---
title: "Daily Current Affairs: 18 September 2026"
date_published: "2026-09-18"
date_modified: "2026-09-18T08:00:00+05:30"
language: "en-IN"
audience: "UPSC, SSC, banking and government exam aspirants"
content_type: "daily-current-affairs-briefing"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/18_09_2026"
citation_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/18_09_2026"
content_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/18_09_2026.md"
---

# Daily Current Affairs: 18 September 2026

Daily current affairs for 18 September 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.

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## Editorial Note

Last updated: 18 September 2026. This briefing is structured for current affairs revision, with key updates and related coverage links to help readers connect recurring topics across days.

## Top Current Affairs To Revise Today

- Key Product Launches at Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai: Agentic AI, UPI Features, and Cross-Border Payments
- Forbes World’s Top Performing Banks 2026: HDFC Bank Secures 3rd Rank in Global Top 10
- NPCI to Levy 0.4% MDR on UPI Merchant Payments Above Rs 2,000 From October 15
- US Federal Reserve Hikes Rates by 25 bps Under Chair Kevin Warsh; Impact on Indian Markets and FII Flows
- Union Cabinet Approves Hike in EPFO Monthly Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000
- Gujarat State Child Protection Policy 2026: Zero-Tolerance Framework Extends Safety to Digital Spaces and Workplaces

## Key Product Launches at Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai: Agentic AI, UPI Features, and Cross-Border Payments

### Key Updates

- Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 was held from September 8 to 11 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- At GFF 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined four industry goals: expanding UPI's global reach, extending fintech into pensions and insurance, building a Fintech Consumer Protection Index, and recognising agentic AI, tokenisation, and quantum computing as the next frontier.
- Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Sanjay Lohiya introduced open-source Android ATMs that can open accounts, process loan applications, accept cheque deposits, and instantly issue RuPay cards and merchant UPI QR codes, reducing onboarding time from weeks to minutes.
- Nine lenders, including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and Slice Small Finance Bank, are piloting the Android ATMs with manufacturers Hitachi Payment Services, Perto India, and Vortex Engineering.
- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched AiNxt, an open-source agentic AI platform with components including AiNxt OS, Code, CLI, and Enterprise, and AtOM, an orchestration platform that creates signed, machine-readable audit trails for UPI integration and partner onboarding.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra launched two new UPI features at GFF 2026: MyUPI, built on NPCI's payments-focused small language model FiMI, and UPI Tap & Pay, which allows PIN-less transactions of up to Rs 5,000 via NFC-enabled smartphones without internet.
- Amazon Pay launched its Smart wallet, allowing AI agents to make UPI payments on behalf of users, currently live for flight ticket booking, alongside biometric authentication and offline tap-to-pay.
- PhonePe partnered with Visa to introduce three cardless payment features: Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay covering 14 markets including Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, and Smart Accept for small merchants.
- BharatPe launched an agentic AI assistant for merchants built on Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, operating across more than 60 internal systems, and introduced Credit Coach featuring a digital avatar of former cricketer Rohit Sharma.
- Razorpay introduced Vulcan, described as India's first transformer-based AI foundation model for payments, developed with Nvidia and Amazon Web Services and trained on 4 billion payments and 3 trillion data points, increasing payment success rates by 8-10% during beta testing.
- Jio Financial Services' payments division partnered with Citi to launch a cross-border payments service enabling Indian businesses to accept international payments.
- Pine Labs partnered with L&T Finance to introduce an agentic commerce feature in the PLANET app, initially enabling an AI agent to book flights within user-defined spending limits.
- Amazon Pay and Kotak Mahindra Bank launched a co-branded credit card for Amazon Business merchants offering cashback, an interest-free credit period, and AWS cloud credit benefits.
- Yubi launched Pye, a retail lending platform routing borrower applications to lending partners, and TopScore, a consumer credit-health app displaying credit scores in 10 languages.
- Yes Bank and fintech company Open launched i-Mandate, an AI-based system that detects potential failures in recurring payments before debits occur, using voice and WhatsApp-based AI agents supporting 22 languages.
- Mahindra Finance expanded its partnership with Indian AI company Sarvam to deploy voice-based AI agents supporting 12 Indian languages across sales, collections, and employee operations in rural and semi-urban markets.
- Navi partnered with IndusInd Bank to add a new UPI payment switch to its payments infrastructure.
- Bengaluru-based Gnani AI expanded its Artha AI platform for banks, financial services companies, and insurers, offering over 200 pre-built workflows including payment reconciliation, underwriting, loan processing, and risk management.
- PayU launched Fraud Liability Protect (FLP), an AI-powered tool for Indian merchants accepting international card payments, with merchants seeing a 4-5% increase in international card payment success rates.
- PayU, Paytm, Razorpay, Juspay, and Skydo received cross-border payment aggregator licenses from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [NPCI Unveils UPI Tap & Pay and AI-Powered My UPI at Global Fintech Fest](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/npci-unveils-upi-tap-and-pay-and-ai-powered-my-upi-at-global-fintech-fest)
- [Bank of Maharashtra Launched FinSpark’26, a National Level Cybersecurity Hackathon](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/bank-of-maharashtra-launched-finspark-26-a-national-level-cybersecurity-hackatho)
- [MSE Issues India's First Tokenised Corporate Bond Under SEBI's Demat 2.0 Pilot](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/mse-issues-india-s-first-tokenised-corporate-bond-under-sebi-s-demat-2-0-pilot)
- [PM Modi Inaugurates Global Fintech Fest 2026, Calls for Next-Generation Innovation](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/pm-modi-inaugurates-global-fintech-fest-2026-calls-for-next-generation-innovatio)

## Forbes World’s Top Performing Banks 2026: HDFC Bank Secures 3rd Rank in Global Top 10

### Key Updates

- Forbes released its World’s Top Performing Banks 2026 list, in which India’s HDFC Bank secured the 3rd rank and is the only Indian bank in the global top 10.
- The top 10 ranking: 1. OCBC (Singapore), 2. DBS (Singapore), 3. HDFC Bank (India), 4. China Merchants Bank (China), 5. JPMorgan Chase (US), 6. Nordea Bank (Finland), 7. Wells Fargo (US), 8. UniCredit (Italy), 9. PNC Financial Services (US), 10. Rabobank (Netherlands).
- OCBC of Singapore ranked 1st with a reported value of $525 billion, DBS ranked 2nd with $698 billion, and HDFC Bank ranked 3rd with $518 billion.
- Forbes ranked banks on four parameters: Profitability (30%), Capital and Funding Resilience (25%), Asset Quality and Efficiency (25%), and Growth and Earnings Quality (20%); eligible banks were divided into six asset-size categories before final scoring.
- Forbes used objective financial data from providers such as the S&P Capital IQ platform, along with desk research and information submitted by banks to Forbes.com.
- HDFC Bank has submitted its two preferences to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the MD and CEO position, with Kaizad Bharucha the top internal name, as current CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan’s term ends on 26 October 2026.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [Sashidhar Jagdishan to Retire as HDFC Bank CEO on October 26](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/sashidhar-jagdishan-to-retire-as-hdfc-bank-ceo-on-october-26)
- [SPJIMR Ranks 26th Globally in FT MiM 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/spjimr-ranks-26th-globally-in-ft-mim-2026)
- [Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Releases Financial Stability Report June 2026, Gross NPAs at Multi-Decadal Low of 1.8%](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/reserve-bank-of-india-rbi-releases-financial-stability-report-june-2026-gross-np)

## NPCI to Levy 0.4% MDR on UPI Merchant Payments Above Rs 2,000 From October 15

### Key Updates

- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will introduce a 0.4 per cent merchant discount rate (MDR) on specified UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15.
- For high-value merchant payments, the MDR will be capped at Rs 300 per transaction once the transaction value reaches Rs 75,000.
- UPI person-to-person payments and merchant payments up to Rs 2,000 will remain free, with around 96 per cent of P2M transactions expected to remain unaffected.
- Small merchants covered under the zero-MDR framework will continue to receive payments without MDR.
- The MDR is not a tax or government charge but a fee distributed among participants involved in processing and facilitating merchant payments.
- Banks have been advised to ensure that merchants do not pass the MDR charge on to customers.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Taxation and Payment Settlement Systems (Amendment) Acts, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/president-droupadi-murmu-gives-assent-to-taxation-and-payment-settlement-systems)
- [Centre Prohibits Fees on UPI Transactions Up to Rs 2,000 and RuPay Debit Card Payments](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/centre-prohibits-fees-on-upi-transactions-up-to-rs-2-000-and-rupay-debit-card-pa)
- [Ministry of Finance Bars Charges on UPI Payments Up to Rs 2,000 via Gazette Notification](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/ministry-of-finance-bars-charges-on-upi-payments-up-to-rs-2-000-via-gazette-noti)
- [FOMO Pay and NPCI International Launch UPI QR Payment Acceptance in Singapore with Resorts World Sentosa](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/fomo-pay-and-npci-international-launch-upi-qr-payment-acceptance-in-singapore-wi)

## US Federal Reserve Hikes Rates by 25 bps Under Chair Kevin Warsh; Impact on Indian Markets and FII Flows

### Key Updates

- The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points, the first hike under Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, with a unanimous vote and median dots projecting one more 25 bps hike this year.
- The hike was largely priced in, and the BSE Sensex traded nearly 0.40 per cent or 285 points higher at 74,620 levels around 12.30 PM after the decision.
- NSDL data shows FPIs sold shares worth ₹2.41 trillion so far this year, including ₹17,222 crore in September after two months of buying.
- The rupee crossed the 96 per dollar mark after a two-month gap, adding to foreign investor pain as dollar returns get dented.
- Yield on the two-year US note fell 2 basis points to 4.71 per cent after the Fed move, while 10-year and 30-year yields also dropped 2 basis points each.
- Analysts flagged risks including weak monsoon, rising bond yields and inflation, with a possible 2–3 per cent fall in the Nifty in the short term, though the situation is not expected to extend beyond 3–6 months due to lucrative valuations.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injects ₹1,41,171 crore transient liquidity via VRR auction](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/reserve-bank-of-india-rbi-injects-1-41-171-crore-transient-liquidity-via-vrr-auc)
- [State Bank of India (SBI) Research raises India's FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.3%](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/state-bank-of-india-sbi-research-raises-india-s-fy27-gdp-growth-forecast-to-7-3)
- [State Bank of India (SBI) Research projects India's Q1 FY27 GDP growth at around 7%](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/state-bank-of-india-sbi-research-projects-india-s-q1-fy27-gdp-growth-at-around-7)
- [Goldman Sachs raises India's CY26 GDP growth forecast to 6.8%](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/goldman-sachs-raises-india-s-cy26-gdp-growth-forecast-to-6-8)

## Union Cabinet Approves Hike in EPFO Monthly Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000

### Key Updates

- 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 employees under mandatory EPFO coverage.
- The EPFO wage ceiling was previously raised to ₹15,000 in September 2014 after remaining unchanged between 2004 and 2014.
- The higher ceiling widens access to provident fund savings, pension benefits under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), and insurance protection under the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme.
- The proposal received the Expenditure Finance Committee's recommendation at its meeting on 16 June 2026 after inter-ministerial consultations.
- The government's estimated annual expenditure under the revised arrangement is about ₹11,339 crore, against existing annual budgetary support of about ₹10,250 crore, with five-year expenditure estimated at approximately ₹56,696 crore.
- EPFO data shows around 7.98 crore members contributing through about 7.68 lakh establishments, while EPS provides pensions to around 82 lakh pensioners.
- The official notification giving effect to the revised wage ceiling is still awaited.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Launches Official WhatsApp Channel for Member Updates](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/employees-provident-fund-organisation-epfo-launches-official-whatsapp-channel-fo)
- [ECI Approves ₹6,000 Honorarium for BLOs](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/eci-approves-6-000-honorarium-for-blos)
- [Chhattisgarh Cabinet Clears CM Startup and NIPUN Mission with Rs 500 Crore Outlay](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/chhattisgarh-cabinet-clears-cm-startup-and-nipun-mission-with-rs-500-crore-outla)
- [Karnataka Approves Aerospace Policy 2026-31 and Jobs Measures](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/karnataka-approves-aerospace-policy-2026-31-and-jobs-measures)

## Gujarat State Child Protection Policy 2026: Zero-Tolerance Framework Extends Safety to Digital Spaces and Workplaces

### Key Updates

- Gujarat government announced the Gujarat State Child Protection Policy-2026, effective from its publication in the Gazette, adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and discrimination against children.
- The policy extends child protection to the online world, addressing risks from the internet, social media and digital technologies, and mandates equal protection irrespective of religion, caste, gender, disability or socio-economic status.
- Special attention is given to vulnerable children, including those who are orphaned, homeless, migrant, trafficked, in institutional care, or affected by disasters and chronic illnesses.
- The framework covers government agencies, local bodies, NGOs, industries, corporate houses, media organisations and religious institutions, with mandatory safety protocols for institutions employing professionals dealing directly with children.
- Training on child rights and laws such as POCSO and the Juvenile Justice Act, along with background and police verification of employees, contractual workers and volunteers, will be strengthened.
- Suspected cases of abuse, child marriage, child labour, trafficking or online abuse must be reported to Child Helpline 1098/112, police or the Child Welfare Committee, with complainant confidentiality protected.
- Hospitals cannot refuse treatment or discriminate against children; institutions with 50 or more employees must provide crèche or mobile crèche facilities, and child-friendly spaces will be promoted at public places.
- Every government department will prepare an annual implementation plan; the Gujarat State Child Protection Society will oversee implementation, the Chief Secretary will conduct an annual review, and the policy will be reviewed every three years.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [Gujarat Assembly Passes Ease of Doing Business Bill 2026 Allowing 24x7 Shop Operations](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/gujarat-assembly-passes-ease-of-doing-business-bill-2026-allowing-24x7-shop-oper)
- [Bhupender Yadav Launches Mangrove GIS Portal at Workshop in Bhuj, Gujarat](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/bhupender-yadav-launches-mangrove-gis-portal-at-workshop-in-bhuj-gujarat)
- [Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy 2024: Key Features, Incentives and Eligibility](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/uttar-pradesh-green-hydrogen-policy-2024-key-features-incentives-and-eligibility)
- [Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Approves 180-Day Maternity Leave Twice for Women Government Employees](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/uttar-pradesh-cabinet-approves-180-day-maternity-leave-twice-for-women-governmen)

## Ministry of Steel's Special Campaign 6.0 to Focus on E-Waste Management from October 2, 2026

### Key Updates

- The Ministry of Steel and its government-run companies will launch Special Campaign 6.0 on October 2, 2026, focusing on effective collection, segregation and disposal of e-waste.
- The month-long campaign will run until October 31, 2026, with a preparation phase from September 15 to 30 and an implementation phase from October 2 to 31.
- The campaign covers four focus areas: e-waste management under the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022, mechanised cleaning, clearing pending administrative work, and public awareness.
- During the previous campaign in October 2025, the ministry cleared old files, optimized office space and streamlined scrap disposal.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [Tata Steel Starts India’s First Coke Oven Gas Injection Facility at Meramandali Plant in Odisha](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/tata-steel-starts-india-s-first-coke-oven-gas-injection-facility-at-meramandali)
- [Seva Sankalp Abhiyan 2026: Nationwide Campaign Marking 25 Years of PM Modi's Public Service from September 17 to October 17](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/seva-sankalp-abhiyan-2026-nationwide-campaign-marking-25-years-of-pm-modi-s-publ)
- [Jindal Stainless Signs TAA with Japan's JFE Steel for Ferritic Stainless Steel Manufacturing](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/jindal-stainless-signs-taa-with-japan-s-jfe-steel-for-ferritic-stainless-steel-m)
- [Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Announces Month-Long Service Sankalp Campaign from September 17 to October 17, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/uttarakhand-cm-pushkar-singh-dhami-announces-month-long-service-sankalp-campaign)

## NSTFDC-HPCL MoU to Build Computer Labs and Smart Classrooms in 29 Rajasthan EMRSs at ₹16.01 Crore

### Key Updates

- NSTFDC and HPCL signed an MoU to establish integrated Computer Lab-cum-Smart Classroom facilities in 29 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 11 districts of Rajasthan.
- The project has a total budget of ₹16.01 crore, approved by the HPCL Board, with completion planned within six months of the MoU signing.
- Each school will receive four smart classrooms with 86-inch interactive flat panels, a networked computer laboratory with UPS backup, and 10 tablets pre-loaded with competitive exam coaching material, along with one year of internet subscription.
- The initiative is expected to benefit over 10,000 Scheduled Tribe students annually, with the 29 schools able to accommodate up to 13,920 students from Classes VI to XII at full capacity.
- The 29 EMRSs are located in Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Karauli, Pratapgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Sirohi, Tonk and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan.
- The project is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the CPSE CSR theme of 'Innovative Livelihood Enhancement' for 2026–27 and 2027–28.
- NSTFDC will handle implementation and procurement, NESTS will undertake academic validation, and the State EMRS Society and school Principals will ensure site readiness and daily use.
- The MoU was signed in the presence of Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and T. Roumuan Paite, Joint Secretary, MoTA and CMD, NSTFDC.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [PNGRB and EESL Sign MoU to Accelerate Smart Domestic PNG Meter Deployment in CGD Sector](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/pngrb-and-eesl-sign-mou-to-accelerate-smart-domestic-png-meter-deployment-in-cgd)
- [Rajasthan Announces ₹12,500 Crore School Overhaul Plan](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/rajasthan-announces-12-500-crore-school-overhaul-plan)
- [Samriddh Gram Project Wins Global Award at WSIS Prizes 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/samriddh-gram-project-wins-global-award-at-wsis-prizes-2026)
- [Food Minister Pralhad Joshi launches smart warehousing system of Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) using AI and IoT technologies.](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/food-minister-pralhad-joshi-launches-smart-warehousing-system-of-central-warehou)

## Swachh Seva Aankalan Introduced as Digital Rural Sanitation Assessment under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen

### Key Updates

- Swachh Seva Aankalan (SSA), developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen 2.0, provides an annual Gram Panchayat-level digital self-assessment of rural sanitation services.
- Under SSA, ODF Plus Model Gram Panchayats assess sustainability of their ODF status, visual cleanliness, and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) systems, including functioning and maintenance of sanitation assets.
- Self-assessment findings are validated by the Gram Sabha at the village level before review by district and State/UT authorities.
- The framework, aligned with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, gives Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas a greater role in reviewing sanitation performance and identifying gaps.
- The launch precedes Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, beginning September 17, and SSA outcomes will be discussed at Special Gram Sabhas on October 2, 2026, observed as Swachh Bharat Diwas.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Launches 5th Edition of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/union-minister-dr-jitendra-singh-launches-5th-edition-of-swachh-sagar-surakshit)
- [Seva Sankalp Abhiyan 2026: Nationwide Campaign Marking 25 Years of PM Modi's Public Service from September 17 to October 17](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/seva-sankalp-abhiyan-2026-nationwide-campaign-marking-25-years-of-pm-modi-s-publ)
- [Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Announces Month-Long Service Sankalp Campaign from September 17 to October 17, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/uttarakhand-cm-pushkar-singh-dhami-announces-month-long-service-sankalp-campaign)

## India and United States Launch 22nd Edition of Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan

### Key Updates

- India and the United States opened the 22nd edition of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas on September 15, 2026, at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand.
- Around 600 personnel from each side are participating, with drills running simultaneously at Auli and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
- The exercise focuses on interoperability, technology infusion, drones and autonomous systems, and coordinated operations in mountainous terrain, including employment of Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain.
- Major General Amaresh Gunjan, General Officer Commanding, 14 Infantry Division, and Colonel Benjamin Jackman, Commander, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, US Army, addressed the participating contingents.
- The 21st edition featured 450 personnel led by a battalion of the Madras Regiment training alongside US soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, and Yudh Abhyas has been held since 2004.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [22nd India-US Yudh Abhyas Begins in Two-Theatre Format](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/22nd-india-us-yudh-abhyas-begins-in-two-theatre-format)

## Academic Freedom Index 2026 Places India Among Countries With Severely Restricted Academic Freedom

### Key Updates

- The 'Free to Think 2026' report by Scholars at Risk documented 382 attacks on higher education communities in 59 countries and territories from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
- According to the 2026 Academic Freedom Index (AFI), academic freedom declined significantly in 50 of the 179 countries analysed over the past decade, with only nine registering improvements.
- India is listed in the 'severely restricted' category of the 2026 AFI, alongside Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, the West Bank and Ukraine.
- The report's lowest category, 'completely restricted', includes Afghanistan, China, Iran, Russia, Turkiye, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Gaza.
- India's AFI score fell from 0.38 in 2022 to 0.14 in 2025.
- In the United States, institutional autonomy fell from 3.3 in 2019 to 1.7 in 2025.
- The report alleged that the BJP-led Central government deployed the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a 'primary vehicle for state influence' over higher education, including loosening vice-chancellor qualification requirements and removing the 10 per cent cap on contract faculty.
- The report cited the 2025 termination of South Asian University professor Snehashish Bhattacharya, who had signed a November 2022 letter raising concerns over the university's handling of student protests.
- It also cited the termination of Lora Santhakumar, an assistant professor at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu, whose services were ended on December 9, 2025, after social media posts opposing war shared on May 7, 2025.
- On March 11, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 'life ban' barring three academics who collaborated with NCERT on a Class 8 social science textbook from receiving public funding for curriculum development.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [National Stock Exchange (NSE) Indices launches Nifty500 Ahimsa Index](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/national-stock-exchange-nse-indices-launches-nifty500-ahimsa-index)
- [Henley Passport Index: India Dropped to 81st Spot, Singapore Retained Top Position](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/henley-passport-index-india-dropped-to-81st-spot-singapore-retained-top-position)
- [Ministry of Education Releases PGI 2.0 and PGI-D Performance Reports for 2025-26](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/ministry-of-education-releases-pgi-2-0-and-pgi-d-performance-reports-for-2025-26)
- [India ranks 13th in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World Future Skills Index 2027 released in June 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/india-ranks-13th-in-quacquarelli-symonds-qs-world-future-skills-index-2027-relea)

## Delhi Secures Top Rank in NITI Aayog's India Electric Mobility Index 2025

### Key Updates

- Delhi topped the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025 released by NITI Aayog with a score of 84, followed by Maharashtra (78), Karnataka (73), Chandigarh (71) and Goa (65).
- IEMI 2025 is the second edition of the index, prepared by WRI India in collaboration with NITI Aayog, measuring states' and Union Territories' progress towards electric mobility transition based on data from January to December 2025.
- Among hilly and northeastern states, Manipur ranked highest with a score of 46.
- 29 of India's 36 states and UTs have notified EV policies; the highest score rose from 77 to 84 and the median from 36 to 40 compared with the first edition.
- Madhya Pradesh recorded the biggest improvement, climbing 16 positions from 23rd (score 31) to seventh (score 59); other gainers included Goa (up 10 to fifth), Puducherry (up 10 to 17th), Bihar (up 8 to 18th), Jammu & Kashmir (up 7 to 27th) and Assam (up 3 to 24th).
- Under Delhi's EV Policy 2.0, Delhi is the first state or UT to mandate 100% electrification of autorickshaws and light commercial vehicles from January 2027 and two-wheelers from January 2028.
- As of February 2026, Delhi operated 4,286 electric buses, the largest electric-bus fleet in India, and was the first state to provide subsidies for electric cycles.
- Launching the index, NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba said India imports nearly 89% of its crude oil requirements, while the automotive sector contributes around 7.1% of GDP and supports nearly 19 million jobs.
- India sold 21 million two-wheelers last year, of which 1.4 million were EV two-wheelers (around 7.65%); India ranks second only to China in EV two-wheelers, first in three-wheelers, and has the third largest EV car market in the world.

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- [NITI Aayog Launches PACT for Zero-Emission Freight](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/niti-aayog-launches-pact-for-zero-emission-freight)
- [Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026: Estonia Tops Global Rankings, India Ranked 176th](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/environmental-performance-index-epi-2026-estonia-tops-global-rankings-india-rank)
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## New Zealand Parliament Approves Legislation to Implement Free Trade Agreement with India

### Key Updates

- New Zealand's parliament passed legislation to implement a free trade agreement with India, under which tariffs on about 95% of New Zealand exports to India will be eliminated or significantly reduced.
- The legislation passed by a vote of 93-29, with support from the opposition Labour Party.
- Under the deal, all Indian goods will receive duty-free access to New Zealand, and more than half of covered products become duty-free from the day it takes effect.
- New Zealand has agreed to invest $20 billion in India over the next 15 years.
- Both nations originally signed the trade agreement in April, and it will take effect after both complete ratification procedures.
- Two-way trade totalled NZ$3.99 billion ($2.29 billion) in the year to June 2026, with India ranking as New Zealand's ninth-largest goods and services export market.
- New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said the agreement is expected to enter into force this year.

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- [India and New Zealand Set ₹35,000 Crore Trade Target by 2030](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-and-new-zealand-set-35-000-crore-trade-target-by-2030)
- [India and New Zealand Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership During PM Modi’s Visit (July 10-11, 2026)](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-and-new-zealand-elevate-ties-to-strategic-partnership-during-pm-modi-s-vis)
- [India-UK Free Trade Agreement takes effect on 16 July 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-uk-free-trade-agreement-takes-effect-on-16-july-2026)
- [India and MERCOSUR Sign First Additional Protocol to Preferential Trade Agreement to Enable Electronic Certificates of Origin](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-and-mercosur-sign-first-additional-protocol-to-preferential-trade-agreemen)

## Oman Invites Indian Investment in Sohar Port to Bypass Strait of Hormuz for Energy Access

### Key Updates

- On September 16, 2026, in New Delhi, Sohar Port and Freezone CEO Raid Al Rubaiey invited Indian investments, describing India as an important and growing part of Sohar's investment landscape.
- Sohar Port, located on Oman's Gulf of Oman coast away from the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz, has received over $30 billion in investments and can handle 72 million tonnes of cargo annually.
- The two-day promotional event was organised by the Embassy of Oman, with Ambassador Issa Saleh Al Shibani introducing the port and Freezone to Indian businesses.
- Compared with Oman's earlier offers of Duqm and Salalah ports, Sohar is closer to vital energy pipelines of the UAE and eastern Saudi Arabia.
- Sohar Port and Freezone, developed by the ASYAD Group and the Port of Rotterdam, offer logistics, petrochemicals, metals services and the Gulf region's first agribulk terminal.
- Sohar Port's importance is expected to grow as the Oman-UAE rail connects the port to the UAE's network, and Saudi Arabia is offering more crude loadings via ship-to-ship transfer off Sohar after drone attacks damaged its Red Sea pipeline.

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- [Saudi Arabia and Oman launch land corridor to bypass blocked Strait of Hormuz](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/saudi-arabia-and-oman-launch-land-corridor-to-bypass-blocked-strait-of-hormuz)
- [V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) becomes India's first port to receive ISO 50001:2018 certification for energy management](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/v-o-chidambaranar-port-authority-vocpa-becomes-india-s-first-port-to-receive-iso)

## Two New-to-Science Frog Species Discovered in Mizoram

### Key Updates

- Two new frog species, the toad Duttaphrynus phawngpui and the frog Ingerana aizawl, have been discovered in Mizoram and named after the state's highest peak Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) and its capital Aizawl respectively.
- Duttaphrynus phawngpui was found above 2,000 metres in Phawngpui National Park, grows up to 56 mm, and was confirmed as a new species using mitochondrial DNA analysis, statistical body measurements, and comparison with museum specimens.
- Ingerana aizawl, a 22-26 mm frog long mistaken for the widespread Ingerana borealis on the Mizoram University campus for over two decades, differs genetically by up to 6.6% from its nearest relatives and calls at night with a rhythmic series of 12 short notes.
- The studies were authored by Jayaditya Purkayastha, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremdanga, Malsawm Dawngliana, and Mara Dausa Hlychho and published in the journals Taprobanica and Zootaxa.
- The toad is so far known from a single mountaintop location, supporting the 'sky islands' theory of isolated peaks and raising conservation concerns under climate change.

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- [Scientists discover three new cascade frog species in northeast India](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/scientists-discover-three-new-cascade-frog-species-in-northeast-india)
- [ZSI Discovers Two New Spider Species: Simonia lawbah and Hamataliwa papikonda](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/zsi-discovers-two-new-spider-species-simonia-lawbah-and-hamataliwa-papikonda)
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## Project Cheetah Turns Four as India's Cheetah Population Reaches 52

### Key Updates

- Project Cheetah, launched at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, completed four years on September 17, 2026, with India's cheetah population standing at 52, including 32 born in the country.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight wild cheetahs from Namibia into special enclosures at Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022.
- Of the 52 cheetahs, 49 are in Kuno National Park and three are in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh.
- Three of the eight Namibian cheetahs are alive, and with 22 cubs born in India, the surviving Namibian-origin population totals 25; of 12 cheetahs imported from South Africa on February 18, 2023, eight survive, and with ten cubs their population stands at 18 (15 in Kuno, three in Gandhi Sagar).
- Nine cheetahs were brought to India from Botswana in February 2026, strengthening the international base for cheetah restoration.
- Of the 49 cheetahs in Kuno, 17 are in open forest (10 males, seven females) and 32 are in soft-release enclosures, including five males, eight females, and 19 cubs under one year of age.
- The next phase of the programme involves expanding suitable cheetah habitats and establishing a long-term cheetah meta-population in India.

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- [Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Completes Catalogue of 13,703 Butterfly and Moth Species](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/zoological-survey-of-india-zsi-completes-catalogue-of-13-703-butterfly-and-moth)
- [Prashant Agrawal’s Book ‘Bringing the Cheetah Back to India’ Published on August 2, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/prashant-agrawal-s-book-bringing-the-cheetah-back-to-india-published-on-august-2)
- [Jal Jeevan Mission Completes 7 Years: Rural Tap Coverage Rises from 16.72% to 82.24%](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/jal-jeevan-mission-completes-7-years-rural-tap-coverage-rises-from-16-72-to-82-2)

## Brendan Taylor Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar to Set Record for Longest ODI Career in Men's Cricket

### Key Updates

- Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor became the men's cricketer with the longest ODI career span, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record, when he played the first ODI against Australia at Harare Sports Club on September 15, 2026.
- Taylor's ODI career now spans 22 years and four months since his debut against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo on April 20, 2004, exceeding Tendulkar's span of 22 years and three months (December 18, 1989 to March 18, 2012).
- The 40-year-old, born February 6, 1986, had temporarily retired in 2021, served a three-and-a-half-year ban imposed in 2022 for ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping breaches, and returned to international cricket in 2025.
- Ahead of the match, Taylor held Zimbabwe's national record of 11 ODI centuries in 207 matches.
- Sachin Tendulkar still holds the records for most ODI runs (18,426), most ODI appearances (463), and 49 ODI centuries.
- In the historic match, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first against Zimbabwe, captained by Sikandar Raza in the absence of the injured Richard Ngarava, with Mitchell Marsh leading Australia in the first of a three-match ODI series in Harare.
- Zimbabwe will co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup alongside South Africa and Namibia.

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## UEFA Awards 2028 and 2029 Champions League Finals to Munich and Barcelona

### Key Updates

- UEFA's Executive Committee, meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, announced that Munich's Allianz Arena will host the 2028 Champions League final and Barcelona's renovated Camp Nou will host the 2029 final, with Camp Nou beating Wembley in the bidding for 2029.
- Munich was the only bidder for the 2028 final, and the Allianz Arena (called the Munich Football Arena by UEFA) will host the final for the third time after 2012 and 2025.
- Camp Nou last staged the Champions League final in 1999, when Manchester United beat Bayern Munich 2-1, and the renovated stadium is expected to hold around 105,000 spectators.
- Wembley has hosted the Champions League final three times this century, most recently in 2024 when Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund.
- Atlético Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium will host the 2027 final before Munich in 2028 and Barcelona in 2029.

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- [Sri Lanka Loses Hosting Rights for 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/sri-lanka-loses-hosting-rights-for-2027-women-s-champions-trophy)
- [Spain defeats Argentina to win FIFA World Cup 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/spain-defeats-argentina-to-win-fifa-world-cup-2026)
- [India to Host Inaugural Women's Champions Trophy 2027](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-to-host-inaugural-women-s-champions-trophy-2027)

## Vishwakarma Puja 2026 Observed on September 17 with Kanya Sankranti: Significance and Traditions

### Key Updates

- Vishwakarma Puja 2026 was celebrated on Thursday, September 17, coinciding with Kanya Sankranti, which marks the final day of the Hindu month of Bhadra.
- According to Drik Panchang, the Kanya Sankranti or Vishwakarma Puja Sankranti moment occurred at 04:28 am IST, with calculations performed according to Bisuddhasidhanta.
- Lord Vishwakarma is revered as the architect of the universe and is praised in the Rigveda as the God of creativity who helped Lord Brahma create the universe.
- Vishwakarma is credited with building Dwarka for Lord Krishna, Indraprastha for the Pandavas, Lanka for King Ravana, Swargaloka for the Devas, and the golden city of Sudamapuri for Sudama.
- He also forged divine weapons including Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra, Lord Shiva's Trishula, and Lord Kartikeya's spear.
- On Vishwakarma Puja, artisans and engineers worship tools, machinery, vehicles, and technology with flowers, tilak, and kalava threads, and factories halt manufacturing for communal prayers and prasad distribution.

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- [PM Vishwakarma Scheme Registers 30 Lakh Artisans in Three Years with Training, Loans and Toolkits](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/pm-vishwakarma-scheme-registers-30-lakh-artisans-in-three-years-with-training-lo)
- [Digvijay Diwas 2026: September 11 Date, History and Significance of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago Speech](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/digvijay-diwas-2026-september-11-date-history-and-significance-of-swami-vivekana)
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## Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders To Invest ₹27,000 Crore In Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster At Dighi, Maharashtra

### Key Updates

- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) will invest around ₹27,000 crore to set up a greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Dighi in Maharashtra's Raigad district, a project expected to create around 90,000 jobs.
- MDL signed a memorandum of understanding with National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park Maharashtra Ltd (NSHIPML) in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, as announced by the Maharashtra government on September 15, 2026.
- Under the agreement, MDL plans to build at least 2 million gross tonnes of ships each year at Dighi, including large commercial vessels.
- The cluster is being developed jointly by the Maharashtra Maritime Board and the Mumbai Port Authority through NSHIPML, a special-purpose company, under the Centre's Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster Development Plan.
- The project is expected to support the objectives of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and increase India's domestic shipbuilding capacity.

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- [Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) grants in-principle approval for Rs 24,700 crore Odisha shipbuilding cluster](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/shipbuilding-development-scheme-sbds-grants-in-principle-approval-for-rs-24-700)
- [Indian Navy commissions indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri into Eastern Fleet](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/indian-navy-commissions-indigenous-stealth-frigate-ins-mahendragiri-into-eastern)
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## NITI Aayog Approves ₹2,200-Crore Master Plan for Coimbatore International Airport Expansion

### Key Updates

- The ₹2,200-crore master plan for expanding Coimbatore International Airport has been approved by NITI Aayog and awaits clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Expenditure, Airport Director Mohammad Arif said on September 16, 2026.
- The expansion requires 627 acres in addition to the airport's existing 420 acres, taking the total area to over 1,047 acres; 621 acres have been handed over to the Airports Authority of India, with the remaining six acres expected soon.
- The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority issued Terms of Reference to the AAI in late July 2026, and the AAI is preparing the Environment Impact Assessment report; the project has achieved 75%-80% of technical clearances.
- Once begun, the expansion can be completed in about three years, adding a new terminal of about 75,000 sq. m. with a capacity of 12 million passengers per annum and peak-hour capacity rising from 1,770 to 4,200 passengers.
- The existing 18,000 sq. m. terminal handles about 3.5 million passengers annually against a design capacity of 3.63 million; interim expansion adding 1,000 sq. m. will be completed by December 2026.
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation's Yatri Sewa Abhiyan campaign will be observed at the airport from September 17 to October 10, 2026.

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## Government Reconstitutes 18-Member CBFC Panel Headed by Shashi Shekhar Vempati

### Key Updates

- The Centre reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on September 16, 2026, with an 18-member panel headed by chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, effective immediately for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
- The new board includes actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty and Prosenjit Chatterjee, filmmaker Priyadarshan, and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej.
- Other members include film critic Vinod Anupam, actor Manoj Joshi, filmmaker Abhishek Jain, singer and former parliamentarian Hans Raj Hans, producer Supriya Yarlagadda, poet Yatindra Mishra and actor Roopali Ganguly.
- Theatre director Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange are the only two members retained from the previous board.
- The CBFC was last reconstituted in August 2017 for a three-year term, and its members continued beyond 2020 until successors were appointed.
- The outgoing board included Vidya Balan, Vivek Agnihotri, Mihir Bhutia, Gautami Tadimalla, Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Jeevitha Rajasekhar, T S Nagabharana and Naresh Chandra Lal, besides Kendre and Patange.

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## N Chandrasekaran Gets 5-Year Reappointment as Tata Sons Chairman

### Key Updates

- N Chandrasekaran was reappointed as Chairman of Tata Sons for a period of 5 years.
- The reappointment came almost a month after Chandrasekaran announced in August that he was not up for a third term at the conglomerate.
- Following the reappointment vote, the chairman-selection process initiated by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust would be paused or discontinued.
- Tata Sons' board approved a public listing, reasoning that leadership continuity would reassure prospective investors ahead of any listing process.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had rejected Tata Sons' application to surrender its registration as a non-banking financial company (NBFC), reviving the prospect of a stock listing.
- A 1% stake sale has been estimated at ₹15,000-20,000 crore, implying an overall valuation near ₹20 lakh crore (around $230 billion) for Tata Sons.
- In September 2022, the RBI classified Tata Sons as an 'upper layer' NBFC, a designation requiring listing within 3 years.
- Tata Trusts owns around 66% of Tata Sons, while the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group holds an 18.4% stake.
- Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, had reportedly sought a commitment that Tata Sons would not list on the bourses.
- Candidates earlier reported as potential successors included Tata Steel chief executive TV Narendran, Tata Sons group chief financial officer Saurabh Agrawal, and National Stock Exchange chief executive Ashish Chauhan.

### Related Current Affairs Coverage

- [N Chandrasekaran Resigns as Tata Sons Chairman](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/n-chandrasekaran-resigns-as-tata-sons-chairman)

## Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer Appointed World Bank Chief Economist

### Key Updates

- The World Bank named Nobel laureate and University of Chicago professor Michael Kremer as its next chief economist, succeeding Indermit Gill, who retired last month; he will take charge on October 1.
- Kremer, 61, won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019 jointly with Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.
- He is the first economist to join the World Bank as chief economist with a Nobel Prize already in hand; former chief economists Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Romer received the Nobel after their tenures.
- Born on November 12, 1964, in New York, Kremer earned his doctorate in economics from Harvard University in 1992, worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, became a Harvard professor in 1999, and currently directs the Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago.
- Kremer helped design an Advance Market Commitment for a pneumococcal vaccine, resulting in three approved vaccines rolled out across 60 countries with an estimated 700,000 lives saved.
- His deworming research informed large-scale programmes, with governments in Africa and South Asia providing about 2 billion treatments since 2014, according to the World Bank.
- Kremer co-founded the Development Innovation Ventures fund administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2010; the fund was later shut down after Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025.
- World Bank President Ajay Banga announced the appointment, saying Kremer had spent his career identifying what works in development and proving it at scale.

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