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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

India’s Software Services Exports Grow 8.2% to $221.4 Billion in FY2025-26: Reserve Bank of India

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 2025–26 round of its annual Survey on Computer Software and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Exports on 18 September 2026.
• The survey covered India’s software services exports based on activity, destination, mode of supply and invoicing currency.
• The RBI contacted 7,569 software-exporting companies, of which 2,363 companies responded, including most large companies.
• The responding companies represented around 89% of the estimated total software services exports.

Key Highlights :

• India’s software services exports increased by 2% year-on-year to US$221.4 billion during 2025–26.
• Computer services continued to account for more than two-thirds of India’s total software services exports.
• BPO services remained the dominant component of IT-enabled services (ITES) exports.
• Private limited companies dominated India’s software exports and recorded 3% growth during 2025–26.
• The United States remained the largest destination for India’s software exports, accounting for 1% of total exports.
• European countries accounted for 8% of India’s software exports, while the United Kingdom alone accounted for 15.4%.
• The US dollar was the principal invoicing currency for India’s software exports, accounting for 6%, followed by the euro, Indian rupee and pound sterling.
• Software services exports were predominantly delivered through the off-site mode, which accounted for 7% of total exports.
• Total software services exports, including services delivered through the overseas commercial presence/foreign affiliates of Indian companies, increased by 5% to US$239.3 billion in 2025–26.
• The local software business of foreign affiliates of Indian companies increased to US$17.9 billion in 2025–26 from US$13.9 billion in the previous year.
• The United States and United Kingdom remained the major destinations for the local software business of foreign affiliates of Indian companies.

India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation Pilot Operational in 8 Banks, Reserve Bank of India Plans Faster Nationwide Rollout

• The India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) is currently operational on a pilot basis with 8 banks, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu stated that the RBI is working to expedite its wider rollout.
• IDPIC is being developed to strengthen the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of India’s rapidly expanding digital payment ecosystem.
• The key objective of IDPIC is to create a mechanism for real-time sharing of fraud intelligence and alerts among banks and financial institutions.
• IDPIC will leverage technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data Analytics to help detect and prevent cyber financial frauds.
• The Government and RBI are taking several measures to strengthen the cybersecurity framework for digital payment transactions and protect citizens from financial fraud.
• RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu highlighted the changing dynamics of payments, with digital transactions increasingly replacing cash as a medium of transaction.
• Despite the rise in digital payments, cash continues to remain important as a store of value, and there has been no significant decline in cash holdings.
• RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu stated that the RBI had issued more than 600 draft and final amendment circulars over the past year, reflecting the pace of regulatory changes.
• The RBI reclassified regulated entities into around 11 categories, which resulted in some regulatory circulars being replicated across different categories.

India-Japan Economic Ties Strengthen as Japanese Companies in India Reach Record 1,463

• The number of Japanese-owned companies operating in India reached a record 1,463 in 2026, up from 1,374 in 2025, according to Grant Thornton Bharat’s report “Indo he Yokoso: Shaping the Future of Japanese Investments in India.”

Key Highlights :

• India-Japan bilateral merchandise trade doubled over the past decade, rising from US$13.60 billion in FY2016-17 to US$27.48 billion in FY2025-26.
• Cumulative Japanese FDI in India stood at US$48.14 billion between April 2000 and March 2026, according to DPIIT
• Japanese FDI equity inflows into India amounted to US$3.75 billion in FY2025-26, accounting for 36% of India’s total FDI equity inflows.
• Japanese-owned companies operating in India employ around 459,333 people in 2026, compared with 365,252 employees in 2025.
• Japanese companies in India operate across sectors including industrial products, consumer/retail & e-commerce, technology, automobiles & auto components, business services, financial services and other sectors.
• The National Capital Region (NCR) has the largest concentration of Japanese companies at 40%, followed by Maharashtra (20%), Karnataka (17%) and Tamil Nadu (11%); other locations account for 12%.
• By sector, Industrial Products account for the largest share of Japanese companies at 32%, followed by Consumer, Retail & E-commerce (16%), Technology (13%), Auto & Auto Components (12%), Business Services (9%), Financial Services (5%) and Others (13%).
• Japan’s exports to India are concentrated in high-value capital goods, machinery, industrial inputs and technology-intensive intermediates.
• India’s exports to Japan are more diversified and include vehicles and auto components, organic chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, marine products and other goods.
• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) provides the institutional foundation for India-Japan economic engagement.
• Recent India-Japan political engagement has expanded cooperation in semiconductors, critical minerals, Artificial Intelligence (AI), energy and digital technologies.
• India and Japan have committed to mobilising 10 trillion yen (approximately US$67 billion) in Japanese private investment in India over the next decade.
• The report highlighted that continued improvements in physical infrastructure, regulatory infrastructure and consistent implementation of reforms will be important for converting investor interest into sustained investment.
• India is emerging as a strategic destination for Japanese investment, technology and capability building, with cooperation expanding in AI, semiconductors, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and critical minerals.
• Cumulative Japanese FDI increased steadily from US$25.7 billion in FY2017 to US$48.1 billion in FY2026, showing a sustained rise in Japanese investment in India.

Reserve Bank of India’s Forward-Market Net Short Dollar Position Reaches Record $136.77 Billion

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s outstanding net short dollar position in the forward market rose sharply to a record US$136.77 billion by July-end 2026, from US$103.33 billion at June-end.
• Short positions with maturity of less than one year increased to US$47.66 billion in July from US$40.33 billion in June.
• Short positions with maturity of more than one year increased significantly to US$91.54 billion from US$64.21 billion during the same period.
• Of the US$136.77 billion net short dollar position, US$15.59 billion was in one-month contracts, US$7.32 billion in 1–3 month contracts, and US$24.75 billion in contracts maturing between 3 months and 1 year.
• The remaining US$91.54 billion was held in contracts with maturities of more than one year, while the RBI had a US$2.43 billion long position in one-month contracts.
• The increase in forward-market short positions indicates that the RBI has been more active in the forward market amid depreciation pressure on the Indian rupee, according to market participants.
• The Indian rupee depreciated by 0.76% in July 2026, adding to the pressure on the currency.
• A significant portion of the dollars raised through the FCNR(B) swap facility represents borrowed funds that will have to be returned over the next 3–5 years, which may encourage the RBI to limit the use of spot-market intervention.
• Market participants expect the RBI’s foreign-exchange intervention to become more cautious after the FCNR(B) swap window closes, as the balance of payments could move closer to neutral.
• With reduced intervention, the Indian rupee may become more responsive to global factors such as crude oil prices and US Federal Reserve monetary policy.

Dutch Central Bank Moves Gold Reserves to London for Crisis Preparedness

• The Dutch central bank (De Nederlandsche Bank – DNB) relocated 86 metric tonnes of gold from New York and Ottawa to London between March and August, citing crisis preparedness amid global political unrest.
• Before the relocation, 3% of DNB’s gold reserves were held in New York, while 19.7% were held in Ottawa, Canada.
• After the relocation, the share of DNB’s gold reserves held in New York and Ottawa declined to 5% each.
• DNB holds a total of 4 metric tonnes of gold, which was valued at approximately €72.2 billion (US$83.6 billion) at the end of 2025.
• More than 27 metric tonnes of gold were physically transferred from the United States and Canada to DNB’s heavily guarded vault near Zeist, Netherlands, located on a military base.
• A similar quantity of gold was transferred from Zeist to London, while the remaining relocation was carried out through gold transactions between New York and London.
• DNB sold around 59 metric tonnes of gold in New York and used the proceeds to purchase gold in London, completing part of the relocation without physically transporting the gold across the Atlantic.
• DNB stated that gold held at the Bank of England meets modern international trade standards and is considered among the world’s most easily tradable gold, making it more readily available during a crisis.
• According to DNB, gold held in New York and Ottawa cannot be utilised as quickly and directly during a crisis compared with gold held in London.
• The relocation reflects DNB’s focus on crisis preparedness, liquidity and accessibility of gold reserves amid a period of global geopolitical uncertainty.

Smaller Public-sector banks May Collaborate with Larger Banks to Grow Credit Card Business

• Public-sector banks (PSBs) are exploring partnerships for issuing co-branded credit cards, with smaller PSBs seeking to leverage the scale, technology and distribution networks of larger state-owned banks that already have established credit-card operations.
• The proposed partnership model would allow smaller PSBs to access existing customer networks and distribution channels without having to build complete credit-card infrastructure
• The initiative aims to help PSBs expand in the credit-card segment, which is currently dominated by a few large banks.
• PSB bankers discussed the proposal with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Ministry officials during the two-day PSB Confluence, organised by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in New Delhi.

Key Highlights :

• According to the latest RBI data, private-sector banks have 91 million credit cards, compared with 29.40 million credit cards held by PSBs.
• Of the 12 PSBs in India, four banks have negligible operations in the credit-card segment, according to RBI data.
• To strengthen their credit-card business, PSBs have proposed using UPI transaction data and GST transaction data to identify and acquire digitally active New-to-Credit (NTC) and New-to-Bank (NTB)
• PSBs plan to provide pre-qualified and differentiated credit-card offers based on customers’ transaction behaviour.
• State-owned banks have identified corporate customers, High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs), MSMEs and New-to-Bank customers as relatively untapped customer segments.
• For MSMEs and self-employed customers, PSBs plan to introduce dedicated business credit cards and systematically cross-sell them to their existing customer base.
• PSBs propose offering a business credit card as a standard add-on when opening, sanctioning or renewing current accounts, cash-credit facilities or overdraft facilities for MSME and self-employed customers.
• For young customers, PSBs have proposed a “Campus-to-Career Credit Passport”, under which credit cards could be offered on college campuses and linked with education loans.
• Under the Campus-to-Career Credit Passport concept, credit-card limits and banking facilities could be linked to customers’ income growth and repayment behaviour to develop long-term banking relationships.
• The youth-focused strategy is also intended to help PSBs strengthen engagement with Generation Z (Gen Z), a segment recently highlighted for greater focus by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• PSBs have proposed a pre-application eligibility checker through which customers could assess their probability of approval for a particular credit card and view an indicative credit limit before submitting a formal application.
• Similar pre-application eligibility-checking facilities are already offered by private banks and credit aggregators, while PSBs have yet to introduce them widely.
• To address limited awareness among first-time credit-card users, PSBs have proposed making financial literacy mandatory before activation of a first credit card.
• The proposed financial-literacy measure would include a 5–10-minute gamified financial-literacy video in regional languages before the activation of a customer’s first credit card.
• The proposed financial-literacy initiative aims to improve understanding of credit-card terms and conditions and reduce the risk of unintended financial stress among first-time users.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

India’s Software Services Exports Grow 8.2% to $221.4 Billion in FY2025-26: Reserve Bank of India

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 2025–26 round of its annual Survey on Computer Software and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Exports on 18 September 2026.
• The survey covered India’s software services exports based on activity, destination, mode of supply and invoicing currency.
• The RBI contacted 7,569 software-exporting companies, of which 2,363 companies responded, including most large companies.
• The responding companies represented around 89% of the estimated total software services exports.

Key Highlights :

• India’s software services exports increased by 2% year-on-year to US$221.4 billion during 2025–26.
• Computer services continued to account for more than two-thirds of India’s total software services exports.
• BPO services remained the dominant component of IT-enabled services (ITES) exports.
• Private limited companies dominated India’s software exports and recorded 3% growth during 2025–26.
• The United States remained the largest destination for India’s software exports, accounting for 1% of total exports.
• European countries accounted for 8% of India’s software exports, while the United Kingdom alone accounted for 15.4%.
• The US dollar was the principal invoicing currency for India’s software exports, accounting for 6%, followed by the euro, Indian rupee and pound sterling.
• Software services exports were predominantly delivered through the off-site mode, which accounted for 7% of total exports.
• Total software services exports, including services delivered through the overseas commercial presence/foreign affiliates of Indian companies, increased by 5% to US$239.3 billion in 2025–26.
• The local software business of foreign affiliates of Indian companies increased to US$17.9 billion in 2025–26 from US$13.9 billion in the previous year.
• The United States and United Kingdom remained the major destinations for the local software business of foreign affiliates of Indian companies.

India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation Pilot Operational in 8 Banks, Reserve Bank of India Plans Faster Nationwide Rollout

• The India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) is currently operational on a pilot basis with 8 banks, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu stated that the RBI is working to expedite its wider rollout.
• IDPIC is being developed to strengthen the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of India’s rapidly expanding digital payment ecosystem.
• The key objective of IDPIC is to create a mechanism for real-time sharing of fraud intelligence and alerts among banks and financial institutions.
• IDPIC will leverage technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data Analytics to help detect and prevent cyber financial frauds.
• The Government and RBI are taking several measures to strengthen the cybersecurity framework for digital payment transactions and protect citizens from financial fraud.
• RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu highlighted the changing dynamics of payments, with digital transactions increasingly replacing cash as a medium of transaction.
• Despite the rise in digital payments, cash continues to remain important as a store of value, and there has been no significant decline in cash holdings.
• RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu stated that the RBI had issued more than 600 draft and final amendment circulars over the past year, reflecting the pace of regulatory changes.
• The RBI reclassified regulated entities into around 11 categories, which resulted in some regulatory circulars being replicated across different categories.

India-Japan Economic Ties Strengthen as Japanese Companies in India Reach Record 1,463

• The number of Japanese-owned companies operating in India reached a record 1,463 in 2026, up from 1,374 in 2025, according to Grant Thornton Bharat’s report “Indo he Yokoso: Shaping the Future of Japanese Investments in India.”

Key Highlights :

• India-Japan bilateral merchandise trade doubled over the past decade, rising from US$13.60 billion in FY2016-17 to US$27.48 billion in FY2025-26.
• Cumulative Japanese FDI in India stood at US$48.14 billion between April 2000 and March 2026, according to DPIIT
• Japanese FDI equity inflows into India amounted to US$3.75 billion in FY2025-26, accounting for 36% of India’s total FDI equity inflows.
• Japanese-owned companies operating in India employ around 459,333 people in 2026, compared with 365,252 employees in 2025.
• Japanese companies in India operate across sectors including industrial products, consumer/retail & e-commerce, technology, automobiles & auto components, business services, financial services and other sectors.
• The National Capital Region (NCR) has the largest concentration of Japanese companies at 40%, followed by Maharashtra (20%), Karnataka (17%) and Tamil Nadu (11%); other locations account for 12%.
• By sector, Industrial Products account for the largest share of Japanese companies at 32%, followed by Consumer, Retail & E-commerce (16%), Technology (13%), Auto & Auto Components (12%), Business Services (9%), Financial Services (5%) and Others (13%).
• Japan’s exports to India are concentrated in high-value capital goods, machinery, industrial inputs and technology-intensive intermediates.
• India’s exports to Japan are more diversified and include vehicles and auto components, organic chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, marine products and other goods.
• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) provides the institutional foundation for India-Japan economic engagement.
• Recent India-Japan political engagement has expanded cooperation in semiconductors, critical minerals, Artificial Intelligence (AI), energy and digital technologies.
• India and Japan have committed to mobilising 10 trillion yen (approximately US$67 billion) in Japanese private investment in India over the next decade.
• The report highlighted that continued improvements in physical infrastructure, regulatory infrastructure and consistent implementation of reforms will be important for converting investor interest into sustained investment.
• India is emerging as a strategic destination for Japanese investment, technology and capability building, with cooperation expanding in AI, semiconductors, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and critical minerals.
• Cumulative Japanese FDI increased steadily from US$25.7 billion in FY2017 to US$48.1 billion in FY2026, showing a sustained rise in Japanese investment in India.

Reserve Bank of India’s Forward-Market Net Short Dollar Position Reaches Record $136.77 Billion

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s outstanding net short dollar position in the forward market rose sharply to a record US$136.77 billion by July-end 2026, from US$103.33 billion at June-end.
• Short positions with maturity of less than one year increased to US$47.66 billion in July from US$40.33 billion in June.
• Short positions with maturity of more than one year increased significantly to US$91.54 billion from US$64.21 billion during the same period.
• Of the US$136.77 billion net short dollar position, US$15.59 billion was in one-month contracts, US$7.32 billion in 1–3 month contracts, and US$24.75 billion in contracts maturing between 3 months and 1 year.
• The remaining US$91.54 billion was held in contracts with maturities of more than one year, while the RBI had a US$2.43 billion long position in one-month contracts.
• The increase in forward-market short positions indicates that the RBI has been more active in the forward market amid depreciation pressure on the Indian rupee, according to market participants.
• The Indian rupee depreciated by 0.76% in July 2026, adding to the pressure on the currency.
• A significant portion of the dollars raised through the FCNR(B) swap facility represents borrowed funds that will have to be returned over the next 3–5 years, which may encourage the RBI to limit the use of spot-market intervention.
• Market participants expect the RBI’s foreign-exchange intervention to become more cautious after the FCNR(B) swap window closes, as the balance of payments could move closer to neutral.
• With reduced intervention, the Indian rupee may become more responsive to global factors such as crude oil prices and US Federal Reserve monetary policy.

Dutch Central Bank Moves Gold Reserves to London for Crisis Preparedness

• The Dutch central bank (De Nederlandsche Bank – DNB) relocated 86 metric tonnes of gold from New York and Ottawa to London between March and August, citing crisis preparedness amid global political unrest.
• Before the relocation, 3% of DNB’s gold reserves were held in New York, while 19.7% were held in Ottawa, Canada.
• After the relocation, the share of DNB’s gold reserves held in New York and Ottawa declined to 5% each.
• DNB holds a total of 4 metric tonnes of gold, which was valued at approximately €72.2 billion (US$83.6 billion) at the end of 2025.
• More than 27 metric tonnes of gold were physically transferred from the United States and Canada to DNB’s heavily guarded vault near Zeist, Netherlands, located on a military base.
• A similar quantity of gold was transferred from Zeist to London, while the remaining relocation was carried out through gold transactions between New York and London.
• DNB sold around 59 metric tonnes of gold in New York and used the proceeds to purchase gold in London, completing part of the relocation without physically transporting the gold across the Atlantic.
• DNB stated that gold held at the Bank of England meets modern international trade standards and is considered among the world’s most easily tradable gold, making it more readily available during a crisis.
• According to DNB, gold held in New York and Ottawa cannot be utilised as quickly and directly during a crisis compared with gold held in London.
• The relocation reflects DNB’s focus on crisis preparedness, liquidity and accessibility of gold reserves amid a period of global geopolitical uncertainty.

Smaller Public-sector banks May Collaborate with Larger Banks to Grow Credit Card Business

• Public-sector banks (PSBs) are exploring partnerships for issuing co-branded credit cards, with smaller PSBs seeking to leverage the scale, technology and distribution networks of larger state-owned banks that already have established credit-card operations.
• The proposed partnership model would allow smaller PSBs to access existing customer networks and distribution channels without having to build complete credit-card infrastructure
• The initiative aims to help PSBs expand in the credit-card segment, which is currently dominated by a few large banks.
• PSB bankers discussed the proposal with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Ministry officials during the two-day PSB Confluence, organised by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in New Delhi.

Key Highlights :

• According to the latest RBI data, private-sector banks have 91 million credit cards, compared with 29.40 million credit cards held by PSBs.
• Of the 12 PSBs in India, four banks have negligible operations in the credit-card segment, according to RBI data.
• To strengthen their credit-card business, PSBs have proposed using UPI transaction data and GST transaction data to identify and acquire digitally active New-to-Credit (NTC) and New-to-Bank (NTB)
• PSBs plan to provide pre-qualified and differentiated credit-card offers based on customers’ transaction behaviour.
• State-owned banks have identified corporate customers, High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs), MSMEs and New-to-Bank customers as relatively untapped customer segments.
• For MSMEs and self-employed customers, PSBs plan to introduce dedicated business credit cards and systematically cross-sell them to their existing customer base.
• PSBs propose offering a business credit card as a standard add-on when opening, sanctioning or renewing current accounts, cash-credit facilities or overdraft facilities for MSME and self-employed customers.
• For young customers, PSBs have proposed a “Campus-to-Career Credit Passport”, under which credit cards could be offered on college campuses and linked with education loans.
• Under the Campus-to-Career Credit Passport concept, credit-card limits and banking facilities could be linked to customers’ income growth and repayment behaviour to develop long-term banking relationships.
• The youth-focused strategy is also intended to help PSBs strengthen engagement with Generation Z (Gen Z), a segment recently highlighted for greater focus by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• PSBs have proposed a pre-application eligibility checker through which customers could assess their probability of approval for a particular credit card and view an indicative credit limit before submitting a formal application.
• Similar pre-application eligibility-checking facilities are already offered by private banks and credit aggregators, while PSBs have yet to introduce them widely.
• To address limited awareness among first-time credit-card users, PSBs have proposed making financial literacy mandatory before activation of a first credit card.
• The proposed financial-literacy measure would include a 5–10-minute gamified financial-literacy video in regional languages before the activation of a customer’s first credit card.
• The proposed financial-literacy initiative aims to improve understanding of credit-card terms and conditions and reduce the risk of unintended financial stress among first-time users.

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

Indian Railways Approves Doubling of Chouk–Karjat Railway Section in Maharashtra

• Indian Railways approved the doubling of the 10.86-kilometre Chouk–Karjat railway section of Central Railway in Maharashtra.
• The project has been approved at a total cost of ₹497 crore under umbrella works covering doubling, tripling, quadrupling, flyovers and bypasses for railway capacity augmentation.
• The Chouk–Karjat section forms part of the Panvel–Chouk–Karjat route, an important corridor for both passenger and freight movement.
• The project will provide additional capacity on the existing single-line section and improve the movement of trains.
• After completion, the doubled section is expected to facilitate 5 additional passenger trains in each direction per day.

Key Highlights

• The project is also expected to support additional freight traffic of 18.35 Million Tonnes Per Annum.
• The doubling project will help reduce detention of freight trains and improve freight movement efficiency.
• The project reflects Indian Railways’ continued efforts to strengthen railway infrastructure, augment network capacity and improve passenger and freight transportation.

About Maharashtra:

• Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
• Governor: Jishnu Dev Varma
• Capital: Mumbai
• National Parks: Tadoba National Park, Gugamal National Park, Chandoli National Park, Navegaon National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thane Creek Flamingo Wildlife Sanctuary

Odisha Showcases Semiconductor Capabilities at SEMICON India 2026

• Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Odisha Pavilion at SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
• The Odisha Pavilion showcases the State’s capabilities across the semiconductor value chain, including Silicon Carbide semiconductors, advanced packaging, glass-substrate packaging, power electronics, semiconductor design and education.

Key Highlights

• During SEMICON India 2026, Odisha engaged with global and domestic semiconductor and technology companies, industry bodies and international delegations from countries including Japan, Sweden and Taiwan.
• A Letter of Intent was signed with QuadQuantum for a semiconductor facility to manufacture Silicon Carbide substrate wafers.
• Odisha received investment proposals worth approximately ₹23,600 crore, with the potential to generate around 6,100 employment opportunities.
• These investments are aimed at developing a strong semiconductor and electronics ecosystem and establishing a complete semiconductor value chain under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.
• Odisha has announced the development of Odisha Silicon Valley over 870 acres at Naraj near Cuttack to host major Electronics and Information Technology projects.
• Odisha Silicon Valley has connectivity to the Cuttack–Bhubaneswar urban corridor, major ports including Paradip and Dhamra, and key national highways.
• The location’s proximity to the Mahanadi River is expected to provide an advantage in meeting industrial water requirements and supporting semiconductor supply chains, logistics and allied industries.
• The Odisha Pavilion showcases projects of RIR Power, SiCSem, 3D Glass Solutions and ARF Design, along with educational institutions such as National Institute of Technology Rourkela and Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Brahmapur.
• National Institute of Technology Rourkela and Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Brahmapur are working on their first batch of Made in India chips.
• Odisha has aligned its Semiconductor Policy with the evolving India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.
• Through its Third Policy Amendment, Odisha has extended 25% additional fiscal support to India Semiconductor Mission-approved projects in semiconductor equipment manufacturing, semiconductor-grade gases, raw materials and supply-chain segments.
• The policy framework also provides support for engineer relocation, manpower skilling, internships, international patents and research and development.
• The Odisha Pavilion features a “Sand to Silicon” installation showcasing the State’s semiconductor journey and its vision of transitioning from a “Mine Economy” to a “Mind Economy.”
• Odisha’s participation in SEMICON India 2026 focuses on attracting investment, strengthening semiconductor and electronics capabilities, developing specialised talent and building an integrated ecosystem covering manufacturing, technology, supply chains and innovation.

About Odisha:

• Chief Minister: Mohan Charan Majhi
• Governor: Hari Babu Kambhampati
• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• National Parks: Simlipal National Park, Bhitarkanika National Park, Nandankanan National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

India–Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee Meeting on Trade and Transit Held in New Delhi

• The India–Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 16–17 September 2026.
• The Indian delegation was led by Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, while the Nepali delegation was led by Buddha Bahadur Gurung, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal.

Key Highlights

• The Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee is an important bilateral institutional mechanism for examining trade-related issues and facilitating bilateral trade and transit between India and Nepal.
• Both sides reviewed issues related to market access, Customs and trade facilitation, standards, food safety, phytosanitary measures, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, AYUSH products, border infrastructure, rail and road connectivity and other trade matters.
• The two countries discussed measures to improve market access for Indian and Nepali products, including agricultural products, dairy, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and AYUSH products.
• Discussions also covered standards and phytosanitary requirements for traded products.
• India and Nepal discussed strengthening Customs cooperation and trade facilitation through pre-arrival exchange of information, electronic verification of Certificates of Origin, Customs automation and digitalisation.
• The discussions aimed to facilitate legitimate cross-border trade, improve compliance with applicable rules and prevent misuse of preferential trade arrangements.
• Transit and connectivity were key areas of discussion, including rail and road connectivity, freight movement, Integrated Check Posts and land-port infrastructure.
• Both sides focused on better utilisation of existing infrastructure and resolving operational bottlenecks affecting bilateral and transit trade.
• India and Nepal welcomed continued cooperation in standards, food safety, plant quarantine and conformity assessment, including institutional cooperation and capacity-building initiatives.
• Both sides stressed cooperation among relevant agencies to facilitate legitimate cross-border trade and address unauthorised trade and commercial fraud.
• The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, with both sides agreeing to maintain close engagement through established institutional mechanisms and undertake time-bound follow-up on issues requiring further technical examination.
• India is Nepal’s largest trading partner, while the two countries share close historical, cultural and economic ties.
• The discussions are expected to further strengthen India–Nepal bilateral trade, transit connectivity and economic cooperation.

Indian Railways Approves Electronic Interlocking at Seven Stations of Solapur Division

• Indian Railways approved the installation of Electronic Interlocking at seven stations of the Solapur Division of Central Railway at a total cost of ₹209 crore.
• The Electronic Interlocking system will be provided at Mohol, Mundhewadi, Bale, Solapur, Hotgi Junction–Hotgi A Cabin, Shahabad and Wadi Junction.
• These stations are located on the High Density Network 7 route, where Kavach, Automatic Block Signalling and Centralised Traffic Control works have also been sanctioned.

Key Highlights

• The project will strengthen the railway signalling infrastructure and facilitate the implementation of Kavach, India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection system.
• Electronic Interlocking is a modern computer-based signalling system that replaces conventional relay-based interlocking systems.
• It provides more reliable control of points and signals, enables faster fault detection and restoration, simplifies maintenance and supports more efficient train operations.
• The project is part of Indian Railways’ continuing efforts to modernise signalling infrastructure, strengthen railway safety and improve operational efficiency on high-density railway routes.

Indian Railways Approves Kavach Version 4.0 for 607.7 Route Kilometres of Lucknow Division

• Indian Railways approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 across 607.7 Route Kilometres of the Lucknow Division of North Eastern Railway.
• The project has been approved at a total cost of ₹252 crore.
• The project will extend Kavach Version 4.0 coverage to the identified remaining sections of the Lucknow Division and strengthen railway safety infrastructure.

Key Highlights

• Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system designed to improve the safety of train operations.
• The system helps prevent Signal Passing at Danger, automatically applies brakes when required and monitors train movements to support safer railway operations.
• The deployment is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing nationwide implementation of Kavach to modernise train protection systems and improve the safety and reliability of railway operations.

Biometric Aadhaar Authentication Made Mandatory for Subsidised Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas Refills from 1 October 2026

• From 1 October 2026, domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas consumers must complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication to book refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price with applicable subsidy.
• Biometric Aadhaar Authentication links the LPG connection with the Aadhaar-authenticated consumer and aims to ensure that subsidised LPG reaches genuine and eligible households.
• The authentication process helps prevent the diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial use, remove duplicate or ineligible connections and improve targeted subsidy delivery.

Key Highlights

• Consumers who have already completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication do not need to repeat the process and can continue booking refills as usual.
• Consumers who have not completed authentication can continue receiving subsidised LPG after completing the authentication process.
• Biometric Aadhaar Authentication can be completed during LPG delivery, where the delivery person can authenticate the consumer using the Oil Marketing Company mobile application.
• Consumers can also complete authentication by visiting their LPG distributor’s showroom.
• Consumers can complete self-authentication from home through the respective Oil Marketing Company mobile applications:
• IndianOil ONE for Indane customers.
• HelloBPCL for Bharatgas customers.
• HP PAY for HP Gas customers.
• Video tutorials for completing self e-Know Your Customer are available through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana portal.
• Consumers who do not wish to complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication can still receive LPG by registering their choice through their Oil Marketing Company’s consumer web portal, mobile application, WhatsApp chatbot, Interactive Voice Response System or other available digital channels.
• Such consumers will receive LPG at the applicable market price without subsidy, in 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders, subject to local availability.
• As of 19 September 2026, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers had completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication, covering 89.9% of active consumers.
• The original deadline of 30 June 2026 was extended successively to 31 July, 7 August, 15 August, 23 August, 31 August, 7 September and finally 14 September 2026.
• Since October 2023, Oil Marketing Companies have conducted a nationwide awareness and outreach campaign through SMS, WhatsApp messages, distributor follow-ups, special camps, Interactive Voice Response System prompts, mobile notifications, newspapers and social media.
• More than 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp messages have been sent to consumers as part of the authentication campaign.
• Domestic LPG is sold below its cost, with the implicit subsidy estimated at around ₹210 per 14.2 kg cylinder in September 2026, compared with ₹721 per cylinder in June 2026.
• The Government provided ₹22,000 crore compensation to Oil Marketing Companies in Financial Year 2022–23 and is providing ₹30,000 crore during Financial Years 2025–26 and 2026–27 to maintain the affordability of domestic LPG.
• Accumulated under-recoveries of public sector Oil Marketing Companies on domestic LPG exceeded ₹62,000 crore as of 31 August 2026.
• Consumers who have not completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication are advised to complete it before 1 October 2026 through any of the available channels.
• LPG assistance helpline: 1800 2333 555.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated National Green Tribunal International Conference on The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day International Conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’ organised by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi.
• The inaugural session was attended by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava.
• Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant highlighted India’s environmental jurisprudence, including the recognition of the right to a pollution-free environment as a fundamental right.
• Bhupender Yadav stated that non-fossil fuel sources account for 54.18% of India’s installed electricity capacity, exceeding the 2030 target of 50% nine years ahead of schedule.

Key Highlights

• India ranks third globally in renewable energy installed capacity and is the world’s second-largest solar growth market, according to the statement.
• India’s forest and tree cover has reached 8.27 lakh square kilometres.
• As per the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, India retained its third position globally in annual net forest-area gain.
• India’s environmental conservation efforts highlighted at the conference included the Cheetah reintroduction programme, Great Indian Bustard conservation breeding programme, and restoration of woodlands, grasslands and wetlands.
• Looking ahead to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties 31 (UNFCCC COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, India will continue to emphasise equity, implementation and the needs of vulnerable countries.
• Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani called for stronger international environmental institutions and a new global environmental regulatory framework focused on environmental justice and practical implementation.
• National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava emphasised that environmental protection is a collective national and global responsibility.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched the National Green Tribunal Mobile Application during the inaugural session.
• The conference brings together jurists, academicians, policymakers, scientists and environmental experts from 17 countries, along with international organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme and Asian Development Bank.
• The conference focuses on judicial, scientific, policy and institutional best practices, knowledge exchange and collaborative action on environmental and climate challenges.
• The conference features four technical sessions, with two sessions conducted on the first day.
• Technical Session I: ‘Climate Justice, Equity and Inclusion: From Principles to Action’ focused on climate equity, inclusion, environmental and social safeguards, and the interconnected effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
• Technical Session II: ‘The Future of Environmental Law and Governance’ focused on institutional and enforcement mechanisms, sustainable cities, energy transition, green infrastructure and green finance.
• The conference aims to strengthen environmental law and institutions, promote climate justice and inter-generational equity, support sustainable and resilient cities, facilitate a just energy transition and encourage cooperation on transboundary environmental challenges.

Tamil Nadu Launches Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Scheme to Provide Gold Rings to Newborns

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will launch the Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Scheme on 28 September 2026, under which newborns delivered in government hospitals will receive a one-gram gold ring.
• The scheme is part of the government’s Vettri Tamilagam long-term vision and seeks to celebrate the birth of children in government hospitals while strengthening public confidence in government healthcare services.
• The initiative draws inspiration from the Tamil cultural tradition of Thaaimaman Seer, in which a maternal uncle traditionally presents gifts to a newborn.
• The scheme will cover babies born in government hospitals from 22 June 2026, with retrospective coverage from that date. The Government Order for the scheme was issued on 23 June 2026.

Key Highlights

• The first phase will distribute 1,28,000 one-gram gold rings. Each ring will have a unique serial number and will be supplied in tamper-proof packaging.
• To be eligible, the mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu, registered under the Pregnancy and Child Tracking system and have a Reproductive and Child Health identification number.
• For babies born between 22 June and 27 September 2026, the rings will be distributed through 107 centres, with each centre providing rings to 100 children per day from 28 September.
• From 28 September 2026, eligible babies born in government hospitals will receive the gold ring at the time of discharge.
• Tamil Nadu records around 7.80 lakh births annually. According to National Family Health Survey-6, 99.9% of deliveries in the State take place in institutions.
• Around 4.20 lakh deliveries, accounting for approximately 53%, take place in government hospitals.
• Around 90% of deliveries in government hospitals are conducted at Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care centres, highlighting the role of the public healthcare system in maternal and newborn care.
• The government has highlighted maternal and child healthcare as a priority through initiatives covering financial assistance for pregnant women, free delivery services, newborn care, maternity treatment, nutrition support and birth planning.
• The Pregnancy and Child Tracking system is used for monitoring and evaluation of maternal and child healthcare services.
• The scheme aims to encourage institutional deliveries, strengthen maternal and child health protection, increase public confidence in government medical services and promote child welfare.
• A review meeting on the launch and implementation of the scheme was chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat.
• The meeting was attended by senior officials including Dr. Ma. Ka. Arunraj, Minister for Medical and Medical Education and Public Health; Dr. Mu. Vaikumar, Chief Secretary; Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, Director General of Police; Dr. Thares Ahmad, Health and Family Welfare Secretary; and Dr. Aneesh Segar, National Health Mission Director.

About Tamil Nadu:

• Chief Minister: Joseph Vijay
• Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (Additional Charge)
• Capital: Chennai
• National Parks: Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) National Park, Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Palani Hills National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Pulicat Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Karnataka Cabinet Grants Tulu Status as Second Additional Official Language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi

• The Karnataka Cabinet decided to grant Tulu the status of the second additional official language of Karnataka in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
• The decision was taken during the first Karnataka Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru outside Bengaluru, chaired by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
• The decision fulfils a long-standing demand from the coastal region for official recognition of Tulu.
• D. K. Shivakumar said the decision recognised the linguistic and cultural importance of Tulu among the people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
• The Chief Minister recalled the efforts of former minister Ramanath Rai, U. T. Khader, Puttur Member of the Legislative Assembly Ashok Kumar Rai and other elected representatives in pursuing the demand for recognition of Tulu.

Key Highlights

• The Karnataka Cabinet also approved projects worth ₹32,611 crore, including the Coastal-Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy 2026 and a 150-acre fisheries park.
• Around ₹16,000 crore of the approved amount will be utilised for rural roads, rural development and infrastructure, while the remaining funds will cover various projects in the coastal districts.
• The Coastal-Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy 2026 aims to promote tourism in the coastal and Malnad regions by providing greater support and incentives to investors.
• Under the new tourism policy, tourism projects in the coastal and Malnad regions will be treated as infrastructure projects, with incentives aimed at encouraging investment.
• The government also decided to establish a Fisheries and Blue Economy University.
• The intake capacity of the existing fisheries college will be increased from 60 to 200 seats.
• A 150-acre fisheries park was also included among the projects approved by the Cabinet.
• The Cabinet approved ₹549 crore for establishing a medical college at Puttur.
• On the proposal to rename Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru, the government will first seek public opinion. A draft notification will provide one month for people to submit their views before a final decision.
• The Karnataka Government plans to hold around 10–12 Cabinet meetings outside Bengaluru over the next 15 months, depending on regional requirements and financial and legal considerations.
• The Chief Minister highlighted the contribution of Dakshina Kannada to Karnataka's development in areas including education, religion, commerce, banking, ports and healthcare.
• Dakshina Kannada has contributed six nationalised banks to the country and is also an important centre for education and healthcare.
• The government will also conduct public consultations on the Kasturirangan Report in areas including Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru.
• The Chief Minister highlighted that the recognition of Tulu reflects the strong emotional and cultural connection of the coastal population with the language.
• The Cabinet decision is aimed at recognising the linguistic heritage of the coastal region while supporting broader social, economic, infrastructure and tourism development in Karnataka.

About Karnataka:

• Chief Minister: K. Shivakumar
• Governor: Thawarchand Gehlot
• Capital: Bengaluru
• National Parks: Bandipur National Park, Bannerghatta National Park, Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park, Kudremukh National Park, Anshi (Kali) National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranebennur Blackbuck Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Djibouti Becomes 72nd Country and 8th African Nation to Join Artemis Accords

• Djibouti became the 72nd country and 8th African nation to sign the Artemis Accords on 14 September 2026 at NASA Headquarters, Washington, USA.
• Mohamed Siad Douale, Djibouti’s Ambassador to the United States, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Djibouti.
• The signing ceremony was hosted by Matt Anderson, NASA Deputy Administrator, and attended by Frank Garcia, S. State Department Assistant Secretary for African Affairs.
• The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by NASA, the U.S. State Department and seven founding nations to promote peaceful, transparent and coordinated space exploration.
• The Accords provide principles for the exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond, with emphasis on transparency, safety and international coordination.
• The Artemis framework promotes peaceful exploration, assistance to people in need, access to scientific data, non-interference in space activities, and preservation of historically significant lunar sites and artefacts.
• Djibouti’s national space programme was launched in 2020 and is managed by the Centre for Studies and Research of Djibouti under the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
• Djibouti launched its first satellites, Djibouti 1A and Djibouti 1B, in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
• Both Djibouti 1A and Djibouti 1B were launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA.
• Djibouti’s participation is expected to create opportunities for cooperation in scientific research, satellite applications, education and technical training.
• Artemis Accords signatories can contribute hardware, scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats and other capabilities to future missions.
• NASA is working towards returning humans to the Moon, establishing a sustained lunar presence and laying the foundation for future human exploration of Mars.

About Djibouti :

• Capital : Djibouti City
• Currency: Djiboutian franc.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Government Appoints Narayan Dewasi and Swaroop Singh Banjara to Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities Governing Body

• The Central Government appointed Shri Narayan Dewasi and Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara as Members of the Governing Body of the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC).
• The appointments were made by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• The tenure of both members is three years from the date of joining or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara has assumed charge as a Member of the Governing Body and expressed his commitment to the welfare and betterment of DNT Communities.
• Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara stated that he would work with dedication towards fulfilling the objectives of the Board and addressing the needs and aspirations of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities.

About DWBDNC :

• Established : 21 February 2019 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The Board works for the upliftment and empowerment of De-notified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs), and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs).
• The DNTs, NTs and SNTs are communities that have historically faced severe social and economic marginalisation.

Reserve Bank of India Extends Inderjit Camotra’s Tenure as Unity Small Finance Bank Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Until February 2027

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the tenure of Inderjit Camotra as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Unity Small Finance Bank by six months, up to 4 February 2027.
• The extension was granted as Unity Small Finance Bank was awaiting RBI regulatory approval for the appointment of his successor.
• The bank had submitted the names of candidates for the next MD & CEO to the RBI around the end of July 2026, with the appointment subject to prior approval of the RBI.
• Inderjit Camotra has been associated with Unity Small Finance Bank since its inception and was initially appointed Interim CEO when the bank began operations on 1 November 2021 after receiving final RBI approval.
• In August 2024, the RBI approved Camotra’s reappointment as MD & CEO for another two-year term.
• His second two-year term was scheduled to end in August 2026, following which the latest six-month extension was granted until 4 February 2027.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur Under Mission Mausam

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh virtually inaugurated India’s 51st state-of-the-art Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Sambalpur, Odisha, on 17 September 2026.
• The Sambalpur DWR was inaugurated in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and will strengthen weather observation, forecasting and early-warning capabilities in Western Odisha and adjoining regions.
• The new radar will provide improved meteorological information for Southern Jharkhand, Northern Chhattisgarh, North Andhra Pradesh and parts of West Bengal.

Key Highlights :

• With the Sambalpur installation, Odisha now has 3 Doppler Weather Radars at Sambalpur, Gopalpur and Paradip, while India’s national DWR network has reached 51 radars.
• India had only 14 Doppler Weather Radars in 2014, but the network has expanded to 51 in 2026, reflecting a major expansion of the country’s weather observation infrastructure.
• Around 40 additional Doppler Weather Radars are planned under Mission Mausam, which is expected to increase India’s total DWR network to about 81 radars.
• Additional DWRs are planned at Balasore, Puri and Bhubaneswar in Odisha to further strengthen regional weather monitoring.
• Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) is a remote-sensing instrument that uses microwave/radio-wave pulses and the Doppler effect to detect the type, intensity and movement of precipitation particles and winds.
• DWRs can detect rain, snow, hail and other atmospheric targets and help determine the structure and severity of storms.
• DWR data is particularly useful for nowcasting, which refers to weather forecasting for the next few hours, and for estimating rainfall intensity.
• India uses DWRs operating at different frequency bands, including S-band, C-band and X-band, through the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to track weather systems and cloud bands.
• India’s first Doppler Weather Radar was installed at Chennai and became operational on 21 February 2002.
• Mission Mausam is a Government of India initiative under the Ministry of Earth Sciences aimed at modernising and expanding India’s weather and climate services.
• Mission Mausam focuses on strengthening radar systems, satellite capabilities and other weather observation networks to improve forecasting and early-warning systems.
• The major objectives of Mission Mausam include modernising weather infrastructure, improving forecasting, strengthening early-warning systems and improving public safety and economic resilience.
• The expanded weather observation network is important for disaster management, agriculture and infrastructure planning by enabling more timely weather information.
• Under the ‘Neighbour First’ and ‘Vishwa Bandhu Bharat’ approach, the IMD provides weather, cyclone and flash-flood forecasting and early-warning support to 13 neighbouring countries.
• The regional weather-support initiative strengthens disaster preparedness and resilience not only in India but also across neighbouring countries.

Coal India Sets Up Singapore Subsidiary to Explore Overseas Critical Mineral Opportunities

• Coal India Limited (CIL) has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, CIL Global Pte. Ltd., in Singapore to pursue overseas opportunities in critical minerals and diversify beyond its traditional coal business.
• CIL Global Pte. Ltd. was incorporated in Singapore and is classified as a mining company.
• The Singapore subsidiary is 100% owned by Coal India Limited, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of CIL.
• CIL subscribed to 500,000 shares at S$1 per share, resulting in an initial equity investment of S$500,000 in CIL Global Pte. Ltd.
• The key objective of the Singapore subsidiary is to explore and develop overseas opportunities for critical mineral asset acquisition, manage overseas investments, and provide structural flexibility for future acquisitions.
• CIL’s overseas expansion is aimed at diversifying its business beyond coal and strengthening its presence in the critical minerals sector.
• The move follows CIL’s earlier plan to establish subsidiaries in Singapore and Chile during the current financial year to pursue overseas opportunities in critical minerals and coking coal.
• The proposed Singapore and Chile subsidiaries are expected to cover the broader critical-minerals value chain, including mining, processing, beneficiation, logistics, regulatory clearances and market linkages.
• CIL has secured four mineral blocks through Ministry of Mines auctions, comprising two critical-mineral blocks and two rare-earth element blocks.
• One important block secured by CIL is the Oranga-Revatipur graphite and vanadium-bearing block located in Chhattisgarh.
• The Oranga-Revatipur block has reached an advanced stage, with mining expected to commence within three to four years.
• The estimated investment requirement for the Oranga-Revatipur block is around ₹430 crore, while its projected revenue over a 10-year mine life is around ₹2,500 crore.
• CIL is also exploring opportunities in beach sand minerals under the proposed rare-earth corridor covering Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
• The proposed rare-earth corridor is aimed at supporting the development and utilisation of rare-earth and beach-sand mineral resources in these states.
• The incorporation of CIL Global Pte. Ltd. required approvals from the Ministry of Coal and the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Competition Commission of India Approves Acquisition of Rajasthan, Paarl and Barbados Royals by Westview Cricket and Poonawalla Sports

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the 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.
• Westview Cricket Limited is a UK-registered company owned by the Lakshmi Mittal family.
• Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Private Limited is an Indian private company wholly owned by Adar Cyrus Poonawalla.
• The three cricket franchises are held through EM Sporting Holdings Limited (EMSH), a Mauritius-based private company.
• EM Sporting Holdings Limited (EMSH) is the holding company of Royal Multisport Private Limited (RMPL), Paarl Royals Ltd., and Barbados Royals Ltd.
• Royal Multisport Private Limited (RMPL) owns and operates the Rajasthan Royals franchise, which participates in the Indian Premier League (IPL) organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• The acquisition creates a cross-border cricket franchise structure spanning three major T20 cricket leagues—the IPL in India, SA20 in South Africa, and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Barbados.

About CCI:

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and is responsible for enforcing the Competition Act of 2002.
• Founded: October 14, 2003
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Chairperson: Ravneet Kaur

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Abhishek Sharma Hits Fastest T20 International Century for India Against Afghanistan

• Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 108 runs off 34 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20 International in Delhi, helping India complete a 3–0 series whitewash.
• Abhishek scored his century in just 30 balls, becoming the fastest T20 International centurion for India and the third-fastest overall in T20 International cricket.
• His century was also the fastest T20 International hundred against a Full Member team.

Key Highlights

• Abhishek reached his half-century in 16 balls, making it the joint fourth-fastest T20 International fifty for India. He already holds India’s record for the second-fastest fifty, scored in 14 balls against New Zealand in January 2026.
• He hit 11 sixes and 9 fours in his 108-run innings, with the 11 sixes being the second-most by an Indian men’s batter in a T20 International innings.
• Abhishek became the first batter to record as many T20 International centuries as he has in both 30 balls or fewer and 40 balls or fewer.
• Sanju Samson scored his second consecutive half-century and joined Abhishek in India's record 100-run powerplay, the highest powerplay score by India in a T20 International.
• India eventually scored 221 runs, after reaching 164/2 in 13 overs. Afghanistan's bowlers restricted India to only 57 runs in the final seven overs.
• Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s leading bowler, taking 2 wickets for 27 runs, while India also lost three wickets through run-outs.
• Afghanistan were bowled out for just 94 runs in the 15th over while chasing 222.
• Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy were India's leading wicket-takers, claiming 3/26 and 3/25, respectively.
• Nitish Kumar Reddy took three wickets in five balls during the 12th over, dismissing Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Azmatullah Omarzai.
• The result completed India’s 3–0 T20 International series victory over Afghanistan.
• India and Afghanistan will next travel to Japan for the men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026.
• Before the Asian Games, India will play Japan in a historic one-off T20 International on 22 September 2026.

Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar Wins Gold at ISSF Junior World Cup Shotgun 2026

• 15-year-old Indian shooter Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar won the gold medal in the men’s trap event at the ISSF Junior World Cup Shotgun 2026 in Porpetto, Italy.
• Yugan scored 27 out of 30 targets in the eight-shooter final and defeated Italy’s Francesco Tanfoglio by one target to secure India’s first medal at the Porpetto competition.

Key Highlights

• Yugan qualified for the final in sixth position with a score of 114/125 and entered the medal round after winning a shoot-off.
• Other Indian shooters in the men’s trap qualification were Arjun (12th) and Vinay Pratap Singh Chandrawat (13th), both scoring 112/125, while Udhav Singh Rathore finished 16th with 111/125.
• In the women’s trap event, junior Asian champion Sabeera Haris was the only Indian shooter to qualify for the final.
• Sabeera qualified in sixth position with 108/125 after a shoot-off but finished sixth in the final, scoring 9/15 targets.
• Bhavya Tripathi and Krishika Joshi missed the women’s trap final after both scored 105/125, finishing ninth and 10th, respectively.
• India did not win any medal in the junior men’s and women’s skeet events, as no Indian shooter advanced to the finals.
• The Porpetto competition is the second ISSF Junior World Cup of 2026. The first edition was held in Cairo, Egypt, in April 2026, featuring rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines.
• India topped the Cairo Junior World Cup medal tally with 16 medals, comprising 5 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze.
• Zuhair Khan and Addya Katyal won India’s only shotgun medal in Cairo, securing bronze in the mixed trap event.
• The junior mixed team trap event will be the final medal event of the Porpetto competition.

India Begins Asian Games 2026 Campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan

• The Asian Games 2026 officially began with the Opening Ceremony on 19 September 2026 at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
• Manu Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medallist in shooting, and Pawan Sehrawat, an Indian kabaddi player, were named India’s flagbearers for the Parade of Nations.
• Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a two-time defending Asian Games champion in shot put, was initially selected as one of India’s flagbearers but was replaced as he did not have the required ceremonial kit with him.

Key Highlights

• India’s medal campaign had already begun in teqball, which made its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
• Indian teqball player Quimcy Dsouza, ranked World No. 24, advanced to the women’s singles semi-finals.
• Dsouza defeated Japan’s World No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto 2–1 in her Group A match before defeating Cambodia’s DY Koemyean 2–0.
• With two victories in Group A, Dsouza advanced to the knockout stage and received a bye in the quarter-finals.
• Dsouza was scheduled to face Indonesia’s Sumaya in the women’s singles semi-final at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center.
• Even if Dsouza lost the semi-final, she would remain in medal contention through the bronze medal match.
• Dsouza, along with Mohamed Anas Imran Beg, also qualified for the mixed doubles bronze medal match in teqball.
• Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is being held in Japan, with teqball making its debut as a new sport in the Asian Games programme.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Bamboo Day 2026 Observed on 18 September

• World Bamboo Day is observed annually on 18 September to promote awareness about bamboo and its importance as a sustainable natural resource.
• Bamboo is an evergreen plant belonging to the Poaceae (grass) family and is known for its strength, versatility and rapid growth.
• Bamboo is considered the fastest-growing woody plant in the world.
• India is the world’s second-largest bamboo-growing country and has around 136 species of bamboo.
• Bamboo shoots are used as food and are considered a good source of nutrition.
• World Bamboo Day was officially recognized in 2009 by the World Bamboo Organization.
• The day was founded by Kamesh Salam, former President of the World Bamboo Organization, which is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium.
• The 8th World Bamboo Congress was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 18 September 2009.
• During the Congress, the World Bamboo Organization declared 18 September as World Bamboo Day, to be observed annually.
• The observance aims to promote the protection of natural resources and encourage new bamboo cultivation and bamboo-based industries worldwide.

Daily CA One- Liner: September 20 & 21

• Indian Railways approved the doubling of the 10.86-kilometre Chouk–Karjat railway section of Central Railway in Maharashtra
• Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Odisha Pavilion at SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
• The India–Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 16–17 September 2026
• Indian Railways approved the installation of Electronic Interlocking at seven stations of the Solapur Division of Central Railway at a total cost of ₹209 crore
• Indian Railways approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 across 7 Route Kilometres of the Lucknow Division of North Eastern Railway
• From 1 October 2026, domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas consumers must complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication to book refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price with applicable subsidy
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day International Conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’ organised by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will launch the Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Scheme on 28 September 2026, under which newborns delivered in government hospitals will receive a one-gram gold ring
• The Karnataka Cabinet decided to grant Tulu the status of the second additional official language of Karnataka in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts
• Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 108 runs off 34 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20 International in Delhi, helping India complete a 3–0 series whitewash
• 15-year-old Indian shooter Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar won the gold medal in the men’s trap event at the ISSF Junior World Cup Shotgun 2026 in Porpetto, Italy
• The Asian Games 2026 officially began with the Opening Ceremony on 19 September 2026 at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 2025–26 round of its annual Survey on Computer Software and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Exports on 18 September 2026.
• The India Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) is currently operational on a pilot basis with 8 banks, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu stated that the RBI is working to expedite its wider rollout.
• The number of Japanese-owned companies operating in India reached a record 1,463 in 2026, up from 1,374 in 2025, according to Grant Thornton Bharat’s report “Indo he Yokoso: Shaping the Future of Japanese Investments in India.”
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s outstanding net short dollar position in the forward market rose sharply to a record US$136.77 billion by July-end 2026, from US$103.33 billion at June-end.
• The Dutch central bank (De Nederlandsche Bank – DNB) relocated 86 metric tonnes of gold from New York and Ottawa to London between March and August, citing crisis preparedness amid global political unrest.
• Public-sector banks (PSBs) are exploring partnerships for issuing co-branded credit cards, with smaller PSBs seeking to leverage the scale, technology and distribution networks of larger state-owned banks that already have established credit-card operations.
• Djibouti became the 72nd country and 8th African nation to sign the Artemis Accords on 14 September 2026 at NASA Headquarters, Washington, USA.
• The Central Government appointed Shri Narayan Dewasi and Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara as Members of the Governing Body of the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the tenure of Inderjit Camotra as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Unity Small Finance Bank by six months, up to 4 February 2027.
• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh virtually inaugurated India’s 51st state-of-the-art Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Sambalpur, Odisha, on 17 September 2026.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, CIL Global Pte. Ltd., in Singapore to pursue overseas opportunities in critical minerals and diversify beyond its traditional coal business.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the 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.
• World Bamboo Day is observed annually on 18 September to promote awareness about bamboo and its importance as a sustainable natural resource.