Daily GK Update- 29th Sept, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Delhi rises to 28th in OAG global airport connectivity ranking: Delhi Airport has made a significant jump in the latest global airport connectivity rankings. Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport) now ranks 28th among the world’s most connected international airports in the OAG Megahubs 2026 report. The airport moved up 11 places from No. 39 in 2025, making it the highest-ranked Indian airport in the global list. Delhi Airport also ranked ninth among Asia-Pacific airports. Several established Asian aviation hubs ranked ahead of Delhi, including Bangkok, Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

 

2. U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath Launches ‘Bharat Taxi’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana‘: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Bharat Taxi’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana’ in Lucknow on September 23, 2026, aiming to support local transport workers and ease financial conditions for farmers.

 

3. Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana: Reduced Interest Rates: Interest on long-term agricultural loans provided via the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Rural Development Bank was slashed from 11% to 6%. Target Audience: Focuses on providing affordable, long-term credit for machinery and farming needs to small and marginal farmers. Target Reach: The state aims to benefit around five lakh small and marginal farmers over the coming years. Additional Digital Tools: The event also marked the launch of the Urvarak Setu mobile app and the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Database Centre (UPCDC)

 

4. Mandeep K Bhandari Appointed New CBSE Chairperson: Senior bureaucrat Mandeep K Bhandari was appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) following a bureaucratic reshuffle carried out by the Centre on 27 September. Bhandari, a 2001 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre, is currently working as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

5. Uttar Pradesh Makes Use-by Date Mandatory for Loose Sweets: The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has made it mandatory for sweet shops and manufacturing establishments in the state to display a use-by date for sweets, including loose sweets, from 15 October 2026. The order applies to sweets sold in loose form and to sweets prepared in manufacturing units across Uttar Pradesh. A use-by date is a food labelling term that indicates the last date for safe consumption of a product. In India, packaged foods already carry expiry-related information under food safety rules, while loose sweets earlier did not have a mandatory display requirement for such dates.

 

6. India’s First Port-Based E-Methanol Facility Announced: India’s first port-based e-methanol production facility is being developed at Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat. The project is a joint initiative of Deendayal Port Authority, with 76% ownership, and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd, with 24% ownership. The total investment for the project is ₹2,300 crore, and the planned production capacity is 150 tonnes per day. E-methanol is a synthetic form of methanol produced using renewable power, water, and biogenic carbon dioxide. Methanol is an alcohol with the chemical formula CH3OH and is used as an industrial feedstock and marine fuel. Green methanol is one of the alternative fuels being considered for shipping and heavy transport.

 

7. India’s First LNG-Powered Train Flagged Off: India’s first LNG-powered train was flagged off on 27 September 2026 from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The train uses a diesel-plus-LNG dual-fuel system and runs with two 1,400 HP Driving Power Cars converted at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot. LNG stands for liquefied natural gas, which is natural gas cooled to a liquid state for storage and transport. In railway applications, LNG can be used in dual-fuel engines that operate with both diesel and LNG, a configuration used in the converted Driving Power Cars of this train. The system is designed to replace about 40% of diesel consumption. The fuel arrangement is linked with lower emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter in comparison with conventional diesel-only operation.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Delhi Ranks Highest Among Indian Cities in 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index: Delhi has secured the 268th position among 1,000 cities in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026. The national capital is among the top half of cities in the ranking, but its performance varies sharply across the five categories used in the index. The Global Cities Index compares 1,000 major cities using five categories such as Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance. The rankings are designed to look at both a city’s present performance and its future potential. Among the Indian cities listed in the 2026 index, Delhi has the highest overall ranking at 268, followed by Bengaluru at 311, Mumbai at 330, Chennai at 381, Hyderabad at 421 and Pune at 427. Other Indian cities in the ranking include Thrissur at 477, Kochi at 489, Kolkata at 496 and Kozhikode at 499.

 

2. 28 September: World Rabies Day: World Rabies Day 2026 was observed on September 28. Every year on 28 September, the global community comes together to raise awareness about rabies elimination. From local communities and veterinary professionals to governments, healthcare workers, educators, and global partners, we all have role to play in making a world free from rabies a reality. Theme 2026: “Stronger Together”

 

3. 28 September (Fourth Sunday): World Rivers Day: World Rivers Day 2026 was celebrated globally on Sunday, September 27, 2026, highlighting the vital ecological, economic, and cultural roles that natural waterways play in supporting life on Earth. Established in 2005 by renowned Canadian river conservationist Mark Angelo, following the success of BC Rivers Day. Celebrated annually across over 100 countries with community clean-up drives, educational workshops, and river restoration campaigns. Theme 2026: “No Forests, No Rivers, No Water, No Life”

 

4. 29 September: World Heart Day: World Heart day is an important annual event, witnessed every year on 29th September. The day is celebrated by organizing various activities and awareness events globally to raise awareness about the heart disease and its preventive measures to manage the cardiovascular diseases. The events mainly focuses on educating people about the sign and symptoms of cardiovascular disease to avoid any further complications and encouraging peoples to inculcate healthy lifestyle to prevent and control any heart related ailments. Theme 2026: “Don’t Miss a Beat”

 

5. Important Ports on the Indian Ocean Rim: Ports along the Indian Ocean Rim are central to maritime trade, energy movement and regional connectivity. Their location near key sea lanes gives them importance for commerce, logistics, naval power and geopolitical influence across Asia, Africa and the wider Indian Ocean basin. The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean and covers nearly one-fifth of the world’s ocean surface. It links Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, and carries a major share of global energy and cargo traffic. Its sea lanes and chokepoints shape trade flows, supply chains and strategic competition.

 

6. 14th India-UAE Joint Task Force Meeting Held in Mumbai: The 14th Meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLJTFI) was held in Mumbai on 28 September 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Bilateral trade between India and the UAE reached US101.25 billion in FY 2025-26. Non-oil trade between the two countries stood at US76.2 billion in 2025, and both sides have set a bilateral trade target of US$200 billion by 2032. Investment discussions covered the Food Park project in Gujarat and a joint investment intent of US11.5 billion for an integrated aluminium complex in Odisha. The UAE also indicated an intent to invest an additional US25 billion in India in the near future, with a long-term objective of raising total investments to US$100 billion.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 24th India-France VARUNA Naval Exercise at Toulon Naval Base, France: The 24th edition of the Exercise VARUNA bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy officially commenced when the Indian guided-missile frigate INS Trishul Arrives at Toulon for 24th India port in France on September 22, 2026.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. India Ranks 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, which concluded on 27 September 2026. Team India won six silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence at the global skills event. The WorldSkills Competition is an international vocational skills contest held for young professionals in multiple trades and technical disciplines. The 48th edition took place in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September 2026, with competition rounds held from 23 to 26 September 2026. Types of Sprint Races in Athletics. The 200 metres is especially technical because athletes must control their posture on the bend before driving into the straight. The 400 metres is tougher on endurance, but it still belongs to the sprint category because of its high-speed nature. The 100 metres remains the most iconic sprint because it showcases raw acceleration and maximum velocity in the purest form.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Major Global AI Governance Initiatives: Artificial intelligence governance is becoming a core global policy issue as AI systems spread across economies, public services and security domains. Countries and international bodies are trying to balance innovation with safeguards on transparency, fairness, accountability and human control. The main focus is to reduce risks while enabling responsible use of AI for development and public welfare. AI governance refers to the policies, standards and institutions that guide the design, development, deployment and use of AI. It seeks to ensure that AI serves societal goals without undermining rights, safety or trust. As AI grows more capable, governance has moved from a technical debate to a major policy concern.

 

2. SpaceX Starship Set for 14th Test Flight: SpaceX’s Starship is scheduled for its 14th test flight and first orbital launch attempt on Monday, 28 September 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the launch licence for Starship Flight 14 on 26 September 2026, and the mission is planned from Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas. Starship is a fully reusable super heavy-lift launch system developed by SpaceX. The vehicle uses a two-stage configuration with the Super Heavy booster as the first stage and the Starship upper stage as the second stage. Super Heavy Booster 21 and Starship Ship 41 are the hardware assigned for this mission. Ship 41 is planned to splash down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile, while the Super Heavy booster is planned to return to the Gulf of Mexico.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Card Launches Fixed Deposit-Backed Secured Credit Cards ‘Advantage SBI Card’ on YONO App: SBI Card has launched a fixed-deposit-backed secured credit card journey on the SBI YONO platform, allowing customers to apply digitally for select cards. The new facility enables SBI customers holding fixed deposits with the bank to apply for a secured Advantage SBI Card through a paperless process. SBI Card said the application can be completed in about 10 minutes.

Customers can apply for four cards under the Advantage SBI Card offering on YONO — SBI Card ELITE, SBI Card PRIME, SimplyCLICK SBI Card and SimplySAVE SBI Card.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Lalit Kala Akademi Announces 20 Awards at National Exhibition: The Lalit Kala Akademi, the National Academy of Art, announced 20 awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art on 27 September 2026. The exhibition is being held at the Lalit Kala Art Galleries, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, and it covers painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and other visual art forms. The Lalit Kala Akademi is India’s national academy of art and functions as an institution for the promotion of visual arts. It was established in 1954 and operates under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The National Exhibition of Art is an annual exhibition organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi. For the 65th edition, the Akademi received 6,175 artworks from 2,495 artists representing 27 States and Union Territories.

 

Daily GK Update- 28th Sept, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026: Gautam Adani Topped Overall: Gautam Adani and family reclaimed the top spot on the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026 with a total wealth of ₹9.23 lakh crore. Gautam Adani & family (₹9.23 lakh crore), overtaking Mukesh Ambani & family at ₹8.63 lakh crore. Shah Rukh Khan and family lead this segment with ₹10,000 crore, followed by Amitabh Bachchan at ₹4,000 crore. Roshni Nadar Malhotra & family rank fifth overall with ₹2.78 lakh crore, making them India’s wealthiest woman. The 15th edition features 1,810 individuals with a combined wealth of ₹187.5 lakh crore and a record 391 dollar billionaires.

 

2. Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book ‘Vishwasanchar Hindutva Ka’: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book ‘Vishwasanchar Hindutva Ka’ at Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on September 24, 2026. Published by Saptahik Vivek, a publication established in 1948 with deep ties to Maharashtra’s cultural and social life. Book Explores Bharat’s cultural journey, the spread of Indian heritage and global engagement of Hindutva, and coincides with the centenary milestones associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

 

3. India’s First Port-Based E-Methanol Facility Announced: India’s first port-based e-methanol production facility is being developed at Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat. The project is a joint initiative of Deendayal Port Authority, with 76% ownership, and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd, with 24% ownership. The total investment for the project is ₹2,300 crore, and the planned production capacity is 150 tonnes per day. E-methanol is a synthetic form of methanol produced using renewable power, water, and biogenic carbon dioxide. Methanol is an alcohol with the chemical formula CH3OH and is used as an industrial feedstock and marine fuel. Green methanol is one of the alternative fuels being considered for shipping and heavy transport.

 

4. Uttar Pradesh Makes Use-by Date Mandatory for Loose Sweets: The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has made it mandatory for sweet shops and manufacturing establishments in the state to display a use-by date for sweets, including loose sweets, from 15 October 2026. The order applies to sweets sold in loose form and to sweets prepared in manufacturing units across Uttar Pradesh. A use-by date is a food labelling term that indicates the last date for safe consumption of a product. In India, packaged foods already carry expiry-related information under food safety rules, while loose sweets earlier did not have a mandatory display requirement for such dates.

 

5. India Orders Captive Coal Plants to Maximise Output from October 1: India’s federal power ministry issued a directive on 25 September 2026 for more than 100 captive coal-fired power plants to maximise generation from 1 October to 31 December 2026. The order applies to captive plants with an installed capacity of at least 50 megawatts and uses emergency powers under Section 11 of the Electricity Act. Captive power plants are electricity-generating units set up mainly for the use of the owner or an associated industrial facility. In India, such plants are used by aluminium smelters, steelmakers, cement factories, oil refineries, and other large industrial consumers. Section 11 of the Electricity Act allows the government to direct generating companies to operate and maintain stations in extraordinary situations. This provision is used for emergency measures related to public interest, grid stability, or supply shortages.

 

6. Types of Food Labelling Terms in India: Food labelling is a key part of consumer protection in India. It helps buyers identify what a product contains, how it should be stored, and whether it is safe to consume within a specified period. In India, food labels are regulated to improve transparency, strengthen standardisation, and support public health. The rules apply differently to packaged food, loose food, and processing-related safety controls. The principal law governing food safety and standards in India is the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It provides the legal framework for food standards, manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, inspection, enforcement, and consumer protection. The Act consolidated several earlier food laws that were scattered across different departments and ministries.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and Netherlands sign two MoUs to advance Kalpasar water project: India and the Netherlands have strengthened strategic partnership and cooperation in the water sector. Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil and Vice Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands, Jaap Slootmaker today chaired a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 9th India International Water Week 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity to review and further strengthen India-Netherlands cooperation in the water sector with particular focus on advancing technical cooperation for the Kalpasar Project in Gujara The project envisages creation of a freshwater reservoir using runoff from the Sabarmati, Mahi and Dhadhar rivers, supplemented by water conveyed from the Narmada River.

 

2. India 31st in WEF’s Travel & Tourism Development Index: India is ranked 31st in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026 of World Economic Forum, moving up from 39th place in 2024. Despite being ranked among the top 10 for the number of World Heritage cultural sites, India has gaps in tourist services, infrastructure and environmental sustainability. Report Published By World Economic Forum & Zurich Insurance Group. Japan secured the first rank, rising two positions driven by record international visitor numbers.

 

3. 26 September: World Contraception Day: The World Contraception Day is a worldwide awareness day that has taken place on the 26th of September every year since 2007. During this day, various local and global healthcare organisations gather around to raise awareness of contraception in the general population. The importance of World Contraception Day is to promote awareness about contraception, promote the overall health of individuals (both men and women), promote open discussions in the global population about the indications of contraceptives, promote the rights of women, and promote gender equality worldwide. Theme 2026: “No Barriers, Just Choices”

 

4. 26 September: World Environmental Health Day: World Environmental Health Day 2026 is observed on 26 September 2026. The annual observance highlights the connection between the environment and human health and recognizes the work of environmental health professionals around the world. World Environmental Health Day is an annual international observance associated with the International Federation of Environmental Health. It draws attention to environmental conditions that influence health and to the professionals who work to identify, prevent and manage environmental health risks. Theme 2026: “Environmental Health: Standing with Science to Protect Communities”

 

5. 27 September: World Tourism Day: World Tourism Day is celebrated globally every year on September 27. The purpose of World Tourism Day is to raise global awareness about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value to the international community. Theme 2026: “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”,

 

6. India Ranks 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, which concluded on 27 September 2026. Team India won six silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence at the global skills event. The WorldSkills Competition is an international vocational skills contest held for young professionals in multiple trades and technical disciplines. The 48th edition took place in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September 2026, with competition rounds held from 23 to 26 September 2026. India’s six silver medallists were Smriti Nambiar in Bakery, Mohammed Salam in Dental Prosthetics, Kovid Ajay Gangrade in Digital Interactive Media Design, Parth Vohra in Industrial Design Technology, Mehrunissa Begum in Logistics and Freight Forwarding, and Saniya Joshi in Retail Sales. Smriti Nambiar also received the Best of the Nation recognition on 27 September 2026.

 

7. Important Types of Power Plants in India: India’s power system is built on a mixed basket of conventional, hydel, nuclear and renewable sources. For Prelims, it is important to know the main types of power plants, their fuel base, operating features and the institutions linked to them. Captive power plants also matter because they support industrial users and the broader reliability of the grid. Thermal power plants form the backbone of India’s electricity generation and remain the main source of baseload power. They produce steam by burning fuel, and the steam drives turbines connected to generators. These plants are crucial for large-scale, continuous supply, especially when demand is high. These are the dominant thermal plants in India and account for the largest share of installed capacity. They use domestic coal and, in some cases, imported coal. Modern plants increasingly use supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies for better efficiency and lower emissions.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Major Internal Security Laws in India: India’s internal security framework combines special laws, preventive detention and anti-terror provisions to deal with threats such as insurgency, terrorism, organised crime and disturbances to public order. These laws give the State extraordinary powers in exceptional situations, but they also raise recurring questions on civil liberties, accountability and the balance between security and rights. AFSPA is a Union law that enables the deployment of armed forces in areas declared “disturbed”. It is meant for exceptional situations where ordinary policing is considered inadequate. In notified areas, armed forces personnel receive special legal protection while carrying out counterinsurgency and law-and-order duties.

 

2. Major Disturbed Area Provisions in India: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a Union law that enables the deployment of armed forces in notified “disturbed areas”. It is intended for situations of serious law and order disturbance, insurgency, or internal security concern. Because the Act confers exceptional powers, its use is meant to remain limited, area-specific, and subject to periodic review. AFSPA was enacted in 1958 to provide a legal framework for the armed forces to operate in areas where ordinary law and order machinery is considered inadequate. The law is associated mainly with internal security operations in selected regions, rather than across a whole state by default.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. BCCI announces Muthoot FinCorp as title sponsor in deal until March 2028: Muthoot FinCorp has been named the new title sponsor for India home cricket, with the financial services company entering into an association with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) until March 2028.

The partnership will cover all international series and tournaments played in India, as well as domestic competitions organised by the BCCI. The association will begin with India’s first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 September. Muthoot FinCorp replaces IDFC First Bank, whose partnership with the BCCI ended in August 2026.

 

2. Pune to host UCI Road World Championships in 2032 for the first time in India: Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, marking the first time cycling’s prestigious global road championships to be held in India. The bid was jointly led by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, with support from the Government of India. Pune’s candidature reached the final round against Groningen/Drenthe of the Netherlands, after Colombia and Mexico were eliminated. A UCI inspection team had earlier assessed proposed venues, including Balewadi Stadium and the Pune University circuit.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. SpaceX Starship Set for 14th Test Flight: SpaceX’s Starship is scheduled for its 14th test flight and first orbital launch attempt on Monday, 28 September 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the launch licence for Starship Flight 14 on 26 September 2026, and the mission is planned from Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas. Starship is a fully reusable super heavy-lift launch system developed by SpaceX. The vehicle uses a two-stage configuration with the Super Heavy booster as the first stage and the Starship upper stage as the second stage. The launch window opens for 75 minutes at 7:15 a.m. Central Time, which is 8:15 a.m. EDT. The flight is expected to last nearly 10 hours and to attempt about six orbits at an altitude of around 275 kilometres. Super Heavy Booster 21 and Starship Ship 41 are the hardware assigned for this mission. Ship 41 is planned to splash down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile, while the Super Heavy booster is planned to return to the Gulf of Mexico.

 

2. Major Global AI Governance Initiatives: Artificial intelligence governance is becoming a core global policy issue as AI systems spread across economies, public services and security domains. Countries and international bodies are trying to balance innovation with safeguards on transparency, fairness, accountability and human control. The main focus is to reduce risks while enabling responsible use of AI for development and public welfare. AI governance refers to the policies, standards and institutions that guide the design, development, deployment and use of AI. It seeks to ensure that AI serves societal goals without undermining rights, safety or trust. As AI grows more capable, governance has moved from a technical debate to a major policy concern.

 

3. Important Concepts in Reusable Launch Vehicles: Reusable launch vehicles are designed for repeated missions rather than single use. They are important because they can reduce launch costs, shorten turnaround time and support more frequent access to space. For India, they also reflect a wider push toward indigenous space hardware, private sector participation and technology maturation across propulsion, recovery and controlled-descent systems. Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs) are space launch systems built for multiple missions, unlike traditional expendable rockets. Their central idea is simple: recover and reuse expensive hardware instead of discarding it after one flight.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India records highest-ever FDI of $94.53 billion in FY26: India recorded US$ 94.53 billion in gross FDI inflows in FY 2025–26, the highest annual level recorded so far. Cumulative FDI inflows from FY 2014–15 to FY 2025–26 reached USD 843 billion. In Q1 FY 2026–27, FDI equity inflows rose 6% to USD 19.81 billion, with Japan emerging as the largest source and services recording the highest sectoral inflows. India’s latest Foreign Direct Investment figures show continued foreign investment across sectors and states. For businesses planning to bring foreign capital into India, however, strong investment activity does not change the need to comply with the applicable FDI policy, FEMA rules, reporting requirements and sector-specific conditions

2. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance changes name to ICICI Life Insurance: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited has changed its name to ICICI Life Insurance Limited, effective September 22, 2026, following approval from the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Central Processing Centre. The insurer said it will intimate the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for issuance of a revised Certificate of Registration under the applicable 2024 regulations. The company will now operate as ICICI Life Insurance Limited, formerly known as ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited.

 

3. Govt sets riders for funds to three stressed PSU general insurers: The Indian government has linked further capital support for three stressed public sector undertaking (PSU) general insurers to demonstrated operational improvements and sustained performance. National Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company, and United India Insurance Company face severe financial stress. These three state-owned general insurers report losses and negative solvency ratios. These three insurers collectively require an estimated ₹39,000 crore by March 2027 to meet regulatory solvency requirements New India Assurance is the fourth state-owned general insurer and remains profitable.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Lalit Kala Akademi Announces 20 Awards at National Exhibition: The Lalit Kala Akademi, the National Academy of Art, announced 20 awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art on 27 September 2026. The exhibition is being held at the Lalit Kala Art Galleries, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, and it covers painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and other visual art forms. The Lalit Kala Akademi is India’s national academy of art and functions as an institution for the promotion of visual arts. It was established in 1954 and operates under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The National Exhibition of Art is an annual exhibition organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi. For the 65th edition, the Akademi received 6,175 artworks from 2,495 artists representing 27 States and Union Territories.

 

Daily GK Update- 27th Sept, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New Begonia Species Described from Arunachal Pradesh: A new Begonia species, Begonia neelamorum, was formally described from Keyi Panyor district in Arunachal Pradesh on 24 September 2026. The species was collected on 24 May 2026 from steep, moist walls along the Keyi River at an elevation of about 1,000 metres. Begonia is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus includes herbs, shrubs, and climbers, and many species occur in humid tropical and subtropical habitats. Begonia neelamorum is a small plant, 10–20 cm tall, with a single sessile light-green leaf. It has distinctive double-serrated margins and glandular hairs, which are used as diagnostic characters in plant taxonomy. The research team included botanist Dipankar Borah from Kaliabor College in Nagaon, Assam. The species was named after the Neelam clan of the Nyishi tribe, which assisted the researchers during the expedition, and its local name is Kobiirhopu Baabrai.

 

2. India Marks 12 Years of Make in India: India marked 12 years of the Make in India initiative on 25 September 2026. The initiative was launched on 25 September 2014 to promote domestic manufacturing, investment, exports, and industrial competitiveness across sectors. Make in India is a national initiative linked with manufacturing, services, and investment promotion. It covers 27 sectors, including 15 manufacturing sectors and 12 services sectors. The initiative also connects with the broader policy focus on domestic value addition and global market access. India recorded its highest-ever annual foreign direct investment inflow of USD 94.53 billion in FY 2025-26. Cumulative FDI between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26 reached USD 843 billion. These figures place FDI as a major indicator used in industrial and economic current affairs.

 

3. Indian Railways to Launch Bhuj-Barauni Amrit Bharat Express: Indian Railways has approved the introduction of the Bhuj-Barauni Amrit Bharat Express, a tri-weekly long-distance train service numbered 19427/19428. The train will connect Bhuj in Gujarat with Barauni in Bihar over a route of 2,532 km and will pass through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Amrit Bharat Express is a category of long-distance passenger train in India. These trains are generally non-air-conditioned and are designed with sleeper and unreserved accommodation for affordable travel on routes of more than 800 km or journeys lasting over ten hours. Train No. 19427 will depart from Bhuj at 5:30 PM and reach Barauni at 4:05 AM the next day. Train No. 19428 will depart from Barauni at 11:55 PM and arrive at Bhuj at 1:15 PM the following day.

 

4. TRAI Launches Digital Connectivity Rating Platform: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched an integrated Digital Connectivity Rating (DCR) platform and a dedicated mobile application in New Delhi on 25 September 2026. The platform rates and certifies in-building mobile and internet connectivity in residential, commercial, and government properties. The Digital Connectivity Rating framework is prescribed under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity) Regulations, 2024, as amended in May 2026. The framework covers properties that can be assessed for digital connectivity through a standardised rating process.

 

5. Important Indian Women Sportspersons: Indian women sportspersons have transformed the country’s sporting profile through record-breaking performances, Olympic medals, and leadership across individual and team events. From athletics and weightlifting to boxing, badminton, cricket and para-sports, their achievements reflect talent, resilience and growing gender inclusion in Indian sport. India’s journey in women’s sport began with athletes who broke barriers in an era of limited support and opportunity. Their results gave Indian women visibility at the highest level and created a pathway for later champions. Known as the “Payyoli Express” and “Golden Girl”, she remains one of India’s most iconic track athletes. She finished fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, narrowly missing a medal.

 

6. Indian Railways Train Numbering System: Indian Railways uses a five-digit train numbering system to identify services by category, direction and operating pattern. Introduced to simplify administration and passenger information, it is especially useful on a network that runs thousands of trains across multiple zones. For Prelims, the first digit is the key to the basic classification. Indian Railways introduced the five-digit numbering system on December 20, 2010, replacing the earlier four-digit format. The change was meant to handle the growing number of train services and improve operational efficiency across the national network. The system also supports better digital governance, as each train can be quickly identified in timetables, reservation systems and public information platforms.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Joins East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting: India participated in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation in Manila, Philippines, from 22 to 24 September 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Nitin Kumar Yadav, and the meetings included ASEAN members and EAS partners such as India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Russia, and the United States. The East Asia Summit is a leaders-led forum established in 2005, and its economic ministers’ meeting is part of the wider regional economic dialogue structure. ASEAN has 11 member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.

 

2. India Reserves Right to Join Russia’s CBAM WTO Dispute: India has reserved its third-party rights in the World Trade Organization dispute concerning the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The dispute was taken up by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body in Geneva on 25 September 2026, when it agreed to Russia’s request for a panel. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is a European Union trade measure linked to the carbon content of imported goods. It applies additional compliance and carbon-cost requirements to selected imports, including carbon-intensive products such as steel and aluminium. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body is the body that establishes panels for trade disputes under the WTO dispute settlement system. Third-party rights allow a member to participate in proceedings, present views on legal questions, and follow the case without becoming a principal complainant or respondent.

 

3. New X-Ray Clues from Blazars: On 25 September 2026, astronomers announced new findings on X-ray emission from blazars, which are active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes. The study was led by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India. Blazars are a class of active galactic nuclei in which a relativistic jet points close to the line of sight of the observer. They are among the most luminous persistent sources in the universe and are often studied in the X-ray and gamma-ray bands. TeV blazars are blazars detected at tera-electronvolt energies. The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal and used data from NASA’s NICER and NuSTAR space telescopes. Researchers Riya Bhowmick and Alok C. Gupta analysed 13 sets of X-ray observations from four TeV blazars: Mrk 421, Mrk 501, PG 1553+113, and PKS 2155-304.

 

4. APEDA Facilitates Export of Gulbarga Tur Dal to Maldives: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority facilitated the export of GI-tagged Gulbarga Tur Dal from Karnataka to the Maldives. A 1 metric tonne consignment was flagged off on 24 September 2026 and transported by sea through an FPO-led export channel. Gulbarga Tur Dal is associated with the Kalaburagi region of Karnataka. The product received Geographical Indication registration in 2019 under India’s GI framework for region-specific goods. The export was handled by M/s Silken Global Exports and Imports, Mysuru, through its Farmer Producer Organisation-led brand. Farmers received ₹82 per kg through the export-linked channel, compared with the prevailing market price of ₹60 per kg.

 

6. Key Indian Mountaineering Expeditions and Records: India’s mountaineering story is closely tied to the Himalayas, high-altitude training, and record-setting expeditions. From early ascents on Everest and Nanda Devi to institutional support and armed forces participation, Indian climbers have built a strong legacy in exploration, endurance and adventure sports. India’s mountaineering history began with a mix of international expeditions, local support and later, nationally led climbs. The ascent of Mount Everest by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay with Sir Edmund Hillary on 29 May 1953 remains a landmark moment closely associated with India’s mountaineering tradition. Tenzing Norgay was an Indian citizen, and his achievement inspired generations of climbers.

 

7. Festival-Linked Public Welfare Schemes in India: Across India, festivals often become a window for public welfare, with state governments using the occasion to deliver cash support, food kits, special allowances and travel assistance. These measures are not just ceremonial; they reflect broader welfare priorities, help vulnerable households meet seasonal expenses, and widen participation in major cultural celebrations. Orunodoi is Assam’s flagship direct benefit transfer scheme, launched in 2020. It provides monthly financial assistance to women from economically weaker households, combining poverty alleviation with household support. Under Orunodoi 3.0, the regular monthly assistance is ₹1,250, and the scheme aims to cover about 25 lakh eligible women across all 35 districts of Assam.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Sudarshini Reaches Alexandria during Lokayan 26: INS Sudarshini, the Indian Navy’s sail training ship, arrived at Alexandria in Egypt on 23 September 2026 during the Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition. The port call was the ship’s second visit to Alexandria during the same deployment. INS Sudarshini is a three-masted barque used by the Indian Navy for sail training and seamanship instruction. A barque is a sailing vessel with three or more masts, with square sails on the foremast and mainmast and fore-and-aft sails on the aftermost mast. Lokayan 26 is a 10-month voyage that began from Kochi on 20 January 2026. The expedition is planned to cover about 22,000 nautical miles, visit 18 ports, and call at 13 countries. It is designed for professional training in ocean navigation and traditional seamanship.

 

2. DRDO Signs First High-Value Deep-Tech Project Agreement: The Defence Research and Development Organisation signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund scheme on 24 September 2026. The agreement was signed with Zero mK India Private Limited, an Alwar-based startup, for the indigenous development of a 20 mK dilution refrigerator for quantum applications. The Technology Development Fund is a scheme of the Defence Research and Development Organisation for supporting industry-led development of defence and dual-use technologies. The present agreement is the first high-value project under a ₹500 crore corpus approved for deep-tech and cutting-edge projects. A dilution refrigerator is a cryogenic system used to reach ultra-low temperatures in the millikelvin range. A 20 mK system is relevant for quantum computing platforms, superconducting devices, and other quantum technologies that require controlled low-temperature environments.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Important Asian Games Facts and Records: The Asian Games, or Asiad, is Asia’s premier multi-sport event and the second-largest multi-sport competition in the world after the Olympics. Held every four years, it combines sporting excellence with regional cooperation, national prestige and long-standing sports administration under the Olympic Council of Asia. The Asian Games emerged after World War II as Asian leaders sought a platform to promote unity and cooperation through sport. Indian representative Guru Dutt Sondhi played a key role in proposing the idea at the 1948 London Olympics. The Asian Games symbol and motto reflect the spirit of Asia and its sporting unity. The emblem has remained an important visual identity for the event across editions. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is the governing body for sport in Asia and has organised the Asian Games since 1982. It replaced the Asian Games Federation after the latter was disbanded on 16 November 1982.

 

2. Rajnath Singh Flags-in First Ascent Mountaineering Expedition: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged-in the First Ascent Mountaineering Expedition in New Delhi on 25 September 2026. The expedition recorded the first-ever summits of 20 unclimbed peaks above 6,000 metres in Ladakh in 23 days. The expedition was undertaken by a team of 20 climbers from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), which is based in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh. Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, the Director of NIMAS, led the team. The summits were achieved in the Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, and Chokula areas of the Ladakh Range. These locations are part of the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, which includes several mountain zones above 6,000 metres.

 

3. Indian Squash Players Secure Three Medals at Asian Games: India secured three squash medals at the Asian Games 2026 on 25 September 2026. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar reached the mixed doubles semifinals, while Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh entered the women’s and men’s singles semifinals respectively. Squash at the Asian Games includes men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. A place in the semifinals guarantees at least a bronze medal in squash because both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar defeated the Philippines pair of David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado 11-3, 11-5 in the mixed doubles quarterfinals. Their entry into the semifinals assured India of one medal in the mixed doubles event.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Cryogenic and Low-Temperature Technologies: Cryogenic and low-temperature technologies deal with materials and processes at extremely cold temperatures, where ordinary physical behavior changes sharply. These systems are important in space, defence, medicine, energy, electronics and quantum research because they make it possible to liquefy gases, preserve sensitive materials and operate specialised devices. Cryogenics is the branch of physics and engineering concerned with the production and behavior of materials at very low temperatures. In practice, the term usually refers to temperatures below the liquefaction point of common gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. The field is closely linked to refrigeration, material science and superconductivity. Reaching cryogenic temperatures requires methods that remove heat efficiently from gases, liquids or solids. Several techniques are especially important in laboratories and industrial systems.

2. IIT Delhi Develops India’s First Micro-GPU: Researchers at the Electrical Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi developed India’s first working and demonstrable indigenous micro-Graphics Processing Unit (micro-GPU) on 24–25 September 2026. The project was led by M.Tech students Nammi Akash and M. Ravi Teja under Professor Jayadeva and Professor Kaushik Saha. A micro-GPU is a compact graphics processor designed for programmable rendering tasks. The IIT Delhi device used a custom floating-point GPU engine and was implemented entirely in Register Transfer Language (RTL). The micro-GPU was mapped to a Spartan-7 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform. FPGA devices are reconfigurable integrated circuits used for prototyping digital systems and testing processor architectures before fabrication in silicon.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Government Approves ₹50,000 Loan for FCV Tobacco Growers: The Government of India approved a one-time interest-free loan of ₹50,000 per barn for Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh on 25 September 2026. The assistance is part of the Interest-Free Working Capital Assistance Scheme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is meant for about 44,000 growers. Flue-Cured Virginia tobacco is a commercial tobacco variety cured in barns with controlled heat and airflow. Andhra Pradesh is one of the major FCV tobacco-growing States in India, and the crop is marketed through auction platforms regulated by the Tobacco Board. The approved assistance provides ₹50,000 per barn as a one-time interest-free loan. The total financial outlay for the intervention is estimated at about ₹220 crore, and the amount will be transferred directly to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer.

 

2. PLI Schemes Disburse ₹36,754 Crore: The Government of India has disbursed ₹36,754 crore in incentives under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes since their launch in 2020. The data covers disbursements up to 30 June 2026 and was placed in the public domain by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on 25 September 2026. Large-scale electronics manufacturing received the highest disbursement among the PLI sectors, with ₹19,090.98 crore by June 2026. The pharmaceutical sector received ₹6,662 crore, while food products received ₹3,271.44 crore. Automobiles and auto components received ₹3,174.15 crore during the same period. The Production Linked Incentive scheme is a central government incentive framework launched in 2020. It covers 14 sectors and has an approved outlay of ₹1.91 lakh crore. The scheme links incentives to incremental production, sales, or investment by eligible companies.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Stanford Researcher Wins 2026 SASTRA-Ramanujan Award: Sarah Peluse, an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University in the United States, was announced on 25 September 2026 as the recipient of the SASTRA-Ramanujan Award for 2026. The award was established in 2005 and is given to mathematicians aged 32 and under for work in areas of mathematics influenced by Srinivasa Ramanujan. The SASTRA-Ramanujan Award carries a cash prize of $10,000 and a citation. It is presented annually by SASTRA and is linked to the mathematical legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan, who was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu. Sarah Peluse was selected for contributions to analytic number theory, additive combinatorics, combinatorial geometry, and group theory. Analytic number theory studies integers using methods from mathematical analysis, while additive combinatorics examines additive structures in sets and groups.