4 February 2026 Current Affair

🔶 Governance, Heritage & Cultural Federalism

Koch Dynasty Heritage Grant (Assam)

• ₹50 crore grant for preserving Darrang kings’ heritage highlights state-led cultural conservation .

• Reflects recognition of regional history (Ahom–Koch era) and use of heritage for identity-building.

• Exam angle: Cultural federalism, heritage governance, decentralisation of historical narratives.

🔶 Population, Migration & Statistical Capacity

Nationwide Survey on Migration (2026–27)

• First large-scale migration survey in years → critical for urbanisation, labour mobility, welfare targeting .

• Useful for policymaking on housing, jobs, social security.

• GS relevance: Demography, internal migration, evidence-based governance.

New National Surveys (NHIS & ASISSE)

• Strengthens income, services-sector data → supports GDP rebasing, inequality analysis .

• Prelims + GS-III: Statistical reforms, data credibility.

CPI Base Year Revised to 2024

• Reduced food weight reflects changing consumption patterns.

• Improves inflation measurement accuracy.

• Exam angle: Inflation targeting, monetary policy transmission.

🔶 Digital Governance, AI & Cyber Security

Pilloo AI (Andhra Pradesh)

• Voice-based billing/accounting tool → boosts MSME formalisation & digital inclusion .

• GS-III: AI in governance, grassroots digitisation.

IHMCL–NFSU MoU

• Enhances cyber security for national highways (tolling, FASTag, traffic data).

• Exam focus: Critical infrastructure protection, cyber governance.

India–EU E-Signatures Arrangement

• Enables secure cross-border digital authentication.

• Supports paperless trade, digital trust, interoperability .

• IR + Economy: Digital trade facilitation.

🔶 Urbanisation & Global Trends

UN Urbanisation Report (2025)

• 45% global population urban (vs 20% in 1950).

• Intensifies challenges of housing, sanitation, transport, climate resilience .

• High-value topic: Urban governance, SDGs, migration pressures.