23rd September, 2026

1. Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates 51st Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur, Odisha
2. Nibe and France’s Naval Group Sign MoU for Naval Shipbuilding and Defence Technologies
3. UN Women & UN DESA Release ‘The Gender Snapshot 2026’; 1 in 3 Gender Equality Institutions Weakened
4. Union Minister Manohar Lal Leads India at G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting 2026 in Houston, USA
5. RNFI Money Gets RBI Approval for Cross-Border Trade Remittances
6. CCI Approves Acquisition of Three Cricket Franchises by Westview Cricket and Poonawalla Sports
7. Padma Shri Awardee and Cardiologist G. Vijayaraghavan Passed Away at 84
8. World Cleanup Day 2026 – September 20
9. National Pharmacovigilance Week 2026 – September 17–23
10. US, Denmark and Greenland Sign New Arctic Defense Agreement
11. Cyclone Arnab: IMD Predicts Deep Depression Near Andhra-Odisha
12. S&P Raises India FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 7%
13. OECD raises India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast by 80 bps to 7.1%
14. ADB raises India FY27 growth forecast to 7%, cuts FY28 estimate to 7.1%
15. Fitch Raises India FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.9%
16. Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver, Ends India’s 28-Year Weightlifting Wait
17. EAM S. Jaishankar, UAE and French Counterparts Discuss AI, Space, Energy and Culture
18. PM Modi, LS Speaker Pay Tributes to Poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on His Birth Anniversary
19. Union Minister Jitendra Singh Holds Talks with European Parliament Delegation on India-EU FTA and Technology Cooperation
20. International Day of Sign Languages Observed Under Theme ‘Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights’
21. Foreign Secretary Misri Holds Talks with Japanese Parliamentarians on Strengthening India-Japan Economic Security Partnership
22. MYAS Launches 100 Weeks Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan with Nationwide Rashtriya Sankalp Samaroh

National News

India Joins G20 Energy Meeting In Houston, USA

• What: Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, led Indian delegation at G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting in Houston, USA, from 14-16 September 2026, discussing energy security, regulatory efficiency, and critical minerals.
• Tell me more:
  • The meeting covered three themes: Energy Security and Affordable Baseload, Permitting and Regulatory Efficiency, and Critical Minerals & Resilient Supply Chains, under U.S. G20 Presidency.
  • India’s installed electricity generation capacity reached 552 GW, with over half from non-fossil fuel sources, supporting early achievement of key NDC targets and Net Zero by 2070 goal.
  • G20 outcomes included Clean Cooking Access statement promoting LPG for developing countries, Permitting and Regulatory Efficiency Symposium, Water Reuse Initiative, and Critical Minerals Meeting Communiqué.

India-UAE-France Hold Trilateral Meeting at 81st UNGA

• What: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
• Tell me more:
  • The three ministers reviewed trilateral cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), space, health, energy and culture, discussed West Asia, and stressed expanding India-France-UAE cooperation.

PM Modi Pays Tribute to Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to National Poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on his birth anniversary, praising his powerful poems that inspire national pride and courage among Indians.
• Tell me more:
  • Dinkar (September 23, 1908 – April 24, 1974) was widely revered as “Rashtrakavi” for the nationalist spirit reflected in his literary work.
  • He received the Jnanpith Award for his acclaimed work Urvashi, along with the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan.
  • His notable works include Rashmirathi, Kurukshetra, Urvashi, Renuka, and Four Chapters of Indian Culture.

EU Parliament Delegation Meets Jitendra Singh

• What: A European Parliament Committee delegation on Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE), led by Angelika Winzig and Raffaele Stancanelli, met Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to discuss the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and deeper cooperation in science and technology.
• Tell me more:
  • Dr. Singh sought continued support from the European Parliament for early signing and ratification of the India-EU FTA.
  • He invited greater cooperation in frontier areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, semiconductors, biotechnology, and next-generation telecommunications, including 6G.
  • Under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a EUR 60 million joint investment over four years supports research on waste-to-hydrogen and marine pollution.

Foreign Secretary Meets Japanese Parliamentarians in Delhi

• What: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met a delegation of Japanese Parliamentarians from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Taro Kono, in New Delhi, holding productive discussions on strengthening bilateral ties.
• Tell me more:
  • Both sides underlined the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, guided by directions set during the 16th Annual Summit between PM Modi and PM Sanae Takaichi.
  • The delegation is visiting India under the India-Japan Distinguished Visitors Programme. Under the DVP, India invites young Japanese parliamentarians from Japan to India to enhance their understanding of India.

Rashtriya Sankalp Samaroh Held Across India

• What: The Rashtriya Sankalp Samaroh, under the “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat – 100 Weeks Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan”, was organised across over 1,000 locations in India, with more than 4 lakh youth and citizens participating.
• Tell me more:
  • The programme was held across 460 MY Bharat Districts, 240 partner organisation locations, and over 300 locations by spiritual, industry, and university associations.
  • Participants came together for the Nasha Mukt Pledge and Signature Campaign, along with youth-led discussions and awareness activities.
  • The initial activity cycle is structured around three themes: My Health, My Pride; Fit Youth, Addiction-Free Youth; and Life Skills Month.

State News

India Inaugurates 51st Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur, Odisha

• What: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, virtually inaugurated India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur, Odisha, to strengthen weather forecasting and early warning systems in western Odisha and adjoining regions.
• Tell me more:
  • The Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) is a state-of-the-art “Make in India” installation under Mission Mausam, located at Jamadarpali in Sambalpur, Odisha.
  • With this radar, Odisha now has three DWRs (after Gopalpur and Paradip), and India’s national DWR network has grown from 14 in 2014 to 51 in 2026.
  • Around 40 more DWRs are planned under Mission Mausam, which will take India’s total DWR count to about 81, aiming for more localised and precise weather forecasts.
  • The Sambalpur radar covers 250 km, updates data every 10 minutes, serves 13 districts, and supports weather forecasting across neighbouring regions and 13 countries.

Cyclone Arnab Set to Hit Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

• What: Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are bracing for heavy rain and strong winds as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, expected to become Cyclone Arnab, moves towards the coast.
• Tell me more:
  • The name “Arnab”, meaning “ocean” in Bengali, was contributed by Bangladesh.

International News

Trump Signs Greenland Security Deal with Denmark

• What: US President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland to strengthen Arctic and North Atlantic security, paving the way for more US military bases in Greenland while keeping it under Danish control.
• Tell me more:
  • The agreement allows the US to “modernize and expand” its activities at Pituffik Space Base and set up new “defense areas” at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig.
  • The accord has no end date and will remain in effect even if Greenland chooses independence, keeping it within NATO.
  • No non-NATO country will be allowed to set up military installations or maintain a persistent military presence in Greenland.
  • Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen both called the deal a positive, win-win agreement for all parties.

Banking and Economy

RBI Grants RNFI Money Cross-Border Trade Remittance Approval

• What: RNFI Money Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of RNFI Services Ltd, received approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to undertake cross-border trade remittances, expanding its regulated payments and foreign exchange business across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The approval has perpetual validity and enables RNFI Money to offer these cross-border services through its existing last-mile network, beyond traditional bank branches and metro forex counters.
  • The company recently received in-principle authorisation from RBI to operate as Payment Aggregator – Physical (PA-P), adding another regulated payments capability.

CCI Approves Acquisition of Three Royals Cricket Franchises

• What: Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved acquisition of three professional cricket franchises—Rajasthan Royals (India), Paarl Royals (South Africa), and Barbados Royals (Barbados)—by Westview Cricket Limited and Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Private Limited.
• Tell me more:
  • Westview Cricket is a company registered in United Kingdom, while Poonawalla Sports is a private limited company incorporated in India and wholly owned by Mr. Adar Cyrus Poonawalla.
  • EM Sporting Holdings Limited (EMSH), a private company incorporated in Mauritius, serves as holding company for Royal Multisport Private Limited (RMPL), Paarl Royals Ltd., and Barbados Royals Ltd.
  • RMPL owns and operates Rajasthan Royals franchise, which participates in Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament organized by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
  • The proposed combination involves acquisition of all three franchises across India, South Africa and Barbados by the two acquiring entities.

Reports and Indices

Gender Snapshot 2026 Report Released by UN Women and UN DESA

• What: UN Women and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) released Gender Snapshot 2026 report revealing political retreat from gender equality as institutions advancing women’s rights face systematic weakening worldwide.
• Tell me more:
  • One in three institutional mechanisms for gender equality lost institutional power in past two years, while one in four faced operating budget cuts and nearly one in 10 lost budget control completely.
  • Funding for gender equality dropped to lowest level since 2021, affecting women’s rights organizations most, with 42% of UN entities reporting weakened gender equality efforts amid these cuts.
  • Six in seven countries have male leaders, close to nine in 10 defense ministers and over eight in 10 finance ministers are men, while women hold only 6% of global CEO positions.
  • Not one indicator on Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality (SDG 5) is on track by 2030, with gender equality remaining 171 years away at current rates.
  • UN Women and UN DESA call for reversing political retreat by ensuring equal voice for women in decisions, properly funding gender equality institutions, and protecting women’s rights organizations.

GDP Forecasts

S&P Global Raises India’s FY27 GDP Forecast

• S&P Global raised India’s GDP growth projection for the current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2027, to 7% from 6.6%, citing strong consumption and industrial activity.

Fitch Raises India’s FY27 GDP Growth Forecast

• What: Fitch Ratings raised India’s GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year to 6.9% from 6.4%, citing strong economic growth of 7.8% in the June quarter and overall resilience.
• Tell me more:
  • It expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to raise interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.5% in its October monetary policy meeting.

ADB Raises India’s FY27 GDP Growth Forecast

• What: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised its forecast for India’s economic growth in FY27 to 7% from 6.6% earlier, citing stronger investment demand and resilient services exports.
• Tell me more:
  • ADB lowered its FY27 inflation forecast to 5% from 5.2%, reflecting lower transmission of global energy prices to retail consumers.
  • ADB also lowered its FY28 growth estimate to 7.1% from 7.3%, citing the higher growth base in FY27.

OECD Raises India’s FY27 Economic Growth Forecast

• What: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised its forecast for India’s FY27 economic growth by 80 basis points (bps) to 7.1%, from 6.3% projected in June.
• Tell me more:
  • The OECD expects India’s growth to moderate from 7.8% in FY26 to 7.1% in FY27, and further to 6.5% in FY28.

Important Days

World Cleanup Day 2026 – September 20

• Theme: “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities”

National Pharmacovigilance Week 2026 (6th Edition) – September 17–23

• What: Union Government launched the 7th Edition of National Formulary of India (NFI), Guidance Document for Medical Device Adverse Events, and ADR-PvPI 2.0 Mobile App for iOS at 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week programme organised by Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • Theme of the Week: “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare”
  • The 7th Edition NFI 2026 comprises 34 chapters, 20 appendices and 653 drugs including 42 fixed-dose combinations and 30 immunologicals, available digitally through NFI Online alongside print edition.
  • India moved from 123rd position during 2009–2014 to 8th globally in contributions to World Health Organization (WHO) patient safety database, reflecting strengthened national pharmacovigilance capacity.
  • Government approved the Biovigilance Programme of India, under which the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) will monitor adverse events linked to medicines and biological products used in transplantation.
  • Around 1,150 Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting centres currently operate across hospitals and medical colleges, with plans to expand to primary healthcare.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • The National Formulary of India, published periodically by IPC since 2009, is a guidance document for healthcare professionals aimed at promoting the rational and safe use of medicines.

International Day of Sign Languages – September 23

• Theme: “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights”
• 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and 20 years since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Sports

Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver at Asian Games 2026, Ends India’s 28-Year Medal Wait

• What: Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, ending India’s 28-year wait for an Asian Games weightlifting medal.
• Tell me more:
  • Mirabai lifted 198 kg (87 kg snatch, 111 kg clean and jerk), while North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won gold with 215 kg and Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana won bronze with 191 kg.
  • India’s last Asian Games weightlifting medal was Karnam Malleswari’s silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games.

Memorandum of Understanding

France Naval Group And Nibe Forge Strategic Naval Partnership

• What: France’s Naval Group and India’s Nibe Ltd along with its group companies signed a memorandum of understanding to form a strategic partnership for strengthening India’s naval shipbuilding and maritime technology ecosystem.
• Tell me more:
  • The agreement covers shipbuilding, defence platforms, underwater drones, mine countermeasure vessels and submarine systems, including drone integration and modular launching systems.
  • The partnership aims to strengthen India’s self-reliant naval capabilities under Atmanirbhar Bharat and support the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership.

Miscellaneous

Pioneering Cardiologist Dr G Vijayaraghavan Passes Away In Thiruvananthapuram

• What: Renowned cardiologist Dr G Vijayaraghavan, credited with introducing 2D echocardiography or 2D Echo test in India and recipient of Padma Shri award in 2009, died in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, two days after turning 84.
• Tell me more:
  • Dr Vijayaraghavan established India’s first 2D echocardiography laboratory at Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram in late 1970s through partnership with India-US venture.
  • Echocardiography is a safe, non-invasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of the heart’s structure and functioning.

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