Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
September 2026
KAZIND-2026: India-Kazakhstan counter-terror exercise begins in Oskemen
- The ninth India-Kazakhstan exercise KAZIND runs from 28 September to 11 October 2026.
- It is held at Oskemen, Kazakhstan.
- India sent 60 troops, mainly from the Garhwal Rifles, plus IAF personnel.
Why it matters
[Data] KAZIND is India's army exercise with Kazakhstan. Khanjar is with Kyrgyzstan and Dustlik with Uzbekistan. This edition also practises drone and counter-drone use.
India retains Gaprindashvili Trophy at 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
- The 46th Chess Olympiad was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 27 September 2026.
- India won silver in the Open section on tie-break; hosts Uzbekistan took gold.
- India's women won bronze; China won the women's gold.
Why it matters
[Data] The Gaprindashvili Trophy goes to the best nation across both sections combined. India also won it in 2022 at home and in 2024 in Budapest, where it took double gold. Olympiad hosts, winners and India's medals are common sports questions.
Pune to host UCI Road World Championships 2032, a first for India
- India will host the UCI Road World Championships for the first time, in 2032.
- Pune, in Maharashtra, was chosen as the host city.
- The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal, Canada.
Why it matters
[First] Host cities of world championships are standard sports questions. This is India's first road cycling world championship. Montreal is where the vote was held, not the host city.
INS Trishul reaches Toulon for the 24th edition of India-France naval exercise Varuna
- On 22 September 2026, the stealth frigate INS Trishul reached Toulon, France.
- It went there for the 24th edition of Varuna, the India-France naval exercise.
- The exercise has harbour and sea phases to improve how the two navies work together.
Why it matters
[Data] Varuna is India's naval exercise with France. Shakti is the army exercise and Garuda the air exercise. Exams often test these pairings.
India and Sri Lanka hold 13th edition of naval exercise SLINEX in Visakhapatnam
- SLINEX-26, the 13th India-Sri Lanka naval exercise, ran in Visakhapatnam from 17 to 21 September 2026.
- India sent the anti-submarine corvette INS Kavaratti and fleet tanker INS Jyoti.
- Sri Lanka sent SLNS Sindurala.
Why it matters
[Data] SLINEX is India's naval exercise with Sri Lanka. Mitra Shakti is the army exercise. Exams often mix up such pairs. It came a week after Rajnath Singh's visit to Colombo.
India stays 131st of 145 on WEF Global Gender Gap Index 2026
- On 16 September 2026, the World Economic Forum released the Global Gender Gap Index 2026.
- India stayed 131st of 145 countries, with 64.5% of its gender gap closed.
- Iceland, Finland and Norway took the top three places. Chad came last.
Why it matters
[Data] India's score improved slightly, but its rank did not move. Its weakest area is economic participation, at 41.2% parity. The WEF says full global parity is still 120 years away.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2017 asked which body publishes the Global Gender Gap Index.
DAC clears ₹1.10 lakh crore of defence purchases, 98% from Indian industry
- On 7 September 2026, the DAC gave Acceptance of Necessity to proposals worth ₹1.10 lakh crore.
- About 98% of the purchases are planned from Indian industry.
- Army items include CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, advanced light helicopters and the Sarvatra Bridge System.
Why it matters
[Data] The DAC, chaired by the Defence Minister, clears capital purchases for the forces. Acceptance of Necessity is the first step in a purchase. The 98% domestic share shows the indigenisation push. Indian marine gas turbines would cut reliance on foreign engine makers.
Shakti Sharma becomes first non-medical woman officer to reach Air Vice Marshal rank
- On 1 September 2026, Shakti Sharma became the first non-medical woman officer to reach Air Vice Marshal rank.
- The first counts all three armed forces, including equivalent ranks in the Army and Navy.
- She took charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters.
Why it matters
[First] Women had reached this level before only through the medical branch. Air Vice Marshal equals Major General in the Army and Rear Admiral in the Navy. Defence exams often ask about women's firsts in the forces.