Strong manufacturing and electricity gains lift India's August IIP growth to 8%
Key Updates:
- India's industrial output (IIP) grew 8% in August, faster than expected, driven by strong manufacturing and electricity gains despite a contraction in mining, per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- July's IIP growth was revised upwards to 7.4% from the provisional estimate of 6.7%; industrial output had grown 4.7% in August 2025.
- Manufacturing, with the highest weight of 76% in the new IIP series, grew 9.0% in August, up from 8.2% in July.
- Electricity and gas supply output rose 12.3% in August, its fastest pace in 27 months, while mining and quarrying contracted 5.6%, its worst performance since September 2023.
- Electrical equipment, other transport equipment and motor vehicles recorded the highest manufacturing growth rates at 30.9%, 25.3% and 25.2% respectively.
- Intermediate goods growth hit a 29-month high of 13.7%, while capital goods and consumer durables grew 16.9% and 11.1% respectively; consumer non-durables grew 2.1% after contracting 0.8% in July.
- Industrial growth averaged 6.7% in the first five months of the current financial year, compared with 4.2% in the corresponding period last year; IIP growth averaged 7.7% in July-August, up from 6.2% in April-June.
- Bank of Baroda chief economist Madan Sabnavis estimated industrial output could grow 7-8% in FY27 if the current IIP growth pace is sustained.
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New Index of Services Production shows 17 of 19 services sub-sectors growing in July, led by administrative services at 20.9%
Key Updates:
- India's services economy grew broadly in July, with 17 of the 19 sub-sectors tracked by the new Index of Services Production (ISP) expanding year-on-year and 10 recording double-digit growth.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the July ISP data on Tuesday, showing administrative and support services leading growth at 20.9%, followed by retail trade at 18.5%, real estate at 14.4%, accommodation and food services at 12.6% and banking at 12.3%.
- The ISP is being released on a trial basis and is designed to complement the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which tracks industrial output.
- The trial ISP series uses 2024-25 as the base year and covers 19 formal services sub-sectors, including trade, transport, telecommunications, banking, insurance, real estate, IT and professional services.
- Wholesale trade grew 12.1% year-on-year in July.
- Banking expanded 12.3% and IT and computer-related services rose 10.7%, while professional, scientific and technical services, including research and development, grew 10.4%.
- Telecommunications rose 11% and information and broadcasting grew 10% in July.
- Among transport-related activities, road transport grew 9.9%, warehousing and support activities for transportation rose 9.8%, water transport increased 7.7% and railways grew 7.5%.
- Repair services contracted 5% year-on-year in July and air transport declined 8.4%, while arts, entertainment and recreation services recorded a modest 1.7% increase.
- The ISP is a monthly indicator designed to measure changes in the real volume of output produced by the services sector relative to a base period.
- Services have contributed more than 50% of gross value added since 2013-14, but India historically lacked a comparable monthly measure of services output.
- The indices for railways, banking and insurance are based on provisional monthly data and will be revised annually.
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The fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) was held in Singapore, with participation from Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal…
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Small savings schemes net collections poised to surpass FY27 budget target of Rs 3.59 lakh crore
Key Updates:
- Net collections under small savings schemes are expected to exceed the Budget target of Rs 3.59 lakh crore for FY 2026-27, with April-July 2026 inflows rising 56% year-on-year.
- National Small Savings Fund receipts stood at Rs 1.54 lakh crore during April-July 2026 compared with Rs 98,259 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.
- The four-month inflow represents about 43% of the full-year FY27 target of Rs 3.59 lakh crore.
- The Centre has cut gross market borrowing for FY27 to Rs 15.99 lakh crore from the previously budgeted Rs 17.2 lakh crore.
- The government has budgeted Rs 3.87 lakh crore of net financing through small savings for FY27, while net NSSF financing reached Rs 1.16 lakh crore in April-July 2026.
- For FY 2025-26, the government initially budgeted Rs 3.06 lakh crore of net small savings collections, revised it to Rs 3.42 lakh crore, and actual collections exceeded the revised estimate by over Rs 1 lakh crore.
- Current small savings interest rates range from 6.9% on one-year deposits to 8.2% on the Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, with Public Provident Fund at 7.1% and National Savings Certificate at 7.7%.
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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a comprehensive review of the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020. Assets under management (AUM) of the PMS industry more than doubled to ₹42.61 lakh…
The Commerce and Industry Ministry announced that ₹36,754 crore has been disbursed to beneficiary companies under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes as on June 30, 2026. Launched in 2020 for 14 key sectors…
Rajasthan received approval for 2,89,355 additional rural houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) with a total outlay of ₹3,473 crore. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural…
Banks in India collected over ₹7,086 crore in penalties for non-maintenance of minimum balance in savings and current accounts during FY26. Private sector banks accounted for ₹4,948.71 crore of the total penalties, while…
IN-SPACe issues authorisation framework for hosted payloads on Indian and foreign satellites
Key Updates:
- Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued guidelines dated September 17, 2026, under the Indian Space Policy-2023 for hosted payloads, requiring authorisation for Indian payloads on foreign satellites while exempting foreign payload owners on Indian satellites from separate authorisation.
- The framework recognises a 'Satellite as a Service' model, allowing Indian entities to offer satellite capacity to domestic or overseas customers by providing the bus and associated systems, with or without ITU filings, ground stations or payload operations support, and such satellites may be considered for the National Registry of Space Objects.
- Guidelines cover payloads on Indian or foreign satellites and on orbital stages like the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), with uses including remote sensing, communications, science, meteorology, navigation, technology demonstrations, in-orbit experiments and space situational awareness.
- For Indian payloads on foreign satellites, the owner retains absolute decision-making powers over operations, while the foreign host bears all liability risks and must indemnify the owner and the Government of India.
- For foreign payloads on Indian satellites, the Indian host must disclose the payload while seeking authorisation, the foreign owner must hold approvals from its own administration and indemnify the host and government, and the host must be able to switch off the payload or cease emissions if directed by IN-SPACe or the government for reasons including national security or radio-frequency interference.
- For foreign payloads capturing data over Indian territory, the Indian host must seek IN-SPACe authorisation and maintain records of such data for at least six months, including area captured in .kml format, orbit row and path number, and date and time of capture.
- Applications require disclosures on ownership and control, foreign investment, financial credentials, security clearances, payload specifications, ITU filings and operational arrangements, plus a safety report on any hazardous or radioactive material.
- Authorisation ends with the host agreement or the host satellite's operational life, whichever is earlier.
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IRDAI proposes sharp caps on credit-linked insurance commissions paid to NBFCs
Key Updates:
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has proposed capping commissions on credit-linked life insurance at 2% for single-premium products and 2.5% in the first year for multi-year products, against current payouts of up to 57%.
- Insurance commissions accounted for 3-25% of profit before tax for select NBFCs in FY2026, with lenders heavily exposed to credit-protection products facing the sharpest impact, according to Kotak Institutional Equities.
- First-year commissions to NBFCs across insurance products averaged 42-67%, while commissions on credit-protect single-premium products ranged from 22% on average to as high as 57%.
- The NBFC channel's life insurance premium nearly tripled from Rs36 billion in FY2023 to Rs103 billion in FY2025, with about 93% of this business being single-premium group credit life and commissions on group credit life rising from 5% to 28%.
- The proposal prohibits compulsory bundling of insurance with loans; lenders taking portfolio insurance must bear the premium themselves, and borrowers must be informed of interest rates with and without insurance, be free to choose the insurer, and pay the insurance premium separately.
- Commissions would become all-inclusive, covering incentives, awards, selling expense reimbursements, brand-value payments and non-cash benefits, while volume-linked and reward-linked incentives for bank and NBFC staff selling insurance would be prohibited.
- Life insurers' expenses of management would be capped at 15% within two years and 12.5% within five years, while general insurers' limit would fall to 25% within two years and 20% within five years.
- Cost audits would become mandatory for insurers and distribution entities with insurance revenue above Rs1 billion, and entities above Rs500 million would have to publish revenue, expenses, related-party payments and profit after tax.
- The framework would consolidate 17 existing categories of insurance distribution into three broad categories, reduce entry capital for distribution entities to Rs1 million from the current Rs5 million-Rs50 million range, and make registration permanent instead of renewal every three years.
- Distribution entities would get open architecture with no limit on the number of insurers, compared with the current nine-insurer cap for banks, and would be permitted to sell non-insurance products.
- The proposal removes the Rs50 million risk-cover limit for MSME lending, while complimentary group term insurance for depositors and borrowers and cards with embedded insurance would remain permissible subject to conditions.
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US grants zero-tariff exemption to India for select specialty medicines under Section 232 pharma tariffs
Key Updates:
- The US Department of Commerce named India among 20 jurisdictions eligible for exemption from the new Section 232 pharmaceutical tariffs, granting zero ad valorem tariff on specified specialty pharmaceutical products and their ingredients.
- The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published the notice in the Federal Register on September 23, 2026, with the exemption effective from 12:01 am US Eastern Daylight Time on September 29, 2026.
- Covered categories include orphan drugs, nuclear medicines, plasma-derived therapies, fertility treatments, cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, certain medical countermeasures and animal-health products.
- The European Union, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are among the other eligible jurisdictions.
- The US began imposing a 100 per cent tariff on covered patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients from September 29, 2026, while generic medicines and their ingredients remain outside the scope of the Section 232 tariffs.
- Namit Joshi, Chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), said the share of Indian exports qualifying for the exemption cannot yet be determined without product-level data against the notified US tariff classifications.
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The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on 27 April 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, will enter into force on 20 October 2026 following completion of internal processes in both countries. The FTA was…
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FEMA 2026 export-import regulations bring flexible timelines with stronger AD bank scrutiny from October 1
Key Updates:
- The Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, will be effective from October 1, 2026.
- Goods invoiced or settled in Indian rupees get 12 months for realisation of export proceeds, against the earlier nine-month period, and the Authorised Dealer (AD) bank may extend it.
- If export proceeds remain unrealised for one year after the due or extended date, further exports can be made only against full advance payment or an irrevocable letter of credit (LC).
- For importers, the existing six-month limit for import payments is replaced by the period specified in the contract, and the $200,000 threshold for a standby LC or guarantee on advance remittances is replaced by thresholds fixed under each bank's policy.
- Advance remittance for importing gold and silver is prohibited, while the 90-day credit restriction for gold imports is removed.
- Services other than software become subject to the Export Declaration Form (EDF) for the first time, software exporters will use EDF instead of SOFTEX, and services invoiced or settled in rupees get 12 months for realisation.
- For merchanting trade, the nine-month completion limit is removed, and the gap between outward and inward remittance must not exceed six months, extendable by the AD bank.
- The new framework offers greater commercial flexibility while placing greater responsibility for scrutiny and extensions on AD banks.
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India and UAE Hold 14th High Level Joint Task Force on Investments Meeting in Mumbai
Key Updates:
- The 14th Meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLJTFI) was held in Mumbai, co-chaired by Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
- The HLJTFI was established in 2013 to promote trade, investment and economic ties between India and the UAE.
- Bilateral trade reached US$101.25 billion in FY 2025-26, non-oil trade reached US$76.2 billion in 2025, and both countries target US$200 billion in bilateral trade by 2032.
- Emirates NBD acquired a majority stake in RBL Bank for approximately USD 3 billion, International Holding Company (IHC) invested USD 1 billion in Sammaan Capital, and a joint investment intent of USD 11.5 billion was announced for an integrated aluminium complex in Odisha.
- Mashreq Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) opened branch offices in GIFT City, and the Invest India office in the UAE is expected to be operationalized before the end of 2026.
- The central banks of India and the UAE are working on local-currency settlement, integration of payment and messaging systems, and central bank digital currencies.
- Areas identified to increase two-way investment flows include energy, industry, logistics, infrastructure, technology, artificial intelligence, space, food security, agricultural innovation and the startup ecosystem.
- The Joint Task Force reviewed progress on the Food Park project in Gujarat, and investment opportunities in developing an aviation and logistics hub in Dholera, Gujarat were explored.
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India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held the India-GCC Troika Ministerial Meeting in New York on September 25, 2026, on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with External…
The Indian Air Force (IAF) commenced the operational phase of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, a day after the inaugural ceremony. The multilateral air exercise is being conducted from 26…
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced a 10-member Task Force to assess the challenges and feasibility of reviving Formula 1 in India. The Task Force is chaired by Niti Aayog Programme Director and…
Piyush Goyal: India-UAE local currency trade share crosses double digits as bilateral commerce nears pre-war levels
Key Updates:
- India-UAE trade settled in local currencies (rupees and dirhams) has entered double digits, per Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, with bilateral trade expected to return to pre-war levels in coming months.
- The local-currency settlement mechanism allows Indian exporters to receive payments in rupees and UAE exporters in dirhams, with periodic conversion into dollars if required.
- India's merchandise exports rose more than 15% in the first six months of the financial year to September 21.
- Piyush Goyal will visit the US from September 29 to October 5 to attend the G20 trade ministers' meeting and hold talks with USTR Jamieson Greer on the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, aiming to finalise an interim deal in line with the joint statement of February 7, 2026.
- Goyal made the remarks in Mumbai after a meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments.
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Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on September 27, 2026, that Uttar Pradesh targets raising its annual exports from around ₹2 lakh crore to ₹5 lakh crore by 2030, supported by global market access…
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, at the India-Russia Business Dialogue, identified pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, food products, chemicals and auto products as key areas to expand non-energy…
CAG audit finds ₹1,662 crore of Odisha DMF funds used outside rules and outside mining-affected areas
Key Updates:
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged ₹1,662 crore of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds in Odisha spent outside norms, including ₹983.32 crore in 976 villages not affected by mining and ₹679.14 crore on projects beyond the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) framework.
- The CAG performance audit covered 2015-16 to 2023-24 across Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur and Sundargarh districts, which collected ₹22,568.17 crore and sanctioned 17,435 projects worth ₹20,947.52 crore.
- Not a single DMF project was implemented in 488 directly affected and 96 indirectly affected villages in Kendujhar and Sundargarh.
- None of the six test-checked DMFs prepared the mandated perspective plan, master plan or endowment fund despite collecting ₹20,795.51 crore in DMF contributions and ₹1,772.66 crore in interest.
- Sundargarh DMF spent ₹136.77 crore on the International Hockey Stadium at Rourkela, which the CAG held was not permissible under PMKKKY guidelines.
- Three DMFs paid ₹145.06 crore to private hospitals for Covid-19 care without instructions permitting PPP-mode bed hiring, including an excess payment of ₹10.6 crore to Jai Prakash Hospital and Research Centre Private Limited, Rourkela.
- Implementing agencies in Jajpur, Kendujhar and Sundargarh did not return ₹470.25 crore in unspent project funds plus ₹26.51 crore in interest to the DMFs after project completion.
- Jajpur DMF spent ₹4.3 crore on private medical coaching for 437 students, of whom only six qualified for medical college admission, which the CAG held violated guidelines.
- ₹171.79 crore was released from the Jajpur, Kendujhar and Sundargarh DMFs to the Director, MGNREGS, for additional wages in violation of Ministry of Rural Development provisions.
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RBI panel recommends raising states' WMA limit to ₹67,839 crore, advises even spread of borrowing
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-appointed Advisory Committee on Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to State Governments proposed raising the aggregate WMA limit for states by 11.2% to ₹67,839 crore from ₹61,008 crore.
- The aggregate WMA limit rose from ₹32,225 crore in February 2016 to ₹41,893 crore in April 2020, ₹47,010 crore in April 2022, ₹60,118 crore in July 2024 and ₹61,008 crore in January 2026.
- The committee urged states to spread market borrowings throughout the year and avoid concentration in the January-March quarter, which could raise State Development Loans (SDL) supply and borrowing costs.
- The committee proposed annual review of state-wise WMA limits based on the latest three years of accounts data, with any increase capped at 4% and no state's limit reduced below its existing level.
- The maximum period a state can remain continuously in overdraft should be cut to 10 working days from 14, and the maximum days in overdraft per calendar quarter to 30 from 36.
- The Special Drawing Facility (SDF) limit against investments in the Consolidated Sinking Fund (CSF) was proposed to be raised to 75% from 50%, and states were advised to build CSF/Guarantee Redemption Fund (GRF) corpus to at least 5% of total outstanding marketable debt or guarantees.
- Most states have adopted the Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS) introduced by the RBI from financial year 2026-27, and the remaining states should adopt it at the earliest.
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The Centre lowered its FY27 gross market borrowing estimate to ₹15.995 trillion through dated securities, about ₹1.205 trillion below the original budget estimate of ₹17.2 trillion and ₹9,500 crore below the…
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification on August 21, 2026 proposing an amendment to Rule 2(u) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, raising the permitted thirty-minute motor power…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed that all securitisation notes issued by commercial banks be in dematerialised form. The RBI has retained the minimum investment size of ₹1 crore for issuance and subsequent…
The Punjab government notified an 8 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners, effective September 1. Employees will receive the increased DA amount along with their…
Rs 2,300-Crore E-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla: India’s First Port-Based Green Fuel Facility
Key Updates:
- India is setting up its first port-based e-methanol plant at Kandla, Gujarat, with a total investment of Rs 2,300 crore, developed by Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APCL).
- The plant will have a total production capacity of 150 tonnes per day, developed in two stages: a 50-tonne-per-day unit costing Rs 1,200 crore by January 2027, and an additional 100 tonnes per day costing Rs 1,100 crore by March 2027.
- The e-methanol, produced using renewable power, water and biogenic CO2, will be supplied to vessels operating on the Asia-Europe International Trade Corridor.
- DPA will own 76 per cent of the project, contributing Rs 567.32 crore in equity, 75 acres of land, desalinated water and green hydrogen, while APCL will hold the remaining 24 per cent.
- Green methanol is expected to be produced at about $750 per tonne against a global rate of around $1,300 per tonne, and the project is expected to generate more than 3,500 direct and indirect jobs.
- The project supports India's net-zero emissions target by 2070, and the government plans to add 100 ships to the merchant fleet over the next five years, aiming to make India one of the world's five largest ship-owning nations by 2047.
- Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for the project.
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the plant would make the Gujarat coast a gateway for green energy exports, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the partnership with APCL, based in Namrup, Assam, would connect the Northeast's energy potential with India's clean-energy ambitions.
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India's first port-based e-methanol production facility was launched with a foundation stone ceremony at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla, led by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister Sarbananda…
The Banas Bio-CNG Model Plant was inaugurated at Vinchhiwadi in Dhanera taluka, Banaskantha district, Gujarat. It is a joint initiative of Banas Dairy, Suzuki Motor Corporation, and the National Dairy Development Board…
The Banas Bio-CNG Model Plant, a joint initiative of Banas Dairy, Suzuki Motor Corporation and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), was inaugurated at Vinchhiwadi in Dhanera taluka. A bio-CNG filling station was…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore. A WAG-12 Maintenance Shed…
Election Commission notifies biennial Rajya Sabha polls for 11 seats and a West Bengal bypoll
Key Updates:
- The Election Commission issued a notification for biennial elections to 11 Rajya Sabha seats — ten in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttarakhand.
- Ten outgoing members include BJP leaders and Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and B L Verma, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP's Ramji, and six others; Naresh Bansal from Uttarakhand is also completing his term on 25th November.
- The notification also covers a bypoll for one vacant Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal, left vacant by the resignation of TMC MP Rukmini Mallik.
- Nominations began from 29th September and polling will be held on 16th October.
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The Union Home Ministry brought the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026 into force on August 25, 2026. The Act officially renamed Kerala to Keralam.
An Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh is participating in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) being held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 12 to 19 September.…
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on September 5, 2026, deferring the house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur. The deferment was made under provisions of section 3 and section 17A of the…
Key Updates:
- The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved ₹348.07 crore for the 2026-27 academic session to provide a uniform allowance of ₹600 each to 5.8 million students of Classes 1 to 8 in government schools via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- The decision was announced five months into the academic session after the state failed to float the tender for school uniforms on time; on July 16, the Madhya Pradesh high court had stayed the finalisation of a ₹350-crore tender.
- Since 2024, the state government has been directly transferring uniform money to parents' bank accounts; in 2018, then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had given SHGs the work of stitching nearly 11 million uniforms under the State Rural Livelihood Mission.
- The council of ministers also decided to provide 20 percent horizontal reservation to Agniveers in uniformed services such as police constables, special armed forces, jail guards, forest guards, and excise constables.
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NSTFDC and HPCL signed an MoU to establish integrated Computer Lab-cum-Smart Classroom facilities in 29 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 11 districts of Rajasthan. The project has a total budget of ₹16.01 crore…
Six literacy programmes from Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria and Thailand won the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes, presented during International Literacy Day celebrations on 8 and…
The Rajasthan Government has unveiled a three-year ₹12,500 crore roadmap for strengthening school infrastructure. The plan includes construction of 3,587 new school buildings at a cost of ₹2,487.7 crore.
NTPC and EDF Power Solutions India Sign 50:50 Joint Venture for Pumped Storage and Hydropower Projects
Key Updates:
- State-owned NTPC and EDF Power Solutions India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of French utility EDF (Électricité de France), signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement on September 25, 2026, in the presence of NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh and EDF chairman and CEO Bernard Fontana.
- The joint venture will develop, own and operate pumped storage, hydropower and other renewable energy projects, and undertake the distribution business in India and neighbouring countries.
- The partnership will also work on low-carbon power generation, flexibility solutions and transmission assets to support decarbonisation of electricity systems.
- The tie-up aligns with India's target of 100 GW of installed pumped storage capacity by 2036.
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed its first Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) mandate in India with the Government of Madhya Pradesh to support renewable energy public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The…
Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) achieved the highest ESG score globally in the Utilities sector under S&P Global's latest assessment. AESL secured an overall ESG score of 90 out of 100, outperforming the global…
Meine Electric will deploy its first pilot Iron-Air Battery system at NTPC Simhadri Thermal Power Station. The pilot project will be a 'multi hundred' kilowatt-hour battery storage system.
The Electronics Development Fund (EDF) invested ₹1,335.7 crore in 128 startups and companies as of June 30, 2026. Karnataka received 64% of the total investment (₹854.5 crore) and accounted for 90 of the 128 companies.
Amit Shah Flags Off India's First LNG-Powered Dual-Fuel Train from Sabarmati Station in Ahmedabad
Key Updates:
- Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati station in Gujarat.
- The LNG train runs on a dual-fuel diesel-plus-LNG system developed for its Driving Power Cars (DPCs); two DPCs, each rated 1,400 HP, were modified at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot.
- Dual-fuel operation lets LNG substitute for around 40% of diesel consumption while preserving the diesel engine's power and allowing running on either fuel based on availability.
- Each converted DPC carries an LNG tank of about 2,200 litres holding roughly 850-900 kg of usable LNG, enough for around 1,600 km between refuels.
- The two converted DPCs underwent more than 2,000 km of field trials, and trial data indicate lower fuel costs and reduced CO2, nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions.
- Shah said Railways' diesel use would fall from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25 and reach zero by 2030, alongside a net zero goal.
- According to Shah, Railways has achieved 99.6% electrification, with the remainder targeted for completion.
- At the same event, Shah flagged off a WAG-12 electric locomotive and dedicated railway projects worth over Rs 1,500 crore, including line doubling, the Kavach train protection system, automatic signalling and a WAG-12 maintenance shed.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore. A WAG-12 Maintenance Shed…
The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express, India's first private train, will now be known as 'Sprite Tejas Express'. IRCTC awarded advertising rights to Sprite, a unit of Coca-Cola India Private Limited, for six months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab on July 17, 2026, unveiling development projects worth around Rs 26,800 crore. He flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train between Jind and…
India's first hydrogen fuel cell train generates electricity onboard using a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, producing only water vapour and heat as by-products. The train consists of 10 coaches (8 passenger…
Supreme Court orders audit of Delhi public spaces over safety failures following recent sexual assaults
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognisance of recent sexual offences in Delhi-NCR, pulled up the Delhi government and police for a 'systemic failure' to guarantee basic public safety and ordered the Commissioner of Police to audit public spaces like parks, roads, buses, metro stations, subways and footbridges so that they do not become 'zones of high risk'.
- The audit is to be conducted through dedicated teams in every police district, headed by officers not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police, to inspect vulnerable locations for gaps in lighting, surveillance, patrolling and access control, with the report due to the Supreme Court by October 5.
- A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran took note of three recent sexual assaults on minors, including the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old at Aastha Kunj Park near LSR College, and drew parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya case.
- The court appointed senior advocate Liz Mathew as amicus curiae and sought a status report on the use of the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO), the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and programmes under Mission Shakti by the police over the past five years.
- The court also issued notice to the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court on the functioning of Fast Track Special Courts and Exclusive POCSO Courts in Delhi, and asked for steps to ensure trials are concluded expeditiously, preferably within one year.
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President Droupadi Murmu returned the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, popularly called the 'anti-Goonda' Bill, for reconsideration after the Centre flagged a conflict with the…
The Centre has approved the Delhi government's proposal to create a separate engineering cadre for the Public Works Department (PWD), taking 3,214 sanctioned engineering posts out of the Central Public Works Department…
The Supreme Court imposed an interim ban on any construction or development activity within 100 metres from the edge of Rajasthan's Jojari river. The court prohibited hazardous industries or activities within 500 metres…
Former high court judge Justice R. C. Chavan resigned on September 19 from the Maharashtra government's seven-member committee set up to draft a framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The committee, set…
India sets 373.93 MT foodgrain target for 2026-27, Rabi goal at 177.72 MT, citing El Nino risk
Key Updates:
- The Union government has set a foodgrain production target of 373.93 million tonnes for 2026-27, 2.63 MT below the 2025-26 estimate, in view of El Nino, while the Rabi season target is 177.72 MT, led by wheat.
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the targets after the National Agriculture Conference-Rabi Campaign 2026 in New Delhi, noting production reached 376.56 MT in 2025-26 against a target of 362.60 MT.
- States have estimated Rabi fertiliser requirement at around 380 lakh metric tonnes, with over 163 lakh metric tonnes currently available against about 122 lakh metric tonnes at the start of the previous Rabi season.
- The monsoon rainfall deficit stood at 14% around August 24-25, improving to 12%, and kharif sowing area declined only about 1%, with rice acreage down around 16.32 lakh hectares.
- Central teams will assess crop damage in Karnataka and Maharashtra on October 3, with relief via the State Disaster Response Fund (Centre 75%, states 25%) and possible National Disaster Response Fund assistance after assessment.
- Under the PM-AASHA framework, NAFED and NCCF can directly begin procurement in mandis when prices of pulses and oilseeds fall below the minimum support price, instead of waiting for state agencies.
- The Centre released more than Rs 7,000 crore to states under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Krishonnati Yojana, including over Rs 3,000 crore recently after an earlier allocation of around Rs 4,000 crore.
- Stubble burning's contribution to Delhi-NCR pollution declined from about 7% in 2019-20 to around 2.5% currently, per government estimates cited by Chouhan.
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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index averaged 131.1 points in July 2026, up from 130.3 in June, marking the highest level since January 2023. The FAO cereal price index rose 3.4% month-on-month…
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…
A University of Chicago Energy Policy Institute report projects a 'super El Nino' could cause around 15,800 additional heat-related deaths in India over the next six months. Co-author Emily Grover-Kopec, director at the…
Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) plans to import 3-4 lakh tonne of non-urea fertilisers, including Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and NPK, for the upcoming rabi season. KRIBHCO has already imported 8 lakh tonne…
Reserve Bank of India mandates daily website disclosure of bulk fixed deposit rates from October 1, 2026
Key Updates:
- New Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules changing how banks disclose interest rates on large fixed deposits take effect from October 1, 2026, bringing in daily rate disclosures and greater consistency across branches.
- From October 1, banks must publish applicable bulk deposit interest rates on their websites by 10 am every business day, with a 10-minute grace period allowing updates until 10.10 am.
- Banks must offer the same rate for similar bulk deposits accepted on the same day across their branches and for all customers; the changes follow the RBI's July 30, 2026 amendment to its directions on interest rates on deposits.
- Under the RBI framework, bulk deposits generally start at ₹3 crore for scheduled commercial banks, and large depositors can currently negotiate rates with banks depending on the size and nature of their deposit.
- The interest paid on a bulk deposit must match the rate disclosed by the bank in advance, and similar deposits accepted on the same day must carry the same interest rate across all branches and customers.
- Banks can still offer differential interest rates on bulk deposits based on applicable run-off rates under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) framework, and this flexibility extends to relevant rupee deposits held by non-residents.
- Regular FD investors placing amounts such as ₹1 lakh, ₹5 lakh or ₹25 lakh face no major change, as the new provisions mainly deal with bulk deposits and how banks disclose their rates.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised valuation norms for Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) units held by all-India financial institutions (AIFIs), introducing separate…
The Ministry of Finance, through the Department of Financial Services, notified that all provisions of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 (15 of 2026) will come into force from October 1, 2026. The notification (No.…
The Delhi High Court ordered the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) and appointed former State Bank of India (SBI) Chief General Manager Girikumar M Nair as the Official Liquidator. The Reserve Bank of…
India's outward remittances under LRS edge up nearly 1% to USD 2.6 billion in July 2026
Key Updates:
- India's outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) rose around 1 per cent month on month to USD 2.6 billion in July 2026, according to a 1Lattice analysis based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.
- Travel remained the largest component of India's outward remittances in July 2026, with its share rising to 57 per cent from 54 per cent in June.
- Education's share of India's total outward remittances increased to 6 per cent in July 2026 from 4 per cent in June.
- Remittances towards medical treatment moderated in July 2026, with their share falling to 13 per cent from 18 per cent in June.
- Family maintenance accounted for 11 per cent of India's total outward remittances in July 2026, while gifts contributed 9 per cent, up marginally from 8 per cent in June.
- India's annual outward remittances stood at USD 32 billion in FY24 and USD 29 billion in both FY25 and FY26, with travel's share rising from 54 per cent in FY24 to 57 per cent in FY25 and FY26.
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The Favara-UPI cross-border payment corridor was operationalized on July 30, 2026, enabling real-time transfers from Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) to Indian Rupees (INR). The service is initially available through Bank of…
India's unemployment rate among persons aged 15 years and above dipped to 5% in August 2026, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released in September 2026. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) rose to…
RNFI Money Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of RNFI Services Ltd, received Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval to undertake cross-border trade remittances. The approval allows RNFI Money to offer regulated foreign…
Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 15.4% year-on-year to ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026. Domestic GST revenue increased 10.1% to ₹1.45 lakh crore, while GST on imports surged 28.8% to ₹66,511 crore.
United States and China announce $30 billion reciprocal tariff reduction and launch AI dialogue during Xi Jinping's state visit
Key Updates:
- Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a three-day state visit to the United States, with US President Donald Trump holding a welcome ceremony for him at the White House on September 24, 2026.
- The United States and China agreed to implement a reciprocal tariff reduction arrangement worth 30 billion US dollars.
- The two leaders agreed to launch a China-US AI dialogue to exchange views on the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence, with the next round scheduled for November 2026.
- The US and China agreed that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and that no country or institution should be permitted to impose tolls on international waterways.
- China's Foreign Ministry said both countries were working to address US concerns over rare earths and other critical mineral supply shortages, aiming to restore shipments to appropriate levels.
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The United States and China agreed on September 25 to establish a bilateral communication channel to handle artificial intelligence incidents, following a White House summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The two…
Taiwan's lawmakers approved a NT$240 billion ($7.6 billion) budget for locally made drones on August 27, 2026. The approved proposal was backed by the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) after President Lai…
Amit Shah Launches PRAHAAR Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Extradition Portal at New Delhi Conference
Key Updates:
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the conference on 'PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy' in New Delhi on September 29, 2026.
- PRAHAAR stands for seven pillars: Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities, Human Rights, Attenuating Conditions for Terrorism, Aligning International Efforts, and Recovery and Resilience.
- Shah called for strengthening the PRAHAAR strategy through continuous analysis of terror incidents and establishing a concrete mechanism for the next 10 years.
- Shah said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of terrorism.
- Shah launched a new 'extradition portal' to expedite bringing back fugitives from abroad and urged state police forces to set up dedicated fugitive-tracking teams.
- Between 2019 and 2026, the Modi government brought back 288 fugitive criminals to India from 36 countries.
- Improved inter-agency coordination helped bust more than 40 modules of the Shahzad Bhatti Network, allegedly involved in cross-border smuggling of weapons, explosives and narcotics.
- The conference was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, heads of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations, Directors General of Police of 15 states, and ATS chiefs of all states and Union Territories.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Colour to the Goa Police on September 7, 2026, in Panaji, honouring over eight decades of service. The President's Colour recognised the Goa Police's professional…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads of states and Union Territories in New Delhi on September 22, 2026. The two-day conference on September…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads of States and Union Territories in New Delhi on September 22, 2026. Amit Shah set December 31, 2029 as the…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 9th two-day National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference-2026 in New Delhi on August 24, 2026. The conference was held in a hybrid format with over 850 participants from…
Union Minister Manohar Lal Launches PRAGATI-50 Initiative for 50 Model Swachhata Cities in New Delhi
Key Updates:
- Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal launched the PRAGATI-50 initiative in New Delhi on 29 September 2026, under which the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) identified 50 model cities across 24 states for a higher benchmark of Swachhata under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, following directions from the Prime Minister during the 51st PRAGATI meeting.
- A PRAGATI-like digital review mechanism has been established on the Swachhatam Portal, and the Union Minister will personally chair review meetings every other month to track the cities' progress.
- MoHUA, in collaboration with CSIR-CMERI, launched the Swachh Bharat Test Bed & Innovation Centre at Durgapur for research, testing, validation, certification and capacity building in sanitation technologies.
- The third cohort of Swachhata startups, with 13 startups joining, was launched with the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, marking achievement of the national target of onboarding 75 startups under the Mission.
- The Swachhata Behaviour Change Digital Kosh, a digital repository of ideas, creatives, campaigns and resources, was launched by Shri Manohar Lal.
- A Reduce Reuse and Recycle (RRR) Centre was inaugurated at Sankalp Bhawan, New Delhi, as part of Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, envisaged as the first such centre in a Union Ministry office.
- An SOP for Secondary Collection Centres for Construction & Demolition Waste and Guidelines for Source Segregation of Municipal Solid Waste under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 were released, and a dedicated WhatsApp channel was launched for the Swachhata App.
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The Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign commenced on September 17, 2026, with the theme 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat', announced by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil. The campaign launch coincided…
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) celebrated its 172nd Annual Day on 12 July 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, introduced the SANKALP framework for CPWD's…
Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal arrived in Houston to represent India at the G20 Energy Ministers' meeting amid global crude supply strain from wars in Iran and Ukraine. The G20…
The Union Government approved a 'Street Food Hub' at Lakhanpur in the Kathua district under the PM SVANidhi initiative. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs will provide financial assistance of ₹4 Crore per approved…
Centre to disable ration benefits of 15.8 million inactive beneficiaries from October under PDS cleanup
Key Updates:
- The Centre will disable the ration entitlements of 15.8 million beneficiaries from October 2026 for ration cards that have not been used in the past six months.
- Under the amended Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, disabled 'silent ration cards' get a three-month window for field verification and e-KYC, and cards that complete e-KYC within this period will be reactivated.
- In November 2024, the food ministry said about 58 million ration cards had been removed from the Public Distribution System (PDS) through digitisation, Aadhaar seeding and e-KYC de-duplication exercises.
- Under the SMART-PDS programme (Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System), e-KYC coverage stood at 90.64% as of July 30, and new protocols for e-KYC-based data replication and mobile-number seeding have been rolled out.
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The Telangana government will begin distributing 1.05 crore laminated ration cards on August 15, 2026. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will launch the programme in Sangareddy.
OPEC+ decided to keep its oil production targets unchanged for October at a virtual meeting on September 6, 2026. The decision was taken by seven OPEC+ members: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria…
From October 1, 2026, Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) is mandatory for domestic LPG consumers booking refills at the regulated retail selling price with subsidy, as announced by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural…
SBI Card announced on September 23 a fully digital journey on the SBI YONO platform that allows eligible customers to apply for fixed deposit-backed secured credit cards in around 10 minutes. Customers with an SBI fixed…
DGCA Issues Civil Aviation Requirement Prescribing Training Syllabus for Gyroplane Pilot Licences
Key Updates:
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) promulgated a new Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), Section 7, Series B, Part XXI, titled 'Ground and Flying Training Syllabus for Issue of Pilot Licence for Gyroplanes', prescribing ground and flying training syllabus for candidates seeking a DGCA pilot licence in the gyroplane category.
- Gyroplanes use a freely rotating rotor system to generate lift, while forward thrust is provided by a propeller, and are suitable for joyrides, air experience flights and aerial work activities such as agricultural spraying, banner towing, surveillance and survey operations.
- The CAR is an initial step towards facilitating the introduction and operationalisation of gyroplanes in India, with further measures including establishment of training organisations and development of manufacturing and assembly capabilities to support this emerging civil aviation segment.
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed all airlines to conduct a one-time drug screening of all pilots by July 2027, with testing already underway across airlines. The directive follows an Air…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is developing a digital platform on the eGCA portal for electronic submission and processing of mandatory occurrence reports. The initiative aims to improve the timeliness…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted the first satellite-based landing system (SLS) approach on a jet engine aircraft in India. The exercise was carried out using an IndiGo Airbus A320 at Udaipur…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued 1,331 commercial pilot licences in the first half of 2026. Of the 1,331 licences, 540 (41%) were issued to pilots trained at foreign Flying Training Organisations…
India's DGTR launches anti-dumping investigations into seven Chinese products alongside other trade remedy probes
Key Updates:
- India's Directorate General for Trade Remedies (DGTR) has initiated anti-dumping investigations into seven products from China, including Para-tert-Octyl Phenol Formaldehyde Tackifier Resin, Penicillin G and its salts, 6-Amino Penicillanic Acid, T-Shaped Elevator/Lift Solid Guide Rails, Amoxycillin Trihydrate, Montelukast Sodium, and Copolymer Polyol, following complaints from domestic manufacturers.
- The DGTR is also probing dumping of AD-Isopropyl Alcohol from the European Union, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States, and Pentaerythritol from Russia.
- If dumping causing material injury is established, the DGTR recommends anti-dumping duties, but the finance ministry takes the final decision on imposing them.
- India's exports to China rose 36.66 per cent to USD 19.47 billion in 2025-26, while imports rose 16 per cent to USD 131.63 billion, swelling the trade deficit to an all-time high of USD 112.6 billion from USD 99.2 billion in 2024-25.
- The DGTR has started an anti-circumvention investigation, filed by DOZCO India, into allegations that anti-dumping duties imposed in June 2024 on Chinese and Korean Alloy Steel Chisel/tool and Hydraulic Rock Breakers are being avoided by routing the product through Malaysia.
- The DGTR has initiated a sunset review of countervailing duties on imports of copper tubes and pipes from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, based on applications by Ram Ratna Wires Limited and MetTube Copper India.
- Anti-dumping duties are imposed under the multilateral regime of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO), of which both India and China are members.
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India is among 18 countries, including the UK, the US, China and Brazil, that reserved third-party rights to participate in Russia's WTO dispute against the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)…
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…
The United States, in its annual presidential determination submitted to the US Congress on September 15, identified 23 countries, including India, China and Pakistan, as major drug transit or illicit drug-producing…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the margins of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, welcoming steady progress in India-China relations and committing to a fair, reasonable and mutually…
Ministry of MSME and MoSPI sign MoU to share Udyam data and strengthen Statistical Business Register
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 29, 2026 to strengthen the Statistical Business Register (SBR).
- The MoU enables sharing of unit-wise Udyam Registration data from the MSME Ministry with MoSPI through a two-way API, supporting preparation of the National Statistical Business Register (NSBR).
- The MoU was signed by Rajneesh, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, and Dalip Singh, Additional Director General, MoSPI.
- The Statistical Business Register is a centralised, regularly updated database of registered businesses and economic units that helps identify target populations, select samples for economic surveys, and compile business demography statistics.
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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed an MoU with Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology to develop a Predictive and Analytical Framework for Monthly Consumption Expenditures in…
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) held a workshop of Statistical Advisers and Chief Data Officers of Central Ministries and Departments in New Delhi on 8 September 2026, themed 'Data…
The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen municipal accounting and financial management…
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation on central counterparties (CCPs). The MoU replaces an earlier pact signed on June…
Technology Development Board commits ₹37.51 crore from RDI Fund to Multi Nano Sense Technologies for indigenous MEMS multi-gas sensor development
Key Updates:
- The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, signed an agreement with M/s Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private Limited, Nagpur, Maharashtra, for ₹37.51 crore financial support under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
- The project has a total approved cost of ₹75.02 crore to develop a Platform MEMS + AFE SoC Multi-Gas Sensor, advancing the technology from TRL-4 to TRL-9, with support provided through Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD).
- Multi Nano Sense is developing an indigenous MEMS TCDIR gas sensor and CMOS AFE SoC platform for reliable, scalable multi-gas sensing in a compact form factor.
- The sensor platform targets applications in leak detection, process control, and health and safety monitoring across refineries, petrochemicals, power, PNG infrastructure, industrial safety, batteries, and the hydrogen economy.
- The platform features a targeted response time of less than 200 milliseconds and a sensor package smaller than 25 mm × 25 mm × 15 mm, with auto-calibration, environmental compensation, and software-based gas-library processing.
- The project falls under the Deep Technology sector with Quantum Technology identified as the sub-sector.
- Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, stated that indigenous capabilities in sensing and semiconductor technologies are important for industrial competitiveness and strategic self-reliance.
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The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), signed an agreement with space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos for ₹200 crore financial support under the Research Development and…
The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, signed an agreement with Griva Healthcare to support the manufacture and commercialisation of the AI-enabled…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep tech project agreement with Rajasthan-based start-up Zero mK India Private Ltd to indigenously develop a 20 mK Dilution…
Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (BPCL) has signed an agreement to acquire a 40 per cent equity stake in Tiki Tar and Shell India Private Limited (TTSIPL) for a cash consideration of ₹85 crores. The Department of Investment…
Indian Navy Destroyer INS Ranvijay Visits Salalah, Oman, for Maritime Cooperation Engagements
Key Updates:
- Indian Navy's frontline destroyer INS Ranvijay made a port call at Salalah, Oman, on September 29, 2026, as part of its ongoing deployment.
- The Commanding Officer of INS Ranvijay called on the Southern Naval Area Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) during the visit.
- Professional engagements were held between RNOV Sadh and INS Ranvijay, followed by an India-RNO Passage Exercise (PASSEX) conducted off Salalah.
- Earlier, INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish concluded India's participation in the 23rd ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperation Activity at Subic Bay, Philippines, with a Closing Ceremony on September 25, 2026.
- The ADMM-Plus activity, hosted by the Philippine Navy and co-chaired by Japan, commenced on September 21, 2026, and included a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase with exercises such as Search and Rescue, Hydrographic Survey, and Casualty and Medical Evacuation.
- India's participation in the ADMM-Plus engagement reaffirmed its commitment to regional partnerships under the Act East Policy and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
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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…
Indian Navy Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on September 23 during its Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition, marking the ship's second visit to Alexandria during the deployment. The 10-month…
On September 16, 2026, in New Delhi, Sohar Port and Freezone CEO Raid Al Rubaiey invited Indian investments, describing India as an important and growing part of Sohar's investment landscape. Sohar Port, located on…
Saudi Arabia and Oman signed a bilateral logistics and trade agreement to boost cross-border trade via the Saudi-Oman Highway. The pact was signed between Oman's Arkan Logistics and Saudi Arabia's Spark Logistics.
INS Tarkash docks at Mombasa Port for operational turnaround, boosting India-Kenya maritime ties
Key Updates:
- Indian Naval Ship INS Tarkash, a guided-missile frigate, arrived at Mombasa Port in Kenya on 29 September 2026 for an operational turnaround lasting until 2 October.
- The port call includes professional exchanges, crew interactions, and community outreach, and the ship will be open to visitors on Thursday.
- On departure, INS Tarkash is scheduled to undertake a Passage Exercise with the Kenya Navy, as announced by the Indian High Commission in Nairobi.
- The visit advances India-Kenya maritime cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean and reflects India's MAHASAGAR vision.
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INS Mysore arrived at Lumut, Malaysia, on 09 September 2026 to participate in the 4th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise 'Samudra Laksamana' between the Indian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy. Exercise Samudra…
Indian Navy Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on September 23 during its Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition, marking the ship's second visit to Alexandria during the deployment. The 10-month…
INS Udaygiri, an indigenously constructed multi-role stealth frigate, arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a three-day operational visit from 08-11 September 2026, coinciding with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to…
Indian Navy guided-missile frigate INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on September 22, 2026, to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise VARUNA between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.…
Mandar, Jharkhand's folk musical instrument, awarded Geographical Indication status
Key Updates:
- Jharkhand's traditional folk musical instrument Mandar has been granted a Geographical Indication tag by the Geographical Indications Registry of the Government of India, based in Chennai.
- The GI tag application for 'Mandar of Jharkhand' was filed on 24 September 2021.
- Traditional craftsmanship, use of locally sourced red clay, indigenous manufacturing techniques and the instrument's distinctive sound were cited as key features supporting the GI application.
- The GI recognition is expected to give products made by traditional Mandar artisans a distinct identity linked to Jharkhand and help expand their reach in domestic and international markets.
- 'Mandar Samrat' Manpuran Nayak described the GI recognition as a tribute to the ancestors and the soil of Jharkhand.
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Sirsa Kinnow has become the first fruit from Haryana to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The GI tag was granted by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai to the Kharisureran Farmer Producer Company…
India’s Geographical Indication (GI) system is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. A GI tag is granted to products with a specific geographical origin and qualities…
Unjha cumin and Unjha fennel have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. The GI tag was announced on July 14, 2026.
Pithora painting, a centuries-old wall art tradition of the Rathwa tribal community in Gujarat, has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The GI tag protects the authenticity of Pithora painting and safeguards…
CAQM clears revised GRAP framework for Delhi-NCR air quality management
Key Updates:
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) approved the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) schedule for the National Capital Region under the chairmanship of CAQM Chairperson Rajesh Verma.
- Under the revised schedule, several repeated measures related to dust control, municipal solid waste management and transport have been merged under Stage I.
- Restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or below-standard light motor vehicles have been extended to Sonipat, in addition to Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
- Restrictions on the entry of diesel-operated BS-IV and below-standard light and medium goods vehicles registered outside Delhi have been specified under Stage III.
- The revised GRAP contains 25 actions under Stage-I, eight under Stage-II, ten under Stage-III and five under Stage-IV.
- CAQM approved expansion of web portal-based monitoring of dust control measures at eligible construction and demolition sites beyond municipal limits, and noted that over one thousand eight hundred violating units had received closure orders.
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The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) approved the operational guidelines for the PARIVARTAN Scheme (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk) Directions, 2026 on September 21, 2026. The Directions align market risk guidelines with…
The Ministry of Women and Child Development approved the upgradation of 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres as Saksham Anganwadis under Mission Poshan 2.0. The upgraded centres will be equipped with LED screens, water filtration…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the upgradation of the 82.578-km Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar to four-lane standard at a total capital…
Trinidad and Tobago Set to Become First Caribbean Country to Adopt India's UPI
Key Updates:
- Trinidad and Tobago is pursuing the adoption of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which would make it the first Caribbean nation to use the digital payment technology, as stated by its High Commissioner to India, Chandradath Singh.
- The UPI initiative is being pursued under an agreement between the National Payments Corporation of India International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Digital Transformation to build a real-time digital payment ecosystem.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago resulted in the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.
- India and Trinidad and Tobago are marking 64 years of diplomatic relations, and Indian indentured labourers arrived in Trinidad 181 years ago.
- Trinidad and Tobago's energy sector accounts for about 35.7 per cent of its GDP and around 78 per cent of its exports, with gas production of roughly 3.3 billion standard cubic feet per day over the past five years.
- Trinidad and Tobago secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-28 term, receiving 181 votes out of 190 in a single round of voting.
- An agreement has been made to establish an Indian Chair on Ayurveda at the University of the West Indies, and India's Pharmacopeia Standards have been recognised by Trinidad and Tobago.
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World Steelpan Day is observed annually on August 11. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed August 11 as World Steelpan Day in 2023 through Resolution 77/316.
India has partnered with 24 countries to adopt components of India Stack, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and DigiLocker. UPI merchant payments are now available in Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Qatar…
The United States placed India in the lower 10% tariff bracket under new Section 301 tariffs. India secured the 10% rate after productive discussions on labour practices with the US.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will introduce a 0.4 per cent merchant discount rate (MDR) on specified UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. For high-value merchant…
ASCI Releases Guidelines for Labelling AI-Generated Content in Advertising
Key Updates:
- The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) released the Guidelines for Responsible Labelling of Synthetically Generated Content (SGC) in Advertising, following stakeholder consultations on draft guidelines released in May.
- The guidelines will come into effect three months from the date of publication and all advertisements using SGC must comply with the ASCI Code.
- Labelling is mandatory where SGC materially influences consumer decisions, such as synthetic influencers, replication of a real person's likeness or voice with consent, fabricated events or settings, and paid AI-generated product suggestions which must be labelled 'Sponsored by [Brand]'.
- No disclosure is required for routine editing, decorative elements, obvious fantastical effects, administrative text-based uses, and accessibility applications like subtitles and translations.
- Prohibited uses include fabricating endorsements or testimonials, misleading exaggeration of product results, deepfakes or use of an individual's likeness without consent, and unauthorised copyrighted work.
- Where disclosure is required, brands may use labels such as 'Audio/Video created using AI' or 'Audio/Video enhanced using AI', including platform-provided labels, and disclosures must follow the ASCI Code's guidelines on disclaimers.
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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…
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) released comprehensive guidelines for planning and designing high-speed access-controlled national highways, other than expressways. The guidelines aim to ensure uniformity…
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued notices to several food business operators (FBOs) for claims that may not comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Heritage Foods Limited was…
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued detailed operational guidelines for NPS Swasthya, a retirement pension scheme with health insurance coverage. Anyone eligible to join NPS can enrol…
Key Updates:
- The Centre told the Supreme Court on September 29, 2026 that it will amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules to stop social media platforms from allowing users below 18 to create accounts.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said agreements entered into by minors with social media intermediaries are void contracts and that the Centre would make it a statutory obligation for intermediaries not to allow minors to open social media accounts.
- The petition was filed by NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, arguing under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act that minors are incompetent to contract, and raised concerns including online grooming, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, misuse of personal data, behavioural profiling and exposure to age-inappropriate content.
- The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana pressed for a statutory framework rather than voluntary safeguards, asking the Centre to direct platforms to fashion their software in conformity with Indian laws.
- Justice Bagchi said platforms registered under US laws had imported US restrictions on minors opening accounts into the Indian digital space, which is impermissible under Indian law.
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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…
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Commission to back a European Union (EU)-wide ban on social media for children under 15 after France failed to enact its own legislation. Macron made the appeal in…
France has become the first EU country to pass a social media ban for children under 15. The law requires parental consent and will be phased in starting September 2026, with full effect in January 2027.
Gujarat government announced the Gujarat State Child Protection Policy-2026, effective from its publication in the Gazette, adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and…
Indian Railways Clears ₹223 Crore to Deploy Kavach 4.0 on Varanasi Division Routes
Key Updates:
- Indian Railways has approved ₹223 crore for deploying Kavach Version 4.0 across 614.75 route kilometres of the Varanasi division of North Eastern Railway.
- Kavach is an indigenously developed automatic train protection (ATP) system that helps prevent signal passing at danger (SPAD), automatically applies brakes when required and monitors train movement.
- The project will extend Kavach 4.0 coverage to the remaining identified sections of the Varanasi division, strengthening train protection infrastructure across the network.
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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…
South Central Railway (SCR) has upgraded the indigenous train collision avoidance system Kavach from Version 3.2 to Version 4.0 on the Malkajgiri-Kamareddy section of Hyderabad Division, covering 108 route km. This is…
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…
Indian Railways has approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 across 660 route km in the Izzatnagar Division of North Eastern Railway. The project is sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 295 crore.
Maharashtra's First Bullet Train Steel Bridge Launched Over NH-3 at Bhiwandi
Key Updates:
- Maharashtra's first steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was launched over NH-3 (Nashik Highway) at Dive-Anjur village in Bhiwandi, Thane district.
- The bridge is 100 metres long, weighs 1,405 metric tonnes, stands 14 metres high and 14 metres wide, and was assembled on site before being launched during night traffic blocks on NH-3.
- The structure was assembled on temporary trestles about 17.5 metres above ground using 22 skid arrangements and 54,076 Tor-Shear Type High Strength Bolts.
- The bridge was pulled into position using an automated mechanism of two hollow jacks, each with 150-tonne capacity, along with pre-tensioned Macalloy bars.
- Each batch of steel underwent ultrasonic testing, welders and supervisors were certified by international welding experts, and the bridge has a C5 protective painting system.
- Of the 28 steel bridges planned along the high-speed rail corridor, 16 have been completed.
- The bridge was fabricated at a workshop in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, about 1,300 km from the launch site, and its components were transported to Maharashtra on trailers.
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Indian Railways has approved a ₹493 crore new railway line between Mukutban in Yavatmal district and Gadchandur in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, under South Central Railway. The 38.21-km line is expected to handle…
The Ministry of Railways will take up the Second Saraighat Rail-Cum-Road Bridge project in Assam, along with doubling of the 7.20-km railway line between Agthori and Kamakhya stations, under the Northeast Frontier…
India sent components for a 70-metre Bailey bridge to flood-hit Betrawati, Nepal, with the first consignment handed over to Nepal's Road Division in Hetauda on September 12, 2026, in the presence of MP Prakash Gautam and…
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the ₹27.18-crore Udmaroo Bridge over the Shayok River in Nubra district on July 21, 2026. The bridge is a modern three-span (3×80 metres) Truss System Bridge with 70R…
India Dispatches Around 3 Tonnes of Anti-Tuberculosis Medicines to Colombo
Key Updates:
- India dispatched about 3 tonnes of anti-tuberculosis medicines to Colombo aboard an Indian Air Force C130J aircraft to support Sri Lanka's public health system.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced the dispatch on X, stating India remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka's public health system.
- WHO South-East Asia Region member States committed to stronger, integrated action against tuberculosis at the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia.
- The WHO South-East Asia Region accounted for about 34 per cent of new TB cases globally in 2024, with an estimated 3.68 million cases and around 433,000 deaths.
- Around 150,000 people in the region developed multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant TB, more than 38 per cent of the global burden.
- Introducing a TB vaccine from 2028 alongside improved interventions could avert around 1.45 million new TB cases and 300,000 deaths by 2030, according to regional modelling.
- Since 2015, TB incidence in the region has fallen by 16 per cent and deaths by 23 per cent, with treatment coverage exceeding 85 per cent, but gains remain short of End TB Strategy targets of an 80 per cent incidence reduction and 90 per cent death reduction by 2030.
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India recorded a nearly 80% decline in both malaria cases and deaths between 2015 and 2025, according to the Union Health Ministry. The number of high-burden malaria districts in India fell from 155 to 33 during the same…
India's coconut exports rose 62% in FY26 to ₹7,038.25 crore compared with the previous year. Activated carbon accounted for 67% of coconut product exports other than coir, worth ₹4,688.89 crore, with export volume of…
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10 marks the first such visit by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years. The last Indian Defence Minister to visit Sri Lanka was K.C.…
India defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday to win a record-extending eighth title. India is the most successful team with eight titles (2004, 2005-06…
NASA and Boeing Chart Phased Roadmap to Bring Starliner Back to Service
Key Updates:
- NASA and Boeing outlined a phased roadmap to return the Starliner spacecraft to service after technical issues during the crewed test flight that carried Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station.
- An uncrewed Starliner-1 mission is scheduled to launch in December or January 2027 to validate spacecraft improvements and gather flight data.
- NASA plans to return astronauts on Starliner-2 by 2028 and intends to exercise options for a fifth and sixth Starliner flight to the International Space Station.
- NASA will certify the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket for human spaceflight after the final Atlas V retirement flight.
- A post-flight inquiry produced 61 recommendations, and investigators found the service-module reaction-control thrusters operated outside engineering qualifications, causing control anomalies linked to thermal factors and system design.
- Boeing has integrated thermal adjustments into the service module, redesigned a thruster valve to fix poppet-seal extrusion issues, and added new crew-module thrusters, updated batteries, and parachute revisions.
- Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's Low Earth Orbit Programme, described Starliner-1 as a critical engineering evaluation flight for reviewing updated thermal dynamics and clearing residual risks before crewed flight.
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NASA awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract for three additional astronaut missions to the International Space Station, raising the total contract value to $5.92 billion and extending crewed flights through 2030. The…
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…
NASA has selected PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) as the first mission in its new Probe Explorers class of astrophysics satellites, advancing it into Phase B. The mission is managed by the Jet…
India Awards Its First PRAMAAN Certificates Under Forest Certification Scheme
Key Updates:
- Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav handed over India's first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) in New Delhi on September 29, 2026.
- Certificates were awarded to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) for plantations covering 33,000 hectares and to a farmer associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).
- The event was organised by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, which serves as the scheme's operating agency.
- IFWCS was launched by the Ministry in December 2023, and the certificates mark its transition from policy framework to field-level implementation.
- PRAMAAN stands for Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry And Natural forestry resources.
- Forest management certification under PRAMAAN is assessed against the Indian Forest Management Standard, part of the National Working Plan Code 2023, and relies on independent audits by certification bodies accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) under the Quality Council of India.
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The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched in September 2023 by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, has registered 30 lakh artisans across 18 identified trades in its first three years of operation. 24.50 lakh…
India and the MERCOSUR bloc signed the First Additional Protocol to the India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in New Delhi on September 14, 2026, to facilitate acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin…
International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) issued its first compliance certificate for a 15-metre multi-axle sleeper bus. The certificate was awarded to Synaty Automotive Pvt. Ltd. under AIS-119 and AIS-153…
Rajasthan became the first state to execute an exploration licence for a rare earth elements (REE) block under the Centre’s new exploration licensing regime for critical and strategic minerals. The exploration licence…
FASTag Annual Pass Surpasses One Crore Subscribers Within 13 Months Of Launch
Key Updates:
- The FASTag Annual Pass crossed the one-crore subscriber mark in just over 13 months since its launch on August 15, 2025, as per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- The pass is for non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans with a valid FASTag, activated via a one-time payment valid for one year or up to 200 toll plaza crossings, whichever comes first.
- For financial year 2026-27, the pass fee is Rs 3,075, revised from Rs 3,000 with effect from April 1, 2026.
- The pass can be activated through the Rajmargyatra app or the NHAI website and typically becomes operational within two hours.
- The scheme applies at around 1,150 fee plazas on national highways and national expressways managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and is valid only at NHAI-operated plazas.
- After the one-year validity or 200-crossing cap is reached, the pass reverts to a normal FASTag account with standard toll deductions.
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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) extended the online FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas across the country. The FASTag Local Pass is available for commuters residing within a 20-kilometre radius…
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched OneTag at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai, enabling FASTag users to switch issuer banks while retaining the same physical tag, Tag ID and vehicle…
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched a digital 'Local Pass' facility on its Rajmargyatra app for monthly toll travel. The Local Pass is available for residents living within a 20-km radius of an…
Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) portal has crossed more than 3 crore youth registrations, marking a major expansion of the government's youth engagement platform. MY Bharat was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on…
Uzbekistan Claims Gold as India Settles for Silver at Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
Key Updates:
- Uzbekistan won the gold medal in the Open category at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, while India, the defending champion, took silver.
- India and Germany were tied on 18 match points and 28.5 game points after 11 rounds, with India clinching silver on head-to-head record after beating Germany earlier in the event.
- India drew 2-2 with Hungary in the final round, which confirmed Uzbekistan's gold medal.
- Reigning world champion D. Gukesh lost on Board 4 to Gleb Dudin against Ukraine, while Arjun Erigaisi beat Peter Leko on Board 2 to secure a vital match point; R. Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin drew their games against Richard Rapport and Benjamin Gledura respectively.
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India won the silver medal in the open section and the bronze medal in the women's section at the 46th Chess Olympiad, which concluded on Sunday, September 27, 2026. In the final round, the Indian men drew 2-2 with…
India won the silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay at the Asian Games 2026, held at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The Indian quartet of Vishal TK, Vithya Ramraj, Manu Saji and MR Poovamma clocked…
Indian Grandmaster Rohith Krishna won the Menuires International Chess Championship in France, edging compatriot Raja Rithvik on tie-break. Both Rohith Krishna and Raja Rithvik finished unbeaten with seven points from…
India won one gold and three bronze medals at the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) 2026 held in Romania. Shrilakshmi Venkatraman won the gold medal, while Aarav Anil Rao, Nishanth Shankar Lakshmanan, and Advay…
India's Asian Games 2026 Aichi-Nagoya medal roundup: relay gold, shooting and athletics podiums lift tally to 52
Key Updates:
- India won the women's 4x400m relay gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, clocking 3 minutes 29.69 seconds, and also took bronze in the men's 4x400m relay.
- Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in the Trap event at the Asian Games, a feat congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer won silver in the women's trap team event with a combined 328 points, behind China's gold-winning 346 and ahead of Kuwait's bronze-winning 325; Neeru's 118/125 was India's best individual score.
- Harita Bhadra won bronze in the women's 200m final on September 27 with 23.20 seconds, holding off Japan's Abigeirufuka Ido by 0.01s; Singapore's Shanti Pereira took gold in 22.78s, China's Yujie silver in 22.93s, and India's Unnathi Aiyappa Bolland finished sixth in 23.46s.
- Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles with a personal-best 54.75 seconds, breaking P T Usha's 55.42s national record from the 1984 Olympics; UAE's Mariam Kareem won gold with a Games record 54.31s and Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems took silver with 54.58s.
- Gulveer Singh won bronze in the men's 5000m with 13:32.75, his third medal of the Games after silvers in the men's 1500m and 10,000m, becoming only the second Indian male athlete after Lavy Pinto to win three track and field medals in a single Asian Games.
- India won bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay with a national record 41.06s through Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra; China won gold in 40.78s and Thailand silver in 40.87s.
- Esha Singh won silver in the women's 25m pistol, missing gold by one shot in a shoot-off against China's Xiao Jiaruixuan; it was her second individual Asian Games medal after silver in the same event in 2022.
- Manu Bhaker failed to qualify for the 25m pistol final, finishing 11th with 579, and returned without a medal after finishing fifth in the 10m air pistol earlier in the competition.
- Pooja Singh won bronze in the women's high jump at the Asian Games 2026.
- Narender Berwal won bronze in men's boxing plus 90kg after losing 0-5 by unanimous decision to reigning world champion Aibek Oralbay of Kazakhstan in the semi-final.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated javelin thrower Yashvir Singh on winning silver with a personal best and Rohit Yadav on winning bronze at the Asian Games.
- Parul Chaudhary won bronze in the women's 5000m at the Asian Games, an achievement congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Murali Sreeshankar earned a place on the men's long jump podium at the Asian Games.
- Seema Kaliramna finished fourth in the women's discus throw final with a personal-best 59.88m, as all three medallists threw over 60m.
- In archery, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan advanced to the men's recurve individual quarterfinals, with Dhiraj beating Chinese Taipei's Cheng Hsiang-Hui 6-2 and Neeraj beating South Korea's Kim Je-deok 6-4 in the Round of 16.
- India's women's squash team completed a 3-0 clean sweep over Iran in their final pool match and won all three group matches to advance to the quarterfinals.
- 400m hurdler Yashas Palaksha pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury before clearing the first hurdle in his heat and did not finish, Jyothi Yarraji withdrew from her 100m hurdles heat with knee stress, and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel exited with a calf muscle pull recording no mark.
- India moved up to 10th place in the Asian Games 2026 standings with a total of 52 medals: 6 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gulveer Singh on winning silver in the men's 1500m at the Asian Games, noting the achievement was a personal best.
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Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh won silver medals for India in the Asian Games 2026 squash singles finals, both losing to Malaysian opponents on Sunday. Abhay Singh, ranked 26, lost the men's singles final to Malaysia's…
Esha Singh won the silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the 2026 Asian Games, finishing the final with 38 hits, the same score as gold medallist Xiao Jiaruixuan of China, but losing the shoot-offs 4+2 to 4+3.…
India's Sawan Barwal won the silver medal in the men's marathon at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan, setting a new National Record of 2:11:37. Barwal finished second behind Japan's Ichitaka Yamashita, who…
Indian boxers Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal won their quarter-final bouts at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, assuring India of at least three bronze medals. Ankush Panghal defeated Tajikistan's Salimov…
Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, Sets Record as Youngest Woman Grandmaster in Chess History
Key Updates:
- 11-year-old British-Indian Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest woman grandmaster (WGM) in history at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, playing on the top board for England.
- In 2024, she became the youngest person to represent England in any sport at an international tournament during her first Olympiad appearance.
- At the 2022 European Schools Championship, she won three gold medals after recording 24 victories from 24 games.
- In August 2025, at 10 years, five months and three days, she became the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster by beating 60-year-old grandmaster Peter Wells at the British Chess Championships, surpassing the previous mark held by American Carissa Yip.
- She became a women's candidate master after crossing a FIDE rating of 2,000.
- She is the UK Open Women's Blitz Champion and joint British Women's Rapid Champion.
- China's Hou Yifan remains the youngest Grandmaster (GM), having achieved the title at 14 years and 5 months in 2008.
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Bodhana Sivanandan won the women's title at the 2026 British Chess Championships, becoming the youngest-ever British women's champion at age 11. She defeated Trisha Kanyamarala in a rapid-chess playoff to win the women's…
Aswath S from Tamil Nadu has become India's 98th Grandmaster (GM). He secured his third and final GM norm at the Pune International GM Round Robin 2026.
The 2026 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List, released by Hurun India, recognises 117 women across 12 sectors. Meena Bindra of BIBA topped the list, while Paralympian Avani Lekhara was the youngest in the top 10…
Smriti Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket during India's Asian Games gold-medal final against Sri Lanka at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi-Nagoya. Before the final…
NMDC Commissions ₹5,427-Crore Integrated Iron Ore Project in Chhattisgarh
Key Updates:
- State-owned iron ore miner NMDC Limited commissioned its 2 million tonne per annum (MTPA) pellet plant at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh, completing a ₹5,427-crore integrated project linking its Bacheli mining operations with the Nagarnar steel plant.
- The commissioned project comprises a new iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, a 135-kilometre, 15 MTPA slurry pipeline passing through 61 villages across Bastar and Dantewada districts, and the 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar.
- The pipeline transports processed iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar and is intended to reduce road-based ore movement and dependence on railways.
- The pellet plant uses Straight Grate Induration technology to convert iron ore fines and slimes from NMDC's Bailadila mines into pellets for steelmaking.
- NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee monitored the first production run remotely from the company's Hyderabad headquarters due to adverse weather at the project site.
- The project is part of NMDC's long-term strategy to scale total iron ore production capacity to 100 million tonnes.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
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Justices Sunita Agarwal, D K Upadhyay and Aparesh Kumar Singh Recommended by Supreme Court Collegium as Judges of the Apex Court
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court collegium recommended the chief justices of Gujarat, Delhi and Telangana High Courts — Justices Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Aparesh Kumar Singh — for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court.
- The five-member collegium comprised Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath, B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh and P S Narasimha.
- On acceptance of the recommendations, the Supreme Court's working strength will rise to 37 judges against a sanctioned strength of 38.
- Justice Sunita Agarwal's elevation will raise the number of women judges in the Supreme Court to two.
- With the elevations, representation of the Allahabad High Court, the parent high court of Justices Agarwal and Upadhyay, will increase to four, alongside Justices Vikram Nath and Manoj Mishra.
- Justices Agarwal and Upadhyay were appointed judges of the Allahabad High Court in November 2011, while Justice Singh became a judge of the Jharkhand High Court in January 2012.
- Justice Agarwal became Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in July 2023.
- Justice Upadhyay served as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from July 29, 2023, and took over as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on January 21, 2025.
- Justice Upadhyay conducted the first inquiry into the discovery of burnt cash at Justice Yashwant Varma's residence in March last year.
- Justice Singh was Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court from April 2023 before being appointed Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court in July 2025.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
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The Supreme Court referred the constitutional challenge to the law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners to a Constitution bench after a two-judge bench delivered a…
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the elevation of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge of the Bombay High Court as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. The Collegium also recommended Justice Mahesh…
Justice Sanjay Kumar Agarwal of the Chhattisgarh High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao of the Delhi High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High…
The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath and B V Nagarathna, approved 12 additional judges as permanent judges in the high courts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand…
Dinesh Pant and Girija Subramanian Appointed as Members of IRDAI
Key Updates:
- The government has appointed LIC Managing Director Dinesh Pant and former Chairman-cum-Managing Director of New India Assurance Company, Girija Subramanian, as members of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
- Dinesh Pant took voluntary retirement and ceased to be LIC Managing Director with effect from September 24, 2026.
- Girija Subramanian retired as CMD of New India Assurance Company in July 2026.
Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.
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LIC, through an exchange filing on September 25, 2026, confirmed that Managing Director Dinesh Pant was relieved from service with effect from September 24, 2026, after close of the day. The government approved the…
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) now requires prior approval for share transfers crossing 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, or 75% holding thresholds. IRDAI approval is also required when an investor…
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a ₹1 crore penalty on IndusInd Bank, acting as a corporate agent, for lacking an adequate insurance-specific grievance redressal mechanism for…
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a ₹1 crore penalty on ICICI Lombard General Insurance for lapses in outsourcing practices, vendor management and corporate governance. The…
