September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

Explanation

Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 23 September 2026, lifting a total of 198 kg (87 kg snatch, 111 kg clean and jerk). North Korea's Ri Song-gum took gold with a world record 215 kg, and Indonesia's Luluk Wijayana won bronze. At Hangzhou 2023 she finished fourth after an injury. Exam angle: this is India's first Asiad weightlifting medal in 28 years; the last was Karnam Malleswari's 63 kg silver at Bangkok 1998.

Explanation

The first V4+India Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in New York on 21 September 2026, on the sidelines of UNGA81 under Slovakia's V4 presidency. Slovak FM Juraj Blanar said all four V4 countries (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic) agree India must be a permanent UNSC member. The meeting agreed on annual foreign ministers' meetings and an annual business forum. Exam angle: India seeks UNSC reform with the G4 (Brazil, Germany, Japan); the Weimar Triangle is France, Germany and Poland.

Explanation

SEMICON India's fifth edition ran 17-19 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi (IICC), New Delhi, on the theme 'Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem', inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 17 September. It was organised by ISM, MeitY and SEMI, with six country pavilions: Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore and Sweden. 'Sand to Silicon to Systems' was the Value Chain Experience, not the theme. Exam angle: the 2025 edition's theme was 'Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse'.

Explanation

The Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force held the 14-day bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian-2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 9 to 22 September 2026. It is the second edition; the first was at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, in January 2023. It covered advanced operational missions, mission planning conferences and expert exchanges. Exam angle: Dharma Guardian (army), JIMEX (navy) and Shinyuu Maitri (air force transport aircraft) are other India-Japan exercises.

Explanation

At Veer Guardian-2026, held at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 9 to 22 September 2026, the JASDF fielded its F-2A fighters, while the IAF flew the indigenous LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called this maiden visit of JASDF fighters to India a significant milestone for the India-Japan defence partnership. Exam angle: in the first edition at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, in January 2023, the IAF sent Su-30MKI jets while the JASDF flew F-2 and F-15 fighters.

Explanation

The Visegrad Group (V4) comprises Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It was founded on 15 February 1991 at Visegrad, Hungary, and became the V4 after Czechoslovakia split in 1993. The first India-V4 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held in New York on 21 September 2026 on the sidelines of UNGA81 under Slovakia's V4 presidency, agreed on annual foreign ministers' meetings and an annual business forum. Exam angle: its only permanent body, the Visegrad Fund, is based in Bratislava.

Explanation

Article 370, the Hindi film directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, won Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards, and its lead Yami Gautam won Best Actress. Winners were announced on 18 July 2026, and President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on 22 September 2026. The awards cover films certified by the CBFC in 2024. Exam angle: Kalki 2898 AD won Best Popular Film, Srikanth Best Hindi Film, and Rajkumar Periasamy Best Director for Amaran.

Explanation

The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 repealed the Lighthouse Act, 1927 and gives a framework to develop, maintain and manage aids to navigation and vessel traffic services. The Centre may designate any aid to navigation under its control as a heritage lighthouse, developed for educational, cultural and tourism use. Exam angle: Lighthouse Day on 21 September marks approval of the Lighthouse Bill in 1927; lighthouses are run by the DGLL under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Explanation

In September 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, Navratna defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and C-DAC signed an MoU to jointly develop sovereign data centre infrastructure. BEL will be the System Integrator and C-DAC the Technology Partner supplying indigenous solutions, aiming at a fully indigenous technology stack for strategic national programmes. Exam angle: BEL is under the Ministry of Defence, while C-DAC, set up in 1988, is MeitY's premier R&D body behind the PARAM supercomputers.

Explanation

On 20 September 2026 at Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led a Tejas formation as Eagle One, while JASDF chief Gen Takehiro Morita flew in a twin-seat Tejas. Veer Guardian is the IAF-Japan Air Self-Defense Force bilateral air exercise; its second edition runs 9-22 September 2026 with IAF Tejas, Su-30MKI, Rafale and Japanese F-2A. Exam angle: the first edition was at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, in January 2023; Dharma Guardian (army) and JIMEX (navy) are other India-Japan exercises.

Explanation

The 20th Rozgar Mela was held at 45 locations simultaneously on 19 September 2026; PM Modi distributed over 51,000 appointment letters via video conferencing. Recruits join Revenue, Railways, Home, Health, Defence and other departments. Per the PMO, about 12.75 lakh youth have received letters so far. Exam angle: Rozgar Mela began on 22 October 2022 as a drive to recruit 10 lakh personnel, with 75,000 letters in the first edition; the 14th edition (December 2024) was also held at 45 locations.

Explanation

The theme of the 81st UNGA session is Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all. The session opened on 8 September 2026 under President Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, with the general debate from 22 to 28 September. EAM S. Jaishankar leads the Indian delegation and is scheduled to speak on 26 September. Exam angle: the UNGA-80 (2025) theme was Better together, and the UNGA-78 (2023) theme was Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity.

Explanation

On 20 September 2026, Elavenil Valarivan won two silvers in women's 10m air rifle. First came the team silver with Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod, India's first medal won at these Games; China took gold with a world record 1904.2. In the individual final she scored 252.4, behind Japan's Hinata Taichi (253.0, an Asian Games record). Exam angle: Elavenil holds the Asian record of 253.6, and India won a record 22 shooting medals at Hangzhou 2023.

Explanation

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the Labour Ministry proposal on 16 September 2026 to raise the EPFO mandatory coverage wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 a month. Effective 17 September 2026 (Vishwakarma Jayanti), it brings over 51 lakh more employees under EPF, EPS and EDLI. Annual outgo is about Rs 11,339 crore, Rs 56,696 crore over five years. Exam angle: the previous revision, September 2014, moved it from Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000; Labour Minister is Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

Explanation

The XX Asian Games opened on 19 September 2026 at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, with Japan's Emperor Naruhito declaring the Games open. India's flagbearers were double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker and kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor was named earlier but did not get his ceremonial kit in time, so Sehrawat took the role. The Games run to 4 October. Exam angle: at Hangzhou 2022 the flagbearers were Harmanpreet Singh and Lovlina Borgohain.

Explanation

The 43rd Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Commanders' Conference was held from 17 to 19 September 2026 at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. It is the apex annual forum of the ICG, reviewing strategic, operational and administrative matters. On the opening day Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth interacted with DG Paramesh Sivamani and senior commanders, urging wider use of AI and autonomous systems. Exam angle: the ICG works under the Ministry of Defence, under the Coast Guard Act, 1978.

Explanation

On 20 September 2026 in Aichi, Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod shot 1898.0 to take silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event, India's first medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games; China won gold with a world record 1904.2 and Japan took bronze. Elavenil then won individual silver with 252.4, behind Japan's Hinata Taichi, whose 253.0 was an Asian Games record. It was Elavenil's first individual Asian Games medal.

Explanation

On 18 September 2026, India-born female cheetah KGP12 gave birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav announced it. Project Cheetah began at Kuno on 17 September 2022 with 8 cheetahs from Namibia, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023 and 9 from Botswana in February 2026. Exam angle: NTCA is the implementing agency and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is the second cheetah site.

Explanation

HTT-40 stands for Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40. It is a basic trainer aircraft indigenously designed by HAL's Aircraft Research and Design Centre to replace the Indian Air Force's retired HPT-32 Deepak. On 18 September 2026 at Bengaluru, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, HAL handed over 2 LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and 3 HTT-40s to the IAF. Exam angle: it first flew on 31 May 2016, and the Centre cleared 70 HTT-40s for Rs 6,828.36 crore.

Explanation

At Bengaluru on 18 September 2026, HAL handed over four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited. The Dhruv NG is a 5.5-tonne light twin-engine multi-role helicopter designed and built by HAL. At the same ceremony the IAF received 2 LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and 3 HTT-40 basic trainers. Exam angle: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and HAL CMD Ravi K attended.

Explanation

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) organised the conference 'The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics' at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 19-20 September 2026. Per the PMO, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated it on 19 September; President Droupadi Murmu is Chief Guest at the 20 September valedictory session. Judges and experts from 17 countries joined four technical sessions. Exam angle: the NGT was set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010; its Chairperson is Justice Prakash Shrivastava.

Explanation

The fifth edition of SEMICON India was held from 17 to 19 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi under the theme 'Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem', and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was organised by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), MeitY and SEMI. 'Sand to Silicon to Systems' was not the theme but the Value Chain Experience at the exhibition. Exam angle: the 2025 fourth edition ran on 'Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse'.

Explanation

The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on 18 September 2026 that the Marathi film 'Gondhal' is India's official entry for the 2027 Oscars. Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, it is set in rural Maharashtra and unfolds over a night of a traditional ritual centred on a newly-wed couple. Selection committee chairperson P Seshadri said it was picked from 33 films. The 99th Oscars fall on 14 March 2027. Exam angle: India's previous entry was Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound'.

Explanation

On 15 September 2026, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said Rajasthan had completed its 10 crore plantation target for 2026-27 under the Hariyalo Rajasthan Abhiyan ahead of schedule. The state government describes it as a historic achievement driven by public participation. The campaign draws on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. Exam angle: alongside block plantation, the Miyawaki method and fruit orchards were used for the drive.

Explanation

On 17 September 2026, Abhishek Sharma reached his century off just 30 balls in the third T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. He was dismissed for 108 off 34 balls with 11 sixes and nine fours. This is the fastest T20I hundred by a batter from any ICC Full Member nation, bettering the 33-ball mark held jointly by Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen. India made 221/7 and won by 127 runs to sweep the series 3-0.

Explanation

On 17 September 2026, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the world's highest-altitude twin flower fields at Choglamsar and Stakna in Leh, marking the Prime Minister's 76th birth anniversary. Situated at 10,600 feet and spread over 40 acres, they hold more than 25 lakh flowers, including 24 lakh Lilium and 1 lakh Gladiolus. Choglamsar will serve as a demonstration and training centre for commercial floriculture.

Explanation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 on 17 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi, the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi. This fifth edition ran from 17 to 19 September under the theme 'Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem', organised jointly by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), MeitY and global body SEMI. Exam angle: the Cabinet cleared Semicon 2.0 on 15 July 2026 with a Rs 1,27,500 crore outlay, against Rs 76,000 crore for Semicon 1.0.

Explanation

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 was held from 15 to 18 September 2026 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, under the theme 'Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity'. It was the 10th edition and the first WCEF held in South Asia. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurated it on 15 September. Exam angle: WCEF was launched in 2017 by Finland's Sitra; CPCB co-organised the 2026 edition.

Explanation

India's 51st Doppler Weather Radar was commissioned in September 2026 at Jamadarpali in Sambalpur, Odisha. The Make in India radar falls under Mission Mausam of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and covers western Odisha and parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Earth Sciences MoS (I/C) Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated it virtually; Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi was present. Exam angle: India had only 14 DWRs in 2014; about 40 more are planned under Mission Mausam, taking the network to roughly 81.

Explanation

Former IRDAI Chairman Debasish Panda, speaking to PTI in October 2022, called Bima Sugam the UPI moment for the insurance industry. It is a one-stop digital marketplace for buying insurance, policy servicing and claim settlement, run by the Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF). Its website went live in September 2025; Chairman Ajay Seth says motor, health and term products will go live by September-end 2026. Exam angle: it is part of the Bima Trinity, with Bima Vistaar and Bima Vahaak.

Explanation

India's gross GST collection rose 14.8% year-on-year to Rs 1,99,853 crore in August 2026, up from Rs 1,74,116 crore in August 2025. Domestic revenue grew 9.3% to Rs 1,37,249 crore, while revenue from imports rose 29% to Rs 62,604 crore. Refunds jumped 67.9% to Rs 31,795 crore, so net GST collection grew 8.3% to Rs 1,68,057 crore. Cumulative gross collection for April-August 2026 rose 11% to Rs 10,42,757 crore. Exam angle: the gap between gross and net growth is a likely question.

Explanation

WCEF 2026 (World Circular Economy Forum) is being held at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, its 10th edition and first in South Asia. Main forum: 15-16 September; accelerator sessions: 17-18 September. Theme: Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity. Organisers include CPCB, MoEF&CC, Gujarat government and Sitra, the Finnish fund that founded WCEF. Exam angle: WCEF 2025 was in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Jaipur hosted the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in March 2025.

Explanation

Home Minister Amit Shah opened the 6th All India Official Language Conference, held 14-15 September 2026 at CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. Organiser: MHA's Official Language Department; Rajbhasha Gaurav and Rajbhasha Kirti Awards 2025-26 were given. Past hosts: Varanasi (2021), Surat (2022), Pune (2023), New Delhi (2024), Gandhinagar (2025). Exam angle: the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in Devanagari as the Union's official language on 14 September 1949 (Article 343).

Explanation

ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, released CAZRI Moth-4, 5, 6 and 7 over the last three years. In Kharif 2026, an El Nino year, they kept growing and forming pods through a 35-day dry spell from 3 August to 7 September. Moth bean covers nearly 10 lakh hectares in western Rajasthan but yields only about 350 kg per hectare. Exam angle: the varieties show developmental plasticity, adjusting growth to soil moisture; Dr M.L. Jat is ICAR Director General.

Explanation

Seed demand of 23.32 quintals for CAZRI Jodhpur's four new moth bean varieties was placed through the SATHI portal for 2026, against 63.2 quintals in 2025. Seed is being produced on 7 hectares of CAZRI's farm. Then Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the SATHI portal and app on 19 April 2023; NIC built it on the theme Uttam Beej-Samriddh Kisan, with QR-code seed traceability. Exam angle: 1 quintal of breeder seed can yield about 1,000-1,400 quintals of certified seed.

Explanation

India assumed the BRICS Chairship on 1 January 2026 and hosted the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12-13 September 2026. The chairship theme was Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, reflecting the people-centric approach outlined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit. Leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration by consensus. This is India's fourth BRICS chairship, after 2012, 2016 and 2021. BRICS now has 11 full members.

Explanation

Dhiraj Bommadevara became the first Indian male archer to win an individual title at the Archery World Cup Final, winning the recurve men's crown in Saltillo, Mexico, on 12-13 September 2026. He beat Japan's Junya Nakanishi 6-5, shooting a 10 against a 9 in the shoot-off after the match was tied 5-5. He is only the second Indian individual champion at the event, after Dola Banerjee won the recurve women's title in Dubai in 2007. He also won gold at the Antalya stage this season.

Explanation

The 2026 Junior Asia Cup, organised by the Asian Hockey Federation, was played at the Moqi Training Base in Moqi, China, from 4 to 13 September 2026. India retained both titles. In the men's final, Anmol Ekka's side beat South Korea 4-1 for a fourth straight and record sixth crown. Led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu, the women beat hosts China 1-0 for a third consecutive title. Both teams qualified for the 2027 Junior World Cup.

Explanation

Schizopygopsis waddellii was recorded in India for the first time from a natural lake at about 12,800 feet (3,900 m) in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh. Specimens were collected in July 2026; the find was announced in September 2026. A snowtrout of the carp family Cyprinidae, it was earlier known from the Tibetan and Chinese plateaus, its type locality being Yamdrok Lake in Tibet. ICAR-CICFR Bhimtal led the study with the state fisheries department, using morphology and mitochondrial DNA.

Explanation

Pramod Bhagat won the Men's Singles SL3 gold at the Japan Para Badminton International 2026 in Tokyo, beating a fellow Indian 21-16, 21-08 in a 30-minute final. Partnering Sukant Kadam, he took silver in Men's Doubles SL3-SU5, losing to Indonesia's Hikmat Ramdani and Fredy Setiawan. Kadam completed 100 career medals at the event and lost the Men's Singles SL4 final to France's Lucas Mazur. Bhagat is the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic SL3 champion.

Explanation

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah on 9 September 2026 at the Rudraksh Centre, Varanasi. Union Minister Annpurna Devi launched it under the theme Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari, part of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Its five priorities include dietary diversity, hot cooked meals, Anganwadi Management Committees and 10 years of PMMVY. Poshan Abhiyaan began in 2018; the 8th Maah was launched from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

Explanation

On 9 September 2026, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), a Defence PSU, launched ORV Sagar Manthan at its Rishi Bankim Shipyard in Kolkata. It is being built for NCPOR under the Ministry of Earth Sciences as part of Vertical-4 of the Deep Ocean Mission. Costing about Rs 840 crore, the 89.5 m vessel can survey to 6 km depth and has a 30-year service life. Delivery is due in 2028; it will replace Sagar Kanya, bought from Germany in 1983.

Explanation

The 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas, the India-USA bilateral Army exercise, is being held in India from 9 to 28 September 2026. For the first time it uses a two-theatre format: the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner in Rajasthan for desert drills, and Auli in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, for high-altitude training. US troops come from the 11th Airborne Division and the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force. Begun in 2004, the 21st edition was held at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, in 2025.

Explanation

The 18th BRICS Summit was held on 12-13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the same venue that hosted the 2023 G20 Summit. India took over the BRICS chairship on 1 January 2026 under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. On 12 September the leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026 by consensus. China takes the chair in 2027.

Explanation

ISRO launched EOS-05, also called GISAT-1A, on GSLV-F17 at 2:55 am on 4 September 2026 from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota. It is India's first imaging satellite meant to work from geosynchronous orbit, watching the Indian subcontinent repeatedly from about 36,000 km for agriculture, water resources, forestry and disaster management. This was the 19th GSLV flight. The rocket left it in a Sub-GTO and the satellite raised its own orbit. Its predecessor EOS-03 was lost in 2021.

Explanation

President Droupadi Murmu appointed Dr Dinesh Sharma as Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 5 September 2026, effective from the date he assumes charge. Sharma is a BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the state from 2017 to 2022 and a former Mayor of Lucknow. He succeeds Admiral D.K. Joshi (Retd), who held the post from 8 October 2017. The President appoints a Union Territory's Lieutenant Governor.

Explanation

The Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble lies in Sivasagar district, Assam, and marks the capital landscape of the Ahom dynasty. India's Permanent Delegation submitted it to UNESCO's Tentative List on 19 June 2026 under cultural criteria (iii) and (iv), ref 7033. It covers Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar, the Namdang stone bridge and the Joysagar, Gaurisagar and Sivasagar tanks. Exam angle: Tentative List entry is not inscription; Charaideo Moidams became India's 43rd World Heritage Site in July 2024.

Explanation

Rang Ghar, the 'house of entertainment' at Sivasagar in Assam, is a two-storeyed oval royal pavilion, one of Asia's oldest surviving amphitheatres. Ahom king Swargadeo Pramatta Singha (1744-1751) rebuilt it in brick in 1746; it was earlier of bamboo and wood. Its roof is shaped like an inverted boat and carries carved stone crocodiles. Kings watched wrestling, buffalo fights and Rongali Bihu here. Exam angle: Talatal Ghar (Kareng Ghar) is Rudra Singha's palace-fort, not an amphitheatre.

Explanation

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on 10 September. It was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) with the World Health Organization (WHO). IASP set the triennial theme for 2024-2026 as 'Changing the Narrative on Suicide', with the call to action 'Start the Conversation'. 2026 is the third and final year of this campaign. Exam angle: 2021-2023 was 'Creating Hope Through Action' and 2018-2020 was 'Working Together to Prevent Suicide'.

Explanation

The Indian Air Force is organising Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan from 14 to 16 September 2026. The Defence Ministry says the three-day event has static displays and live demonstrations of indigenous Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS systems. Focus areas: surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies and electronic warfare. Exam angle: it aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat, drawing domestic makers, start-ups and innovators.

Explanation

The Pokhran Field Firing Range lies in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, in the Thar desert. The Indian Air Force is holding Dronathon-2026 here from 14 to 16 September 2026, with static and live demonstrations of indigenous unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies. Exam angle: Pokhran is also the site of India's nuclear tests - Pokhran-I in 1974 and Pokhran-II in May 1998, code-named Operation Shakti.

Explanation

At a review meeting on 9 September 2026 chaired by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, it was said that of the 28 priorities on economic, regulatory and procedural reforms identified at the Fifth Chief Secretaries' Conference convened by the Government of India, Rajasthan has completed 22, with six still under way, making it the country's leading state. Exam angle: reforms include fire safety rules in three categories with a single Fire NOC, and power connections up to 33 KV on self-declaration.

Explanation

DIGIPIN stands for Digital Postal Index Number. It is an open-source national addressing grid developed by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, with IIT Hyderabad and NRSC, ISRO. Note carefully: the code is not 10 digits but a 10-character alphanumeric string derived from latitude and longitude. Exam angle: it does not replace the six-digit PIN code in use since 1972 but complements it as an extra digital layer.

Explanation

DIGIPIN, or Digital Postal Index Number, divides India's territory into uniform grids of roughly 4 m x 4 m and gives each grid a unique 10-character alphanumeric code derived from its latitude and longitude. Citizens can look theirs up on the Know Your DIGIPIN portal. Exam angle: the system is open-source and stores no personal data, since the code is purely a function of location coordinates.

Explanation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Sri Lanka from 8 to 10 September 2026. The Ministry of Defence said the three-day visit was in line with India's Neighbourhood First policy and MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. Singh met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also holds the defence portfolio, and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Both sides reviewed the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation MoU signed at Colombo in April 2025.

Explanation

Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the President of Sri Lanka and also holds the defence portfolio himself. During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's three-day visit from 8 to 10 September 2026, his programme included meetings with President Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha. The visit came under the Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.

Explanation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Colour to the Goa Police on 7 September 2026 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji. It is the highest honour conferred on a military or police unit, awarded here for over eight decades of distinguished service. Shah said the 112 emergency response time had fallen from 18 minutes to 8 minutes, with a target of under six minutes. Goa CM Pramod Sawant and DGP Alok Kumar attended.

Explanation

The UN General Assembly, at its 80th session, adopted resolution A/80/L.99 by consensus on 4 September 2026, proclaiming 27 November each year as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. Led by Sierra Leone, it was co-sponsored by around 70 countries including India. Bhuwan Ribhu of Just Rights for Children initiated it and Sierra Leone's First Lady Dr Fatima Maada Bio championed it. India's Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign began on 27 November 2024.

Explanation

Veer Guardian 2026 is the bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), held at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan from 9 to 22 September 2026. It is the second edition; the first, Veer Guardian 2023, was held at Hyakuri Air Base in Japan in January 2023. The IAF is fielding indigenous LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI and Rafale jets, while the JASDF flies F-2A fighters. The Japanese contingent arrived on two C-2 transport aircraft.

Explanation

Veer Guardian 2026 is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district from 9 to 22 September 2026. It is the second edition of the India-Japan bilateral air exercise and the first held on Indian soil, as the 2023 edition took place at Hyakuri Air Base in Japan. Jodhpur Air Force Station comes under South Western Air Command (SWAC), which was raised at Jodhpur in 1980 and is now headquartered at Gandhinagar.

Explanation

On 20 August 2026 the Indian Patent Office granted Patent No. 599900 to the DRDO Chairman and ACRHEM at the University of Hyderabad, now renamed DIA-CoE. The invention BAM-H24 is a boron-, hydrogen- and nitrogen-rich energetic compound usable as a solid rocket fuel, propellant additive and burn-rate accelerator, with high thermal stability and low impact and friction sensitivity. Inventors: Dr M. Hanumantha Rao and Prof. Muralidharan Krishnamurthi; filed 21 December 2022.

Explanation

India's national observance of International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 was held at Panchkula, Haryana, on 6 September 2026. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated a national workshop themed 'From Crisis to Recovery'. It was organised with MoEFCC, the Central Zoo Authority, Haryana Forest & Wildlife Dept, BNHS and the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore. A coffee table book, 'Story of Jatayu', was released. Exam angle: IVAD falls on the first Saturday of September.

Explanation

The 89th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle was held at Surat, Gujarat, on 6 September 2026 under the theme 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat'. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya led it along with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. It began at the Sardar Patel statue at Mangadh Chowk and covered a 6-km ride to Sarthana Zoo. Exam angle: Sundays on Cycle runs under the Fit India Movement, launched on 29 August 2019.

Explanation

The Indian Air Force's Sarang Helicopter Display Team travelled to Egypt to take part in the 2nd El Alamein International Airshow, held from 8 to 10 September 2026 at El Alamein International Airport. Sarang is the world's only five-helicopter display team and flies the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. It performed its signature 'Dolphin Leap' along with a new manoeuvre, the 'Spot Stall Turn'. Exam angle: the ALH Dhruv is built by HAL.

Explanation

RULIP stands for the Rajasthan Urban Livability Improvement Project, an urban development programme supported by the Asian Development Bank. At the 7 September 2026 meeting in Jaipur between Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and ADB Country Director (India) Mio Oka, ADB reaffirmed support for the Jaipur Metro, RULIP and PRITHWI. Note: ADB documents also render it as an Investment Program. Exam angle: ADB was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Manila.

Explanation

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the China Masters Super 750 men's doubles title at Shenzhen on 6 September 2026. The world No. 5 pair beat China's He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in an hour and 10 minutes. It is India's first title at the tournament, which began in 2005. This was their 10th career BWF World Tour title and their second of the 2026 season, after the Singapore Open.

Explanation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the 'RAKSHA' document on defence diplomacy at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi, on September 3, 2026. It sets out India's strategic roadmap for global defence partnerships over the next 10 years. Its four pillars are strategic partnerships, capacity building via joint exercises, indigenous defence exports under Make in India, and maritime security. Exam angle: it reaffirms India's role as Net Security Provider and First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region.

Explanation

ISRO launched EOS-05 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on September 4, 2026. The mission was the 19th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, and it placed the satellite successfully into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The flight used a 4 m diameter ogive composite payload fairing and an indigenous cryogenic upper stage. Exam angle: the preceding 18th flight was GSLV-F16, which carried the India-US joint satellite NISAR in July 2025.

Explanation

ISRO placed the roughly 2,367 kg EOS-05 satellite into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit using GSLV-F17 from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota on September 4, 2026. It is the heaviest satellite yet injected into a transfer orbit by a GSLV. The vehicle stands 51.7 metres tall with a lift-off mass of about 420.5 tonnes. Exam angle: the first GSLV flight, D1, had a GTO payload capability of about 1,536 kg, a gain of roughly 54 percent over two decades.

Explanation

Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal, a Chhattisgarh High Court judge, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended his name on August 31, 2026, and the Centre notified the appointment on September 5, 2026. Governor Haribhau Bagde will administer the oath at Raj Bhavan, Jaipur. The court had functioned under an Acting Chief Justice for over ten months. Exam angle: the Rajasthan High Court has its principal seat at Jodhpur and a bench at Jaipur.

Explanation

Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal will be the 44th Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. The count covers only regular Chief Justices; those serving in an acting capacity are not numbered. The 43rd was Justice K. R. Shriram, in office from July to September 2025. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment on August 31, 2026 and the Centre notified it on September 5, 2026. Exam angle: the Rajasthan High Court was established at Jodhpur in 1949.

Explanation

Dr. Divyendu Sen is a Biology lecturer at Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Pachpahar (Bhawani Mandi), in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Teachers' Award on him at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 5 September 2026. He built Tree Talk, a QR code based plant study system, and a virtual biology lab. His students identified 12 asteroid candidates in a NASA supported citizen science campaign. Exam angle: the Ministry of Education runs the award.

Explanation

Dr. Vartika Gulati teaches at Government Girls Upper Primary School, Tumli Ka Bas, Chaksu, in Rajasthan's Jaipur district. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Teachers' Award on her at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 5 September 2026. During Covid-19 she taught on Google Meet and assessed pupils via Google Forms. She made audio books, comic books and videos for children with special needs, and contributed to DIKSHA and PM e-Vidya. Exam angle: the Ministry of Education runs the award.

Explanation

For the National Teachers' Awards 2026, the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education selected 48 school teachers, 26 men and 22 women, drawn from 27 states, 7 union territories and 6 central organisations. Rajasthan's awardees were Dr. Divyendu Sen and Dr. Vartika Gulati, while Uttar Pradesh had the highest count with three. Exam angle: selection runs through a three stage process at district, state or organisation, and national level.

Explanation

Belgian PM Bart De Wever made an official visit to India from 2 to 4 September 2026 at PM Narendra Modi's invitation, holding bilateral talks on 3 September. Belgium's Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken accompanied him. A defence cooperation Letter of Intent and MoUs on transnational and cyber crime, renewable energy and diplomatic training were signed, and the India-Belgium Investment Fast-Track Mechanism was launched. Exam angle: De Wever became Prime Minister in February 2025.

Explanation

The Ministry of External Affairs described this as the first visit to India by a Belgian Prime Minister in two decades. The previous one was by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt from 2 to 7 November 2006. Bart De Wever was in India from 2 to 4 September 2026. The visit built on Princess Astrid's economic mission of March 2025 and the first India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels on 15 July 2026. Exam angle: Antwerp in Belgium is a global hub of the diamond trade.

Explanation

On 4 September 2026 Smriti Mandhana became the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket. Playing a Women's Asia Cup 2026 Group A match against Hong Kong at Dubai International Stadium, she made 124 off 64 balls with 14 fours and 7 sixes, taking her tally across all three formats to 10,880 and passing Mithali Raj's 10,868. Exam angle: it was her 18th international hundred, which also took her past Meg Lanning's record of 17 centuries.

Explanation

Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma on 1 September 2026 became the first non-medical woman officer of the Indian Defence Services to attain two-star rank. The same day she took charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters. Commissioned into the IAF Education Branch on 18 June 1994, she served three decades at training establishments, field stations and Command Headquarters. Exam angle: in the medical stream Padma Bandopadhyay reached Air Vice Marshal first, in 2002.

Explanation

At a rural development review meeting on 2 September 2026, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said about 3,219 km of rural roads will be built in the state under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), of which 1,500 km will be completed in 2026-27 and the rest the following year. Exam angle: PMGSY is a Ministry of Rural Development scheme launched in 2000; separately, Rajasthan is laying concrete roads under Atal Pragati Path in villages with over 5,000 population.

Explanation

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced Atal Gyan Kendras at every gram panchayat headquarters, along with the posting of Atal Preraks, on Good Governance Day, 24 December 2024, marking the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. On 2 September 2026 he directed that the centres be rolled out in phases to every gram panchayat. Exam angle: the 2025-26 state budget said the first phase would cover panchayat headquarters with a population above 3,000.

Explanation

The RBI appointed Suman Ray as Executive Director with effect from 1 September 2026. Before the promotion he was Regional Director for Maharashtra. As ED he will look after the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) and Premises Departments. In over three decades at the RBI he has worked in currency management, financial inclusion, payment and settlement systems, consumer education and protection, and human resources. Exam angle: Ravi Shankar became an RBI ED in July 2026.

Explanation

ISRO's mission page describes EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation spacecraft and India's first ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. GSLV-F17 is scheduled to lift off at 02:55 AM IST on 4 September 2026 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, placing the roughly 2367 kg payload into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The earlier GISAT satellite EOS-03 failed to reach orbit in August 2021 when the cryogenic stage of GSLV-F10 underperformed.

Explanation

According to ISRO, GSLV-F17 is the 19th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. The three-stage rocket stands 51.7 m tall with a lift-off mass of 420.5 tonnes and flies the 4 m diameter ogive composite payload fairing. It will inject EOS-05 into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a nominal perigee of 170 km and an apogee of 28,934 km, lifting off from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

Explanation

At a Trust meeting in Ayodhya on 2 September 2026, retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra was named the first full-time Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The 62-year-old fighter pilot headed the Indian Air Force's Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor. He was chosen from 5,585 applicants, with 16 shortlisted for interview by a search panel headed by retired Justice Pramod Kohli. The Trust itself was constituted in February 2020.

Explanation

On 2 September 2026, Japan Credit Rating Agency upgraded India's Foreign Currency and Local Currency Long-term Issuer Ratings from BBB+ to A- with a stable outlook, and raised the country ceiling by one notch to A. JCR noted real GDP growth of 7.7 percent in FY2026, driven by private consumption and public investment, and expects over 6 percent growth in FY2027. This is an unsolicited rating. Separately, Japan's R&I had raised India from BBB to BBB+ in September 2025.

Explanation

INS Sudarshini, the Indian Navy's sail training ship, arrived at Barcelona, Spain on 1 September 2026 under her transoceanic expedition Lokayan 26. The 10-month voyage began from Kochi on 20 January 2026 and covers about 22,000 nautical miles. At Barcelona the ship undertakes professional and cultural engagements with the Spanish Navy and opens to visitors on 4 September. Earlier, at Ponta Delgada in the Azores, she marked India's 80th Independence Day on 15 August 2026.

Explanation

At the high-level meeting of 2 September 2026, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said that under the Atal Pragati Path scheme, cement concrete roads are being built in rural areas having a population of more than 5,000. The same meeting decided that Atal Gyan Kendras will be set up in a phased manner at every gram panchayat headquarters, offering modern library and e-library facilities, and that sports grounds will be developed at every gram panchayat level.

Explanation

According to NCRTC, the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar Namo Bharat corridor will start from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi, connect Munirka and Aerocity, and run via Gurugram to reach Alwar in Rajasthan. SNB stands for Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror. NCRTC puts the tentative length at 196 km with 22 main line stations. A consensus between the Rajasthan and Haryana governments in May 2026 pushed the project forward. Industrial hubs such as Bhiwadi and Neemrana are expected to benefit.

Explanation

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 31 August 2026, presided over by Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan. Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, it was delivered on 30 July 2026 with about 75 percent indigenous content. It supports saturation diving to 300 metres and is a mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle. Exam angle: INS Nistar, the class leader, was commissioned in July 2025.

Explanation

According to ISRO, Earth observation satellite EOS-05, also called GISAT-1A, is due for launch on 4 September 2026 aboard GSLV-F17 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This is the 19th flight of the GSLV and uses a 4 metre ogive payload fairing. The vehicle will place it in a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Exam angle: EOS-05 is India's first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit; predecessor GISAT-1 (EOS-03) was lost in the GSLV-F10 failure of 2021.

Explanation

The Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 on 27 August 2026. Framed under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, they make IST the common time reference for legal, administrative, commercial and official purposes. The Rules take effect 180 days after gazette publication and allow NavIC and other approved Indian timing sources. Exam angle: IST is maintained by CSIR-NPL.

Explanation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of a Rs 472-crore T-72 and T-90 tank overhaul facility at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on 27 August 2026, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav present. The unit works under Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited. The new facility will overhaul 80 tanks a year, against an Army requirement of about 230 annually. Exam angle: Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi currently overhauls around 150 tanks a year.

Explanation

On 31 August 2026, 39-year-old Lionel Messi announced on Instagram that he was retiring from the Argentina national team. This is retirement from international football only - he continues to play club football for Inter Miami in MLS. Since his 2005 debut he scored 125 goals in 207 internationals, played six World Cups, won the 2022 title in Qatar and was runner-up in 2014 and 2026. Exam angle: Argentina lost the final on 19 July 2026 in New Jersey to Spain.

Explanation

By a Public Health Department notification dated 20 August 2026, Goa declared cancer a Notified Disease under the Goa Public Health Act, 1985. Government and private hospitals, clinics, laboratories and oncologists must report newly diagnosed cases, in-situ and invasive, to the Directorate of Health Services within seven days and at most one month, building a State Cancer Registry. Exam angle: on 11 August 2026 the Supreme Court asked the remaining 19 states and UTs to notify cancer.

Explanation

The Pravasi Rajasthani Samman Awards (PRSA) are given by the Government of Rajasthan to Non-Resident Rajasthanis and NRR-run organisations for achievement in business, art, culture, industry, science, philanthropy and social service. Applications are invited by the nodal body, Rajasthan Foundation, at prsa.rajasthan.gov.in, with 13 September 2026 as the last date. Exam angle: Rajasthan Foundation was set up on 30 March 2001 under the Industries Department, headquartered at Yojana Bhawan, Jaipur.

Explanation

Nikol Pashinyan has been Prime Minister of Armenia since May 2018. Their meeting on 31 August 2026, on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, was his first face-to-face bilateral with PM Narendra Modi after his re-appointment following Armenia's June 2026 elections. The MEA said they discussed defence, economic, pharma, science and technology, culture and education ties, and West Asia. Exam angle: Armenia's capital is Yerevan; Pashinyan's predecessor was Karen Karapetyan.

Explanation

A Supreme Court bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the Rajasthan government in August 2026 to set up an Integrated Coordination Group under the Chief Secretary, plus a River Rejuvenation Authority. The ICG met on 1 September 2026 under Chief Secretary V. Srinivas to review the action plan; the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board is the nodal agency. Exam angle: the Jojri is a tributary of the Luni, joining it at Tilwara near Balotra.