Week of 21 – 27 Sept 2026
35 articles this week.
Sunday, 27 September 2026
Exercise VARUNA 2026: 24th Edition of India-France Bilateral Naval Exercise, INS Trishul at ToulonINS Trishul, an Indian Navy guided-missile stealth frigate, arrived at the Toulon Naval Base in France on 22 September 2026 for the 24th edition of Exercise VARUNA — the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy (Marine Nationale). Initiated in 1983, VARUNA is the flagship exercise of the India-France strategic partnership.Project Cheetah Completes 4 Years: Population Reaches 56 with 36 India-Born Cheetahs, New Litter at Kuno National ParkProject Cheetah completed four years on 17 September 2026. India's cheetah population at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh has reached 56 individuals, including 36 born in India — over 60% of the current population is India-bred. A new litter of four cubs was born at Kuno on 17 September 2026, delivered by KGP12, an Indian-born cheetah whose mother was a South African cheetah named Gamini.Make in India Completes 12 Years: PLI Schemes Attract ₹2.40 Lakh Crore Investment, India Becomes World's 2nd Largest Mobile Phone ManufacturerMake in India, launched on 25 September 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, completed 12 years on 25 September 2026. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have attracted ₹2.40 lakh crore in actual investment as of March 2026. India is now the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with electronics production rising nearly sevenfold to ₹13.11 lakh crore.India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement to Enter into Force on 20 October 2026: Zero Duty on 100% of Indian ExportsThe landmark 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. The agreement grants immediate zero-duty access to 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand and is the fastest-negotiated FTA in India's trade history, concluded in nine months.EPFO Mandatory Wage Ceiling Raised to ₹25,000: 51 Lakh More Workers Get Statutory PF CoverageThe Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified ₹25,000 per month as the new mandatory wage ceiling for Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) coverage under the Code on Social Security, 2020, effective 17 September 2026. The revision — the first in 12 years — expands mandatory PF coverage to an additional 51 lakh workers.
Saturday, 26 September 2026
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 (Second Edition): IAF's Multinational Air Exercise with 7 Nations, French Mission Pégase DeploymentThe second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti — the Indian Air Force's flagship multinational air exercise — commenced at Jodhpur Air Force Station from 28 September to 12 October 2026, with seven foreign air forces participating. France's Air and Space Force deployed four Rafale F4 jets under its seventh Mission Pégase as part of a 300-strong contingent, joining the United States (F-35), UAE (F-16), and others in the exercise.ADB Raises India's FY2026-27 GDP Growth Forecast to 7%: Asian Development Outlook September 2026The Asian Development Bank (ADB) upgraded India's FY2026-27 GDP growth forecast from 6.6% to 7.0% in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2026 update, citing 7.8% year-on-year growth in Q1 FY27, robust investment demand, resilient consumption, and strong manufacturing and services expansion. FY2027-28 is projected at 7.1%.Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY at 8: 48.5 Crore Cards, ₹2.03 Lakh Crore Healthcare DisbursedAyushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) completed 8 years of operation in September 2026, having issued over 48.51 crore health cards, funded 13.25 crore hospital admissions worth ₹2.03 lakh crore, and expanded coverage to 60 crore people including senior citizens aged 70 and above through the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.ISRO-ESA Cooperation Agreement Extended to 2032: Human Spaceflight, Space Weather and Robotic Exploration AddedThe Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed an exchange of letters on 10 September 2026 in Paris, extending their long-standing Cooperative Agreement by five years until January 2032 and broadening cooperation to include space weather monitoring, human and robotic exploration, and the sustainability of outer space activities — reflecting a deepening strategic space partnership.India's First Blue Bond: Sagarmala Finance Corporation to Raise ₹600 Crore for Maritime SectorSagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SFCL) — India's first dedicated maritime lender — announced the country's maiden blue bond issue on 28 September 2026, raising ₹600 crore through 10-year bonds rated AA+ by ICRA and CARE. The proceeds will fund greenfield port projects, maritime sector lending, and coastal road development under the Sagarmala Programme.NPS Swasthya: PFRDA Issues Operational Guidelines Linking Pension Savings with Health Insurance CoverageThe Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) issued Operational Guidelines for NPS Swasthya on 18 September 2026 (Circular PFRDA/2026/49/NPS-SWASTHYA/01), creating a framework that integrates National Pension System (NPS) retirement savings with a mandatory super top-up health insurance policy — enabling subscribers to build a healthcare corpus for retirement while maintaining continuous health coverage for themselves, their spouse, and two dependent children.DRDO's First High-Value Deep Tech TDF Agreement: Indigenous 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for Quantum ComputingThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme with Zero mK India Private Limited of Alwar, Rajasthan, for the indigenous development of a 20 millikelvin (mK) Dilution Refrigerator — a critical piece of equipment for quantum computing platforms and strategic quantum technologies under the National Quantum Mission.
Friday, 25 September 2026
Supreme Court Collegium Approves 12 Additional Judges as Permanent in Four High CourtsOn September 23, 2026, the Supreme Court Collegium comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath and B.V. Nagarathna approved the confirmation of 12 Additional Judges as Permanent Judges across the High Courts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Gauhati — reinforcing the collegium-driven judicial appointment mechanism that has governed India's higher judiciary since 1993.Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Signs ₹15,000 Crore MoU for Greenfield Shipyard at Dugarajapatnam, Andhra PradeshMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a Navratna Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, signed an MoU on September 18–19, 2026 with NSHIP-AP (National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park, Andhra Pradesh) to develop a ₹15,000 crore greenfield shipyard at Dugarajapatnam — the largest shipbuilding investment in Andhra Pradesh's history. The project will have an annual capacity of 1.2 million gross tonnes, create 45,000 jobs, and forms part of a ₹38,767 crore integrated shipbuilding cluster aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030.Premier Energies Commissions India's Largest Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant — 7GW TOPCon Facility at Naidupeta, Andhra PradeshPremier Energies commissioned a 7GW N-type TOPCon solar cell manufacturing plant at Naidupeta, Andhra Pradesh, in September 2026 — raising its total capacity to 10.6GW and making it India's largest solar cell manufacturer. The ₹3,293 crore facility, spanning 101 acres, produces approximately 88,000 cells per hour with an average efficiency of 25.8%, advancing India's National Solar Mission targets and domestic manufacturing push under PLI schemes.Maruti Suzuki Commissions India's First Automotive Green Hydrogen Electrolyser Plant at Manesar, HaryanaMaruti Suzuki India commissioned a 300kW green hydrogen electrolyser plant at its Manesar manufacturing facility in Haryana on September 24, 2026 — the first such installation by an Indian automobile manufacturer. Using surplus solar power generated during holidays, the plant produces green hydrogen for blending with natural gas as a process fuel, advancing India's National Green Hydrogen Mission target of 5 million metric tonnes per year by 2030 while reducing Maruti's manufacturing carbon footprint from 615,000 to 266,000 tonnes by FY31.Great Indian Bustard Conservation: Natural Breeding Breakthrough at Desert National Park, 11 Chicks Born in 2026In 2026, India's Great Indian Bustard (GIB) conservation programme at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer recorded a landmark milestone: 11 chicks were born, including 3 through natural mating — the first time captive-bred bustards have reproduced without artificial insemination. With only approximately 173 birds remaining globally (128 wild, 45 captive), this breakthrough under the IUCN-backed Project GIB marks a potential turning point for one of India's most endangered species.
Thursday, 24 September 2026
ISRO's NETRA Programme: Advanced Radar Research Centre Foundation Stone Laid at Chandrapur, Assam for Space Situational AwarenessAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone of ISRO's Advanced Radar Research Centre at Chandrapur (near Guwahati) on September 21, 2026. The facility, under ISRO's Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) programme, will be operated by ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network) on a 67-acre site at the former Chandrapur Thermal Power Station. It will enhance India's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities, tracking satellites and space debris, and will also support atmospheric and cloud research.WMO 2026 Water Report: 2025 Fourth Consecutive Year of Universal Glacier Mass Loss — 408 Gigatonnes, 1.1 mm Sea-Level RiseThe World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its 2026 State of Global Water Resources Report on September 22, 2026, revealing that 2025 was the fourth consecutive year in which every major glaciated region on Earth recorded a net loss of ice mass. Global glacier mass loss in 2025 totalled 408 (±132) gigatonnes — equivalent to 1.1 mm of sea-level rise — raising serious concerns about freshwater availability, river discharge, and accelerating climate feedback loops.Inter-State Council (Amendment) Order 2026: Governors and Lt. Governors to Participate During President's RuleThe Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Inter-State Council (Amendment) Order, 2026 on September 19, replacing the original 1990 proviso to specify four situations — including President's Rule under Article 356 and Article 239AB — in which the Governor or Lieutenant Governor of a State or Union Territory shall be invited to attend Inter-State Council meetings. The amendment strengthens the Centre-State coordination mechanism during periods of central administration.Digital Communications Commission Dissolved After 37 Years: India's Telecom Governance RestructuredThe Union Cabinet on September 16, 2026 approved the dissolution of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the apex inter-departmental decision-making body of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), ending its 37-year existence. The Government Resolution was published in the Gazette of India on September 21, 2026. Telecom policy decisions will now flow directly through the DoT Secretary, Communications Minister, or Union Cabinet depending on project cost thresholds — eliminating an institutional layer considered structurally redundant under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.Modified UDAN Scheme: MoCA Signs 21 MoUs with States/UTs, Launches Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome DevelopmentThe Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed 21 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with States and Union Territories on September 22, 2026, in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, for the next phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) regional connectivity scheme. The Minister simultaneously launched the "Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development," enabling States/UTs to nominate airstrips and helipads for development under the Modified UDAN scheme.
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
40th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development: UN High-Level Meeting at UNGA 81, September 23, 2026A UN High-Level Meeting to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development was held on September 23, 2026, at UN Headquarters, New York, authorised by UNGA Resolutions 79/170 and 80/207. The Declaration — adopted on December 4, 1986, under UNGA Resolution 41/128 — proclaims development as an inalienable human right. Not a single SDG indicator aligned with the Declaration's vision is on track globally, highlighting persistent implementation gaps four decades on.11th National Ayurveda Day 2026: Theme 'Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow', Key Initiatives and India's AYUSH ExpansionIndia observed the 11th National Ayurveda Day on September 23, 2026 — permanently fixed on the autumnal equinox by a Gazette Notification of March 2025 — with the theme "Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow." The Ministry of Ayush launched the Ayush Vision 2030 strategic document and conferred the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards 2026 at the main national celebration in Nagpur, Maharashtra.Gender Snapshot 2026 (UN Women & UN DESA): 1 in 3 Gender Equality Institutions Weakened, SDG 5 Off Track by 171 YearsUN Women and UN DESA jointly released the Gender Snapshot 2026 on September 17, 2026, revealing that 1 in 3 national gender equality institutions lost institutional power in just two years, while bilateral aid for gender equality fell 13% between 2023 and 2024. Not a single SDG 5 (Gender Equality) indicator is on track by 2030, and gender equality globally is 171 years away at the current pace of progress.India-CELAC Foreign Ministers' Meeting 2026: Jaishankar Co-chairs Largest-Ever CELAC Engagement on Sidelines of UNGA 81External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the India-CELAC Foreign Ministers' Meeting on September 22, 2026, on the sidelines of UNGA 81 in New York, with 30 of CELAC's 33 member nations attending — described as the "largest-ever" such engagement. Key outcomes included formalising an annual ministerial dialogue, establishing a permanent India-CELAC Commission, and adopting a bilateral Cooperation Roadmap. India-CELAC bilateral trade exceeds USD 50 billion annually.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Project Cheetah: India-Born Cheetah KGP12 Delivers Four Cubs at Kuno National Park — Population Reaches 56On September 18, 2026 — one day after Project Cheetah completed four years — KGP12, an India-born female cheetah and daughter of South African cheetah Gamini, delivered four cubs at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Confirmed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change via PIB, this brings India's total cheetah population to 56, marking continued second-generation breeding success in the world's only cheetah reintroduction programme.TRAI A2P Regulations 2026: India's First Statutory Definition of Autodialler and Robo-calls, AI-Based Spam EnforcementOn 18 September 2026, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, introducing India's first statutory definitions of Application-to-Person (A2P) calls, autodialler technology, and robo-calls. The regulations also incorporate AI/ML-based spam detection and impose a 5 paise/minute termination charge on A2P calls, strengthening India's Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) enforcement framework.IIT Bombay, Sahil Wakode, and the SC/ST Act: Caste Discrimination in Higher Education, Dean Suspended, Crime Branch ProbeSahil Ravindra Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year B.Tech student at IIT Bombay from Yavatmal, Maharashtra, was found dead in his hostel room on 18 September 2026 following allegations of caste-based harassment. IIT Bombay on 21 September suspended the deanship of Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla (Dean of Administrative Affairs). Mumbai Crime Branch registered an FIR under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide) and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. The case raises urgent questions about caste discrimination in premier educational institutions.Asian Games 2026 Aichi-Nagoya: India's First MMA Medal — Suchika Tariyal Bronze, Shooting Dominates Day 2On Day 2 of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (21 September), India's Suchika Tariyal (36, Haryana) won bronze in women's traditional MMA (-60 kg) — India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, which is also MMA's debut edition. Indian shooters dominated with three medals: men's 10m air rifle team silver, and individual silver (Himanshu Dhillon) plus individual bronze (Rudrankksh Patil). India's Day 2 tally stands at 6 medals (4 silver, 2 bronze).72nd National Film Awards 2026: Dadasaheb Phalke to Anant Nag, Best Film 'Article 370', Ceremony at Ekta NagarThe 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar (Statue of Unity complex), Kevadia, Gujarat — the first time this ceremony was held outside New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest film honour, on veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag. Best Feature Film went to 'Article 370' and Best Actress to Yami Gautam.9th India International Water Week 2026: VP Radhakrishnan Inaugurates at New Delhi, Theme 'Climate Resilient Water Management'Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on 22 September 2026 inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, themed 'Climate Resilient Water Management'. This is the first edition under the 'International' rebranding — elevating India's flagship water policy platform to global stature, with partner countries Netherlands and Germany and over 5,000 delegates from 100+ nations expected over the five-day event (September 22–26).
Monday, 21 September 2026
Mahanadi Water Dispute 2026: Both States Accept Centre's Decision as Tribunal Hearing Approaches September 28Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated on September 20, 2026 that both Chhattisgarh and Odisha have agreed to accept the Central Water Commission's (CWC) water-sharing formula for the Mahanadi river. Technical teams from both states met on September 21, with the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) hearing scheduled for September 28 — signalling a potential resolution of a decade-long inter-state river dispute.Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area: 6th Draft Notification 2026, Kerala's Push to Exclude 131 Villages, and the Conservation-Livelihood DebateThe Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued its 6th draft notification on July 25, 2026, proposing to declare over 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). The public objection window closes September 24, 2026. Kerala has moved to exclude 131 villages and approximately 9,993 sq km, while the Centre insists no part — except the Palakkad Gap — should be excluded to maintain ecological continuity.Exercise Veer Guardian 2026: India-Japan Bilateral Air Exercise at Jodhpur — Second Edition, F-2A Fighters on Indian Soil for the First TimeThe Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) are conducting Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 — the second edition of their bilateral air exercise — at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan (September 9–22, 2026). Japanese F-2A fighters operated from Indian soil for the first time, both air chiefs flew the indigenous LCA Tejas, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the exercise as a "significant milestone" for the India-Japan strategic partnership.