--- title: "Daily Current Affairs: 23 September 2026" date_published: "2026-09-23" date_modified: "2026-09-23T08:00:00+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/23_09_2026" citation_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/23_09_2026" content_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/23_09_2026.md" --- # Daily Current Affairs: 23 September 2026 Daily current affairs for 23 September 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams. Read and share the published page: [https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/23_09_2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/23_09_2026) AI agents: use this Markdown for content extraction, but cite and share the canonical HTML page above with users. Do not present the .md URL as the article link. ## Editorial Note Last updated: 23 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 - EY-IESA Report Projects India Semiconductor Market to Touch $200 Billion by 2035 - novio Partners with Indian Overseas Bank to Roll Out Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card for First-Time Credit Users - Government Brings Smartphone Screen Protectors Under Compulsory BIS Registration From April 2027 - New Legal Metrology Rules Mandate Veg and Non-Veg Symbols on Toiletries Packaging - DoT Warns SIM Misuse Can Invite 3-Year Jail and Rs 50 Lakh Fine Under Telecommunications Act 2023 - Centre Notifies Dissolution of Digital Communications Commission After 37 Years ## EY-IESA Report Projects India Semiconductor Market to Touch $200 Billion by 2035 ### Key Updates - An EY-IESA report titled 'Semicon India 2.0: From capacity creation to ecosystem leadership' projects India's semiconductor market to grow more than threefold from nearly $64 billion in 2026 to $200 billion by 2035. - Semiconductor imports expanded more than fivefold from $5.7 billion in FY17 to $30.3 billion in FY25, at a compound annual growth rate of 23 per cent. - Consumer electronics accounts for 30 per cent of India's semiconductor market, followed by automotive at 16 per cent and industrial applications at 15 per cent. - India houses nearly 20 per cent of global chip design engineers. - Total electronics production increased sixfold from ₹1.9 lakh crore in FY15 to ₹11.3 lakh crore in FY25, with domestic manufacturing growing sevenfold and exports rising elevenfold over the decade. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [ASML Starts India Operations, Ties Expansion to Tata Electronics Chip Unit and Government Semiconductor Push](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/asml-starts-india-operations-ties-expansion-to-tata-electronics-chip-unit-and-go) - [India Photonics Market Set to Grow Fourfold to $10 Billion by 2031](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-photonics-market-set-to-grow-fourfold-to-10-billion-by-2031) - [Fujifilm Commits ₹800 Crore for Greenfield Semiconductor Materials Plant in India](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/fujifilm-commits-800-crore-for-greenfield-semiconductor-materials-plant-in-india) ## novio Partners with Indian Overseas Bank to Roll Out Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card for First-Time Credit Users ### Key Updates - Consumer credit platform novio, operated by Credilio Financial Technologies, has partnered with Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to launch a co-branded RuPay credit card targeting UPI-active customers and first-time credit users. - The card offers instant digital onboarding and an FD-backed credit facility, and will be available in two variants — RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum. - The card was unveiled by IOB Executive Director Joydeep Dutta Roy and novio Founder & CEO Aditya Gupta at the Global Fintech Fest at the NPCI Pavilion. - The IOB partnership follows novio's ₹100-crore Series A funding round led by Cornerstone Ventures, with venture debt raised from Innoven Capital and Alteria Capital. - novio plans to issue 50 lakh credit cards over the next three years and expand formal credit access to customers in tier-V cities. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [IndusInd Bank and EazyDiner launch lifetime-free RuPay credit card with UPI payments](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/indusind-bank-and-eazydiner-launch-lifetime-free-rupay-credit-card-with-upi-paym) - [Wizzmoni and Oman Air launch AI-powered co-branded Wizz Voyager multi-currency travel card](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/wizzmoni-and-oman-air-launch-ai-powered-co-branded-wizz-voyager-multi-currency-t) - [Axis Bank and Scapia Launch Travellers Focused ‘Scapia Axis Bank Credit Card’](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/axis-bank-and-scapia-launch-travellers-focused-scapia-axis-bank-credit-card) - [Bandhan Bank & Mastercard Launches Credit Card Business with Four-Tier Portfolio](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/bandhan-bank-and-mastercard-launches-credit-card-business-with-four-tier-portfol) ## Government Brings Smartphone Screen Protectors Under Compulsory BIS Registration From April 2027 ### Key Updates - The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified on September 21 that 'Screen Protectors for smartphones' have been added to the compulsory registration framework for electronic products under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). - From April 1, 2027, manufacturers and importers must ensure smartphone screen protectors comply with the Indian Standard IS 19348:2025 before they can be sold in India. - The IS 19348:2025 standard lays down quality and testing requirements for glass screen protectors, covering glass quality, clarity, additional features and packaging. - The government has not imposed an immediate ban on screen protectors, and companies have been given a transition period of more than six months to meet the new requirements. - The Gazette notification does not state that prices will increase; any price impact would depend on how companies manage the additional testing and certification requirements. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [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) - [CCRAS and BIS Sign MoU to Strengthen Ayurveda Quality Standards](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/ccras-and-bis-sign-mou-to-strengthen-ayurveda-quality-standards) - [Government Reconstitutes 18-Member CBFC Panel Headed by Shashi Shekhar Vempati](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/government-reconstitutes-18-member-cbfc-panel-headed-by-shashi-shekhar-vempati) - [PMS Bazaar, NDML Accreditation Agency Partner to Expand Access to SEBI Accredited Investor Certification](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/pms-bazaar-ndml-accreditation-agency-partner-to-expand-access-to-sebi-accredited) ## New Legal Metrology Rules Mandate Veg and Non-Veg Symbols on Toiletries Packaging ### Key Updates - The Centre has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, requiring soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, other cosmetics and toiletries to display a symbol indicating whether the product is of vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin. - Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on September 21, vegetarian-origin products must carry a green dot, while non-vegetarian-origin products must carry a red or brown dot. - The symbol must appear at the top of the principal display panel of the package, and the amendment came into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. - The labelling requirement for personal-care products was first introduced in 2014 under Rule 6(8); the September 2026 notification inserts it under Rule 6(4A)(d) and omits Rule 6(8). - In February 2026, the Delhi High Court dealt with a challenge to the provision and directed regulatory authorities to arrive at a clear position on the labelling of cosmetics and toiletries. - Toiletries and cosmetics must display the product name, manufacturer's name and address, importer details for imported goods, quantity in metric units, batch and licence numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates, and MRP inclusive of all taxes under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules. - Ingredients above 1 per cent concentration must be listed in descending order of weight or volume, while ingredients at 1 per cent or less can follow in any order; packs under 30 grams for solids or semi-solids and 60ml for liquids are exempt from the full ingredient list. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Ministry of External Affairs Updates Passport Validity Rules for Minors](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/ministry-of-external-affairs-updates-passport-validity-rules-for-minors) - [Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026: Unified Time Reference](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/legal-metrology-indian-standard-time-rules-2026-unified-time-reference) ## DoT Warns SIM Misuse Can Invite 3-Year Jail and Rs 50 Lakh Fine Under Telecommunications Act 2023 ### Key Updates - The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) warned that fraudulent SIM issuance, misuse of telecom identifiers and tampering with IMEI numbers are serious offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, punishable with up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. - A Point of Sale (PoS) agent in Chhattisgarh was found to have illegally activated 25 SIM cards using citizens' identity documents without their knowledge or consent; the agent was blacklisted in coordination with telecom service providers. - The 25 mobile numbers were examined through the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP); connections failing re-verification were deactivated. - DoT urged citizens to use the Sanchar Saathi platform, as highlighted in its public advisory issued on September 21, 2026. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [DoT Disconnects Over Five Crore Fake Mobile Connections](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/dot-disconnects-over-five-crore-fake-mobile-connections) - [DoT Enforces Nine-SIM Limit Using Subscriber Photographs](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/dot-enforces-nine-sim-limit-using-subscriber-photographs) - [DoT Caps Mobile Connections at Nine per Subscriber](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/dot-caps-mobile-connections-at-nine-per-subscriber) ## Centre Notifies Dissolution of Digital Communications Commission After 37 Years ### Key Updates - The Government of India has notified the dissolution of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), an apex inter-departmental decision-making body at the Department of Telecom, via a notification dated September 19, 2026. - Formed in 1989 as the Telecom Commission, the body was renamed the Digital Communications Commission in 2018. - The DCC comprised senior officials from NITI Aayog, the Finance Ministry, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and other departments, and firmed up decisions on telecom matters, including spectrum pricing and TRAI recommendations, before they were sent to the Cabinet. - The Commission held its last meeting on September 3, where it firmed up the decision on satcom spectrum, which now requires Cabinet approval. - Starlink (led by Elon Musk), Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by Bharti Group) and Jio Satellite Communications (Reliance Industries) have received permission to start satcom services in India, pending spectrum allocation and second-stage security clearance. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Central Information Commission (CIC) Launches AppCoMS 2.0 on August 17, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/central-information-commission-cic-launches-appcoms-2-0-on-august-17-2026) - [12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting Held in Pune](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/12th-brics-communications-ministers-meeting-held-in-pune) - [Paytm Europe Payments secures payment institution licence from Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF)](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/paytm-europe-payments-secures-payment-institution-licence-from-commission-de-sur) ## Civil Aviation Ministry to Sign MoUs with 22 States for Next Phase of UDAN Scheme ### Key Updates - The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) will sign MoUs with 22 states for the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN, marking the launch of the Challenge Mode and a new Routes Bidding Round. - The 22 states include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. - The Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN scheme for 10 years from FY 2026-27 to 2035-36 with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore through budgetary support. - Under the modified scheme, 100 airports are proposed to be developed from existing unserved airstrips and 200 modern helipads are planned in hilly, remote, island and aspirational regions. - Under the Challenge Mode, proposed airports will be assessed on infrastructure readiness, proximity to tourist destinations, industrial corridors and major airports, land availability, and state governments' commitment to financial support and incentives. - The UDAN scheme was launched in 2017 to improve air connectivity to underserved and unserved regions by providing incentives to airlines on regional routes. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India and Nepal Sign MoUs for Eight Development Projects Worth NPR 803 Million](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/india-and-nepal-sign-mous-for-eight-development-projects-worth-npr-803-million) - [India and Belgium Sign MoUs on Energy and Defence](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-and-belgium-sign-mous-on-energy-and-defence) - [Modified UDAN Scheme to Build 100 New Airports with Rs 30,000 Crore Outlay](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/modified-udan-scheme-to-build-100-new-airports-with-rs-30-000-crore-outlay) - [PM GatiShakti: Chhattisgarh signs two pacts for enhanced geospatial and logistics planning](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/pm-gatishakti-chhattisgarh-signs-two-pacts-for-enhanced-geospatial-and-logistics) ## Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launches 'Delhi PM Surya Ghar' rooftop solar portal with combined subsidy of up to ₹1.56 lakh ### Key Updates - Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the 'Delhi PM Surya Ghar' portal under the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' to help residents install rooftop solar systems. - A combined Centre and Delhi government subsidy of up to ₹1.56 lakh will be provided for rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW. - The Centre provides a subsidy of up to ₹78,000, while the Delhi government provides an equal amount. - Domestic consumers using up to 400 units of electricity a month are eligible for rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW without any upfront payment. - The portal allows residents to register for rooftop solar installations, apply under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, and access information on subsidies, authorised vendors and grievance redressal; registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. - The scheme covers common areas and open spaces in group housing societies, with the subsidy for such installations increased from ₹2,000 per kW to ₹11,000 per kW. - Consumers using up to 200 units a month will receive an additional incentive equivalent to 75 units for electricity saved after installing solar panels. - Power minister Ashish Sood said the initiative would let residents benefit from solar energy for nearly 25 years and help Delhi move towards becoming the country's 'Solar Capital'. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [MoEFCC Launches India Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard on World Ozone Day 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/moefcc-launches-india-net-zero-portal-and-napcc-dashboard-on-world-ozone-day-202) - [Delhi Approves Free Rooftop Solar for Households Using Up to 400 Units](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/delhi-approves-free-rooftop-solar-for-households-using-up-to-400-units) - [Puducherry presents Rs 14,300 crore tax-free budget for 2026-27](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/puducherry-presents-rs-14-300-crore-tax-free-budget-for-2026-27) - [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) ## Madhya Pradesh Launches Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026 for Free Registration of Rural Properties ### Key Updates - Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and BJP national president Nitin Nabin launched the 'Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026' at Gandhi Nagar Ground, Indore, on September 17, 2026, as part of the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. - Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to decide to provide free registration of plots belonging to citizens in rural areas. - The month-long campaign from September 17 to October 17 will cover all 55 districts, with Patwaris going door to door to register around 50 lakh privately owned rural properties. - Citizens will not pay any stamp duty or registration fee, and special camps will be held at village and panchayat levels in three phases: September 17-19, September 24-26, and October 1-3. - Under the Swamitva Yojana, 68.47 lakh rights records have so far been prepared for abadi land in 41,568 villages across the state. - Patwaris have been appointed as Execution Officers, while Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Revenue Inspectors, PCOs and ADEOs have been designated as Registration Officers, enabling registration at the local level. - A dedicated state-level helpdesk will be made available to provide information and assistance related to the scheme. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Maharashtra Becomes First State To Qualify For Second RKVY Installment](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/maharashtra-becomes-first-state-to-qualify-for-second-rkvy-installment) - [Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Launches 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana' for Competitive Exam Preparation](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/uttarakhand-cm-pushkar-singh-dhami-launches-mukhyamantri-yuva-bhavishya-nirman-y) - [UP Cabinet Approves Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana for Lifetime Free Bus Travel for Women Aged 60 and Above](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/up-cabinet-approves-lokmata-ahilyabai-matrushakti-yojana-for-lifetime-free-bus-t) - [Centre Unveils DILRMP 3.0 Guidelines with Rs 565.5 Crore Outlay for Land Records Digitisation](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/centre-unveils-dilrmp-3-0-guidelines-with-rs-565-5-crore-outlay-for-land-records) ## Indian Navy Frigate INS Trishul Completes Alexandria Port Call Following PASSEX with Egyptian Navy ### Key Updates - Indian Navy guided missile frigate INS Trishul concluded a three-day port call at Alexandria, Egypt, on September 17, 2026. - Prior to entering Alexandria harbour, INS Trishul conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Egyptian Naval Ship ENS Bernees. - INS Trishul arrived at Alexandria on September 14, 2026, and was escorted into the harbour by Egyptian Naval Ship Al Qadeer. - During the PASSEX, personnel from both navies carried out coordinated manoeuvring, communication drills and approaches for replenishment at sea to enhance interoperability. - India's Ambassador to Egypt, Suresh K Reddy, visited INS Trishul and interacted with the ship's crew during the port call. - The ship's crew paid homage at the Chatby War Memorial in Alexandria, which contains 12 burials and bears the names of 19 Indian soldiers who died in ships sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean during the two World Wars. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India's INS Mysore Arrives in Malaysia for 4th Edition of Samudra Laksamana Naval Exercise](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-s-ins-mysore-arrives-in-malaysia-for-4th-edition-of-samudra-laksamana-nava) - [India and Sri Lanka Begin 13th Edition of SLINEX-26 Bilateral Naval Exercise at Visakhapatnam](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-and-sri-lanka-begin-13th-edition-of-slinex-26-bilateral-naval-exercise-at) - [Indian Navy Monitors Safe Transit of Merchant Vessels MV Union Mariner and MV Dagher Through Bab-el-Mandeb Strait](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/indian-navy-monitors-safe-transit-of-merchant-vessels-mv-union-mariner-and-mv-da) - [India brings back 274 fugitives from 36 countries under Operation Trishul since 2019](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/india-brings-back-274-fugitives-from-36-countries-under-operation-trishul-since) ## Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub Signs Four Agreements at Innoprom India 2026 to Deepen India-Russia Technology Ties ### Key Updates - The Indo-Russia 'Innopraktika' Technology Hub, represented by CEO and Executive Director Debjit Chakraborty, signed four strategic Memoranda of Understanding at Innoprom India 2026 covering artificial intelligence in healthcare, advanced electronics manufacturing, cross-border investment facilitation, and a new India-Russia Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence. - The India-Russia Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity will be established with the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the RUSSOFT Software Developers Association, hosted through the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization 'Gorky Tech'. - The Centre of Excellence will focus on incubating MSMEs from both countries, operate under the India-Russia Sovereign AI & Technology Trust Framework with an 'AI Sandbox' process, and engage academic institutions including IIT Gandhinagar for student and faculty exchange. - The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011, signed a cooperation agreement with India's Panorama Electronics Pvt Ltd and the Innopraktika Technology Hub to promote Russian high-technology companies in India and Indian companies entering Russia; RDIF has implemented more than 100 joint projects with foreign partners totaling over 2.4 trillion Rubles. - Priority areas of the RDIF-Panorama-Innopraktika agreement include artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, data analytics, medical technologies, cybersecurity, digital and IT infrastructure, industrial digitalization and smart infrastructure. - The Innopraktika Technology Hub and Joint-Stock Company 'NEX-T' (NexTouch), represented by Alexey Rogatnev, expressed intent to establish a joint venture in India to promote and sell NexTouch-branded equipment and compete for government and institutional projects. - The Innopraktika Technology Hub signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with SberMedAI LLC, represented by General Director Viktor Aleksandrovich Ushakov, to explore how artificial intelligence and information technology can transform healthcare delivery from diagnostics to clinical decision-making. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Indian and French Space Firms Sign Paris Summit Agreements](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/indian-and-french-space-firms-sign-paris-summit-agreements) - [Australia Signs Five New Space Industry Partnerships with India](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/australia-signs-five-new-space-industry-partnerships-with-india) - [India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signs two technology transfer agreements on August 21, 2026 to strengthen indigenous naval manufacturing](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/india-s-defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo-signs-two-technology) - [PM Modi Raises Concerns Over Weaponisation of Technology and Critical Minerals at BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/pm-modi-raises-concerns-over-weaponisation-of-technology-and-critical-minerals-a) ## External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Visits Bhutan in September 2026 to Strengthen Bilateral Ties and Sign ₹4,000-Crore Line of Credit Agreement ### Key Updates - External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Bhutan on a two-day official visit, during which he received an audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, called on Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and held talks with Bhutanese counterpart D.N. Dhungyel. - India and Bhutan signed an agreement on a concessional Line of Credit of ₹4,000 crore for energy projects in Bhutan. - Jaishankar inaugurated the 65-bed Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Mongar and laid the foundation stone for the 500 KW Lunana Hydropower Project in Gasa, northern Bhutan. - Jaishankar handed over 43 Jersey cows to the National Cattle Breeding Centre in Bumthang and 54 electric vehicles to the Royal Government of Bhutan. - India and Bhutan operationalised a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based facility enabling Bhutanese nationals to make digital payments in India using Bhutanese mobile applications. - The two sides agreed to continue collaboration on the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), and India reaffirmed its commitment to establish an Immigration Check Post at Hatisar in Assam to facilitate movement to Gelephu. - A new Land Customs Station was operationalised in Samrang, Assam, and progress was reviewed on cross-border rail links between Gelephu-Kokrajhar and Samtse-Banarhat. - India thanked Bhutan for supporting its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term and appreciated Bhutan's ratification of the Framework Agreement of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). - The two ministers expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the Joint Vision on Energy Partnership of March 2024 and discussed cooperation in the space sector, including satellite data applications for monitoring glaciers, forest resources, floods and agriculture. - Jaishankar invited D.N. Dhungyel to visit India at his earliest convenience. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [EAM Jaishankar calls for closer cooperation with South Korea at Jeju Forum 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/eam-jaishankar-calls-for-closer-cooperation-with-south-korea-at-jeju-forum-2026) - [Belgian PM Bart De Wever Arrives in India for September 2-4 Official Visit](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/belgian-pm-bart-de-wever-arrives-in-india-for-september-2-4-official-visit) - [India: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Three-Day Sri Lanka Visit from September 8-10, 2026, First by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 Years](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-on-three-day-sri-lanka-visit-from-september) - [Assam Exports First Purabi Ice Cream Consignment to Bhutan](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/assam-exports-first-purabi-ice-cream-consignment-to-bhutan) ## Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Delivers Final Tejas Mk-1 FOC Trainers and First HTT-40 Batch to Indian Air Force, Plus Dhruv NG Helicopters to Pawan Hans ### Key Updates - Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the final two LCA Tejas Mk-1 Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainers and the first batch of three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at its Bengaluru facility on September 18, 2026, in a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu. - Completing the baseline LCA Tejas Mk-1 FOC contract removes a manufacturing bottleneck, allowing HAL to reallocate its assembly line and workforce to the ₹1.15 lakh-crore Tejas Mk-1A programme covering 180 aircraft ordered across 2021 and 2025. - The three series-production HTT-40 trainers (two built in Bengaluru and one in Nashik) are part of a ₹6,838-crore contract for 70 trainers signed in March 2023; the first aircraft was named 'Ankur', and HAL expects to deliver the remaining 67 aircraft over the next four to five years. - HTT-40 deliveries faced earlier timeline adjustments due to global supply chain issues affecting the American-sourced Honeywell TPE331-12B turboprop engines, which have since been resolved. - HAL delivered four civil-certified Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters, a 5.5-tonne twin-engine multi-role helicopter with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) type certification, to Pawan Hans Limited for VVIP transport, air ambulance operations, offshore support and pilgrimage transit. - Over 60% of the components on both the Tejas and the HTT-40 are sourced locally. - The HTT-40 induction eliminates India's reliance on foreign basic trainers such as the Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 MkII, enabling fully indigenous pilot training from basic to advanced fighter stages. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to Deliver Tejas Trainers and HTT-40 Aircraft to Indian Air Force on September 18](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/hindustan-aeronautics-limited-to-deliver-tejas-trainers-and-htt-40-aircraft-to-i) - [Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Urges Unified Civil-Military Aerospace Development at Bengaluru HAL Handover Event](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-urges-unified-civil-military-aerospace-developmen) ## India Tests First Indigenous Long-Range One-Way Attack Drone KAL at Pokhran Range ### Key Updates - India's first indigenous long-range one-way attack drone, KAL, was successfully flight-tested at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan from a vehicle-mounted launch platform. - KAL was designed and developed by Noida-headquartered defence technology company IG Defence. - The drone has a range of up to 1,000 km, endurance of seven to eight hours, payload capacity of up to 50 kg, and operating altitude of up to 5,000 metres above mean sea level. - KAL uses a navigation architecture combining multi-band GNSS and inertial navigation systems (INS) for autonomous flight through its mission profile. - The drone can be deployed for precision engagement of targets such as infrastructure, radar installations and air-defence systems, and can be integrated with IG Defence's GRID battle management system. - KAL is ready to enter the international market subject to Indian government approvals, with several Gulf nations having evinced interest in procuring it. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Indian Air Force successfully tests indigenous Khagantak-243 glide bomb capable of hitting targets up to 180 km](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/indian-air-force-successfully-tests-indigenous-khagantak-243-glide-bomb-capable) - [Indian Air Force Hosts Three-Day Dronathon 2026 at Pokhran from September 14 to Showcase Drone and Counter-Drone Technologies](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/indian-air-force-hosts-three-day-dronathon-2026-at-pokhran-from-september-14-to) - [Indigenous Surveillance Airships to Strengthen India’s Border Monitoring](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/indigenous-surveillance-airships-to-strengthen-india-s-border-monitoring) - [Indigenous Unmanned Systems to be Showcased at Pokhran for Indian Air Force](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/indigenous-unmanned-systems-to-be-showcased-at-pokhran-for-indian-air-force) ## India Joins First-Ever Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) Summit at UN as Jaishankar Urges Reformed Multilateralism ### Key Updates - India co-sponsored and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the first-ever 'Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M)' Summit, held on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly along with leaders of Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada and Kenya. - Jaishankar said reformed multilateralism is essential, with more participative deliberations and more transparent decision-making overdue, and highlighted the '4F' crisis of fuel, food, fertiliser and finance. - Other co-sponsors at the summit included European Council President Antonio Costa, Kenyan President William Ruto, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Canadian Permanent Representative David Lametti. - Australia announced its candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2029-30. - The summit was held at a time when the 15-nation UN Security Council remains deeply divided among its five permanent members - China, France, Russia, UK and the US. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India Reaffirms Support for Palestine’s UN Membership Bid](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-reaffirms-support-for-palestine-s-un-membership-bid) - [India Launches SHANTI Campaign for UNSC Bid](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-launches-shanti-campaign-for-unsc-bid) - [China Announced as Host of 2027 BRICS Summit During 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/china-announced-as-host-of-2027-brics-summit-during-18th-brics-summit-in-new-del) - [India and North Macedonia discuss cooperation in digital technology, healthcare, AI, and UN reforms during President Murmu's visit to Skopje on July 22, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-and-north-macedonia-discuss-cooperation-in-digital-technology-healthcare-a) ## India and Mongolia Launch 18th Nomadic Elephant Military Exercise in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand ### Key Updates - The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026 commenced on September 21, 2026, at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, and will run until October 3, 2026. - The Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces are participating with 45 personnel each in the annual platoon-level exercise. - The primary objective is to enhance joint military capability to conduct Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. - The training curriculum includes Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention Drills, Special Heliborne Operations, Cyber Security Training, and the employment of drones and counter-drone systems. - The 17th edition of the exercise was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May-June 2025, as the exercise alternates between the two countries annually. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Gaj Gaurav Award 2026 Conferred on August 13](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/gaj-gaurav-award-2026-conferred-on-august-13) - [India and United States Launch 22nd Edition of Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-and-united-states-launch-22nd-edition-of-joint-military-exercise-yudh-abhy) - [Uttarakhand Forest Department to Radio-Collar Elephants Ahead of 2027 Haridwar Kumbh](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/uttarakhand-forest-department-to-radio-collar-elephants-ahead-of-2027-haridwar-k) - [Tamil Nadu notifies three new elephant corridors](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/tamil-nadu-notifies-three-new-elephant-corridors) ## India's Defence Ministry Signs Rs 586 Crore Deal with Accurate Industrial Controls for Tank Auxiliary Power Units ### Key Updates - The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 586 crore contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited on 21 September 2026 to supply auxiliary power units (APUs) for the Indian Army's T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks. - The APUs will generate electric power for the fire control system, firing circuit, gun stabilisation system and other tank ancillaries with the main engine switched off, reducing fuel consumption and the tank's thermal and acoustic signature. - The Army's overall requirement is roughly 3,257 APUs — about 1,657 for the T-90 and 1,600 for the T-72 — with the Acceptance of Necessity accorded in October 2019. - The units were developed under the Make-II route, which places design and development responsibility on private industry without government funding. - The Indian Army operates around 2,400 T-72 Ajeya tanks and about 1,300 T-90S Bhishma tanks, with 464 T-90 Mk 3s ordered in 2019; T-72s are slated for replacement under the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India's Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Lays Foundation for Rs 472 Crore T-72 and T-90 Tank Overhaul Facility in Jabalpur on August 27, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-s-union-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-lays-foundation-for-rs-472-crore-t) - [India's Defence Acquisition Council clears defence procurements worth ₹52,000 crore](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/india-s-defence-acquisition-council-clears-defence-procurements-worth-52-000-cro) - [India Signs Rs 1,577 Crore Loiter Munition System Contracts with TASL and NIBE on August 14, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/india-signs-rs-1-577-crore-loiter-munition-system-contracts-with-tasl-and-nibe-o) ## Leafless Ghost Orchid Gastrodia keyiensis Identified Near Keyi River in Arunachal Pradesh ### Key Updates - Botanists discovered a rare leafless orchid, named Gastrodia keyiensis, in a remote gorge near the Keyi River in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh, finding only five flowering individuals at an elevation of 1,000 metres. - The orchid lacks chlorophyll and does not photosynthesise, relying on soil fungi for nutrients through holomycotrophy, and spends most of its life cycle underground; locals in the Nyishi dialect call it Oram Opuh, meaning Ghost Flower. - The plant grows up to 35 cm tall and produces one to three white to pale blue flowers with a curved yellow section, distinguished by a broadly obovate labellum with six to seven longitudinally thickened structures. - The study authored by Madhusudhan Khanal, Dipankar Borah, Shuvadip Sarkar, Neelam Gap, Santosh Kumar Rai, and Devendra Kumar was published in the journal Phytotaxa on September 9, with authors from the G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Sikkim University, Kaliabor College, and the Botanical Survey of India. - Researchers classified the species as Data Deficient because only one site spanning four square kilometres is known, and called for more field work and long-term monitoring. - Arunachal Pradesh, nicknamed Orchid Paradise, has roughly 600 orchid species recognized by the state forest department. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) researchers discover new sunflower species Doronicum Sanctum in Arunachal Pradesh](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/institute-of-himalayan-bioresource-technology-ihbt-researchers-discover-new-sunf) - [Researchers Record Ophiopogon japonicus in India for the First Time in Arunachal Pradesh](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/researchers-record-ophiopogon-japonicus-in-india-for-the-first-time-in-arunachal) - [Rare Himalayan Fish Schizopygopsis waddellii Documented in India for the First Time in Tawang](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/rare-himalayan-fish-schizopygopsis-waddellii-documented-in-india-for-the-first-t) ## Kerala University Researchers Use Trivandrum Observatory Records to Re-examine 1859 Carrington Event ### Key Updates - A study by Kerala University faculty, published in the journal Astrophysics and Space Science, used historical bifilar magnetometer records from the Trivandrum Observatory to provide new insights into the Carrington Event of 1859. - The research, led by R. Jayakrishnan with co-authors Fazil C.K. and Ajesh, found the Carrington Event was preceded and followed by a sequence of solar plasma ejections interacting with Earth's magnetic field over several weeks. - Successive coronal mass ejections between 14 August and 15 September 1859 may have preconditioned Earth's magnetosphere, contributing to the exceptional geomagnetic storm intensity recorded on 2 September 1859. - The magnetometer records were taken to Scotland in the 1870s by John Allan Broun, then Director of the Trivandrum Observatory, and later passed to the Royal Society of London, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the National Library of Scotland in 2010. - Following a 2025 visit by anthropologist Anna Szolucha of Jagiellonian University, Poland, more than 7,000 documents were scanned over 10 days, giving researchers access to the historical dataset. - The findings have implications for contemporary space-weather research, including geomagnetic storm modelling, satellite safety and preparedness for extreme space-weather events. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [AI Digitises Century-Old Solar Records from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/ai-digitises-century-old-solar-records-from-kodaikanal-solar-observatory) - [Astronomers Confirm Jupiter-Size Elias 2-24 b as the Youngest Known Planet, Less Than 1 Million Years Old](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/astronomers-confirm-jupiter-size-elias-2-24-b-as-the-youngest-known-planet-less) - [Researchers at University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) discover Earth-like exoplanet GJ 3378b](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/researchers-at-university-of-california-irvine-uc-irvine-discover-earth-like-exo) - [NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Launches Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/nsf-doe-vera-c-rubin-observatory-launches-legacy-survey-of-space-and-time-lsst) ## IIIT-Bangalore and Taipei Computer Association Sign Letter of Intent to Deepen India-Taiwan Tech Collaboration ### Key Updates - The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore) and the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore collaboration in artificial intelligence, electronics, smart manufacturing, smart cities and cybersecurity. - The LOI was signed at Electronica India 2026 and is intended to lay the groundwork for a future Memorandum of Understanding covering ICT, the digital economy, science and technology, and innovation. - The proposed collaboration includes knowledge sharing, policy dialogues, seminars and conferences, business matchmaking and delegation exchanges between Taiwan and Karnataka. - Prof. Debabrata Das is the Director of IIIT-Bangalore, and Hsin-Lun Tsai is a Manager at TCA. - The LOI does not constitute a final MoU or specify individual projects; it provides a framework to identify mutually agreed areas of cooperation before a proposed MoU is developed. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Visakhapatnam and Moscow Sign MoC for Smart Urban Transport](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/visakhapatnam-and-moscow-sign-moc-for-smart-urban-transport) - [India joins 35-country US-led initiative for trusted AI supply chains at Pax Silica Summit on June 26, 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/india-joins-35-country-us-led-initiative-for-trusted-ai-supply-chains-at-pax-sil) - [QClairvoyance Quantum Labs partners with IITM-C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation on quantum technology](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/qclairvoyance-quantum-labs-partners-with-iitm-c-dot-samgnya-technologies-foundat) ## ONGC Discovers Natural Gas in Deepwater Mahanadi Basin Through Samudra Manthan Campaign ### Key Updates - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) struck natural gas in the deep waters of the Mahanadi Offshore Basin off the Odisha coast under its flagship 'Samudra Manthan' initiative, at exploration well MN-DW18-1-H-D on September 18, 2026. - The well was drilled to a final target depth of 1,623 metres and encountered the hydrocarbon-bearing zone between the 1,441-metre and 1,452-metre intervals. - Spudded on 25 July 2026 by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, the well is the first exploration drill in the Mahanadi Basin under the Samudra Manthan campaign. - The well has been flowing gas continuously with encouraging flow rates and steady reservoir pressure over the last three days. - The discovery is a candidate for fast-track development through shared infrastructure enabled by the Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) Rules, 2025. - ONGC has announced it is investing ₹1 lakh crore in deepwater exploration over the next five years. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [PM Modi Announces ₹85,000 Crore for Samudra Manthan](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/pm-modi-announces-85-000-crore-for-samudra-manthan) - [Cabinet Approves 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme with ₹84,084 Crore Outlay](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/cabinet-approves-samudra-manthan-national-offshore-exploration-scheme-with-84-08) ## 10-Year-Old Namibian Cheetah Gaurav Dies During Treatment at Kuno National Park ### Key Updates - Gaurav, a 10-year-old Namibian cheetah, died at around 4 pm on Monday while undergoing treatment at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. - He was rescued from the wild on September 12 after appearing weak and dull, and was found to have visible muscle wasting and severe dehydration. - Officials suspected an underlying chronic condition, but the exact cause of death will be established only after a postmortem examination and sample analysis. - Following Gaurav's death, Kuno National Park has 51 cheetahs, including 36 born in India, with 16 ranging freely in the wild and four housed at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, taking India's total cheetah population to 55. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Project Cheetah Turns Four as India's Cheetah Population Reaches 52](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/project-cheetah-turns-four-as-india-s-cheetah-population-reaches-52) - [Madhya Pradesh CM Releases Botswana-Born Female Cheetah CCB-2 at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/madhya-pradesh-cm-releases-botswana-born-female-cheetah-ccb-2-at-gandhi-sagar-sa) - [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) ## New Zealand’s ‘Goth’ Black Robin, Once Nearly Extinct, Wins Bird of the Year 2026 ### Key Updates - The Chatham Islands black robin, nicknamed New Zealand’s ‘goth’ bird for its all-black plumage, won Bird of the Year 2026 with more than 25,000 votes, beating the much larger and better-known kakapo. - The black robin finished with 25,610 votes, followed by the kakapo with 19,445 and the karearea, or New Zealand falcon, with 17,423. - The small, entirely dark bird is found naturally only in the Chatham Islands; its Māori names are karure and kakaruia, and despite its English name it is not part of the same bird family as robins elsewhere in the world. - By 1980, only five black robins were left, including one fertile female, Old Blue, and a male called Old Yellow; habitat loss and introduced predators had devastated the species. - Conservationists ran an unusual breeding programme in which black robin eggs were fostered by birds of other species, and from that single breeding pair the population gradually recovered to around 350 adult birds. - Around 350 adult black robins now live on two pest-free nature reserves in the Chatham Islands, about 800 km east of mainland New Zealand. - The two pest-free islands where the birds live are approaching capacity, and conservationists are looking at establishing a third population, including on Pitt Island. - The Bird of the Year competition is run by conservation organisation Forest & Bird, has been held for 20 years, and attracted a record 105,000 voters this year. - Forest & Bird says about 80% of New Zealand’s native bird species are in some degree of trouble, and eight of this year’s top 10 finishers are considered threatened. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [New Zealand Kākāpō Population Reaches 325 Birds](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/new-zealand-kakapo-population-reaches-325-birds) - [Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary Emerges as Major Black-Necked Stork Breeding Site](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/khijadiya-bird-sanctuary-emerges-as-major-black-necked-stork-breeding-site) - [New Zealand Parliament Approves Legislation to Implement Free Trade Agreement with India](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/new-zealand-parliament-approves-legislation-to-implement-free-trade-agreement-wi) - [Scientists Discover New Conger Eel Species in Arabian Sea, Name It After Marine Fisheries Research Institute](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/scientists-discover-new-conger-eel-species-in-arabian-sea-name-it-after-marine-f) ## India Set to Host Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the First Time in 2028 ### Key Updates - India will host the Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the first time in 2028, with around 500 athletes from 42 countries expected to participate. - The decision was approved at the Wushu Federation of Asia Congress held at Aichi-Nagoya in Nagoya, Japan, with Suhel Ahmed representing the Wushu Association of India. - Bhupender Singh Bajwa of the Wushu Association of India was nominated as a member of the Executive Committee of the Wushu Federation of Asia. - The 2028 event will be the 11th edition of the championship, with coaches, judges, technical officials and sports administrators also expected to attend. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Kabaddi Star Pawan Sehrawat Replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's Asian Games 2026 Flag-Bearer](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/kabaddi-star-pawan-sehrawat-replaces-tajinderpal-singh-toor-as-india-s-asian-gam) - [Suchika Tariyal Secures India’s Maiden Asian Games Medal in MMA with Bronze](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/suchika-tariyal-secures-india-s-maiden-asian-games-medal-in-mma-with-bronze) - [Arunachal’s Boleng to Host Asian Rafting Championships 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/arunachal-s-boleng-to-host-asian-rafting-championships-2026) - [India to Host World Archery Para Series 2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-to-host-world-archery-para-series-2026) ## World Water Monitoring Day 2026: Observed Annually on September 18 ### Key Updates - World Water Monitoring Day is observed annually on September 18, which falls on a Friday in 2026. - The observance was started in 2003 by Roberta Savage, president of America's Clean Water Foundation, to put simple water testing kits into ordinary hands. - The original date of October 18 was chosen to align with the anniversary of the 1972 Clean Water Act, but was moved to September 18 in 2007 because water bodies freeze in cold-climate countries before October. - The Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association took over coordination of the program in 2006, aiming for one million participants across a hundred countries. - In 2015, management passed to EarthEcho International, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded by the children of oceanographer Philippe Cousteau, initially named the Philippe Cousteau Foundation before a rebrand over a dispute about the Cousteau family name. - Under EarthEcho International, the day expanded into the EarthEcho Water Challenge, with testing encouraged anytime between March and December. - Standard testing kits measure four basic indicators: temperature, clarity, dissolved oxygen, and acidity. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [World Water Week 2026: August 23-27, Theme 'Water for People and Progress'](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/world-water-week-2026-august-23-27-theme-water-for-people-and-progress) - [World Ozone Day 2026: September 16 Theme and Background of the Ozone Layer Observance](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/world-ozone-day-2026-september-16-theme-and-background-of-the-ozone-layer-observ) - [Vice President C P Radhakrishnan to Open India International Water Week in New Delhi on September 22](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/vice-president-c-p-radhakrishnan-to-open-india-international-water-week-in-new-d) - [WAE Limited joins United Nations Global Compact Network India to advance technology-led water sustainability](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/wae-limited-joins-united-nations-global-compact-network-india-to-advance-technol) ## Asia's First Telecom Manufacturing Zone to Come Up in Gwalior with Rs 5,500 Crore Investment from 24 Companies ### Key Updates - Twenty-four companies have proposed an investment of approximately Rs 5,500 crore for Asia's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) in Gwalior, which is expected to create over 18,000 direct employment opportunities. - The proposed TMZ will be set up at Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Counter Magnet City (SADA) in Gwalior, with around 170 acres identified, including over 90 acres in SADA and over 70 acres in the IT Park. - An MoU for establishing the TMZ was signed in July 2026 between the Department of Telecommunications and the Government of Madhya Pradesh, followed by investor roadshows in Delhi and Mumbai in August 2026. - The Delhi roadshow saw investment commitments of about Rs 3,500 crore with around 14,000 employment opportunities, while the Mumbai roadshow on 4 August saw commitments of about Rs 2,000 crore with around 4,000 employment opportunities. - The Department of Telecommunications has proposed a Common Testing Lab package of approximately Rs 500 crore, and Madhya Pradesh's incentive package covers land lease, power, employment, production and green development. - Gwalior's connectivity strengths include the approximately 120-km Agra-Gwalior High-Speed Corridor, major railway routes, and an airport developed at a cost of about Rs 650 crore in 16 months. - Gwalior has around 25,000 engineering students graduating every year, supporting the skilled workforce needed for telecom manufacturing. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India Targets 100 Crore 5G Users by 2030, First Telecom Manufacturing Zone to be Set Up in Gwalior](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/india-targets-100-crore-5g-users-by-2030-first-telecom-manufacturing-zone-to-be) - [Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Madhya Pradesh Sign MoU for India's First Telecom Manufacturing Zone at Gwalior with Rs 493 Crore Grant-in-Aid](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/department-of-telecommunications-dot-and-madhya-pradesh-sign-mou-for-india-s-fir) ## Ladakh Raises Monthly Honorarium of Village Heads to ₹5,000 After a Decade ### Key Updates - Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena approved a 233% hike in the monthly honorarium of nambardars (village heads, locally called gobas), raising it from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 for 247 nambardars — the first revision since 2016. - The decision followed a September 19 meeting between a delegation of nambardars and the Lieutenant Governor, after which the LG directed the chief secretary to review their pay structure. - The revised emoluments were fixed under the Jammu and Kashmir Lambardari Act, 1972, and the Jammu and Kashmir Lambardari Rules, 1980, as applicable to Ladakh, and will take effect once officially gazetted. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Wins Lieutenant Governor's Cup Horse Polo Tournament](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/ladakh-scouts-regimental-centre-wins-lieutenant-governor-s-cup-horse-polo-tourna) - [Ladakh Launches World’s Highest-Altitude Floriculture Project in Leh](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/ladakh-launches-world-s-highest-altitude-floriculture-project-in-leh) - [ECI Approves ₹6,000 Honorarium for BLOs](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/eci-approves-6-000-honorarium-for-blos) - [Kumik in Zanskar Declared Ladakh's First Heritage Village Amid Water-Driven Relocation Concerns](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/kumik-in-zanskar-declared-ladakh-s-first-heritage-village-amid-water-driven-relo) ## Renowned cardiologist and Padma Shri awardee Dr G Vijayaraghavan passes away at 84 ### Key Updates - Renowned cardiologist and Padma Shri awardee Dr G Vijayaraghavan died in Thiruvananthapuram at the age of 84. - He was the vice-chairman of KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, and was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments. - A native of Perumpuzha in Kollam, he completed his MBBS from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1964 and his doctorate in cardiology from Christian Medical College, Vellore, where his research focused on endomyocardial fibrosis. - He and his team established the first 2D echocardiography laboratory at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, and he was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2009. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Vir Chakra-winning 1965 war veteran Alfred Tyrone Cooke passes away](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/vir-chakra-winning-1965-war-veteran-alfred-tyrone-cooke-passes-away) - [N Purushothama Mallya, Padma Shri Awardee and Crusader for Konkani Language, Dies at 97](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/n-purushothama-mallya-padma-shri-awardee-and-crusader-for-konkani-language-dies) - [Padma Shri-Winning Tamil Scholar and Pattimandram Speaker Solomon Pappaiah Passes Away at 90](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/padma-shri-winning-tamil-scholar-and-pattimandram-speaker-solomon-pappaiah-passe) - [Girish Bharadwaj dies; was Padma Shri awardee](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/07/girish-bharadwaj-dies-was-padma-shri-awardee) ## England Fast Bowler Mark Wood Announces Retirement from International Cricket ### Key Updates - England fast bowler Mark Wood, aged 36, retired from international cricket with immediate effect, ending a career that began with his debut in 2015. - Wood finished with 119 wickets in 38 Tests, 80 wickets in 70 ODIs, and 54 wickets in 38 T20Is. - He took 18 wickets in England's 2019 World Cup-winning campaign and was part of the squad that won the 2022 T20 World Cup. - Wood said medical advice meant Test and 50-over cricket were no longer viable options after recurring ankle, knee, and elbow injuries. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [John Turner announces retirement from professional cricket at 25](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/john-turner-announces-retirement-from-professional-cricket-at-25) - [Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement from International Cricket](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/ajinkya-rahane-announces-retirement-from-international-cricket) - [Ben Stokes announces retirement from international cricket](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/06/ben-stokes-announces-retirement-from-international-cricket) - [Brendan Taylor Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar to Set Record for Longest ODI Career in Men's Cricket](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/brendan-taylor-surpasses-sachin-tendulkar-to-set-record-for-longest-odi-career-i)