GRSE CMD PR Hari receives Lifetime Contribution Award.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Cmde PR Hari Retd., Chairman and Managing Director of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, received the Lifetime Contribution Award - Jury Honour in Mumbai on September 11, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The honour was presented at the first ET Infra Global Ports and Shipping Awards 2026.
2.  Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Development Minister Nitish Narayan Rane conferred the award.
3.  It recognises maritime professionals with more than 25 years of experience.
4.  Selection considers leadership, institution building and long-term sector impact.
5.  Hari was recognised for expanding GRSE’s capabilities and shipbuilding portfolio.

Additional Information:
1.  GRSE is a Navratna Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence and is headquartered in Kolkata.
2.  It was originally established as Garden Reach Workshops in 1884.

PM-KMY completes seven years of implementation.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana, a central-sector social-security scheme for farmers, completed seven years on September 12, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The Agriculture Department runs the scheme with LIC, which manages its pension fund.
2.  It assures Rs.3,000 monthly pension after age 60; after a subscriber’s death, the spouse receives 50%, or Rs.1,500.
3.  Small and marginal farmers with up to 2 hectares and entry age 18-40 are eligible, subject to land records dated August 1, 2019.
4.  Farmer and Central Government contribute equally; monthly contribution ranges from Rs.55 to Rs.200 based on entry age.
5.  Haryana led enrolment with 5.75 lakh, followed by Bihar with 3.46 lakh and Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh with 2.5 lakh each.

Additional Information:
1.  The voluntary contributory scheme was launched on September 12, 2019 and uses Common Service Centres for registration.
2.  LIC was established in 1956, is headquartered in Mumbai and serves as the scheme’s pension-fund manager.

SAWEN adopts Kathmandu Declaration against illegal wildlife trade.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Eight South Asian countries adopted the Kathmandu Declaration at the first General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network in Kathmandu on September 10-11, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The declaration strengthens coordinated action against transnational organised crime and illegal wildlife trade.
2.  It calls for intelligence-led and financial investigations.
3.  Measures include anti-money-laundering action, asset recovery and effective prosecution of organised networks.
4.  Members are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan.
5.  The objective is to counter wildlife crime threatening biodiversity, security and sustainable development.

Additional Information:
1.  SAWEN is a regional intergovernmental wildlife-law-enforcement mechanism headquartered in Kathmandu.
2.  It facilitates intelligence sharing and coordinated responses against wildlife trafficking across South Asia.

Pramod Bhagat wins Japan Para Badminton singles gold.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Pramod Bhagat won the men’s singles SL3 gold medal at the Japan Para Badminton International on September 13, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  Bhagat defeated fellow Indian Umesh Kumar 21-16, 21-8 in the singles final.
2.  He and Sukant Kadam won silver in men’s doubles SL3-SU5.
3.  The Indian pair lost the doubles final 5-21, 15-21 to Indonesia’s Hikmat Ramdani and Fredy Setiawan.
4.  Sukant Kadam completed 100 career medals over 12 years of competitive play at this tournament.
5.  Bhagat entered as a six-time world champion and defending champion on international circuits.

Additional Information:
1.  Pramod Bhagat won Paralympic gold at Tokyo and competes mainly in the SL3 standing-lower classification.
2.  Japan Para Badminton International is a ranking event with classifications including SL3, SU5 and SL3-SU5 doubles.

COAI and British High Commission partner on spam prevention and Trusted AI.

Dated: 16 September 2026

The Cellular Operators Association of India and the British High Commission signed an MoU at the CO.AI 2026 conference on September 14 to collaborate on telecom spam prevention and Trusted AI.

Key Highlights:
1.  The framework focuses on telecom fraud prevention.
2.  It promotes responsible use of artificial intelligence.
3.  Consumer protection and capacity building are central cooperation areas.
4.  The ceremonial working framework supports continuing cooperation on trusted technology.
5.  The partnership was announced at the CO.AI 2026 conference.

Additional Information:
1.  COAI is India’s apex telecom industry body, established in 1995 and headquartered in New Delhi.
2.  TRAI was created under the TRAI Act, 1997 and regulates telecom services, tariffs and unsolicited commercial communication.

Asiatic Society of Mumbai hosts Ganesh Gyanarthi Exhibition.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Ganesh Gyanarthi Exhibition organised by the Asiatic Society of Mumbai on September 13, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The Society is linked with the Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Mission to collect manuscripts and ancestral documents across Maharashtra.
2.  A common digital platform will connect heritage institutions and libraries and make scattered knowledge available for research.
3.  Research will also examine ancient texts containing economic and defence information.
4.  The exhibition displays rare Mahabharata and Jain Kalpasutra illustrations, Buddhist texts and records related to Indology.
5.  The initiative seeks to present history from an authentic Indian perspective while preserving Indian languages, records and knowledge systems.

Additional Information:
1.  The Asiatic Society began as the Literary Society of Bombay in 1804 and is a major Mumbai centre for numismatics, epigraphy and archaeology.
2.  The National Manuscript Mission surveys and digitises ancient manuscripts to preserve India’s culture and history.

Vasundhara Doraswamy selected for Saroja Vaidyanathan Excellence Award.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Bharatanatyam exponent Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy was announced as the Saroja Vaidyanathan Excellence Award 2026 recipient on September 14.

Key Highlights:
1.  Nataraj Music and Dance Academy will present the award during Vysakhi Nrithyotsav in Visakhapatnam on September 26-27.
2.  She was recognised for integrating Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Bharatanatyam during a five-decade career.
3.  Her solo works include Panchali, Ganga Lahari and Sama Veda, and she performed at UNESCO’s World Peace Conference in Paris.
4.  Her honours include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Shantala Award and honorary citizenship of Louisville, Kentucky.
5.  NMDA is ISO 9001:2015 certified and belongs to UNESCO’s International Dance Council.

Additional Information:
1.  Bharatanatyam is one of India’s eight classical dance forms, originated in Tamil Nadu and is traditionally performed to Carnatic music.
2.  Mysore-based Vasundhara Doraswamy trained in yoga under Pattabhi Jois.

NABARD opens Experience Centre at Mumbai headquarters.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Department of Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Lohiya inaugurated NABARD’s Experience Centre at its Mumbai headquarters on September 11, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The centre presents NABARD’s evolution from a refinancing body into a Development Financial Institution.
2.  It showcases climate-resilient farming, rural infrastructure, Self-Help Groups and digital financial inclusion.
3.  Technology-enabled physical and digital exhibits display milestones and rural-development success stories.
4.  It highlights joint solutions involving startups, research institutions, rural entrepreneurs, government agencies and financial institutions.
5.  NABARD Chairman Dr. Shaji Krishnan V. and Deputy Managing Directors Goverdhan S. Rawat, Dr. Ajay K. Sood and Rakesh Kashyap attended.

Additional Information:
1.  NABARD was established on July 12, 1982 on B. Sivaraman Committee recommendations and is headquartered in Mumbai.
2.  It is a statutory body under the Finance Ministry and replaced RBI’s Agricultural Credit Department and ARDC.

Dryland Congress adopts Delhi Declaration on Drylands.

Dated: 16 September 2026

The three-day Dryland Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi on September 13 with adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands to accelerate solutions for dryland agri-food systems.

Key Highlights:
1.  Its theme was Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South-South Cooperation and it coincided with the UN Day for South-South Cooperation.
2.  ISSCA Global Awards recognised innovations from 34 countries; mega winners included ICARDA, CIMMYT and Odisha Livelihoods Mission.
3.  ICAR-NIAP was mandated to lead foresight work and common living laboratories will connect research with practice.
4.  MoUs were signed with Global Crop Diversity Trust, Wipro, NIFTEM and Avior Life Sciences, along with Odisha district partnerships.
5.  Digital awards went to Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, while climate-resilience recognition went to Karnataka’s Krishi Bhagya and Bihar’s Aahar-Pyne work.

Additional Information:
1.  ICRISAT was established in 1972 and is headquartered at Patancheru, Hyderabad; ICAR was established on July 16, 1929 in New Delhi.
2.  UN Day for South-South Cooperation is observed on September 12 and recalls the 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action.

India wins record eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.

Dated: 16 September 2026

The Indian women’s cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai on September 13, 2026 to win its record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.

Key Highlights:
1.  India won the final by 72 runs against Sri Lanka.
2.  Harmanpreet Kaur captained India and Chamari Athapaththu led Sri Lanka.
3.  The final was played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
4.  ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and Secretary Devajit Saikia attended.
5.  India remains the most successful Women’s Asia Cup team with 8 titles.

Additional Information:
1.  The Asian Cricket Council was established in 1983 and is headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
2.  The inaugural Women’s Asia Cup was held in 2004.

Jindal Steel builds world’s longest steel slag road in Raigarh.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Jindal Steel Limited and CSIR-CRRI created a Guinness World Record on September 12, 2026 by constructing the world’s longest road made with processed steel slag aggregates in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.

Key Highlights:
1.  The four-lane road is 1.85 km long, equivalent to 7.4 lane-km, and used 200,000 tonnes of Electric Arc Furnace steel slag.
2.  The project graded and stabilised industrial waste and recovered entrapped metal before road construction.
3.  It can carry heavy commercial traffic up to 65 million standard axle repetitions.
4.  The method can save up to 40% in construction cost, reduce pavement thickness by about 35% and avoid extraction of 200,000 tonnes of virgin stone.
5.  Jindal Steel and CSIR-CRRI signed a technology-transfer agreement for wider adoption across India.

Additional Information:
1.  CSIR-CRRI was established in 1952 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
2.  Jindal Steel follows a mine-to-metal model, operates major facilities at Angul, Raigarh and Patratu, and has invested over USD 12 billion in India.

India observes Hindi Diwas 2026 on September 14.

Dated: 16 September 2026

India observed Hindi Diwas on September 14, 2026, commemorating the Constituent Assembly’s adoption of Hindi as the Union’s official language on the same date in 1949.

Key Highlights:
1.  Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 6th All India Official Language Conference and Hindi Diwas celebrations.
2.  The event was held at CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Navi Mumbai.
3.  Rajbhasha Gaurav and Rajbhasha Kirti Awards for 2025-26 honoured ministries, public organisations, banks and individuals.
4.  New books and an exhibition on Maharashtra’s literary heritage were launched, with discussion on Vande Mataram.
5.  The programme promoted national integration and Hindi alongside the other 21 languages in the 8th Schedule.

Additional Information:
1.  The first official Hindi Diwas was observed in 1953; Beohar Rajendra Simha and other scholars supported Hindi’s official status.
2.  Article 343 names Hindi in Devanagari as the Union’s official language, while the 8th Schedule recognises 22 languages.

HDFC Bank submits two MD and CEO candidates to RBI.

Dated: 16 September 2026

HDFC Bank’s Board approved sending two candidates, in order of preference, to the Reserve Bank of India for the post of MD and CEO on September 12, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The proposed appointment is for a three-year term and Kaizad Bharucha was reported among the leading contenders.
2.  The selection follows incumbent MD Sashidhar Jagdishan’s upcoming retirement in October.
3.  V. Srinivasa Rangan was reappointed Whole-time Director from November 23, 2026 to November 22, 2027.
4.  Jimmy Tata was appointed Whole-time Director and Executive Director for 3 years, subject to regulatory approval.
5.  The succession follows the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and RBI Commercial Banks Governance Directions, 2025.

Additional Information:
1.  HDFC Bank was established in 1994, is headquartered in Mumbai and became India’s largest private bank by assets after its July 2023 merger.
2.  The Banking Regulation Act empowers RBI to approve the appointment and remuneration of commercial-bank MDs and CEOs.

Madhya Pradesh BJP announces Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.

Dated: 16 September 2026

The Madhya Pradesh BJP announced a month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan beginning September 17, 2026 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public service.

Key Highlights:
1.  The campaign will run across more than 71,000 booths in Madhya Pradesh.
2.  It comprises 12 programmes centred on cleanliness and public participation.
3.  It will create awareness of Central and State welfare schemes.
4.  Booth-level workers will directly reach beneficiaries.
5.  The stated objective is to highlight good governance and service during the Prime Minister’s 25 years in public life.

Additional Information:
1.  Madhya Pradesh was formed on November 1, 1956, has Bhopal as its capital and Dr. Mohan Yadav as Chief Minister.
2.  Narendra Modi became India’s 14th Prime Minister on May 26, 2014 after serving as Gujarat Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014.

Proteek K. Chakraborty receives Most Influential CFO award.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Proteek K. Chakraborty, Director Finance of Electronics Corporation of India Limited, received the Most Influential CFO award at the Asia Leadership Summit and Awards 2026 in Bengaluru.

Key Highlights:
1.  Times Aspire organised the award ceremony.
2.  The honour recognises Asian finance chiefs for corporate governance, strategic foresight and innovation.
3.  Chakraborty is a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
4.  He is also a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
5.  He has more than 32 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting and power-sector regulation.

Additional Information:
1.  ECIL works under the Department of Atomic Energy and was established in 1967.
2.  Headquartered in Hyderabad, ECIL was founded by A. S. Rao to build an indigenous electronics base.

Madhya Pradesh releases 40th Ladli Behna instalment.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav released the 40th instalment of Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana at Agar Malwa on September 13, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  Rs.1,835 crore was transferred directly to bank accounts of more than 1.25 crore eligible women.
2.  The scheme began in June 2023 with Rs.1,000 monthly assistance, later raised to Rs.1,250 and to Rs.1,500 from November 2025.
3.  Cumulative transfers to women under the scheme exceeded Rs.65,000 crore after the latest instalment.
4.  The Chief Minister laid foundations for 33 development projects worth over Rs.225 crore.
5.  He also inaugurated 17 projects costing more than Rs.28 crore.

Additional Information:
1.  The scheme seeks women’s financial independence and improved health and nutrition.
2.  Madhya Pradesh uses Direct Benefit Transfer for welfare delivery and Dr. Mohan Yadav is its Chief Minister.

China to host 19th BRICS Summit in 2027.

Dated: 16 September 2026

The 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi on September 13, 2026, transferring the rotating chairship to China, which will host the 19th summit in 2027.

Key Highlights:
1.  The 18th summit was held at Bharat Mandapam from September 12 to 13.
2.  Its theme was Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
3.  Sessions addressed inclusive global growth, disaster management, MSME cooperation and environmental initiatives.
4.  Member leaders planted Great Banyan saplings at the venue on September 12.
5.  The summit included bilateral engagements, including talks between the Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President.

Additional Information:
1.  BRIC formed in 2006, held its first summit at Yekaterinburg in 2009 and became BRICS after South Africa joined in 2010.
2.  The group expanded to 11 nations from January 1, 2024; its New Development Bank is headquartered in Shanghai.

INS Mysore joins 4th Exercise Samudra Laksamana.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Indian Navy ship INS Mysore joined the Royal Malaysian Navy in the 4th bilateral Exercise Samudra Laksamana at Lumut, Malaysia, from September 9 to 12, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  India deployed guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore, while Malaysia fielded KD Lekir and KD Gagah Samudera.
2.  The harbour phase featured professional exchanges, personnel interaction and sharing of operational experience.
3.  The sea phase conducted coordinated maritime evolutions to improve interoperability and operational coordination.
4.  The drill formed part of the Indian Navy’s operational deployment.
5.  It followed the 12th India-Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting held on July 1, 2026.

Additional Information:
1.  INS Mysore is the second Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer, commissioned on June 2, 1999 and built by Mazagon Dock.
2.  Malaysia has Kuala Lumpur as capital, the Malaysian Ringgit as currency and borders Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei.

UNEP warns of 1.5°C overshoot in Limiting Overshoot report.

Dated: 16 September 2026

The United Nations Environment Programme released Limiting Overshoot on September 2, 2026, warning that global warming is likely to exceed the 1.5°C Paris target within a few years.

Key Highlights:
1.  Overshoot means average warming remains above 1.5°C for years or decades before later declining.
2.  Even the most optimistic scenario sees warming peak near 1.8°C, while others exceed 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
3.  Parts of Africa may face heatwaves for 250-300 days yearly during 2065-2100, with some events lasting more than 40 days.
4.  More than 60% of West and Central Africa’s urban population may face extreme heat stress late this century.
5.  The report urges rapid carbon-dioxide and methane cuts, disease monitoring and resilient electricity supplies.

Additional Information:
1.  UNEP was established on June 5, 1972 after the Stockholm Conference, is headquartered in Nairobi and publishes the Emissions Gap Report.
2.  The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in December 2015 to hold warming well below 2°C and pursue 1.5°C.

Dhiraj Bommadevara wins historic recurve World Cup Final gold.

Dated: 16 September 2026

Indian archer Dhiraj Bommadevara became the first Indian male recurve archer to win gold at the World Cup Final in Saltillo, Mexico, on September 14, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  He defeated Japan’s world number 20 Nakanishi Junya by 6-5 in the final.
2.  After a 5-5 tie, Dhiraj won the shoot-off 10-9.
3.  The victory ended India’s 16-year wait for a male recurve medal at this event.
4.  Jayanta Talukdar had won India’s previous male recurve medal, a bronze, at Edinburgh in 2010.
5.  Dola Banerjee remains the other Indian World Cup Final gold medallist, having won in Dubai in 2007.

Additional Information:
1.  Dhiraj Bommadevara was ranked world number 10 at the time of the event.
2.  He serves in the Indian Army, while the 2026 final was hosted by Saltillo, Mexico.