NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Tulu as additional official language of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in Karnataka: The Karnataka Cabinet approved Tulu as the second additional administrative language for the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on September 18, 2026. The status applies strictly to administrative and official work within Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, rather than the entire state of Kannada remains the primary official state language. The state government allocated ₹82 lakh annually to support translation work, staff training, and promotional activities for Tulu usage in governance. Respective district administrations will serve as the implementing agencies to introduce the language into local official tasks.
2. MP Becomes First State to Launch Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana 2026 For Free Rural Property Registration: Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to launch the Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026 for free rural property registration. Launch Date: September 17, 2026, launched by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Indore. Duration: A month-long special drive running from September 17 to October 17, 2026. Coverage: Around 50 lakh privately owned rural properties across all 55 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Financial Benefit: Beneficiaries pay zero stamp duty and zero registration fees; the state government is bearing the entire cost of approximately Rs 4,000 crore. Implementation: Village and panchayat-level camps are being held, with Patwaris conducting door-to-door visits to facilitate paperwork and hand over registry documents.
3. Karan Yadav appointed new Indian Super League CEO: The Indian Super League announced Karan Yadav as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), weeks ahead of the season opener on October 10. According to a statement by the league, which is run by clubs, Yadav brings a combination of football roots and sports-business expertise. His career in sport began with football in 2010, when he co-founded TheHardTackle.com, a digital football publication that he built and led as Editor-in-Chief, managing a global team of more than 50 writers and 10 editors. His career has spanned commercial strategy, sales and marketing, sports rights management, athlete management, and operations.
4. NHAI Issues Guidelines for High-Speed National Highways: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued guidelines on 21 September 2026 for planning and designing access-controlled high-speed National Highways. The guidelines cover upcoming 4-lane and 6-lane Greenfield and Brownfield corridors and exclude expressways. Traffic volume determines the standard lane configuration under the new framework. Corridors carrying up to 15,000 vehicles will have a 4-lane highway with 4-lane structures and a 60-metre width. Corridors carrying 15,000 to 25,000 vehicles will have a 4-lane highway with 6-lane structures and a 70-metre width. Corridors carrying 25,000 to 40,000 vehicles will have a 6-lane highway with 6-lane structures and a 70-metre width.
5. Ministry to Sign UDAN MoUs with 22 States: The Ministry of Civil Aviation is scheduled to sign Memorandums of Understanding with 22 states on 22 September 2026 for the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN. The exercise will launch a Challenge Mode and a new Routes Bidding Round under the modified scheme. UDAN stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik and it is India’s Regional Connectivity Scheme for civil aviation. The scheme was launched in 2016 to improve air connectivity to smaller cities and underserved regions through subsidised regional routes. The Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN scheme in March 2026 for a ten-year period from 2026-27 to 2035-36. The scheme has a total budgetary support outlay of ₹28,840 crore and targets connectivity to 120 new destinations over the decade.
6. MoD Signs ₹586 Crore APU Contract for T-72, T-90 Tanks: The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹586 crore contract on 21 September 2026 for the procurement of indigenously developed Auxiliary Power Units for the Indian Army’s T-72 and T-90 Main Battle Tanks. The contract was signed in New Delhi with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh present, and Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited, Pune, received the order. An Auxiliary Power Unit is a secondary power source used in military vehicles and aircraft to supply electricity when the main engine is not running. In tanks, an APU supports systems such as the fire control system, firing circuit, and gun stabilisation system. The T-72 and T-90 are tracked armoured fighting vehicles used by the Indian Army as Main Battle Tanks. The T-90 is a Russian-origin tank family, and the T-72 is an earlier Soviet-origin tank family that remains in service in several armies. The APUs were developed under the Make-II route of the Defence Acquisition Procedure. The Make-II category covers industry-led design and development projects without government funding, and it is used for indigenous defence production.
7. Jayanti Prasad Gets Additional Charge as IBBI Chairperson: Jayanti Prasad, a Whole Time Member of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), assumed additional charge as Chairperson on 13 September 2026. He will hold the post until 20 November 2026 or until a full-time successor joins the office. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is a statutory regulator established under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. It regulates insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies, information utilities, and corporate insolvency processes in India. Ravi Mital, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1986 batch, completed his tenure as IBBI Chairperson after attaining the age of 65 years. He was appointed in February 2022 for a five-year term or until he reached 65 years of age, whichever was earlier.
8. Ladakh Hikes Village Heads’ Honorarium to Rs 5,000: Ladakh increased the monthly honorarium of village heads, known as Nambardars or Gobas, from Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000 on 21 September 2026. The revision applies to 247 Nambardars in the Union Territory and is the first such change since 2016. Nambardars are village-level functionaries in Ladakh who are also called Gobas in some local areas. The post is linked to grassroots administration and village-level coordination in the Union Territory. The revised emoluments were fixed under the Jammu and Kashmir Lambardari Act, 1972, and the Jammu and Kashmir Lambardari Rules, 1980. These legal provisions continue to apply to Ladakh after its reorganisation as a Union Territory in 2019.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 22 September: Rose Day (Welfare of Cancer Patients): World Rose Day is observed annually on September 22 to bring hope, cheer, and support to cancer patients and their families. The day aims to spread love, courage, and compassion, reminding cancer fighters that they are never alone in their journey. Theme 2026: “bring hope and support.”
2. 22 September: World Rhino Day: World Rhino Day is observed annually on September 22, falling on a Tuesday in 2026, to raise global awareness for the protection and conservation of the five remaining rhinoceros species. First announced in 2010 by WWF-South Africa, expanding globally in 2011. The Five Species is Greater one-horned, Javan, Sumatran (Asia); White and Black rhinos (Africa). 2026 Theme: “Keep the Five Alive”
3. ONGC Discovers Natural Gas in Mahanadi Offshore Basin: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) discovered natural gas in the deep waters of the Mahanadi Basin off India’s east coast on 18 September 2026. The find was made at the MDW-28 (MN-DW18-1-H-D) exploration well, about 43 km off Konark in Odisha, and it is the first well under ONGC’s current deepwater exploration campaign in the basin. The Mahanadi Basin is an offshore sedimentary basin along India’s eastern continental margin. Offshore basins are geological depressions that can contain petroleum systems, including source rocks, reservoirs, seals, and traps. The basin lies in the Bay of Bengal region and is part of India’s eastern offshore hydrocarbon frontier. MDW-28 was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres. Gas was encountered between 1,441 metres and 1,452 metres, and the well showed flow rates and reservoir pressure during testing. The drilling campaign for the well began on 25 July 2026.
4. Premier Energies Commissions India’s Largest Solar Cell Facility: Premier Energies commissioned a 7 GW N-type TOPCon G12R solar cell manufacturing facility at Naidupeta in Andhra Pradesh on 21 September 2026. The plant increased the company’s total solar cell manufacturing capacity to 10.6 GW, which is the highest solar cell capacity in India. Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. N-type TOPCon is a solar cell technology that uses tunnel oxide passivated contact architecture and is used in high-efficiency modules. G12R refers to a large-format wafer and cell size used in modern photovoltaic manufacturing. The facility covers 101 acres, or about 40 hectares, and involved a capital expenditure of ₹3,293 crore. It is designed to produce around 88,000 solar cells per hour. The plant has started trial runs, and commercial output is expected after stabilisation and ramp-up.
5. 7th National Formulary of India 2026 Launched: The 7th National Formulary of India (NFI) was launched on 21 September 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers, unveiled the publication during the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week Campaign. The National Formulary of India is a reference publication for healthcare professionals in India. It contains standard information on medicines and supports the rational use of medicines in clinical practice and pharmacy education. The 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week Campaign was held from 17 to 23 September 2026. Its theme was “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare”, and it was coordinated by the National Coordination Centre-Pharmacovigilance Programme of India at the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad.
6. India Sends Largest Contingent to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: India has sent its largest-ever contingent of 70 skilled competitors to the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, scheduled from 22 to 27 September 2026. The Indian team will compete in 63 of the 64 skill categories at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai. India will make its debut in 11 skill categories at the 2026 edition. These categories include Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design, Intelligent Security Technology, Landscape Gardening, Optoelectronic Technology, Retail Sales, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Industrial Mechanics, Software Testing, Heavy Vehicle Technology, and Aircraft Maintenance. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the National Skill Development Corporation are leading India’s participation and preparation for the competition. A send-off ceremony for the contingent was held in New Delhi on 15 September 2026, and Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary addressed the team.
7. Akums Develops DCGI-Approved Triple Therapy Combikit for H. pylori: Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced a DCGI-approved triple therapy combikit for adults with Helicobacter pylori infection on 21 September 2026. The combikit contains Vonoprazan 20 mg, Clarithromycin 500 mg, and Amoxicillin 1000 mg, and it is prescribed as a twice-daily regimen for 14 days. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that infects the stomach lining and is linked with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. It is also classified as a major risk factor for gastric cancer in medical literature. Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is an Indian contract development and manufacturing organisation, also known as a CDMO. The company had earlier launched a similar combikit in April 2023 with Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, and Esomeprazole for the same infection.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. 13th edition of Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-26) is being conducted at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: The 13th edition of Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-26) is being conducted at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from 17th –21st September 2026 under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command. SLINEX is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Sri Lanka Navy Conceptualised in 2005, it has evolved as an important platform for enhancing maritime cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding between India and Sri Lanka.
Exercise between India and Sri lanka
· SLINEX (Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise)
· Exercise Mitra Shakti
· List of Bilateral Exercises (2026)
· Yudh Abhyas 2026 (India–US): Conducted in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand
· IMBAX 2026 (India–Myanmar): at Umroi, Meghalaya
· MAITREE-XV (India–Thailand): at Surat Thani, Thailand
· Exercise Dharma Guardian (India–Japan): Hosted at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand
‘Samudra Laksamana’ (India-Malaysia Maritime Exercise): held in Lumut, Malaysia
2. India’s Indigenous Long-Range Attack Drone KAL Successfully Tested at Pokhran: India’s first indigenous long-range one-way attack drone, named KAL, successfully completed its initial flight test at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan on September 20, 2026.
About KAL
· Developer: IG Defence, a Noida-based defence technology company.
· Type: One-way attack (“kamikaze” or loitering munition) drone designed for precision strikes.
· Maximum Range: Up to 1,000 km (steted manufacturer specification; actual distance flown during the specific Pokhran trial was not disclosed).
· Endurance: 7 to 8 hours of flight time.
· Payload Capacity: Up to 50 kg of explosive payload/warhead.
· Operating Altitude: Up to 5,000 metres.
· Launch Mechanism: Vehicle-mounted launch platform.
· Navigation: Uses global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and inertial navigation systems for autonomous flight
3. IAF to Host Second Edition of Tarang Shakti: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host the second edition of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur in Rajasthan from 26 September to 12 October 2026. More than 40 countries are expected to take part in the exercise, and over 30 countries are expected to send delegates or observers. Tarang Shakti is a multinational air exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force. The exercise brings together air forces from multiple countries for joint training, operational familiarisation, and coordination in air operations. The United States is expected to participate with F-35 stealth fighters, France with Rafale jets, and the United Arab Emirates with F-16 aircraft. Australia, Germany, Greece, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are also among the participating nations, and Germany is expected to send transport aircraft.
4. India-Mongolia Exercise Nomadic Elephant Begins in Pithoragarh: The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026 began on 21 September 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The annual platoon-level exercise will continue until 3 October 2026, with 45 personnel from the Indian Army and 45 personnel from the Mongolian Armed Forces taking part. Nomadic Elephant is a bilateral military exercise between India and Mongolia. It is conducted at platoon level and is held every year. The 2026 edition is being organised in India after the 17th edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May-June 2025. The exercise is designed for Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. The training package includes Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention Drills, Special Heliborne Operations, Cyber Security Training, drone employment, and counter-drone systems.
SPORTS
1. India to Host Asian Senior Wushu Championships for First Time in 2028: India will host the Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the first time in 2028, with around 500 athletes from 42 countries across Asia expected to participate in the prestigious continental competition. The decision was officially approved at the Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA) Congress held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
2. Smriti Mandhana Becomes First Woman to Score 11,000 International Runs: Smriti Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket on 22 September 2026. She reached the milestone during India’s Asian Games gold-medal final against Sri Lanka at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi-Nagoya. Mandhana’s international runs at the 11,000-mark included 788 runs in Tests, 5,411 runs in One Day Internationals, and 4,788 runs in Twenty20 Internationals. She needed 13 runs before the final to reach the milestone. On 20 September 2026, Mandhana became the leading run-scorer in women’s T20 International cricket. She surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who had 4,758 runs in the format, during the Asian Games semi-final against Bangladesh.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Djibouti Becomes 72nd Country and 8th African Nation to Join Artemis Accords: The Republic of Djibouti has become the eighth African country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining a growing coalition of nations committed to advancing a rules-based framework for peaceful and transparent space exploration. The signing ceremony took place at NASA Headquarters in Washington, with Djibouti’s Ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Siad Douale, signing on behalf of the country. Djibouti is the 72nd nation overall to join the Accords. The Artemis Accords are a non-binding international agreement led by the United States (via NASA and the Department of State) that set shared principles for the peaceful exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, and outer space. Established in 2020 by the U.S. and seven founding nations, the framework has since expanded to dozens of signatory countries globally.
2. Scientists Develop Plastic-to-Fuel Process: Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced a method on 21 September 2026 to convert polyethylene plastic into gasoline-like and diesel-like fuels. The process uses aluminium-based molten salts as both the reaction medium and the catalyst, and it operates below 200 degrees Celsius. Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer used in packaging, containers, films, and bags. It is made of long hydrocarbon chains, and chemical recycling methods aim to break these chains into smaller fuel-range molecules. In the ORNL method, simpler polymer chains tend to produce gasoline-like products, while more complex chains tend to produce diesel-like products. The experiments yielded about 60% gasoline from polyethylene waste under mild conditions. Clean Planet Technologies opened a pilot facility in Sandwich, Kent, in April 2026 to convert non-recyclable plastic waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel using a thermal pyrolysis workflow. Yale University researchers led by Liangbing Hu and Shu Hu developed a catalyst-free pyrolysis method in July 2025 using a 3D-printed electrically heated carbon column reactor.
3. Important Concepts in Photovoltaic Systems: Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor solar cells. They are central to renewable energy because they generate direct current and can be scaled from small rooftop units to large utility plants. For Prelims, the key areas are the working principle, major cell technologies, system components, and the manufacturing chain. These use p-type silicon wafers doped with boron, creating holes as positive charge carriers. Many conventional solar cells have historically been p-type. These use n-type silicon wafers doped with elements such as phosphorus, giving a surplus of electrons and better resistance to light-induced degradation. Heterojunction technology combines crystalline silicon with amorphous silicon thin layers and is known for good temperature performance and high efficiency.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Gwalior to get Asia’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone with ₹5,500 crore investment: Gwalior is set to emerge as a major telecom manufacturing hub with the establishment of Asia’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ), involving an investment of approximately ₹5,500 crore and expected to generate more than 18,000 direct employment opportunities. “The project is not about setting up a single industrial unit, but about creating a complete industrial ecosystem comprising 24-25 telecom manufacturing units in Gwalior. These units will manufacture telecom equipment and a range of components, strengthening the city’s position as an emerging telecom manufacturing hub.
2. Delhi government launches solar portal with subsidy up to Rs 1.56 lakh: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the Delhi PM Surya Ghar registration portal on 21 September 2026. The portal, solar.delhi.gov.in, is linked to the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for rooftop solar installations in Delhi. The scheme provides a combined Central and Delhi government subsidy of up to ₹1.56 lakh for rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW. Domestic consumers in Delhi with average monthly electricity consumption of up to 400 units are eligible for systems of up to 3 kW without any upfront payment. The portal provides registration for the scheme, information on authorised vendors, grievance redressal, and a solar calculator for estimating system capacity and savings. Registrations opened on 21 September 2026 and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Indian Oil Approves ₹2,449 Crore Kochi-Thoothukudi Gas Pipeline: Indian Oil Corporation approved an investment of ₹2,448.70 crore for the Kochi-Kanyakumari-Thoothukudi Natural Gas Pipeline project on 21 September 2026. The pipeline will cover 424.65 kilometres and connect Kochi in Kerala with Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu through the Kanyakumari region. The KTPL system has an overall capacity of 6.84 million standard cubic metres per day, or MMSCMD. Its minimum common carrier capacity is 1.71 MMSCMD, which is relevant for third-party access under Indian gas pipeline regulations. The route passes through Kerala and Tamil Nadu and includes the Kanyakumari region. The project is intended to support city gas distribution networks and industrial consumers along the corridor.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Film Angh won the Platform Prize at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.: The film Angh (2026) directed by Theja Rio won the prestigious Platform Prize at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Angh (2026) marks a major milestone as the first major international breakthrough and Oscar pathway entry for Naga cinema from Northeast India. Under updated Academy rules, winning the top Platform Prize (2026) grants the non-English-language film direct eligibility for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.
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