild.
• With this addition and 28 India-born cubs, the country’s cheetah population has reached 48, marking a key milestone in restoring the species declared extinct in India in 1952.
• The translocation, carried out under international wildlife protocols, strengthens global conservation cooperation and supports efforts to build a sustainable, free-ranging cheetah population outside Africa.

State News

Micron Opens World’s Largest Semiconductor Clean Room in Gujarat

• Micron Technology has begun operations at its ATMP facility in Sanand, marking India’s first advanced memory Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging site.
• Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the plant features a 500,000 sq ft Class 1000 raised-floor clean room the largest of its kind globally and represents a total planned investment of $2.7 billion across two phases.
• The facility has already shipped its first DRAM module to Dell Technologies and will serve global clients such as Asus and Qualcomm.
• Designed for wafer-in to finished-product-out operations, it aims to scale production to nearly one billion ICs annually by 2027, strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem and global supply chain role.

Gujarat Unveils STI Policy 2026-31 with ₹1,000 Crore Innovation Fund

• The Government of Gujarat has unveiled the Gujarat Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy 2026–2031, launched in Gandhinagar by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
• The policy introduces a ₹1,000 crore innovation fund to accelerate indigenous technology development and reduce import dependence in critical sectors.
• Key targets include creating 1 lakh skilled research professionals by 2031 and achieving 1,000 intellectual property filings annually, including at least 500 patents and 100 global filings.
• The policy prioritizes emerging fields such as AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, clean energy and space tech, while also modernising traditional industries like chemicals, pharma and agro-processing.
• Science and Technology clusters across Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Vadodara-Surat and other regions will foster collaboration between academia and industry, positioning Gujarat as a national hub for research-driven growth.

Japan, South Korea, Malaysia Partner with Gujarat to Strengthen Chip Ecosystem

• Gujarat’s semiconductor ecosystem received a ₹1,600 crore investment boost during the Gujarat Semiconnect 2026 conference, with proposals from Japan, South Korea and Malaysia aimed at strengthening manufacturing, R&D, chemicals, and high-tech startups.
• Key initiatives include Japan’s Horiba Group setting up an R&D centre in Ahmedabad for advanced instrumentation, Malaysia’s Hotayi Electronic investing ₹250 crore in SSD and memory module production at Sanand, and Hi-Spec Ltd establishing a ₹750 crore semiconductor-grade chemical facility.
• Additionally, Rohm Semiconductor partnered with Suchi Semicon for IC packaging and test solutions, while Kaynes Semicon invested ₹500 crore in startup SpectraGaze Systems to advance space-linked semiconductor technologies.

Maharashtra Launches Divyang Sahayak Portal for Easy Online Disability Schemes

• The Maharashtra government launched the Divyang Sahayak Portal, India’s first fully integrated digital platform for disability welfare, in February 2026.
• It allows persons with disabilities to apply for schemes online, track applications in real time, receive automatic approvals, and access AI-based grievance redressal, eliminating paperwork and physical visits.
• Built on API and AI integration, the portal connects with UDID, Aadhaar, DBT, and other government systems to ensure faster, transparent delivery of benefits.
• Structured across 11 modules including unified scheme delivery, grievance management, and rehabilitation center oversight it strengthens implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, ensuring no eligible beneficiary is left out in Maharashtra.

Varanasi Creates Guinness Record for Mega Plantation Campaign

• Varanasi has entered the Guinness World Records by planting 2,51,446 saplings in one hour at Sujabad Domari, surpassing China’s 2018 record of 1,53,981.
• The drive, verified through drone monitoring and digital counting, set a new global benchmark in mass plantation efforts.
• Developed over 350 bighas using the Miyawaki technique, the urban forest includes 27 native species and is divided into 60 sectors named after Kashi’s ghats. Massive participation from security forces, departments, and volunteers ensured success.
• A 10.8-km irrigation network with borewells and rain guns has been installed to secure long-term survival of the saplings.

President Droupadi Murmu Launches 4 Major Women Welfare Schemes in Delhi

• Droupadi Murmu launched four women-centric schemes at the “Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi” programme in New Delhi.
• Key initiatives include the Pink National Common Mobility Card for seamless, cashless free bus travel, and a scheme providing two free LPG cylinders annually to ration card holders during Holi and Diwali to ease household expenses.
• The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana ensures long-term financial security for girl children through structured deposits, while Meri Punji Mera Adhikaar focuses on clearing pending financial dues transparently.
• Together, these measures aim to enhance women’s mobility, safety, and economic empowerment in Delhi.

International News

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Confirmed Dead After Major U.S.-Israel Strikes

• Reports indicate that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a coordinated U.S.–Israel military strike targeting Iranian leadership and military facilities.
• The operation, acknowledged by U.S. President Donald Trump, has caused widespread destruction, including strikes reportedly hitting a girls’ school in southern Iran, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.
• In retaliation, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, with the IRGC warning of further action.
• The death has triggered a leadership crisis, with the Assembly of Experts set to select a successor while senior officials temporarily manage governance.
• The strikes have escalated Middle East tensions, disrupted oil shipments, and heightened global security and diplomatic concerns.

Iran Names Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as Temporary Supreme Leader

• Hours after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, senior cleric Alireza Arafi was appointed as the jurist member of a three-member Leadership Council to temporarily assume the Supreme Leader’s duties.
• The council also includes President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, ensuring governance continuity during the sensitive transition.
• Arafi, 67, heads Iran’s seminary system in Qom, serves as Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts, and has been a potential successor candidate, though he is not a dominant political figure.
• The Supreme Leader wields ultimate authority over Iran’s military, judiciary, foreign policy, and state institutions, with the Assembly of Experts constitutionally responsible for electing the permanent successor.

Economy News

FPI Inflows Surge to 17 Month High at ₹22,615 Crore In Feb 2026

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused ₹22,615 crore into Indian equities in February 2026, marking the highest monthly inflow in 17 months after three straight months of heavy outflows, according to data from the National Securities Depository Limited.
• The rebound follows withdrawals of ₹35,962 crore in January and significant selling in late 2025, signaling a sharp turnaround in sentiment.
• Improved investor confidence was driven by the interim India–US trade deal, strong Q3FY26 earnings growth of 14.7%, and more attractive market valuations. Financial services and capital goods saw strong inflows, while IT faced continued selling amid global tech uncertainties.
• Rupee stability and steady growth expectations have further supported renewed foreign participation in India’s equity markets.

India’s GST Collections Hit ₹1.83 Lakh Crore in February 2026

• India’s gross GST collections for February 2026 stood at ₹1.83 lakh crore, registering an 8.1% year-on-year growth, according to official data released on March 1, 2026.
• Net GST revenue after refunds was ₹1.61 lakh crore, with total refunds amounting to ₹22,595 crore (up 10.2% YoY).
• For FY26 (up to February 28), cumulative gross GST revenue reached ₹20.27 lakh crore, reflecting an 8.3% YoY increase and crossing the ₹20 lakh crore mark before the fiscal year-end.
• Domestic revenue grew 5.3% to ₹1.36 lakh crore, while import revenue surged 17.2% to ₹47,837 crore, indicating stronger trade activity and sustained economic momentum supported by improved tax compliance.

Appointments News

Deepak Gupta Takes Over as Chairman & Managing Director of GAIL

• Deepak Gupta has assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL (India) Limited from March 1, 2026, succeeding Sandeep Kumar Gupta, who superannuated on February 28.
• His tenure will continue until February 28, 2029, at a crucial phase for India’s energy expansion.
• A mechanical engineer from Delhi College of Engineering, Gupta brings over three decades of experience in gas transmission, LNG infrastructure, petrochemicals, and global energy projects.
• Previously Director (Projects) at GAIL, he led key initiatives including LNG infrastructure upgrades and petrochemical expansions.
• Established in 1984, GAIL is a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and operates India’s largest natural gas pipeline network, central to the country’s goal of raising natural gas’s share in the energy mix to 15% by 2030.

Awards News

For 2nd Consecutive Year Mangaluru Airport Wins 2025 ASQ Best Arrivals Award

• Mangaluru International Airport has won the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Airport at Arrivals – Globally, presented by Airports Council International.
• This marks the second consecutive year the airport has received the honour, based entirely on real-time passenger feedback assessing immigration, baggage handling, cleanliness, ambience and overall comfort.
• The ASQ Awards are regarded as the aviation industry’s most credible benchmark for customer satisfaction.
• Managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited, the airport’s focus on digital upgrades, process efficiency and passenger-centric infrastructure contributed to the achievement, further strengthening its global reputation for service excellence.

Cultural News

A Tribe With No Word for “Time”? Inside the Unique World of the Amondawa

• The Amondawa tribe, an Indigenous community in the Amazon rainforest, organizes life without abstract concepts of time.
• Their language reportedly has no words for “time,” no months, no years, and no numerical ages. Instead, people measure life through socially defined stages, roles, and achievements, with transitions marked by ceremonies and responsibilities rather than calendars or birthdays.
• Researchers, including Professor Chris Sinha, note that while the Amondawa can distinguish sequences like before and after, time is not treated as an independent, abstract framework.
• They also do not use common spatial metaphors for time like future being “ahead” or past “behind” focusing instead on literal physical space.
• Exposure to Portuguese shows that the tribe can learn temporal concepts, indicating that the absence of abstract time is cultural rather than cognitive.
• Daily life revolves around immediate needs, relationships, and the natural environment rather than schedules or linear timelines.
• This unique worldview highlights how language and culture shape perception of reality, showing that time need not be universal to organize life meaningfully.

Environment News

West Bengal Signs MoU with GIZ for Ichhamati & Jalangi Basin Masterplans?

• West Bengal signed an MoU with GIZ and the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG) to prepare basin-based masterplans for the Ichhamati and Jalangi rivers under the ‘Nodi Bandhan’ initiative.
• Launched with a ₹200 crore budget, the project aims to dredge rivers, restore flows, control pollution, reduce erosion, and enhance groundwater recharge and irrigation.
• The Ichhamati, forming part of the India-Bangladesh boundary, faces siltation, pollution, and eutrophication, while Jalangi suffers from sewage, industrial effluents, heavy metals, and severe erosion.
• The one-year planning process aligns with the National Mission for Clean Ganga, emphasizing sustainable transboundary river management and sediment restoration for the Sundarbans delta.

Kuno National Park Records First Sighting of Endangered Forest Owlet

• The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) has been sighted for the first time in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, confirmed by wildlife expert Vivek Patel.
• Classified as Endangered, its global population ranges between 250–999 adults, previously found in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• Habitat restoration and grassland management under Project Cheetah likely improved forest conditions, supporting this rare, diurnal owl.
• The sighting expands the species known range, highlighting positive ecological changes in Kuno and offering renewed hope for conservation of this rare, endemic raptor in central India.

Sports News

India Break Record with Massive Run Chase vs West Indies

• India created history at Eden Gardens, chasing 196 against the West Indies cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage.
• A brilliant 97 by Sanju Samson powered India to 199/5, marking their highest successful T20 World Cup chase and sealing a semifinal berth.
• The effort ranks third among the tournament’s biggest chases, behind England national cricket team’s record 230/8 against South Africa national cricket team in 2016 at Wankhede Stadium.
• India finished second in Super 8 Group 1 and advanced to face England in Mumbai.

Alyssa Healy Smashes 158 in Final ODI For Australia & Bid To Good Bye For Game

• Alyssa Healy retired from international cricket after a spectacular farewell ODI in Hobart, scoring a blistering 158 off 98 balls against the India women’s national cricket team.
• Her knock powered the Australia women’s national cricket team to 409/7, securing a dominant 185-run victory.
• The innings showcased her trademark fearless strokeplay, accelerating from a steady start to a stunning finish with three rapid half-centuries in one knock.
• Healy concluded her ODI career with 3,777 runs in 125 matches, eight centuries, and a strike rate above 100 cementing her legacy as one of women’s cricket’s most explosive and influential openers.

Current Affairs Today | 01 – 02 March 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam