APEDA and InD Events Dubai Sign Pact for India's Official Partner Country Status at Gulfood 2027
Key Updates:
- The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with InD Events Dubai, the organiser of Gulfood, at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi in the presence of Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
- India will return as the Official Partner Country for Gulfood 2027, marking the second consecutive year of the partnership after its participation at Gulfood 2026.
- The MoU was signed by APEDA Secretary Dr. Saswati Bose and Mark Napier, Vice President – Exhibitions Department and Growth for Food & Hospitality at InD.
- Gulfood 2027 is scheduled from 15-19 March 2027 in the UAE and is one of the world's leading food and beverage trade exhibitions.
- The partnership will deepen India-UAE trade engagement under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), leveraging Dubai's position as a gateway to the GCC, wider Middle East and African markets.
- India's Gulfood 2027 participation will showcase premium, branded, innovative and value-added food products under a unified national platform, with a key focus on widening participation from MSMEs, FPOs, startups and women- and SC/ST-led exporters.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) and the Eastern India Culinary Association (EICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on culinary activities and food trade promotion. The MoU focuses…
The Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for FY27 to modernise India's foodgrain management, announced in New Delhi on September 8…
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…
Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision SA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 2, 2026, at the Première Vision exhibition in Paris. The MoU builds on a Letter of Intent signed on July…
India Considers Lowering Vegetable Oil Import Tax to Curb Food Inflation
Key Updates:
- India, the world's biggest vegetable oil importer, is considering lowering import taxes on vegetable oils to curb food inflation as the peak demand festival season gets under way.
- Prices of vegetable oils in India have climbed by nearly 20% over the last year, and a price-lowering measure is likely to increase consumption as households celebrate festivals from September to November with sweets, snacks and fried treats.
- The price rise has been driven by disruption linked to Russia's war on Ukraine and extreme weather linked to El Nino and global warming.
- India meets nearly two-thirds of its vegetable oil demand through imports, mainly palm oil, soyoil and sunflower oil from Malaysia, Indonesia, Argentina, Russia and Ukraine.
- Instead of a deep cut in import duties, the government could lower the basic import duty by 5%, which would keep local soybean prices above government-set support levels and support oilseed farmers.
- In May 2025, India halved the basic import tax on crude edible oils to 10%, effectively lowering the total import duty on crude palm oil, crude soyoil and crude sunflower oil to 16.5% through the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess and Social Welfare Surcharge.
- India's annual retail inflation accelerated further in August, driven by higher food prices.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Maharashtra FDA banned the sale of loose (unpacked) edible oil across the state. Violations of the ban can attract imprisonment of up to seven years.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit import of goods produced or manufactured wholly or in part through forced labour. Forced labour is defined as per…
The Government of India has reduced the windfall tax on diesel exports to ₹24 per litre from ₹25.5 per litre. The levy on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) exports has been cut to ₹19.5 per litre from ₹22 per litre.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has extended the anti-dumping duty on seamless tubes, pipes, and hollow profiles of iron, alloy, or non-alloy steel. The levy has been extended up to and inclusive…
Moody’s Ratings Upgrades India’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 GDP Growth Projection to 7%
Key Updates:
- Moody’s Ratings has increased its real GDP growth forecast for India for the 2026-27 fiscal year to 7% from the previous estimate of 6%.
- The revised growth projection for India is higher than the 6.4% forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the 6.6% projections from both S&P Global Ratings and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- India recorded a 7.8% year-on-year real GDP growth during the April-June quarter.
- Key factors supporting the economic growth include robust private consumption, sustained services-sector strength, public infrastructure spending, and a revival in private investment.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Goldman Sachs (GS) has raised India's real GDP growth forecast for calendar year (CY) 2026 to 6.8% year-on-year, an increase of 0.3 percentage points. GS has lowered the headline inflation forecast to 4.4% year-on-year…
State Bank of India (SBI) Research revised India's FY27 real GDP growth forecast to 7.3% from 6.6%. India's real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, compared with 6.9% in Q1 FY26.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India's economy to grow by 6.4% in FY26-27 and 6.7% in FY27-28 in its July 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update. The IMF expects global growth to moderate to 3.0% in…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for FY27 to 6.6% from the 6.9% projected in April. ADB retained India's growth forecast for FY28 at 7.3% in the July…
Fujifilm Commits ₹800 Crore for Greenfield Semiconductor Materials Plant in India
Key Updates:
- Fujifilm announced an investment of around ₹800 crore (about USD 83 million) to set up a greenfield semiconductor materials manufacturing facility in India, to be developed in two phases starting October 2026.
- Commercial production at the facility is expected in fiscal year 2028.
- Phase 1 will support front-end process chemicals, while Phase 2 will cover semiconductor surface conditioning materials and high-purity chemicals based on the pace of semiconductor industry development.
- Fujifilm will align with the India Semiconductor Mission and utilise the ISM 2.0 policy approved by the Government of India in July 2026.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Spain's Submer Group announced an investment of $2 billion (₹19,000 crore) in the semiconductor industry of Madhya Pradesh. The announcement was made at the MP Tech Growth Conclave 3.0: GCC - Data Centres and…
Odisha is set to get a ₹3,406.25 crore semiconductor manufacturing facility by SiCSem Private Limited, a Tamil Nadu-based company, approved at the 217th meeting of the Unit Approval Committee (UAC) of Falta SEZ. The unit…
The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified Semicon 2.0, a ₹1.27 lakh crore scheme to expand India's semiconductor ecosystem. The scheme extends support to chip-design startups, MSMEs…
Paras Defence and Space Technologies Limited announced a Rs 6,200 crore ($644 million) investment for a semiconductor unit through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paras Semiconductors. An MoU has been signed with the Madhya…
Ministry of Commerce: India's Combined Merchandise and Services Exports Grow 15.5% to USD 399.27 Billion in April-August 2026
Key Updates:
- India's cumulative merchandise and services exports during April-August 2026-27 were estimated at USD 399.27 billion, marking a growth of 15.5% from USD 345.55 billion in the year-ago period.
- India's total exports in August 2026 stood at USD 82.68 billion, growing 25.41% year-on-year from USD 65.93 billion in August 2025, the highest monthly export growth since June 2022, driven mainly by petroleum product shipments.
- India's merchandise exports rose from USD 34.74 billion in August 2025 to USD 43.81 billion in August 2026, while merchandise imports rose 14.1% year-on-year to USD 70.76 billion.
- India's services exports in August 2026 were estimated at USD 38.87 billion, compared to USD 31.19 billion in August 2025.
- India's trade deficit narrowed to a five-month low of USD 26.86 billion in August 2026, aided by a 57.7% decline in gold imports to USD 2.3 billion from USD 5.4 billion in August 2025.
- The merchandise trade deficit during April-August 2026-27 widened to USD 147.09 billion from USD 123.88 billion in April-August 2025-26.
- India's exports to the United States rose 21.83% to USD 8.4 billion and to China rose 52.35% to USD 1.9 billion in August 2026, while exports to the UAE declined 26.1% to USD 2.4 billion due to the West Asia crisis.
- Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said export growth was driven by engineering goods, petroleum products, chemicals and textiles, with major demand from the US, EU, BRICS nations and emerging economies.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
India's total exports (merchandise and services) grew 11.37% year-on-year to USD 232.73 billion in the first quarter of FY27, as per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I). The trade deficit widened to USD 37.42…
India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $30.43 billion in June 2026, a 59% year-on-year increase from $19.10 billion in June 2025. Imports rose 31% to $70.84 billion, while exports grew 15.5% to $40.41 billion in…
Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI) data shows India's total exports (merchandise and services) rose 13.31% year-on-year to USD 80.14 billion in July 2026. Total imports increased 15.83% to USD 95.16 billion…
India's merchandise exports grew by approximately 15 per cent during April-May 2026-27. The Commerce Ministry is scheduled to release the trade data for May on June 15.
Key Updates:
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, to incorporate AI and machine learning-based detection for unsolicited commercial communications.
- Telecom service providers are now required to identify and share information on sender numbers with a high probability of being used for spam among all operators.
- Application-to-Person (A2P) calls, defined as automated or robocalls, must be declared to telecom service providers, with undeclared calls subject to a termination charge of up to 5 paise per minute.
- A new consumer appeal mechanism allows users to challenge spam-related complaint resolutions within 15 days through existing channels like the DND app, telecom portals, or 1909.
- Telemarketers found misusing registered headers or content templates face potential disconnection of all telecom resources for one year and blacklisting.
- The regulator has mandated that agreements between access providers and telemarketers must include specific essential conditions to ensure regulatory compliance.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated the phase-wise implementation of the 1601-series numbers for service and transactional calls by non-BFSI and non-government entities. Phase I of the…
TRAI launched the revamped MyCall mobile application to enable consumers to assess and report voice-calling experience and quality. The app allows consumers to rate voice calls on a 1-to-5-star scale and report issues…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) now allows immediate denial of incomplete visa and green card applications without issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).…
The government has amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 through the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which will come into…
Ministry of External Affairs Updates Passport Validity Rules for Minors
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which amends the Passports Rules, 1980.
- Ordinary passports issued to children under 15 years of age are now valid for five years or until the child attains 18 years of age, whichever is earlier.
- The amendment to Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980, specifies that the new validity applies to ordinary passports containing 36 pages.
- The application fee for a fresh or re-issue of a 36-page passport for children below 18 years is ₹1,750.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The central government clarified that an Indian passport has never been treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that a passport is primarily a travel document.
The 14th Passport Seva Divas was observed on June 24, 2026, to highlight the role of seamless passport services in national progress. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that an Indian passport is a travel…
The Union Health Ministry has imposed restrictions on the manufacture, sale and distribution of all fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride. The restriction…
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced a significant increase in passport service charges for both regular and Tatkaal applications, effective from July 1, 2026. For adult applicants in India, the fee for a…
India's First Soil Carbon Payments Disbursed to 2,550 Farmers in Punjab and Haryana
Key Updates:
- India's first soil-carbon payments were made to over 2,500 farmers in Punjab and Haryana, with more than Rs 2.9 crore disbursed for adopting regenerative farming practices.
- The first payments were released at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, where ICAR Director General M L Jat initiated direct benefit transfers to farmers.
- The payments are part of 'Aadi', a Grow Indigo farmer-carbon programme launched in 2019 with technical guidance from ICAR, under which farmers adopted direct-seeded rice (DSR), reduced tillage and crop-residue management between 2019 and 2022.
- Aadi is the first flagship farmer-carbon programme in India to issue agricultural carbon credits under the Verra VM0042 methodology, covering more than 2 million acres and over one lakh farmers across seven states.
- Participating fields during 2019-22 saved an estimated 45 billion litres of water, kept over 2 lakh tonnes of crop residue out of fires, and avoided about 1,000 tonnes of PM2.5 emissions.
- The first carbon credit issuance covered around 30,000 acres and more than 50,000 credits, with farmers receiving approximately Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000.
- Farm-fire incidents in Punjab declined from more than 83,000 in 2020 to fewer than 5,000 in 2025, and Ransinh Kalan village in Moga avoided residue burning across 1,310 acres for six consecutive years.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development launched the 'PRAGATI' initiative to create a nationwide ecosystem of 20,000 agri entrepreneurs. The initiative focuses on advancing…
The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) has developed India's first soil texture map. The map provides detailed information on soil characteristics across every hectare of the country.
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 ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI) and Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd. launched the Carbon Pathshala initiative in Goa, India. The workshop titled 'Carbon Pathshala: Voluntary Carbon…
Health Ministry Bars Routine Stem Cell Therapy for Autism, Restricts Use to Approved Trials
Key Updates:
- The Union Health Ministry issued an advisory on September 16, 2026, directing states not to offer unproven stem cell interventions as routine, standard or commercial clinical services.
- Stem cell therapy will be offered as standard clinical care only for disease conditions and indications approved by the ministry, with therapeutic use for autism spectrum disorder restricted to duly approved clinical trials.
- Autism-related stem cell trials must comply with the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017, issued jointly by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
- The advisory follows a Supreme Court judgment on stem cell therapy regulation, which held that non-compliance with statutory requirements must attract consequences, including professional misconduct.
- States and Union Territories have been asked to circulate the Supreme Court's directions among regulatory authorities and government and private clinical establishments involved in stem cell research, treatment, promotion or administration.
Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Central Government amended the Drugs Rules, 1945 to bring cell or stem cell derived products, gene therapeutic products, and xenografts under the Centrally License Approving Authority (CLAA) framework. The amendment…
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, on July 10, 2026. Medicinal formulations containing more than 12% v/v ethyl alcohol in quantities exceeding 30 mL now require manufacturing…
CISF and IIT Kanpur Sign Two MoUs on Cyber Security Training and Anti-Drone Centre of Excellence
Key Updates:
- The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) signed two Memorandums of Understanding with IIT Kanpur on September 14, 2026, to strengthen cyber security and drone/anti-drone capabilities for protecting critical infrastructure.
- The first MoU provides a six-week residential Cyber Security Training Programme through C3iHub (IHUB NTIHAC Foundation) under a three-year framework, free of training cost, with each batch comprising 40 CISF personnel.
- The second MoU establishes a five-year collaboration for a Centre of Excellence in drone and anti-drone technology at CISF's Major Police Training and Recruitment Centre in Behror, Rajasthan.
- The cyber security training covers critical information infrastructure, sector-specific threats in aviation, power and nuclear sectors, digital forensics, incident response, disaster recovery, and emerging threats involving AI, deepfakes, IoT, cloud and Operational Technology.
- The Centre of Excellence will focus on drone and counter-drone systems, UAV operations, drone forensics, rogue-drone analysis, RF and micro-Doppler detection, integrated Counter-UAS systems and high-altitude operations.
- The initiatives support development of indigenous technological solutions in line with the objectives of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
Connects with 1 related update for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH)…
Key Updates:
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) signed a joint venture agreement on September 15, 2026, to maintain 80 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets.
- The joint venture company will operate on a 50:50 equity shareholding basis between BHEL and TRSL.
- The project is part of a Rs 24,000 crore contract awarded by Indian Railways which includes manufacturing, supply, and 35 years of comprehensive maintenance.
- The scope of the contract covers the upgradation of government manufacturing units and trainset depots alongside long-term support for the sleeper fleet.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Jaisalmer Railway Station in Rajasthan has been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at an estimated cost of ₹140 crore. The project was implemented by the North Western Railway (NWR).
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 Centre approved a fourth railway line through the strategically important 'Chicken's Neck' corridor. 'Chicken's Neck', also known as the Siliguri Corridor, is a narrow stretch about 20-22 km wide and nearly 60 km…
The Railway Board approved seven new Amrit Bharat Express trains on August 14, 2026, to expand rail connectivity. The trains are designed to provide affordable service for passengers from lower and lower-middle income…
PM Modi Opens SEMICON India 2026 Semiconductor Conference at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
Key Updates:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on September 17, a three-day event running from September 17 to 19 with over 600 exhibitors and around 300 international companies.
- The event is organised by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Silicon Electronics and Microelectronics International (SEMI) under the theme 'Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem'.
- The exhibition features delegations from over 50 countries, six country pavilions of Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore and Sweden, 12 state government pavilions and a startup pavilion across about 15,000 square metres.
- The Union government has approved 12 semiconductor projects under the Semicon India Programme, three units from Semicon 1.0 have begun commercial production, and the Union Cabinet has approved the next phase, Semicon 2.0, built around six key pillars.
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Semicon India 2.0 targets at least 200 chip design startups and companies and 1 lakh semiconductor technicians, with around 70,000 of the 85,000 design engineers targeted under Semicon 1.0 already trained and a USD 5 billion investment announced at the event.
- Tata Electronics will sign 16 MoUs at SEMICON India 2026 with international and domestic suppliers, has created more than 1.5 lakh direct jobs with women making up 65% of its workforce, and is building a fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat and a packaging unit in Jagiroad, Assam.
- More than 150 speakers are participating in the conference, with key participants including ASML, Applied Materials, Teradyne, Infineon, IBM Research, NXP, Tata Electronics, Micron, Merck KGaA, Rapidus, Lam Research and Tokyo Electron.
- Micron, which began commercial production at its Sanand site earlier this year, plans to create and test tens of millions of chips in India this year, while Infineon Technologies employs approximately 2,800 people in India after growing its workforce by more than 28% in the past year.
Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai on September 8, 2026, marking his third consecutive appearance at the event. India recorded 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility, at the Sonipat campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Param Pragya is expected to…
India will host the fifth edition of Semicon India 2026 from September 17-19 at Yashoobhoomi (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the event on September 17, 2026.
European Union Invites Canada to Become Its First-Ever Associate Member
Key Updates:
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the first-ever 'associate member' of the European Union (EU), speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a unique alliance with the EU as Canada seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on US trade, and the EU and Canada are due to hold a summit in late October to develop their future relationship.
- The existing EU-Canada trade deal will be upgraded to an 'alliance for the future' to create a common prosperity and economic security space, alongside a tech alliance, integrated defence industrial bases and the Arctic as a flagship joint project.
- Von der Leyen proposed joint work on energy, critical minerals, batteries, AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity and economic security, with EU officials especially interested in Canada's energy and natural resources.
- The 27-member EU has never previously had an associate membership category, although it has close ties with Norway, Iceland and Switzerland allowing deep economic integration.
- Ten EU member states have still not ratified Ceta, the EU-Canada trade agreement that was agreed 10 years ago.
- Last month, Carney broke off trade talks with the US and introduced retaliatory tariffs on billions worth of US goods, while the EU accepted 15% tariffs on many European goods and dropped its own duties to avoid a trade war.
- Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre opposed the move, saying Canada would never be the 51st American state or the 28th state of the European Union.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
India and Canada held annual Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on September 2, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun…
Canada and the European Union (EU) welcomed the Call to Action on methane issued by the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) in June 2026. The Global Methane Pledge (GMP) target aims to reduce global methane emissions…
The European Union (EU) and three nations, namely Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands, joined Pax Silica, a United States-led initiative. Pax Silica aims to secure artificial intelligence (AI) supply chains, including…
Bank of Canada unveiled a new $20 banknote featuring King Charles III, marking the first time his portrait appears on a Canadian banknote. The new $20 banknote will gradually enter circulation from late February 2027.
US-based Powerus Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Pakistan Army for Unmanned Aerial Systems
Key Updates:
- The United States (US) drone manufacturer Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pakistan Army to supply unmanned aerial systems.
- Powerus has secured its first order from the Pakistan Army under the newly signed agreement.
- The agreement includes discussions on purchasing defence equipment, local manufacturing, and long-term development of the Pakistani defence industry.
- Powerus is scheduled to merge with the US-listed company Aureus Greenway Holdings in early October 2026.
- Investment fund American Ventures, which holds a stake in Aureus Greenway Holdings, is backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Pakistan has raised the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to PKR 70 lakh and listed him as a fugitive in its latest Red Book of most wanted terrorists. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)…
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is hosting 'Dronathon 2026', a three-day drone and counter-drone technology event, at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, from September 14 to 16, 2026. Dronathon 2026 features static…
Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada announced a collaboration to evaluate the integration of advanced turboprop engines into a High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) UAV being developed under a Defence Research and…
Ladakh Launches World’s Highest-Altitude Floriculture Project in Leh
Key Updates:
- 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 Gladiolus plants.
- The initiative was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on September 17, 2026, to coincide with Sewa Diwas.
- The facility is designed to serve as a training centre for progressive farmers to promote agricultural diversification and entrepreneurship in the region.
Connects with 1 related update for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena laid the foundation stone for India’s first high-altitude flower fields at Choglamsar and Stakna in Leh district, Ladakh. The Choglamsar Floriculture Park is being developed over…
New Cat Species Leopardus tilcayo Discovered in Bolivia's Cloud Forest
Key Updates:
- Scientists have identified a new cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest in the Andes Mountains; it is the first new cat species discovered in over a century, according to a study published by CellPress.
- The tilcayo, named after the term used by local communities, is a 'tiger cat' smaller than a typical house cat, with yellow eyes, leopard-like patterns, and two black vertical stripes running from the top of its head to its eyes.
- Tiger cats were considered a single species until 2013 but are now known to include five species, classified as a 'cryptic species' group because they look alike yet are genetically different; genetic data confirmed the tilcayo as a new species.
- Researchers used well-preserved tiger cat specimens collected in the 1960s from the Smithsonian's collection in Washington, DC, which holds the world's largest mammal collection of over 600,000 specimens, to complete the genetic analysis.
- The Yungas forest is one of the more threatened ecosystems, at risk from deforestation, agricultural expansion, human-caused fires and mining.
- The tilcayo may be classified as endangered; the IUCN currently categorizes tiger cats as two 'vulnerable' species with declining populations, and researchers have submitted their findings for a separate, more accurate assessment.
- Tiger cats are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, diseases from feral dogs, climate change, habitat fragmentation reducing genetic diversity, and killing by humans protecting chicken flocks.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Scientists have discovered a new monkey species named Likweli (Colobus congoensis) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The species was formally described in a peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One.
Astronomers discovered the fastest known star in the Milky Way, designated S301, which orbits the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A .
Scientists confirmed that Saxifraga candelabrum, a plant native to the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China, is carnivorous. The plant grows at elevations above 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) and traps insects using sticky…
Scientists have described a new flowering plant from Thailand, naming it Thismia daemona, the 'devil flower', for its dark, horn-like appearance. Thismia daemona contains no chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise…
Odisha CM Inaugurates Make-in-India Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur
Key Updates:
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated a 'Make in India' Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Kainsir in Sambalpur on Wednesday, the third such radar in Odisha after Paradip and Gopalpur.
- The radar functions round the clock, providing accurate weather information within a 250 km radius and tracking weather systems up to around 450 km, benefiting 13 districts of Odisha and adjoining areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
- Union Minister for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh attended the inauguration ceremony virtually, while Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari was present.
Connects with 1 related update for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will commission an X-band Doppler weather radar (DWR) in Wayanad, Kerala, by December 2026. The radar will be installed at Pulpally, with land provided by Pazhassi Raja College.
NASA Spacecraft Discovers Fresh Moon Crater Bigger Than the Roman Colosseum
Key Updates:
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered a crater on the moon's near side, formed between April 11 and May 22, 2024, measuring about 728 feet across and up to 141 feet deep, larger than the Roman Colosseum.
- It is the solar system's biggest known impact crater carved in recent times, three times bigger than the previous record-holder found by the LRO a decade ago, and such an event is estimated to occur only once every 132 years.
- The crater, named after late Thomas McGetchin, former director of Houston's Lunar and Planetary Institute, was formed by an asteroid or comet fragment the size of a three- to six-story building, and the impact churned the lunar surface for more than 66 miles.
- The crater was spotted in LRO images only in August 2025, with confirmation early this year, and two studies on it appeared in the journal Science Advances.
- A separate study identified a 4-mile-wide cold spot around the crater, and LRO findings show the moon's top inch of soil is overturned every 80,000 years, faster than previously thought.
- Mark Robinson, chief scientist for the LRO cameras at Intuitive Machines, said the next step is to calculate the risk of ejected crater material striking NASA's planned moon base.
Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Perseverance rover detected complex organic carbon compounds in mudstone samples from the Bright Angel area inside Jezero Crater on Mars. The detection was made…
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched its USD 4.3 billion Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The telescope is headed to…
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper-stage rocket crashed into the Moon, creating a new crater near the Einstein crater. The impact occurred at about 07:35 BST (06:35 GMT) on Wednesday at roughly 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h).
International Equal Pay Day: Significance and Global Observance
Key Updates:
- International Equal Pay Day is observed annually on September 18, a date established by the United Nations (UN) through Resolution A/RES/74/142.
- The Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) was formed in 2017 as a coordinating body involving governments, employers, and workers.
- Leadership coordination for the coalition is provided by UN Women, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
- The steering committee of the EPIC includes Canada, Iceland, Switzerland, South Africa, and the International Organisation of Employers.
- The European Union (EU) Pay Transparency Directive requires member states to mandate gender pay reporting for employers with 100 or more workers by June 2026.
Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
International Day of Parliamentarism is observed every year on June 30. The day was established in 2018 through a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution.
The International Day of Police Cooperation is observed annually on 7 September and was established by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 77/241 in 2022. The theme of the 2026 International Day of…
The International Day for People of African Descent is observed on August 31. The theme for the 2026 observance is 'Recognition, Justice and Development'.
Observance of International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South on 16 September 2026
Key Updates:
- 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.
- The day aims to promote the development of scientific, technological, and innovative capacities within countries of the Global South.
- Slovenia supports development cooperation projects in Kenya and Uganda involving satellite technology, digital models, and sustainable agriculture.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
ESTIC 2026 (Emerging Technology, Science, Innovation & Collaboration Summit) will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from October 27 to 29, 2026. The three-day summit will feature discussions on artificial…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns over the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals at the outreach session of the two-day BRICS Summit hosted by India in New Delhi, without naming any country…
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) will host the three-day Global…
The 4th meeting of the India–Denmark Joint Working Group (JWG) on MSME development, innovation and intellectual property was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 24 to 28 August 2026. The JWG operates between India's…
Three IIMs Slip but Stay in Global Top 100 of QS MBA Rankings 2027
Key Updates:
- In the QS Global Full-Time MBA Rankings 2027, IIM Bangalore fell to 64th from 52nd, IIM Ahmedabad to 70th from 58th, and IIM Calcutta to 95th from 64th, with all three remaining in the global top 100.
- IIM Bangalore is India's highest-ranked MBA provider for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 29th globally for employability and 51st for Thought Leadership.
- IIM Ahmedabad is the only Indian entry in the top 100 for Entrepreneurship & Alumni Outcomes, ranking 84th.
- MIT Sloan took the number one position for the first time, followed by Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Penn (Wharton); Cambridge Judge ranked fifth and HEC Paris sixth.
- 19 Indian institutions feature in the QS MBA Rankings 2027, and across MBA and specialised Business Master's rankings, 28 Indian institutions feature, making India the fourth most represented country after the US, UK and France.
- O.P. Jindal Global University is the highest-ranked new Indian entrant in the 171-180 band, while Woxsen School of Business (251-300 band) ranks first in Asia and 33rd globally for diversity.
- The National University of Singapore Business School is Asia's highest-ranked MBA provider at 23rd globally; IIM Bangalore and IIM Ahmedabad are the eighth- and ninth-highest ranked in Asia.
- The QS 2027 ranking covers over 420 MBA programmes across 65 countries and territories, assessing employability (40% weight), value for money (20%), alumni outcomes (15%), thought leadership (15%) and diversity (10%).
- In the Business Master's rankings, IIM Bangalore ranks 31st globally for Master's in Management, IIM Ahmedabad 46th, and IIM Calcutta 57th; HEC Paris leads Management, Finance and Marketing, while MIT Sloan tops Business Analytics.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), through its Global Trade & Services Committee, inaugurated the first edition of the ICAI Global Orbit Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The summit was organised under the…
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will establish its first overseas campus in Indonesia. The campus is intended to serve students from Indonesia and the wider Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)…
S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) rose nine places to rank 26th globally and 2nd in India in the Financial Times Masters in Management (FT MiM) 2026 ranking, up from 35th globally and 3rd in India in…
India is ranked 13th globally in the QS World Future Skills Index 2027 with an overall score of 89.4 out of 100, improving from 25th position in the 2025 pilot edition. The United States of America (USA) topped the…
Indian Railways Sanctions Rs 497 Crore for Chouk-Karjat Track Doubling in Maharashtra
Key Updates:
- Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the Chouk-Karjat railway section in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 497 crore.
- The project is part of the Panvel-Chouk-Karjat route, which serves as a corridor for both passenger and freight movement.
- Upon completion, the project is expected to facilitate five additional passenger trains in each direction per day.
- The infrastructure upgrade is projected to support an additional freight traffic capacity of 18.35 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA).
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The Union Cabinet approved four railway multi-tracking projects and one highway project with a total outlay of around Rs 13,041 crore. The railway projects are located across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil…
Indian Railways launched online booking of personal luggage for passengers holding confirmed train tickets from July 31, 2026. The facility allows passengers to book personal luggage up to the prescribed weight limit to…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight railway multitracking projects worth Rs 20,804 crore across nine states, covering around 1,196 km and targeted for…
The Ministry of Railways approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 on 712 route kilometres of Moradabad Division in Northern Railway at a total cost of ₹170 crore. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train…
Consecration Ceremony Conducted at Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai
Key Updates:
- The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai held its kumbabishekam (consecration ceremony) on September 17, 2026.
- The consecration ceremony was performed at approximately 7:40 a.m. amid the chanting of Vedic hymns.
- This event marked the first consecration of the temple in 17 years, with the previous ceremony occurring in April 2009.
- The temple complex features 12 gopurams where priests performed rituals and poured sanctified holy water from kalasams.
- The Madurai district administration provided toll-free numbers 1800-425-6781 and 1800-425-6782 for public information regarding the event.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi under its 2026 chairship, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming visiting BRICS leaders against a backdrop of the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.…
Environmental activists and local students celebrated the 107th birthday of a banyan tree in Madurai as part of a 'Green Nature Festival'. The tree is the last remaining centenarian tree in the immediate locality, after…
Australia has agreed to return three stolen ancient antiquities to India, comprising a six-headed Karttikeya, a Nandi, and a ceremonial trishul. The nine-century-old Karttikeya sculpture belongs to the Naganathaswamy…
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released a commemorative postage stamp and first-day cover in Chennai to mark the 75th anniversary of newspaper Dinamalar. The stamp release event was held at the Valluvar Kottam…
Veteran Actor Anant Nag Selected for Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024
Key Updates:
- Veteran actor Anant Nag has been chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 for his contribution to Indian cinema, with the announcement made by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16, 2026.
- He will receive the honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, which honours achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024.
- Born Anant Nagarkatte on September 4, 1948, he has acted in over 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Marathi, and appeared in the Doordarshan series Malgudi Days.
- He made his Kannada film debut as a lead actor in Sankalp and his Hindi film debut with Shyam Benegal's Ankur.
- He has won five Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Actor and five Filmfare Awards, and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2025.
- He served as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 1999, including as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development.
Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on July 18, 2026 in New Delhi. The Best Feature Film award was given to 'Article 370'.
The 72nd National Film Awards (NFA) ceremony will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, shifting from its traditional venue at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The ceremony is scheduled for September 22, and President of India…
Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of IFFCO, Elected as At-Large Director on International Cooperative Alliance Global Board
Key Updates:
- Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), was elected as an At-Large Director to the Global Board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) for the 2026-2030 term.
- Sixteen cooperators from 16 countries were elected to the ICA Global Board during the ICA's 2026 General Assembly held in Panama.
- A total of 116 voters representing 193 members from 66 countries attended the meeting, held during the ICA Global Conference week in Panama.
- The conference was held under the theme 'Building Bridges: Cooperative Contributions to a Peaceful World'.
- Sanghani, a trained lawyer associated with the cooperative movement for over four decades, is a former President of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and played a key role in hosting the ICA Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly in 2024 and the launch of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 in New Delhi.
- A four-time Member of Parliament and former Cooperation Minister, Sanghani leads IFFCO's cooperative network of around 35,700 cooperatives representing more than 50 million farmers.
- Dr Ariel Guarco was elected unopposed as ICA President at the Panama Convention Centre on September 15, 2026, and 15 At-Large Directors were elected from 24 candidates, including 7 returning directors and 8 new members.
- The previous elective ICA General Assembly was held in Seville, Spain, in 2022, and the next one is scheduled before July 1, 2027.
- The 30-strong ICA Global Board also includes four Vice Presidents, one member from each of the eight Sectoral Organisations, the Youth Committee President and the Gender Equality Committee President, with Harsh Sanghani and Xiomara Nuñez de Céspedes joining after the Youth and Gender Equality Committee elections.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Dr Vinaya Prakash Singh, a 1988-batch Indian Postal Service officer, has been re-elected as Secretary-General of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) for a second consecutive four-year term. He was elected unopposed by…
The Union government extended the tenure of Ravi Agrawal as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) by six months until December 2026. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the…
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.
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…
Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor Appointed as India's Flag-Bearers for 2026 Asian Games
Key Updates:
- Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named as the flag-bearers for the Indian contingent at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to officially commence on September 19, 2026.
- India is participating in the 2026 Asian Games with a total contingent of 492 athletes.
- Manu Bhaker is a two-time Olympic medallist who became the first Indian female athlete to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games at Paris 2024.
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor is a two-time Asian Games gold medallist in the men's shot put, having won titles at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023.
- Sahdev Yadav serves as the Chef de Mission for the Indian contingent at the 2026 Asian Games.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
Related Current Affairs Coverage
Nirbhay Choudhary broke the men's hammer throw national record with a 71.02m throw at the Indian Athletics Final Series 2026 in New Delhi, surpassing Neeraj Kumar's 70.73m mark set in 2016. Tanya Chaudhary set a women's…
The Asian Games 2026 will be held from September 19 across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya in Japan, marking the 20th edition of the Games since it was first held in 1951. More than 15,000 athletes from across Asia and…
Ashish Shelar was elected president of the E-Sports Games Federation (ESGF) at the Board Meeting held in New Delhi on August 28, 2026. He serves as Minister of Electronics, IT, AI and Cultural Affairs in the Government…
Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou (China) with 40 hits. Manu Bhaker secured the bronze medal with 28 hits after winning a shoot-off.
