The Vice President opens the 9th India International Water Week, Moody’s raises India’s FY27 growth forecast to 7%, HAL hands over its final batch of LCA Tejas trainers alongside new HTT-40s and Dhruv NG helicopters, India’s first indigenous long-range attack drone ‘KAL’ clears trials at Pokhran, the Indian and Sri Lankan navies wrap up SLINEX-26, and India wins the right to host the Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the first time. Here is the news that matters for competitive exams today.
India – National Affairs
9th India International Water Week 2026 opens at Bharat Mandapam
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on the theme “Climate Resilient Water Management.”
Key facts
- Duration: 22–26 September 2026 (conference and exhibition run 22–25 September; a study tour follows on 26 September).
- Partner Countries: the Netherlands and Germany.
- Alongside IIWW, the Second International WASH Conference 2026 (22–24 September), organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, focuses on drinking water access, sanitation infrastructure and hygiene behaviour.
- The platform brings together policymakers, global water leaders, researchers, industry and civil society to address water security and climate adaptation challenges.
India makes its first farm-level soil carbon payments in Punjab and Haryana
India initiated its first farm-level soil carbon payments at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, with 2,550 smallholder farmers from Punjab and Haryana receiving over Rs. 2.9 crore for adopting verified regenerative agricultural practices. Dr M.L. Jat, Director General, ICAR, initiated the Direct Benefit Transfer to participating farmers.
Daily Current Affairs 22 September 2026 – Download Free PDF Here
Key details
- Payments are part of ‘Aadi’, a farmer carbon programme launched by Grow Indigo in 2019 with technical guidance from ICAR.
- Farmers adopted practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), reduced tillage and crop-residue management between 2019 and 2022.
- The first issuance covered about 30,000 acres and generated over 50,000 verified carbon credits; ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, supported the scientific verification.
- Individual farmer payments ranged from roughly Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 15,000, based on verified carbon credits generated.
Jaishankar’s three-day visit to Bhutan: five projects launched, Rs. 4,000 crore Line of Credit
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar undertook an official visit to Bhutan from 16 to 18 September 2026 at the invitation of Bhutanese Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel, holding talks with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
Key outcomes
- Launched five development projects covering healthcare, connectivity, agriculture, clean mobility and energy, including a hospital and a hydropower initiative.
- Reviewed progress on the Punatsangchhu-I (1,200 MW) and Punatsangchhu-II (1,020 MW) hydroelectric projects under the March 2024 Joint Vision on Energy Partnership.
- India extended a concessional Line of Credit worth Rs. 4,000 crore to Bhutan for energy-sector projects.
- Key outcomes also included progress on UPI-based fintech integration and education cooperation.
Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub signs four agreements at INNOPROM India 2026
The Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub (IRITH) signed four strategic agreements at INNOPROM India 2026, an international industrial trade fair held at Bharat Mandapam from 9 to 11 September, spanning AI, cybersecurity, healthcare technology, electronics and investment.
- An India–Russia Centre of Excellence in AI and cybersecurity will be set up with the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and RUSSOFT, hosted by Gorky Tech.
- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Panorama Electronics will promote cross-border investment in AI, machine learning, medical devices and digital healthcare.
- Russian firm NexTouch will set up an India joint venture for interactive technologies, and SberMedAI will collaborate on AI applications in diagnostics and clinical decision support.
MoCA to sign MoUs with 22 states for the next phase of UDAN
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is signing MoUs with 22 states for the next phase of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), launching a Challenge Mode and a new Routes Bidding Round to expand regional air connectivity.
- Participating states include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, among others.
- As of July 2026, UDAN has operationalised 679 routes across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, carrying over 1.68 crore passengers through more than 3.58 lakh flights.
Other national and state headlines
- APEDA signed an MoU with InD Events Dubai (organiser of Gulfood) to strengthen Indian agri-export opportunities; India will be Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027 for a second consecutive year.
- IIIT-Bangalore and the Taipei Computer Association signed a Letter of Intent at Electronica India 2026 – the first major tech partnership between Taiwan and South India, covering AI, electronics and smart manufacturing.
- Madhya Pradesh became the first state to launch a free rural property registration scheme, the Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana–2026, aiming to register about 50 lakh rural properties free of stamp duty and registration charges.
- The Marathi film ‘Gondhal’, directed by Santosh Davakhar, was selected by the Film Federation of India as India’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards (Oscars 2027) – the fourth Marathi film to earn the honour, after ‘Shwaas’, ‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ and ‘Court’.
Economy & Banking
Moody’s raises India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7%
Moody’s Ratings raised India’s real GDP growth forecast for FY27 to 7%, up from 6%, citing the economy’s resilience to global shocks including the West Asia conflict, while retaining India’s Baa3 sovereign rating with a stable outlook.
Key data
- India’s GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27 and 8.2% in the first half of CY2026, compared with 7.3% growth in CY2025.
- Moody’s flagged inflation risk, projecting FY27 inflation at 4.8%, sharply higher than 2.4% in FY26, driven by elevated crude oil prices and El Niño-related food price pressures.
novio and IOB launch co-branded RuPay credit card
Consumer credit platform novio (Credilio Financial Technologies) partnered with Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to launch a co-branded RuPay credit card at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, aimed at UPI-active customers and first-time credit users.
- Available in two variants: RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum.
- Offers instant digital onboarding and a Fixed Deposit-backed credit facility for individuals with limited or no credit history.
- Benefits include airport lounge access, cashback at Amazon, Swiggy and Zepto, and free monthly movie tickets via BookMyShow; the card links to UPI for credit-based payments.
Follow-through: GFCI 40, revised UPI MDR and Tata Sons
- GIFT City continues to be highlighted after climbing nine places to 37th in the Global Financial Centres Index 40, released this week.
- The NPCI’s revised UPI Merchant Discount Rate framework – a flat Rs. 5 charge on select merchant categories above Rs. 2,000, with P2P transactions remaining free – takes effect from 15 October 2026.
- Markets continue to track Tata Sons’ next steps after the RBI’s rejection of its Core Investment Company deregistration application, which requires the conglomerate to move toward a stock market listing.
Science & Technology
HAL hands over final LCA Tejas FOC trainers, HTT-40s and Dhruv NG helicopters
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainers, three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and four Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited, at a ceremony in Bengaluru attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu.
Key details
- The two Tejas twin-seater trainers were the final aircraft under their contract, retaining the frontline platform’s core systems and combat capability for fighter pilot training and operational conversion.
- The HTT-40 (named ‘Ankur’) handover marks the start of deliveries under a Ministry of Defence contract for 70 aircraft, supporting basic flying, aerobatics and instrument training.
- The Dhruv NG is India’s first indigenously produced civil helicopter compliant with Airworthiness Standards (AS)-4, suitable for offshore operations.
India’s first indigenous long-range OWA drone ‘KAL’ clears trials at Pokhran
India’s first indigenous long-range One-Way Attack (OWA) drone, named ‘KAL’, successfully completed flight testing at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, validating its airframe, propulsion, avionics, navigation and mission systems from a vehicle-mounted launch platform.
Specifications
- Developed by IG Defence, Noida, part of its GRID STRIKE portfolio.
- Range: up to 1,000 km; endurance: 7–8 hours; payload: 50 kg; operable up to 5,000 m altitude.
- Uses a navigation system integrating multi-band GNSS and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) for autonomous, long-endurance, precision-strike missions.
- Intended applications: long-range strike, air-defence suppression and precision attack operations.
New tiger cat species identified in Bolivia after more than a century
An international team of scientists identified a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest – the first new living feline species formally described in over 100 years, published on 17 September 2026 in Current Biology.
- Locally called the Tilcayo, it belongs to the tiger cat group found across South America.
- Smaller than an average domestic cat – about 46 cm head-to-body length and around 1.4 kg, with a light-brown coat and irregular dark rosettes.
- Genetic analysis places its divergence from related tiger cats at roughly 1.4 million years ago.
Defence & Security
India and Sri Lanka conclude 13th edition of SLINEX-26 in Visakhapatnam
The Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy conducted the 13th edition of their bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-26 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from 17 to 21 September 2026, aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and interoperability.
Key details
- Indian Navy assets: INS Kavaratti (indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare corvette) and INS Jyoti (Fleet Tanker).
- Sri Lanka Navy asset: SLNS Sindurala.
- SLINEX was conceptualised in 2005; the previous edition, SLINEX-25, was held in Colombo from 14–18 August 2025.
HAL deliveries reinforce indigenous defence and aviation manufacturing
Beyond their aviation significance, today’s HAL handovers of Tejas trainers, HTT-40s and Dhruv NG helicopters underline continued progress on India’s indigenous defence and aerospace manufacturing base, alongside the successful Pokhran trials of the long-range ‘KAL’ attack drone – both developments reinforcing India’s push toward self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar) defence production.
Sports
India to host Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the first time in 2028
India will host the 11th Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the first time in 2028, with the decision approved at the Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA) Congress in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Bhupender Singh Bajwa of the Wushu Association of India was nominated as a Member of the WFA Executive Committee.
- The championship is expected to feature around 500 athletes from 42 Asian countries, along with coaches, judges and officials.
- The 10th edition was held in Macau, China, from 12–15 September 2024.
Asian Games 2026: India’s campaign continues in Aichi-Nagoya
Building on Day 1’s two shooting silvers, India continued its medal push at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Shooting: India won silver in the men’s 10m air rifle team event on 21 September.
- MMA: Suchika Tariyal secured India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in mixed martial arts – a bronze in the women’s traditional -60 kg category.
- India’s women’s cricket team remains through to the gold medal match against Sri Lanka, after a strong group-stage campaign.
- India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams opened with commanding wins (13-1 over Indonesia and 19-0 over Uzbekistan respectively).
Important Days
World Bamboo Day 2026 – 18 September (follow-up)
18 September 2026 marked the 18th observance of World Bamboo Day, established in 2009 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok by the World Bamboo Organisation. The observance was initiated by Kamesh Salam of Assam, who served as WBO President from 2007 to 2009.
World Water Monitoring Day – 18 September (follow-up)
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) raises awareness about water quality and encourages public participation in monitoring water resources. It was established in 2003 by the American Clean Water Foundation, originally observed on 18 October to mark the US Clean Water Act, 1972; the date shifted to 18 September in 2007 for wider global participation. EarthEcho International has coordinated the programme, now called the EarthEcho Water Challenge, since 2015.
International Day of Peace – 21 September (follow-up)
Established by the UN General Assembly, observed each year to strengthen the ideals of peace through 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire – formalised on a fixed annual date since 2001.
Quick Revision – One-Liners
- 9th India International Water Week 2026 – Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; theme “Climate Resilient Water Management”; Partner Countries Netherlands and Germany; inaugurated by VP C.P. Radhakrishnan.
- India’s first soil carbon payments – under the ‘Aadi’ programme (Grow Indigo, with ICAR); 2,550 farmers in Punjab & Haryana; over Rs. 2.9 crore disbursed.
- Jaishankar’s Bhutan visit outcome – Rs. 4,000 crore Line of Credit for energy projects; five development projects launched.
- Moody’s FY27 India GDP growth forecast – raised to 7% (from 6%); rating retained at Baa3, stable outlook.
- India’s FY27 inflation projection (Moody’s) – 4.8%, up from 2.4% in FY26.
- India’s first indigenous long-range OWA drone – ‘KAL’, by IG Defence; range 1,000 km; tested at Pokhran Field Firing Range.
- HAL’s final LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers – 2 aircraft handed over, completing that contract.
- HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft – named ‘Ankur’; MoD contract for 70 aircraft.
- India’s first AS-4 compliant indigenous civil helicopter – Dhruv NG (HAL), delivered to Pawan Hans.
- SLINEX-26 – 13th edition, Visakhapatnam, 17–21 September; India’s INS Kavaratti and INS Jyoti; Sri Lanka’s SLNS Sindurala.
- First new living feline species in 100+ years – Leopardus tilcayo (“Tilcayo”), Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest.
- India’s Oscar 2027 entry – ‘Gondhal’ (Marathi), directed by Santosh Davakhar; 4th Marathi film selected.
- Host of the 2028 Asian Senior Wushu Championships (11th edition) – India, first time.
- India’s first-ever Asian Games MMA medal – Suchika Tariyal, bronze, women’s -60 kg traditional category.
- First state to launch free rural property registration – Madhya Pradesh, under Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana–2026.