22nd September, 2026

1. Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub Signs 4 Agreements at INNOPROM India 2026
2. India Makes First Soil Carbon Payments to Farmers in Punjab & Haryana
3. APEDA Signs MoU with InD Events Dubai to Strengthen Global Food Trade Opportunities
4. IIIT-Bangalore and TCA Sign LOI to Boost Collaboration in AI, Electronics and Smart Technologies
5. novio & IOB Launch Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card to Expand Formal Credit Access
6. India’s First indigenous Long-Range OWA Drone ‘KAL’ Successfully Tested at Pokhran Range
7. New Tiger Cat Species ‘Leopardus tilcayo’ Identified in Bolivia After More Than a Century
8. World Bamboo Day 2026 – September 18
9. World Water Monitoring Day 2026 – September 18
10. MP Becomes First State to Launch Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana 2026 For Free Rural Property Registration
11. ONGC Strikes Gas in Mahanadi Offshore Under Samudra Manthan
12. Sagarmala Finance to Launch India’s Maiden Blue Bond
13. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Records 3,261 Flowering Plant Species
14. Jayanti Prasad Takes Additional Charge as IBBI Chairperson
15. India Co-Sponsors Inaugural P4M Summit at UN, Jaishankar Calls for Reformed Multilateralism
16. Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026: Indian Air Force to Host Multinational Air Exercise in Jodhpur
17. Starbucks to Set Up Its First India GCC in Chennai, Create 800 Jobs
18. Savita Punia Becomes India’s Most-Capped Women’s Hockey Player
19. Gwalior to Get Asia’s First Telecom Manufacturing Zone
20. Amit Shah to Inaugurate National ANTF Conference in Delhi
21. Chandni Chowk Town Hall to Become Global Heritage Centre
22. Smriti Mandhana Becomes Highest Women’s T20I Run-Scorer: Full List
23. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan inaugurates 9th India International Water Week in New Delhi
24. EAM S Jaishankar attends first V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York
25. India’s Semiconductor Market Projected to Reach 200 Billion Dollars by 2035: Report
26. Defence Ministry Signs ₹586 Crore Contract for APUs for T-72 and T-90 Tanks
27. 18th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant Begins in Pithoragarh
28. 11th Ayurveda Day to Be Celebrated on Sep 23
29. Jharkhand celebrates Karam festival with cultural programmes and traditional rituals
30. Census-2027 Phase-II Population Enumeration to Begin in Punjab from November 16
31. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Lays Foundation Stone for ISRO Advanced Radar Research Facility
32. NIT-Srinagar Set to Become First NIT with Dedicated Campus Observatory
33. IGNCA to Organise Seventh Edition of Nadi Utsav from Sep 24
34. Smriti Mandhana becomes first cricketer to score 11,000 runs in women’s internationals
35. World Rhino Day observed with focus on protecting five remaining rhino species

National News

India Co-Chairs Inaugural Multilateralism Summit

• What: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired the first-ever Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M) Summit on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session at UN headquarters in New York.
• Tell me more:
  • India co-sponsored the summit with Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Kenya and the European Union during the 81st United Nations General Assembly session.
  • He highlighted the “4F” crisis of fuel, food, fertiliser and finance and called for safeguards for emerging technologies and diversified supply chains.
  • Jaishankar called for wider participation, transparent decisions and stronger international law, while the summit highlighted cooperation on peace, climate, development finance, counter-terrorism, supply chains and disaster resilience.

Amit Shah to Lead National Anti-Narcotics Conference in New Delhi

• What: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads in New Delhi on 22 September 2026 to strengthen efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
• Tell me more:
  • The two-day conference will bring together ANTF heads from 36 States and Union Territories, along with representatives from concerned government departments and stakeholders.
  • Amit Shah will release anti-drug awareness television commercials, lay foundation stones for new Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zone complexes in Lucknow and Dehradun, and launch the revamped NCB website.
  • The conference will review targets under the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-29) and discuss supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction measures.

Vice President Inaugurates 9th India International Water Week in New Delhi

• What: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week 2026 organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi to address emerging water challenges.
• Tell me more:
  • The Netherlands and Germany participate as partner countries alongside fourteen states acting as partner states.
  • Six central ministries and departments collaborate to strengthen cross-sectoral convergence for climate-resilient water management.
  • The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation organizes the Second International WASH Conference concurrently in New Delhi to focus on public health and sanitation infrastructure.

India Joins V4 Foreign Ministers’ First Meeting

• What: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar joined Foreign Ministers of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic for the first V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York.
• Tell me more:
  • The meeting discussed stronger cooperation between India and the Visegrád Group (V4) in trade, investment, technology, defence, connectivity, education and mobility.
  • The Visegrád Group (V4) is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

11th Ayurveda Day Celebrations in India

• What: The Ministry of Ayush hosted the 11th Ayurveda Day (September 23) celebrations in Nagpur under the theme “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow”, bringing together Ayurveda institutions, practitioners, and stakeholders across India and worldwide.
• Tell me more:
  • The event featured the launch of the first-ever Report on the “Ayush Services Sector”, prepared by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).
  • Safety Dossiers on Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) and Chandrasura (Lepidium sativum), along with Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) on Skin Disorders, were also released.
  • The programme launched the “From Traditional Wisdom to Global Leadership: Ayush Vision 2030” Report and the CCRAS-AGNI Assessment Scale Web Portal.
  • Two scientific sessions were held, focusing on Ayurveda’s road to 2047 and integrating therapies to reduce Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) burden by 2027.

IGNCA to Host Seventh Edition of Nadi Utsav

• What: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, will organise the seventh edition of Nadi Utsav, focusing on the Yamuna River.
• Tell me more:
  • The three-day festival is themed “The Eternal Yamuna: Chronicles of Conflict, Biotic Healing and the Socio-Cultural Hearth.”
  • The event will also feature a documentary film festival themed “River as an Archivist,” featuring filmmakers who focus on rivers.
  • Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu will inaugurate the festival.

State News

India Begins First Soil Carbon Payments to Farmers

• What: India released over ₹2.9 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 2,550 farmers in Punjab and Haryana for adopting regenerative farming practices under the Aadi farmer carbon programme.
• Tell me more:
  • Farmers used Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), reduced tillage and crop-residue management from 2019 to 2022, generating verified carbon credits.
  • The first issuance covered around 30,000 acres and more than 50,000 carbon credits, with farmers receiving approximately ₹3,000 to ₹15,000.
  • The Aadi programme covers over two million acres and more than 100,000 farmers across seven states, using the Verra VM0042 methodology.
  • The programme estimates 45 billion litres of water savings and more than two lakh tonnes of crop residue kept out of fires during 2019–2022.

IIIT Bangalore and TCA Plan Technology Cooperation

• What: The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore) and Taipei Computer Association (TCA) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore cooperation between Taiwan and Karnataka in technology, innovation and the digital economy.
• Tell me more:
  • The organisations will work towards a Memorandum of Understanding covering information and communication technology, digital economy, science and technology, and innovation.
  • The partnership will cover AI, electronics, smart manufacturing, smart cities and cybersecurity, while enabling knowledge sharing, business links and connections with Taiwanese hardware and semiconductor companies.

Madhya Pradesh Launches Free Rural Property Registration

• What: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched the Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026 in Indore to provide free registration for approximately 50 lakh private rural properties across all 55 districts.
• Tell me more:
  • The campaign waives stamp duty and registration fees, while Patwaris facilitate property documentation through village camps, providing rural citizens secure legal ownership of ancestral properties.

ONGC Discovers Natural Gas in Mahanadi Deepwaters

• What: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) discovered natural gas in the deep waters of the Mahanadi Offshore Basin off Odisha under its Samudra Manthan initiative.
• Tell me more:
  • ONGC discovered natural gas at 1,623 metres depth, with gas-bearing zones at 1,441–1,452 metres, marking Samudra Manthan’s first Mahanadi exploration drill.
  • ONGC plans to fast-track development using shared infrastructure under the Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) Rules, 2025.
  • ONGC has announced ₹1 lakh crore investment in deepwater exploration over the next five years.

New Checklist Highlights Agasthyamalai Plant Diversity

• What: The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) compiled a new checklist documenting 3,261 flowering plant species in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, highlighting its high endemism and biodiversity.
• Tell me more:
  • The checklist improves species identification by reviewing earlier records, while proposed conservation measures address habitat threats and future research on endemic species and climate vulnerability.

Starbucks Establishes Global Capability Centre in Chennai

• What: US-based coffee chain Starbucks signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to establish its first Global Capability Centre in Chennai, which will create 800 high-value technology jobs in its first phase.
• Tell me more:
  • The new technology facility will support Starbucks’ global business operations independently of its retail joint venture with Tata Consumer Products.
  • The facility aims to strengthen capabilities and talent to support partners, coffeehouses, and customers worldwide.

Delhi Town Hall to Become Global Heritage Centre

• The Delhi government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to redevelop the historic Town Hall complex in Chandni Chowk into a Global Heritage Centre.

Gwalior to Host Telecom Manufacturing Zone

• What: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that Gwalior will host Asia’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone with an investment of approximately ₹5,500 crore, creating over 18,000 direct jobs.
• Tell me more:
  • The Department of Telecommunications proposed a Common Testing Lab package worth approximately ₹500 crore.
  • The Madhya Pradesh government introduced a dedicated incentive package covering land leases, power, employment, and production.

Karam Festival Celebrated Across Jharkhand

• What: Karam festival, celebrating Jharkhand’s tribal culture, nature, and the bond between brothers and sisters, is being observed across the state with traditional fervour and state-level programmes.
• Tell me more:
  • Jharkhand Governor – Santosh Kumar Gangwar
  • Chief Minister – Hemant Soren

Punjab to Start Census-2027 Second Phase Enumeration

• What: The second phase of Population Enumeration under Census-2027 will begin in Punjab from November 16 and continue till January 4, 2027, with online self-enumeration and door-to-door counting.
• Tell me more:
  • Online self-enumeration will take place from November 16 to 30, while door-to-door enumeration will run from December 1 to January 4, 2027.

International News

New Wild Cat Species Identified in Bolivia

• What: Scientists identified a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests, marking the first formal description of a new living cat species in more than a century.
• Tell me more:
  • Researchers analysed DNA from 38 cats across South America and found that tiger cats comprise five distinct species, with Tilcayo separating about 1.4 million years ago.
  • Local communities have known the cat as Tilcayo for generations, and researchers retained the local name in its scientific name.

Banking and Economy

Novio and IOB Launch Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card

• What: Consumer credit platform novio, operated by Credilio Financial Technologies, partnered with Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to launch a co-branded RuPay credit card for UPI-active and first-time credit users.
• Tell me more:
  • The card offers digital onboarding, FD-backed credit and two variants, while combining IOB’s network with novio’s platform to expand formal credit access across tier-V cities.

Sagarmala Finance Plans India’s Maiden Blue Bond

• What: Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans to issue India’s first blue bond on September 28 to raise ₹6 billion through 10-year bonds for sustainable maritime projects.
• Tell me more:
  • The fundraising target includes a ₹5 billion greenshoe option, with proceeds supporting maritime sector lending, greenfield port projects and coastal road networks.
  • State Bank of India Capital Markets is the arranger for the ICRA- and CARE-rated AA+ issue, with large insurers and provident funds approached for investment.

India’s Semiconductor Market May Reach USD 200 Billion

• What: India’s semiconductor market is projected to grow from nearly USD 64 billion in 2026 to USD 200 billion by 2035, creating opportunities for domestic manufacturing, innovation and stronger supply chains.
• Tell me more:
  • Consumer electronics accounts for 30% of the market, followed by automotive at 16% and industrial applications at 15%, while AI, data centres and electric mobility add new demand.
  • Semiconductor imports increased from USD 5.7 billion in FY17 to USD 30.3 billion in FY25, highlighting the need for greater domestic fabrication.
  • India has nearly 20% of global chip design engineers, while electronics production increased from ₹1.9 lakh crore in FY15 to ₹11.3 lakh crore in FY25.
  • The EY–IESA report identifies advanced packaging, compound semiconductors, photonics and chip-to-system integration as high-potential areas.
  • The report recommends integrated manufacturing clusters, aligned state policies and specialised talent-certification programmes across fabrication, design and packaging.

Defence News

India Tests Indigenous Long Range Attack Drone ‘KAL’

• What: Noida-headquartered defence technology company IG Defence successfully flight-tested India’s first indigenous long-range one-way attack drone named KAL at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan.
• Tell me more:
  • The newly tested loitering munition features a maximum range of 1,000 km and a payload capacity of up to 50 kg.
  • The flight trial validated the drone’s integrated systems and navigation architecture, while several Gulf nations expressed procurement interest subject to government export clearances.

IAF to Host Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

• What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 26 September to 12 October 2026, bringing multiple foreign air forces together for joint aerial operations and tactical training.
• Tell me more:
  • The first edition took place in 2024 in two phases at Sulur, Tamil Nadu and Jodhpur, Rajasthan, involving several foreign air forces.
  • The 2024 exercise included Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Ministry of Defence Signs Tank Power Contract

• What: The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth ₹586 crore with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited in New Delhi to procure auxiliary power units for T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks.
• Tell me more:
  • The auxiliary power units support fire control, firing and gun stabilisation, improving Army readiness and reliability while advancing indigenisation of critical sub-systems under the industry-led Make-II framework.

India-Mongolia Begin 18th Nomadic Elephant Exercise

• What: The 18th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, with 45 personnel from each country participating in counter-insurgency training from 21 September to 3 October 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • The exercise trains both armies in counter-insurgency operations, cyber security, drones and other tactics, helping soldiers share skills, improve drills and work together effectively in difficult terrain.
  • The previous edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, during May–June 2025.

Science and Technology

Foundation for ISRO Radar Facility Laid in Assam

• What: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone of the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) Advanced Radar Research Facility at Chandrapur, Kamrup Metropolitan district, Assam to strengthen India’s space monitoring capabilities.
• Tell me more:
  • The facility is part of Project NETRA (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis), aimed at enhancing India’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities.
  • It will use advanced radar systems and optical telescopes to monitor and track satellites and other space objects.
  • The state government allotted around 200 bighas of land at the former Chandrapur Thermal Power Station site to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the project.
  • The first radar for cloud research is expected to be installed by February next year, aiding weather and atmospheric research in the region.

NIT Srinagar Gets First Campus-Based Observatory

• What: The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, is set to become the first NIT in India to have a dedicated campus-based observatory, equipped with a 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
• Tell me more:
  • The NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA) will be inaugurated on September 22, 2026, marking a milestone in science education and research.
  • The observatory features a 14-inch Celestron C14 EdgeHD Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a computerised equatorial mount and specialised astronomical imaging equipment.
  • The facility is being developed with scientific guidance from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, to observe celestial objects and support student training and astronomy outreach.

Important Days

World Bamboo Day 2026 – September 18

World Water Monitoring Day 2026 – September 18

World Rhino Day 2026 – September 22

• 2026 Theme: “Keep the Five Alive”
• There are five living species of rhinos in the world today. The White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis) are found in Africa, while the Greater One-Horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) lives in India and Nepal.
• The Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is found only on Java Island in Indonesia, while the Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is found in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Sports

Savita Punia Becomes Most Capped Player

• What: Indian women’s hockey team goalkeeper Savita Punia became the country’s most-capped female player by making her 321st international appearance during a match against Indonesia at the Asian Games.
• Tell me more:
  • The veteran goalkeeper surpassed Vandana Katariya’s record of 320 appearances, earning a ₹10 lakh reward from Hockey India after making her senior international debut in 2009.

Smriti Mandhana Completes 11,000 Runs

• What: Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 international runs during the Asian Games gold-medal final against Sri Lanka at Korogi Sports Park.
• Tell me more:
  • The athlete accumulated these runs across Test matches, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals.
  • The milestone follows her recent achievement of surpassing Mithali Raj’s record to become the highest run-scorer across all formats in women’s international cricket.

Memorandum of Understanding

India-Russia ‘Innopraktika’ Technology Hub Signs Four Technology Agreements

• What: The Indo Russia ‘Innopraktika’ Technology Hub signed four Memoranda of Understanding at Innoprom India 2026 to strengthen cooperation between India and Russia in artificial intelligence, healthcare, electronics, investment and technology.
• Tell me more:
  • The Hub signed an agreement with the Government of Nizhny Novgorod Region and RUSSOFT to establish an India–Russia Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
  • The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Panorama Electronics and the Hub agreed to promote technology companies and investment between both countries.
  • The Hub and NexTouch agreed to establish a joint venture in India for selling NexTouch equipment and pursuing government and institutional projects.
  • The Hub signed a cooperation agreement with SberMedAI to explore Artificial Intelligence and information technology applications in healthcare, including diagnostics and clinical decision-making.

APEDA Signs MoU for India’s Gulfood 2027 Partnership

• What: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with InD Events Dubai for India’s participation as Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027.
• Tell me more:
  • India will continue as the Official Partner Country for the second consecutive year, building on the business momentum from Gulfood 2026.
  • Gulfood 2027 will take place from 15–19 March 2027 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), providing Indian exporters access to international buyers.
  • India will showcase value-added food products through exporters, FPOs, MSMEs, startups and institutions, while B2B meetings will create partnerships and export opportunities for emerging businesses.
  • The partnership will strengthen India-UAE trade under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and support access to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Middle Eastern and African markets.

Appointments

Jayanti Prasad Takes Additional Charge As IBBI Chairperson

• The central government appointed Whole-Time Member Jayanti Prasad to take additional charge as the chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

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