Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
September 2026
Anant Nag gets Dadasaheb Phalke Award as President presents 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar
- President Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity.
- Kannada actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024.
- 92 awardees were honoured across feature, non-feature and writing-on-cinema categories.
Why it matters
[Award] The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest film honour. It is given by the I&B Ministry along with the National Film Awards. The ceremony was held outside New Delhi this time.
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.
IAF’s first Dronathon-2026 begins at Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer
- The Indian Air Force held its first Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer.
- It was a three-day event for Indian makers of drones and anti-drone systems.
- Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit opened it.
Why it matters
[Defence] The event backs Atmanirbhar Bharat in unmanned systems. It looked at drones and counter-drone tools, not fighter jets or missiles.
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.
GSLV-F17 launches EOS-05, India’s first imaging satellite for geosynchronous orbit
- On 4 September 2026, GSLV-F17 launched the 2,367-kg EOS-05 satellite from Sriharikota.
- EOS-05 is India's first imaging satellite designed to watch Earth from geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 km up.
- It is the heaviest satellite a GSLV has launched so far.
Why it matters
[First] A satellite in geosynchronous orbit can keep watching the same region. That helps disaster management, farming and strategic monitoring. Most imaging satellites fly in low orbits and pass over an area only now and then.
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.