NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM-SETU Steering Committee Approves ₹735.70 Crore Plans: The National Steering Committee under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme approved Strategic Investment Plans worth ₹735.70 crore for Industrial Training Institute clusters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. The approval raised the total sanctioned investment under PM-SETU to ₹2,171 crore across nine ITI clusters. PM-SETU stands for Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs. The scheme is linked to the upgradation of Industrial Training Institutes and the creation of cluster-based skill infrastructure. The approved ₹735.70 crore package was distributed across three clusters. Rajasthan received ₹241 crore for the Bhiwadi cluster, Telangana received ₹254.30 crore for the Medchal cluster, and Uttar Pradesh received ₹240.40 crore for the Meerut cluster.
2. Supreme Court Sets November 30 Deadline for Aravalli Panel: The Supreme Court of India fixed 30 November 2026 as the non-extendable deadline for the High-Powered Committee to submit its final report on the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. The five-member expert panel was constituted on 25 May 2026 and had earlier missed its original deadline of 31 August 2026. The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain systems in India and extends across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat. The range is associated with issues of land degradation, mining regulation, groundwater recharge, and forest conservation. The committee is chaired by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. The panel was asked to prepare a final report using spatial, ecological, geological, hydrological, and socio-economic data from the Aravalli region.
3. Agnikul Cosmos Opens New Testing Units in Chennai: Chennai-based space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos inaugurated two new testing and manufacturing facilities at its assembly and testing site in Chennai on 8 September 2026. The units are the Stage Testing & Inspection Facility (STIF) and the Pressurant Tank Realisation, Over-wrapping and Outfitting Facility (PROOF). STIF is designed to test complete rocket stages with integrated propulsion and avionics. The facility supports thrust levels from 1 kN to 200 kN and liquid oxygen (LOX) sub-cooling down to 73 Kelvin.
The facility also supports full-duration rocket engine burns of up to 150 seconds. It is intended for inspection and requalification of recovered rocket stages after flight. PROOF is meant for the in-house manufacture of high-pressure composite overwrapped pressure vessels. Composite overwrapped pressure vessels are lightweight pressure containers that use a composite outer layer over a liner or metallic core. The facility reduces dependence on external vendors for critical pressurant tank components. Pressurant tanks are used in rocket systems to store gases under high pressure for propulsion and stage control functions.
4. Major Government Initiatives for Clean Transport in India: India’s clean transport push combines demand incentives, public transport electrification, freight decarbonisation, and domestic manufacturing support. The policy mix is designed to cut oil dependence, reduce emissions, and create a stronger EV and alternative-fuel ecosystem across the value chain. PM E-DRIVE, or the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement, is the key demand-side scheme for promoting electric mobility. It was launched on 1 October 2024 under the Ministry of Heavy Industries as the successor to the FAME programmes. The Cabinet has extended its implementation up to 31 March 2028, while keeping the overall budget intact. The scheme is structured to support both private adoption and public fleet transition. Its budget is distributed across electric buses, two- and three-wheelers, charging infrastructure, trucks, and ambulances. This makes PM E-DRIVE relevant not only for consumer EV uptake but also for cleaner logistics and emergency transport.
5. NITI Aayog Launches PACT for Zero-Emission Freight: NITI Aayog launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) and the Zero Emission Truck (ZET) Marketplace on 7 September 2026 at the 5th e-FAST India Summit in New Delhi. The initiative is linked to zero-emission freight deployment, electric truck adoption, charging infrastructure planning, and business engagement among manufacturers, logistics service providers, charging operators, and financiers. PACT is a digital platform for aggregating freight demand from shippers and logistics providers. It is designed to identify viable deployment corridors, improve freight visibility, and support planning for charging infrastructure for electric trucks. The ZET Marketplace is a digital business-engagement platform for the electric freight ecosystem. It connects e-truck manufacturers, logistics service providers, charging operators, and financiers in one marketplace structure.
6. President’s Colour Presented to Goa Police: The President’s Colour was presented to the Goa Police on 7 September 2026 at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the honour, and Goa became the fifth state police force in India to receive the President’s Police Colour. The President’s Colour is a ceremonial military or police honour awarded by the President of India to units with distinguished service. In India, the award is associated with exceptional discipline, operational record, and service to the nation. The Goa Police received the honour after a formal ceremony attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Director General of Police Alok Kumar, and Union Minister of State Shripad Naik. The force was recognised as the fifth state police organisation in the country to receive this distinction.
7. Piyush Goyal Sets 10-Million Medical Tourism Target: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal set an annual target of 10 million international medical value tourists for India during the Sanjeevani 2026 expo in New Delhi on 7 September 2026. He also stated that 3.5 million international patients have used Indian healthcare services over the past seven years. Medical value tourism refers to cross-border travel for treatment, surgery, diagnostics, and recovery services. India has hospitals, speciality centres, and tertiary care facilities that serve patients from Asia, Africa, West Asia, and other regions. Goyal asked hospitals to publish transparent treatment prices and register on the government’s Heal in India online gateway. He also said that international patients should receive treatment only in National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers-accredited and verified hospitals.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Macron Urges EU Ban on Social Media for Under-15s: French President Emmanuel Macron has asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to support a European Union-wide ban on social media platforms for children under 15. The proposal is linked to a planned European legislative text for harmonising youth online safety rules across all 27 EU member states. The European Union is a political and economic bloc of 27 member states, and it can adopt regulations and directives that apply across the bloc. Age-based rules for online platforms are usually connected with child protection, privacy, data processing, and freedom of expression under European law. France had earlier approved a domestic law to restrict social media access for users under 15. The French Constitutional Council struck down that law on 14 August 2026 and described the blanket restriction as a disproportionate infringement on privacy and the freedom of expression and communication.
2. Seoul Hosts 27th World Knowledge Forum: The 27th World Knowledge Forum opened in Seoul, South Korea, on 8 September 2026 at Jangchung Arena and The Shilla Seoul. The three-day forum, organised by Maekyung Media Group, runs until 10 September 2026 and focuses on artificial intelligence, co-intelligence, and global economic change. The World Knowledge Forum is an annual international conference held in South Korea. It brings together political leaders, business executives, academics, and technology experts for discussions on global issues, finance, innovation, and public policy. The 27th edition uses the theme “The Promethean Moment: Architecting the Co-Intelligence Order”. Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that perform tasks associated with human intelligence, including learning, reasoning, and language processing. The forum’s 2026 sessions examine AI as a force affecting national security, labour markets, and competitiveness. The term co-intelligence is used in discussions on human-machine collaboration in decision-making and productivity.
3. India Hosts Expanded 11-Nation BRICS Summit: India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on 12 and 13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit comes 20 years after the formation of the BRICS diplomatic grouping and will be held under India’s 2026 chairship. BRICS began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and South Africa joined later to form BRICS. The expanded alliance now includes 11 members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. India has set the summit theme as “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The agenda includes resilient global supply chains, cross-border payment integration, wider use of national currencies, artificial intelligence and reforms in multilateral financial institutions. The New Development Bank is one of the multilateral institutions linked with BRICS cooperation. BRICS discussions on payments and currencies are connected with trade settlement mechanisms among member states.
4. SPJIMR Ranks 26th Globally in FT MiM 2026: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai, ranked 26th globally and 2nd in India in the Financial Times Masters in Management (FT MiM) 2026 ranking. The institute moved up from 35th globally and 3rd in India in the 2025 edition. The Financial Times Masters in Management ranking is a global assessment of postgraduate management programmes. The 2026 edition used 19 criteria, with 56% of the score based on feedback from 2023 graduates and 44% based on data submitted by schools. SPJIMR secured the No. 1 position in India in four sub-criteria in 2026. These were Careers Service, Alumni Network, Value for Money, and ESG and Net Zero Teaching. The institute ranked 2nd globally in Careers Service and 6th globally in Alumni Network.
5. UK Recognises India’s Carbon Credit Scheme: The United Kingdom has included India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) in its indicative list of overseas carbon pricing mechanisms under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the Ministry of Power, received formal confirmation that the CCTS meets the criteria under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulations 2026. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme is India’s market-based mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through tradable carbon credits. The scheme is linked to domestic carbon pricing and can be used by exporters to show that a carbon cost has already been paid in India. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is a border tax framework used to align the carbon cost of imported goods with the carbon cost faced by domestic producers. The UK CBAM is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027 and applies to carbon-intensive imports.
6. Coastal Local Area Bank Gets Scheduled Bank Status: Coastal Local Area Bank Limited, headquartered in Vijayawada, was included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, and received scheduled bank status. The Reserve Bank of India issued the inclusion through Notification DoR.LIC.No.S3539/22-03-070/2026-27, and the notification was published in the Gazette of India. Scheduled banks in India are banks listed in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Such banks can access Reserve Bank of India liquidity facilities, participate in money market operations, and receive refinance support from institutions such as NABARD and the National Housing Bank. Coastal Local Area Bank operates as a local area bank with branches in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The bank reported 57 operating branches across 12 districts, and it received approval to expand into Vizianagaram, Prakasam, and Khammam districts.
7. Major Earth Observation Technologies: Earth observation technologies collect data on the physical, chemical and biological features of the planet. Using satellites, aircraft and drones, they help track agriculture, disasters, climate trends, land use and security-related changes with precision and repeatability. SWIR can penetrate thin clouds and haze, which makes it useful for mineral alteration studies, crop moisture stress monitoring and locating active wildfire fronts. NDVI or the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index uses the contrast between red light absorption by chlorophyll and strong NIR backscatter from leaf structures to estimate vegetation density. Visible bands are often used for optical interpretation, while NIR and SWIR improve scientific analysis of vegetation, moisture and geology. Thermal infrared is important for temperature-based observations, especially where heat anomalies matter more than surface colour.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Athira Suresh Joins Indian Army as Lieutenant: Athira Suresh, a native of Kozhikode in Kerala, was commissioned into the Indian Army as a Lieutenant on 5 September 2026. She completed officer training under the Short Service Commission Technical (Women) course at the Officers Training Academy, Gaya, in Bihar. The Officers Training Academy at Gaya trains officers for the Indian Army under the Short Service Commission and other entry schemes. The Short Service Commission is a time-bound commission in the Indian Armed Forces, and it is used for both men and women in several branches and technical entries. Athira Suresh cleared the IIT-JEE examination before earning a degree in Civil Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Calicut. She worked as a Project Controls Engineer with ExxonMobil in Bengaluru before joining the armed forces.
2. India Clears ₹1.10 Lakh Crore Defence Acquisitions: On September 7, 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹1.10 lakh crore. The Ministry of Defence stated that around 98% of the procurement value will come from the domestic Indian industry under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework. The Indian Army received approval for Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear reconnaissance vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers, Advanced Light Helicopters, Trawl Tanks, and the Sarvatra Bridge System. CBRN reconnaissance vehicles are used for detection and assessment in contaminated environments, while mine layers and bridge systems support mobility and battlefield engineering.
SPORTS
1. Kimi Antonelli Wins Italian Grand Prix at Monza: Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 6 September 2026 for Mercedes. He became the first Italian to win his home Grand Prix in 60 years, after Ludovico Scarfiotti won the race in 1966. Antonelli was 20 years old at the time of the victory. The Italian Grand Prix is a Formula 1 World Championship race held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Lombardy, Italy. Monza is one of the oldest and fastest circuits in Formula 1 and has hosted the Italian Grand Prix for decades. The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is known as the “Temple of Speed” because of its long straights and high average speeds. The Parabolica corner, now renamed Curva Alboreto, is one of the best-known turns at the circuit.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Australia Signs Five New Space Industry Partnerships: Australia and India expanded space-sector cooperation on 8 September 2026 through five industry partnerships announced at the 9th Bengaluru Space Expo in Bengaluru. The agreements covered satellite infrastructure, spacecraft recovery, spaceport activities, research collaboration, and advanced manufacturing. LatConnect 60, an Australian Earth-observation company, signed an agreement with NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation. The arrangement allows the SWIRSAT mission to use NSIL’s ground-station infrastructure in India for operations and data downlinks. NewSpace India Limited was incorporated as the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation. It handles commercial space activities linked to launch services, satellite services, and technology transfer.
2. India Joins Global 6G Network Initiative: India joined a multilateral initiative on 7 September 2026 to guide the development and deployment of next-generation 6G telecommunications networks. The initiative includes the United States and 24 other nations and covers security, competitiveness, and technology innovation in advanced wireless systems. 6G is the sixth generation of mobile communication technology and follows 5G in the international wireless standards sequence. It is associated with higher data speeds, lower latency, and wider machine-to-machine connectivity than earlier generations of mobile networks. The agreement was finalised after a bilateral meeting between US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. The discussions also covered cooperation in artificial intelligence, data centres, and possible US investment in India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.
3. Astrogate Labs Develops India’s First Indigenous OISL Terminal: Astrogate Labs, an Indian deep-tech startup, has announced the development of India’s first indigenous Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) terminal. The system is designed for direct satellite-to-satellite laser communication and marks a shift from space-to-ground optical links to in-orbit connectivity. An Optical Inter-Satellite Link uses laser beams for communication between satellites in space. OISL systems are used in satellite constellations, especially in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where fast data transfer and reduced dependence on ground stations are required. Astrogate Labs demonstrated its AstroLink Micro system at the 9th Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX 2026) at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre in Karnataka. The system is a 10 Gbps space-to-ground laser communication terminal, and the company has stated that the new OISL terminal is targeted for full flight readiness by 2027.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. IRDAI Imposes ₹1 Crore Penalty on ICICI Lombard: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited on 7 September 2026 for regulatory lapses linked to outsourcing, vendor management and corporate governance. The order followed an onsite inspection that began in September 2019 and later led to show cause notices issued on 8 July 2024 and 17 December 2024. IRDAI is the statutory regulator for the insurance sector in India under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. It regulates insurers, insurance intermediaries and related entities, and it issues rules on solvency, conduct, governance and outsourcing practices.
2. PM Modi Inaugurates Rs 35,000 Crore Projects in Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multi-sector development projects worth over Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat, on 8 September 2026. The package included railway, freight, and highway projects, along with new train services and corridor links connected to western India. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is a freight-only railway corridor developed by Indian Railways to move goods trains on a separate route from passenger traffic. On 8 September 2026, three sections of the WDFC were dedicated for public use, covering 326 route km at a cost of over Rs 20,700 crore. The three sections were Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale, and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). These links provide direct freight connectivity to Mumbai’s port and complete the full operationalisation of the corridor.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. 72nd National Film Awards to Honour 92 Winners at Statue of Unity: The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is scheduled for 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district. The event will be held at the Statue of Unity complex and will honour 92 winners. The National Film Awards are among India’s highest official honours for cinema and are presented by the President of India. The awards were instituted in 1954 and are administered under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The 72nd ceremony will move outside New Delhi for the first time in more than five decades. The only earlier major relocation took place when Madras, now Chennai, hosted the 17th ceremony on 21 November 1970. A temporary venue is being constructed in the Bus Bay area of the Statue of Unity complex. The structure will use a special German aluminium structural dome for the ceremony. The 75-minute event is planned for nearly 1,000 dignitaries and guests. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Gujarat state government are organising the ceremony.
2. 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards Conferred: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026 in New Delhi on 7 September 2026 and conferred the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards. The event marked the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies and recognised cities and wards under the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan framework. Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan is linked to the National Clean Air Programme, which was launched in 2019 for improving ambient air quality in Indian cities. The assessment covers city-level performance on air pollution control measures, monitoring systems, and implementation of clean air actions. The awards are associated with the Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
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