Indian Railways commissions KAVACH 4.0 on South Central Railway.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Indian Railways commissioned KAVACH Version 4.0 for the first time on the South Central Railway on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The system covers 108 route kilometres on the Malkajgiri-Kamareddi section of Hyderabad Division.
2.  It marks India’s first operational deployment of Version 4.0.
3.  The project upgraded the corridor from Version 3.2, already used over 1,465 km in the zone.
4.  The indigenous Automatic Train Protection system assists drivers and applies brakes when required.
5.  It prevents Signal Passing at Danger and reduces collision risk through real-time monitoring.

Additional Information:
1.  RDSO developed KAVACH with Safety Integrity Level-4 certification.
2.  South Central Railway was formed on October 2, 1966 and is headquartered in Secunderabad.

Delhi approves DURGA e-auto scheme for women and transgender persons.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The Delhi Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta approved the DURGA e-auto scheme on September 24, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The scheme allocates 1,300 pink electric autos: 1,170 for women and 130 for transgender persons.
2.  Applicants must be Delhi residents aged 20-40 with an LMV licence and PSV badge.
3.  Family income for 2025-26 must not exceed Rs.5 lakh.
4.  Vehicles have a three-year lock-in and mandatory DURGA branding.
5.  The cabinet also launched the Delhi PM Surya Ghar rooftop-solar registration portal.

Additional Information:
1.  Eligible households can receive Rs.1.56 lakh subsidy for systems up to 3 kW.
2.  The programme promotes self-employment, last-mile connectivity and electric mobility.

India's largest solar-cell plant commissioned at Naidupeta.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Premier Energies commissioned India’s largest solar-cell manufacturing facility at Naidupeta, Andhra Pradesh, on September 21, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The plant has 7 GW capacity for N-type TOPCon G12R solar cells.
2.  The company’s total solar-cell capacity increased to 10.6 GW.
3.  The Rs.3,293 crore facility spans 101 acres.
4.  It can produce about 88,000 cells per hour with targeted average efficiency of 25.8%.
5.  AI and digital systems support predictive analysis and process control.

Additional Information:
1.  Premier Energies was established in 1995 and is headquartered in Hyderabad.
2.  India targets 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.

Rajat Sharma re-elected NBDA President for 2026-27.

Dated: 26 September 2026

India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma was re-elected President of the News Broadcasters and Digital Association on September 24, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  His new term covers 2026-27.
2.  Jayant Mammen Mathew was newly appointed to the NBDA Board.
3.  Rachna Burman and Kshipra Jatana were appointed Permanent Directors.
4.  NBDA represents 29 news and current-affairs broadcasters.
5.  Its membership covers 130 news channels and digital platforms.

Additional Information:
1.  NBDA was formerly called the News Broadcasters Association.
2.  It supports self-regulation through the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority.

NIT Srinagar establishes India's first NIT campus observatory.

Dated: 26 September 2026

NIT Srinagar inaugurated NSOAA, India’s first dedicated campus-based astronomical observatory at a National Institute of Technology, on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The facility uses a 14-inch Celestron C14 EdgeHD Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
2.  It includes a computerised equatorial mount, LRGB filters and high-speed imaging cameras.
3.  The system supports flat-field astrophotography and planetary observation.
4.  Indian Institute of Astrophysics provided scientific guidance.
5.  NIT Srinagar will offer hands-on astronomy and astrophysics outreach for regional institutions.

Additional Information:
1.  NIT Srinagar began in 1960 as a Regional Engineering College.
2.  The Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics manages the observatory at Hanle, Ladakh.

Ministry of Cooperation launches Bharat Taxi in five Uttar Pradesh cities.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The Ministry of Cooperation launched Bharat Taxi in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The cooperative service follows the Driver is the Owner principle.
2.  More than 10 lakh drivers joined within six months of the February 2026 national launch.
3.  The service completes about 20,000 rides daily and has credited over Rs.100 crore to drivers.
4.  MoUs were signed with Lucknow Airport Authority, Lucknow Metro and Lucknow Police.
5.  The event also launched cooperative agriculture portals and mobile applications.

Additional Information:
1.  Tribhuvan Sahkari University is India’s first cooperative university.
2.  NCDC was established in 1963 and its financial support reached Rs.4.5 lakh crore over 12 years.

RBI revises InvIT and REIT valuation rules for AIFIs.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The Reserve Bank of India revised valuation rules for InvIT and REIT units held by All-India Financial Institutions on September 22, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The amendment took effect immediately and modified the November 28, 2025 directions.
2.  Paragraphs 58A and 58B were inserted for InvITs and REITs respectively.
3.  Quoted units follow existing valuation rules for quoted securities.
4.  Unquoted units must use the Net Asset Value disclosed by the trust.
5.  Units are valued at Rs.1 when NAV is unavailable or they are infrequently traded under SEBI norms.

Additional Information:
1.  The directions were issued under Section 45L of the RBI Act 1934.
2.  REITs hold income-generating real estate, while InvITs pool funds for infrastructure projects.

Harsh Sanghani re-elected ICA Youth Committee President.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Harsh Sanghani was re-elected unopposed President of the International Cooperative Alliance Youth Committee in Panama City on September 22, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  He was also confirmed as Youth Representative to the ICA Global Board.
2.  He first became the committee’s first Asian-origin president on July 3, 2025.
3.  At age 20, he became the youngest board member in ICA history.
4.  He proposed the multilingual open-source CoopEdTech learning platform.
5.  Other plans include a leadership academy and an incubator for AI, biotechnology and climate ventures.

Additional Information:
1.  ICA is the apex global body for cooperatives.
2.  Its Youth Committee represents young cooperative members at international forums.

Andhra Pradesh Police launches AI drone portal and SafeStay app.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Andhra Pradesh DGP Harish Kumar Gupta launched the Centralised Drone Monitoring Portal and SafeStay application on September 22, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The portal displays live drone feeds from across the state on one dashboard.
2.  AI monitoring and advanced analytics support secure surveillance.
3.  Role-based access helps officers manage field situations.
4.  SafeStay collects real-time hotel and paying-guest occupancy details.
5.  The systems connect guests, accommodation providers and police digitally.

Additional Information:
1.  They support women’s safety, drug control and traffic management.
2.  Andhra Pradesh Police is headquartered at Mangalagiri in Guntur district.

World Maritime Day 2026 observed with two-year IMO theme.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The International Maritime Organization observed World Maritime Day on September 24, 2026, focusing on turning maritime policy into operational excellence.

Key Highlights:
1.  The 2026-27 theme is From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.
2.  It is the first time IMO selected one theme for two years.
3.  World Maritime Day is observed on the final Thursday of September.
4.  The cycle emphasises implementation of global maritime frameworks.
5.  Technical assistance, training, capacity building and knowledge sharing are priorities.

Additional Information:
1.  IMO is the United Nations specialised agency for shipping regulation.
2.  It was established in 1948 and is headquartered in London.

MDL to develop Rs.15,000 crore greenfield shipyard in Andhra Pradesh.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders signed an MoU on September 19, 2026, to develop a greenfield shipyard at Dugarajapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Key Highlights:
1.  The project plans Rs.15,000 crore investment over five to seven years.
2.  Initial design capacity is 1.2 million gross tonnes annually with room for expansion.
3.  It will build tankers, bulk carriers, container ships and LNG carriers.
4.  The yard forms part of the Dugarajapatnam Shipbuilding-cum-Port Cluster.
5.  MDL will serve as the cluster’s anchor shipyard.

Additional Information:
1.  The project is expected to create 45,000 direct and indirect jobs.
2.  MDL is a Mumbai-headquartered Navratna defence public-sector undertaking.

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY completes eight years with 60 crore beneficiaries.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana completed eight years on September 23, 2026, as the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme.

Key Highlights:
1.  Launched from Ranchi in September 2018, it provides Rs.5 lakh annual family health cover.
2.  More than 60 crore people have access and 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have been generated.
3.  About 13 crore beneficiaries received cashless treatment.
4.  Government spending exceeded Rs.2 lakh crore through 38,000 empanelled hospitals.
5.  Coverage now includes every citizen aged 70 or above and 37 lakh ASHA-Anganwadi worker families.

Additional Information:
1.  The Health and Family Welfare Ministry is the nodal ministry.
2.  The National Health Authority implements PM-JAY across all 36 states and Union Territories.

Brahma Kumaris' Global Spiritual Palace inaugurated in Vadodara.

Dated: 26 September 2026

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Global Spiritual Palace and launched a world-renewal campaign in Vadodara, Gujarat, on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The retreat centre will promote meditation and spiritual knowledge.
2.  The Spiritual Awakening for World Renewal campaign has a global focus.
3.  The President also virtually launched a youth nation-building campaign at Nadiad.
4.  The youth initiative seeks self-reliant and responsible citizens.
5.  Nadiad is associated with the birthplace of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Additional Information:
1.  Brahma Kumaris was founded by Lekhraj Kripalani in 1936.
2.  The global spiritual movement is headquartered at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities Meeting held in New Delhi.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities Meeting in New Delhi on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  Tax heads from 10 BRICS countries participated.
2.  India formed working groups on international taxation-transfer pricing and revenue statistics.
3.  The meeting adopted the BRICS Tax Progress Report 2026.
4.  It launched a Tax Cross-Learning Lab and approved the Tax Support Network terms.
5.  The Young Tax Professionals Capacity Building Programme became an annual feature.

Additional Information:
1.  China was welcomed as chair of the 2027 BRICS tax cooperation track.
2.  CBDT administers direct-tax laws under the Finance Ministry’s Revenue Department.

MoD signs Rs.810.79 crore SAT-SAAW contract with BDL.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs.810.79 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited on September 23, 2026, for 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons for the Indian Air Force.

Key Highlights:
1.  The procurement is under the Buy Indian-IDDM category.
2.  SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb.
3.  It can be launched by Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI aircraft from long stand-off range.
4.  DRDO designed and developed the satellite-guided weapon.
5.  Indigenous content is 60%, including the measurement unit and long-impact delay fuse.

Additional Information:
1.  Deliveries are scheduled during 2027-28 and 2028-29.
2.  BDL was established in 1970 and is headquartered in Hyderabad.

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre wins ET Healthcare Award 2026.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre received the Excellence in Clinical Services award at the ET Healthcare Awards in New Delhi on September 11, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The category recognised Mental Health and Wellness clinical services.
2.  ETHealthworld, the healthcare division of The Economic Times, hosted the event.
3.  Jagruti operates more than 17 centres across India.
4.  It has over 18 years of mental-health and rehabilitation experience.
5.  Its staffing model adjusts workforce to patient acuity and clinical needs.

Additional Information:
1.  The National Mental Health Programme began in India in 1982.
2.  Parliament passed the Mental Healthcare Act in 2017.

Assam makes e-Office mandatory from January 1, 2027.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The Assam Government announced mandatory paperless e-Office operation across every state government office from January 1, 2027.

Key Highlights:
1.  The National Informatics Centre developed the digital platform.
2.  Implementation extends beyond the State Secretariat to all offices.
3.  All 58 departments using the system are included.
4.  Selected directorates and Deputy Commissioner offices will be integrated.
5.  Functions include digital files, notes, drafts, signatures and real-time tracking.

Additional Information:
1.  NIC was established in 1976 under the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry.
2.  Assam’s capital is Dispur and its Secretariat has 58 administrative departments.

ISRO advanced radar research facility foundation laid in Assam.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation of the ISTRAC Advanced Radar Research Facility at Chandrapur on September 21, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The Project NETRA facility will strengthen space-situational awareness.
2.  It is located on 200 bighas at the former Chandrapur Thermal Power Station site.
3.  Advanced radar and optical telescopes will protect Indian space assets.
4.  The first cloud-research radar is scheduled by February 2027.
5.  The centre will monitor satellites, space debris, atmosphere and astronomy.

Additional Information:
1.  Project NETRA means Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis.
2.  ISTRAC supports launch-vehicle and satellite missions from its Bengaluru headquarters.

Logo unveiled for Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji birth centenary.

Dated: 26 September 2026

The Prime Minister unveiled the logo for the birth-centenary celebrations of Padma Vibhushan Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji on September 22, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The unveiling occurred with Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji of Pejavara Matha.
2.  The centenary programmes will promote devotion, learning and service.
3.  Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji held the title Yatikula Chakravarti.
4.  He received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour.
5.  Pejavara Adhokshaja Matha is one of Udupi’s eight monasteries.

Additional Information:
1.  Sri Madhvacharya founded the Matha and taught Dvaita Vedanta.
2.  Padma Vibhushan was instituted on January 2, 1954.

National Film Award actress Savithri Sreedharan passes away.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Veteran Malayalam film and theatre actress Savithri Sreedharan died at age 85 on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  She earned wide recognition for the 2018 film Sudani from Nigeria.
2.  She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress in 2019.
3.  The National Film Awards gave her a Special Mention.
4.  Her Malayalam theatre career spanned several decades.
5.  She later became a respected character artist in Malayalam cinema.

Additional Information:
1.  National Film Awards began in 1954 and are administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals.
2.  Kerala State Film Awards were instituted in 1969.

IIT-BHU and University of Michigan sign electric-mobility research MoU.

Dated: 26 September 2026

IIT-BHU and the University of Michigan signed an MoU on September 8, 2026, for collaborative electric-mobility and sustainable-transport research.

Key Highlights:
1.  The agreement was formalised at Michigan’s Electric Vehicle Center in Ann Arbor.
2.  IIT-BHU Director Amit Patra and Associate Dean Todd Allen signed it.
3.  Research will combine IIT-BHU e-mobility expertise with Michigan EV capabilities.
4.  A specialised Materials Research Team will be established.
5.  The team will prepare a long-term white paper on advanced-material research.

Additional Information:
1.  IIT-BHU’s Centre for Transportational E-Mobility will coordinate approved projects.
2.  IIT-BHU began in 1919 as Benares Engineering College and became an IIT in 2012.

S&P Global raises India's FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7%.

Dated: 26 September 2026

S&P Global Ratings raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY27 to 7% on September 23, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  Robust industrial activity was a principal driver of the upward revision.
2.  Healthy domestic consumption supported the forecast.
3.  Strong goods-export performance also contributed.
4.  Faster government spending on infrastructure and capital projects aided growth.
5.  The estimate applies to fiscal year 2026-27.

Additional Information:
1.  S&P Global Ratings is headquartered in New York, USA.
2.  It is one of the Big Three rating agencies with Moody’s and Fitch.

Mastercard exits Pine Labs by selling entire 4.31% stake.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Mastercard sold its entire 4.31% stake in Pine Labs for Rs.933.57 crore through open-market transactions on September 22, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  Block deals on BSE involved 4.97 crore equity shares.
2.  The sale price was Rs.187.75 per share.
3.  ICICI Prudential Life bought the largest 0.8% stake for Rs.174.79 crore.
4.  Societe Generale acquired 0.76% for Rs.164.65 crore.
5.  Citigroup Global Markets Singapore bought 0.57% for Rs.125.22 crore.

Additional Information:
1.  Pine Labs was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Noida.
2.  Mastercard was established in 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York.

Hirav Shah business novel SAARATHI becomes Amazon India bestseller.

Dated: 26 September 2026

Business strategist Hirav Shah’s novel SAARATHI became an Amazon India bestseller on its launch day, September 21, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The business-fiction book converts real advisory experience into a narrative.
2.  It follows an Ahmedabad fashion designer whose enterprise faces collapse.
3.  Themes include financial discipline, clear systems and strategic decision-making.
4.  The book distinguishes productive strategy from mere busyness and hustle.
5.  It targets startup founders, family-business owners and entrepreneurs.

Additional Information:
1.  Hirav Shah founded the Business Decision Validation Hub.
2.  He also founded The Rescue Hub and has written more than 25 business books.