UPI remains free for all P2P and 96% merchant transactions.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The Finance Ministry clarified on September 15 that all person-to-person and 96% of merchant UPI transactions remain free under the new framework.

Key Highlights:
1.  All P2P transfers and P2M payments up to Rs.2,000 have zero charges.
2.  Small merchants receiving up to Rs.1 lakh monthly through QR codes pay no MDR.
3.  A 0.4% MDR applies only to P2M payments above Rs.2,000, capped at Rs.300 for transactions of Rs.75,000 or more.
4.  Essential-sector payments above Rs.2,000 attract a flat Rs.5 MDR; capital-market payments attract 0.02%, capped at Rs.300.
5.  Banks and applications cannot pass MDR to customers or levy platform fees.

Additional Information:
1.  NPCI was established in 2008 by RBI and Indian Banks’ Association and is headquartered in Mumbai.
2.  UPI was launched in 2016 for instant bank-account payments.

Suchika Tariyal wins India’s first Asian Games MMA medal.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Suchika Tariyal won India’s first Mixed Martial Arts medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 21, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  She earned bronze in the women’s traditional 60 kg category.
2.  Tariyal defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa in the quarter-final.
3.  She lost the semi-final to Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo.
4.  MMA was among six sports making an Asian Games debut in 2026.
5.  The Rohtak athlete represented India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and kurash at the 2023 Asian Games.

Additional Information:
1.  Aichi-Nagoya hosts the 20th Asian Games, Japan’s third hosting after 1958 and 1994.
2.  MMA combines striking and grappling and is governed internationally by IMMAF.

ISRO Advanced Radar Research Centre foundation laid in Assam.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation for ISRO’s Advanced Radar Research Centre at Chandrapur near Guwahati on September 21.

Key Highlights:
1.  The facility is being developed under Project NETRA for space-object tracking and analysis.
2.  Assam allotted 200 bighas, about 6.61 acres, for the centre.
3.  It will monitor orbital debris and other space objects.
4.  The centre strengthens India’s independent space situational awareness.
5.  It will protect national space assets from possible collisions.

Additional Information:
1.  Project NETRA is ISRO’s early-warning system for hazards to Indian satellites.
2.  ISRO was established on August 15, 1969, is headquartered in Bengaluru and works under Department of Space.

Kamlesh Chandra Varshney reappointed SEBI Whole-Time Member.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Kamlesh Chandra Varshney’s reappointment as a SEBI Whole-Time Member on September 15.

Key Highlights:
1.  His extended term runs beyond September 19, 2026 until age 65 on August 4, 2029 or further orders.
2.  Varshney is a 1990-batch Indian Revenue Service officer.
3.  He first became a SEBI Whole-Time Member in September 2023.
4.  SEBI currently has three Whole-Time Members.
5.  The Department of Personnel and Training issued the order.

Additional Information:
1.  SEBI became a statutory body on April 12, 1992 under the SEBI Act.
2.  The securities-market regulator is headquartered in Mumbai.

NSE enables India’s first Rs.1,000 crore tokenised corporate bonds.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The National Stock Exchange unveiled India’s first tokenised corporate bond issuances worth Rs.1,000 crore under the SEBI Regulatory Sandbox on September 10.

Key Highlights:
1.  REC raised Rs.500 crore on September 7 at a 7.30% coupon.
2.  Larsen and Toubro raised Rs.500 crore on September 9 as the first private-sector issuer.
3.  RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey launched the technology at Global Fintech Fest.
4.  REC’s Rs.100 crore base issue received bids 7.9 times and included a Rs.400 crore green-shoe option.
5.  Distributed Ledger Technology supports digital security management and atomic settlement.

Additional Information:
1.  NSE was established in 1992 as India’s first dematerialised electronic exchange.
2.  REC is a Maharatna enterprise under the Power Ministry, established in 1969.

Gwalior to get Asia’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inspected the site for Asia’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior on September 20.

Key Highlights:
1.  The dedicated equipment and component zone has an estimated Rs.5,500 crore investment and over 18,000 direct jobs.
2.  The first phase covers 170 acres, including 90 acres at SADA and over 70 acres in the IT Park.
3.  It is planned for 24-25 manufacturing units; 24 firms had begun land applications.
4.  A Rs.500 crore common testing laboratory package is proposed.
5.  Roadshows secured Rs.3,500 crore in Delhi and Rs.2,000 crore in Mumbai.

Additional Information:
1.  The project is supported by a 120-km Agra-Gwalior high-speed corridor and upgraded airport.
2.  The Telecom Department signed the principal MoU with Madhya Pradesh in July 2026.

Padma Shri cardiologist G. Vijayaraghavan passes away.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Cardiologist Dr. G. Vijayaraghavan, who introduced 2D echocardiography to India, died in Thiruvananthapuram on September 21.

Key Highlights:
1.  He established India’s first 2D echocardiography laboratory at Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram in the late 1970s.
2.  He researched tropical endomyocardial fibrosis affecting heart chambers.
3.  He developed treatment methods for poisoning from Cerebera odollam, locally called Othalanga.
4.  The National Board designated him Distinguished Professor of Cardiology.
5.  He conducted pioneering Doppler echocardiography research at the University of California in 1983.

Additional Information:
1.  He received the Padma Shri in 2009 and the American Heart Association Golden Heart Fellowship.
2.  He was a founding member of KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.

Social Justice Ministry extends Art of Living MoU under NMBA.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The Social Justice and Empowerment Department extended its MoU with The Art of Living on September 16 to combat substance abuse under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

Key Highlights:
1.  The renewal ceremony was held in New Delhi in the presence of Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar.
2.  Drug Prevention Director Astik Kumar Pandey and Art of Living trustee Pankaj Narula signed.
3.  The partnership uses a whole-of-society approach for community awareness and mobilisation.
4.  The Ministry now works with 12 spiritual organisations for grassroots drug prevention.
5.  Partners include ISKCON, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Patanjali and Chinmaya Mission.

Additional Information:
1.  Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan began on August 15, 2020 under the Social Justice Ministry.
2.  The Art of Living was founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981 and is based in Bengaluru.

Naga film Angh wins Platform Award at TIFF 2026.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Nagaland-set feature film Angh, directed by Theja Rio, won the Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 20.

Key Highlights:
1.  It was the only Indian entry in the 2026 Platform Competition.
2.  The award gives automatic eligibility for 2027 Oscars consideration in International Feature Film.
3.  Set in 1960s Nagaland, it follows an ageing Konyak chief and his son protecting ancestral faith.
4.  The film was shot on 16mm with an Indigenous Naga cast and actor Douglas Henshall.
5.  Nancy Nisa Beso and Theja Rio produced it; Gaurav Dhingra was executive producer.

Additional Information:
1.  TIFF was established in 1976 in Toronto, Canada.
2.  The Konyak are a major Nagaland community known for distinct traditions.

Central Silk Board celebrates 77th Foundation Day.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The Textiles Minister inaugurated the Central Silk Board’s 77th Foundation Day and a silk-technology exhibition in Bengaluru on September 20.

Key Highlights:
1.  India aims to become the world’s largest silk producer by 2028-29.
2.  Production rose from 26,000 tonnes in 2014 to 42,000 tonnes in 2026, with 60,000 tonnes targeted for 2030-31.
3.  Karnataka leads Indian silk output.
4.  The Textiles Ministry seeks a $300 billion domestic textile market.
5.  Target annual income for sericulture farmers is Rs.10-12 lakh.

Additional Information:
1.  AI, GIS and machine learning will support quality inspection, while Best Silk Farmer awards will begin.
2.  Central Silk Board was established in 1948 under an Act and is headquartered in Bengaluru.

13th India-Sri Lanka maritime exercise SLINEX-26 held in Visakhapatnam.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The 13th India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-26 was conducted in Visakhapatnam from September 17-21, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  India deployed indigenous anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kavaratti and fleet tanker INS Jyoti.
2.  Sri Lanka participated with SLNS Sindurala.
3.  The harbour phase under Eastern Naval Command included professional exchanges, ship visits and yoga.
4.  The sea phase focused on operational coordination and maritime interoperability.
5.  The exercise supports India’s MAHASAGAR vision for a secure and stable region.

Additional Information:
1.  SLINEX was conceptualised in 2005 and is held annually.
2.  Eastern Naval Command is headquartered in Visakhapatnam and covers Bay of Bengal operations.

Chandni Chowk Town Hall to become Global Heritage Centre.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The Delhi Government signed an MoU on September 21 to redevelop Chandni Chowk’s historic Town Hall complex into a Global Heritage Centre.

Key Highlights:
1.  Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation and Municipal Corporation of Delhi signed the agreement.
2.  The 12,180-square-metre project includes Town Hall, Press Building and adjoining park.
3.  The Grade-I heritage complex will use adaptive reuse for museums, culture and tourism.
4.  DTTDC will prepare the detailed report and structural assessment.
5.  Execution may use public investment or a public-private partnership.

Additional Information:
1.  A joint working group will monitor work; the MoU lasts 30 years with a possible 30-year extension.
2.  Town Hall was built from 1860-1866 and served as MCD headquarters until 2010.

Smriti Mandhana becomes leading run-scorer in Women’s T20Is.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana became the all-time leading scorer in Women’s T20Is during the Asian Games semi-final against Bangladesh.

Key Highlights:
1.  She surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.
2.  Mandhana reached 4,751 T20I runs with two centuries.
3.  She has 5,411 ODI runs with 14 centuries and 10,950 international runs overall.
4.  She ranked first in ICC Women’s ODI batting and fifth in T20I batting.
5.  Mandhana became the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three international formats.

Additional Information:
1.  She became women’s international cricket’s all-format leading scorer during the 2026 Asia Cup.
2.  She debuted internationally in 2013 and played in India’s 2025 World Cup-winning squad.

Government operationalises Rs.23,731 crore GOBARdhan CBG rules.

Dated: 23 September 2026

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry operationalised Rs.23,731 crore GOBARdhan guidelines on September 15 to assure price support and offtake for compressed biogas.

Key Highlights:
1.  The 2026-27 to 2035-36 framework fixes Rs.2,110 per MMBtu, about Rs.98 per kg, for at least 10 years.
2.  City-gas firms must blend 3% CBG in 2026-27, 4% in 2027-28 and 5% thereafter.
3.  New plants receive Rs.1.25 crore per tonne-per-day capacity.
4.  Upgraded plants receive Rs.0.60 crore per tonne-per-day, capped at Rs.5 crore; total project aid is capped at Rs.30 crore.
5.  GAIL will procure, pool and synchronise CBG into the gas grid.

Additional Information:
1.  GOBARdhan converts farm waste, cattle dung and organic biomass into biogas and manure.
2.  The SATAT initiative was subsumed into the framework from September 1, 2026.

INS Trishul makes strategic port call at Alexandria.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Indian Navy guided-missile frigate INS Trishul visited Alexandria, Egypt, from September 14-17 to strengthen maritime cooperation.

Key Highlights:
1.  Egyptian naval ship Al Qadeer escorted it into Alexandria Harbour.
2.  The crew honoured Indian soldiers at Chatby War Memorial, which names 19 Indians who died in the World Wars.
3.  INS Trishul conducted a passage exercise with Egyptian ship ENS Bernees.
4.  Drills covered coordinated manoeuvres, communications and approaches for at-sea replenishment.
5.  Indian Ambassador Suresh K. Reddy visited the ship.

Additional Information:
1.  INS Trishul is a Talwar-class frigate commissioned in 2003 and serves the Mumbai-based Western Fleet.
2.  Egypt’s capital is Cairo and currency is the Egyptian Pound.

SPROUT facility inaugurated for climate-resilient crop research.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the SPROUT facility at BRIC-NIPGR, New Delhi, on September 15 for climate-resilient agriculture.

Key Highlights:
1.  SPROUT means SpeedSeed Phenotyping and Resource Optimization for Unified Trait Analysis.
2.  It provides a controlled season-independent environment for crop research.
3.  The facility supports high-throughput phenotyping, stress screening, germplasm and genome-edited lines.
4.  SpeedSeed reduces the chickpea generation cycle to about 40 days.
5.  The initiative supports the BioE3 Policy for economy, environment and employment.

Additional Information:
1.  More than 300 agricultural biotechnology projects were supported from 2014-2026, producing over 50 improved varieties.
2.  BRIC-NIPGR operates under the Biotechnology Department and is headquartered in New Delhi.

Former Union Minister Sudarsana Natchiappan passes away.

Dated: 23 September 2026

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Sudarsana Natchiappan died at age 78 in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, on September 17.

Key Highlights:
1.  He represented Sivaganga in Lok Sabha in 1999 and served two Rajya Sabha terms from 2004-2016.
2.  He was Minister of State for Commerce and Industry from June 2013 to May 2014.
3.  He chaired the parliamentary committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.
4.  His panel scrutinised the Right to Information Bill 2004 before the 2005 Act.
5.  He also led reviews of Lokpal amendments, arbitration rules and government-service reservation.

Additional Information:
1.  A lawyer by profession, he was Sivaganga Youth Congress president from 1972-1975.
2.  He served in both houses of Parliament over nearly two decades.

INS Sahyadri and Kulish join ADMM-Plus activity in Philippines.

Dated: 23 September 2026

INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, on September 20 for the ADMM-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity.

Key Highlights:
1.  INS Sahyadri is a multi-role stealth frigate and INS Kulish a guided-missile corvette.
2.  ASEAN members and eight Plus countries participate at Subic Bay.
3.  The deployment aligns with India’s Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR vision.
4.  It follows the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership established in August 2025.
5.  Activities seek better maritime interoperability and cooperation.

Additional Information:
1.  ADMM-Plus links ASEAN with India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US.
2.  The inaugural ADMM-Plus was held in Hanoi in October 2010.

International Day of Peace observed on September 21.

Dated: 23 September 2026

International Day of Peace was observed worldwide on September 21, 2026 to promote nonviolence and community cooperation.

Key Highlights:
1.  The 2026 theme was Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.
2.  It presents peace-building as a continuous duty for every person.
3.  Peace is not solely the responsibility of governments, diplomats or international bodies.
4.  Citizens working locally are described as everyday architects of peace.
5.  The observance prioritises dialogue, cooperation and social stability.

Additional Information:
1.  The UN General Assembly established the day in 1981.
2.  It became a global nonviolence and cease-fire period in 2001 and is symbolised by the UN Peace Bell.