Current Affairs - September 24, 2026 Current Affairs

Jharkhand celebrated the Karam Festival on September 22, 2026, highlighting tribal culture, nature worship and the bond between siblings. The festival is an important harvest celebration among tribal communities such as the Munda, Oraon, Ho and Santhal. During the observance, a sacred Karam tree branch is installed at the communal akhara for overnight worship, while sisters traditionally observe a Nirjala fast for the prosperity and long life of their brothers. State-level celebrations were held in Ranchi and other locations, featuring cultural programmes, traditional musical instruments and a tribal fashion show. Jharkhand was established as a separate state from Bihar on November 15, 2000.

The United Kingdom launched the No. III Space Effects Squadron in September 2026 as its first specialised military unit dedicated to countering hostile activities in outer space. The squadron operates under UK Space Command and includes specialist personnel from different branches of the British military. Its responsibilities include protecting critical satellite infrastructure, responding to hostile activities in orbit, using electronic warfare capabilities, and supporting defensive and offensive space operations. The unit works alongside other RAF space squadrons responsible for space operations and warning. The UK has also invested significantly in space-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and Space Control capabilities.

Mizoram is the state where Z T Lalrithangi, popularly known as Pi Mari-i, hails from. A former teacher turned farmer, she has been selected among the FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development. She is from the Sangau area of Lawngtlai district in southern Mizoram. Lalrithangi began strawberry cultivation in 2024 and expanded from around 1,000 plants to more than 10,000 plants across two hectares. Her farming activities generated over ₹10 lakh in 2025. Her recognition is connected with the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, highlighting the contributions of women to agrifood systems and rural development.

Hyderabad is the location of Microsoft’s fourth cloud region in India, launched on September 21, 2026. The new South Central cloud region expands Microsoft’s hyperscale cloud infrastructure in the country, alongside existing regions in Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. The launch forms part of Microsoft’s broader $20.5-billion investment commitment to strengthen cloud, operations and artificial intelligence infrastructure in India. India generates around 20% of global data but currently has only about 3% of global data centre capacity. Microsoft also aims to skill 20 million Indians in AI by 2030, including 2 million teachers, supporting the country’s growing AI ecosystem.

New Delhi is the location associated with the DURGA scheme, which was approved by the Delhi Cabinet on September 23, 2026. The scheme stands for Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green E-Auto and aims to promote self-employment and safer, cleaner public transport. In its first phase, 1,300 pink electric autos will be allocated, including 1,170 for women and 130 for transgender persons. Applicants must meet specified age, residency, driving licence and other eligibility requirements. Each e-auto will have a mandatory three-year lock-in period, during which it cannot be sold or transferred.

The Punjab government notified an 8 percentage-point increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for eligible state government employees, raising the rate from 42% to 50%. The corresponding Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners and family pensioners was also increased from 42% to 50%. The revised rates are effective from September 1, 2026. The decision followed consultations involving employee-trade unions and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The government stated that the increased allowance would provide additional financial support to employees and pensioners amid rising costs of essential commodities and other expenses.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 to 7%, up from its earlier forecast of 6.6%. The revision reflects stronger-than-expected economic performance, with India recording 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of FY2026-27. Robust domestic consumption, investment demand, manufacturing and services activity, and public infrastructure investment are expected to support economic momentum. ADB also highlighted improving logistics infrastructure and regulatory measures as factors supporting private investment. For FY2027-28, ADB has projected India’s GDP growth at 7.1%, compared with its earlier forecast of 7.3%.

September 24 is observed as World Maritime Day in 2026. The day highlights the importance of international maritime transport and its contribution to the global economy. The 2026-27 theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” focuses on the effective implementation of international maritime rules, regulations and conventions. The observance is led by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations specialised agency responsible for the global regulatory framework for international shipping. Maritime transport carries more than 80% of global trade, making safety, security, efficiency and environmental sustainability important priorities for the sector.

Shantanu Moitra will receive the National Lata Mangeshkar Award 2026 for his achievements in music direction. The award, instituted by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1984, will be presented to him at the Lata Mangeshkar Auditorium in Indore on September 28, 2026. The honour includes a tax-free cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a citation. Moitra has composed music and background scores for films such as Parineeta, 3 Idiots, Piku, October and 12th Fail. He also received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction (Background Score) in 2014 for the Telugu film Na Bangaru Talli.

Indian Oil announced a ₹2,449 crore investment to construct and operate a 424.65-km natural gas pipeline connecting Kochi, Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi. The pipeline will pass through Kerala and Tamil Nadu and have a total capacity of 6.84 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD), including a common carrier capacity of 1.71 MMSCMD. The project aims to strengthen India’s natural gas infrastructure and increase the share of natural gas in the country’s energy mix. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is a Maharatna public sector enterprise headquartered in New Delhi and operates under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to provide free registration for rural residential properties under the Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026. The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Indore on September 17, 2026. It targets the registration of approximately 50 lakh privately owned rural properties across all 55 districts of the state. Beneficiaries are exempted from Stamp Duty and Registration fees for their property documents. The month-long campaign will run from September 17 to October 17, 2026, with Patwaris facilitating the process at the village level and revenue officials finalising registrations.

INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, on September 20, 2026, to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity. INS Sahyadri is a multi-role stealth frigate, while INS Kulish is a guided missile corvette. Their deployment aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation with ASEAN Member States and the eight ADMM-Plus partner countries. The engagement is aligned with India’s Act East Policy and supports the MAHASAGAR vision. The ADMM-Plus provides a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to promote security and defence cooperation through practical activities and professional engagements.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) partnered with Novio, operated by Credilio Financial Technologies, to launch a co-branded RuPay credit card at the Global Fintech Fest on September 22, 2026. The card is designed to serve UPI-active customers and first-time credit users, offering RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum variants. Key features include UPI-linked engagement, FD-backed credit facilities for customers without formal credit histories, digital onboarding and rewards. IOB aims to issue 50 lakh credit cards over the next three years, with a focus on expanding formal credit access in Tier-V cities. IOB is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.