Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming part of U.S.–China strategic competition, with massive investments in frontier models, data centres and associated infrastructure.The BRICS framework is seeking a more cooperative approac...

Context: Indian startups are increasingly adopting Chinese large language models (LLMs) such as Qwen, DeepSeek and Kimi to reduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) costs.These models offer significant cost advantages while approaching the capabilities of...

Context: Global development is facing multiple pressures from conflict, climate change, food insecurity, persistent poverty and fiscal constraints, exposing limitations of conventional development models.India’s experience with smallholder farmers, w...

Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies increasingly rely on self-regulation and automated safeguards to prevent misuse of powerful models.However, safeguards may detect harmful activity only after sufficient behavioural patterns emerge, crea...

Context: The global distribution of economic and geopolitical power is increasingly shaped by the United States (U.S.) and China, raising the possibility of a more bipolar global order.While forums such as BRICS, G7, G20 and APEC remain important, th...

Context: Retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose from 4.45% in July to 4.8% in August, indicating renewed price pressures.Inflation is increasingly broad-based, with pressures emerging across food, non-food and core inflati...

Context: Tamil Nadu announced 365 days of maternity leave for women government employees for the birth of a third child, compared with the earlier 12-week provision.The measure was presented as women’s empowerment, social welfare and a response to de...

Context: From 15 October, UPI merchant transactions above ₹2,000 will attract Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), with specified exemptions.Standard MDR: 0.4% on UPI merchant transactions above ₹2,000; shared among banks, payment processors and app provide...

Context: Six States signed an agreement to implement the 422 MW Kishau Multipurpose Project on the Tons River, along the Uttarakhand–Himachal Pradesh border, at ₹15,624 crore.Participating States: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh...

Context: Meta will directly report Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) cases to India’s cybercrime authorities, in addition to the U.S.-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).Meta platforms: Instagram and Facebook.Indian re...

Context: India is advancing multiple trade negotiations, with EU and Canada FTAs targeted for year-end, while the India–New Zealand FTA is expected to become operational in October.India–EU FTA: European Commission → European Council approval → signi...

Context: The BRICS Delhi Declaration 2026 signals possible greater Indian openness to creating pathways for plurilateral initiatives within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework, after India opposed such integration at WTO MC14.Plurilateral ag...

Context: National Engineers’ Day is observed every year on 15 September, the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, to recognise the contribution of engineers to nation-building.India’s engineering tradition extends from the urban planni...

Context: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been conducted in phases since June 2025 and has expanded to cover most of the country.The exercise has reportedly resulted in the deletion...

Context: 14 September 1949 marked a crucial decision by the Constituent Assembly on the language question through the Munshi-Ayyangar formula, after prolonged and contentious debate.The Constitution did not designate any “national language”. Instead,...

Context: At the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed creating a BRICS Artificial Intelligence (AI) open-source community to promote cooperation among member countries.The proposal includes cooperation on large languag...

Context: Ministry of Finance notified that no bank/system-provider charge can be imposed on UPI transactions up to ₹2,000 or RuPay debit-card payments.Charges on higher-value Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI transactions may now be enabled; actual Mercha...

Erratic 2026 southwest monsoon + strong El Niño + geopolitical tensions may reduce crop yields and push domestic and global food prices upward.Fertiliser sales have declined despite near-normal Kharif acreage, signalling possible stress in agricultur...

Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) Laboratory, Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, demonstrated a single-shot operation to control quantum-state stability.The technique may improve reliability of quantum computations by delaying decohere...

Supreme Court is examining mandatory Front-of-Pack Labels (FoPL) for packaged foods high in fats, sugars and salt (HFSS).Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed red hexagonal warning labels, with phased implementation.Key Pr...

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad researchers identified the Australe Basin on the Moon using mineralogical data from Chandrayaan-1.It may be older than the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) Basin, currently regarded as the largest and oldest known...

India approved electricity exports to Nepal for 18 hours/day, from September 13–December 31, 2026, after floods damaged Nepal's hydropower infrastructure.Export limit: 654 MW.Power TransmissionMuzaffarpur–Dhalkebar: up to 600 MW, through 400 kV doubl...

Context: The 18th BRICS Summit and the New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the need for reformed multilateralism amid increasing unilateral actions by major powers.Significance of the SummitHigh-level participation: Member countries participated at the...

Context: The 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, carried out by al-Qaeda, fundamentally transformed global counter-terrorism strategies.Over the past 25 years, terrorism has evolved in its organisational structure, instruments, targe...

Context: When BRICS was formed in 2011, its five members accounted for around 20% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but had only 11% of voting rights in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).With expansion, BRICS now represents nearly 40% of glo...

Context: The 4th Indo-German Environment Forum, held in New Delhi on 1 September, focused on climate change, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.The forum was established in 2008, and the latest edition recognised that environmental chal...

Context: The Eight Points of Outcomes and Consensus Statement of August 2026 and the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit indicate a cautious stabilisation in India-China relations.On the b...

Context: In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi identified manufacturing power as the first of the seven Saptadhara streams for achieving Viksit Bharat, with a focus on harnessing India's demographic potential.India's growth st...

Context: At the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India highlighted the risks of weaponisation of technology and critical minerals and stressed resilient supply chains and crisis preparedness.BRICS Integrated Early Warning System: For prevention and respons...

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres clarified that the United Nations does not define or endorse national borders through its maps.India supported the UN General Assembly resolution of September 3 seeking more accurate representation of land areas...

A long-term study found that female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) inherit their mother’s social rank, giving privileged lineages greater access to resources and reproductive opportunities.Study covered 2,743 wild spotted hyenas, 8 clans, 8 generat...

Houthi drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to shut its major East–West oil pipeline, threatening global oil supplies.East–West Pipeline (Petroline) transports crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.Saud...

Context: National Law Scholars Programme (NLSP) is a fully funded residential initiative that identifies talented students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), primarily from rural backgrounds, and prepares them for Common Law Admission Test (CLA...

Context: The 18th BRICS Summit, to be hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, is being held under the theme “Humanity First”, amid renewed debate over reforming the Western-dominated global financial system.BRICS has sought to create a...

Context: The 18th BRICS Summit, to be hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, comes amid wars, weakening global governance, shifting alliances and growing competition over emerging technologies.BRICS now comprises 11 full members and a...

Context: The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating risks that cross national borders and traditional sectoral boundaries, affecting finance, labour, elections, healthcare, climate and national sovereignty.The growing use of AI i...

Context: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit marks his first visit to India in seven years and comes amid gradual efforts to stabilise bilateral relations after the 2020 India-China border standoff.The trajectory o...

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to improve trade, people-to-people ties and border stability.Xi Jinping’s proposed visit would be his first visit to New Delhi since 2014.Border IssuesLine of Act...

Context: BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) expressed concern over unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures that distort trade and called for a rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO)...

Context: Biotech Conclave 2026, held in Chennai, discussed emerging applications of biotechnology, biomedical research, drug discovery and healthcare technologies.Precision Medicine: Tailors disease prevention and treatment to individual variations,...

Context: The European Commission has forwarded the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) text to the European Council for approval to sign and conclude the agreement.Legal vetting and finalisation of the text are complete; internal EU approvals remain....

Context: Anthropic reported blocking attempts to misuse its Artificial Intelligence (AI) models for cyberattacks, surveillance and biological-weapons-related research.The company has introduced stronger safeguards against potentially dangerous biolog...

Context: Bharat Innovates Exposition is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, alongside the 18th BRICS Summit, showcasing 37 Indian deep-tech innovations.Key InnovationsAI-enabled cervical cancer screeningFloating solar photovoltaic (PV)Marine ro...

Context: The recent U.S.–Canada trade dispute highlights the risks of excessive economic dependence and uncertainty surrounding trade agreements, offering important lessons for India’s trade negotiations with the United States. U.S.–Canada Econo...

Context: Federation of Automobile Dealers’ Associations (FADA) data show that total vehicle registrations rose 17.5% year-on-year in August 2026, reaching the highest-ever August volume, with compressed natural gas (CNG), electric and hybrid powertra...

Context: A BBC News Hindi investigation found that six Gujarat-based Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) received around ₹1,700 crore in donations in 2023–24, exceeding the ₹1,480 crore received collectively by five nationally recognise...

Context: India’s rapid economic growth has not been matched by adequate job creation, wage growth, private investment and productivity gains, raising concerns about a possible middle-income, low-productivity trap.The challenge extends beyond external...

Context: India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13, 2026, while chairing the grouping, prompting debate over whether BRICS provides sufficient strategic and economic benefits to India.The article argues that India should increasingly prior...

Context: Over two decades, BRICS has evolved from a grouping of five emerging economies into a major platform representing the interests of the Global South.Its growing membership and relevance reflect dissatisfaction among developing countries with...

Context: Bihar received 601.1 mm rainfall between June 1 and September 8, 27% below normal, yet severe flooding affected 2,157 villages across 14 districts and ~40.51 lakh people by September 9.The episode highlights that flood severity depends not o...

Context: The Supreme Court asked the Union Government to reconsider reducing the qualifying percentile for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test–Super Specialty (NEET-SS) after many super-specialty seats remained vacant.NEET-SS: Entrance examination...

Context: The Union Government is consulting farmers on a new Seeds Bill to replace the Seeds Act, 1966, citing changing agricultural practices and concerns over fake/substandard seeds.Seeds Act, 1966: Existing legislation regulating the quality of ce...

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced a special swap facility to encourage Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] deposits and strengthen India’s foreign-exchange reserves amid rupee pressure.FCNR(B) deposits: Foreign-currency-d...

Context: At the International Space Summit in Paris, India highlighted its expanding space cooperation with France and called for global partnerships for sustainable and peaceful use of outer space.India–France space cooperation: Began with French co...

Context: Recent Supreme Court and Allahabad High Court interventions protected students’ right to protest against alleged exam and workers’ issues while checking arbitrary use of executive powers.Freedom of speech and expression: Article 19(1)(a) gua...

Context: An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-led genome-wide study suggests Indian women may have a genetic predisposition to endometriosis, highlighting the need for earlier diagnosis and treatment.Endometriosis: A chronic condition in whic...

Context: As global economic uncertainty, trade restrictions and supply-chain disruptions increase, BRICS seeks to make international economic cooperation more resilient, inclusive and development-oriented. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a full BRICS...

Context: India is witnessing a sharp rise in childhood obesity and diabetes, alongside widespread consumption of sugar-heavy packaged and unbranded foods. Recent regulatory proposals on front-of-pack warnings are an important step, but effective acti...

Context: The Ukraine war has entered a possible phase of renewed diplomatic engagement, with the United States, Russia and Ukraine exploring ways to revive negotiations. As the 2026 BRICS Chair, India faces the challenge of keeping the peace pro...

Context: The United Kingdom has announced a ban on imports originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, citing concerns over settlement expansion, displacement of Palestinians and the weakening of pro...

Context: The Centre has opposed treating English as an indigenous/native language under the three-language framework and is considering relief for the current Class 6 batch.Three-language framework: Envisages learning mother tongue/regional language...

Context: A study suggests that ultra-heavy dark matter captured by dense stellar remnants could collapse into tiny black holes and eventually destroy their host stars.Dark matter: Invisible matter inferred mainly from its gravitational effects; unlik...

Context: Despite geopolitical conflicts and energy-price shocks, global economic activity remains strong, driven particularly by artificial intelligence (AI) investment and corporate spending.Global growth: Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth...

Context: During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Sri Lanka visit, India and Sri Lanka signed defence-sector Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).First Indian Defence Minister’s visit: Rajnath Singh’s visit is the first by an Indian Defence Minister to S...

Context: The Union Cabinet approved 8 multitracking projects covering 1,196 km, costing ₹20,804 crore, to decongest heavily utilised railway routes.High-Density Network (HDN): Railway routes where passenger and freight train movement exceeds capacity...

Context: Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s August 2026 visit to India marks a shift in bilateral defence ties from largely institutional cooperation towards greater operational capability and implementation.Over the past decade, India and J...

Context: Recent proposals to dilute Gram Sabha consent requirements for projects affecting tribal and forest land have raised concerns that the legal protections provided to forest-dependent communities under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 may be...

Context: The 2027 Census population enumeration questionnaire contains 40 questions, including several personal details such as Aadhaar, mobile, voter ID, passport and bank-account information.Concerns have been raised that some questions may have li...

Context: The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution supporting the 2018 Equal Earth map projection as an alternative to the widely used Mercator projection.The resolution, led by Togo, was supported by 164 countries, including India...

Context: Nepal has sought international support through the UN Loss and Damage Fund after devastating flash floods caused extensive loss of life and infrastructure. The move reflects the growing demand by climate-vulnerable countries for compensation...

Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought explanations from Union ministries, Delhi Police and Meta over paid Instagram advertisements allegedly directing users to Telegram channels offering Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). T...

Context: Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] deposits have become a cheaper funding source for Indian banks because current FCNR(B) interest rates are lower than conventional rupee deposit rates, while foreign-exchange (FX) risk is borne b...

Context: Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier retreat on the Tibetan Plateau, increasing the number and size of glacial lakes and consequently the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), landslides and downstream flooding.Tibetan/Qingha...

Context: Meta has launched Muse, an AI agent designed to autonomously perform tasks across a user’s apps, raising concerns over AI autonomy, privacy and access to sensitive data.Muse: Meta’s personal AI assistant/agent capable of performing tasks suc...

Context: The commissioning of the final sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) has completed India’s 2,843-km operational DFC network, comprising the WDFC and Eastern DFC (EDFC).WDFC:JNPT (Maharashtra)–Dadri (Uttar Pradesh), 1,506...

Context: Australia is proposing Digital Duty of Care rules to give users greater control over algorithmic feeds and strengthen protection of children from harmful online content.User empowerment tools: Platforms would have to let users 16+ choose whe...

Context: Five juvenile orangutans were rescued from a forest in Balasore, Odisha, raising suspicion of an international wildlife-smuggling network because orangutans are not native to India.Orangutans: Asia’s only great apes and among the largest arb...

Context: India’s first genome-wide study of endometriosis found genetic signals associated with the disease in Indian women, highlighting the need for South Asian population-specific genetic research.Endometriosis: Condition in which endometrium-like...

Context: Tehran-Backed Houthis Accuse Riyadh Of Launching Airstrikes On YemenKhamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia – Houthi drones and missiles reportedly targeted a Saudi airbase here.Abha, Saudi Arabia – Houthi forces targeted facilities of Saudi Aramco; an...

Context: A major Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study covering 159,336 hospitalised patients across 20 tertiary-care hospitals found that carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections are associated with higher mortality, longer hospitalisatio...

Context: India is witnessing a significant rise in influenza cases, with different regions reporting 2–10 times more cases than the previous year. The surge provides an opportunity to test and strengthen India’s preparedness before the next major pan...

Context: Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have raised a fundamental question: can a machine that demonstrates sophisticated intelligence also develop consciousness or subjective experience?Does AI Have an Internal Thought Process?Researchers...

Context: Recent student deaths due to incidents such as the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi and the Old Rajinder Nagar coaching centre basement flooding tragedy have raised deeper questions about safety, accountability and the vulnerabilitie...

Context: Oil-marketing companies (OMCs) raised the price of commercial LPG cylinders by about ₹10 from September 1, after two consecutive months of decline. The 19-kg cylinder in Delhi now costs ₹2,747.5, while the 14.2-kg domestic cylinder price rem...

Context: A 2026 study by the ICMR–National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research found nicotine pouches entering Indian cities through online platforms, hookah shops and delivery services. A World Health Organization (WHO) warning has also high...

Context: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s visit to India highlights the growing importance of India–Belgium ties within India’s broader engagement with Europe, particularly in trade, defence and strategic cooperation.Economic and Trade Cooperat...

Context: The 18th BRICS Summit, to be held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, provides India an opportunity to restore cohesion within the expanded grouping and revive its original focus on reformed multilateralism and a more equitable global ord...

Context: A UN world map (July 2026), discussed under the UNGA’s “Correct the Map” resolution, depicted Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin between Indian and Chinese claim lines, drawing India’s objection.Arunachal Pradesh: Map shows its northern bounda...

Context: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has flagged the growing use of technology and virtual assets to modernise traditional hawala networks, increasing risks of money laundering and terror financing.Digital hawala: Technology-enabled hawala...

Context: The U.K. has recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) for carbon-price relief under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), potentially lowering the carbon-related burden on Indian exporters.CCTS: India’s market-based me...

Context: The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) has produced the highest-resolution images yet of the Sun’s surface, revealing previously unseen small-scale plasma vortices at the boundaries of solar convection cells. The findings may improve u...

Context: Since 2020, Unconditional Cash Transfers (UCTs) have increasingly become an electoral strategy in India, particularly for attracting women voters. While they provide direct financial support and recognise women’s unpaid care work, their...

Context: India has completed a decade of formal inflation targeting (IT) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The framework aims to maintain Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 4%, with a tolerance band of ±2 percentage points. However, evidence p...

Context: After nearly 36 years without an A-grade sovereign rating, India received a major upgrade from the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) on September 2, raising its long-term sovereign rating from BBB+ to A-. The upgrade reflects confidence in In...

Context: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has begun systematically documenting more than 10,000 artefacts excavated from Rajghat, one of the oldest known settlements in the Varanasi region. The artefacts, some nearly 3,000 years old, are providing fres...

Context: Recent research by Anthropic on its large language model (LLM) Claude Sonnet 4.5 has identified internal neural patterns that appear to correspond to concepts related to its eventual outputs. While this may resemble an internal thought proce...

Context: All 25 High Courts now have regular Chief Justices after the Centre notified 8 appointments; the Collegium is now expected to consider 4 existing Supreme Court vacancies.Supreme Court strength: Sanctioned strength was raised to 34 judges in...

Context: Ministry of Tribal Affairs clarified that the FRA, 2006 itself does not provide for Gram Sabha consent for forest clearance, amid delays in NHPC projects.FRA, 2006: Recognises forest rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional For...

Context: On 27 August 2026, the Centre notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, making Indian Standard Time (IST) the single reference time for legal, administrative, commercial and other official purposes across India.The Rul...

Context: On 1 September, the Supreme Court asked the Central government to examine introducing totaliser machines for counting votes recorded through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).The objective is to protect the secrecy of booth-wise voting...

Context: The 18th BRICS Summit, to be held in New Delhi in September 2026 under India’s chairship, is expected to discuss mechanisms for facilitating cross-border payments, including linking digital payment systems and Central Bank Digital Currencies...

Context: The Indian striped hyena is an important scavenger that helps maintain ecosystem health, but faces conservation challenges due to poor population data, negative cultural perceptions and fragmented conservation efforts.Population and Dis...

Context: India voted for a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution seeking a more accurate and equitable representation of global landmasses, particularly Africa.Resolution:“Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation an...

Context: 128 countries agreed on a text defining Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), potentially paving the way for negotiations on an international treaty regulating “killer robots”.LAWS: Weapons capable of selecting targets and applying force...

Context: India’s West Asia policy traditionally prioritised energy security, diaspora interests, remittances and trade, while avoiding deep security commitments.This evolved into “multi-alignment”—maintaining workable relations simultaneously with co...

Context: India is reportedly revising its 2015 Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), with the revised text expected to be placed before the Union Cabinet.The proposed revision follows the 2025 Union Budget announcement on revamping the 2015 M...

Context: Following the August 26 glacial collapse and flash flood, Nepal has demanded climate compensation from the United States, China and India, shifting the discourse from humanitarian aid to liability for climate-induced losses.The demand highli...

Context: The Union Government has deferred the 2027 Census in Manipur following discussions over the demand to conduct the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census.The issue reflects three interconnected concerns: citizenship and demogra...

Context: The Supreme Court (SC) recently invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to quash FIRs against participants in nationwide examination protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).The order gave legal effect to an assurance...

Context: OpenAI has released GPT-6 Astra, a new frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) model claiming improvements in computer use, coding, long-running tasks and cybersecurity.Astra is the first OpenAI system classified as having crossed the company’...

Context: India’s Q1 FY2026-27 GDP growth was reported at ~7.8%, a historically strong rate.Despite this, public trust in official GDP figures appears weak, reflecting a gap between headline growth and lived economic experience.India also shifted to a...

Context: Teachers’ Day (5 September) commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President and a renowned philosopher, scholar and teacher.Radhakrishnan considered teaching the most important of his roles.Dr. A....

Context: ISRO successfully launched EOS-05 aboard GSLV-F17, India’s first dedicated imaging satellite intended to operate from geosynchronous orbit.Launch vehicle: GSLV-F17; 19th GSLV mission and 107th launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), S...

Context: India has resumed Cell Broadcasting Service (CBS) for targeted emergency alerts during extreme weather and natural disasters.Developed by: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT); operated by State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs...

Context: Supreme Court urged States to raise the retirement age of district judicial officers from 60 to 62 years amid 5.18 crore pending district-court cases.SC rationale: Retaining experienced judicial officers can address judicial vacancies, recru...

Context: Thermal power plants face a coal-management dilemma as emergency redistribution may penalise plants that maintain adequate stocks.CEA coal-stock norms: Revised plant-specific stocking norms came into force on 6 December 2021 to strengthen fu...

Context: Youth have become a major political focus, with parties, governments, think tanks and media increasingly engaging with education, skills, employment and digital participation.Political leaders are adapting communication strategies to Generat...

Context: Recent climate disasters in South Asia — Nepal floods, Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah, Pakistan floods and recurring floods in India — highlight the increasing frequency and interconnectedness of climate shocks.These disasters reveal that while...

Context: The National Statistical Office (NSO) released a new series of National Accounts Statistics (NAS), reporting manufacturing GVA of ₹38.6 lakh crore in 2023-24, equal to 14.7% of GDP at current prices.An alternative estimate based on official...

Context: A former Finance Secretary questioned the official Q1 FY 2026-27 GDP growth estimates of 7.8% in real terms and 10.3% in nominal terms, suggesting substantially lower growth.However, the criticism incorrectly combines old-series and new-seri...

Context: Nuclear scientist Dr. Anil Kakodkar, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, has advocated introducing thorium-based fuel into India’s indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) fleet alongside the existing three-stage n...

Context: Bihar and Jharkhand have resolved a 25-year-old dispute over sharing the waters of the Sone River through an inter-State Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).Under the agreement, Bihar will receive 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) and Jharkhand 2 M...

Context: Gloria Steinem, a prominent 20th-century feminist activist, died at the age of 92, leaving a major legacy in the evolution of modern feminism.She was a leading figure of the Second Wave of Feminism, which expanded the feminist agenda beyond...

Context: World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasts an exceptionally strong El Niño potentially extending into February 2027, with heightened global extreme-weather risks.El Niño: Periodic warming of sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) in the cent...

Context: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a bacterium normally present in the nose and throat and is generally harmless.It has 100+ serotypes. When immunity is weakened, it can invade the lungs, brain/spinal cord or bloodstream, causing pn...

Context: India has long faced a policy dilemma between keeping food prices affordable for consumers and ensuring remunerative prices for farmers.Since the 1960s, government interventions have largely focused on short-term management of price volatili...

Context: The U.S. Senate has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026, which proposes sanctions and additional trade restrictions linked to Russia.A key provision authorises tariffs of up to 100% on countries among the five...

Context: At the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mamallapuram, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the need for an early resolution of water disputes in southern India.He also advocated linking major rivers from the Brahmaputra to the Godavari...

Context: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) regulates foreign donations to organisations in India, balancing legitimate concerns of national security, transparency and public accountability with the autonomy of civil society institution...

Context: Article 124(3) of the Constitution permits appointment to the Supreme Court (SC) through three routes, including a person who is, in the President’s opinion, a “distinguished jurist”.Despite this provision existing since the Constitution cam...

Context: Rising Japanese government bond (JGB) yields are making domestic Japanese bonds increasingly attractive, potentially reversing Japan’s long-standing flow of capital into overseas bond markets.The 3% yield threshold is particularly significan...

Context: A 10-year JGB yield above 3% provides Japanese institutional investors with an increasingly attractive domestic investment opportunity.For investors with long-term liabilities, particularly Japanese life insurers, higher domestic yields...

Context: China is the world’s largest trade-surplus economy, with a trade surplus of around $1.2 trillion, and accounts for nearly 30% of global manufacturing output.Its manufacturing dominance is supported by government subsidies, state-directed fin...

Context: The Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, notified by the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry on August 27, 2026, make Indian Standard Time (IST) the legally enforceable reference for official and commercial purposes.Time-dependent...

Context: The Indian Copyright Office rejected American computer scientist Stephen Thaler’s application to register copyright for an AI-generated artwork titled A Recent Entrance to Paradise.The artwork was generated autonomously by DABUS (Device...

Context: UNEP’s Limiting Overshoot report projects that the 1.5°C warming limit will likely be temporarily breached in the coming years and outlines a pathway to return below it by 2100.Paris Agreement (2015): Seeks to limit global average temperatur...

Context: The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh is due to expire on 31 December 2026; Bihar has raised concerns over its impact on water availability and siltation.Treaty: Signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh for sharing the...

Context: All-India average onion price rose to ₹49.59/kg on 1 September 2026, up over 74% year-on-year, despite adequate estimated production.Production 2025–26: 307.37 lakh tonnes, almost unchanged from 307.67 lakh tonnes in 2024–25; domestic supply...

Context: JCR upgraded India’s sovereign credit rating by one notch, citing high economic growth and strengthening economic and financial fundamentals.Rating:BBB+ → A-.Key reasons: ~7% economic growth, robust private consumption, public investment and...

Context: Real GDP growth in April–June 2026 (Q1 FY2026-27) stood at 7.8%, well above the expected 6–7%, despite concerns over the West Asia crisis.The growth was broad-based, led by manufacturing and services, indicating that it was not merely a stat...

Context: Rapid replacement of computers, servers, networking equipment and storage devices is generating large volumes of electronic waste (e-waste).E-waste contains valuable materials such as copper, aluminium, gold, silver, palladium and critical m...

Context: In the Union Budget 2025–26, the government announced healthcare coverage for gig workers registered on the e-Shram portal, launched in 2021.The measure was expected to benefit over 1 crore gig workers, but registrations remain far below the...

Context: A ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual was performed at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground on August 10, two days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there.Kharge described it as reflecting the “sting of untouchability” and...

Context: Thailand’s Peaceful Society Promotion Act, an amnesty law aimed at political reconciliation, came into force on August 24, 2026, after being passed by lawmakers in July.The initiative comes amid continuing political polarisation involvi...

Context: India is witnessing a data-centre investment boom, with Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft committing billions of dollars; the government expects nearly $200 billion investment over the next decade.States are offering incentives to attr...

Context: As the paddy harvesting season approaches, Punjab and neighbouring States are likely to again face the problem of stubble (parali) burning, contributing to severe air pollution in northern India.Farmers face a difficult choice because p...

Context: China and the US are increasingly focused on integrating scientific research with industrial production, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the transition from discovery → technology → manufacturing → economic and geopolit...

Context: The Centre’s ₹1.27 lakh crore Semicon 2.0 programme seeks to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem through a three-part approach: developing strategic semiconductor technologies, creating commercially viable chips, and ensuring the...

Context: The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has issued two further orders in the dispute raised by Pakistan regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), ruling that India’s decision to place the Treaty in “abeyance” is not permissible under th...

Context: India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) widened to $4.2 billion (0.5% of GDP) in Q1 FY27, from $3.4 billion (0.4%) a year earlier, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Merchandise trade deficit increased sharply to $86.1 billion from $...

Context:Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 24.51 billion transactions worth ₹29.82 lakh crore in August 2026, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).Annual growth: Transaction volume rose 22% and value rose 20...

Context: Japan has eased enforcement of overtime limits to address a severe labour shortage and support economic growth, effective September 2026.Around 40% of Japanese businesses operate under labour-management agreements permitting up to 100 hours...

Context: Delhi High Court held that pregnancy or maternity leave cannot result in demotion, loss of status or denial of career progression, directing HashiCorp to pay ₹10 lakh compensation to an employee.A woman returning from maternity leave is ordi...

ContextAYUSH medical education is expanding rapidly, with the private sector accounting for 86% of Ayurveda colleges and 85% of homoeopathy colleges in 2024.Between 2021 and 2024, permitted seats increased by 43%, while total admission capacity rose...

ContextElectrocution from expanding power infrastructure is emerging as a major threat to India’s vultures, alongside earlier chemical threats.A 2025 official survey found vultures nesting at only 50% of historic nesting sites, indicating continued p...

ContextAugust 23, 2026 marked the 37th anniversary of the Baltic Way, the 1989 human chain that became a turning point in the Gandhian-inspired Singing Revolution in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.The movement ultimately led to the restoration of Balt...

ContextOnAugust 21, a three-judge Supreme Court Bench led by the Chief Justice of India dismissed a petition and sought a fresh petition in a case concerning minimum wages under rural employment guarantee programmes.The Bench highlighted MGNREGA’s ro...

UPI: India’s Digital Payments BackboneUnified Payments Interface (UPI) enables instant bank-to-bank payments by connecting users, banks and payment apps through infrastructure operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).In July 2026...

ContextIndia enters its next employment decade after expanding infrastructure, formalisation, financial inclusion, skilling and entrepreneurship.RBI’s KLEMS productivity database estimates employment rose from 47.15 crore in 2014–15 to 64.33 crore in...

Context●    Renewed US–Iran strikes, after more than a month, have brought the military dimension back into a conflict increasingly shaped by economic pressures.●    The conflict has major implications for ener...

ContextDevastating floods in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers in sparsely populated Rasuwa district (~48,000 people) killed hundreds and destroyed traditional villages, urban settlements, tourist sites, trade routes, roads, bridges, social infr...

ContextThe US says it will gain majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, equivalent to about 20% of Venezuela’s proven reserves, under a proposed agreement.US President Donald Trump described it as the “biggest oil deal i...

Context: Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal (Chhattisgarh HC) as the next Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court.Collegium is headed by CJI Surya Kant and recommends appointments/transfers of High Court judges and Chief Just...

Context:Tommy Koh (Singapore), Bo Kyi (Myanmar) and Runa Khan (Bangladesh) won the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awards, Asia’s major award for selfless public service.Tommy Koh: Singaporean lawyer-diplomat; chaired the 1982 UN Conference on the Law of the Se...

Context:Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), a rare Siberian migrant, was spotted at Najafgarh Jheel, Delhi-NCR—only the 5th recorded sighting in India in ~150 years.Identification: White supercilium (eyebrow stripe), rufous-streaked crown an...

Context: India rejected a Court of Arbitration (CoA), Hague ruling that its decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960 in abeyance was impermissible.India’s stand: India says the CoA is illegally constituted, has no jurisdiction, and India...

Context:INS Nipun commissioned at Mumbai to strengthen the Indian Navy’s underwater, deep-sea diving and submarine-rescue capabilities.Type:2nd Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar Class; built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Visakhapatnam.Key capab...

Context: ISRO will launch EOS-05 (GISAT-1A) aboard GSLV-F17 on 4 September, 2:55 am from Sriharikota, ending a ~7-month launch hiatus after the PSLV-C62 failure.EOS-05: Earth observation satellite with 10-year mission life, designed for frequent imag...

Context:Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) signed an MoU to co-produce Javelin anti-tank guided missiles in India.JJV: Joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon (US); has produced 55,000+ Javelin missiles and 12,...

Context: Centre notified the operational framework of Semicon 2.0, approved in July 2026, with ₹1.27 lakh crore support to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem, especially domestic chip design.Six pillars: Government support covers chip design,...

Place:Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city located on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. It is one of the EU’s two land borders with Africa (the other is Melilla).Context: In July, more than 72,000 migrants attempted to cross from Morocco...