Article 53
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Current affairsDAC Approves ₹1.10 Lakh Crore Defence Procurement: India's Largest-Ever Capital Acquisition — CBRN Vehicles, ALH, Sarvatra Bridge and 98% IndigenisationThe Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) on 7 September 2026 for capital acquisition proposals worth ₹1.10 lakh crore covering CBRN Recce Vehicles, Advanced Light Helicopters, the Sarvatra Bridge System, Arudhra Radars, Marine Gas Turbines, and electronic-warfare jammers — with approximately 98% of procurement sourced from Indian industry under the Atmanirbhar Bharat push. Current affairsMunitions India Limited and Drogo Aerospace Sign MoU for Indigenous UAV and Loitering Munition Systems: India's Kamikaze Drone Capability and Defence IndigenisationMunitions India Limited (MIL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Drogo Aerospace Private Limited on September 4, 2026, in Pune for the development of indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munition (kamikaze drone) systems — a major step in India's defence indigenisation drive under the Make in India framework. Current affairs18th BRICS Summit 2026, New Delhi: India's Chairship, Theme, Agenda and What to Expect on September 12–13India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — India's fourth BRICS chairship. The theme is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." Over 350 BRICS meetings were held across 25+ cities under India's 2026 presidency. The expanded BRICS+ grouping now includes nine members, making this summit the largest in the bloc's history. Current affairsRAKSHA Defence Diplomacy Framework 2026: India's 10-Year Roadmap for Global Security PartnershipsDefence Minister Rajnath Singh released the 'RAKSHA' Defence Diplomacy Framework on September 3, 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi — a comprehensive 10-year strategic document (2026–2036) positioning India as a Net Security Provider and First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region through four core pillars: Strategic Partnerships, Capacity Building, Indigenous Exports, and Maritime Security. Current affairsPCA Rules Indus Waters Treaty Remains Fully Binding: India Cannot Suspend the 1960 Accord — Kishanganga, Ratle Hydropower Dispute and India's Jurisdictional StandThe Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague unanimously ruled on 31 August 2026 that India cannot unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, declaring the accord "remains fully in force." India, which placed the treaty in abeyance in April 2025, rejected the court's jurisdiction and did not participate in the hearings — a ruling with major implications for India-Pakistan relations, water security, and international treaty law. Current affairsDRDO Successfully Tests Military Combat Parachute System at 22,000 Feet in Nyoma, Ladakh — High-Altitude Special Operations and Indigenous Defence CapabilityThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a high-altitude trial of the indigenous Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) on August 26, 2026, at the Nyoma-Mudh Drop Zone in Ladakh — with jumpers exiting at 22,000 feet above mean sea level and landing safely at 13,700 feet in temperatures as low as −15°C. Developed by DRDO's ADRDE (Agra) and DEBEL (Bengaluru), MCPS is the only parachute system currently in operational use by the Indian Armed Forces capable of such high-altitude deployment. Current affairsPM Modi's Uzbekistan State Visit and 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek: India's Central Asia Strategy and SCO at 25Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a four-day visit to Central Asia from August 29 to September 1, 2026 — a bilateral state visit to Uzbekistan followed by participation in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marking the organisation's 25th founding anniversary. Current affairsIndia's Defence Self-Reliance: INS Mangrol Delivered and AK-203 "Sher" Rifle Fully IndigenisedTwo major Atmanirbhar Bharat milestones in India's defence sector: on August 21, 2026, Cochin Shipyard Limited delivered INS Mangrol, the third Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, to the Indian Navy; and on August 23, 2026, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) successfully test-fired the AK-203 "Sher" assault rifle made entirely from Indian components — the first 100% indigenised version of the rifle contracted for over 6 lakh Indian Army personnel. Current affairsIndia-China 25th Special Representatives Talks: NSA Doval in Beijing, LAC Boundary Diplomacy, and the Post-Galwan ResetNSA Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing on August 24, 2026, for the 25th round of India-China Special Representatives Talks on the boundary question, scheduled for August 25 with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The talks follow the 24th round's ten-point consensus (August 2025) and aim to advance boundary delimitation, operationalise new border management mechanisms, and address the Yarlung Tsangpo mega-dam transparency issue. Current affairsExercise Udara Shakti 2026: India-Malaysia Bilateral Air Exercise with Rafale and Su-30MKM — UPSC Defence GuideExercise Udara Shakti 2026, the biennial India-Malaysia bilateral air exercise, was conducted from August 10–14, 2026, at Subang Air Base, Malaysia. For the first time, the Indian Air Force deployed Dassault Rafale fighters (replacing Su-30MKI), flying dissimilar air combat training sorties against Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM and F/A-18D Hornets. The exercise involved 83 personnel and 11 aircraft from both nations. Current affairsIndia's Polar Strategy: Parliamentary Panel Recommends Polar Ambassador, Arctic Council Full Membership, and Quadrilateral Polar PactThe Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Shashi Tharoor, presented its report "India's Role and Presence in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions" in the Lok Sabha on July 30, 2026. The panel recommended appointing a dedicated Polar Ambassador within the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking full membership of the Arctic Council, and forging a quadrilateral agreement among India, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea to amplify Asia's collective polar voice. Current affairsPM Modi's Third High-Level Secretaries Meeting 2026: Data as National Asset, Port-Led Development, and AI-First GovernancePrime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the third high-level meeting with Secretaries to the Government of India on August 20, 2026, at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi. The session covered Infrastructure and Connectivity, Security and External Affairs, and Governance, with key directives on breaking inter-departmental silos, leveraging AI and data as national assets, port-led development, and building informal team networks across government cadres.