Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs September 22 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India-Sri Lanka Begin 13th SLINEX-26 Maritime Exercise in Visakhapatnam, AP
The Indian Navy (IN), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) commenced the 13th edition of the annual bilateral maritime exercise Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-26) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), from 17 to 21 September 2026.

• The exercise aims to strengthen maritime cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies.

Background:  SLINEX was conceptualised in 2005 and serves as a platform for strengthening maritime cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies.

• The 12th edition, SLINEX-25, was conducted from 14 to 18 August 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

About SLINEX 2026:
Indian Navy Participation: The IN participated with Indian Naval Ship(INS) Kavaratti, an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, and INS Jyoti, a Fleet Tanker.
Sri Lanka Navy Participation: The SLN was represented by SLNS Sindurala.

Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub Signs 4 Agreements at INNOPROM India 2026 
The Indo-Russia Innopraktika Tech Hub (IRITH) signed four strategic agreements at INNOPROM India 2026, an International Industrial Trade Fair, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi on 9-11 September 2026 covering Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, healthcare tech, electronics, and investment.

• The agreements include the establishment of an India–Russia Centre of Excellence (CoE) in AI & cybersecurity with the Govt. of Nizhny Novgorod Region and RUSSOFT, aimed at boosting MSMEs and strengthening tech collaboration.

About 4 Agreements of Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub:
CoE: An India–Russia CoE in AI and cybersecurity will be established with the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and RUSSOFT, hosted by Gorky Tech, focusing on governance, risk assessment, validation, and an AI sandbox.
Investment: The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Panorama Electronics Private Limited, and the hub will promote cross-border investment in sectors such as AI, Machine Learning (ML), medical devices, and digital healthcare.
Venture: NexTouch (Russian technology company) will establish a joint venture in India to market interactive technologies, support local manufacturing, and participate in government and institutional projects.
Healthcare: SberMedAI will collaborate on AI and Information Technology (IT) applications in healthcare, including diagnostics and clinical decision support systems.

India Makes First Soil Carbon Payments to Farmers in Punjab & Haryana 
In September 2026, India initiated its first farm-level soil carbon payments at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Punjab, with 2,550 smallholder farmers from Punjab and Haryana set to receive over Rs 2.9 crore for adopting verified regenerative agricultural practices.

• Dr. M. L. Jat, Director General (DG), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), initiated the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the participating farmers.

About Soil Carbon Payment Initiative:
Aadi Programme: The payments are part of ‘Aadi’, a farmer carbon programme launched by Grow Indigo in 2019 with technical guidance from ICAR.
Regenerative Practices: Participating farmers adopted practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), reduced tillage and crop-residue management between 2019 and 2022.
Carbon Credit Verification: The first issuance covered around 30,000 acres and generated over 50,000 verified carbon credits, with farmer payments based on credits generated rather than land area. ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi,(Delhi) supported the scientific measurement and verification process.
Farmer Payments: Individual farmers received approximately Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000, depending on their share of verified carbon credits generated from their farms.

APEDA Signs MoU with InD Events Dubai to Strengthen Global Food Trade Opportunities
In September 2026, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with InD Events Dubai, the organiser of Gulfood, to strengthen global market opportunities for Indian agricultural and processed food exporters.

• The agreement was signed by Dr. Saswati Bose, Secretary, APEDA, and Mark Napier, Vice President (VP) – Exhibitions Department and Growth for Food & Hospitality, InD Events Dubai, at Vanijya Bhawan, in New Delhi, Delhi.

Key Details of MoU:
Partner: The agreement will facilitate India’s participation as the Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027 for the second consecutive year, following its partnership at Gulfood 2026.
Objective: The partnership aims to enhance the international visibility and export opportunities of India’s agricultural and processed food products by connecting Indian exporters with global buyers and expanding market access.
Focus: The partnership will promote participation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, and women- and Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)-led exporters by enhancing global visibility, market access, and buyer linkages.
About APEDA: Established in 1986 under the APEDA Act, 1985, APEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) with headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.

IIIT-Bangalore and TCA Sign LOI to Boost Collaboration in AI, Electronics and Smart Technologies
In September 2026, the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore), Karnataka, and the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) at Electronica India 2026 held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, to explore collaboration in emerging technology domains, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), electronics, smart manufacturing, smart cities, and cybersecurity.

• The agreement marks the first major technology partnership between Taiwan and South India, aimed at deepening technological cooperation between Taiwan and Karnataka.

IIIT-Bangalore–Taiwan Collaboration
LOI Purpose: The LOI aims to establish the foundation for a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering information and communication technology, digital economy, science and technology, and innovation.
Collaboration Areas: The partnership will include knowledge sharing, policy dialogues, seminars, conferences, business matchmaking, and delegation exchanges between Taiwan and Karnataka.
Strategic Strengths: Taiwan contributes expertise in electronics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), semiconductor, and hardware manufacturing, while Karnataka offers strengths in software engineering, technology research, and innovation.
About IIIT-B: It was established in 1998 as a not-for-profit deemed university focused on education, research, entrepreneurship, and innovation, jointly funded by the Government of Karnataka and the Information Technology (IT) industry.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’ s Visit to Bhutan From September 16-18, 2026
Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) undertook a 3-day official visit to Bhutan from September 16-18, 2026, at the invitation of Bhutanese Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel to review bilateral cooperation.

• During the visit, he launched five development projects, including a hospital and hydropower initiative, with key outcomes in energy, Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based fintech integration, and education cooperation.

Highlights of the Visit:
Meetings: Dr. S. Jaishankar held talks with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister (PM) Tshering Tobgay, and Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel on development, energy, and connectivity.
Projects: Five key developmental initiatives launched in Bhutan to strengthen healthcare, connectivity, agriculture, clean mobility, and energy.
Energy: Both countries reviewed progress under the Joint Vision on Energy Partnership (March 2024) including Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (1020 megawatt (MW)) and Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project (1200 MW). 
Finance: India extended a concessional Line of Credit (LoC) worth Rs 4,000 crore to Bhutan for energy sector projects to enhance hydropower and infrastructure development.

BANKING & FINANCE

novio & IOB Launch Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card to Expand Formal Credit Access
In September 2026, consumer credit platform novio, operated by Credilio Financial Technologies Private Limited, partnered with public sector lender Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to launch a co-branded RuPay credit card, at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, aimed at expanding access to formal credit among Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-active customers and first-time credit users.
Highlights of the Credit card:
Variants: The card is available in two variants – RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum
Credit Access: It offers instant digital onboarding and a Fixed Deposit (FD) backed credit facility, enabling individuals with limited or no formal credit history to access credit and build their credit bureau profile through responsible usage.
Benefits: The cards offer benefits including airport lounge access, instant cashback at merchants such as Amazon, Swiggy and Zepto, and free monthly movie tickets through BookMyShow.
UPI Integration: The RuPay card can be linked to UPI, enabling customers to make credit-based payments through the UPI ecosystem.
Partnership: The collaboration combines IOB’s banking infrastructure and reach with novio’s digital-first onboarding, UPI-focused experience and rewards ecosystem to broaden access to formal credit.
About Indian Overseas Bank (IOB): IOB was established in 1937 and is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). Its tagline is “Good People to Grow With.”

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Moody’s Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast To 7% For FY27
In September 2026, credit ratings agency Moody’s Ratings raised India’s real Growth Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to 7% from 6% for the Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27), citing the economy’s resilience to global shocks from the West Asia conflict while retaining its Baa3 rating with a stable outlook.

• However, it warned of inflation risks due to elevated energy prices and El Niño-related disruptions, which could impact consumption and overall growth.

Key Findings:
Data: India’s GDP grew 7.8% in First Quarter (Q1) of FY27 and 8.2% in the first half of Calendar Year (CY) 2026, compared to 7.3% growth in CY 2025, indicating accelerating economic momentum.
Inflation: Inflation is projected at 4.8% in FY27, significantly higher than 2.4% in FY26, driven by rising crude oil prices and food price pressures linked to El Niño conditions.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Marathi Film ‘Gondhal’ Selected as India’s Official Entry for Oscars 2027 
In September 2026, the Marathi-language film ‘Gondhal’, was selected by the Film Federation of India (FFI) from 33 entries as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards (Oscars 2027).
About ‘Gondhal’:
Overview:  ‘Gondhal’ is a Marathi-language psychological and cultural thriller written and directed by Santosh Davakhar. Set in rural Maharashtra, the film explores ritual traditions, personal ambition and human vulnerability.

• Ishita Deshmukh plays the lead role in the film, which also stars Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohani, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu, and Dhru Thoke.

Awards:  Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025.

• ‘Gondhal’ received the FIPRESCI Award at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2026.

Significance: ‘Gondhal’ becomes the fourth Marathi film to be selected as India’s official Oscar entry, following ‘Shwaas’ (2005), ‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ (2009) and ‘Court’ (2015).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

HAL Hands Over LCA Tejas FOC Trainers, HTT-40 Basic Trainers & Dhruv NG Helicopters to IAF and Pawan Hans
In September 2026, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Twin Seater Trainers, three Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) Basic Trainer Aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited (PHL).

• The handover ceremony was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in the presence of Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD), and Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA).

Key Details of Handover:
Twin-Seater Trainer: These 2 trainers handed over were the final aircraft under the contract.

• Designed for fighter pilot training, operational conversion, and preparation for frontline operations, the Tejas twin-seater trainer retains the core systems, combat capability, and advanced technologies of the frontline platform.

HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft (Ankur): The handover marked the beginning of deliveries under the MoD contract for 70 HTT-40 aircraft.

• Designed to support basic flying training, aerobatics, general handling, instrument flying, navigation training, night flying, and close formation flying.

Dhruv NG Helicopter: It is India’s first indigenously produced civil helicopter compliant with Airworthiness Standards (AS)-4 requirements, making it suitable for offshore operations.

India’s First indigenous Long-Range OWA Drone ‘KAL’ Successfully Tested at Pokhran Range
In September 2026, India’s first indigenous long-range One-Way Attack (OWA) drone named ‘KAL’ has successfully completed its flight testing at the Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR), Rajasthan. 

• The drone, designed and developed by IG Defence (Noida Uttar Pradesh, UP), successfully validated its integrated airframe, propulsion, avionics, navigation, and mission systems during trials, and was launched from a vehicle-mounted platform.

About KAL Drone:
Specifications: Designed for extended-range operations, it offers up to 1,000 km (kilometres) range, 7–8 hours endurance, 50 kg (kilograms) payload capacity, and operations up to 5,000 m (metres) altitude.
Capabilities: A navigation system integrating Multi-band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS), enabling autonomous flight, long-endurance missions, and precision strike capability as part of IG Defence’s GRID STRIKE portfolio.
Applications: The system is designed to enhance operational capabilities for long-range strike missions, air-defence suppression, and precision attack operations.

ENVIRONMENT

New Tiger Cat Species ‘Leopardus tilcayo’ Identified in Bolivia After More Than a Century 
In September 2026, an international team of scientists identified a new wild cat species, ‘Leopardus tilcayo’, from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest, marking the first new living feline species formally described in more than 100 years.

• The findings were published on September 17, 2026, in the journal ‘Current Biology’.

About Leopardus tilcayo:
Discovery: The new species, locally called Tilcayo, belongs to the tiger cat group found across South America and was identified through genetic research.
Physical Features: The Tilcayo is smaller than an average domestic cat, measuring about 46 centimetres (cm) from head to body and weighing around 1.4 kilograms (kg). It has a light-brown coat with irregular dark rosettes.
Evolution: Genetic analysis indicated that the L. tilcayo lineage diverged from related tiger cats around 1.4 million years ago, supporting its recognition as a separate species.

SPORTS

India to Host Asian Senior Wushu Championships for First Time in 2028 
In September 2026, India will host the 11th Asian Senior Wushu Championships for the first time in 2028 with the decision approved at the Wushu Federation of Asia (WFA) Congress in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

• Bhupender Singh Bajwa of the Wushu Association of India (WAI) was nominated as a Member of the Executive Committee of the WFA.

About Asian Senior Wushu Championships 2028:
Participation: The championship will feature around 500 athletes from 42 Asian countries, along with coaches, judges, technical officials, and sports administrators.
Previous Edition: The 10th Asian Wushu Championships were held in Macau, China, from September 12–15, 2024.
About Wushu: Wushu is a Chinese martial art and combat sport governed globally by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), with competitions held in two categories: Taolu (demonstration-based routines) and Sanda (full-contact combat competition).

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Bamboo Day 2026 – September 18 
World Bamboo Day is observed annually on September 18 across the globe to raise awareness about the environmental, cultural, and economic importance of bamboo.

• September 18, 2026, marks the 18th observance of World Bamboo Day.

Background:
Origin: World Bamboo Day was established in 2009 during the 8th World Bamboo Congress (WBC) held in Bangkok, Thailand, by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO).
Initiative: The observance was initiated by Kamesh Salam of Assam, who served as President of WBO from 2007 to 2009.
First Observance: The first World Bamboo Day was celebrated on September 18, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.

World Water Monitoring Day 2026 – September 18 
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is observed annually on September 18 to raise awareness about water quality issues and encourage public participation in monitoring and protecting water resources.
Background: 
Establishment: WWMD was established in 2003 by the American Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as a global educational initiative. The programme later evolved into the EarthEcho Water Challenge (EEWC), formerly called the World Water Monitoring Challenge (WWMC).
First Observance: The inaugural WWMD was observed on October 18, 2003.
Date Change: WWMD was initially observed on October 18 to commemorate the United States of America (USA) Clean Water Act, 1972. In 2007, the date was shifted to September 18 to encourage wider global participation, especially in colder regions where water bodies may freeze in October.
Coordination: In 2006, coordination of WWMD was transferred from ACWF to the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA).

• In 2015, EarthEcho International took over coordination of the programme.

STATE NEWS

MP Becomes First State to Launch Free Rural Property Registration Scheme under ‘Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana–2026’ 
In September 2026, Madhya Pradesh (MP) became the first state in India to launch a large-scale free rural property registration initiative under the “Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana–2026”, aimed at strengthening land ownership rights and rural governance.

• The programme was launched by MP Chief Minister(CM) Mohan Yadav in the presence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin at Gandhi Nagar Ground, Indore, under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

Key Highlights of the Scheme
Property Rights: The scheme will enable free registration of around 50 lakh rural properties by providing formal ownership records without registration charges, stamp duty, or registration fees.
Implementation: Special camps will be organised at village and panchayat levels across MP in three phases from September 17–19, 2026, September 24–26, 2026 and October 1–3, 2026 to simplify the registration process.
Progress: Under the Swamitva Yojana, 68.47 lakh rights records have been prepared across 41,568 villages, including records for around 50 lakh private rural properties to be registered free of cost.

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