Monthly current affairs for September 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has signed MoUs with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2026 to organize the ‘Banaras Biennale 2026’ and launch the Education to Employability and Entrepreneurship (E2EE) Career Lounge in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

WAE Ltd, an Indian sustainability-led water technology and engineering company, has partnered with the UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) to promote technology-driven water sustainability solutions and advance sustainable water management practices across the country.

It is to be noted that the UN GCNI serves as the local network of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) in India.

According to a report titled “Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@ 2047” released by the NITI Aayog, 8.7 crore youth aged between 15 and 29 years are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

The report also highlights a employability gap, noting that only 8.25% of graduates are employed in roles that align with their specific qualifications.

China has tested a new variant of the ‘YJ-18A’ anti-ship cruise missile. The missile is equipped with a black stealth (radar-absorbing) coating to enhance radar evasion and penetration.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of all conventional missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to domestic defence manufacturers.

The decision, announced in New Delhi, aims to enhance the participation of Indian private industries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the national defence supply chain.

The Mizoram government has designated 79 monuments and archaeological sites as “State Protected Monuments” to preserve the cultural and historical legacy of the region.

Two sites in the Champhai district, namely Kawtchhuah Ropui and Ralven Puk, have been recognized as “Monuments of National Importance” under the Archaeological Survey of India. Furthermore, the state has proposed four additional heritage sites Reng Puk, Lung Milem, Pipute Lungdawh, and Ruhro Puk for designation as protected monuments.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has been selected for the special “Rajbhasha Utkrishtta Sammaan” for the 2025-26 period. The award is conferred by the Department of Official Language (DoL) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

It is to be noted that DARPG secured the first position in the category of Ministries and Departments with a personnel strength of fewer than 300 for its efforts in promoting Hindi as the Official Language.

Ashutosh Parida, a renowned Odia poet and former scientist, has been selected for the 47th edition of the Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection titled “Bishwas De Pruthwi” (2024). The award carries a cash prize of ₹7 lakh.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has announced that the 2028 edition of the India Open Badminton Tournament will be hosted at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Guwahati, Assam.

The tournament, scheduled for January 2028, will be relocated from its traditional venue at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi.

Lando Norris, a British national racing for McLaren, has won the Formula One (F1) Dutch Grand Prix 2026.

Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old captain of the Argentina national football team, has announced retirement from international football, concluding an illustrious 21-year career. He finishes his international tenure as the all-time leading goal scorer of Argentina with 125 goals and the most-capped player with 207 appearances.

He holds the record for participating in 6 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cups. His individual achievements include winning the Ballon d'Or a record 8 times and receiving the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball twice (2014 and 2022).

He has represented three major senior clubs: FC Barcelona (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain (France), and Inter Miami CF (United States of America). He joined Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, in 2023 and will continue to play for the club following his retirement from international football.

The Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA) under the Ministry of Law & Justice (MoLJ) has notified the establishment of the ‘Mediation Council of India (MCI)’, headquartered in New Delhi. The council is formed to promote domestic and international mediation and to strengthen the dispute-resolution framework of India.

The MCI comprises a Chairperson, 2 Members, 3 ex-officio Members, and 1 part-time Member representing a commerce and industry body. The non-ex-officio Members are appointed for a 4-year tenure and are eligible for reappointment. The age limit for the Chairperson is 70 years, while for other Members, it is 67 years.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched ‘Mission Samriddh Gaon’ at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi to establish a framework for rural transformation.

The initiative, under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), aims to create poverty-free and employment-rich villages while ensuring universal access to basic amenities. A pilot implementation of the mission will be conducted in Madhya Pradesh. The successful models from the pilot phase will be replicated across the country.

Union Minister of State Durgadas Uikey has inaugurated the National Conclave on Tribal Languages & Museums in Mysuru, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). The conclave focused on the documentation, preservation, and revitalization of tribal languages.

During the event, participants signed the “Mysuru Declaration” to formalize commitments toward tribal heritage and linguistic diversity. MoTA also entered into an MoU with the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) for the systematic documentation and promotion of tribal languages.

The ministry introduced the upgraded “Adi Vaani” platform and the “Jago” AI Conversational Assistant to enhance digital access to tribal resources. Additionally, the “Jenukuruba Primer” and various tribal-language learning materials were released to support educational initiatives within tribal communities.

Technology Hub (T-Hub) has partnered with the Central Command of the Indian Army (IA) to establish a direct pathway for defense startups to develop, validate, and deploy technologies for military challenges.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) has signed an MoU with the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, to explore the co-production of the Javelin All Up Round (AUR) anti-tank missile system in India.

The Javelin is a medium-range, fire-and-forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) that uses autonomous target navigation to engage tanks, armoured vehicles, and fortified positions at a distance of up to 5 km.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) has unveiled three indigenous micro and small gas turbine engines designated as NJ-05, NJ-50, and NJ-100 at the CSIR Headquarters in New Delhi.

These engines, developed for deployment in defence Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and missile systems, feature thrust capacities of 5 kg (NJ-05), 50 kg (NJ-50), and 100 kg (NJ-100) to meet various operational needs. It is to be noted that these engines operate on the ‘Brayton cycle’, which is a thermodynamic cycle describing the workings of a constant-pressure heat engine.

The 2nd edition of the bilateral maritime exercise named “SAHYOG HOP-TAC” between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) has concluded off the coast of Chennai.

The ICG deployed 8 ships and 6 aircraft for the exercise, while the VCG was represented by the patrol vessel CSB 8002 and a 6-member delegation.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh has laid the foundation stone for a ₹472 crore T-72 and T-90 Tank Overhaul Project at the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) in Madhya Pradesh. VFJ is a production unit of the Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL).

The facility is designed to overhaul 80 tanks annually. It is to be noted that the total annual requirement of the Indian Army (IA) is 230 tanks.

Hindalco Industries Ltd has commissioned the first Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) manufacturing plant of India in Belagavi, Karnataka. The greenfield facility marks the inaugural domestic production of this high-value specialty alumina product.

The unit has an initial capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum (expandable to 60,000 tonnes) and is powered entirely by renewable energy sources. It is to be noted that PPT ATH serves as a Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant (HFFR) material used in cables, insulation, and polymers.