Daily GK Update- 12th Sept, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. OPU-IVF Calf Born in Badri Cattle in Major Indigenous Breed Conservation Milestone: A healthy Badri female calf was born on 11 September 2026 through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU-IVF) technology at the Academic Dairy Farm of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The Badri embryo was conceived in a laboratory and transferred into a Sahiwal cow as a surrogate mother. The work formed part of a three-year research programme involving ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, and G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. OPU-IVF is an assisted reproductive technology used in bovines for producing embryos from oocytes collected from donor females. In the OPU method, ova are picked up from the ovary, fertilised in vitro, and the resulting embryo is transferred into a recipient cow. The technique is used in cattle breeding programmes for faster multiplication of selected germplasm.

 

2. Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project Completes 41st Tunnel Breakthrough: The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project recorded its 41st tunnel breakthrough on 11 September 2026 with the completion of Escape Tunnel-1. The 125-km railway line is being developed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited under the Ministry of Railways at an estimated cost of Rs 37,000 crore, and its target date for completion is December 2029. The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project is a broad-gauge railway project in Uttarakhand. The line is designed to connect Rishikesh with Karnaprayag through the Himalayan region, and it includes multiple tunnels, bridges, and viaducts. Escape Tunnel-1 has a length of 10.847 km, which makes it the second-longest tunnel in the project. The project had reached 78% physical progress by September 2026, and about 97% of the tunnel excavation had been completed. The tunnel breakthrough took place in highly tectonised, multi-folded, and extensively faulted rock formations. The alignment also passed through thick mylonite zones near the Main Boundary Thrust, which is a major geological fault zone in the Himalayas.

 

3. SEBI Proposes New CAS Framework for Expiry-Day Settlement: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a consultation paper on 12 September 2026 on changes to the Closing Auction Session (CAS) framework and derivatives settlement methodology. The proposal covers expiry-day settlement for futures and options (F&O) stocks, market timings, and price-discovery mechanisms in the Indian securities market. SEBI has proposed a Blended VWAP method for expiry-day settlement. VWAP stands for Volume-Weighted Average Price, and the proposed method uses trades from the last 30 minutes of the Continuous Trading Session and 10 minutes of CAS. An alternative proposal retains the existing CTS VWAP method, which uses only trades from the final 30 minutes of continuous trading before any shift to the blended method after at least one year.

4. Southern Railway Achieves 100% Electrification: Southern Railway has achieved 100% electrification of its Broad Gauge network, covering 5,068 route kilometres. The milestone was completed after electrification of the final 71-km Pattukkottai–Karaikkudi section in Tamil Nadu. The Pattukkottai–Karaikkudi section is a 71-km railway line in Southern Railway. Its statutory inspection was completed on 9 September 2026 by Ganesh, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer of Southern Railway. The section forms the last remaining part of the zone’s BG network to be electrified. Broad Gauge is the standard railway gauge used on most of the Indian Railways network. Electrification of BG routes allows electric locomotives to operate on overhead traction systems instead of diesel traction.

 

5. Supreme Court Seeks Timeline on FSSAI FoPL Rollout: The Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to file a scientifically justified and clearly defined timeline for the second phase of Front-of-Package Labelling (FoPL) on packaged foods. The matter concerns warning labels for products high in fat, sugar, or salt, and the next hearing has been fixed for 28 September. Front-of-Package Labelling is a food labelling system that places nutrition information on the front of packaged food products. It is used to identify products with high levels of nutrients such as fat, sugar, and salt, which are commonly linked with non-communicable diseases in public health regulation. FSSAI is the statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It frames food safety standards, regulates packaged food labelling, and issues rules for nutrition disclosure, ingredient lists, and health warnings in India.

 

6. Uttarakhand Launches Service Sankalp Campaign: The Uttarakhand Service Sankalp campaign will run across the state from 17 September to 17 October 2026. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the month-long campaign on 11 September 2026, and its launch date of 17 September coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. The campaign is linked with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, a national goal associated with developed India by 2047. The programme uses service, public participation, dialogue, and innovation as its main themes. Eleven major programmes have been proposed to involve students, youth, women, beneficiaries, parents, public representatives, social organisations, and citizens. The “Seva: Mera Yogdan” programme will include tree plantation, cleanliness drives, and teaching activities. The campaign will also present beneficiary stories and local changes linked with Central and state government schemes.

 

7. National Highway User Fee and Tolling Policy in India: National highways are among India’s most important economic assets, carrying heavy passenger and freight traffic across the country. Tolling, or user fee collection, helps fund their construction, upkeep and operation. Over time, India has shifted from manual toll booths to digital collection systems to improve flow, transparency and efficiency. Earlier, tolls on national highways were collected manually in cash, causing queues, delays and congestion at toll plazas. This created a strong case for electronic toll collection, which reduces physical contact, speeds up transactions and improves accountability. The shift has been especially important on high-traffic corridors where even small delays can affect logistics, fuel use and travel time. Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) was introduced to make toll payment faster and more reliable. It also reduced leakages linked to cash handling and helped create a more standardised fee collection system across highways. The mandatory use of FASTag on national highways marked a major step in this transition.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. China Southern Airlines Resumes Guangzhou-Delhi Flights: China Southern Airlines will resume regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from 21 September 2026. The service marks the return of China Southern’s India operations after a six-year suspension and adds one daily round-trip flight on the Guangzhou-New Delhi sector. China Southern Airlines will operate flight CZ359 from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 3:35 PM local time, with arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 7:00 PM. The return flight CZ360 will depart New Delhi at 8:20 PM and reach Guangzhou at 4:15 AM the next day. The route will use Boeing 737 series aircraft. Direct air services between India and China were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained affected by geopolitical tensions.

 

2. Schizopygopsis waddellii Found in Tawang Lake: Schizopygopsis waddellii, a cold-adapted freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family, was recorded in Pangkang Teng Tso Lake in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, in September 2026. The species was identified in India for the first time through field collection and laboratory confirmation using morphological study and mitochondrial DNA analysis. Schizopygopsis waddellii is a Himalayan fish species previously known from the Tibetan and Chinese plateaus, including Yamdok Lake in Tibet. It belongs to the family Cyprinidae, which includes carps and minnows, and it is adapted to cold freshwater habitats at high altitude. Pangkang Teng Tso Lake is a natural high-altitude lake in Arunachal Pradesh at about 12,800 feet above sea level. The lake lies in Tawang district near the India-China border, and it forms part of the Eastern Himalayan freshwater ecosystem.

 

3. Drydocks World, Cochin Shipyard Sign Ship Repair Joint Venture: Drydocks World, a DP World company, and Cochin Shipyard Limited signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement on 11 September 2026 to operate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility in Kochi. The agreement was formalised during the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi and involves the transfer of the existing Willingdon Island facility to the new company. The joint venture has equal ownership, but Drydocks World will nominate three of the five directors and appoint the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer. Cochin Shipyard Limited will nominate the remaining two directors, and both partners are expected to invest Rs 900 crore each in the project.

 

4. India-Russia Trade Target Set at $100 Billion by 2030: India and Russia have set a bilateral trade target of 100 billion by 2030, with current trade at around 60 billion. The two countries are also pursuing a new Bilateral Investment Treaty and a bilateral investment target of $50 billion by 2030. India and Russia discussed expanded industrial cooperation in New Delhi in September 2026 ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit. The agenda covered railways, the steel value chain, civil nuclear energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, information technology, artificial intelligence, services, engineering, and auto components. INNOPROM India 2026 was held in New Delhi around 10–11 September 2026. The exhibition brought together India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov for discussions on industrial and trade cooperation.

 

5. India, US Secure Undersea Cable Networks under TRUST Initiative: India and the United States have expanded cooperation on undersea cable networks under the US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technologies) Initiative. The partnership covers subsea systems that carry more than 95% of global digital traffic and support international communications, financial services, cloud computing, and the global digital economy. TRUST stands for Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technologies. It is a bilateral framework between India and the United States for cooperation in strategic technologies, including secure digital infrastructure and resilient supply chains. The undersea cable partnership falls within this framework and involves government and industry stakeholders.

 

6. US Declares Largest Multistate Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Over: U.S. federal health officials declared the largest recorded multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak over on 11 September 2026. The outbreak was linked to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, supplied from central Mexico, and it affected 12,883 infections across 21 states. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. The infection spreads through contaminated food or water and commonly causes watery diarrhoea, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue. Since 1 May 2026, the CDC recorded 19,595 laboratory-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases acquired in the United States across 49 states and Washington, D.C. The same period included 1,043 hospitalisations and two deaths, compared with 1,180 cases reported between 1 May and 31 August 2025.

 

7. Princess Astrid of Norway Dies at 94: Princess Astrid of Norway died on 11 September 2026 at the age of 94. The Norwegian Royal House announced that she passed away peacefully on the same day. She was the last surviving child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha, and she was born on 12 February 1932. Princess Astrid belonged to the House of Glücksburg, the royal dynasty of Norway since 1905. King Olav V reigned from 1957 to 1991, and Crown Princess Märtha was the wife of the future King Olav V. King Harald V was her younger brother, and he died on 28 August 2026 at the age of 89.

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Colombo Security Conclave Table Top Exercise Ends in Visakhapatnam: The three-day Table Top Exercise of the Colombo Security Conclave concluded on 12 September 2026 at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. The exercise began on 9 September 2026 and focused on a coordinated response to illicit maritime activities in the Indian Ocean Region. The Colombo Security Conclave is a regional maritime security grouping in the Indian Ocean Region. Its framework covers cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism, transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. A Table Top Exercise is a discussion-based simulation used by security and disaster-response agencies. It tests decision-making, coordination, and standard operating procedures through hypothetical operational scenarios.

 

2. IIT-Ropar Signs MTech Pact with Army Air Defence College: IIT-Ropar and the Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 10 September 2026 for an MTech degree programme in Defence Technology for Indian Army officers. The agreement provides academic accreditation for officers undergoing the Long Air Defence Course at Gopalpur and links military training with formal postgraduate study. The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT-Ropar, and Lt. Gen. Amit Rao, Commandant of the Army Air Defence College. The programme is connected to an earlier Memorandum of Understanding on academic and research cooperation between the Army Training Command and IIT-Ropar, which was established in December 2022.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Tanya Chaudhary Sets National Hammer Throw Record: Tanya Chaudhary, a 22-year-old athlete from Uttar Pradesh, set a new national record in the women’s hammer throw with a throw of 68.35 metres at the Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi on 10 September 2026. She won the gold medal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and finished ahead of Anushka Yadav, who recorded 66.34 metres. The women’s hammer throw is a track and field throwing event in which athletes rotate and release a metal ball attached to a wire and grip. The standard implement used in senior women’s competition weighs 4 kilograms, and the event is governed internationally by World Athletics. The Indian Athletics Series Final is a domestic athletics competition conducted in India under the athletics calendar. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi has hosted major national and international athletics events, including track and field meets and multi-sport competitions.

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. IITM-C-DOT Samgnya, QClairvoyance sign quantum MoU: QClairvoyance Quantum Labs Pvt Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IITM-C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation on 11 September 2026. The partnership covers quantum computing, quantum algorithms, quantum artificial intelligence, post-quantum cybersecurity, and next-generation computing. IITM-C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation is India’s National Hub for Quantum Communication. It was established in December 2025 at IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai under the National Quantum Mission of the Department of Science and Technology. QClairvoyance Quantum Labs Pvt Ltd is an Indian deep-tech company founded in 2024 by Colonel Sai Shankar P, VSM (Retd.). The company develops quantum solutions in cybersecurity, drug discovery, and education.

 

2. Important Contactless Payment Technologies: Contactless payment technologies have made digital transactions faster, safer and more convenient by reducing the need for physical contact between the payment instrument and the terminal. In India, the push has come through NFC-based payments, UPI-linked contactless features and AI-enabled tools that improve user control, transaction speed and security. Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless technology that allows two electronic devices to communicate when brought within a few centimetres of each other. It works through electromagnetic induction between two loop antennas and is widely used in contactless cards, digital wallets and tap-based payments.

 

3. FASTag Users Can Switch Banks Under One Tag System: The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways launched the One Tag system on 11 September 2026 at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. The facility allows FASTag users to switch the backend issuing bank without removing or replacing the physical sticker on the vehicle windshield. FASTag is an electronic toll collection system that uses Radio Frequency Identification technology for automatic deduction of toll charges. It is linked to a prepaid or bank account and is used on national highways and selected expressways in India. Digital toll collection now covers more than 98% of national highway user fees. The One Tag system works in a manner similar to mobile number portability. Vehicle owners can port their FASTag digitally by linking the existing tag to a new bank account through the National Highways Authority of India’s Rajmarg Yatra mobile app.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IRDAI Imposes ₹1 Crore Penalty on IndusInd Bank: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1 crore on IndusInd Bank for non-compliance with insurance-related grievance redressal and reporting requirements. The penalty order was issued on 10 September 2026, and the bank received it on 11 September 2026. IRDAI is the statutory regulator for the insurance sector in India under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. It regulates insurers, intermediaries, and insurance distribution arrangements, including bancassurance, which is the sale of insurance products through banks. Bancassurance combines banking and insurance services through a bank’s branch network, digital platforms, or customer service channels. In such arrangements, policyholders are entitled to grievance redressal facilities, renewal notices, and disclosure of the insurer’s or distributor’s registration details.

 

2. India Administers Over 80 Lakh HPV Vaccinations: India has crossed 80 lakh Human Papillomavirus vaccine doses under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign. The campaign targets adolescent girls aged 14 and uses the single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine in government health facilities across the country. The National HPV Vaccination Campaign was launched on 28 February 2026 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The programme provides the vaccine free of cost in government facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, primary health centres, and government medical colleges. The vaccination drive is voluntary and requires parental consent for eligible adolescents. Registration for the programme is carried out through the government’s U-WIN platform, which is used for immunisation-related services.

Daily GK Update- 11th Sept, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Lucknow Tops Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 City Rankings: Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, topped the million-plus population category in the 2026 ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan’ for its efforts to improve air quality. The city’s measures included adding electric vehicles to its waste collection fleet, deploying mechanised sweepers to control road dust, and managing legacy waste. Indore, India’s cleanest city, secured the second spot, while Jabalpur finished third in the million-plus cities category. Meanwhile, Chennai, Jamshedpur, Kota, Kolkata, and Madurai ranked in the bottom five in this category, while Delhi and Mumbai ranked 30th and 37th, respectively. The survey evaluates measures related to solid waste, road and construction dust, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions and particulate matter reduction. Rourkela topped the 3–10 lakh population category, while Kalinga Nagar led cities with populations below 3 lakh.

 

2. Government Initiatives for Urban and Rural Land Mapping in India: India’s land administration is shifting from fragmented paper files to a connected digital system that can support secure ownership records, faster registration, and better dispute resolution. The reform agenda now covers both rural and urban land, with greater use of geospatial tools, unique parcel identifiers, and integrated databases. The modernisation of land records began as a response to fragmented registries, weak spatial records, and frequent ownership disputes. The aim has been to create a more reliable, transparent, and updateable land information system across states. The National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) was launched in 2008 by merging two Centrally Sponsored Schemes: Computerisation of Land Records (CLR) and Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records (SIRAULR).

 

3. Important Terms in Land Records and Survey Systems: Land records are the backbone of property rights, land administration, and revenue collection in India. For Prelims, the key is to understand how traditional village records, cadastral maps, mutation entries, and new digital identifiers work together to define ownership, boundaries, and transactions across states. The primary village-level register, known in many states as Jamabandi or Khatauni. It records ownership, tenancy, cultivation details, and land revenue liability for a specific parcel. A large-scale map showing the boundaries and details of individual land parcels. It is the cartographic base used for land administration, survey, and taxation. A unique number assigned to an individual parcel of land in a village. It is the main geographic reference used on cadastral maps and village records.

 

4. Key Issues in Digital Consumer Data Protection: Digital consumer protection in India focuses on safeguarding online shoppers from misleading pricing, hidden charges, manipulative interfaces and misuse of personal data. As e-commerce grows, the legal emphasis has shifted to transparency, consent, and fair platform design. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is the main law governing consumer rights in India’s digital economy. It created the Central Consumer Protection Authority to promote, protect and enforce consumer rights, including action against unfair trade practices. The Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, is the nodal agency for drafting rules under this Act. E-commerce regulation applies to both marketplace and inventory models. A marketplace e-commerce entity operates a digital platform that connects buyers and sellers without owning the goods sold.

 

5. DGCA Orders One-Time Drug Screening for Pilots: India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed domestic airlines to complete a one-time mandatory screening for psychoactive substances among all pilots by 31 July 2027. The order covers an estimated 14,000 pilots employed in India and is linked to aviation safety oversight under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) framework. The DGCA is the national civil aviation regulator of India and functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It issues Civil Aviation Requirements, which are binding regulatory instructions for airlines, flight crew, and air traffic controllers. The existing CAR framework, revised on 31 January 2022, required random annual psychoactive substance testing for 10% of flight crew and air traffic controllers.

 

6. NPCI Launches UPI Tap & Pay, My UPI Platform: The National Payments Corporation of India launched UPI Tap & Pay and the AI-powered My UPI platform on 10 September 2026 at the Global Fintech Fest 2026. The launch was made by Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra. UPI Tap & Pay is a contactless payment feature for smartphones with Near Field Communication support. A user unlocks the phone and taps it on a Point-of-Sale terminal to complete a UPI payment without opening a UPI application. The feature does not require active mobile data on the smartphone because the transaction uses the internet connection of the Point-of-Sale terminal. NPCI has set a PIN-less limit of ₹5,000 for such transactions, and payments above this limit require the UPI PIN. My UPI is an AI-powered conversational platform developed on NPCI’s custom small language model called Finance Model for India or FiMI. The platform provides a unified dashboard for UPI transaction histories and AutoPay mandates across banks and third-party UPI applications.

 

7. ESTIC 2026 to Be Held at Bharat Mandapam : The second Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC 2026) is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from October 27 to 29, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the three-day conclave, which is being coordinated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with participation from 13 ministries. ESTIC stands for Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave. The 2026 edition is the second such conclave and is planned as a three-day event in the national capital. The event portal of the India Trade Promotion Organisation lists a different schedule of October 26 to 28, 2026, while official government and CSIR announcements state October 27 to 29, 2026. The theme of ESTIC 2026 is “Creative Minds, Catalyzing Science, and Empowering Technologies”. The conclave will focus on 12 emerging-technology fields, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum communication, space technology, and agri-tech. The stated focus includes the movement of scientific research towards market-ready businesses.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Birkbeck, University of London Receives UGC Letter of Approval for Bengaluru Campus: Birkbeck, University of London today announced that it has received the Letter of Approval (LoA) from the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, granting formal clearance to establish and operate its Bengaluru campus. The LoA follows the Letter of Intent (LoI) granted to Birkbeck earlier this year and marks the final regulatory step under the UGC’s 2023 regulations for Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs). The Letter of Approval confirms that the Birkbeck Bengaluru campus meets the academic, regulatory, and quality standards required of foreign universities operating in India. With this approval in hand, Birkbeck can now proceed with admissions and begin academic operations at its Bengaluru campus, located at Sattva Tech Park, a leading technology and business hub in Bengaluru.

 

2. 10 September: World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD): World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is observed annually on September 10 to raise global awareness and share the message that suicide is preventable. Established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). Purpose: To serve as a call to action for governments, organizations, and the general public to reduce stigma, promote open dialogue, and implement evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day 2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action

 

3. IMF Welcomes India’s Statistical Framework Modernisation: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) welcomed India’s efforts to modernise its macroeconomic statistical framework on 10 September 2026 in Washington. The IMF said that the inclusion of a new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series and a new Producer Price Index (PPI) series in the national accounts release can improve the accuracy of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates. India has also updated its GDP calculation series by adopting 2022-23 as the new base year. Macroeconomic statistics are official data sets used to measure output, prices, income, and expenditure in an economy. National accounts are compiled by statistical agencies to estimate GDP, which is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a specific period.

The Index of Industrial Production measures changes in the volume of industrial output over time. The Producer Price Index measures average changes in prices received by domestic producers for goods and services.

 

4. Important Forestry and Bioeconomy Initiatives: Forestry and the bioeconomy are becoming important policy tools for sustainable development. Together, they support environmental safeguards, circular use of biological resources, and livelihood resilience while reducing dependence on fossil-based inputs. The bioeconomy refers to the production, utilization, and conservation of biological resources using science, technology, and innovation to deliver goods and services across economic sectors. Forestry is a key part of this model because it provides renewable biomass, supports ecosystem services, and helps regulate carbon sinks. India’s BioE3 Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet on 24 August 2024, is the country’s strategic framework for biotechnology-led growth. BioE3 stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment, and the Department of Biotechnology is the nodal implementing agency.

 

5. Microsatellites and Small Satellite Technologies: Small satellites have changed the economics of space missions by making them faster, cheaper and easier to launch. Microsatellites and nanosatellites are now widely used for Earth observation, communications, scientific experiments and space surveillance. Their compact size allows multiple satellites to be deployed in constellations for frequent coverage and flexible mission design. The space industry generally classifies satellites by wet mass. Small satellites, or smallsats, weigh less than 500 kilograms and are divided into several standard categories. These mass bands matter because they determine payload design, launch options and mission complexity. CubeSats are a highly standardized nanosatellite format built in modular units called U. A single unit is a cube of 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm and typically weighs around 1.33 kilograms. Developers often combine units into 3U, 6U, 12U or 24U configurations, depending on mission needs.

 

6. India and Sri Lanka Sign MoUs to Upgrade L70 Guns: India and Sri Lanka signed three defence Memoranda of Understanding in Colombo on 9 September 2026 during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The agreements covered the upgrade of six 40mm L70 air defence guns, cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of both countries, and academic exchange between the National Defence Colleges of India and Sri Lanka. The L70 is a 40mm anti-aircraft gun system used for short-range air defence. Sri Lanka received six L70 guns from India between 2000 and 2006, and their modernisation will be funded by a grant from the Government of India. The upgrade is linked to the protection of critical local assets in Sri Lanka. Defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka includes training, equipment support, and institutional exchanges. The National Cadet Corps MoU formalises youth exchange and cadet-level cooperation, while the National Defence Colleges pact covers professional military academic collaboration. Such agreements fall within bilateral defence diplomacy in the Indian Ocean region.

 

7. India to Host Global Dryland Congress 2026: The three-day Global Dryland Congress 2026 began on 10 September 2026 at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi. The event is jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, with participation from scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives, and development partners from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Dryland agriculture refers to farming in regions that receive limited and variable rainfall. Such regions are common in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid zones, where crop production depends on moisture conservation, drought-tolerant varieties, and efficient water use. The Congress marks 50 years of the ICAR-ICRISAT partnership. ICAR is India’s apex agricultural research body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, while ICRISAT is an international research institute based in Hyderabad that works on crops suited to semi-arid tropics.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. IIT-Ropar Signs MTech Pact with Army Air Defence College: IIT-Ropar and the Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 10 September 2026 for an MTech degree programme in Defence Technology for Indian Army officers. The agreement provides academic accreditation for officers undergoing the Long Air Defence Course at Gopalpur and links military training with formal postgraduate study. The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT-Ropar, and Lt. Gen. Amit Rao, Commandant of the Army Air Defence College. The programme is connected to an earlier Memorandum of Understanding on academic and research cooperation between the Army Training Command and IIT-Ropar, which was established in December 2022. Under the agreement, Army officers will receive an MTech degree in Defence Technology. IIT-Ropar faculty members will serve as mentors for dissertations and research work. The enrolled officers will also use IIT-Ropar laboratory facilities and attend seminars in online and offline formats.

 

2. Important Bilateral Naval Exercises of India: India’s bilateral naval exercises are an important part of its maritime diplomacy and Indo-Pacific security outreach. They help the Indian Navy build interoperability, refine tactical coordination, and strengthen cooperation with partner navies on issues such as sea-lane security, anti-piracy, search and rescue, and maritime domain awareness. Formulated in 2015, Security and Growth for All in the Region remains the broad framework for India’s maritime engagement in the Indian Ocean Region. Maritime Security and Growth for All in the Region guides India’s high-level maritime cooperation and security interactions with regional partners. The Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region at Gurugram, established in December 2018, supports maritime domain awareness and information sharing.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. After 20 years, India back in AFC U20 Asian Cup: India’s return to the AFC U-20 Asian Cup after a 20-year absence offers the country’s emerging footballers a chance to compete against Asia’s leading youth teams and potentially move closer to the FIFA U20 World Cup. India secured qualification for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in Tashkent on September 6. The victory took India to six points in Group B and secured their place as one of the seven best runners-up from the eight qualifying groups. India last featured in the continental U20 championship in 2006. Their qualification for the 2027 edition marks a return to the competition after 21 years and ends a prolonged period in which the country’s youth teams struggled to reach the finals consistently.

 

2. Tanya Chaudhary Sets National Hammer Throw Record: Tanya Chaudhary, a 22-year-old athlete from Uttar Pradesh, set a new national record in the women’s hammer throw with a throw of 68.35 metres at the Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi on 10 September 2026. She won the gold medal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and finished ahead of Anushka Yadav, who recorded 66.34 metres. The women’s hammer throw is a track and field throwing event in which athletes rotate and release a metal ball attached to a wire and grip. The standard implement used in senior women’s competition weighs 4 kilograms, and the event is governed internationally by World Athletics. The Indian Athletics Series Final is a domestic athletics competition conducted in India under the athletics calendar. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi has hosted major national and international athletics events, including track and field meets and multi-sport competitions.

 

3. Shree Charani Becomes Fastest Indian to 50 T20I Wickets: Shree Charani, an Indian left-arm spinner, reached 50 T20I wickets in her 29th international match on 10 September 2026. She became the fastest Indian bowler across men’s and women’s cricket to reach the mark, surpassing Kuldeep Yadav’s previous Indian record of 30 matches. Charani took her 50th wicket by dismissing Bangladesh opener Juairiya Ferdous, who was caught by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh in the sixth over. She finished the match with figures of 1 for 14 in 4 overs, including one maiden over, in India’s 40-run win over Bangladesh in the Women’s Asia Cup semifinal in Dubai. With this milestone, Charani became the joint second-fastest bowler in women’s T20I history. She matched Leigh Kasperek of New Zealand and Anisa Mohammed of the West Indies, while China’s Mengting Liu remains the fastest with 50 wickets in 28 matches.

 

4. Nirbhay Choudhary Breaks Men’s Hammer Throw National Record: Delhi athlete Nirbhay Choudhary set a new men’s hammer throw national record of 71.02 metres on 10 September 2026 at the Indian Athletics Final Series in New Delhi. The mark broke the previous Indian record of 70.73 metres, which Neeraj Kumar had set in 2016. Hammer throw is a field event in track and field athletics. In the men’s event, the implement consists of a metal ball attached to a wire and handle, and the throw is measured from the throwing circle to the nearest mark made by the implement. National records in athletics are the best performances recognised within a country under the rules of the national federation. In India, the Athletics Federation of India maintains records for senior and age-group events in track and field disciplines.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. German space rocket reaches orbit in Europe’s first commercial launch: German startup Isar Aerospace on 6 September said it would rapidly expand satellite deployments after the first ‌orbital launch of its Spectrum rocket from Arctic Norway, a milestone for Europe’s efforts to secure independent access to space. The uncrewed Spectrum became the first commercial rocket to reach orbit from continental Europe, marking a breakthrough for a region where several countries are seeking a foothold in the fast-growing market for ​satellite launches.

 

2. Important Private Space Companies in India and Europe : India and Europe are seeing a faster shift from government-led space programmes to a commercial market driven by private firms. In India, policy reform and regulatory support have opened opportunities for launch vehicles, satellite platforms and downstream services. In Europe, companies are working closely with agencies and Indian partners across propulsion, nanosatellites, rideshare launches and space surveillance. India’s private space ecosystem expanded after the Indian Space Policy 2023 and the creation of IN-SPACe as a single-window regulator for authorisation and supervision of non-governmental space activities. NSIL serves as the commercial arm of ISRO and helps monetise ISRO-developed technologies through industry partnerships. This framework has encouraged startups, engineering firms and payload developers to move into satellite manufacturing, launch services and in-orbit applications.

 

3. Dhruva Space, Safran Space sign satellite supply deal: Dhruva Space, an India-based space technology company, and Safran Space, a French aerospace firm, signed multiple contracts at the inaugural International Space Summit in Paris on 10 September 2026. The contracts were valued at more than €5 million and covered satellite communication systems, inertial navigation units, optical payloads, and ground stations. Safran Space is a French company that supplies aerospace and defence technologies, including navigation and payload systems used in satellites. Dhruva Space develops space systems, satellite platforms, and related ground segment solutions in India.

The agreement places component supply, integration, and ground support within a cross-border commercial framework between Indian and French space firms. The deal also falls within a wider set of 51 strategic announcements at the summit, which together represented €20 billion in investments.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI gives scheduled bank status for Coastal Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially granted Scheduled Bank status to Coastal Local Area Bank Limited by including it in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934. This milestone makes the Vijayawada-headquartered institution the first Local Area Bank (LAB) in India to achieve this status, making it Andhra Pradesh’s only scheduled bank.

 

2. Gujarat Allocates ₹301 Crore for 2030 Commonwealth Games : Gujarat announced a financial allocation of ₹301 crore for preparations related to the 2030 Commonwealth Games during the monsoon session of the state assembly on 10 September 2026. The state has secured the hosting rights for the Games and has signed the Host Collaboration Agreement for the event. Of the total allocation, ₹200 crore has been kept for the host fee, which has already been paid under the collaboration agreement. The remaining amount includes ₹100 crore provided under the revenue head in the previous financial year and ₹1 crore kept as a token capital provision. A dedicated planning company named Amdavad 2030 Commonwealth Games Organisation was formed under the Companies Act on 12 August 2026. The state sports ministry has held consultations with Commonwealth Sport, the Indian Olympic Association, and international sports federations for event preparation.

 

3. Government Launches DILRMP 3.0 Guidelines: The Union Minister for Rural Development launched the Operational Guidelines for the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) 3.0 on 10 September 2026 at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. DILRMP 3.0 will operate as a Central Sector Scheme from 2026 to 2031 with an approved financial outlay of Rs. 565.50 crore. The Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme is a land governance initiative of the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development. The programme covers digitisation of land records, computerisation of registration systems, and integration of land-related databases in India. DILRMP 3.0 moves beyond isolated digital database management and aims to create a GIS-enabled Land Stack. A Land Stack is a digital framework that links maps, registrations, and land disputes through secure application programming interfaces, or APIs.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 72nd national film awards 2026: President Droupadi Murmu will present the 72nd National Film Awards on 22nd September at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. In a major policy initiative, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to hold National Film Awards in various parts of the country taking it beyond the National Capital. The ceremony at Ekta Nagar this year will bring together cinematic talent from across India, embody the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.

The 72nd National Film Awards will witness a historic change as the ceremony is set to take place outside New Delhi for the first time since its inception. Shifting from the long-standing tradition, the event is going to be held at Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar, formerly known as Kevadia.

 

2. Gujarat-born scientist Karim Maredia to receive Borlaug CAST Communication Award: Indian-American agricultural scientist Karim Maredia has been named for the Borlaug CAST Communication Award, given in honour of Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, who pioneered the Green Revolution. The award, given by the Iowa-based Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), will be conferred on Maredia, professor, associate dean and director of the World Agriculture Centre at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the Library of Congress here on December 10.

 

Daily GK Update- 10th Sept, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Article 371(K) Proposed for Ladakh: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs proposed a new constitutional provision, described as Chapter K under Article 371, for Ladakh on 9 September 2026 in a sub-committee meeting in New Delhi. The proposal relates to a directly elected Union Territory-level governing body for Ladakh and to subjects such as land, culture, language, forests, environment, and other matters linked with Article 240 of the Constitution. Article 371 is part of the Constitution of India and contains special provisions for certain States and regions. The article has multiple clauses, including Article 371A for Nagaland, Article 371B for Assam, Article 371C for Manipur, Article 371D for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and Article 371G for Mizoram. Article 240 of the Constitution empowers the President to make regulations for certain Union Territories. The proposed Ladakh body was linked to subjects reserved under Article 240, which includes administrative control over local matters in Union Territory arrangements.

 

2. Stanzin Tsangyang Becomes Kargil’s First Woman Officer: Stanzin Tsangyang was commissioned into the Indian Army on 5 September 2026 at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. She became the first woman officer from the Zanskar region of Ladakh and was part of a batch of 342 cadets who completed training at the academy. The Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai is one of the principal training institutions of the Indian Army. It trains Short Service Commission officers for the Army and has been a major commissioning centre for women officers in India. Zanskar is a high-altitude region in Ladakh known for its remote terrain and sparse population. At the time of her enrolment, Zanskar was part of Kargil district, and it was later notified as a separate district in 2026.

 

3. INS Udaygiri Visits Colombo for Maritime Cooperation: INS Udaygiri, an indigenously built multi-role stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived at Colombo Port, Sri Lanka, on 8 September 2026 for a three-day operational turnaround. The visit coincided with the official visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Colombo from 8 to 10 September 2026. INS Udaygiri is a stealth frigate built in India and commissioned for multi-role naval operations. Frigates are warships used for escort duties, maritime security, anti-submarine warfare, and surface combat operations. On 9 September 2026, Rajnath Singh met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and finalised three defence sector Memoranda of Understanding. The agreements covered Indian-funded upgrades for six 40mm L70 air defence guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force and exchange programmes between the National Cadet Corps and the National Defence Colleges of both countries.

 

4. Karnataka Approves Aerospace Policy 2026-2031: The Karnataka Cabinet approved the Karnataka Aerospace Policy 2026-2031 on 9 September 2026. The policy covers aerospace, defence, aviation, and space research and development, and it seeks to expand the sector beyond Bengaluru. The state government set an investment target of ₹60,000 crore over five years. The aerospace sector in India includes aircraft manufacturing, defence production, avionics, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities. Karnataka already has a major aerospace base in Bengaluru, which hosts public sector and private sector units linked to aviation and defence production. The new policy is linked to industrial expansion in other districts of the state. The policy refers to large manufacturing projects that may receive state incentives. Tata Advanced Systems has a plan to build 40 aircraft, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has a production plan for 97 Light Combat Aircraft. The policy also includes zone-wise capital subsidies, with different media accounts citing rates between 25% and 35%.

 

5. MSDE Organises Skill Manthan on Women’s Livelihoods: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, hosted the virtual inaugural session of Skill Manthan on 9 September 2026. The national webinar series carried the theme “Building Sustainable Livelihoods for Women” and focused on district-led skilling, entrepreneurship, finance, technology, and market access. Skill Manthan is a national webinar series linked to skill development and livelihood planning in India. The session placed district administrations at the centre of local-need-based skilling, with an emphasis on district-specific economic conditions and employment patterns. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, delivered the keynote address. Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of MSDE, referred to “hyperlocal skilling” as a framework for matching training with district-level job opportunities and economic realities. The webinar served as a platform for sharing district-led initiatives for women’s economic empowerment. The models discussed combined vocational training with entrepreneurship support, financial access, technology use, and market linkage.

 

6. Chhattisgarh Approves ₹500 Crore NIPUN Mission: On 9 September 2026, the Chhattisgarh cabinet approved the Chief Minister’s Startup and NIPUN Mission with a budget of ₹500 crore for five years. The mission is linked with skill development, entrepreneurship, industrial preparedness, and formal employment in Chhattisgarh. The acronym NIPUN has been expanded in media coverage as both “New Age Industrial Preparedness for Upskilling New Generation Youth” and “New-age industry preparedness through up-skilling of new generation youth”. The mission aims to equip youth with technology-based skills and connect training with industrial requirements. The cabinet finalised Entrepreneurship Development Centres in all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh. It also approved five industry centres of excellence and 100 Emerging Technology Labs for training in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, and blockchain. The NIPUN Job Engine has been approved to align youth skill development with industrial demand. The mission structure includes entrepreneurship support, technology training, and employment linkage.

 

7. UIDAI Launches Aadhaar Face Authentication SDK: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched the Aadhaar Face Authentication Software Development Kit (SDK) and the Aadhaar Face Authentication Sandbox on 9 September 2026 at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. The SDK is designed for integration into native Android and iOS applications for Aadhaar-based eKYC and onboarding. The Aadhaar Face Authentication SDK enables face authentication within mobile applications without requiring users to move to a separate app. It includes AI and machine learning-based liveness detection, anti-spoofing checks, encryption protocols, and compatibility with standard consumer smartphones. Face authentication is a biometric method that uses facial features for identity verification. In Aadhaar systems, biometric authentication can also use fingerprints, iris scans, and face images, depending on the use case and device support. UIDAI also released the “Playbook on Ease of Onboarding” at the Jio World Centre. The document is intended for use across financial sectors that use Aadhaar-based digital onboarding.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting Focuses on Food Security: The 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF) was held in New Delhi on 9 September 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of India. AIMMAF is a ministerial platform for cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India in agriculture and forestry. The 10th ASEAN–India Working Group on Agriculture and Forestry finalised technical recommendations one day before the ministerial meeting.

 

2. The ministers endorsed the strategic frameworks of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026–2030. These frameworks cover resilient development, regional food security, and environmental safeguards in the ASEAN region. The participants discussed the ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030. The plan includes joint research and development, digital technology exchange, policy dialogues, and farmer-to-farmer programmes.

 

3. India and Sri Lanka Sign MoUs to Upgrade L70 Guns: India and Sri Lanka signed three defence Memoranda of Understanding in Colombo on 9 September 2026 during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The agreements covered the upgrade of six 40mm L70 air defence guns, cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of both countries, and academic exchange between the National Defence Colleges of India and Sri Lanka. The L70 is a 40mm anti-aircraft gun system used for short-range air defence. Sri Lanka received six L70 guns from India between 2000 and 2006, and their modernisation will be funded by a grant from the Government of India. The upgrade is linked to the protection of critical local assets in Sri Lanka. Defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka includes training, equipment support, and institutional exchanges. The National Cadet Corps MoU formalises youth exchange and cadet-level cooperation, while the National Defence Colleges pact covers professional military academic collaboration. Such agreements fall within bilateral defence diplomacy in the Indian Ocean region.

4. India to Host Global Dryland Congress 2026: The three-day Global Dryland Congress 2026 began on 10 September 2026 at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi. The event is jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, with participation from scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives, and development partners from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Dryland agriculture refers to farming in regions that receive limited and variable rainfall. Such regions are common in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid zones, where crop production depends on moisture conservation, drought-tolerant varieties, and efficient water use. The Congress marks 50 years of the ICAR-ICRISAT partnership. ICAR is India’s apex agricultural research body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, while ICRISAT is an international research institute based in Hyderabad that works on crops suited to semi-arid tropics.

 

5. SriLankan Airlines Names Vipul Misra as Acting CEO : SriLankan Airlines appointed Vipul Misra as its Acting Chief Executive Officer on 9 September 2026, and the change took effect immediately. Misra continued to head the airline’s engineering division while taking charge as acting CEO. Vipul Misra is a native of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, India, and has more than 20 years of experience in aircraft engineering and aviation management. His career has included leadership roles at Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines, and Air Deccan. Misra’s appointment combines engineering oversight with executive leadership, a structure used in airlines where technical operations and fleet reliability remain central functions. His professional profile includes experience across legacy carriers, full-service airlines, and low-cost carriers. An Acting Chief Executive Officer is a temporary executive head appointed until a permanent CEO is named. Aerospace Law is a specialised field that covers legal issues related to aviation and space activities.

 

6. Major Special Administrative Regions in the World: A Special Administrative Region is a subnational entity that enjoys a high degree of autonomy while remaining under the sovereignty of a larger state. In exam terms, SARs are important because they combine local self-rule with limited central control, usually over defence and foreign affairs, and are created through constitutional, treaty-based or historical arrangements. An SAR is a region with separate administrative, judicial and economic systems within a sovereign country. The central government generally retains authority over foreign affairs and national defence, while local institutions handle internal governance. SAR status may arise from constitutional provisions, bilateral treaties, historical settlements or special domestic laws.

 

7. FactBox: World’s First Artificial Energy Island in Belgium: Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Island is an artificial energy island under construction in the North Sea, about 45 kilometres off the Belgian coast. The project is designed as a 5-hectare offshore energy hub for grid connection infrastructure linked to offshore wind power. Princess Elisabeth Island is planned as a multi-purpose energy island for the Belgian electricity grid. The project is associated with Elia Transmission Belgium, the transmission system operator, and is intended to support the integration of offshore wind energy into the onshore grid. The island is also linked to high-voltage substation works and alternating current connections for the second phase of development. The island uses 23 concrete foundation caissons to form its outer walls. Jan De Nul Group and DEME Group completed the caissons at the port of Vlissingen in the Netherlands, and the structures were later installed in the North Sea. Caissons are large watertight concrete structures used in marine construction, harbor works, and offshore foundations.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Mysore Joins Samudra Laksamana 4/26 in Malaysia: Indian Naval Ship INS Mysore, a Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, reached Lumut Naval Base in Malaysia on 9 September 2026 for Exercise Samudra Laksamana 4/26. The bilateral naval drill involves the Royal Malaysian Navy and is part of India-Malaysia maritime engagement in the Indian Ocean region. Exercise Samudra Laksamana is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy. The 4/26 edition is the fourth iteration of the exercise and includes professional interactions, tactical briefings, and cross-ship visits. The Royal Malaysian Navy received INS Mysore at Lumut Naval Base through a delegation led by Captain Mohd Husni bin Aris RMN, Director of Planning and Contingency at Western Fleet Command Headquarters. The Malaysian warships scheduled for the exercise are KD Lekir and KD Gagah Samudera.

 

2. 22nd India-US Yudh Abhyas Begins in Two-Theatre Format: The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, the annual India-US bilateral military exercise, is scheduled from 9 September to 28 September 2026. The exercise is being conducted in a two-theatre format across Bikaner in Rajasthan and Auli in Uttarakhand. Yudh Abhyas is a recurring military exercise between the Indian Army and the United States Army. The exercise is used for joint training in tactical drills, interoperability, and field operations in varied terrain. The Rajasthan phase is being held at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner. The Uttarakhand phase is being conducted at Auli, a high-altitude location at about 2,500 metres and around 95 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control with China. About 700 personnel, with 350 troops from each side, are participating in the exercise. The United States contingent includes Arctic-trained soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division and the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force.

 

3. India’s Nuclear Warheads Reach 190, Says Report: India’s nuclear arsenal has been estimated at 190 warheads in 2026 by two major international assessments, the Federation of American Scientists and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Both assessments placed India’s stockpile at the same figure, with SIPRI estimating 190 warheads as of January 2026 and FAS giving a similar count in its 2026 study. India’s estimated stockpile of 190 warheads places it among the world’s nine nuclear-armed states. The FAS study stated that more than 160 warheads are assigned to operational launchers, while about 30 additional warheads are linked to newer missiles under production. The same analysis estimated that India has enough military-grade plutonium to theoretically assemble between 140 and 225 warheads. SIPRI’s 2026 Yearbook stated that all nine nuclear-armed states continued to upgrade and modernise their nuclear stockpiles during 2025. The nine states are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.

 

4. US Navy Selects VAMPIRE System for Coastal Defence: The United States Navy selected the VAMPIRE counter-unmanned system for coastal and littoral defence on 8 September 2026. VAMPIRE stands for Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment and is developed by L3Harris Technologies, a defence company headquartered in Melbourne, Florida. VAMPIRE is a modular counter-unmanned system designed for installation on different vehicle platforms. The system is used for kinetic engagement against aerial, ground, and sea-based threats with laser-guided rockets. The baseline VAMPIRE system uses a WESCAM MX-10D RSTA stabilised electro-optical and infrared sensor mounted on a telescopic mast. The sensor supports digital target tracking and laser designation. The system employs 70 mm AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets, which are also known as APKWS rockets.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Sheetal Devi Wins Gold at World Archery Para Series: India ended its campaign at the World Archery Para Series 2026 Stage 3 with 15 medals at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 9 September 2026. The medal tally included four gold, three silver, and eight bronze medals. The World Archery Para Series is an international para-archery competition organised under World Archery. The 2026 Stage 3 event in Ahmedabad was the first World Archery Para Series tournament hosted by India. The competition ran from 5 September to 9 September 2026. Sheetal Devi, aged 19 years, won her first individual title on the World Archery Para Series circuit in the women’s compound event. She defeated Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan 10-9 in a shoot-off after the final ended 144-144. In the qualification round, she scored 698 points, which improved her own Asian record. Toman Kumar won bronze in the men’s individual compound event after defeating Iraq’s Abbas Kadhim 143-138. Bhawna won bronze in the women’s individual recurve event. India’s overall medal count at the event included four gold medals across individual and team categories.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Indian and French Space Firms Sign Paris Summit Agreements: Indian and French private space companies signed three agreements at the inaugural International Space Summit in Paris on 10 September 2026. The agreements covered satellite launches, space surveillance, and microsatellite technology. The summit was held on 9–10 September 2026 and featured 51 announcements linked to about €20 billion in global space investments and contracts. India and France have cooperated in space through government and private-sector links in satellite systems, launch services, and Earth observation. France is a major European space power through the French space agency CNES, and India is a major spacefaring nation through the Indian Space Research Organisation. Safran Space signed contracts worth over €5 million with Dhruva Space. The contract covers communication systems, inertial navigation units, optical payloads, and ground stations. These technologies are planned for integration into India’s SBS-III space-surveillance constellation.

 

2. ISRO Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine at 220 kN Thrust: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted a flight acceptance hot test of the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine at an uprated thrust level of 220 kN on 9 September 2026. The test took place at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, and the engine is linked to the upgraded C32 upper stage of an upcoming LVM3 mission. The CE20 is a cryogenic upper-stage engine developed by ISRO for the LVM3 launch vehicle. It uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants, which are stored at very low temperatures and are used in high-performance rocket stages. During the hot test, ISRO also demonstrated the Liquid Oxygen Tank Pressurisation Module, or LTPM, which is designed for the C32 stages of the Gaganyaan missions. The test followed an earlier sea-level hot test of the CE20 engine on 10 March 2026, which ran for 165 seconds at 22-tonne thrust with an advanced Nozzle Protection System.

 

3. India’s Photonics Market Projected to Reach $10 Billion by 2031: India’s direct domestic photonics market is estimated at about 2.5 billion and is projected to reach 10 billion by 2031. The Indian Photonics Association (IPA) was launched in New Delhi on 9 September 2026 with 65 founding members, including SFO Technologies, GX Quantum Photonics, Lightspeed Photonics and Tejas Networks. Photonics is the science and technology of generating, controlling and detecting light, including lasers, optical fibres, sensors and imaging systems. It is used in telecommunications, data transmission, medical devices, industrial automation and defence systems. High-speed AI data centres, telecom networks and high-performance electronic devices are major demand areas for photonics components. Domestic AI data centres are moving from photonics connectors supporting 10–40 Gbps to connectors with capacities of 100–400 Gbps. GX Group has announced plans to begin manufacturing at its advanced photonics facility from December 2026. Optical components such as transceivers are central to high-speed data transfer in fibre-optic communication systems.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. PhonePe Launches Visa Tokenisation and Tap to Pay: PhonePe and Visa announced three payment services at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai on 9 September 2026. The services include Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay, and Smart Accept, and PhonePe became the first Indian application to support the full suite of three core Visa capabilities for consumers. Visa Device Tokenisation is a payment security system that replaces card details with a token for use on digital devices. PhonePe began a phased rollout of Tap to Pay for Android users, allowing Visa card tokenisation inside the app for contactless payments at point-of-sale terminals. Tap to Pay works in low-connectivity areas because the transaction uses tokenised card credentials stored on the device. The feature is linked to the earlier Visa Device Tokenisation system introduced on the PhonePe platform in February 2025. Cross Border Scan to Pay is an upcoming feature for Indian travellers who use Visa-supported QR codes in 14 international markets. The markets named for the service include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

2. Cabinet Approves Railway Projects Worth Rs 20,804 Crore: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight railway multi-tracking projects on 9 September 2026 with an estimated cost of Rs 20,804 crore. The projects will expand the Indian Railways network by about 1,196 km and are targeted for completion by the financial year 2029-30. Multi-tracking in Indian Railways refers to the addition of extra railway lines on existing corridors. The approved package includes third and fourth line works, as well as doubling projects, across nine states: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Five projects in southern India have an estimated cost of Rs 10,021 crore and cover 540 km. These include the Arakkonam–Renigunta third and fourth lines and the doubling of the Hosur–Omalur section. The remaining three projects in eastern and central India have an estimated cost of Rs 10,783 crore and cover 656 km.

 

3. Akasa Air Operates First Commercial Flight Using 1% SAF : Akasa Air operated its first commercial flight with conventional aviation turbine fuel blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on 8 September 2026. The SAF blend was supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a public sector undertaking in India. The flight operated between Mumbai and Goa on the same day. Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an aviation fuel produced from non-fossil feedstocks such as used cooking oil, agricultural residues, municipal waste, and other renewable raw materials. SAF can be blended with conventional aviation turbine fuel and used in existing aircraft and airport fuel systems, subject to certification and blending limits. Aviation turbine fuel is the standard fuel used in jet aircraft, and SAF blending is one method used to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions in aviation. The 1% blend used in this flight was a commercial demonstration under operational conditions, which is a common method for testing fuel handling, refuelling, and flight performance.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Rani Mukerji Gets Maharashtra’s Raj Kapoor Award: Rani Mukerji received the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at the 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards ceremony held at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, on 9 September 2026. The award was presented by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the state film event organised by the Maharashtra Government. The Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award is a state honour linked to the Maharashtra State Film Awards. It is named after Raj Kapoor, one of the best-known figures in Indian cinema, and is presented for contribution to films and the film industry. The Maharashtra State Film Awards are annual awards presented by the Government of Maharashtra. The 62nd edition was held at Ravindra Natya Mandir, a cultural venue in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, and included special honours for film personalities.