Roger Federer inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Dated: 04 September 2026

Roger Federer entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport, Rhode Island, on 2 September 2026 in his first year of eligibility after retiring in 2022.

Key Highlights:

1.  Broadcaster Mary Carillo entered through the contributor category.

2.  Federer won 20 Grand Slam titles, including a record eight Wimbledon championships, and completed the career Grand Slam at the 2009 French Open.

3.  He collected 103 ATP Tour titles and held the world number-one ranking for 310 weeks.

Additional Information:

1.  He won men’s doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and singles silver at London 2012.

2.  The Hall of Fame is located in Newport and honours outstanding tennis players and contributors; Federer represented Switzerland and retired in September 2022.

Shakti Sharma becomes first non-medical woman Air Vice Marshal

Dated: 04 September 2026

Shakti Sharma became the first non-medical woman in India’s defence forces to attain Air Vice Marshal rank on 1 September 2026.

Key Highlights:

1.  She became Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Education at Air Headquarters, New Delhi.

2.  Commissioned in the Education Branch on 18 June 1994, she served more than three decades at training institutions, field stations and command headquarters.

3.  She was the first woman from the three services to command a Sainik School and served as Principal of Sainik School Kapurthala.

Additional Information:

1.  The Indian Air Force began in 1932, is headquartered in New Delhi and has the motto Nabhah Sprusham Deeptam.

2.  Sainik Schools are run by the Defence Ministry’s society; the first opened at Satara in 1961 and V. K. Krishna Menon conceived them to reduce regional and class imbalance among officers.

PhonePe becomes first major TPAP to launch UPI 123Pay

Dated: 04 September 2026

PhonePe launched UPI 123Pay on 2 September 2026 and became the first major third-party application provider to serve more than 200 million feature-phone users.

Key Highlights:

1.  Its proprietary SMS architecture works without internet even where only limited 2G connectivity is available.

2.  The service comes bundled with Nokia, HMD, Lava International and Itel Mobile feature phones.

3.  Users can transfer money to mobile numbers or UPI IDs, scan QR codes for merchant payments, check balances and view transaction history.

4.  A voice-first artificial-intelligence helpline offers guidance in English and 12 Indian languages.

5.  Registration needs the last six debit-card digits, expiry date and creation of a payment PIN.

Additional Information:

1.  The service targets rural and semi-urban users affected by low smartphone access.

2.  RBI and NPCI originally introduced this payment facility in March 2022; PhonePe was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Bengaluru.

Earth Sciences Ministry launches twentieth anniversary quiz

Dated: 04 September 2026

The Earth Sciences Ministry and MyGov launched a Foundation Day Quiz on 1 September 2026 to mark 20 years of scientific service.

Key Highlights:

1.  Its title is Advancing Earth Sciences, Empowering the Nation and it supports Viksit Bharat 2047.

2.  The MyGov quiz has 100 multiple-choice questions and a 300-second limit.

3.  Three randomly selected top scorers receive Rs.10,000 each; every participant gets an instant digital certificate.

Additional Information:

1.  Topics include weather, climate, oceans, polar studies and seismology. All Indian citizens may enter except direct or indirect employees of the ministry and MyGov.

2.  The ministry was established in 2006 in New Delhi and provides weather, climate, ocean-state and earthquake services.

Sudhansh Pant gets additional charge of NCSC and NCBC

Dated: 04 September 2026

The competent authority gave Sudhansh Pant additional charge as Secretary of NCSC and NCBC on 2 September 2026 until regular appointments or further orders.

Key Highlights:

1.  He has served as Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary since late 2025.

2.  A 1991-batch Rajasthan-cadre IAS officer, he was Rajasthan Chief Secretary from January 2024 to late 2025 and earlier Union Health Secretary during the pandemic.

Additional Information:

1.  NCSC is a constitutional body under Article 338. NCBC gained constitutional status through the 102nd Amendment Act, 2018 and Article 338B.

2.  The Social Justice Department in New Delhi works for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and senior citizens.

Mizoram launches Green Schools League

Dated: 04 September 2026

Mizoram launched the Green Schools League on 2 September 2026 to build hygiene and environmental responsibility among pupils.

Key Highlights:

1.  Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation and School Education departments jointly run it under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.

2.  Competition occurs at block, district and state levels and seeks to make cleanliness routine for children and adults.

3.  Cash prizes encourage sustainable practices, while cleanliness becomes an indicator of school performance.

Additional Information:

1.  Mizoram became India’s 23rd state on 20 February 1987, borders Myanmar and Bangladesh and has Aizawl as capital.

2.  The urban mission began on 1 October 2021 under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and targets complete waste management and remediation of old dumpsites.

NCDEX launches RAINCHNNAI rainfall futures

Dated: 04 September 2026

NCDEX launched RAINCHNNAI on 31 August 2026 to hedge north-east monsoon risk.

Key Highlights:

1.  The cash-settled contract measures cumulative rainfall deviation from long-period average for September–December using IMD observations at Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam and a 50-year benchmark.

2.  Tick size is 1 mm, lot multiplier Rs.50 per mm, minimum initial margin 10% and maximum order 50 lots.

3.  The north-east monsoon supplies nearly 70% of Chennai’s annual rain. The product follows RAINMUMBAI, India’s first weather derivative for the south-west monsoon.

Additional Information:

1.  Trading is Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–11:55 pm, with 6% initial, 3% enhanced and 9% aggregate price limits.

2.  NCDEX began in 2003 in Mumbai under SEBI. IMD began in 1875, is headquartered in New Delhi and works under the Earth Sciences Ministry.

Railways sanctions Rs.675 crore for safety and freight projects

Dated: 04 September 2026

Indian Railways sanctioned three projects worth Rs.675 crore on 1 September 2026 for Kavach 4.0, signalling modernisation and freight capacity.

Key Highlights:

1.  Rs.170 crore provides Kavach 4.0 over 712 route kilometres in Northern Railway’s Moradabad Division; it prevents passing danger signals and applies brakes automatically.

2.  Rs.233 crore installs computer-based electronic interlocking at 21 stations in East Central Railway’s Samastipur Division, replacing panel systems.

3.  Rs.272 crore builds an 11-km bypass between Adra and Joychandipahar in South Eastern Railway on the Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor.

4.  The bypass links the coming third line and supports 6.065 freight rakes daily.

Additional Information:

1.  Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, developed by RDSO and certified at the highest SIL-4 level.

2.  RDSO was established in 1957 in Lucknow; East Central Railway began in 2002 and is headquartered in Hajipur.

IPPB marks ninth Foundation Day with new services

Dated: 04 September 2026

IPPB marked its ninth Foundation Day on 1 September 2026 by launching DakPay Sound Box, digital insurance and mutual-fund platforms.

Key Highlights:

1.  The sound box helps merchants accept payments; insurance covers life, health and general products; the investment portal simplifies mutual funds.

2.  By 31 March 2026 it had 13.25 crore customers, 77% rural, and Rs.21.61 lakh crore digital transactions including Rs.7.41 lakh crore UPI remittances.

3.  It handled benefits worth about Rs.1.55 lakh crore for 6.5 crore DBT beneficiaries, issued 29.43 lakh life certificates and completed 12.06 crore AePS transactions.

4.  It facilitated 9.47 crore Aadhaar mobile updates and 1.35 crore child enrolments.

Additional Information:

1.  New accounts include SHG for groups and micro-enterprises, Surakshit with Rs.25,000 phishing/spoofing insurance, and Sampoorna combining wellness and cyber protection.

2.  The government-owned bank launched on 1 September 2018, uses about 1.65 lakh post offices, supports 13 languages and follows India Stack.

BHASHINI Shilpi session organised in Nepal

Dated: 04 September 2026

The Digital India BHASHINI Division held BHASHINI Shilpi at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on 31 August 2026.

Key Highlights:

1.  Under Digital India Corporation and the Electronics Ministry, it promoted language artificial intelligence, inclusive multilingual solutions and a builder community.

2.  Developers followed four stages: Develop, Solve, Scale and Innovate with BHASHINI.

3.  The platform powers more than 800 government websites, has enabled over nine billion cumulative inferences and handles above 24 million daily.

Additional Information:

1.  It supports 36 Indian text languages, 23 Indian voice languages and 35 international languages.

2.  The division, led by CEO Amitabh Nag, is India’s national multilingual digital-inclusion platform and part of Digital Public Infrastructure.

KAA Sanjeeb takes charge of IAF maintenance

Dated: 04 September 2026

Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb became Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance on 1 September 2026, replacing Sanjiv Ghuratia, who retired on 31 August after 39 years.

Key Highlights:

1.  Commissioned in Aeronautical Engineering Mechanical on 3 September 1988, he led induction of the first IL-78 refueller in 2003 and pioneered the AWACS fleet.

2.  He studied at Bangladesh Flight Safety Institute and Indian Institute of Public Administration.

3.  Earlier posts include Director General Aircraft, Director General System and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Maintenance Plans.

Additional Information:

1.  He received AVSM in 2026 and VSM in 2015.

2.  The Air Force began on 8 October 1932, is headquartered in New Delhi, has the President as Supreme Commander and observes Air Force Day on 8 October.

World Coconut Day observed on 2 September

Dated: 04 September 2026

World Coconut Day was observed on 2 September 2026, the foundation anniversary of the International Coconut Community, formerly APCC.

Key Highlights:

1.  The first observance took place in 2009.

2.  Coconut husk makes coir, ropes, brushes and carpets; shell supports crafts and household products; leaves provide roofing and decoration.

Additional Information:

1.  The day stresses the palm’s agricultural and economic importance in tropical and coastal economies, especially Asia-Pacific.

2.  The International Coconut Community promotes use of every part of the tree and represents coconut-producing Asia-Pacific countries.

Tata Elxsi and Sarla Aviation to develop Shunya aircraft

Dated: 04 September 2026

Tata Elxsi and Sarla Aviation signed an agreement on 2 September 2026 to jointly develop Shunya, a six-passenger-plus-pilot electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Key Highlights:

1.  It combines runway-independent vertical flight with fixed-wing cruise efficiency for regional travel and has a range beyond 300 km.

2.  Tata Elxsi will handle avionics, controls, software integration, validation and certification; Sarla leads platform design, development and type certification.

Additional Information:

1.  First flight is targeted in 18–24 months, followed by formal certification.

2.  Sarla is a Bengaluru startup founded in 2023 by Adrian Schmidt and Rakesh Gaonkar. Tata Elxsi is a Bengaluru-based Tata Group design and technology company.

NPCI and HUMO enable UPI payments in Uzbekistan

Dated: 04 September 2026

NIPL signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s HUMO on 30 August to enable UPI merchant payments through UZQR.

Key Highlights:

1.  Indian tourists and students can scan the national QR code using enabled applications for instant payments.

2.  The arrangement followed approvals from RBI and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.

Additional Information:

1.  Uzbekistan became the eleventh accepting nation after Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece.

2.  NPCI was established in 2008 in Mumbai and created UPI in 2016. NIPL is its wholly owned international subsidiary for UPI and RuPay interoperability.

AIIA launches AyurVarta digital dialogue series

Dated: 04 September 2026

AIIA launched AyurVarta on 1 September 2026 to advance scientific discussion and global growth of Ayurveda.

Key Highlights:

1.  The autonomous Ayush Ministry institute noted that 23 September is now the fixed annual Ayurveda Day, replacing the lunar-date observance on Dhanvantari Jayanti.

2.  The date matches the autumnal equinox, when day and night are equal, reflecting balance and harmony.

3.  Episodes appear on X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram with discussions led by Professors P. K. Prajapati and Mahesh Vyas.

Additional Information:

1.  AIIA is in New Delhi and serves as an apex research and education institute. The Ayush Ministry formed on 9 November 2014.

2.  Ayurveda Day was first observed in 2016 to explain Ayurveda’s therapeutic value.

Delhi approves free 3 kW rooftop solar systems

Dated: 04 September 2026

The Delhi Cabinet approved a revised solar policy on 2 September 2026, offering eligible homes 3 kW rooftop systems with no upfront payment.

Key Highlights:

1.  It targets 2.30 lakh homes and 500 MW capacity by March 2027; homes averaging up to 400 monthly units in 2025-26 qualify, while the full subsidy below 200 units continues.

2.  The central PM Surya Ghar subsidy is Rs.78,000; Delhi adds Rs.78,000 and pays the remaining gap between subsidies and tender cost.

3.  IPGCL will select vendors and supervise installation, with free operation and maintenance for five years.

4.  Net-metering time falls from 75 to 25 days and fees are waived up to 10 kW.

Additional Information:

1.  Surplus electricity may be sold to the grid at the distribution company’s average purchase cost.

2.  The Delhi Solar Portal has a Citizens Corner and combines central and state support; IPGCL, formed in 2002, is wholly owned by the Delhi government.

SBI Research raises FY27 GDP forecast to 7.3%

Dated: 04 September 2026

SBI Research raised India’s FY27 real GDP forecast from 6.6% to 7.3% on 1 September 2026 after strong first-quarter performance.

Key Highlights:

1.  It expects 7.3% in Q2, 7.2% in Q3 and 6.9% in Q4, supported by industry, services, credit demand and consumption.

2.  Q1 real GDP grew 7.8% against 6.9% a year earlier, while GVA rose 8.2%.

3.  Services grew 10%, financial and professional services 12.1%, manufacturing 9.2% against 8.3%, and agriculture 3.6%; mining contracted 2.4%.

4.  Capital formation doubled to 11.9%, private consumption rose 7.1% and exports increased 12%.

Additional Information:

1.  Bank credit grew 18.3% by 15 August 2026; FY27 credit growth is projected at 15–16% and deposits at 14.5–15%.

2.  SBI was formed on 1 July 1955, is headquartered in Mumbai and publishes the Ecowrap economic report.

Vizhinjam begins exports with MSC Beryl voyage

Dated: 04 September 2026

MSC Beryl left Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala for Spain on 2 September 2026, beginning the port’s first export operation.

Key Highlights:

1.  The 366-metre container vessel serves the Himalaya Express route and needs about 20 days to reach Valencia.

2.  The route directly links the Indian subcontinent with Mediterranean and European trade centres.

3.  Its first cargo comprised eight containers carrying mainly vegetables, processed food and clay.

Additional Information:

1.  The port has a natural depth exceeding 18 metres and can receive the largest ships without preliminary dredging.

2.  India’s first deep-water transshipment port is in Thiruvananthapuram, developed through partnership between Adani Group and Kerala; its proximity to the international shipping channel reduces feeder transfers.

Ahmedabad starts hub-and-spoke international flight operations

Dated: 04 September 2026

Ahmedabad became India’s third city after Amritsar and Varanasi to start hub-and-spoke international flights at SVPI Airport on 2 September 2026.

Key Highlights:

1.  Baggage, customs and immigration are completed at the originating airport; automatic baggage transfer prevents repeated security checks at the hub.

2.  Passengers can travel from Ahmedabad through Delhi to 15 international destinations.

3.  India’s airports rose from 74 in 2014 to more than 160 in 2026, and 100 more are planned over ten years.

Additional Information:

1.  The Civil Aviation Ministry oversees the initiative under UDAN; K. Ram Mohan Naidu is Union Minister.

2.  SVPI Airport is Gujarat’s main international aviation hub. UDAN, launched in 2016, expands regional links with fiscal and infrastructure support.

India reviews record production of 16 defence PSUs

Dated: 04 September 2026

The Defence Minister reviewed 16 defence public-sector undertakings in New Delhi on 1 September 2026.

Key Highlights:

1.  Defence production reached Rs.1.8 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, including Rs.1.29 lakh crore from these enterprises.

2.  Seven enterprises—HAL, MDL, BEL, BDL, GRSE, BEML and MIDHANI—gave the government Rs.3,951 crore in dividends.

3.  The DISHA initiative was launched to connect industry and students and spread knowledge of defence technology.

4.  Four publications were released, including Aatmanirbhar DPSU and HAL modernisation and indigenisation roadmaps for five years.

Additional Information:

1.  The goal is to make the enterprises global leaders through research, prototypes and intellectual property under Make in India, Make for the World.

2.  The Department of Defence Production works under the Defence Ministry. HAL began on 23 December 1940 as Walchand Aircraft Services and is headquartered in Bengaluru.

Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 2026 launched

Dated: 04 September 2026

The Earth Sciences Ministry launched the fifth nationwide Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign on 1 September 2026.

Key Highlights:

1.  The week-long observance runs from 12 to 19 September across more than 100 beach locations and supports protection of India’s coastline exceeding 11,000 km.

2.  It introduces the first national Ocean Olympiad for students and youth.

3.  The Sagar Prahari application records clean-up progress and individual contributions.

Additional Information:

1.  The ministry was formed in 2006 from the Department of Ocean Development, is headquartered in New Delhi and implements the Deep Ocean Mission.

2.  That mission has a Rs.4,077-crore outlay, uses the Matsya 6000 crewed submersible, studies deep-sea mining, underwater robotics and marine biodiversity, and supports the Blue Economy policy.

C-DOT unveils 14 indigenous quantum-security products

Dated: 04 September 2026

C-DOT unveiled 14 indigenous products on 31 August 2026 during its 43rd Foundation Day in New Delhi.

Key Highlights:

1.  Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani attended; products use quantum-key distribution and post-quantum cryptography.

2.  Q-AMOGH provides 200 Gbps Layer-1 encryption; Q-MAHASETU gives 40 Gbps on Layer 2/3; defence-grade Q-VIKRAM and Q-PARAKRAM provide 1 Gbps.

3.  C-SPD is a single-photon detector; Q-AKSHAY CD is a compact 1U fibre system using COW protocol; Q-VAJRA1000 quantum-secures wireless radios and GPON.

Additional Information:

1.  Q-DARSHAN is a secure video phone, Q-SETU is an 80 Mbps Layer-3 device using NIST algorithms, and Q-VAAYU protects point-to-point wireless links.

2.  C-DOT was established in 1984 under the Telecommunications Department, is headquartered in New Delhi, and develops domestic telecom technology.

RBI appoints Suman Ray as Executive Director

Dated: 04 September 2026

RBI appointed Suman Ray Executive Director from 1 September 2026.

Key Highlights:

1.  He will oversee DICGC and the Premises Department.

2.  Previously Maharashtra Regional Director, he has over three decades of work in currency management, financial inclusion, payment systems, supervision and local-board matters.

3.  He was among five senior officers, including Gunveer Singh and Monisha Chakraborty, promoted earlier in 2026.

Additional Information:

1.  DICGC is RBI-owned, was created under its 1961 Act and insures savings, fixed, current and recurring deposits up to Rs.5 lakh per depositor per bank.

2.  RBI began on 1 April 1935 following the Hilton Young Commission, was nationalised on 1 January 1949, is headquartered in Mumbai and operates under the 1934 Act.

IIT Madras and UNESCO MGIEP partner for AI and SEL learning

Dated: 04 September 2026

IIT Madras and UNESCO MGIEP partnered on 1 September 2026 to make artificial-intelligence and immersive tools for social and emotional learning.

Key Highlights:

1.  The project will turn curricula into gamified extended-reality experiences. MGIEP supplies expertise in learner-centred education and ethics; IIT works through XTIC on artificial intelligence and immersive technology.

2.  It aligns with NEP 2020 and UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.7.

3.  Open-source classroom and assessment tools and low-cost, low-bandwidth models will bridge the digital divide.

4.  Learning will cover self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and responsible decisions.

Additional Information:

1.  IIT Madras was established in Chennai in 1959, ranks first overall in NIRF and runs India’s first immersive-technology research centre.

2.  MGIEP is UNESCO’s only Category-1 research institute in Asia-Pacific, founded in New Delhi in 2012.

Lake Ontario labelled Lake America in US database

Dated: 04 September 2026

Apple Maps showed Lake America to United States users from 1 September 2026 after a change in the federal GNIS database.

Key Highlights:

1.  Canadian users still see Lake Ontario; users elsewhere see both names, with Lake America in parentheses.

2.  GNIS standardises official place names and is maintained by the United States Geological Survey.

3.  Digital maps vary labels using user location, language and national naming databases.

Additional Information:

1.  Lake Ontario is the easternmost of North America’s five Great Lakes, lies between Ontario and New York and drains into the Saint Lawrence River.

2.  USGS is a federal agency that classifies public lands, examines geology and maintains the geographic-feature database.