Daily Current Affairs- 8th February 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 8th February 2026

This District of Rajasthan Became India’s First Fully Insured District

In the News: Alwar district in Rajasthan became India's first district to achieve 100% insurance coverage under the Centre's 'Insurance for All by 2047' roadmap. The milestone was achieved through systematic door-to-door surveys that identified and enrolled 1,367 uninsured individuals across nine villages, with support from NGOs and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) under the Ministry of Finance.

Key Points:

• Historic Achievement: Alwar district became the first in India to achieve complete insurance saturation, marking a significant step toward the vision of 'Secure India–Insured India' under the national 'Insurance for All by 2047' initiative.
• Insurance for All by 2047 Roadmap: This joint initiative of the Government of India and IRDAI under the Ministry of Finance aims to achieve universal insurance coverage by the 100th year of India's Independence (2047), focusing on affordability, accessibility, and inclusion across life, health, and general insurance segments.
• Grassroots Implementation Strategy: Authorities conducted systematic door-to-door surveys across rural areas to identify 1,367 uninsured individuals above the age of 10 in nine villages, ensuring zero exclusion and demonstrating how targeted administrative efforts can close coverage gaps.
• Fully Insured Villages: Nine villages—Bhulla Ka Bas, Bichpuri, Palankheda, Antapada, Hanumanta, Kalyanpura, Morodkhurd, Kodalka, and Lalpur—were officially declared fully insured. Insurance policies were formally handed over during a programme chaired by Additional District Collector Bina Mahawar.
• NGO Support and Public Sector Partnership: A non-governmental organisation funded insurance premiums for all eligible adults in the nine villages, ensuring no financial burden on beneficiaries. Policies were issued by the government-owned United India Insurance Company Ltd.
• Role of IRDAI: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, under the Ministry of Finance, played a crucial role in supporting this initiative as part of the national roadmap for universal insurance coverage.

PMO tells Lok Sabha Secretariat: No questions on PM CARES, relief and defence funds

In the News: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that parliamentary questions and matters related to PM CARES Fund, the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and the National Defence Fund (NDF) are not admissible under the rules governing the conduct of business in Lok Sabha. The PMO cited specific provisions stating these funds are not primarily the concern of the Government of India as they are constituted through voluntary public contributions rather than allocations from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Key Points:

• Parliamentary Inadmissibility: The PMO notified the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions and matters concerning PM CARES Fund, PMNRF, and NDF are not permissible under Rule 41(2)(viii) and Rule 41(2)(xvii) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
• Rule 41(2)(viii): This provision states that questions shall not relate to matters which are not primarily the concern of the Government of India, forming the basis for excluding these funds from parliamentary scrutiny.
• Rule 41(2)(xvii): This rule specifies that questions shall not raise matters under the control of bodies or persons not primarily responsible to the Government of India, further supporting the inadmissibility determination.
• Scope of Restriction: The inadmissibility applies to multiple types of parliamentary interventions including questions, notices for zero hour discussions, and special mentions seeking information about the three funds.
• PM CARES Fund Background: The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was established on March 27, 2020, following the COVID-19 outbreak as a public charitable trust.
• Stated Objective of PM CARES: According to the official website, the fund was created with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to those affected.
• Nature of Funds: All three funds—PM CARES, PMNRF, and NDF—operate as public charitable trusts that rely on voluntary contributions from citizens and organizations rather than budgetary allocations from the Consolidated Fund of India.

In a first, a visually challenged woman all set to become a judge in Kerala

In the News: Thanya Nathan C., a 24-year-old totally blind lawyer, is set to become Kerala's first visually challenged woman judge after ranking first on the merit list of persons with benchmark disabilities in the recently held judicial service examination for Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the Kerala Judicial Service. Her appointment follows a landmark 2025 Supreme Court judgment that affirmed visually impaired candidates' eligibility for judicial service positions.

Key Points:

• Historic Achievement: Thanya Nathan C. will enter the annals of Kerala's judicial history as the first visually challenged woman judge, marking a significant milestone for disability inclusion in the state's judiciary.
• Landmark Supreme Court Judgment: A 2025 Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan held that "visually impaired candidates cannot be said to be 'not suitable' for judicial service and they are eligible to participate in selection for posts in judicial service," paving the way for Ms. Nathan's appointment.
• First in Kerala: This is probably the first time that a candidate with visual disability has cleared the judicial service examination in Kerala. Currently, there are no visually challenged judges in Kerala, and it is not known whether such candidates had earlier applied for the post.
• Academic Excellence: Ms. Nathan, who has no light perception, secured first rank in her LLB examination from Kannur University, demonstrating exceptional academic achievement despite her visual impairment.
• Legal Practice Background: The 24-year-old began her legal practice as a junior to K.G. Sunilkumar at Taliparamba in Kannur. Her senior and others encouraged her to take the recruitment examination, which coincided with the supportive Supreme Court verdict.
• Study Methods and Technology: Ms. Nathan studied law using texts in the Braille system and now relies on screen-reading software to read texts. As a lawyer, she prepared argument notes in Braille script, showcasing her adaptive methods for legal work.

Iran sentences Nobel peace laureate Mohammadi to six years in prison: lawyer

In the News: An Iranian court sentenced 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to over seven years in prison, her lawyer Mostafa Nili confirmed. The 53-year-old women's rights activist, who was arrested on December 12, 2024, after attending a memorial ceremony in Mashhad, received the sentence on Saturday while serving time for her decades-long campaign against Iran's use of capital punishment and mandatory dress codes for women.

Key Points:

• Sentence Details: Mohammadi received a six-year prison term for "gathering and collusion to commit crimes," a one-and-a-half-year sentence for propaganda activities, a two-year ban on leaving the country, and a two-year exile to the city of Khosf in South Khorasan province.
• Total Imprisonment: The combined prison sentences amount to over seven years (7.5 years), though her lawyer stated the verdict is not final and can be appealed, with hope for temporary release on bail for medical treatment.
• Arrest Circumstances: Mohammadi was arrested on December 12, 2024, after denouncing the suspicious death of lawyer Khosrow Alikordi. Prosecutor Hasan Hematifar stated she made provocative remarks at Alikordi's memorial ceremony in Mashhad and encouraged attendees to chant "norm-breaking slogans" and "disturb the peace."
• Recent Hunger Strike: Mohammadi conducted a six-day hunger strike from February 2 to February 8, 2025, to protest her imprisonment conditions and inability to make phone calls to lawyers and family. The Narges Foundation reported her physical condition as "deeply alarming" when she ended the strike.
• Nobel Peace Prize Recognition: Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her 20-year fight for women's rights, which the Nobel Committee said made her a symbol of freedom. She is the second Iranian woman to receive this honor after Shirin Ebadi in 2003.
• Professional Background: A prominent writer and journalist, Mohammadi serves as deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), an organization dedicated to defending political prisoners and promoting human rights reforms in Iran.

Women’s Premier League Winners

In the News: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 title on February 5, 2026, defeating Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets in the final at BCA Stadium, Vadodara. RCB successfully chased down the highest-ever WPL final total of 203/4, with captain Smriti Mandhana scoring 87 off 41 balls and Georgia Voll contributing 79 off 54 deliveries in a record 165-run partnership. This marked RCB's second WPL title and Delhi Capitals' fourth consecutive final defeat.

Key Points:

• WPL 2026 Champions: Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged as the 2026 WPL champions by defeating Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets at BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara on February 5, 2026, securing their second title after winning in 2024.
• Historic Chase: RCB chased down the target of 204 runs in 19.4 overs, completing the highest successful chase in WPL final history. Delhi Capitals had posted 203/4, the highest-ever total in a WPL final.
• Match-Winning Partnership: Captain Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41 balls) and Georgia Voll (79 off 54 balls) shared a record-breaking 165-run partnership for the second wicket, paving the way for RCB's memorable victory.
• Complete WPL Winners List: Mumbai Indians won in 2023 (defeating Delhi Capitals at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai) and 2025 (defeating Delhi Capitals at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai). Royal Challengers Bengaluru won in 2024 (defeating Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi) and 2026 (defeating Delhi Capitals at BCA Stadium, Vadodara).
• Most Successful Teams: Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are tied as the most successful teams in WPL history, each having won two titles. Delhi Capitals have been runners-up in all four editions (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).
• WPL 2026 Orange Cap Winner: Smriti Mandhana (RCB) won the Orange Cap for most runs in WPL 2026 with 377 runs in 9 matches at an average of 53.86 and a strike rate of 153.25, with a highest score of 96.
• WPL 2026 Purple Cap Winner: Sophie Devine (Gujarat Giants) won the Purple Cap for most wickets in WPL 2026 with 17 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 16.00 and an economy rate of 8.28, with best bowling figures of 4/37.
• Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana was awarded Player of the Match in the WPL 2026 final for her match-winning knock of 87 off 41 balls that anchored RCB's successful chase.