Daily Current Affairs- 7th February 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 7th February 2026

Andhra Pradesh Set to Launch Amaravati Quantum Valley Project

In the News: Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Amaravati Quantum Valley project in Amaravati, positioning it as India’s first dedicated “Quantum Valley” and linking it to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) for quantum research, innovation, and ecosystem building.

Key Points:

• Foundation stone and positioning: The announcement envisages Amaravati as a major hub for quantum research and innovation under mission-mode national initiatives, with a focus on building an industry–academia–government ecosystem for quantum technologies.
• National Quantum Mission linkage: The Amaravati initiative is positioned as a State-level springboard aligned to the National Quantum Mission, which aims to accelerate India’s capability in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and materials.
• Mission scale and outlay: India’s National Quantum Mission is backed by an allocation of about ₹6,000 crore, implemented across 43 institutions in 17 States and 2 Union Territories through a “whole-of-government, whole-of-nation” approach.
• Core national targets: Key national objectives include developing quantum computers with up to 1,000 physical qubits within eight years and enabling inter-city quantum key distribution (QKD) over about 2,000 kilometres, alongside secure quantum communication networks.
• Four thematic hubs under NQM: The Mission is organised through four thematic hubs focusing on Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing and Metrology, and Quantum Materials and Devices.
• Ecosystem elements announced at Amaravati: The Amaravati programme includes the creation of an ‘Amaravati Quantum Centre’ and ecosystem-building elements such as quantum cloud services, an innovation centre, a talent hub, and multiple industry collaboration MoUs to seed research, skilling, and applied pilots.
• Why quantum matters for national security and economy: Quantum technologies are framed as strategically important for securing communications, strengthening defence and cybersecurity architectures, enabling advanced sensing, and unlocking high-value innovation for industry and startups.

SC Gives Telangana Speaker a Final Three-Week Deadline on Pending Disqualification Petitions

In the News: In a case arising from the defection of several Telangana MLAs, the Supreme Court directed the Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker to decide the pending disqualification petitions within a final three-week period, and warned that non-compliance could invite contempt proceedings.

Key Points:

• Constitutional basis: The Anti-Defection Law is contained in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, to curb political defections that destabilise elected governments.
• Grounds for disqualification: A legislator can be disqualified if they voluntarily give up membership of their political party, or if they vote/abstain contrary to a party whip (without prior permission), subject to prescribed exceptions.
• Independent members and nominated members: Independent members who join any political party after election and nominated members who join a party after the permitted window can also attract disqualification under the Tenth Schedule framework.
• Adjudicating authority: Disqualification petitions are decided by the Speaker/Chairman of the House, and questions frequently arise regarding neutrality, delays, and the political impact of pending decisions.
• Judicial review: The Supreme Court has held that the Speaker’s decision is subject to judicial review, but courts generally avoid interfering at an interlocutory stage unless exceptional circumstances arise.
• Delay as a governance problem: Although the Constitution does not prescribe a strict time limit, prolonged pendency of disqualification petitions can alter legislative majorities, affect confidence votes, and undermine the objective of curbing defections.
• Reform debates: Reform proposals include prescribing a statutory/constitutional time-limit for decisions, shifting adjudication from the Speaker to an independent tribunal, and tightening the treatment of splits/mergers to reduce tactical defections.
• Telangana-specific context (current case): The matter relates to disqualification petitions against defecting Telangana MLAs; the Supreme Court’s direction to decide within three weeks, backed by a contempt warning, signals a stronger judicial push against indefinite Speaker delays.

World Bank Highlights Karnataka’s Fiscal Strategy for Other States

In the News: A World Bank study on off-budget borrowings flagged Karnataka’s fiscal reporting approach as a good-practice example for other States, noting its attempt to broaden debt recognition and reduce the scope for hidden liabilities outside the formal budget.

Key Points:

• What the World Bank highlighted: The study notes that Karnataka amended its fiscal responsibility legislation (2014) to include borrowings by public sector undertakings (PSUs) and special purpose vehicles (SPVs) from their own operations, even when those borrowings are not backed by explicit government guarantees, within the State’s recognised liabilities.
• Why this matters: Off-budget borrowings can understate the true fiscal deficit and debt stock, because spending is effectively financed through entities outside the budget while the repayment risk ultimately rests with the State.
• What counts as off-budget borrowing: Common channels include borrowing by State PSUs/SPVs, borrowings routed through infrastructure corporations, and repayment commitments serviced through future budgetary support or earmarked revenues.
• Key fiscal risk: Off-budget liabilities can become contingent liabilities and crystallise during revenue shocks, forcing abrupt fiscal adjustment or higher market borrowing costs.
• Transparency and comparability: Broader liability recognition improves fiscal transparency, makes inter-State comparisons more meaningful, and supports more accurate debt sustainability assessments by investors and oversight institutions.
• Institutional linkage: Fiscal responsibility frameworks and debt disclosure practices shape how States manage guarantees, contingent liabilities, and quasi-fiscal activities undertaken through PSUs and SPVs.
• Policy takeaways for other States: The Karnataka approach is cited as a template for improving comprehensive debt reporting, discouraging excessive off-budget financing, and strengthening accountability through fuller disclosure of liabilities.

US Lifts Additional 25% Tariff After India’s Russian Oil Commitment

In the News: The United States removed an additional 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods with effect from 7 February 2026 after the White House said India had committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian oil, as part of an interim India–US trade framework released on 6 February 2026.

Key Points:

• Executive order and effective date: A presidential order terminated the extra 25% duty from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on 7 February 2026, while indicating that monitoring and reimposition mechanisms could apply if conditions are not met.
• Interim trade framework (06 Feb 2026): The interim framework is intended to move both sides toward a broader bilateral trade pact, lowering tariffs and addressing market-access issues while expanding cooperation in areas such as defence and supply chains.
• Russian oil-related commitment: The White House order explicitly states that India committed to stop importing Russian Federation oil directly or indirectly; it also references commitments to purchase US energy products and expand defence cooperation.
• Tariff structure in the framework: Alongside removal of the penalty tariff, reports indicate the US will apply an 18% tariff on most Indian imports under the interim framework, with further negotiations aimed at a more comprehensive agreement.
• India-side trade commitments (reported): India is expected to reduce or eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on a range of US industrial and agricultural products, while safeguarding selected sensitive sectors.
• Timeline for a broader deal: Reporting around the framework indicates a target to conclude a wider trade agreement by March 2026, depending on progress on tariff lines, standards, and market-access deliverables.
• Implications for India: The tariff rollback reduces immediate pressure on Indian exporters and supply chains but introduces uncertainty around energy-import decisions, compliance monitoring, and the durability of the tariff concession.

From Odisha to Orbit-Ready Precision: Agni-III Passes Key Test

In the News: On 6 February 2026, India successfully test-fired the intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-III from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, validating operational and technical parameters under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.

Key Points:

• Test details: The launch was conducted from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur (Odisha) as a routine training exercise, and official statements said all mission objectives and technical parameters were validated.
• System profile: Agni-III is a two-stage, solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile with a strike range exceeding 3,000 km and the capability to carry conventional as well as nuclear warheads.
• Operational stewardship: The test was carried out under the aegis/supervision of the Strategic Forces Command, which manages India’s strategic missile forces under the nuclear command-and-control framework.
• Deterrence significance: The Agni-III is described as a key component of India’s credible minimum deterrence posture, and periodic training launches are used to validate readiness and technical preparedness.
• Induction timeline: Open-source official reporting notes that Agni-III has been inducted into the Strategic Forces Command since 2011, and the successful test underscores continued focus on operational readiness.