🎯 September 2026 Current Affairs MCQs

National Forest Martyrs Day is observed on 11th September to commemorate the Khejarli Massacre of 1730 in Rajasthan, where over 300 Bishnoi community members, led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi, sacrificed their lives protecting Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) trees from being felled by Maharaja Abhay Singh's soldiers. Started by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2013. The later Chipko Movement (1973, Chamoli, Uttarakhand) was inspired by the same spirit.

Hindi Diwas is observed on 14th September to mark the adoption of Hindi in Devanagari script as an official language on 14th September 1949, under Article 343(1). Article 343(2) gave a 15-year transition period (1950-1965) for continuing English. The Official Languages Act, 1963 allowed English to continue beyond 1965 due to protests in South India. India has no National Language — only two Official Languages (Hindi and English) and 22 Scheduled Languages (8th Schedule). World Hindi Day is separately observed on 10th January.

The 2026 theme is "Global Action for a Cooler Planet." The day marks the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (16th September 1987, Montreal, Canada), which reduced use of CFCs, halons and carbon tetrachloride. The Kigali Amendment (2016, Rwanda) later added HFCs — which don't deplete ozone but are powerful greenhouse gases. UNGA proclaimed World Ozone Day in 1994.

Since 2025, National Ayurveda Day has a fixed date — 23rd September — instead of the variable Dhanvantari Jayanti/Dhanteras. This year (2026) marked the 11th Ayurveda Day with the theme "Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow." National Ayurveda Day itself began in 2016. The biennial World Ayurveda Congress last took place in Dehradun (2024); the next edition will be held in December 2026.

San Salvador and Surf City, El Salvador hosted the official 2026 celebrations. Theme: "Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism." UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) observes the day; its statute was adopted on this date in 1970, and the day was first observed in 1980.

Theme: "Changing the Narrative on Suicide." Jointly organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and WHO. India's first National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022) targets a 10% reduction in suicide mortality by 2030.

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, the "Diwan of Mysore"/"Father of Modern Mysore," was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1955. 15th September also marks the International Day of Democracy — the exact mid-point of the month.

Both fall on 18th September. International Equal Pay Day began in 2019 (first observed 2020); sectors dominated by women are sometimes termed "pink collar jobs." World Bamboo Day started in 2009 at the Bamboo Congress in Bangkok; 2026 theme: "Bamboo Beyond Borders" — highlighting bamboo's benefits reaching across national boundaries.

Both fall on 21st September. International Day of Peace: first observed in 1982; UNGA fixed the date and declared it a day of global ceasefire in 2001; 2026 theme — "Invest in Peace for Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday." World Alzheimer's Day 2026 theme: "The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: Dementia Diagnosis Matters."

25th September. Antyodaya Diwas marks the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. World Lung Day 2026 theme: "A Lifetime of Lung Health." World Pharmacist Day theme: "Empowering Pharmacists for a Healthier Future."

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) observes World Maritime Day with the 2026 theme "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence."

28th September. Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease — the rabies virus's RNA enters the body through an infected animal's saliva (usually via a bite) and is preventable through vaccination. Theme: "Strength Together."

World Heart Day is on 29th September (observed by the World Heart Federation since 2000). International Translation Day is on 30th September, linked to the Feast of St. Jerome, who translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin.

UNESCO observes International Literacy Day; 2026 celebrations were held in Mexico with the theme "Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity." World Physiotherapy Day is also observed on the same date (8th September).

National Nutrition Week (Rashtriya Poshan Saptah) is observed in the first week of September, a tradition since 1982. World Coconut Day falls right after, on 2nd September, with the 2026 theme "Coconut in Times of Uncertainty: Securing Food, Energy, Livelihood" — observed by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community.

National Wildlife Day (global observance) falls on 4th September, distinct from India's National Wildlife Week observed from Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October) into early October. International Vulture Awareness Day (first Saturday of September) and International Day of Charity (5th September, Mother Teresa's death anniversary; theme "The Power of Charity in Global Solidarity") both fell on 5th September this year, the same day as Teachers' Day.

Retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra, former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command, became the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Nirmala Yadav was also appointed as the Trust's first woman trustee.

Sanjukta Parashar, popularly called the "Iron Lady of Assam" for leading counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, became the first woman officer to head CRPF's COBRA unit (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), succeeding Danesh Rana.

Dinesh Sharma, a former Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh and Rajya Sabha vice-chairperson, took oath as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair's new name), administered by the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.

Justice Bhalluri Kameshwar Rao became Chief Justice of Patna High Court. Other notable appointments: Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge (Calcutta HC), Justice Sanjay Kumar Agarwal (Rajasthan HC), Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi (Bombay HC), Justice Ashwini Kumar Mishra (Punjab & Haryana HC), Justice Krishna Ram Mohapatra (Chhattisgarh HC), Justice Alpesh Yashwant Kogje (Madhya Pradesh HC), Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati (J&K and Ladakh HC). High Courts in India were established under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861; Article 217 governs appointment, tenure and conditions of High Court judges.

Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma, from the Education branch, scripted history as the first non-medical woman officer to reach the two-star rank of Air Vice Marshal, appointed Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education). She was earlier the first woman Principal of Sainik School Kapurthala. (Note: Padmavathy Bandopadhyay was the first woman Air Vice Marshal overall, in the medical branch, in 2002.)

Jayanti Prasad took additional charge as IBBI Chairperson following Ravi Mital's retirement. IBBI is the apex statutory regulatory body for insolvency and bankruptcy matters, set up on 1st October 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, functioning under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. (Separately, Mandeep K. Bhandari, former Principal Secretary to the J&K Lieutenant Governor, became the new Chairperson of CBSE, replacing Lokesh Prashant Sitaram.)

Luke Lindberg, a former US agricultural official, became the youngest-ever Executive Director of WFP, succeeding Cindy McCain. WFP, a UN specialized agency, is headquartered in Rome, Italy, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh was re-appointed Secretary General of APPU for a second term of four years. APPU is the regional wing of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), comprising 32 member countries, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri became Morocco's first-ever woman Prime Minister, appointed by King Mohammed VI. She is only the second woman PM in the Arab world after Tunisia's Najla Bouden. Morocco (capital: Rabat; currency: Moroccan Dirham) is a North African constitutional monarchy.

Michael Kremer was named Chief Economist of the World Bank, whose President is Ajay Banga. (Separately, John Ternus became Apple's CEO, succeeding Tim Cook.)

Alfred Tyrone Cooke, a 1965 Indo-Pak War hero, was awarded the Vir Chakra (third-highest wartime gallantry award after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra) for defending Kalaikunda airfield in West Bengal during a Pakistani Sabre jet attack, flying a Hawker Hunter aircraft against odds three times his force.

Pandit Induchhaya Nirodhi belonged to the Agra Gharana, known for its powerful, open-throated singing style. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2014) and an honorary doctorate from Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University (2015).

He was the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President/Prime Minister of the UAE. (Also notable: Surya Krishnamurthy, former ISRO scientist and theatre director with a Limca Book of Records entry, passed away; Princess Astrid of Norway, daughter of King Olav V, also passed away.)

Bhagat Chuni Lal was a veteran BJP leader from Punjab, who served as a minister and Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas (9-28 September) was held at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Bikaner (Rajasthan, desert warfare) and Auli (Uttarakhand, mountain warfare) — a two-theatre format. The exercise has run annually between India and the USA since 2004.

Veer Guardian 2026 was held at Jodhpur, between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. For the first time, Japan's Mitsubishi F-2 fighter aircraft participated with over 100 personnel. The first edition was held in Japan in 2023. (India and Japan also conduct Exercise Dharma Guardian — note the shared word "Guardian.")

Konark Corps conducted Exercise Rudra Raptor at Jaisalmer under the theme "One Team, One Purpose, Absolute Battlefield." It tested coordination between aerial and ground combat assets — AH-64E Apache helicopters from "Thar Raptors" and combat tanks from the "Black Mace" Brigade.

The 4th edition of Samudra Lakshman (2026 ➜ "4/26") was held at Lumut Naval Base, Malaysia, near the Strait of Malacca. India's INS Mysore (Delhi-class guided missile destroyer, built by Mazagon Dock, commissioned 1999) represented the Indian Navy, with KD Lekir from Malaysia.

Super Garuda Shield (31 August - 11 September) is held annually between Indonesia and the USA (originally "Garuda Shield," renamed "Super" after becoming multilateral in 2022, with 13+ international partners/observers). Note: this is different from Exercise Garuda Shakti, which is bilateral between India and Indonesia.

The 18th edition of Nomadic Elephant was held at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, with 47 personnel from each side. The exercise alternates between India and Mongolia each year; the previous edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The 12th edition of Eagle Lion was hosted for the first time by the USA (in Colorado), running since 1993 as a biennial exercise between US CENTCOM and Jordan.

Exercise Varuna's 24th edition was held between the Indian and French navies at Toulon Naval Base (Mediterranean coast); India's INS Trishul (Talwar-class guided missile stealth frigate) participated. (Note: Exercise Shakti is also between India and France, but is distinct from Varuna.)

Khagantak 243 is a 300 kg, air-launched, long-range precision glide bomb jointly developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and GSR Dynamics. Range: up to 180 km (from 12 km altitude, released at 0.8 Mach).

Ahuti MK2, developed by Hyderabad-based startup Apollyon Dynamics, is India's fastest multi-rotor UAV (up to 498 km/hr) designed as an interceptor drone (not for surveillance/photography).

Aashwast (full form: Assessment and Analysis of Electronic System Hardware for Vulnerabilities and Security Threats) tests electronic/software components of military drones for cyber and electronic threats/malware.

ORV Sagar Manthan was launched by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at GRSE, Kolkata, for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It will replace ORV Sagar Kanya (originally procured from Germany).

INS Kulish (a Kora-class guided missile corvette, commissioned in 2001, built by GRSE; "Kulish" means thunderbolt in Sanskrit) became the first Indian naval ship to dock at Ream Naval Base, Cambodia — strengthening India-Cambodia ties during the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation 2026.

The Artemis Accords, launched in 2020, is a non-binding framework for ethical space exploration, led by NASA and the US Department of State, with seven founding members (Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, UAE, UK). India signed in 2023 as the 27th signatory. Djibouti was the 72nd global and 8th African signatory, just after Turkiye (71st).

The inaugural International Space Summit was held at Grand Palais, Paris (9-10 September), chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, co-chaired by Germany. ISRO and France's CNES signed three agreements — on Gaganyaan astronaut training, microgravity research, and the Trishna Earth observation mission.

Trishna (Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High-Resolution Natural Resource Assessment) will study Earth's surface temperature, water budgets, urban heat, and snow melt from a Sun-synchronous orbit, for a 5-year mission duration, expected to launch in 2027.

EOS-05 (formerly GSAT-1A, following the earlier failed GSAT-1 mission) was placed into a high-altitude Geosynchronous orbit (~35,786 km) via GSLV-F17, launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, to provide continuous imaging over the Indian subcontinent.

The youngest known planet ("Elias 2-24 b" / also called via its star system), with an estimated age of under 1 million years, orbits a young star ("Elias 2-24").

The Green Forge Complex, established by the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) at NABI, Mohali, Punjab, is a controlled-environment facility (temperature, humidity controlled) for testing genetically modified crops.

UNCCD COP17 was hosted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2026 is also observed as the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists). A Drought Resilience Index and Drought Resilience Investment Facility were launched. India reported restoring 21 million hectares of land and launched a "Guide to Grassland and Open Natural Ecosystems." The next edition, COP18, will be hosted by Egypt.

UN Climate Week 2026 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan (capital), ahead of COP31 (UNFCCC), which will be held in Antalya, Turkiye in November. Note the distinct series: UNCCD COP17 (Mongolia, desertification), UNFCCC COP31 (Turkiye, climate change), and CBD COP17 (Armenia, biodiversity, in October).

The WWF Global Conservation Conference was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan (21st September), inaugurated by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. WWF, an NGO founded in 1961, is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve lies along the India-Nepal border and is the origin point of the Gomti river (the Shipra river is associated with Ujjain, not Pilibhit). Uttar Pradesh has 3 proper tiger reserves — Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and Ranipur — with "Amangarh" often mentioned as a 4th, though it is actually a buffer zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve, not an independent reserve.

SAWEN's first General Assembly, held in Kathmandu, adopted the declaration to combat illegal wildlife trade, declaring it a transnational organized crime. SAWEN comprises 8 South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), established in 2011, with its secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal.

PRAMAAN (Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry and Natural forestry resources) certificates were handed over by Minister Bhupender Yadav under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (launched 2023). It certifies three areas — Forest Management, Trees Outside Forests, and Chain of Custody. Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation was the first state-level recipient; Govind Mohapatra, a bamboo farmer from Odisha, was the first individual recipient.

India added 9 sites to the UNESCO Tentative List in September (4 followed by 5), bringing the cumulative total to 78. All 9 new entries fall under the Cultural category. A site must first be on the Tentative List before it can be formally nominated as a World Heritage Site.

Cellular Jail is NOT part of "Sites of Satyagraha" — it belongs to the separate "Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands" tentative entry. "Sites of Satyagraha" includes 9 sites total — 2 in South Africa (Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, Phoenix Settlement) and 7 in India: Champaran Satyagraha Smarak (Bihar), Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad), Mani Bhavan (Mumbai), Harijan Sevak Sangh (New Delhi, 1932), Sevagram Ashram (Wardha, Maharashtra), Aga Khan Palace (Pune — where Gandhi was detained during Quit India and began his 1943 fast), and Gandhi Smriti (New Delhi, site of his assassination on 30th January 1948).

Rangpur was the fourth capital of the Ahom Dynasty, built by Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1704. The Ahom Dynasty was founded by Swargadeo Sukaphaa in 1228 and ruled the upper Brahmaputra valley for nearly 600 years.

The Painted Haveli Towns of Shekhawati span the Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Churu districts of north/north-eastern Rajasthan — 14 historic trading towns known for ornately painted havelis dating from the 18th to early 20th century.

Udayagiri Caves (near Vidisha, between the Betwa and Bes rivers, Madhya Pradesh) are rock-cut Gupta-period caves (20 in total); Cave 5 features the famous Varaha (boar avatar of Vishnu) sculpture associated with Chandragupta II. (Note: Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves are a separate, different site in Odisha.) Cave architecture in India began during the Mauryan period, while Hindu temple architecture began during the Gupta period — Udayagiri caves show some of the earliest Hindu temple-architecture elements. Other Tentative List additions from Madhya Pradesh this month include the Buddhist Murals of Bagh Caves and the Group of Temples of Chambal Valley (Bateshwar, Padavali, Kakanmath — Nagara style, built under the Gurjara-Pratihara and Kachchhapaghata dynasties) and the Tribal Legacy of Ginnorgarh Fort.

Article 324 forms the constitutional basis of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a constitutional, autonomous body formed on 25th January 1950, which conducts elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President. Article 326 provides for adult suffrage. ECI was a single-member body until 1993, when it became a multi-member body under Article 324(2) with two additional Election Commissioners.

SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is a door-to-door exercise to revise/clean up electoral rolls — removing duplicate/deceased voters' names and adding new voters. It was first rolled out in Bihar (where ~13 crore names were affected), and is to be extended to 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Reports surfaced of friction between the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over the process; constitutionally, all three members (CEC and the two ECs) hold equal powers, salary, and status.

PM Vishwakarma was launched on 17th September 2023 (PM Modi's birthday) as a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of ₹13,000 crore (2023-24 to 2027-28), for artisans/craftspeople (18 years and above) in 18 traditional trades, providing skill training, tools, and market linkage.

India International Water Week (22-26 September) falls under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, with the 2026 theme "Climate Resilient Water Management."

Paradip Port (Odisha) became the only Mega Port on India's Eastern Coast, a statutory designation under Section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025, based on cargo-handling capability. India has 4 Mega Ports in total: Paradip (East), plus Deendayal Port (Gujarat), Jawaharlal Nehru Port/Nhava Sheva (Mumbai), and the privately-run Mundra Port (Gujarat) on the Western Coast. India has 14 designated Major Ports — 12 fully operational, 2 under construction (Vadhavan, Maharashtra; Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar).

SEMICON 2.0, with an outlay of ₹1.27 lakh crore, aims to attract over ₹1 lakh crore in investment and create about 10 lakh jobs over the next three years, focusing on six pillars — design, machinery, materials, fabrication etc. related to semiconductors.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released "Raksha," a strategic roadmap for India's global defense partnerships with various countries. He also visited Sri Lanka — the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years — meeting Sri Lanka's President, PM Harini Amarasuriya, and Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha.

Kumik village was declared Ladakh's first Heritage Village by Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, recognized for its traditional mud houses, sacred spaces, unique agricultural practices, and long-preserved Buddhist traditions. (Separately, Ladakh also inaugurated the world's highest-altitude flower fields — at Chogalamsar and Stakna, 10,600 ft elevation, with 25 lakh ornamental flowers across 40 acres.)

Tishrei is the 7th month of the Hebrew (Jewish) calendar. Rosh Hashanah, also called the "Day of Judgment" (Yom HaDin), marks the Jewish New Year, tied to the belief that God created Adam and Eve on this day. (Note: Navroz is the Parsi/Zoroastrian New Year, a separate festival on a different date.)

Hartalika Teej falls on Tritiya (3rd day) of Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month, marking when Parvati worshipped Shiva and attained him as her husband. Called "Gauri Habba" in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Nuakhai ("nua" = new, "khai" = food/eating) is a social festival of western Odisha, celebrating the arrival of the new rice (paddy, not wheat) harvest — offering "Nav Anna" to deities before the community partakes.

Saitual district achieved the "Surakshit" status under the 95-95-95 targets — 95% of HIV-positive people diagnosed, 95% of those on antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those on treatment achieving viral load suppression. Status categories run: Sangharshi (struggling) → Saksham (2 targets met) → Surakshit (all 3 met) → Surakshit Plus (zero mother-to-child transmission also achieved).

Kerala's test uses computer-simulated traffic situations to assess how quickly/well applicants perceive and react to road hazards, under a provision already existing in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules but implemented for the first time by any state.

Interest rates on farmer loans under this UP scheme were cut from 11% to 6%, launched by CM Yogi Adityanath from Lucknow, alongside the launch of "Bharat Taxi" — India's first cooperative, driver-owned ride platform with zero commission, operational in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj.

Mandar, one of the oldest musical instruments of Eastern India, is played during folk music and festivities across Jharkhand, and received the GI tag in September 2026.

Tulu, a Dravidian language over 2,000 years old, used mainly in coastal Karnataka, was approved as a second administrative language for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, with ₹82 lakh allocated for administrative officer training. The recommendation came from a committee led by M. Mohan Alva (2023 report).

Bidriware (from Bidar district) uses zinc and copper alloys inlaid with silver. Credit for bringing this craft to India goes to Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (whose dargah is in Ajmer); the craft flourished under the Bahmani Sultanate (14th-15th century).

Also called Naga King Chilli, Ghost Pepper, or Bhut Jolokia (in Assam), it is counted among the top 10 hottest chillies in the world, GI-tagged in 2008, and primarily from Nagaland.

Pehchaan Portal, India's first state-level portal of its kind, uploads details/photos of unidentified and unclaimed bodies from government mortuaries (post-mortems done within 48 hours of death in Punjab government facilities) so families can identify missing relatives.

Rani Avantibai Lodhi was the Queen Regent of the princely state of Ramgarh (Madhya Pradesh), who led 4,000 troops and is remembered for the Battle of Kheri, attaining martyrdom on 20th March 1858 rather than be taken captive by the British.

Kei Panyor, one of India's youngest districts, is progressing towards being India's first "Biohappiness District" — a concept of sustainable biodiversity conservation, community well-being, and rural development, coined by M.S. Swaminathan, the "Father of the Green Revolution in India" (Norman Borlaug is the global "Father of Green Revolution").

Kishor Makwana, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), received the award during the 16th edition of the Sansad Ratna Awards 2026 in Delhi.

In the 5th edition (conferred this September, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on 7th September, International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies), Lucknow topped the "above 10 lakh population" category, followed closely by Indore and Jabalpur. In the 3-10 lakh category, Rourkela topped; in the below-3-lakh category, Kalinganagar topped.

Amit Shah presented Rajbhasha Kirti and Rajbhasha Gaurav Awards at the 6th All India Official Language Conference in Navi Mumbai. Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar is the highest national award for a Central Government ministry/department/PSU/bank for exemplary work in Hindi; Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar is given to individuals (citizens, authors, scholars, scientists, govt employees).

Brij Kishore Singh, of the Karnataka cadre, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. In the Special Project Award category, both Project Elephant and Project Great Indian Bustard were recognized.

Sethuraman Panchanathan, born in Chennai and a professor at Arizona State University, won the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award from the US National Academy of Engineering. He received India's Padma Shri in 2025 for contributions in Science and Technology.

Tommy Koh (Singapore) is a lawyer/diplomat who presided over UNCLOS High Seas Treaty negotiations. The other two recipients: Bo Kyi, a Myanmar activist (providing medical/aid support in flood-hit areas) and Runa Khan, a Bangladeshi social worker. First awarded in 1958 (established 1957) in memory of Ramon Magsaysay, 7th President of the Philippines; the first Indian/Asian recipient was Vinoba Bhave; the first woman recipient was Mother Teresa; Ravish Kumar (journalist) won in 2019, Ravi Kannan (healthcare) won in 2023.

The ceremony (administered by the National Film Development Corporation) was held for the first time outside Delhi, at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, with 92 awards announced in total, for the year 2024.

Ananth Nag, a veteran of Hindi and Kannada cinema (Padma Bhushan 2025; debut in Hindi with "Ankur," in Kannada with "Sankalpa"), received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 — a golden lotus (Swarna Kamal) with a ₹1 lakh cash prize this year. The award, started in 1969 in memory of Dadasaheb Phalke (father of Indian cinema, maker of India's first feature film "Raja Harishchandra," 1913), was first given to Devika Rani, the "First Lady of Indian Cinema." (Previous winners: Mithun Chakraborty, Waheeda Rehman, Mohanlal.)

Justice Dipak Misra, a former CJI, received the Kalinga Ratna Award (given to personalities from Odisha with national/international contributions), including a silver Saraswati idol and citation. Sarala Samman (for contributions to Odia literature) was given to Dr. Ramachandra Behera.

Matthew Rhys made history, becoming the first actor to win Best Lead Actor in two different categories at the same ceremony — Comedy Series ("Widows' Bay") and Limited Series ("The Beast in Me"). "The Pitt" received the most nominations (25); "Widows' Bay" won the most awards overall. Jean Smart won Best Lead Actress (Comedy) for "Hacks"; Noah Wyle won Best Lead Actor (Drama) for "The Pitt"; Britt Lower won Best Lead Actress (Drama); Sally Field won Best Supporting Actress (Limited Series) for "The Beast in Me."

Jauhary Mola (Dominican Republic) was crowned Miss World 2026; first runner-up was Elizabeth Laborde of Spain. India's contestant Nikita Porwal did not make the Top 20. The outgoing Miss World was Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand.

Lal Rothangi, a teacher-turned-farmer from Mizoram, is associated with strawberry cultivation and was recognized under FAO's International Year of Women Farmers 2026. She is set to become the first Mizo woman to receive this recognition, at the World Food Forum (Rome, October).

Religious/pilgrimage trips accounted for ~48% of domestic overnight trips (covering July 2025–June 2026), followed by medical/health (~30%) and holidaying (~22%). Uttar Pradesh received the highest share of domestic travellers (~15.7%), followed by Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

Japan topped the TTDI 2026, followed by USA and Spain. India ranked 31st out of 110 economies studied. Among Asian countries, China also featured in the top 10 besides Japan.

Manipur topped among Hilly and North-Eastern states. Overall, Delhi ranked first among all states/UTs (followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka); among Union Territories, Chandigarh ranked highest; among smaller states, Goa performed best. The index uses 16 indicators under 3 pillars: Transport Electrification Progress (50% weightage), Charging Infrastructure (30%), and R&D/Innovation in EVs (20%).

India's rank remained unchanged at 131 out of 145 countries. Iceland topped the index (having closed ~93% of its gender gap), followed by Finland and Norway; Chad, Iran, and Pakistan were among the bottom three. India performs strongest in Educational Attainment (96.6%) but lags in Political Empowerment and Economic Participation.

India topped the Global Business Climate Survey 2026 among 41 international markets, followed by Iceland and Vietnam, released by Swedish institutions Business Sweden and the International Swedish Chamber of Commerce.

HDFC Bank (Mumbai-based) ranked 3rd globally in Forbes' 2026 ranking of 500 banks across 89 countries, based on financial metrics (profitability, capital strength, resilience, asset quality, growth) rather than customer satisfaction. Singapore's OCBC topped the list, followed by Singapore's DBS in 2nd place.

New York topped the index (1,000 cities studied across 5 factors — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, governance), followed by London and Paris. Among Indian cities, Delhi ranked highest (268th globally), followed by Bengaluru and Mumbai.

WMO releases this annual report on the state of global surface water, groundwater, and glacier resources. The latest report notes global rivers are drying up and glaciers are shrinking, while India shows a "paradox" — rising surface water (due to glacial melt) but declining groundwater/aquifer levels.

IIM Bangalore ranked 64th globally, retaining its position as India's highest-ranked institution in the QS MBA Rankings 2027, followed by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta (19 Indian institutions featured overall). Top 3 globally: MIT Sloan, Harvard Business School, Stanford. (Separately, in the Financial Times Masters in Management 2026 ranking, IIM Ahmedabad again topped among 14 Indian B-schools in the Top 100.)

IISc Bengaluru ranked 254th globally — no Indian institution made the global top 250. The University of Oxford topped the overall THE rankings.

The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi in September 2026 — India's fourth time hosting (previous hosts: 2012, 2016, 2021). India held the BRICS chairship for the full calendar year 2026, handing it over to China from 1st January 2027. The grouping expanded from "BRIC" (coined 2001 by Jim O'Neill, with Brazil, Russia, India, China), joined by South Africa in 2010 to become "BRICS."

BRICS AGRIN (Agro Input Genetic Resources Innovation Network) is a collaborative, non-binding framework to share genetic resource information/germplasm among BRICS members for the benefit of farmers — also referred to as the "BRICS Grain Exchange" concept.

China will host the 19th BRICS Summit in 2027 and takes over the BRICS chairship from India from 1st January 2027. The 17th BRICS Summit (2025) was held in Brazil.

Pakistan assumed the SCO chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan for 2026-27, with the theme "Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, Shared Prosperity." Lahore was also declared the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-27. SCO is headquartered in Beijing (though founded in Shanghai in 2001); India and Pakistan joined as members in 2017; Iran and Belarus (2024) are the newest members. At the summit, PM Modi outlined a three-pillar "S-C-O" framework: Security, Connectivity, Opportunity.

TRUST (Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technologies) between India and the USA aims to build a secure, resilient, and diversified undersea cable network, particularly across the Pacific Ocean.

"Gondhal," a Marathi psychological thriller directed by Santosh Gavankar, was selected by India's official panel; "Ang," a Naga/Nagaland-based film directed by Theja Rio, qualified via winning the Platform Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival. (Separately, "Kamathipura Express," featuring Vipin Sharma, won the 2026 Bronze Student Academy Award in the Narrative category.)

MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay, with Spanish and Portuguese as official languages. Its presidency rotates every 6 months among full members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia — Venezuela is suspended). India and MERCOSUR signed their Preferential Trade Agreement in 2004 (enforced 2009) and recently added a protocol on Electronic Certificates of Origin.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Liberia's Foreign Minister Sara Nyati jointly launched this voluntary, action-oriented grouping focused on shipping registries, coastal safety, and seafaring, complementing bodies like the International Maritime Organization.

India, along with Nigeria, UNICEF, and WHO, co-hosted the launch of a global multilateral platform to advance Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) care. SCD, an inherited blood disorder, causes red blood cells to become misshapen (sickle-shaped), reducing oxygen-carrying capacity; treatment includes bone marrow/stem cell transplant.

The resolution (initiated by Togo on behalf of the African Group, backed by the African Union; 164 votes in favour, only the USA voting against) endorses the Equal Earth Projection (introduced in 2018) as a non-binding alternative, correcting distortions in the 1569 Mercator Projection (created by Gerardus Mercator), which exaggerates the size of countries near the poles (e.g., Greenland) relative to those near the Equator (e.g., Africa, which is actually ~14 times larger than Greenland). The Mercator Projection remains valid and useful for maritime navigation.

India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win its 8th Women's Asia Cup title. Only three teams have ever won this tournament (started 2004): India (8 times), Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh (1 title each).

Honohono (meaning "flame" in Japanese) is the official mascot, inspired by "Shachihoko," a mythical creature with a tiger's head and carp's body, designed by Yoshiyuki Nakagawa. India's flag bearers were Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat (opening ceremony) and Neeru Dahiya (closing ceremony).

Suchika Tariyal won a bronze medal in Women's Traditional 60 kg MMA — the first time MMA featured as a medal sport at the Asian Games, and India's first-ever medal in the discipline.

India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs to clinch the Women's Cricket Gold at the 2026 Asian Games.

Saurav Ghosal had earlier won silver twice in Men's Squash at the Asian Games. This year, Abhay Singh became the second Indian man to win silver in Men's Singles Squash (after Ghosal), while Anahat Singh became the first Indian woman ever to win a silver medal in Squash at the Asian Games.

Gulveer Singh won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games and silver in 2026, becoming the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the Men's 10,000m event.

India swept both Men's and Women's Kabaddi Gold medals, defeating Iran in both finals. Jay Meena also won India's first-ever Soft Tennis medal (bronze) at the Asian Games.

The 46th Chess Olympiad was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan; India won silver in the Open section and bronze in the Women's section individually, but topped as the overall best nation, defending the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy for the third time.

Ganges Grandmasters won the title by defeating Alpine Pipers, in Bengaluru.

Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032 — the first time this cycling event will be held in India. The decision was taken at a UCI Congress held in Montreal.

India's first Blue Bond, with a 10-year tenure, raised ₹600 crore via Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited. Unlike Green Bonds (which fund environmental projects broadly), Blue Bond proceeds are specifically earmarked for ocean, marine ecosystem, water management, and sustainable blue economy projects.

JCRA upgraded India's sovereign credit rating from BBB+ to A- (A- is a notch above BBB+), citing India's sustained ~7% high economic growth rate.

Coastal Local Area Bank Limited, headquartered in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, became the first Local Area Bank in India included in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934, gaining access to RBI's liquidity facilities and money market operations.

Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean nation to adopt India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Separately, the government has barred any fee on UPI transactions up to ₹2,000.

Moody's upgraded its GDP growth forecast for India's current fiscal year from 6% to 7%.

"Rainchennai," launched by NCDEX, allows market participants to trade based on north-east monsoon rainfall forecasts/values for Chennai, functioning similarly to a derivative/futures product, allowing hedging against weather-driven losses.