Current Affairs 01 February 2026

Indian Army Partners with Shield AI to Indigenize V-BAT UAV Drones.

• Indian Army signed a deal with US firm Shield AI to acquire & locally manufacture V-BAT drones.
• V-BAT drones feature vertical takeoff/landing, operate for 12+ hours, and are resilient to GPS/comm disruptions.
• Integrated with Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software, the agreement enables technology transfer and domestic development of autonomous systems for Indian defence needs.

Rohit Sharma Lead BharatPe "Super Over" UPI Campaign for T20 World Cup.

• BharatPe’s Super Over campaign stars Rohit Sharma & offers users rewards, match tickets, and signed merchandise for UPI transactions ahead of the T20 World Cup.
• Features a cricket-themed brand film highlighting speed and reliability in payments, aligning with cricket’s excitement.
• All transactions are secured by BharatPe Shield, providing robust fraud protection for digital payments.

Parimatch Sports Backs SG Pipers Sponsor in Hockey India League 2026.

• Parimatch Sports became official co-sponsor of SG Pipers for Hockey India League 2026, supporting both men’s & women’s teams.
• The partnership boosted brand visibility and Parimatch’s commitment to sports growth in Asia; the logo appeared on team jerseys & match events.
• SG Pipers’ women’s team won the 2026 championship, highlighting the franchise’s talent & rising success of women’s hockey.

Indian Scientists Create Sunlight-Powered Self-Charging Energy Device.

• CeNS Bengaluru researchers developed a photo-capacitor that stores solar energy in a single unit, unlike traditional systems.
• The device uses binder-free NiCo₂O₄ nanowires on nickel foam, acting as both solar harvester & supercapacitor electrode.
• Demonstrated 54% capacitance boost under sunlight & retained 85% capacity after 10,000 cycles, supporting apps in portable & off-grid power.

Indian Scientists Create 3.4V Supercapacitor, Boosting Grid Storage.

• ARCI scientists developed a supercapacitor using dual-functional porous graphene carbon (PGCN), operating at 3.4V higher than standard devices (2.5–3V).
• Enables faster EV acceleration, longer range, & improved energy storage for solar and grid systems.
• The device retains 96% performance after 15,000 cycles, offers high power densities up to 17,000 W/kg, & enhances ion transport & durability.