Current Affairs - September 27, 2026 Current Affairs

Mizoram inaugurated its first-ever ‘Pluck & Pay’ Festival in Khawzawl District from September 23 to 25, 2026. The agro-tourism initiative was jointly conducted by the Tourism Department, Government of Mizoram, and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Khawzawl. Visitors can enter local farms, harvest fresh agricultural produce themselves, and pay the producers directly. The festival was organised in Tualte and Chawngtlai villages. Mizoram has also witnessed a significant rise in tourist arrivals, from 4,27,302 in 2024 to 8,41,322 in 2025. The state became India’s 23rd state on February 20, 1987, through the 53rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

Naidupeta in Andhra Pradesh is the location of India’s largest solar cell manufacturing facility, commissioned by Premier Energies on September 21, 2026. The facility has a 7 GW production capacity for N-type TOPCon G12R solar cells, increasing the company’s total solar cell manufacturing capacity to 10.6 GW. Developed with a capital expenditure of ₹3,293 crore, the plant covers 101 acres and is designed to produce around 88,000 solar cells per hour. It incorporates Artificial Intelligence and digital systems for predictive performance analysis and process control, along with a Zero Liquid Discharge system to maximise water recycling and reuse.

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, hosted the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation on September 24, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce. Discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation and reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to address trade asymmetries and improve business facilitation. India’s bilateral trade with ASEAN reached USD 128.38 billion in 2025–26, accounting for 10.55% of India’s global trade. The meetings also covered regional energy infrastructure, industrial clusters, and opportunities for trade and services.

NIT Srinagar will inaugurate the NSOAA (NIT Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics), making it the first National Institute of Technology in India to host a dedicated campus-based observatory. The facility is equipped with a 14-inch Celestron C14 EdgeHD Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, a computerised equatorial mount, high-speed imaging systems, LRGB filters, and planetary and deep-sky cameras. The observatory was developed with scientific guidance from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru. NIT-Srinagar will also introduce a hands-on Astronomy and Astrophysics course to promote scientific learning among students from regional schools and colleges.

Pune was officially announced as the host for the 2032 UCI Road World Championships on September 24, 2026, marking the first time the prestigious global cycling event will be held in India. The decision was finalised during the UCI Congress in Montreal, Canada. Pune won the final bidding round against Groningen/Drenthe of the Netherlands after Colombia and Mexico were eliminated. The bid was jointly submitted by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, with support from the Government of India. Proposed venues include Balewadi Stadium and the Pune University circuit. The championship will also support opportunities for Indian officials, coaches, and athletes.

West Bengal is the state where the Adani Group has announced an investment roadmap of ₹1 lakh crore by 2035. The planned investment covers ports, logistics, power generation and transmission, roads, green cement, and hyperscale data centres. A major component is the Adani Arogya Mandir in New Town, Kolkata, featuring a 2,000-bed multi-speciality hospital and medical college at a cost of over ₹4,000 crore. The group also signed MoUs with the West Bengal government for restoration of the historic Writers' Building and promotion of Kolkata’s Durga Puja ecosystem and revitalisation of Kumartuli Ghat.

DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) signed its first high-value deep tech agreement with Zero mK India Private Limited for the indigenous development of a 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for quantum applications. The project is being executed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme of the Ministry of Defence and is supported by a ₹500 crore corpus for deep-tech and cutting-edge defence projects. The ultra-low-temperature system is essential for operating and testing quantum computing platforms. The initiative also supports the National Quantum Mission and aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure.

Harsh Sanghani was re-elected unopposed as the President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Youth Committee on September 22, 2026, during the ICA Global Cooperative Conference in Panama City. He was also confirmed as the Youth Representative to the ICA Global Board. Sanghani initially became the first person of Asian origin to lead the ICA Youth Committee when he was elected on July 3, 2025. At just 20 years old, he became the youngest board member in the history of the Alliance. His proposed initiatives include CoopEdTech, leadership development programs, an innovation incubator for youth ventures, and a Global Youth Cooperative Policy Forum.

Manesar in Haryana is the location where Maruti Suzuki India commissioned its first 300 kW green hydrogen plant on September 25, 2026. The pilot plant uses surplus solar power generated at the manufacturing facility during holidays to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis. The hydrogen is then blended with natural gas and used as process fuel, helping reduce fossil-fuel consumption in manufacturing. The initiative forms part of the company’s broader green-energy plans, which include investments in compressed biogas, a biogas plant at Kharkhoda, and a battery energy storage system. The project also aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

World Tourism Day is observed every year on September 27 to highlight the importance of tourism and its contributions to economies, societies and cultures. The first World Tourism Day was celebrated in 1980, following the adoption of the Statutes of the World Tourism Organisation in 1970. In 2026, the theme is “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” emphasising the growing role of digital technologies and AI in the tourism sector. The global celebration in 2026 is taking place in El Salvador. The international body associated with the observance is UN Tourism, formerly known as UNWTO.