Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 07-13 September 2026, Weekly Updates

Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 07-13 September 2026, Weekly Updates

07 September- 13 September 2026

National Current Affairs

1. BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026

• BRICS countries adopted the New Delhi Declaration at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
• The 45-page declaration contains 140 points covering multilateralism, global governance, terrorism, trade, energy security, conflict prevention, women empowerment and international finance.
• India’s 2026 BRICS theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
• China will chair BRICS and host the 19th Summit in 2027.

2. PMAY-Urban 2.0: Government approved 18.77 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban 2.0. The initiative advances the objective of Housing for All in urban areas.

3. Railway Infrastructure

• Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Rail Project: 41st tunnel breakthrough achieved with completion of Escape Tunnel-1.
• The 125-km project has an estimated cost of ₹37,000 crore and target completion of December 2029.
• Southern Railway achieved 100% electrification of its Broad Gauge network covering 5,068 route km.
• Union Cabinet approved 8 multitracking railway projects worth over ₹20,800 crore, covering about 1,196 km across nine states, targeted for completion by 2029–30.

4. PM-SETU: Strategic Investment Plans worth over ₹735 crore approved for ITI clusters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana with aim to  upgrade ITIs and improve skilling and employability.

5. Agriculture & Rural Development

• Kharif crop coverage crossed 1,086 lakh hectares.
• Rice accounted for more than 421 lakh hectares and pulses over 117 lakh hectares.
• Agriculture Minister reviewed PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and women-led rural enterprises.
• Target of Lakhpati Didis was reiterated for expansion from 3 crore to 6 crore.

6. Technology in Agriculture: Google DeepMind’s India-focused agriculture initiative introduced:

• Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU)
• Agricultural Monitoring and Event Detection (AMED)
• These models are designed to provide field-level agricultural intelligence.

7. Indigenous Dairy Biotechnology: A healthy Badri female calf was born using OPU-IVF technology at G.B. Pant University. A Badri embryo was created in a laboratory and transferred into a Sahiwal surrogate cow. Important for livestock breeding, reproductive biotechnology and indigenous cattle conservation.

8. Aravalli Hills: Supreme Court fixed 30 November 2026 as the non-extendable deadline for the High-Powered Committee to submit its final report on the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges.

Defence Update

1. Exercise Veer Guardian 2026

• India-Japan bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026 began at Jodhpur.
• Conducted from 9–22 September.
• Focus: interoperability, operational synergy and mutual understanding between IAF and JASDF.
• Japanese C-2 transport aircraft arrived ahead of the exercise.

2. Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026

• Indian and US armies commenced Yudh Abhyas 2026 on 11 September.
• Conducted in Bikaner, Rajasthan and Auli, Uttarakhand.
• Focus: strengthening joint operational capabilities.

3. Defence Acquisition Council

• DAC gave in-principle approval to military acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore.
• Around 98% is expected to be sourced from Indian industry.
• Important for defence indigenisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

4. Project Kusha: DRDO’s official publications list the maiden flight-test of Project Kusha, India’s long-range surface-to-air missile programme, as a September 2026 development.

5. National Drone Traffic Management

• India is developing a National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) system for drones operating below 1,000 feet.
• It will integrate with DGCA’s Digital Sky platform.
• Applications include logistics, agriculture, surveillance and emergency services.

6. Indian Ocean Security

• Colombo Security Conclave Table Top Exercise concluded at Visakhapatnam.
• Focus: coordinated response to illicit maritime activities in the Indian Ocean Region.

7. Defence Testing Infrastructure: India plans a new missile and weapons testing facility at Junput, West Bengal, supplementing the existing Chandipur range in Odisha.

International Current Affairs

1. India–Russia

• India and Russia set a bilateral trade target of US$100 billion by 2030.
• Both countries are also pursuing a Bilateral Investment Treaty and an investment target of US$50 billion.
• Russia proposed cooperation on an advanced fighter engine for India’s Su-30MKI fleet.

2. India–Sri Lanka: India and Sri Lanka signed MoUs concerning Upgradation of L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Sri Lankan leadership and discussed regional peace and security.

3. India–Australia: Five industry partnerships were announced in the space sector covering:

• Satellite infrastructure
• Spacecraft recovery
• Spaceport activities
• Research
• Advanced manufacturing

4. India–China: India and China held commander-level meetings along the LAC following understandings reached through Special Representatives and WMCC mechanisms. Discussions focused on maintaining peace and stability along the border.

5. India–Ethiopia: India and Ethiopia discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, including defence.

6. BRICS: India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Key themes included multilateralism, economic cooperation, global governance, terrorism, energy security and international financial reform.

7. Other International Developments

• Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel undertook an official visit to India.
• China Southern Airlines announced resumption of Guangzhou–New Delhi flights from 21 September.
• Thailand announced visa-free stay up to 30 days for Indian ordinary passport holders, effective 15 September.

8. Middle East: BRICS discussions included the need for greater efforts toward peace and stability in the Middle East. India condemned reported Houthi attacks targeting Saudi sovereign territory and civilian/economic infrastructure.

9. Canada–US Trade: Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on US goods worth about C$28 billion.

10. Pakistan–Afghanistan: Pakistan ordered medical and dental institutions to expel Afghan students and halt new admissions amid deteriorating bilateral relations.

11. Sweden Elections: Sweden held general elections on 13 September 2026 to elect the 349-member Riksdag. Local elections were held simultaneously.

12. World Knowledge Forum: 27th World Knowledge Forum held in Seoul, South Korea, focusing on global economic, technological and geopolitical changes.

Science & Technology

1. Agentic AI in Agriculture: Google DeepMind’s ALU and AMED models aim to provide field-level agricultural intelligence. Represents the application of AI to crop monitoring, landscape understanding and agricultural decision-making.

2. Ocean Research Vessel – Sagar Manthan: ORV Sagar Manthan (Yard 3041) launched on 9 September at Kolkata. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).

3. Nehru Planetarium: Revamped Nehru Planetarium inaugurated in New Delhi. Objective: improve astronomy awareness, science communication and public engagement.

 Sports Update

1. World Archery Para Series

• India finished the Ahmedabad Stage 3 with 15 medals:
  • 4 Gold
  • 3 Silver
  • 8 Bronze
• Harvinder Singh and Sheetal Devi were among India’s leading performers.

2. Asian Games 2026: 503-member Indian contingent received a formal send-off. Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games begin 19 September 2026. India will participate in 34 sports.

3. Women’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey: India defeated South Korea 5–1 to reach the final. India will face China in the final.

Important Observances Day

1. International Literacy Day – 8 September

• Observed every year on 8 September.
• UNESCO proclaimed the day in 1966.
• Highlights literacy as a foundation for individuals, communities and societies.

2. Saragarhi Day – 12 September: Observed in Punjab to commemorate the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Saragarhi.

3. World First Aid Day 2026: Observed on 12 September.

• Theme: “First Aid in Migration Contexts.”
• Focuses on emergency-care skills for migrants and displaced populations.

Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs

• Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Rail: 41st tunnel breakthrough; 125 km; ₹37,000 crore.
• Southern Railway: 5,068 route-km Broad Gauge network fully electrified.
• Kavach: Railway safety technology for automatic train protection.
• Badri calf: First important indigenous cattle-breeding application of OPU-IVF highlighted this week.
• Veer Guardian 2026: India–Japan air exercise.
• Yudh Abhyas 2026: India–US Army exercise.
• Asian Games: Aichi-Nagoya, 19 September–4 October 2026.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029: Union Home Minister launched a three-year roadmap targeting drug-network disruption, fugitive recovery, destruction of illegal laboratories and demand reduction.
• Hyderabad may introduce a common Metro–RTC travel pass.
• Sikkim launched CM-SAATHI, including a two-month crash course for economically weaker students preparing for JEE and NEET.
• Nehru Planetarium in New Delhi was revamped to promote astronomy and science communication.
• India is examining expansion of high-speed rail, including the proposed Delhi–Patna corridor.