Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 14-20 September 2026, Weekly Updates
14 September- 20 September 2026
National Current Affairs
1. SEMICON India 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 5th SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
- The three-day event brought together 600+ exhibitors, 300 international companies and delegations from 50+ countries.
- Government aims to support 200 startups and companies in chip design across semiconductor requirements.
- India currently accounts for nearly 20% of the global semiconductor design workforce.
2. EPFO Wage Ceiling Increased: Union Cabinet approved raising the mandatory EPFO coverage wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month. The measure could bring more employees under formal social-security coverage.
3. PM Vishwakarma – Three Years
- PM Vishwakarma completed three years on 17 September.
- The scheme has recorded around 30 lakh registrations.
- It supports artisans in 18 traditional trades through skill training, toolkits, credit and market linkages.
- Financial outlay: ₹13,000 crore (FY2023-24 to FY2027-28).
4. India Net Zero Portal: Ministry of Environment launched the India Net Zero Portal and National Action Plan on Climate Change Dashboard. Launched on World Ozone Day 2026. Intended to improve monitoring and public access to India’s climate-related actions.
5. Electric Mobility: Delhi emerged as the top-performing State/UT in the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025, released by NITI Aayog. The index assesses both policy framework and implementation outcomes in e-mobility.
6. Railways
- Indian Railways recorded 5.4% year-on-year growth in freight loading during August 2026.
- Freight loading reached 137.9 million tonnes, compared with 130.9 million tonnes in August 2025.
- Kavach 4.0 approved for more than 600 route-km of Lucknow Division, at a cost exceeding ₹250 crore.
- Electronic interlocking approved at seven Solapur Division stations.
7. Circular Economy & Drylands: India will host the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, 15–18 September.
- Theme: “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”
- Dryland Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi with the Delhi Declaration on Drylands, calling for greater South-South and triangular cooperation.
8. Kishau Multipurpose Dam: Six states—Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi—signed an agreement on the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. Objective includes water-resource management and rejuvenation of the Yamuna.
9. Jhiram Valley Maoist Attack Case: Special NIA Court, Jagdalpur, sentenced 10 convicts to death in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack case. The attack on 25 May 2013 killed 27 people, including senior Congress leaders, and injured 35 others.
10. Tribunal Reforms: Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider extending the tenure of retiring presiding officers and members of quasi-judicial bodies until fresh appointments are made.Government stated that 248 tribunal members were eligible for extension under the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026.
11. UPI Charges: Government clarified that banks cannot impose charges on UPI transactions up to ₹2,000. Similar protection applies to qualifying ₹2,000 transactions made through RuPay-powered debit cards.
12. Birth & Death Registration: The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 is scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2026. It strengthens provisions relating to delayed registration.
Defence Update
1. Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026: 22nd edition of India-US Army exercise Yudh Abhyas commenced. Conducted simultaneously at Auli, Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan. Around 600 personnel from each country participated.
2. Exercise Veer Guardian 2026: India-Japan air exercise continued at Jodhpur. Japanese F-2 fighter aircraft participated. Focus on air-combat interoperability and operational cooperation.
3. Dronathon 2026: IAF conducted its first Dronathon-2026 at Pokhran from 14 Sep to 16 Sep 2026. Over 20 defence companies, startups, MSMEs, DPSUs and innovators demonstrated unmanned-air-system technologies.
4. Indigenous Trainer Aircraft: HAL handed over LCA Mk-1 twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF. First HTT-40 aircraft mark a major step in indigenous basic flight training. HAL also handed over Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans.
5. India–Russia Defence Cooperation: Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth visited Russia.
- Discussions covered military training, spare parts, air-defence systems, BMP-3 infantry vehicles and future battle tanks.
- India and Russia continued discussions on strengthening capability development.
6. Women in Security Forces: Sanjukta Parashar became the first woman officer to head the CRPF’s CoBRA unit. CoBRA = Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, specialised in jungle warfare and anti-Naxal operations.
7. Naval Technology: France’s Naval Group and India’s NIBE Ltd signed an MoU concerning underwater drones, mine-countermeasure vessels, submarine systems and modular weapon-launching platforms.
International Current Affairs
1. BRICS Summit 2026
- The 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi.
- PM Modi stressed that BRICS’ diversity should remain its identity, cooperation its inspiration, and progress should serve humanity.
- New Delhi Declaration focused on multilateralism, development, global governance and cooperation.
2. India–China: PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. India also rejected the so-called Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, maintaining that Pakistan has no locus standi regarding Indian territory under its illegal occupation.
3. India–Canada: India and Canada began the fourth round of negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both sides seek to raise bilateral trade to US$50 billion by 2030.
4. India–Bangladesh: India supplied around 4,000 MT of diesel to Bangladesh through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
5. India–UAE: PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed developments in West Asia and regional peace, security and stability.
World Current Affairs
1. West Asia & Energy Security: Continuing conflict in West Asia has increased pressure on regional shipping and energy supplies.Oil prices remained above US$100/barrel amid concerns over supplies and shipping routes.
2. Russia–Ukraine: International discussions continued over possible peace efforts. US President Donald Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy targets, although implementation details remained unspecified.
4. Pakistan: A suicide bombing at a mosque inside Kohat Police Lines, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, caused significant casualties.
5. US–Russia Sanctions: US President Donald Trump signed a new Russia sanctions bill targeting Russian officials and parts of the Russian economy.
Science & Technology
1. Semiconductor Design: India currently accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s semiconductor design workforce. Government is supporting training of around 85,000 design engineers. SEMICON India 2026 aims to strengthen India’s role in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
2. Ayush & Artificial Intelligence: Ministry of Ayush is advancing the use of AI in Ayurveda and other Ayush systems through the Ayush Grid digital platform.
3. Marine Biotechnology: Karnataka approved a Marine Biotechnology Policy 2026–2031. With an objective to develop the state’s Blue Bioeconomy, marine-biotechnology enterprises and coastal research/industrial infrastructure.
4. Space & Commercial Crew: NASA expanded SpaceX’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract by about US$946 million. Three additional Crew Dragon missions—Crew-15, Crew-16 and Crew-17—were added for ISS missions.
5. India’s Cheetah Programme: India’s cheetah population reached 52 after translocation from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. The programme represents the world’s first intercontinental translocation of large wild carnivores. Pasted text
Sports Update
1. Asian Games 2026
- The 20th Asian Games officially opened on 19 September 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Dates: 19 September–4 October 2026.
- Features 43 sports and 469 gold-medal events.
- India’s flag-bearers: Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
2. Chess Olympiad
- India began the 46th Chess Olympiad with a 3–1 victory over Thailand.
- World champion D. Gukesh won his game.
- Indian men’s team later defeated Spain 3–1; the women’s team defeated Mongolia 3–1.
3. India–Afghanistan T20I: India completed a 3–0 series sweep against Afghanistan. Abhishek Sharma scored a century off 30 balls, recorded as India’s fastest T20I century
4. Junior Asia Cup Hockey
- India won both men’s and women’s Junior Asia Cup titles.
- Men defeated South Korea 4–1, securing India’s sixth men’s title.
- Women defeated China 1–0, completing a hat-trick of titles.
5. Para Badminton
- Pramod Bhagat won men’s singles SL3 gold at the Japan International.
- He also won men’s doubles SL3-SU5 silver with Sukant Kadam.
6. Other Sports
- Meghalaya hosted the North East Inter-State Badminton Championship 2026, involving players from all eight Northeastern states.
- India will host the Asian Senior Wushu Championships 2028 for the first time.
Important Observances Day
1. World Ozone Day – 16 September
- Theme 2026: “Global Action for a Cooler Planet.”
- Highlights protection of the ozone layer and global environmental cooperation.
2. Vishwakarma Puja – 17 September
- Observed in several parts of India, especially among artisans, industrial workers and occupational communities.
3. Hyderabad Liberation Day – 17 September
- Marks the integration of the former Hyderabad State into the Indian Union in 1948.
4. World Bamboo Day – 18 September
- 2026 theme: “Bamboo Beyond Borders.”
- Highlights bamboo’s ecological, economic and sustainable-development value.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi ranked top among States/UTs.
- Sagar Manthan: Indigenous Ocean Research Vessel by GRSE.
- Dronathon 2026: Pokhran, 14–16 September.
- Yudh Abhyas 2026: India–US.
- Veer Guardian 2026: India–Japan.
- Project Kusha: Indigenous long-range air-defence programme.
- India’s cheetah population: 52.
- Ladakh: Kumik village in Zanskar declared the region’s first designated Heritage Village.
- EMRS: NSTFDC and HPCL signed an MoU for smart classrooms/computer labs in 29 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Rajasthan.
- Small exporters: Exemption from Registration-cum-Membership Certificate for export consignments up to ₹3 lakh.
- Kharif agriculture: Rice and pulses remained among the major cultivated crops amid continuing monsoon activity.
