NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. National Wildlife Day: 4 September 2026: National Wildlife Day 2026 is an awareness day dedicated to wildlife protection, endangered species, habitat conservation and respect for the natural world. It reminds us that wildlife is not limited to forests or distant national parks. Birds, insects, animals, rivers, lakes, oceans and even our neighbourhood spaces are all part of the living world around us. National Wildlife Day is commonly observed on September 4 every year. Some awareness calendars also mark it on February 22, which is connected with Steve Irwin’s birthday.
2. Teachers’ Day (India): 5th September 2026: India marks Teachers’ Day on September 5 every year to celebrate the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was a distinguished philosopher, a famous scholar, and the second President of India in 1962. Born in 1888, Dr. Radhakrishnan spent decades working as an educator. He taught at prestigious institutions, including Calcutta University and the University of Oxford. He strongly believed that teachers play a vital role in shaping the minds of young people and building a strong society.
3. BIO-NIVESH Launched for Biotechnology Investment : BIO-NIVESH is a strategic platform launched on 3 September 2026 in New Delhi by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh. It has been created by the Department of Biotechnology and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council to connect laboratory-stage biotechnology research with commercial scale-up and private investment. Biotechnology startups in India operate across areas such as health, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and bio-manufacturing. The BIO-NIVESH platform is linked to the wider startup ecosystem, where intellectual property, technology readiness, and market potential are common evaluation factors for investment.
4. Supreme Court Suggests Raising District Judges’ Retirement Age: The Supreme Court of India has directed seven consenting states to amend service rules and raise the retirement age of district judges from 60 to 62 years. The order was passed in the case of All India Judges Association v. Union of India and applies to Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. District judges form part of the subordinate judiciary under Articles 233 to 237 of the Constitution of India. Superannuation is the retirement of a government servant on attaining the prescribed age under service rules, and the age for district judges has varied across states under their respective judicial service rules. The Supreme Court has stated that the extension to 62 years will remain subject to a suitability assessment by the concerned High Court when the officer attains 60 years of age. Judicial officers in the seven consenting states who have already crossed 60 years will not superannuate until they reach 62 years, pending formal amendment of service rules.
5. Telangana Removes Konda Surekha from Cabinet: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy removed Konda Surekha, the State Minister for Environment, Forests and Endowments, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect on 3 September 2026. The same day, the Chief Minister also withdrew the appointment of G. Chinna Reddy as Vice Chairman of the Telangana State Planning Board and approved new appointments in the state administration. The Council of Ministers in a state is headed by the Chief Minister under Article 164 of the Constitution of India. State ministers hold portfolios assigned by the Chief Minister and remain in office during the Governor’s pleasure, subject to constitutional provisions. The Telangana State Planning Board is a state-level planning body that deals with development planning and policy coordination. On 3 September 2026, Gadwal Vijayalakshmi was appointed as Vice Chairperson of the Board after the removal of G. Chinna Reddy from the post.
6. Sikkim Identifies 40 High-Hazard Glacial Lakes: Sikkim has identified 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, including 16 in Category A, 2 in Category B, 9 in Category C, and 13 unclassified lakes. The state has also begun work on India’s first dedicated Glacial Lake Outburst Flood risk mitigation protocol for downstream settlements. Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for monitoring these lakes. The monitoring system uses satellite imagery, remote sensing, geophysical investigations, bathymetric studies, and field surveys to assess lake volume, outlet stability, and surrounding terrain. Category A lakes are treated as the highest-risk lakes for outburst, while Category B and Category C indicate lower but still significant hazard levels. Unclassified lakes are those that require further scientific assessment before final categorisation.
7. Important Monuments of the Rangpur-Sivasagar Historical Ensemble: The Rangpur-Sivasagar Historical Ensemble represents the pre-modern capital landscape of the Ahom dynasty in Assam. It reflects nearly six centuries of political power, ritual life, brick architecture, water engineering and military planning in the Brahmaputra Valley. The ensemble includes some of the best-known Ahom monuments such as Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Namdang Stone Bridge and the historic tanks of Sivasagar, Joysagar and Gaurisagar. Rang Ghar at Rupahi Pathar in Sivasagar served as a royal pavilion for watching sports and cultural celebrations, including Rongali Bihu. It began as a temporary bamboo-and-wood structure under Rudra Singha and was rebuilt as a permanent two-storeyed brick building by Pramatta Singha between 1744 and 1751.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Quad Sherpas’ Meeting held in New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hosted a Quad Sherpas’ Meeting in New Delhi. The Quad Sherpas reaffirmed the importance of focusing on concrete, action-orientated initiatives. They also looked forward to continued consultations in the lead-up to the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The Quad Sherpas’ Meeting was convened to take forward the outcomes of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi on 26th May this year.
2. Adobe Names Anil Chakravarthy As Next Chief Executive Officer To Succeed Shantanu Narayen: Adobe has appointed Anil Chakravarthy as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, handing leadership of the software maker to a longtime company executive as it seeks to accelerate growth in an increasingly artificial intelligence-driven market. Chakravarthy, currently President of Adobe’s Customer Experience Orchestration business and worldwide field operations, will take over as CEO on December 1. Narayen had announced in March that he would step down as CEO after 18 years at the helm.
3. Ulle Madise elected as President of Estonia: Ulle Madise has been elected as the new President of Estonia for a five-year term. The members of Estonia’s Riigikogu parliament elected Madise as the president of the Baltic country via secret ballot. It was reported that while 71 lawmakers voted for Madise, seven did not support her candidacy. Madise was the lone candidate in the election. Alar Karis, who had led the country since 2021, did not seek a second term for personal reasons
4. International Day of Charity: 5th September 2026: Every year, September 5 is observed as the International Day of Charity, a United Nations observance that highlights the role of charitable organisations, volunteers and individuals in addressing humanitarian suffering and poverty. The answer lies in the life and legacy of Mother Teresa, who died on September 5, 1997. The United Nations chose the date to commemorate her death anniversary and recognise the broader role of charity in helping people facing poverty, illness and other forms of hardship. Established in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly under resolution A/RES/67/105.
5. UN backs resolution on Africa’s map size: The United Nations General Assembly approved an African-led resolution on 4 September 2026 to promote maps that show continents in more accurate relative sizes. The resolution supports the use of the Equal Earth projection and moves away from the 16th-century Mercator projection in educational and public mapping contexts. The Mercator projection was developed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator, a Flemish cartographer. It preserves direction and local shape, which made it useful for marine navigation, but it enlarges landmasses near the poles and distorts relative area. The Equal Earth projection is an equal-area map projection introduced in 2018. It keeps the proportional area of continents and countries closer to their actual size, which makes it suitable for thematic maps and school atlases.
6. Argentina Escalates Falklands Dispute With UK: Argentina and the United Kingdom have renewed a long-running sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas. On 3 September 2026, Argentine President Javier Milei announced plans for economic sanctions against foreign firms involved in offshore oil and gas extraction near the islands without Argentine approval. The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Argentina has claimed sovereignty over the islands since the nineteenth century, and the dispute led to the Falklands War in 1982. The islands are located east of southern Argentina and north of Antarctica in a strategic maritime zoneThe Sea Lion project is an offshore oil development in the North Falkland Basin. Rockhopper Exploration, a British company, and Navitas, an Israeli company, are associated with the project. Offshore hydrocarbon projects in disputed maritime areas often involve licensing, territorial claims, and jurisdictional questions under international law.
7. US FDA Approves AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Drug Etcamah: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to AstraZeneca’s Etcamah, also known as camizestrant, on 4 September 2026 for adults with advanced or metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with an ESR1 mutation. The drug was approved as a 75 mg oral daily therapy in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors abemaciclib, palbociclib, or ribociclib. Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer is a subtype that depends on oestrogen or progesterone signalling for tumour growth. HER2-negative breast cancer lacks overexpression or amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene. ESR1 is the gene that encodes the oestrogen receptor, and mutations in this gene are linked with resistance to aromatase inhibitors.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India, Belgium Step Up Defence Cooperation: India and Belgium signed a new defense letter of intent and set a goal to double bilateral trade over the next five years during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s official visit to India in September 2026.Signed a defense cooperation letter of intent and appointed a resident defense attaché in Brussels. Agreed to double bilateral trade within five years, moving beyond traditional diamond trade. Partnered Indian institutions with Belgian research center imec for micro-electronics. Renewed an MoU on renewable energy, focusing on green hydrogen and solar energy.
2. Major Autonomous and Robotic Weapons Systems: Autonomous and robotic weapons are reshaping modern warfare, from surveillance and interception to precision strikes. In India, the record-setting Ahuti Mk II has drawn attention as a high-speed interceptor drone, while loitering munitions and autonomous combat platforms continue to raise questions on capability, control, and regulation. On 1 September 2026, the India Book of Records recognised Ahuti Mk II as India’s fastest multirotor UAV. It was developed by Apollyon Dynamics, a defence technology startup co-founded by Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhary. The engineering team included drone pilot Aman Virani, also known as Shady, along with Manas Vichare and Ishaan Suri.
3. India, Belgium Sign MoUs on Energy and Defence: India and Belgium signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding in New Delhi on 2 and 3 September 2026 during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The agreements covered renewable energy, defence-industrial cooperation, migration and mobility, semiconductor collaboration, and critical minerals processing and recycling. The renewed MoU on Renewable Energy Cooperation covers green hydrogen, solar energy, energy storage, offshore wind, and pumped storage plants. Renewable energy cooperation is a bilateral framework used by states to share technology, policy experience, and project development in low-carbon energy sectors. India and Belgium also set a joint objective to double bilateral trade volume over the next five years. Bilateral trade refers to the exchange of goods and services between two countries over a defined period.
SPORTS
1. Keyaa Banerji Wins Silver at IPF World Championships with Historic Lift: Indian powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji delivered a standout performance at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sun City, South Africa. Competing in the Junior Women’s 47kg category, the 21-year-old secured the silver medal in the deadlift event by successfully lifting 140kg at a bodyweight of 45.70kg—a feat exceeding three times her own weight. Banerji finished fifth overall in her category with a combined total of 280kg (90kg squat, 50kg bench press, 140kg deadlift). The result underscores her rapid upward trajectory over the past year, marking a significant leap from her 257.5kg total at the 2025 national championship.
2. Important Cricket Formats and Playing Rules: Cricket is governed by a clear set of international formats, laws, and match conditions. For Prelims revision, the key focus is on the ICC’s role, major formats, and the rules that shape limited-overs and Test cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket. It administers the game, organises major world tournaments, and sets international playing conditions. International cricket is played in three standard formats. Each has distinct duration, tactical demands, and playing conditions. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) frames the Laws of Cricket, while the ICC sets the Playing Conditions for international matches.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. ISRO Launches GSLV-F17 with EOS-05 Satellite: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched GSLV-F17 on 4 September 2026 from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The 51.7-metre-tall rocket carried the 2,367 kg EOS-05 satellite and placed it in a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit about 18 to 19 minutes after liftoff. GSLV stands for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, a three-stage launch vehicle used by India for placing satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits. GSLV-F17 was ISRO’s 19th GSLV mission and the 107th launch from Sriharikota. EOS-05 is an Earth observation satellite designed to operate from a geosynchronous orbit at about 36,000 km altitude. ISRO stated that the satellite is intended to monitor the Indian subcontinent and transmit real-time images every 30 minutes during its expected nine-year operational life.
2. Scientists Discover Devil Flower Species in Thailand: A team of botanists described a new flowering plant species, Thismia daemona, in the journal PhytoKeys on 3 September 2026. The species was found in Thong Pha Phum National Park in western Thailand during a 2025 field survey and was nicknamed the “devil flower” because of its dark, horned appearance. Thismia daemona belongs to the genus Thismia, a group of small flowering plants commonly called fairy lanterns or torch lilies. The genus includes species that are often difficult to detect because they emerge briefly above the forest floor. The official description increased the number of Thismia species recorded from Thailand to 16. The species was placed in the section Geomitra, a taxonomic group previously known from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s sovereign credit rating upgraded to ‘A-‘ with Stable Outlook by Japan Credit Rating Agency: Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) has upgraded India’s Long-Term Foreign Currency and Local Currency Issuer Ratings by one notch from ‘BBB+’ to ‘A-’, while maintaining the Stable Outlook. JCR has also raised India’s country ceiling by one notch to ‘A’. India’s solid economic growth, the effectiveness of economic policies in strengthening the foundations for growth, and the improved soundness of the financial system.
2. Axis Bank and Scapia Launch Travellers Focused ‘Scapia Axis Bank Credit Card’: Axis Bank and travel fintech Scapia have launched a co-branded credit card aimed at digitally native Indian travellers. Available on Mastercard and RuPay networks, the card offers zero forex markup, airport privileges and rewards of up to 20 per cent on eligible travel bookings through the Scapia app. The partnership combines Axis Bank’s payments capabilities with Scapia’s travel-focused platform. Benefits: The card has zero joining and annual fees, offers zero forex mark-up on international transactions, and includes a Smart Forex feature for overseas spending.
3. AICTE Launches ₹245 Crore Doctoral Fellowship Programme: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) launched the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP) on 3 September 2026. The programme has a projected outlay of ₹245 crore for five years and will support 150 PhD fellowships in innovation and entrepreneurship. Selected research scholars under AIEDFP will receive a monthly stipend of ₹60,000 plus applicable House Rent Allowance for the first three years. The stipend will rise to ₹70,000 per month plus applicable House Rent Allowance for the next two years, and the total support period will extend up to five years. The programme also provides an Innovation Grant of up to ₹10 lakh for prototype development, testing, field trials, validation, and research-related travel. The grant is linked to application-oriented research in both technological and non-technological areas.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Karnataka Announces State-Level Best Teacher Awards: The Department of School Education and Literacy of Karnataka announced the state-level best teacher awards for the 2026–27 academic year on 4 September 2026. The awards include school teachers, lecturers and pre-university college principals, and the presentation is scheduled for Teachers’ Day at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Karnataka gives state-level teacher awards to recognise educators in school and higher education institutions. The award list for 2026–27 was reported with two figures in circulation, with one count placing the total at 41 and another placing the school-level list at 31, including 20 primary teachers and 11 high school teachers. Each selected teacher will receive a cash prize of ₹25,000 and a certificate of appreciation. The award process also includes ₹7,75,000 in school-level funding from the State Teachers’ Welfare Fund and the Students’ Welfare Fund.
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