Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
India-New Zealand FTA ratified; it comes into force on 20 October 2026
- On 21 September 2026, India and New Zealand exchanged notes completing ratification of their FTA.
- The agreement comes into force on 20 October 2026.
- New Zealand removes duties on all Indian goods. Most of its exports to India become duty-free or cheaper.
Why it matters
[Policy] It is one of India's newest FTAs. Keeping dairy out was India's key condition. New Zealand also committed $20 billion of investment in India.
Asked before: CDS (I) 2026 asked about the India-New Zealand FTA signed in December 2025.
India and the Visegrad Group hold first V4+India foreign ministers’ meeting
- On 21 September 2026, India and the Visegrad Group (V4) held their first foreign ministers' meeting.
- The V4 is Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- It met on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Why it matters
[First] This creates a new format for India's ties with Central Europe. It builds on deepening India-EU ties. Defence, technology and connectivity were key topics.
18th India-Mongolia exercise Nomadic Elephant begins at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
- The 18th edition of India-Mongolia exercise Nomadic Elephant began at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh.
- It is an annual platoon-level exercise, held alternately in India and Mongolia.
- Each side sent 45 personnel. The exercise runs till 3 October.
Why it matters
[Defence] Matching an exercise to its partner country is a common exam question. Nomadic Elephant pairs India with Mongolia. The venue alternates between the two countries each year.
NSO releases district-level labour market indicators for the first time
- The National Statistical Office released district-level labour market indicators for the first time.
- About 57.8% of districts had a female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 40% or more.
- Among the 100 most populous districts, Surat had the highest LFPR and WPR. Darbhanga had the lowest.
Why it matters
[First] Labour data was earlier available mainly at the national and state level. District figures help local job planning. Know LFPR, WPR and NEET as terms.
India’s cheetah population reaches 52, four years after reintroduction
- India now has 52 cheetahs, four years after Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022.
- 32 cubs have been born in India since the reintroduction.
- 49 cheetahs live in Kuno National Park and 3 in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
Why it matters
[Environment] Project Cheetah is a frequent exam topic. Know the two sites in Madhya Pradesh and the three source countries.
India and Bhutan complete two-way UPI payment link
- EAM S. Jaishankar and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay launched the second phase of international UPI in Thimphu.
- Bhutanese citizens visiting India can now pay with UPI.
- With UPI already in use in Bhutan, this completes two-way UPI payment links.
Why it matters
[First] UPI is run by NPCI. Its spread abroad is a common exam theme. Bhutan is now linked both ways.
Cabinet raises EPFO wage ceiling to ₹25,000 a month from ₹15,000
- On 16 September 2026, the Union Cabinet raised EPFO's mandatory wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month.
- It took effect on 17 September, Vishwakarma Jayanti.
- Over 51 lakh more workers are expected to get mandatory EPF, EPS and EDLI cover.
Why it matters
[Policy] More workers now get pension and insurance cover. Pension contributions rise too, so some take-home pay may fall. Trade unions called it too little, too late.
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.
India rejects Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission as having no legal basis
- On 16 September 2026, India rejected the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission.
- The commission held its first meeting in Islamabad.
- India says there is no boundary between Pakistan and China.
Why it matters
[Mains] India treats all of J&K and Ladakh as its territory, including areas under Pakistan's control. It also opposes CPEC, which runs through PoK. The Shaksgam Valley and the 1963 agreement are common exam facts.
Asked before: UPSC Mains 2018 asked about CPEC as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
22nd edition of India-US Army exercise Yudh Abhyas begins at Auli, Uttarakhand
- The 22nd edition of India-US Army exercise Yudh Abhyas opened at the Foreign Training Centre, Auli, in Chamoli district.
- Each side sent a contingent of 600 personnel.
- Drills are held at Auli and at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
Why it matters
[Defence] Yudh Abhyas is India's army exercise with the United States. Exams often ask for its partner country and venue.
World Circular Economy Forum held in India for the first time, at Gandhinagar
- The 10th World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF 2026) opened at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
- It is the first time the forum has been held in India.
- Finland's innovation fund Sitra co-organised it with the Environment Ministry, the CPCB and the Gujarat government.
Why it matters
[First] A circular economy reuses, repairs and recycles instead of throwing away. India's EPR rules and Mission LiFE are linked ideas.
UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000 to carry 0.4% MDR from 15 October 2026
- On 15 September 2026, the government set a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on some UPI payments.
- It applies to merchant payments above ₹2,000, from 15 October 2026.
- Person-to-person transfers and small merchant payments stay free. Customers pay no charge.
Why it matters
[Policy] The government had paid about ₹2,000 crore a year to keep UPI free for merchants. A parliamentary panel said zero MDR strained public finances. Traders and opposition parties have opposed the fee.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2018 asked what the term 'Merchant Discount Rate' describes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.