Current Affairs - September 13, 2026 Current Affairs

Tripura achieved a zero per cent dropout rate at the primary level during the 2025-26 academic session, as announced by Chief Minister Manik Saha. The achievement was highlighted during the International Literacy Day and ULLAS Mela in New Delhi. Tripura has been implementing the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram since May 2022 to strengthen foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills. The state has also introduced innovative initiatives such as experiential market learning, financial literacy training, and practical health and hygiene education. It plans to establish residential schools in remote areas, aligning its efforts with the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The International Day for South-South Cooperation 2026 is observed on September 12. The day highlights the importance of cooperation among developing countries through the exchange of knowledge, technologies, successful experiences, and development models. The 2026 observance is associated with the theme “Solidarity Rising: Global Alliance for Inclusive and Innovative Development.” It also marks the launch of the Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, a voluntary alliance facilitated by the United Nations and initiated by the UNOSSC. South-South cooperation supports developing nations in addressing challenges such as climate change, healthcare, food security, energy, capacity building, trade, and investment through shared solutions and partnerships.

Singapore is the country where NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partnered with Singapore-based FOMO Pay to expand UPI acceptance across its merchant network. The partnership was announced during the Global Fintech Fest and enables Indian consumers to make payments through UPI apps at participating merchants. Resorts World Sentosa became the first major merchant on the network to go live with UPI payments for booking experiences. The arrangement supports both online transactions and physical merchant payments, providing Indian travellers with a convenient digital payment option and reducing dependence on cash. NIPL, established in 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI, promotes Indian payment systems globally.

World First Aid Day 2026 will be observed on September 12, which falls on the second Saturday of September. The day highlights the importance of basic lifesaving skills and first-aid knowledge during emergencies. The theme for 2026 is “First Aid in Migration Contexts”, emphasising the need for emergency care and lifesaving techniques among migrants, refugees, and displaced people. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies initiated World First Aid Day in 2000. It is observed annually with a new theme to promote awareness, encourage appropriate first-aid training, and help people respond effectively to accidents and sudden medical emergencies.

Southern Railway achieved 100% electrification of its 5,068-km broad gauge network, marking a significant milestone in Indian Railways’ electrification programme. The final stretch was the 71-km Pattukkottai-Karaikkudi section in Tamil Nadu, where electrification was completed and inspected in September 2026. The entire broad gauge network of the zone now operates using 25 kV AC electric traction, eliminating the need to switch between diesel and electric locomotives. Full electrification is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce delays, enable faster train movement, increase locomotive utilisation, and lower carbon emissions. The milestone also represents nearly 95 years of railway electrification history, which began in 1931.

The second Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence (YSCE) was launched at Bantala, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Merlin Group and cricketer Yuvraj Singh. Located at Club Arena on Basanti Road, the centre aims to provide professional cricket training to players from West Bengal and Eastern India. It features a 10,000 sq. ft. indoor air-conditioned sports arena and a 30,000 sq. ft. outdoor sports ground for year-round coaching. Six promising cricketers received scholarships after trials involving more than 200 students. The centre also includes a residential academy, modern gymnasium, and facilities for professional tournaments and corporate sporting events.

Elena Rybakina defeated top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open women’s singles title in 2026. Rybakina secured the victory in a three-set match with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The Kazakh player overcame a difficult start and maintained her composure in the deciding set, eventually sealing the match with her 12th ace. The victory earned Rybakina her third Grand Slam title and also helped her become the world No. 1 player in women’s tennis. She had previously won the Wimbledon and Australian Open titles, with the French Open remaining for her to complete a career Grand Slam.

The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026 will come into force on October 1, 2026, replacing the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891. The new legislation provides a modern legal framework for using banking records in court proceedings. It recognises physical, electronic, digital, virtual, and cloud-based banking records. The Act also allows banking records to be certified through manual, digital, or electronic signatures, reducing dependence on paper-based certification. Another important provision requires courts to record a “special cause” in writing before summoning bank officials when the bank is not a party to the legal proceedings. The law aims to align banking evidence rules with modern technology.

The United States is collaborating with India to strengthen the security, resilience, and diversity of global undersea cable systems under the US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technologies) Initiative. The cooperation includes government and industry experts participating in an Undersea Cables Workshop. Undersea cables are essential for international data transmission and support cloud computing, data centres, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. The United States has identified India as a potential major global hub for subsea digital infrastructure because of its growing digital economy and strategic geographical location. The TRUST Initiative also promotes cooperation in areas such as AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, space, and defence.

Sagar Manthan was launched as India’s first advanced indigenous Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The vessel was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). Constructed at an approximate cost of ₹840 crore under the Deep Ocean Mission, it is equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, dynamic positioning, multibeam bathymetry, and multichannel seismic systems. Sagar Manthan can operate in extreme environments, including the Southern Ocean, and has a planned service life of 30 years. It is scheduled for commissioning in 2028 and will replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya.