Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
September 2026
Gujarat completes mangrove planting on 27,000 hectares in Kutch under MISHTI
- Gujarat has planted mangroves on 27,000 hectares in Kutch under the MISHTI scheme.
- Its target under the scheme is 29,000 hectares.
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav visited a nursery at Jakhau that raises mangrove and seaweed species.
Why it matters
[Environment] MISHTI stands for Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes. Mangroves protect coasts from storms and erosion.
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.
India and MERCOSUR sign First Additional Protocol to their trade pact; talks to expand it launched
- India and MERCOSUR signed the First Additional Protocol to their Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
- It moves Certificates of Origin to digital, paperless issue and checking.
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin also launched talks to expand the PTA.
Why it matters
[Trade] MERCOSUR is a South American trade bloc founded in 1991. Under the PTA, India gives concessions on 450 tariff lines and MERCOSUR on 452.
WPI inflation rises to 9.92% in August 2026, fuel and power at 22.93%
- On 14 September 2026, data showed WPI inflation at 9.92% in August, up from 9.78% in July.
- Fuel and power inflation was 22.93%. Manufactured items hit a series high of 8.37%.
- Food index inflation rose to 7.05%.
Why it matters
[Data] Wholesale inflation near 10% is far above retail CPI inflation of 4.82%. The gap shows costs rising for producers before shoppers. The Commerce Ministry releases WPI. The MoSPI releases CPI.
Asked before: CDS (II) 2023 asked which factors raised wholesale price inflation in India in 2021-22.
Modi and Xi meet in New Delhi, welcome ‘steady progress’ in India-China ties
- On 12 September 2026, PM Modi met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
- It was their first meeting since the SCO summit in Tianjin in August 2025.
- Both sides said differences should not become disputes.
Why it matters
[Mains] Xi came to India for a two-day visit amid a thaw since the 2020 Galwan clash. Talks covered the boundary question and peace along the LAC. Leader-level meetings since Kazan 2024 mark the slow repair of ties.
New legless amphibian, Gegeneophis chandgadi, found in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats
- In September 2026, scientists described a new caecilian, Gegeneophis chandgadi, from Chandgad in Kolhapur district.
- Caecilians are legless, burrowing amphibians often mistaken for earthworms or snakes.
- The team was led by the Zoological Survey of India and other research institutes.
Why it matters
[First] The species was found in farms and village land, not inside a protected forest. It shows rare species live outside reserves too. Western Ghats endemism is a common exam theme.
India hosts 18th BRICS Summit; leaders adopt the New Delhi Declaration
- On 12 September 2026, the 11-member BRICS adopted the New Delhi Declaration at Bharat Mandapam.
- PM Modi chaired the 18th summit. Putin, Xi Jinping and Iran's Pezeshkian attended.
- The declaration backs a bigger UN Security Council role for India and Brazil.
Why it matters
[Policy] India forged consensus after Iran and the UAE agreed on wording about the West Asia war. The declaration opposed unilateral tariffs. BRICS summits and their hosts are a regular exam question.
Asked before: NDA (II) 2025 asked which statements about BRICS Summits are correct.
DILRMP 3.0 guidelines launched: ₹565.50 crore for land records from 2026-27 to 2030-31
- Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Operational Guidelines for DILRMP 3.0.
- DILRMP 3.0 runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹565.50 crore, fully funded by the Centre.
- It has 11 components under three pillars.
Why it matters
[Polity] DILRMP began as NLRMP in 2008. It became a Central Sector Scheme in April 2016. UPSC asked about its funding and features in 2024.
Centre amends E-Commerce Rules: prior price must be shown, sponsored listings labelled
- The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 amend the 2020 Rules.
- A discount must show both the reduced price and the prior price, the lowest price in the past 30 days.
- Sponsored listings must carry a clear label, and search results must not be manipulated.
Why it matters
[Economy] The 2020 Rules were made under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. In 2025, about 29% of National Consumer Helpline complaints were about e-commerce.
TRAI repeals its 2012 TV ad-duration rules after the Centre scraps the 12-minute cap
- TRAI issued the Duration of Advertisements in Television Channels (Repealing) Regulations, 2026.
- They repeal TRAI's 2012 regulations, which enforced a 12-minute ad cap per clock hour.
- The cap came from Rule 7(11) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
Why it matters
[Polity] TRAI regulates broadcasting carriage, not content. The ad cap itself sat in rules made under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Draft Seeds Bill to replace the Seeds Act, 1966; traditional seeds to stay free of registration
- On 10 September 2026, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met about 20 farmer groups on the draft Seeds Bill.
- The Bill would replace the Seeds Act, 1966. About 70% of seeds used are outside the old law.
- Farmers can still use, exchange and sell traditional seeds. Registering them will be voluntary.
Why it matters
[Policy] Fake seeds cause big crop losses for farmers. The new law aims to cover more seed and track it from source to sale. Farmers' right to save and share seed is a core exam point, as under the PPV&FR Act, 2001.
Rajnath Singh makes first Indian Defence Minister visit to Sri Lanka in 38 years; three MoUs signed
- Rajnath Singh visited Sri Lanka on 8-10 September 2026, the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister since 1988.
- On 9 September, he met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo.
- The two sides signed three MoUs on defence equipment and training.
Why it matters
[First] The last such visit was by K.C. Pant in 1988. Dissanayake repeated that Sri Lanka will not let its land be used against India's security. The visit fits India's Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2024 asked about Exercise Mitra Shakti, the India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise.
GRSE launches ‘Sagar Manthan’, an indigenous ocean research vessel for NCPOR
- On 9 September 2026, GRSE launched the ocean research vessel 'Sagar Manthan' in Kolkata.
- It is being built for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Deep Ocean Mission.
- The ₹840-crore ship is 89.5 metres long and is due to be ready by early 2028.
Why it matters
[First] India relies on few large research ships for deep-sea and polar science. Sagar Manthan adds a home-built vessel for seabed surveys and weather study. It supports the Deep Ocean Mission and India's Antarctic research.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2026 asked which statements about India's Deep Ocean Mission are correct.
UK lists India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme as a qualifying carbon price under its CBAM
- The UK has listed India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying carbon pricing scheme under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
- Indian exporters can claim relief in the UK for carbon prices already paid in India. This avoids paying twice for the same emissions.
- UK CBAM goods include steel, aluminium, fertiliser and cement. The UK CBAM starts in 2027.
Why it matters
[Environment] CCTS was notified in June 2023 and is run by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. A CBAM taxes the carbon in imported goods.
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.
Melghat and Pench tiger reserves emerge as India’s most successful vulture release sites
- BNHS released 29 captive-bred vultures in Melghat and Pench tiger reserves, Maharashtra.
- The releases took place between December 2025 and January 2026.
- Survival rates reached up to 78%.
Why it matters
[Environment] India's vulture numbers crashed in the 1990s because of the cattle drug diclofenac. It was banned for veterinary use in 2006.
India and China hold first Corps Commander talks in the Eastern Sector, in Arunachal
- On 6 September 2026, India and China held their first Corps Commander-level meeting in the Eastern Sector.
- It took place at the Vacha-Damai Border Personnel Meeting Point in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Lt Gen Girish Kalia of 3 Corps (Spear Corps) led India's 12-member delegation.
Why it matters
[First] The meeting extends the Corps Commander mechanism beyond Ladakh to the eastern LAC. It came amid reports of Chinese activity in the Taksing area of Upper Subansiri. It was held days before India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit.
Tribal Affairs Ministry says Forest Rights Act has no gram sabha consent rule for forest clearance
- On 31 August 2026, the Tribal Affairs Ministry wrote to the Power Ministry about gram sabha consent.
- It said the Forest Rights Act, 2006 has no provision for gram sabha consent for forest clearance.
- It said such matters are outside its purview, though it is the FRA's nodal ministry.
Why it matters
[Policy] Gram sabha consent has long been seen as a key safeguard for forest dwellers. The Power Ministry had called it a 'critical bottleneck' for delayed projects. The new stand could weaken that safeguard. Expect questions on the FRA and its nodal ministry.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2021 asked which ministry is the nodal agency for implementing the Forest Rights Act.
UN General Assembly adopts ‘Correct the Map’ resolution for equal-area world maps; India votes in favour
- The UN General Assembly adopted the 'Correct the Map' resolution on 4 September 2026.
- The vote was 164 in favour and 1 against, the United States. Six countries abstained.
- The African Group, led by Togo, brought the resolution.
Why it matters
[Geography] The Mercator projection keeps directions correct but enlarges areas near the poles. So Greenland looks almost as big as Africa, though Africa is about 14 times larger.
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.
Belgian PM Bart De Wever’s India visit: aim to double trade in five years, defence Letter of Intent signed
- Bart De Wever made the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in two decades.
- India and Belgium aim to double bilateral trade in five years. Trade was over $13 billion in 2025-26.
- They signed a Letter of Intent on defence cooperation.
Why it matters
[International Relations] Brussels hosts the EU and NATO headquarters. Antwerp is a global diamond-trading hub.
31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee formed to examine the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
- A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal chairs it.
- Both Houses agreed on 12 August 2026 to refer the Bill to a JPC.
Why it matters
[Polity] A JPC has members from both Houses. Usually two-thirds come from the Lok Sabha and one-third from the Rajya Sabha.
Rajnath Singh releases ‘Raksha’, a 10-year framework for India’s defence diplomacy
- On 3 September 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released 'Raksha', a 10-year defence diplomacy framework.
- It covers defence partnerships, joint exercises, training and capacity building with friendly countries.
- It aims to grow defence exports and make India a reliable defence manufacturing partner.
Why it matters
[Policy] This is a written long-term roadmap for defence diplomacy. It ties exports, exercises and maritime security into one plan. 'Net Security Provider' and 'First Responder' are common GS-II and GS-III terms.
Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh expires on 31 December 2026; Centre to weigh Bihar’s concerns
- The 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty expires on 31 December 2026.
- EAM S. Jaishankar said India will keep Bihar's interests in mind before deciding on renewal.
- JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha had asked the Centre not to renew it, saying it hurt Bihar.
Why it matters
[Mains] The treaty shares the Ganga's water at Farakka in the dry season. Its renewal is a major item in India-Bangladesh ties this year. It also shows how states can shape India's water diplomacy.
Asked before: CAPF 2022 asked with which country India shares Ganga water at Farakka.
IAF successfully tests indigenous long-range glide bomb Khagantak-243
- On 2 September 2026, the IAF successfully drop-tested the Khagantak-243 long-range glide bomb.
- The bomb was designed and developed in India.
- The IAF said the trials met all their objectives.
Why it matters
[First] A glide bomb lets a fighter strike from a stand-off distance. The aircraft can stay outside the reach of some enemy air defences. The test is part of the push to cut weapon imports under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Japan’s JCR upgrades India’s sovereign credit rating to ‘A-‘
- On 2 September 2026, the Japan Credit Rating Agency raised India's rating one notch, from BBB+ to A-.
- The upgrade covers India's long-term foreign- and local-currency issuer ratings.
- JCR cited growth near 7%, digital public infrastructure, GST and bank NPAs below 2%.
Why it matters
[Data] A higher sovereign rating can lower the cost of government borrowing. The move lifts India out of the BBB band with JCR. Exams test which agencies rate India and why ratings matter.
Asked before: CDS (II) 2016 asked which of the listed bodies are credit rating agencies in India.
26th SCO Summit in Bishkek adopts 28 documents; Pakistan takes over the 2026-27 chair
- The 26th SCO Heads of State Council met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 1 September 2026.
- It approved 28 documents, including the Bishkek Declaration and a protocol amending the SCO Charter.
- It also approved an MoU with the African Union Commission.
Why it matters
[International Relations] The SCO was founded in 2001 and now has 10 full members. India became a full member in 2017.
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.