Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Unveils Five New Initiatives at Aadhaar Samvaad in Kolkata on 17th Aadhaar Day
Key Updates:
- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) held a day-long stakeholders conference 'Aadhaar Samvaad' in Kolkata, coinciding with the 17th Aadhaar Day, attended by over 600 stakeholders.
- Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and IT, Shri Jitin Prasada, was the chief guest and called Aadhaar a critical component of India's growth story.
- UIDAI launched Face Authentication for the Electronic Public Distribution System (ePDS), jointly with the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), offering a consent-based, contactless authentication option.
- UIDAI launched SWIK Portal 2.0 to streamline approvals for Aadhaar authentication under the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance framework, allowing eligible non-Government entities to submit proposals directly.
- The Sub-AUA/Sub-KUA (LITE) Framework was launched to enable wider adoption of Aadhaar authentication by entities with low-volume requirements, allowing them to use existing AUA/KUA infrastructure without setting up their own.
- UIDAI unveiled a new Token Management System to ease access to services at its state and regional offices.
- UIDAI unveiled a revamped website with BHASHINI integration supporting 13 languages, planned to expand to 23 languages, and featuring accessibility enhancements and a new UIDAI Career Portal.
- UIDAI CEO Shri Saurabh Vijay said the resident remains at the centre of every action of UIDAI and the Aadhaar ecosystem.
Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a temporary waiver of the ₹75 fee for updating email addresses through the Aadhaar mobile application. The fee waiver for email address updates will be…
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched a Face Authentication Software Development Kit (SDK) and a testing environment in its Aadhaar sandbox at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, unveiled by UIDAI…
DRDO Partners with CSIR-CGCRI on Rs 50-Crore Project for Indigenous Lightweight Bulletproof Glass for Armoured Vehicles
Key Updates:
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has partnered with CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) as technology partner for a Rs 50-crore, four-year project to develop indigenous lightweight bulletproof glass for armoured vehicles.
- The project involves DRDO laboratories including the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) in Maharashtra and TBRL in Chandigarh, and aims to reduce weight and thickness of transparent armour by 30-50 per cent compared to imported options.
- The glass-ceramic material uses nanometre-sized crystals dispersed in an engineered glass matrix, designed to withstand AK-47 rifle fire from 100 metres as per BIS V and VI standards.
- In initial ballistic trials at DRDO-TBRL in Chandigarh, the material stopped rounds fired from a Trichy Assault Rifle from 10 metres at a velocity of about 695 metres per second.
- CSIR-CGCRI Director is Bikramjit Basu, and the project leader is Atiar Rahaman Molla, Scientist-F, Specialty Glass Division.
- The next stage involves multi-shot testing, and the technology will transition to commercial production through an industry partner to be selected by DRDO.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Indian Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 450 indigenous Carl Gustaf Mk IV multi-role rocket launchers under the Buy (Indian) category. The procurement is part of the Army's infantry…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will issue an expression of interest within six months to select an industry partner for the first-of-production model (FOPM) of its 30kW directed-energy weapon…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the University of Hyderabad (UoH) secured a patent for a next-generation solid rocket propellant fuel. The patent covers BAM-H24, a boron-, hydrogen- and…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep tech project agreement with Rajasthan-based start-up Zero mK India Private Ltd to indigenously develop a 20 mK Dilution…
Megamax Aviation's Air Ayodhya Secures Civil Aviation Ministry NOC to Fly Uttar Pradesh Towns Under UDAN
Key Updates:
- Megamax Aviation Private Limited received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation for its regional airline Air Ayodhya, to be operated under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN.
- Air Ayodhya will now seek an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before commencing commercial operations.
- The airline will focus on Uttar Pradesh, linking tier-2 and tier-3 towns, pilgrimage centres and tourism destinations with each other and with major hubs.
- Operations will begin with new Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft, the first scheduled for delivery in December 2026, followed by 19-seater aircraft and larger turboprops as demand grows.
- Air Ayodhya aims to build a fleet of 50 aircraft by 2036.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) will sign MoUs with 22 states for the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN, marking the launch of the Challenge Mode and a new Routes Bidding Round. The 22 states…
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) plans to build 100 new airports over the next 10 years under the Modified UDAN scheme. The approximate outlay for building these 100 airports is Rs 30,000 crore.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) signed MoUs with 22 states on 22 September for the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN, marking the launch of the Challenge Mode and a new Routes Bidding Round to…
The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad on 01 September 2026. Ahmedabad became the third spoke airport under India's International Aviation Hub Strategy, after…
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority Secures $70 Million IFC Blue Financing for Shore Power Project
Key Updates:
- The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has secured a US$70 million blue financing arrangement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a shore-power project valued at ₹650 crore.
- The transaction is described as India's first blue-financing framework for the maritime sector and the first labelled blue financing for port infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region, aligned with the Blue Finance guidelines under the Indian Ports Act, 2025.
- Under the shore-power system, vessels at berth will draw electricity from land instead of running auxiliary diesel engines; the project is expected to cut carbon emissions by 63%, reduce air pollution by up to 90%, and create more than 400 jobs.
- The project will be implemented in two phases over two to three years, covering all JNPA terminals except the liquid-cargo terminal, with completion targeted by January 2028.
- Visiting ships emitted about 191,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent at JNPA in 2023-24; once both phases are operational, vessels are expected to use about 119,084 MWh of shore electricity annually, avoiding an estimated 71,272 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions.
- The initiative forms part of the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines and Maritime India Vision 2030.
- IFC also supported JNPA in developing a Sustainable Finance Framework to mobilise additional green and blue financing, and the transaction is described by JNPA as the first development-finance institution investment in India's state-owned major port authorities.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Sagarmala Finance Corporation, India's first maritime lender, plans to launch the country's maiden blue bond on September 28. The company aims to raise 6 billion rupees ($62.62 million), including a greenshoe option of 5…
State-owned NTPC and EDF Power Solutions India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of French utility EDF (Électricité de France), signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement on September 25, 2026, in the presence of NTPC CMD Gurdeep…
India secured USD 1 billion from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to provide long-term credit to MSMEs through banks and financial institutions. The facility offers loans up to seven years, addressing a…
Global private equity firm TPG is acquiring a 100 per cent stake in Aseem Infrastructure Finance from the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and other entities for an undisclosed sum. TPG is partnering…
Apple Pay Goes Live in India with Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard Credit Cards
Key Updates:
- Apple Pay has officially launched in India, supporting Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch for contactless payments at stores, in apps and online.
- Users can add eligible Axis Bank cards to Apple Wallet via the Axis Bank app or the Wallet app, and pay without entering card details, PINs or one-time passwords.
- Apple Pay does not store the actual card number on the device or Apple's servers; instead a unique Device Account Number is encrypted and stored in the Secure Element chip.
- At launch, Apple Pay is accepted by merchants including Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato, with payment providers such as Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline enabling acceptance.
- Apple Pay is available in more than 90 countries and regions and works with over 11,000 bank and network partners globally.
- Mac support for Apple Pay will be added soon.
Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
PhonePe and Visa jointly launched three payment solutions—Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay, and Smart Accept—at Global Fintech Fest 2026, making PhonePe the first app in India to enable Visa's Online Device…
John Ternus succeeded Tim Cook as Apple's CEO. Tim Cook served as Apple CEO for 15 years before stepping down.
SBI Card announced on September 23 a fully digital journey on the SBI YONO platform that allows eligible customers to apply for fixed deposit-backed secured credit cards in around 10 minutes. Customers with an SBI fixed…
Bank of India Goes Live with User-Level Programmable Digital Rupee and Auto Issuance on Its CBDC Platform
Key Updates:
- Bank of India has gone live with User-Level Programmable CBDC and Auto Issuance on its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platform, built by Montran India, announced in Mumbai on September 29, 2026.
- The capability was built in line with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) guidelines.
- The feature lets a user schedule automatic issuance of digital rupee (e₹) to a beneficiary's CBDC wallet at a set amount and frequency, while defining the purpose the funds can be used for.
- Key capabilities include user-level programmability configurable by the account holder, auto issuance of a predefined amount at a set frequency, purpose-based usage controls, and full automation of recurring payments.
- The system supports allowances, education expenses and other recurring, purpose-bound payments, such as a parent crediting a child's e₹ wallet monthly for tuition and meals.
- Julie Esca is the Chief Executive Officer of Montran India, and Ashutosh Mishra is the General Manager & CTO of Bank of India.
- The launch comes as RBI extends digital rupee pilots into welfare disbursement and cross-border payments beyond the original wallet-to-wallet design.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
IndusInd Bank announced the launch of a dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) Banking vertical on September 28, 2026, integrating corporate and employee banking under a single GCC relationship model. The vertical…
India has achieved 99.92% banking coverage, with 6,00,868 out of 6,01,328 inhabited villages served by a banking outlet within a 5 km radius. Banking outlets include bank branches, Business Correspondents (BCs), and…
The Government of India will launch a CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for food subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on August 14…
VinFast India, the Indian subsidiary of global electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Federal Bank Limited for dealer inventory financing solutions. Federal Bank will…
Government retains PPF interest rate at 7.1% for October-December 2026 quarter
Key Updates:
- The government has retained the Public Provident Fund (PPF) interest rate at 7.1 per cent for the October-December 2026 quarter.
- The Department of Economic Affairs notified the small savings rates decision on September 30 as part of its quarterly review.
- The 7.1 per cent PPF rate applies from October 1 to December 31, 2026, with no increase or cut.
- The quarterly decision also covers other small savings schemes such as the National Savings Certificate (NSC), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and the senior citizens' savings scheme.
- PPF interest is calculated on the balance according to scheme rules and credited to the account annually, not quarterly.
- An investor can deposit between Rs 500 and Rs 1.5 lakh in a financial year, and the account has an initial maturity of 15 years, extendable in blocks of five years.
- PPF interest is calculated on the monthly balance, so investors benefit from contributing early in the financial year rather than at the end.
- Under the Income Tax Act, 2025, the Rs 1.5 lakh aggregate deduction for specified savings investments is retained under Section 123, relevant to taxpayers opting for the old tax regime.
- PPF interest and maturity proceeds are tax-exempt under the applicable rules.
- A missed minimum annual contribution can make a PPF account inactive, requiring payment of the prescribed fee and penalty for regularisation.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fixed the interest rate on the Government of India Floating Rate Bond 2028 (FRB 2028) at 6.45 per cent per annum for the half year October 04, 2026 to April 03, 2027. FRB 2028 carries a…
The Government of India is selling up to a 6.5% stake in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) through an Offer for Sale (OFS) at a floor price of ₹382 per share. Retail investors will receive a discount of ₹15 per…
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised India's FY27 GDP growth forecast by 80 basis points to 7.1%, up from 6.3% projected in June. In its September Interim Economic Outlook, the OECD…
New Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules changing how banks disclose interest rates on large fixed deposits take effect from October 1, 2026, bringing in daily rate disclosures and greater consistency across branches. From…
Centre extends RoDTEP export duty refund scheme by three months to December 31, 2026
Key Updates:
- The government extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme by three months till December 31, 2026, with existing rates and value caps unchanged.
- The extension covers exports by Domestic Tariff Area units, Advance Authorisation holders, Special Economic Zone units and Export Oriented Units, as announced by the Department of Commerce.
- RoDTEP reimburses exporters for embedded central, state and local duties, taxes and levies not refunded through other mechanisms, and has been operational since January 1, 2021.
- RoDTEP covered more than 10,700 tariff lines, with cumulative disbursements crossing Rs 57,976 crore as of March 31, 2025.
- Advance Authorisation holders, EOUs and SEZ units, brought under broader RoDTEP coverage in 2024, together accounted for around a quarter of India's exports at that time.
- RoDTEP benefits were extended to eligible exports through the postal channel from January 2026, widening access for MSMEs, artisans, start-ups and smaller exporters.
Connects with 1 related update for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Centre extended the RoDTEP duty refund scheme and the RoSCTL scheme for apparel, garments and made-ups exporters by three months to December 31, 2026, and continued enhanced insurance cover against payment defaults…
Labour Ministry tells employers not to reduce statutory wages after EPFO ceiling rises to Rs 25,000
Key Updates:
- On September 17, the government raised the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, extending mandatory coverage to over 10 million additional workers.
- The labour and employment ministry directed employers not to cut employees' statutory wages or pass on the additional employer contribution through cost-to-company (CTC) adjustments.
- Workers earning between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 must be enrolled under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS); the employee's 12% contribution goes entirely to EPF, while 8.33% of the employer's 12% goes to EPS.
- The maximum monthly PF contribution, earlier capped at Rs 1,800 on the Rs 15,000 limit, can now rise up to Rs 3,000 with the Rs 25,000 ceiling.
- Employers can partly offset the additional burden through an incentive of up to Rs 3,000 per month for every additional employment created under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PMVBRY).
- Employees already contributing on wages above Rs 25,000 will not pay more in total monthly contributions, though the split between provident fund and pension may be revised.
Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Labour & Employment's proposal to raise the EPFO wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month. The move is expected to bring over 51 lakh additional…
The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) completed one year of implementation on August 1, 2026. Over 72 lakh first-time employees entered the formal workforce under PM-VBRY in its first year.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Employees' Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 2026, under the Code on Social Security, 2020, replacing the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952. Under the EPF Scheme, both…
Reserve Bank of India Issues Indicative Market Borrowing Calendar of ₹3,60,820 Crore for States and UTs for October–December 2026 Quarter
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the indicative calendar of market borrowings by State Governments and Union Territories for the quarter October–December 2026.
- Total market borrowings by State Governments and UTs for the quarter October–December 2026 are expected to be ₹3,60,820 crore.
- The Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS) was introduced on a pilot basis in Q1 FY 2026-27 involving nine States: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Keralam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Nine more States and one Union Territory — Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Delhi — were included under the BIS framework from Q2 FY 2026-27.
- From Q3 FY 2026-27, the BIS framework is extended to Assam, Goa, Haryana, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Actual borrowing amounts and participating States/UTs will be intimated via press releases two or three days prior to the auction day, subject to approval under Article 293(3) of the Constitution of India and prevailing market conditions.
Connects with 1 related update for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-appointed Advisory Committee on Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to State Governments proposed raising the aggregate WMA limit for states by 11.2% to ₹67,839 crore from ₹61,008 crore. The…
India's UNESCO Tentative List Grows to 78 Sites with Five New Heritage Additions
Key Updates:
- India's UNESCO Tentative List now has 78 sites after five additions: Bagh Cave Paintings, Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley, Udaigiri Caves, Ginnorgarh, and the India-South Africa serial transnational proposal, Sites of Satyagraha.
- The Udaigiri hill in Madhya Pradesh contains a rock-cut sacred ensemble developed primarily under Gupta patronage between the late 4th and early 5th centuries, with twenty excavated caves, sculptural panels and inscriptions forming an integrated ritual landscape.
- The Bagh caves are a group of nine rock-cut Buddhist caves on the southern slope of the Vindhyan range on the banks of the Baghni river in western Madhya Pradesh, notable as the only sandstone outcrop in an otherwise basaltic region.
- Ginnorgarh Fort, the principal fortified capital of the erstwhile Raj Gond rulers in central India, and the Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley (Bateshwar, Padavali and Kakarmath) in Madhya Pradesh were also added to the list.
- The Sites of Satyagraha proposal includes nine components—two in South Africa (Pietermaritzburg station and Phoenix Settlement) and seven in India (Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Smarak, Sabarmati Ashram, Mani Bhavan, Harijan Sevak Sangh complex, Sevagram Ashram, Aga Khan Palace and Gandhi Smriti)—portraying the evolution of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of Satyagraha.
- A site must first be recognised on the UNESCO Tentative List before it can be considered for the World Heritage tag.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Rajasthan's historic Shekhawati havelis have been included in UNESCO's Tentative List, a preliminary step towards potential World Heritage status, covering heritage properties across 14 towns including Alsisar, Bissau…
The Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble was added to India's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 5 September 2026. India's Permanent Mission to UNESCO submitted the nomination for the ensemble on 19 June 2026.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared Gollala Gudi in Palampet, Mulugu district, Telangana, a site of national importance. This brings the total number of ASI-protected sites to 10.
Four more properties were added to India's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, bringing the total number of Indian properties on the list to 73. The 73 properties include 53 cultural, three mixed and 17 natural…
Tamil Nadu CM expands Vettri Payanam free bus travel scheme for women
Key Updates:
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launched the expanded 'Vettri Payanam' free bus travel scheme for women on October 2, 2026, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, by issuing zero-fare tickets at Koyambedu Bus Terminus in Chennai.
- The scheme, announced by the Chief Minister under Rule 110 in the Assembly on August 24, aims to ensure women are not deprived of social and economic opportunities due to transport costs.
- The free travel facility, earlier limited to ordinary city and town buses and up to 40 km in hilly regions, now covers Express, Limited Stop Services (LSS), Deluxe, Suburban Ordinary (Mofussil Ordinary), and Ghat Ordinary services running over 40 km operated by the state's seven State Transport Corporations (STCs).
- Under the expansion, 12,695 buses will operate 1,68,500 single trips daily, benefiting an estimated 84.32 lakh women passengers across Tamil Nadu every day.
- There is no income ceiling for beneficiaries and no limit on the number of daily trips under the scheme.
- The scheme's name is derived from the ruling party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and means 'victorious journey' for women.
- Due to the Model Code of Conduct in force for by-elections in Madurantakam (Chengalpattu district) and Dharapuram (Tiruppur district), implementation of the scheme in these two districts is deferred until the election process concludes.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Delhi government launched the Pink Saheli Smart Card Yojana on 2 March 2026 to provide free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System…
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay announced three free LPG cylinders per year for eligible beneficiaries. The cost of the three LPG cylinders will be credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries.
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the 'Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana' on August 25, 2026. The scheme provides lifetime free travel to women aged 60 and above residing…
The Annapoorani Super Six scheme will provide the cash value equivalent to three free LPG cylinders per year to eligible families. The scheme is expected to cover about 1.3 crore families at an annual cost of…
Supreme Court directs seizure of vehicles and licence curbs to recover unpaid e-challan fines
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court, in its September 28 order in the road-safety case 'S Rajasekaran vs Union of India', directed states and Union Territories to recover unpaid e-challans by seizing vehicles and blocking registration, fitness, PUC and ownership-transfer services until fines are cleared.
- Approximately ₹49,194.05 crore remained recoverable towards e-challans issued across the country, of which ₹26,175.05 crore had been recovered.
- Authorities must refuse renewal or issuance of duplicate registration certificates and address-change requests until dues are cleared, withhold fitness certificates, blacklist vehicles on the Parivahan portal, and conduct random checks to impound non-compliant vehicles.
- For multiple violations, the Supreme Court ordered suspension of driving licence renewal and measures to suspend licences currently in force.
- The Court directed that electronic enforcement systems be AI-enabled to identify the 12 categories of violations specified under Rule 167A(3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and ordered integration of VAHAN-4, SARATHI, e-Challan, e-DAR, iRAD and traffic control rooms into the National Road Safety System.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) must create a public online dashboard, updated at least monthly, tracking implementation of Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act read with Rule 167A of the CMVR and the October 28, 2025 SOP, with annual data included in the 'Road Accidents in India' report.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The government ordered the removal of three smartphone applications—BAT-BMS, Lossigy, and Epoch-i-ion—due to their misuse in remotely disabling battery-operated vehicles. IT Secretary S Krishnan confirmed the action…
The Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance issued an Office Memorandum barring senior bureaucrats from being allotted more than one official staff car, even if they hold additional charge of another…
Indrajaal Autonomous Defense Systems and Sigma Advanced Systems secured government orders worth approximately Rs 155 crore for their Indrajaal Ranger counter-drone platform. The orders include a Rs 145 crore contract for…
Paytm Europe Payments, a step-down subsidiary of One 97 Communications, has secured a payment institution licence from the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) of Luxembourg. The licence is effective…
Centre extends RELIEF scheme Component II to protect exporters from West Asia shipping risks
Key Updates:
- The Department of Commerce, through a September 30 notification, extended Component II of the RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme, a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission.
- Under Component II, exporters shipping to specified regions can obtain ECGC cover with 95 per cent risk coverage for upcoming consignments, applicable to Stand Alone and Whole Turnover Policies obtained on or after March 16, 2026.
- The cover extends to full-container-load, less-than-container-load and reefer-container cargo, while energy shipments are excluded.
- Premiums paid by eligible exporters will not rise beyond the pre-disruption level during the covered period.
- The RELIEF scheme was launched on March 19, 2026, amid rising freight costs, insurance premiums and war-related risks along the Gulf and West Asian maritime corridor.
Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The United Kingdom has recognised India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying criterion for pricing relief under its carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a move expected to reduce the tax burden on…
The Centre extended the RoDTEP duty refund scheme and the RoSCTL scheme for apparel, garments and made-ups exporters by three months to December 31, 2026, and continued enhanced insurance cover against payment defaults…
Election Commission orders special enrolment drive for voters left out after SIR deletions
Key Updates:
- The Election Commission of India has directed the 20 states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is complete to run a special drive to enrol voters left out of the rolls, conveyed in writing on September 29 and repeated at a video conference with all Chief Electoral Officers.
- The enrolment drive will use Form 6 without the question added in July asking whether applicants or their parents were on the voters' list after the last SIR; the declaration will now apply during the SIR phase only, with Registration of Electors Rules 1960 forms used otherwise.
- Chief Electoral Officers have been told to compare pre-SIR and post-SIR rolls, identify deleted voters who may have been left out, visit their homes, and seek assistance of political parties or their booth-level agents to get Form 6 filled.
- Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record 14 times in 10 months to decisions taken in the Commission's name without their knowledge, including the change to Form 6 and the centralised control of ECINet.
- Goa's Chief Electoral Officer had to re-enrol 97 eligible voters left out of the final roll published on February 21 after ECINet offered no option to reverse their deletion.
- At its September 26 meeting, the Commission decided that voters served notices for being 'unmapped' or for 'logical discrepancies' need not appear for hearings, and set up a committee with an independent IIT/IIIT expert to review ECINet.
- Maharashtra, the largest state where SIR is still under way, has instructed Electoral Registration Officers not to exclude any voter in haste, with Booth Level Officers collecting documents at voters' homes and special camps scheduled on October 3, 4, 10 and 11.
- Maharashtra's draft roll flagged 1.22 crore records for verification: 62.48 lakh for discrepancies in relatives' details and 59.75 lakh that could not be mapped to a relative in the previous roll.
Connects with 1 related update for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Election Commission (EC) has introduced a new declaration in the online version of Form 6 on the ECINET portal for first-time voters and those seeking fresh enrolment in the electoral roll. The declaration requires…
Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous MPV Samarthak and ASW Shallow Water Craft Mangrol in October 2026
Key Updates:
- The Indian Navy will commission its first Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) Samarthak and the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Mangrol in October 2026.
- Samarthak, built at the Larsen and Toubro shipyard in Kattupalli, has over 75 per cent indigenous content and will serve as a trial and evaluation platform for next-generation naval systems, besides maritime surveillance and disaster relief roles in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Mangrol is designed to track and neutralise hostile submarines in coastal waters, strengthening the Navy's near-shore anti-submarine deterrence.
- The Navy commissioned INS Nipun, a Diving Support Vessel built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, in Mumbai on August 31, 2026, marking the eighth indigenous induction of the year.
- The single-year expansion phase began on February 27, 2026 with INS Anjadip, followed by INS Taragiri on April 3 and a rare triple-commissioning on June 21 of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray.
- The Navy also commissioned INS Mahendragiri on July 11 and INS Malvan on July 22, 2026.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered 'Mangrol', the third of eight indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), to the Indian Navy on August 21, 2026. The vessel is designed for coastal…
Indian Navy stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France on September 22, 2026 to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise Varuna with the French Navy. The exercise will include…
Indian Navy launched its fifth Diving Support Craft, DSC A24, at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) in Kolkata on August 1, 2026. DSC A24 was designed and constructed by TRSL in accordance with the Indian Register of…
Indian Navy's frontline destroyer INS Ranvijay made a port call at Salalah, Oman, on September 29, 2026, as part of its ongoing deployment. The Commanding Officer of INS Ranvijay called on the Southern Naval Area…
Centre adds 28 key Ladakh locations, including LAC friction points, to official Survey of India map
Key Updates:
- The Centre has formally identified 28 strategic places and geographical features in Ladakh on the official Survey of India map of the Union Territory, in consultation with the Ladakh UT administration.
- The identified sites include key Line of Actual Control friction points Gogra and Hot Spring, which were flashpoints during the 2020 India-China standoff and are crucial to Indian patrolling.
- The list also includes Alisha Giri, Kanishka Peak, Zorawar Peak, Skamri Glacier, Chapchingal Pass, Martand Giri, Milarepa Kangri, and Shamal Lungpa, a patrol and staging route from the 1950s.
- The eastern Ladakh border standoff between Indian and Chinese forces erupted on May 5, 2020, after a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area, with disengagement beginning in 2022.
- The move aims to streamline official cartography, enable precise identification, and improve public awareness of the sensitive border region.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Centre has proposed a new constitutional provision, Article 371(K), for Ladakh, offering an elected Union Territory-level body legislative powers over land, culture, language, forests, environment and natural…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged in the First Ascent Mountaineering Expedition on September 25, 2026, which summited 20 unclimbed peaks above 6,000 meters in Ladakh in 23 days. The first-ever recorded summits of 20…
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena declared Zanskar's Kumik as the Union Territory's first designated Heritage Village on September 15, coinciding with the opening of the Ladakh Zanskar Festival. The…
Ladakh has established the world’s highest-altitude flower cultivation project across 40 acres in Choglamsar and Stakna, Leh. The project features a total of 25 lakh flowers, consisting of 24 lakh Lilium and one lakh…
India imposes stricter sugar stock limits on dealers from October 15 for festive season
Key Updates:
- The Centre has tightened stockholding limits for sugar dealers, effective October 15, barring them from holding stocks for more than 15 days or keeping more than 1,000 quintals at any location, with the limits in force until November 30.
- Dealers in Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas and in Assam are allowed to hold up to 2,000 quintals, owing to supply requirements, longer transportation distances and logistical constraints of supplying the Northeast.
- Retail sugar prices have fallen 15% from their August peak but stood at ₹56 per kg, up 20% year-on-year, while ex-mill prices declined about 28% and hover between ₹4,500-₹4,800 per quintal.
- The new rules coincide with the start of the 2026-27 sugar season on October 1, and the government has advised sugar mills to begin crushing based on agro-climatic conditions in their regions.
Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The central government tightened sugar stock limits for bulk consumers using more than 10 metric tonnes of sugar per month. Bulk consumers are allowed to hold only 15 days' stock from September 1, 2026, until November…
The Centre imposed stockholding limits on sugar dealers, restricting them to a maximum of 4,000 quintals or 30 days of retention, effective from August 1 to November 30, 2026. Retail sugar prices reached an all-time high…
India beat South Korea 5-3 to win first Asian Games 2026 women's recurve team archery gold
Key Updates:
- India defeated South Korea 5-3 to win their first Asian Games women's recurve team gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on October 2, 2026.
- The Indian team comprised Ankita Bhakat, Kirti and 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod, who sealed the title with a perfect 10 on the final arrow.
- Kumkum scored 78 out of a possible 80 across her eight arrows, hitting six 10s and two nines.
- South Korea's archers Lee Yunji, Kang Chaeyoung and Oh Yejin had finished first, third and fourth in qualification, while India's trio placed 10th, 20th and 25th.
- India beat China in the semifinal, while China won bronze by defeating Indonesia in the bronze medal match.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Esha Singh won the silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the 2026 Asian Games, finishing the final with 38 hits, the same score as gold medallist Xiao Jiaruixuan of China, but losing the shoot-offs 4+2 to 4+3.…
India won the women's 4x400m relay gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, clocking 3 minutes 29.69 seconds, and also took bronze in the men's 4x400m relay. Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual…
India's compound archery pair Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav won gold in the mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, securing India's first quota place for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in the…
India won the silver medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions team event at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 with a combined score of 1763, finishing 10 points behind gold medallist China, while Kazakhstan took bronze…
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued A.P. DIR Series Circular No. 23 dated October 01, 2026, on online submission of Form A2 for outward forex remittances.
- Authorised Dealers Category I banks and AD Category II entities may now frame internal guidelines with approval of the Board or any delegated Board Committee/Management Committee, removing the earlier requirement of Board approval.
- The earlier instructions were issued vide A.P. DIR Series Circular No. 12 dated July 03, 2024, and all other instructions under it remain unchanged.
- The directions were issued under sections 104 and 111 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers-Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS), effective from August 16, 2026, with online declarations open until December 31, 2026. Eligible taxpayers…
The Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, will be effective from October 1, 2026. Goods invoiced or settled in Indian rupees get 12 months for realisation of export…
The Qatar-India postal remittance service powered by UPI was operationalised in Doha on August 15, 2026, coinciding with India's Independence Day. The service enables Indian residents in Qatar to send funds directly to…
India's outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) rose around 1 per cent month on month to USD 2.6 billion in July 2026, according to a 1Lattice analysis based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.…
WHO-UNICEF Report Finds 50 Million Indian Schoolchildren Lack Any Sanitation Service, Highest Globally
Key Updates:
- In 2025, about 50 million Indian schoolchildren attended schools with no sanitation service, the highest absolute figure of any country, followed by Nigeria (34 million), Ethiopia (26 million), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 million) and Indonesia (8 million).
- The WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme report, titled Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools 2015-2025, found that of 244 million children globally with no school sanitation, roughly one in five was in India.
- The proportion of Indian schools without any sanitation service dropped by about 14 percentage points over the 2015-2025 decade.
- Under WHO-UNICEF criteria, basic sanitation requires improved, single-sex, fully functional toilets; globally 460 million children lacked basic sanitation, comprising 244 million with no service and 216 million with limited facilities.
- In 2025, 77 percent of schools worldwide had basic sanitation (up from 67 percent in 2015), 11 percent had limited facilities, and 12 percent had no service.
- At current rates, only about 81 percent of schools will have basic sanitation by 2030, so achieving the SDG target of universal school WASH coverage requires roughly a fivefold acceleration.
- In 2025, about 429 million children globally lacked basic drinking water services and 545 million lacked basic hygiene facilities at school; coverage stood at 78 percent for drinking water and 72 percent for hygiene.
- India's Swachh Bharat Mission, launched in 2014, drove large-scale latrine construction and helped expand household sanitation access nationwide, according to UNICEF.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The United Nations (UN) gender equality agency, UN Women, reported that at least one million women and girls have lost access to critical humanitarian support since January 2025. The report, titled Beyond the Breaking…
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) jointly prepared the UN Hunger Hotspots Report for June to November 2026. The report identified 13 countries and…
An estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, down from 2024 but still 61 million higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Africa overtook Asia as the region with the largest number of hungry people, with 309…
The Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign commenced on September 17, 2026, with the theme 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat', announced by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil. The campaign launch coincided…
Lovlina Borgohain wins Asian Games 2026 boxing gold on her birthday, ends India's 12-year wait
Key Updates:
- India's Lovlina Borgohain defeated China's Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women's 75kg boxing final at the Asian Games 2026 on October 2, 2026, her birthday.
- The women's 75kg final was held at Nishio City General Gymnasium in Nishio, Japan.
- Lovlina became only the second Indian woman to win an Asian Games boxing gold, ending India's 12-year wait since Mary Kom's triumph in 2014.
- Lovlina won the first round 3-2 on the judges' cards and took the second round 4-1.
- She won the third round 4-1, with four judges scoring the bout 29-28 in her favour and the fifth 30-27, completing the unanimous 5-0 victory.
- No knockdowns or warnings were recorded in the final.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Indian archer Dhiraj Bommadevara set a new Asian Games men's recurve qualification record with 698 points out of 720 at the 2026 Asian Games in Okazaki City, Japan, breaking the previous record of 690 set by Korea's Lee…
Indian squash players Joshna Chinappa, Velavan Senthilkumar, Anahat Singh, and Abhay Singh assured India of at least three medals at the Asian Games by reaching the semifinals. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar…
Lovlina Borgohain is guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the women's 75kg boxing event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She received a first-round bye in the five-boxer draw, automatically securing a place in the…
Indian boxers Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal won their quarter-final bouts at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, assuring India of at least three bronze medals. Ankush Panghal defeated Tajikistan's Salimov…
Kumkum Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara claim recurve mixed team silver at Asian Games 2026 after losing final to China
Key Updates:
- Kumkum Anil Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara won the recurve mixed team silver at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, losing the final 3-5 to China on Friday.
- India fought back from a 0-4 deficit, winning the third set and tying the fourth 37-37, but China's Li Mengqi hit a decisive final-arrow 10 to seal gold.
- Earlier the same morning, 17-year-old Kumkum struck the decisive 10 as India beat South Korea to win the women's recurve team gold.
- Kumkum's first five arrows in the mixed final were nine, seven, eight, eight and eight, before she recovered with 10, nine and 10; Dhiraj hit a 10 in each of the first three sets.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh won silver medals for India in the Asian Games 2026 squash singles finals, both losing to Malaysian opponents on Sunday. Abhay Singh, ranked 26, lost the men's singles final to Malaysia's…
India's Dhiraj Bommadevara won a historic gold medal in the men's recurve event at the Archery World Cup Final 2026 held in Saltillo, Mexico, giving his Asian Games preparations a boost. The 25-year-old archer from…
Uzbekistan won the gold medal in the Open category at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, while India, the defending champion, took silver. India and Germany were tied on 18 match points and 28.5 game points after 11…
India won the silver medal in the open section and the bronze medal in the women's section at the 46th Chess Olympiad, which concluded on Sunday, September 27, 2026. In the final round, the Indian men drew 2-2 with…
International Week of Deaf People 2026 Observed from September 21 to 27
Key Updates:
- International Week of Deaf People 2026 is observed from 21 to 27 September 2026, with the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September 2026.
- The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) theme for 2026 is 'Declaring Deaf People's Human Rights'.
- 2026 marks 20 years since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
- The World Federation of the Deaf was founded in 1951 and now works with 138 national member organisations.
- There are more than 300 sign languages used around the world, and sign language is not universal; British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) are different languages.
- Signed languages use facial expressions, body movement, handshape, movement and space to convey meaning, and non-manual features can carry linguistic and grammatical information.
- Makaton is a communication programme using signs, symbols and speech, while BSL is a natural language with its own grammar used by the British Deaf community.
Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
India Deaf Women’s cricket team won their first-ever international T20 series by whitewashing Sri Lanka 4-0. The series was played at De Soysa International Cricket Stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
The International Day of Sign Languages is observed every year on September 23 to raise awareness about the importance of sign languages in ensuring the full realisation of the human rights of Deaf people. The theme for…
Key Updates:
- The International Day for Universal Access to Information is celebrated annually on 28 September.
- The day was declared by UNESCO in 2015 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017.
- The 2026 commemoration is held under the theme "Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The role of access to Information in addressing Information Disorder."
- The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) marked the day through Resolution 630 on guidelines for monitoring technology companies' compliance with information integrity, Resolution 631 on guidelines for platforms operating in Africa, and consideration of African Guidelines on Access to Data under Resolution 620.
- The ACHPR will review its Model Law on Access to Information for Africa, a soft law document adopted in 2013, to incorporate digital age aspects.
- Access to information is a fundamental human right enshrined under Article 9(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
World Maritime Day 2026 was observed on 24 September with the theme 'From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence', a theme spanning 2026 and 2027. International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General…
International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed annually on 9 September, falling on a Wednesday in 2026. The day was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 74/275 in 2020, at the urging of Qatar and…
International Red Panda Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of September, and in 2026 it falls on September 19. The Red Panda Network marks the day in 2026 under the slogan 'Run for Red Pandas', linked to…
The International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South is observed annually on 16 September. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly established this day in 2024 through Resolution 78/259.
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Observed on 29 September 2026 with Theme on Transformative Potential of Reducing Food Loss and Waste
Key Updates:
- The seventh observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) falls on 29 September 2026, with the theme 'Transformative Potential of Reducing Food Loss and Waste'.
- The UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/209 on 19 December 2019, proclaiming 29 September as IDAFLW.
- SDG 12, Target 12.3 aims to halve per capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains by 2030.
- An estimated 13% of food produced is lost globally after harvest before retail, while 19% of food available to consumers (about 1.05 billion tonnes) is wasted, per UNEP 2024 estimates.
- Of food waste reaching the end of the supply chain, 60% occurs at household level, 28% in food service, and 12% at retail (UNEP, 2024).
- Food loss and waste contributes about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAOSTAT, 2025).
- Food loss represents an estimated annual loss of US$400 billion in food value (FAO, 2019), and food waste results in more than US$1 trillion worth of food thrown away yearly (UNEP, 2024).
- An estimated one in thirteen people worldwide experienced hunger in 2025 (608–696 million people), and about 2.69 billion people (32.7%) cannot afford a healthy diet (FAO, 2026).
- Food Waste Prevention Week is observed from 28 September to 4 October 2026 with the theme 'Food Heroes in Your Neighborhood'.
- The official hashtag for IDAFLW is #FLWday.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Bisleri International and State Bank of India (SBI) signed a Letter of Association to drive responsible plastic waste management across SBI branches and offices. Bisleri will conduct training and awareness sessions for…
International Vulture Awareness Day falls on the first Saturday of September each year. The Union Environment Minister led the International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 celebrations on 6 September 2026.
International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed every 3 July to raise awareness about eliminating the use of plastic bags worldwide and promoting eco-friendly reusable alternatives. The day is part of a global movement…
World Cleanup Day 2026, a UN-recognised day, was observed on September 20 with the theme 'From Clean Plates to Clean Cities', focusing on food waste prevention. According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, around…
Vande Bharat crosses Chenab and Anji bridges at 100 kmph as Katra-Banihal speed limit raised
Key Updates:
- The maximum permitted speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal railway section has been raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph, over a year after the section was inaugurated in June 2025.
- Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26401/26404) set a record by crossing the Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, at 100 kmph.
- The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), built at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore, comprises 36 tunnels totalling 119 km and 943 bridges.
- The Chenab Rail Bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed, is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, is 1,315 metres long, can withstand wind speeds up to 260 kmph, and has an anticipated service life of 120 years.
- The Anji Khad Bridge measures 725 metres in length, stands 331 metres above the riverbed, and is supported by 96 high-tensile cables.
- A specially configured Vande Bharat Express for the Katra-Srinagar route can operate at temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius, with heated windshields, insulated toilets and seismic dampers.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Ministry of Railways will take up the Second Saraighat Rail-Cum-Road Bridge project in Assam, along with doubling of the 7.20-km railway line between Agthori and Kamakhya stations, under the Northeast Frontier…
The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat route offers views of snow-covered peaks, green valleys, and rivers. The Mumbai-Madgaon Vande Bharat passes through the Konkan region and Western Ghats, with waterfalls and misty hills…
The Ministry of Railways approved a plan to increase the maximum permissible train speed to 100 kmph on the 111-km Katra-Banihal broad gauge section. The approved speed enhancement covers the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi…
Maharashtra's first steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was launched over NH-3 (Nashik Highway) at Dive-Anjur village in Bhiwandi, Thane district. The bridge is 100 metres long, weighs 1,405 metric…
Andhra Pradesh CM and Union Finance Minister launch ₹1 lakh-crore global horticulture hub project at Madanapalle
Key Updates:
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation for a ₹1 lakh-crore global horticulture hub at Madanapalle in Annamayya district, and also laid the foundation stone for the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA).
- The Horticulture Hub will be implemented in three phases with an estimated investment of ₹1 lakh crore, with the TDP-led NDA government contributing ₹40,352 crore and efforts to mobilise ₹60,000 crore from the private sector.
- The project will cover 10 districts — Anantapur, Annamayya, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Kadapa, Prakasam and Markapuram — through 201 clusters across 303 mandals and 5,869 villages.
- The government plans to expand horticulture cultivation from 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares and raise production from 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes, directly benefiting 9.6 lakh farmers.
- The ISA, modelled on the Indian School of Business, will advance agricultural development through modern technology, research and innovation, with Reliance Industries Limited partnering the state government to establish and manage the institution.
- The ISA will provide technology-driven guidance to farmers, focusing on modern technology, scientific research, digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation and market intelligence.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the ASIP Semiconductor Project at Visakhapatnam, with an investment of over ₹460 crore, under the India Semiconductor Mission. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Alluri…
The Odisha State Cooperative Union organised the 5th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation (MoC), Government of India, in Bhubaneswar. A nationwide campaign from June 29 to July 6, 2026, focuses on strengthening…
Union Minister Jitendra Singh dedicated the first-of-its-kind CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) 'Eco-Educational Hub' 'Prakriti Gyan Dham' to the nation at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre…
Bihar's Industries Department signed an MoU with AIM Global Foundation at the AIM Congress 2026 in Dubai to promote a dedicated Food Processing Park in Bihar, anchored by UAE and wider Gulf investments. The MoU was…
Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, Ex-TV Anchor, Becomes New King of Uganda's Tooro Kingdom
Key Updates:
- Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a former television news anchor, was crowned the 13th monarch of Uganda's Tooro Kingdom on 29 September 2026 in Fort Portal, ending a succession dispute.
- Kijanangoma succeeded King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, whose death from cancer at age 34 the previous month triggered a feud over the throne.
- Kijanangoma, aged 56, was selected by a 21-member committee of the royal Babiito clan and is the cousin of his predecessor Oyo Nyimba.
- He took the new royal name Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I in a traditional ceremony held in Tooro's capital, Fort Portal.
- Oyo Nyimba died in the United States on 27 August 2026 while receiving treatment for angiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer, and was buried on 12 September at Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal.
- Oyo Nyimba drew global attention in 1995 when he was enthroned at age 3 after the death of his father.
- The coronation took place despite objections from Oyo Nyimba's mother, Best Kemigisa, and sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, who said the late king left a will naming a young son as heir.
- Born in 1970, Kijanangoma was raised in Kidukuru village in Fort Portal, graduated with a mass communication degree from Makerere University in 1999, and worked as a broadcaster for over two decades, including with the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) and in Rwanda.
- Uganda is a constitutional republic, but four pre-colonial kingdoms, including Tooro, remain officially recognised symbols of identity and heritage without political power.
No connected coverage yet.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal win Asian Games 2026 boxing golds as Sujeet Kalkal takes wrestling title
Key Updates:
- Lovlina Borgohain won the gold medal in the women's 75kg boxing event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating China's Bao to claim her maiden Asian Games gold.
- Lovlina Borgohain became the first Indian woman boxer since Mary Kom to win an Asian Games gold medal.
- Parveen Hooda won gold in the women's 65kg boxing final, beating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin 3-2.
- Ankush Panghal won gold in the men's 80kg boxing event, beating South Korea's Kim Min-seong to complete India's 3-0 sweep in the boxing finals.
- Sujeet Kalkal won gold in the men's freestyle 65kg wrestling event, staging a comeback from 2-9 down to beat Uzbekistan's Kudiev 10-9.
- India's women's hockey team won the Asian Games gold after 44 years, beating China 1-0 in the final with a decisive first-quarter reverse-hit strike from Lalremsiami.
- The trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kumkum Mohod and Kirti Sharma won gold in the women's team recurve archery event, defeating defending champions South Korea in the final.
- India won six gold medals on Day 13 of the Asian Games 2026, moving to fifth place in the medal tally with 76 medals comprising 16 gold, 25 silver and 35 bronze.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
India finished fourth at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with 39 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. India matched Scotland's total of 39 medals but finished above them because of a superior…
India defeated Germany 8-1 in the final of the 1936 Olympic hockey tournament held in Berlin. Major Dhyan Chand was part of the Indian team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
India beat Iran 37-33 to clinch the women's kabaddi gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Tokai City, Japan, on September 26, 2026. This was India's fourth gold medal in women's kabaddi at the Asian Games, after…
Uzbekistan won the gold medal in the Open category at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, while India, the defending champion, took silver. India and Germany were tied on 18 match points and 28.5 game points after 11…
Parveen Hooda wins women's 65kg boxing gold at Asian Games 2026, edging Chen Nien-chin 3-2
Key Updates:
- Parveen Hooda won the women's 65kg boxing gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin 3-2 by split decision.
- Parveen became only the third Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold medal after MC Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain.
- Lovlina Borgohain won the women's 75kg gold on the same Friday, giving India two women's boxing gold medals on the same day at the 2026 Asian Games.
- MC Mary Kom had won the 51kg boxing title at the 2014 Asian Games.
- Parveen's bronze medal from the Hangzhou Asian Games was revoked following a doping violation, after which she served a suspension before returning to competitive boxing.
- Chen Nien-chin is a former world champion who won gold at the 2026 Asian Championships and had previously won bronze at the Asian Games and the Paris Olympics.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Indian shooter Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar, aged 15, won gold in the men's trap event at the ISSF Junior World Cup Shotgun 2026 in Porpetto, Italy, hitting 27 of 30 targets in the final to finish one target ahead of…
Suraj Kumar Chand won the men's singles gold at the 2026 FISU World University Championship Squash in Mumbai. He defeated Hungary's Benedek Takacs 3-2 in the final.
Indian wushu athlete Roshibina Devi won silver in the women's sanda 60 kg event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, losing the final to China's Zhang Xiaoyu. Roshibina lost both rounds of the final 0-5, with Zhang…
Indian boxers Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal won their quarter-final bouts at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, assuring India of at least three bronze medals. Ankush Panghal defeated Tajikistan's Salimov…
Key Updates:
- President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, completing the key legal process required for the state to enact the law.
- Gujarat is the second state in India after Uttarakhand to pass legislation seeking to implement a Uniform Civil Code.
- The provisions of the bill will not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the UCC was among the key reforms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was determined to implement and that its key aim is to ensure social harmony and national unity.
- The bill proposes mandatory registration of marriages and divorces, with a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for non-compliance.
- The bill makes registration of all live-in relationships compulsory, requires couples to notify authorities when such relationships end, considers children born from live-in relationships legitimate, and entitles women deserted by live-in partners to seek maintenance.
- The legislation bans polygamy and provides for up to seven years' imprisonment for marriages conducted through coercion or force.
- Divorce through any means other than a court decree will be punishable with up to three years in prison.
- The bill allows divorced couples to remarry without conditions and prohibits the practice of 'halala' in certain communities.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
President Droupadi Murmu amended the Inter-State Council Order, 1990, to provide for the participation of Governors and Lieutenant Governors in Inter-State Council meetings when specified constitutional or statutory…
Former high court judge Justice R. C. Chavan resigned on September 19 from the Maharashtra government's seven-member committee set up to draft a framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The committee, set…
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), introducing common rules on marriage, inheritance, and live-in relationships. Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)…
President Droupadi Murmu returned the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, popularly called the 'anti-Goonda' Bill, for reconsideration after the Centre flagged a conflict with the…
Key Updates:
- The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) issued a Certificate of Appointment as Sponsor of a Pension Fund to Bank of Baroda, making it the second public sector bank to enter the pension fund business.
- The certificate was presented to Bank of Baroda Managing Director and CEO Debadatta Chand by Department of Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Lohiya on October 1 during the NPS Divas 2026 event, in the presence of PFRDA Chairperson S Ramann and NPS Trust Chairperson Dinesh Kumar Khara.
- The appointment enables Bank of Baroda to sponsor a pension fund under the PFRDA Act, 2013, following PFRDA's approval in July 2026 of Bank of Baroda, Motilal Oswal AMC and Bajaj as pension fund sponsors.
- Bank of Baroda has onboarded Tatkal NPS on the BHIM app under the second phase of the rollout, enabling users to open National Pension System (NPS) accounts in a simplified, paperless manner.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launched the DakPay sound box, digital insurance and mutual fund platforms on its 9th foundation day. The bank has over 13 crore customers, including a large rural and women customer base.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued detailed operational guidelines for NPS Swasthya, a retirement pension scheme with health insurance coverage. Anyone eligible to join NPS can enrol…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued final Amendment Directions simplifying the approval process for subsequent acquisitions of major shareholding in a banking company by mutual funds, insurance companies and pension…
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of seven unions representing close to 90% of India's bank officers and staff, called a three-day nationwide strike on September 28, 29 and 30, 2026. The immediate…
