NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Reopens After Restoration: Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Penang, Malaysia, reopened in September 2026 after extensive conservation and restoration work. The 125-year-old Sikh gurdwara was established in 1901 and is recognised as the oldest and largest Sikh temple in Southeast Asia. It is listed as a Category One heritage building. The restoration project cost about RM6 million and aimed to preserve the original heritage appearance of the building. Traditional lime mortar was used in place of modern cement, and a large dome was brought from Amritsar in India. About seven specialist artisans from Tamil Nadu worked on the decorative sculpture and detailing. Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj performed the Prakash of Guru Granth Sahib during Amrit Vela at the gurdwara. A special function was organised jointly by the gurdwara management committee and the Penang state government, and it was attended by Malaysian federal minister Steven Sim and Penang deputy chief minister-II Jagdeep Singh Deo.
2. BRICS backs local currency transfers: The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi, India, from 12 to 13 September 2026. The New Delhi Declaration 2026 reaffirmed the grouping’s support for trade and investment in local currencies and called for practical cross-border payment solutions that are fast, low-cost, accessible, efficient, transparent and safe. Local currency settlement refers to trade and investment payments made in the currencies of the participating countries rather than in a third currency. Shri Sudhakar Dalela, India’s Secretary for Economic Relations, stated on 13 September 2026 that there was no proposal for a common BRICS currency and that the focus remained on bilateral arrangements and local currency settlements.
3. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Gets Patent for Copper Recovery: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has secured an Indian patent for an electrochemical reactor that recovers copper from industrial wastewater. The patent was granted by the Patent Office, Government of India, for the invention titled “An Electrochemical Reactor for Cathodic Recovery of Copper from Wastewater”. The invention was developed at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad by Prof. Vipin Kumar of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering. Nishant Pandey and Ankur Singh, both PhD scholars at the institute, are co-inventors of the patented technology. The patent was granted on 30 July 2026 against an application filed on 29 November 2023. The patented system uses a cathodic electrochemical process to extract copper particles from wastewater streams. In this process, copper ions move towards the cathode and deposit on the electrode surface, which enables recovery of the metal from liquid waste.
4. Iran, UAE Leaders Meet at BRICS Summit: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on 12 and 13 September 2026. The meeting was the highest-level engagement between Iran and the United Arab Emirates since the start of the West Asia conflict. Iran and the United Arab Emirates maintain diplomatic and economic ties through embassies, trade links, and regional dialogue. The UAE includes Abu Dhabi as its capital and is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, while Iran is a West Asian republic with a long coastline along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The New Delhi Declaration 2026 expressed concern over escalation in West Asia and called for maximum restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy.
5. Tripura Detects 19 Illegal Rehabilitation Centres: Tripura identified 19 illegal de-addiction and mental health rehabilitation centres across the state on 13 September 2026. The Tripura State Mental Health Authority issued show-cause notices to these unauthorised private centres under the Mental Health Care Act, 2017. De-addiction centres and mental health rehabilitation centres are facilities that provide treatment, counselling, and residential care for persons with substance-use disorders or mental illness. In India, such centres are required to follow registration procedures, infrastructure norms, staffing standards, and safety requirements under the Mental Health Care Act, 2017 and related rules. The Mental Health Care Act, 2017 is a central law that governs the rights of persons with mental illness and the regulation of mental health establishments in India. The Act provides for registration, inspection, and action against establishments that operate without authorisation or fail to meet prescribed standards.
6. India Sends Bailey Bridge Components to Nepal: India dispatched the first consignment of components for a 70-metre Bailey bridge to Nepal on 12 September 2026. The consignment was handed over to Nepal’s Road Division in Hetauda for installation in the Betrawati area of Nuwakot district. A Bailey bridge is a prefabricated, modular steel bridge system used for rapid deployment in emergency and military situations. It was developed during the Second World War and can be assembled without heavy machinery in many field conditions. India’s assistance package includes more than 130 tonnes of relief material, 54 expert personnel for rescue and forensic operations, and specialised equipment. The Indian Air Force has carried out at least eight special flights to transport temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and medicines.
7. Bihar to Train 100 Professors at Global Institutions: Bihar announced a state-funded training programme for 100 newly appointed assistant professors at global institutions, including Oxford University. The plan was announced in Patna during an orientation programme for 2,451 assistant professors posted across 211 newly established degree colleges in the state. Assistant professor training is a form of in-service academic capacity building used by universities and state higher education departments. Such programmes usually cover pedagogy, curriculum delivery, classroom management, research methods, and use of digital learning tools. Oxford University is a public research university in Oxford, England, and it is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. Global faculty training programmes often include exposure to academic practices, seminars, and institutional interaction with scholars from foreign universities.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Trump Urges Ukraine to Stop Russian Oil Strikes: On 13 September 2026, United States President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries and diesel fuel facilities. The statement came amid Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks on Russia’s energy sector and Russia’s retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukraine has used long-range strikes against Russian oil and gas installations for several months in 2026. Kyiv has linked these facilities to Russia’s war financing and military logistics. The attacks have affected refinery output, fuel availability, and diesel supply chains inside Russia. Russia introduced a diesel export ban in July 2026 after fuel rationing spread across parts of the country. United States diesel prices crossed $6 per gallon on 12 September 2026, which placed the fuel market under close international attention. Diesel is a refined petroleum product used in transport, agriculture, and industry.
2. IAEA Blocks Mohammad Eslami From Vienna Conference: Mohammad Eslami, Iran’s Vice President for Nuclear Affairs and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, was blocked from attending the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference in Vienna on 14 September 2026. Austria denied him entry after a sanctions waiver request to the United Nations sanctions committee failed to secure consensus. The IAEA General Conference is the annual meeting of the agency’s 180-plus member states. The conference is held at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, and it deals with nuclear safeguards, nuclear safety, nuclear security, and technical cooperation. The United Nations Security Council can impose travel bans on designated individuals under sanctions regimes. A sanctions waiver is a formal exemption that may allow entry for official travel, but host states can deny access if the waiver is not approved.
3. Russia Strikes Kyiv-Warsaw Passenger Train: A Russian drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train travelling from Kyiv to Warsaw on 13 September 2026 in Ukraine’s Volyn region, about 2 kilometres from the Polish border. The train was operated by Ukrzaliznytsia, the state railway company of Ukraine, and no casualties were reported after an advance warning led to evacuation about 15 minutes before impact. Passenger rail services between Kyiv and Warsaw pass through western Ukraine and connect with rail routes towards Poland, which is a member of the European Union and NATO. Yahodyn station is a border rail point in Volyn region and lies close to the Ukraine-Poland frontier. Geran-5 is the name used by Polish authorities for the jet-powered drones involved in the incident. Railway infrastructure has been targeted in several recent strikes in western Ukraine, including attacks on lines in Lutsk and Fastiv on 12 September 2026 and a strike on a petrol station in Volyn Oblast.
4. US Lawmaker Moves India Amendment in Russia Sanctions Bill: The United States House of Representatives has received amendments to the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, a sanctions bill that gives President Donald Trump authority to impose penalties on Moscow’s trading partners. One amendment names India and several other countries for possible 100 per cent duties on trade in Russian oil. The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act is a United States sanctions proposal linked to Russia and Iran. The bill allows the President to impose secondary sanctions on countries that trade with Russia, including through oil purchases. The original Senate version passed in August 2026 by an 86-11 vote. It did not name specific trading partners and referred instead to the five largest importers of oil and gas by volume.
5. AfD Calls for End to German Aid to Ukraine: The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a right-wing political party in Germany that has called for ending military and financial support to Ukraine. The party has also linked its position to sanctions on Russia, German energy policy, and welfare payments for Ukrainians living in Germany. Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, stated on 11 September 2026 that an AfD-led government would halt all German support to Ukraine. Her statement included military aid, financial payments, and other assistance connected with the war. Weidel also said that Germany should seek compensation from Ukraine for funds already provided. Tino Chrupalla, the other AfD co-chair, repeated the demand to stop military aid on 29 August 2026. Germany has been one of the major European supporters of Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. German support has included military equipment, financial assistance, humanitarian aid, and refugee-related welfare measures.
6. India, Mercosur Plan Expansion of Trade Pact: India and Mercosur announced plans on 14 September 2026 to begin negotiations for expanding their existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). Mercosur is a South American regional economic bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay. The India-Mercosur PTA has been operational since June 2009. Under the agreement, India receives duty concessions on 450 product categories, while Mercosur receives concessions on 452 product categories. Bilateral trade between India and Mercosur reached about US21 billion in 2025, and some trade estimates for 2025-26 place the figure at US21.8 billion. The two sides are preparing Terms of Reference for the expanded negotiations, which will define the scope and structure of the future agreement. The proposed expansion of the PTA is intended to move towards a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA). A PTA covers selected goods with tariff concessions, while an FTA generally covers a wider range of goods and may include services, investment and trade facilitation rules.
7. Pakistan Raises Bounty on Masood Azhar: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has placed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in its 2026 list of most-wanted terrorists. The bounty for information leading to his capture has been raised to PKR 70 lakh from PKR 50 lakh in 2021 and PKR 20 lakh before that. Masood Azhar is the founder and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based militant organisation designated as a terrorist group by several countries and international bodies. He is listed in the FIA Red Book of most-wanted terrorists at serial number 1480, with the entry date recorded as 31 December 2021. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body that sets standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing. Pakistan has faced FATF scrutiny in the past, and the next plenary meeting is scheduled for October 2026.
8. Kilauea Eruption Intensifies in Hawaii : Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii remained in a prolonged precursory phase on 14 September 2026, before Episode 55 lava fountaining. The north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu showed continuous spatter bursts overnight on 13–14 September 2026, and the USGS Volcano Alert Level stayed at WATCH with the Aviation Color Code at ORANGE. The United States Geological Survey operates the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors Kīlauea and other Hawaiian volcanoes. The USGS uses a Volcano Alert Level system with stages such as NORMAL, ADVISORY, WATCH, and WARNING, and an Aviation Color Code system with GREEN, YELLOW, ORANGE, and RED. Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is located on the island of Hawaiʻi in the United States. It is a shield volcano, a type of volcano with broad slopes formed by low-viscosity basaltic lava.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Punjab Names New Chandigarh Road After Colonel Manpreet Singh: Punjab named a 200-foot-wide road and a park in New Chandigarh after Shaheed Colonel Manpreet Singh on 13 September 2026. The road was earlier known as the HR-2 road from Mundhopur Chowk or Mullanpur Chowk to the T-point, and the park is located in Sector 5-A of New Chandigarh. Colonel Manpreet Singh was born in 1982 in village Bharojian and joined the Indian Army as a commissioned officer in 2005. He served as the Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, and was martyred on 13 September 2023 during an operation against terrorists. Colonel Manpreet Singh received the Kirti Chakra posthumously on 15 August 2024. The Kirti Chakra is India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, and it is awarded for conspicuous gallantry, courage, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
2. PM Modi, Xi Jinping Discuss Border Resolution: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on 12 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The two leaders discussed the boundary question between India and China, which concerns the Line of Actual Control and the wider India-China border framework. The India-China boundary question covers the western, middle, and eastern sectors of the Line of Actual Control. The eastern sector includes Arunachal Pradesh, the middle sector includes parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and the western sector includes Ladakh. India and China have held Special Representatives talks on the boundary issue since 2003. The mechanism was created to discuss the framework for a political settlement and border management arrangements. On 25 August 2026, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the 25th round of Special Representatives negotiations. The talks produced an “Eight Points of Outcomes and Consensus” communique on boundary delimitation and border management.
SPORTS
1. India Win Record-Eighth Women’s Asia Cup Title: India won the Women’s Asia Cup title for the eighth time on 13 September 2026 by defeating Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India won by 72 runs after scoring 183 for 5 and dismissing Sri Lanka for 111 in 19.4 overs. The Women’s Asia Cup is a continental cricket tournament for women’s national teams in Asia. The competition has been organised in both One Day International and Twenty20 International formats in different editions. Shafali Verma reached her fifty in 24 balls, which stands as the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history. N. Shree Charani took four wickets for India, and Deepti Sharma took three wickets in the final.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. US Acknowledges Deployed Weapons in Space: On 14 September 2026, the United States Air Force Secretary Troy Meink stated that the United States has deployed “on-orbit space control weapons” for defence against hostile adversary action. He made the announcement at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. This was the first direct public acknowledgment by a United States official of deployed space-based weapons. Space weapons are military systems placed in orbit or used from space for operations in the space domain. Space control is a military concept that includes measures to protect friendly space assets and to deny an adversary use of space systems. The United States Space Force began discussing warfare in the space domain openly in 2025 and published a framework on operational concepts for space control.
2. Modi Flags Weaponisation of Technology and Critical Minerals: Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns over the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals at the BRICS summit held in New Delhi on 14 September 2026. He linked access to technology, mineral processing, and supply chains with shared prosperity, global resilience, and cooperation among BRICS members. Critical minerals are minerals essential for energy systems, electronics, defence production, and advanced manufacturing. Global concern over critical minerals has increased because China has a dominant position in several stages of mineral processing and has used export restrictions in some cases. The New Delhi Declaration of 13 September 2026 called for reliable, diversified, resilient, and just supply chains of critical minerals. The declaration also linked mineral cooperation with benefit sharing and economic diversification in resource-rich countries.
3. Telangana Police Facilitate Cyber Fraud Refunds: Telangana Police have facilitated the refund of ₹139.68 crore to 24,189 cyber fraud victims in 2026. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) used the Lok Adalat mechanism and the Money Restoration Module (MRM) to speed up the return of defrauded money. The Lok Adalat is a statutory forum for settlement of disputes under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It is organised by legal services authorities and can be used for compromise-based disposal of eligible matters. The Money Restoration Module became operational in Telangana in June 2026. It allows restoration of funds to cybercrime victims without a court order in specified cases linked to frozen or traced amounts. During a National Lok Adalat held until 12 September 2026, TGCSB facilitated refunds of ₹42.28 crore to 3,896 victims. The exercise involved the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, banks, digital payment service providers, and police units.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. MSE Facilitates First Tokenised Corporate Bond: The Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India facilitated India’s first tokenised corporate bond issuance under the SEBI Demat 2.0 pilot on 11 September 2026. IIFL Finance was the issuer, and the pilot was launched at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on 10 September 2026. Demat 2.0 is a joint initiative of the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Reserve Bank of India. The pilot uses blockchain-based processes, smart contracts, and the RBI’s wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency, known as e₹, for debt market settlement. Under this system, corporate bonds are created as digital tokens on a distributed ledger. Ownership records continue to remain with India’s statutory depositories, which are the National Securities Depository Limited and the Central Depository Services Limited.
2. Government Bars Charges on UPI, RuPay Payments: The Indian government has prohibited banks and payment system providers from levying charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions up to ₹2,000 and on payments made through RuPay-powered debit cards. The policy was notified through the Finance Ministry and was formalised by an amendment to Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Unified Payments Interface is an instant real-time payment system developed in India for bank-to-bank transfers through mobile applications. RuPay is India’s domestic card payment network, and RuPay debit cards are issued by banks for use at point-of-sale terminals and online merchants. The National Payments Corporation of India manages both UPI and RuPay payment systems. The National Payments Corporation of India was set up in 2008 as an umbrella organisation for retail payments in India.
