NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India reaffirms commitment to eliminate Hepatitis B, C as public health threats by 2030: India has reaffirmed its commitment to combating viral Hepatitis and eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public threats by 2030. Addressing a side-event at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81), Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, said, “Reaffirming India’s commitment to the 2030 SDG Agenda on combating hepatitis and the global goal of eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030.” She highlighted India’s comprehensive, people-centred response across prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care.
2. Delhi’s Chandni Chowk Town Hall to Become Global Heritage Centre: Delhi’s historic Town Hall complex in Chandni Chowk will get a new identity as a Global Heritage Centre. The Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) signed an MoU on 20 September 2026 for its conservation and redevelopment. The project covers the historic Town Hall, Press Building and adjoining park . Together, they cover around 12,180 square metres Built between 1860 and 1866 , the Town Hall forms part of Shahjahanabad’s historic landscape. MCD used it as its headquarters for decades before shifting to the Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Civic Centre in 2010.
3. NBDA Re-elects Rajat Sharma As President For 2026-27: Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma has been unanimously re-elected as the President of the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) for the 2026–27 term during a board meeting held on September 22, 2026. NBDA currently has 29 news and current affairs broadcasters as members, representing 136 news channels and digital platforms. The decision was taken at a meeting of the NBDA Board of Directors on Tuesday. The association’s other office-bearers will continue in their respective roles, with M.V. Shreyams Kumar, Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing, continuing as Vice-President and Anuradha Prasad Shukla, Chairperson and Managing Director, News24 Broadcast India, continuing as Honorary Treasurer.
4. Hirav Shah Launched Business Novel “SAARATHI”: Business strategist Hirav Shah launched his business novel “SAARATHI” in Gujarat on September 21, 2026, which became an Amazon India bestseller on its launch day. Storyline: Follows a struggling fashion designer from Ahmedabad facing business collapse alongside a strategic guide helping navigate critical decisions. Core Themes: Moving beyond hustle culture, balancing hard work with financial discipline, distinguishing busyness from strategy, and managing enterprise growth with family duties.
5. Scientists Map Gene Activity in Prefrontal Cortex: A new human brain-cell atlas mapped gene activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex across the human lifespan. The study analysed nuclei from more than 6.3 million brain cells taken from 1,494 deceased donors aged from infancy to 108 years and included donors with and without diagnosed brain conditions. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is a region of the frontal lobe in the human brain. It is associated with executive functions such as working memory, planning, decision-making, and cognitive control. The region develops through childhood and adolescence and reaches mature cellular organisation in adulthood. The atlas was published in Nature on 23 September 2026 with eight companion studies. It examined gene activity in brain-cell nuclei from donors representing diverse genetic ancestries. The dataset included individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
6. Maruti Suzuki Commissions First Green Hydrogen Plant at Manesar: Maruti Suzuki India Limited commissioned its first Green Hydrogen (GH₂) electrolyser plant at its Manesar facility in Haryana on 24 September 2026. The plant has a capacity of 300 kW and functions as a pilot project for green hydrogen production and use in manufacturing operations. Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable electricity through electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. An electrolyser is the equipment used for this process, and its output can be stored, blended with other fuels, or used directly in industrial applications. The green hydrogen from the Manesar plant is blended with natural gas and used as process fuel in manufacturing operations. The plant uses surplus solar energy generated at the Manesar facility, including electricity available during holidays, for hydrogen production.
7. PBSHABD Expands Verified News Access Across India: Prasar Bharati’s PB-SHABD, or Prasar Bharati – Shared Audio-Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination, is a free multimedia news feed service for registered media organisations in India. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched the platform on 13 March 2024 in New Delhi, and free access has been extended until March 2027 for 3,600 media organisations. PB-SHABD provides ready-to-use news content in text, video, audio, photographs and infographics. The platform offers content in 15 Indian languages and covers nearly 50 news categories, including national, regional and local developments. The service supplies over 1,000 daily news stories. Its content is logo-free and does not require credit when used by registered media organisations. PB-SHABD uses a network of more than 1,500 reporters, correspondents and stringers, along with 60 dedicated 24×7 edit desks.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Denmark: A trilateral defense and security cooperation agreement that modernizes the historic 1951 US-Danish Defense Agreement, granting the United States expanded, permanent military operating rights and strategic denial capabilities in Greenland without transferring sovereign territory. Aim: To secure the North American northern frontier and Arctic-Atlantic maritime approaches, deny adversarial foreign powers military or economic footholds in Greenland, and de-escalate intra-NATO diplomatic tensions stemming from U.S. annexation rhetoric.
2. Denmark to Introduce Work Permit Route for Indians: Denmark’s Parliament passed legislation on 4 September 2026 to create a new work permit route called the Collective Agreement-Based Business Scheme. The scheme is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027 and will allow eligible employers in Denmark to recruit foreign workers under a simplified immigration pathway. Indian nationals will be among the citizens of 16 eligible countries who can apply under this route. The Collective Agreement-Based Business Scheme is an employment-based immigration route linked to Danish labour market rules. It requires the employer to be covered by a relevant collective agreement, to have operated for at least two years, and to employ at least 10 full-time workers in Denmark. The scheme is designed for businesses facing labour shortages.
3. Anthropic’s Claude AI Identifies Novel Enzyme System: Anthropic announced on 23-24 September 2026 that its Claude AI model identified a previously unknown enzyme system called array-associated reverse transcriptases (ART). The system was found in bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, and the finding was produced through analysis of DNA sequence data by Claude-powered software agents. Array-associated reverse transcriptases (ART) include a reverse transcriptase enzyme, a partner gene of unknown function, and an array of evenly spaced DNA repeat sequences. Reverse transcriptases are enzymes that synthesise DNA from an RNA template, and they occur in several biological systems, including retroviruses and mobile genetic elements. About 950 Claude-powered software agents analysed a large DNA sequence database for 21 hours and processed 210 million tokens of data.
4. Second Saraighat Bridge Project in Assam: The Ministry of Railways is set to begin the Second Saraighat Rail-cum-Road Bridge Project in Assam. The project includes a 1.3-km double-decker bridge over the Brahmaputra and the doubling of the railway track between Agthori and Kamakhya stations over 7.20 km. The Saraighat crossing is located near Guwahati in Assam and spans the Brahmaputra, one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent. The new bridge will carry two railway lines on the lower deck and a three-lane road carriageway with a footpath on the upper deck. The project falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Northeast Frontier Railway zone. The Railway Board is associated with the monitoring of the project, and Larsen & Toubro has been entrusted with execution.
5. BRICS Tax Authorities Meet in New Delhi: The BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities Meeting was held in New Delhi on 23 September 2026 as the concluding event of India’s Chairship of the BRICS tax cooperation track. The meeting brought together tax administrations from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies, and its tax cooperation track covers administrative coordination, capacity building, and exchange of practices among tax authorities. The BRICS tax forum operates through meetings of heads of tax administrations and working groups on specific technical subjects.
6. India to Host Cycling Road World Championships in Pune in 2032: Pune in Maharashtra has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2032 UCI Cycling Road World Championships. It will be the first time that India hosts the UCI Road World Championships, which are organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The UCI Road World Championships are annual road cycling championships conducted by the UCI. The event includes elite men’s and women’s road races, individual time trials, and team events in different categories. The UCI announced the 2032 hosting decision at its Congress in Montreal, Canada, in September 2026. Pune won the bid against Groningen and the Drenthe region of the Netherlands, which will host the 2034 UCI Road World Championships and Para-cycling Road World Championships. The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour was held in January 2026 and featured about 170 riders from 35 countries. New Zealander Luke Mudgway won the event, which served as a major international road cycling competition in India.
7. Germany Ready to Sign India Submarine Deal: Germany has said it is ready to sign a government-to-government agreement with India for six conventional submarines under Project 75(I). The proposed contract is estimated at about $8 billion, with some estimates placing the value between ₹70,000 crore and over ₹90,000 crore. Project 75(I) is an Indian Navy submarine acquisition programme for six conventional submarines with air-independent propulsion. The programme is designed to add underwater platforms with longer endurance than standard diesel-electric submarines. The deal involves Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems of Germany and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited of India. The submarines are to be manufactured in India under a production partnership model rather than as a direct import order. The agreement includes technology transfer for submarine construction in India. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is a state-owned shipyard based in Mumbai and has built warships and submarines for the Indian Navy.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Major Indian Naval Warships and Frigates: The Indian Navy’s surface and undersea fleet is built around aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and submarines. Together, these warships support sea control, deterrence, maritime surveillance and power projection across the Indian Ocean Region, while also reflecting India’s growing focus on indigenous shipbuilding and modern combat systems. The flagship of the Indian Navy, INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier acquired from Russia. Commissioned in 2013, it has a displacement of about 45,400 tonnes and operates MiG-29K fighter jets. Both Indian aircraft carriers use the Short Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery system, which supports ski-jump take-off and arrested recovery of aircraft. Commissioned in 2022, INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier and the largest warship built in the country. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, INS Vikrant has a displacement of around 45,000 tonnes and a high degree of indigenisation, with about 76% indigenous content.
2. INS Trishul Arrives at Toulon for 24th India-France Maritime Exercise Varuna: INS Trishul (F43), a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived at the Toulon naval base in France on 22 September 2026 for the 24th edition of the India-France bilateral maritime exercise Varuna. The exercise series began in 1983 and received the name “Varuna” in 2001. Varuna is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. The exercise includes harbour and sea phases, with cross-deck visits, operational interactions, and sporting engagements. The exercise framework includes professional exchanges that cover naval procedures, seamanship, and coordination at sea. The bilateral drill is part of India-France defence cooperation in the maritime domain.
SPORTS
1. England fast bowler Wood retires from internationals: Mark Wood has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 36, bringing the curtain down on a 11-year career in which he won two World Cups and an Ashes series with England. Wood, who made his England debut as a tearaway quick against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2015, took 119 wickets from 38 Tests. He also finished with 80 wickets in 70 ODIs and 54 in 38 T20Is, making him England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game.
2. Indian Men’s and Women’s Skeet Teams Win Asian Games Bronze: India won bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s skeet team events at the Asian Games 2026 on 23 September 2026. The men’s team scored 346 points and defeated Kazakhstan in a shoot-off, while the women’s team scored 331 hits across five qualification rounds. Skeet is a shotgun shooting discipline in which competitors fire at clay targets launched from fixed stations. The event is held in individual and team formats at multi-sport competitions such as the Asian Games, which are organised by the Olympic Council of Asia. The Indian men’s skeet team comprised Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, and Bhavtegh Singh Gill. Their bronze medal came after a shoot-off against Kazakhstan, and the team total of 346 points placed India among the medal-winning nations in the event.
3. Satnam Singh, Salman Khan Win Asian Games Bronze in Men’s Double Sculls: Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won the bronze medal in the men’s double sculls at the Asian Games 2026 on 24 September 2026. The Indian pair finished in 6:13.25 at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course. China won gold through Yi Xudi and Yide Nie in 6:09.77, and Uzbekistan won silver through Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov in 6:10.49. Double sculls is a rowing event in which two rowers use two oars each. The event belongs to the sculling category, which differs from sweep rowing, where each rower uses one oar. Rowing races are usually held over a 2,000-metre course in international competition. Rowing has been part of the Asian Games programme in multiple editions and includes sculling and sweep events. The Asian Games is a multi-sport event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia. The competition features athletes from countries and territories across Asia.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Major Human Brain Cell Types and Their Roles: The human brain works through a highly organized mix of neurons and support cells. Neurons carry signals, while glial and other specialized cells maintain structure, immunity, insulation, and fluid balance. For Prelims revision, the key is to remember each cell type and its core function in brain communication and health. Neurons are the basic functional units of the nervous system. They transmit electrical and chemical signals and link different brain regions as well as the brain with the rest of the body. Their structure is adapted for fast, directed communication. Glial cells, or neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons. They are more numerous than neurons and are essential for maintaining the brain’s internal environment.
2. Types of Electrolysers and Hydrogen Production Methods: Hydrogen is emerging as an important clean energy carrier for hard-to-abate sectors such as refining, fertilisers, steel and transport. Since it does not occur freely in nature in usable form, it must be produced through different pathways, each with distinct emissions, costs and applications. Electrolysis is central to green hydrogen, and the equipment used for it is called an electrolyser. Hydrogen is often classified by the way it is produced, especially on the basis of carbon emissions. This colour code is widely used in current affairs and exam questions. Electrolysis is an electrochemical process in which electricity is used to split water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). The process takes place in an electrolyser, which generally has an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte or membrane that allows ion transfer.
3. Major Artificial Intelligence Hubs and Ecosystems in India: India’s artificial intelligence landscape is expanding quickly, supported by a mix of startups, research institutions, large technology firms, and growing digital infrastructure. The country’s AI growth is concentrated in a few major cities, but it also depends on national policies, talent pipelines, and compute-heavy data centre ecosystems. An AI ecosystem is more than a set of software companies. It is a connected network that enables research, model development, deployment, and scale. For Prelims, the important point is that AI growth depends on both human capability and physical infrastructure. India’s AI activity is not evenly spread. A few cities have become preferred locations because they combine talent, institutions, startups, enterprise demand, and digital infrastructure.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. S&P Global Ratings upgrades India’s FY27 growth forecast to 7% from 6.6%: S&P Global Ratings has raised India’s economic growth forecast for FY27 to 7 percent from 6.6 percent earlier, citing stronger-than-expected industrial activity, consumption, exports and government investment in the June quarter. S&P expects India’s growth to remain strong beyond the current fiscal as well, forecasting GDP expansion of 7.2 percent in FY28 and 7 percent in FY29. Its latest estimate for FY27 is 0.4 percentage point higher than its previous forecast, while forecasts for the following two years remain unchanged.
2. India leads global growth outlook; FY27 forecast at 6.7%: WEF survey: India retains the strongest growth outlook among the world economies covered in the latest chief economists’ survey, with the country’s fiscal year 2026-27 growth forecast raised to 6.7 per cent, according to the latest World Economic Forum’s Chief Economists’ Outlook. The report links the upgrade to continued resilience in domestic demand, while noting that higher energy prices remain a drag on the outlook.
3. Fitch Raises India’s FY27 GDP Forecast From 6.4% To 6.9%: Global ratings agency Fitch has upgraded India’s gross domestic product growth projection for the current financial year ending March 2027 to 6.9%, up from its previous estimate of 6.4%. This revision reflects the Indian economy’s stronger-than-expected performance in the June quarter and robust domestic resilience. India’s real GDP grew by 7.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY27, showing strong economic momentum.
4. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 2.0: Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 2.0 is a rural skilling programme of the Government of India that was upgraded through notified guidelines in May 2025. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development and focuses on training, placement, post-placement support, and employment sustainability for rural youth. DDU-GKY was launched in 2014-15 as a placement-linked skill development programme for rural youth. The 2.0 version extends placement duration to six months and provides 12 months of post-placement tracking. It also includes financial assistance of ₹7,620 over six months and retention support of ₹5,000 for candidates employed for 365 days.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Vir Chakra Awardee & 1965 Indo-Pak war hero Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke Passed Away: Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke, a Vir Chakra awardee of the Indian Air Force, passed away on 18 September 2026 at Base Hospital, New Delhi, at the age of 87. He was known for an air engagement during the 1965 Indo-Pak War over Kalaikunda in West Bengal, where he flew a Hawker Hunter against Pakistani Sabre jets. The Vir Chakra is India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, after the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra. Alfred Tyrone Cooke received the Vir Chakra on 7 September 1965 for courage and tactical skill during aerial combat.
2. a 35-year-old farmer from Sangau village in Lawngtlai district of Mizoram. She has been selected for the FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development award, which is linked to the International Year of Women Farmers 2026. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, or FAO, is a specialised agency of the United Nations that works on food security, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and rural development. Lalrithangi is one of 100 women selected globally from more than 600 nominations across 131 countries. She is also one of two Indian women chosen for the recognition. Lalrithangi began strawberry cultivation in 2024 and expanded it to more than 10,000 plants on two hectares of land. Her produce includes strawberries, strawberry wine, and other value-added products. Her farming venture generated about Rs 1.5 lakh in 2024 and more than Rs 10 lakh in 2025.
3. Roshibina Devi Wins Silver in Women’s Sanda 60 kg: Roshibina Devi won the silver medal in the women’s 60 kg sanda event at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 24 September 2026. She became the first Indian to win medals in wushu at three consecutive Asian Games. Wushu is a Chinese martial art that includes two main disciplines, taolu and sanda. Sanda is the combat or sparring discipline of wushu and uses punches, kicks, throws, and takedowns under regulated competition rules. Roshibina Devi won a bronze medal at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and a silver medal at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. Her 2026 silver medal extended her medal sequence across three editions of the Asian Games. In the final at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall, Roshibina Devi lost 2-0 to Zhang Xiaoyu of the People’s Republic of China on 24 September 2026. She reached the final after defeating Indonesia’s Thania Kusumaningtyas 2-0 in the semi-finals on 23 September 2026.
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