Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (16th September, 2026) |

National News

Kishau Dam Project Clears Eight-Year Hurdle With MoU

The ₹15,624-crore Kishau Dam project is being developed on the Tons River.
Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand signed an MoU with the Centre on September 15, 2026.
The multipurpose project had remained stalled for nearly eight years due to inter-state coordination and financing issues.
The proposed concrete gravity dam will be 232.6 metres high and have a live storage capacity of 1,562 million cubic metres.
The project will generate 660 MW of power, with annual generation estimated at 1,476 million units.
It is expected to irrigate nearly one lakh hectares and improve drinking and industrial water supplies.
Key Fact: The Centre will bear 90% of the water component cost.

India Launches Net Zero Portal And NAPCC Climate Dashboard

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the India Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard in Mumbai on September 16, 2026.
Union Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh launched both platforms on World Ozone Day.
The India Net Zero Portal allows Indian entities to voluntarily register Net Zero commitments and report their progress.
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reporting is encouraged, while Scope 3 reporting remains voluntary.
The NAPCC Dashboard will monitor implementation and progress across eight National Missions.
NAPCC covers areas including solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable agriculture and the Himalayan ecosystem.
Key Fact: India has set a Net Zero emissions target for 2070.

PM Modi To Inaugurate Semicon India 2026 In New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Semicon India 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, on September 17, 2026.
The three-day conference and exhibition will conclude on September 19.
The event will be held under the theme “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem.”
It will cover chip design, fabrication, advanced packaging, semiconductor materials and electronics systems.
More than 600 companies, 400 executives and 150 speakers from 52 countries are expected to participate.
Six country pavilions and 12 state booths will showcase semiconductor capabilities and initiatives.
Key Fact: Around 50,000 visitors are expected at Semicon India 2026.

Cabinet Raises EPFO Wage Ceiling To ₹25,000 For Workers

The Union Cabinet approved increasing the EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month.
The decision is expected to bring more than 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory EPFO coverage.
Workers earning between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 will gain access to provident fund, pension and insurance benefits.
The wage ceiling was last increased in September 2014.
The government estimates annual expenditure of around ₹11,339 crore and ₹56,696 crore over five years.
EPFO currently has about 7.98 crore contributing members across 7.68 lakh establishments.
Key Fact: The revised EPFO wage ceiling is ₹25,000 per month.

State News

Karnataka Officially Recognises September 15 As Engineers’ Day

Karnataka officially recognised September 15 as Engineers’ Day through a government order issued on September 15, 2026.
Engineers in the state have been permitted to use the professional prefix “Er.” before their names.
The observance is linked to the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya.
Visvesvaraya was born on September 15, 1861, and served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.
He contributed significantly to irrigation, flood control and industrial development.
He was associated with the automatic sluice gates of the Krishnaraja Sagara Dam.
Key Fact: Sir M. Visvesvaraya received the Bharat Ratna in 1955.

Gujarat Child Protection Policy 2026 Strengthens Safeguards For Children

The Gujarat State Child Protection Policy 2026 aims to provide children with a safe, dignified and rights-based childhood.
It adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards abuse, exploitation, neglect, violence and discrimination.
Institutions working with children will receive training on child rights, the POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice Act.
The policy provides special attention to children with disabilities, migrants, orphans and disadvantaged communities.
Trafficking survivors and children in institutional or alternative care are also covered.
The framework addresses digital risks involving the internet, social media and technology.
Key Fact: The policy also covers transgender and intersex children.

Odisha Approves ₹3,406 Crore SiCSem Semiconductor Manufacturing Facility

Odisha approved a ₹3,406.25-crore silicon carbide semiconductor facility by SiCSem Private Limited.
The facility will be established at ESDM Park in Info Valley-II near Bhubaneswar.
The integrated project will cover semiconductor fabrication, assembly, testing, marking and packaging.
Spread across 21.889 acres, the facility is expected to generate around 1,270 jobs.
Its proposed annual capacity includes 4.8 million SiC diodes and 91.2 million SiC MOSFETs.
SiCSem has also established a Silicon Carbide Research and Innovation Centre at IIT Bhubaneswar with ₹64 crore.
Key Fact: The project is expected to generate exports worth ₹7,043 crore over five years.

Kumik Becomes Ladakh’s First Heritage Village In Zanskar

Kumik in Zanskar was declared Ladakh’s first designated Heritage Village on September 15, 2026.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena made the declaration during the Ladakh Zanskar Festival.
The recognition highlights Kumik’s traditional architecture, Buddhist Kanjur manuscripts and agricultural practices.
Sacred spaces and community customs are also recognised as part of its living heritage.
Kumik faces declining water availability affecting irrigation, agriculture and settlement patterns.
Water scarcity has contributed to migration of families towards areas with better water access.
Key Fact: Kumik is Ladakh’s first designated Heritage Village.

Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Soft Loans For Sugar Mills

The Maharashtra Cabinet approved soft loans for cooperative sugar mills to clear pending FRP dues.
The support covers sugarcane farmers’ dues for the 2025-26 crushing season and preparations for 2026-27.
The Cabinet also approved the Maharashtra Technical Assistance Cell, or Maha-TAC.
Maha-TAC will evaluate 25 major state policies and 25 key welfare schemes over one year.
The evaluation will draw on recommendations from IIM Mumbai and CRISP.
Other decisions included land allotment, stamp duty exemption and amendments to municipal and agricultural land laws.
Key Fact: Maha-TAC will evaluate 50 policies and welfare schemes.

Telangana Records India’s Highest Inflation For Eighth Month

Telangana recorded India’s highest combined rural and urban inflation for the eighth consecutive month in August 2026.
Its combined inflation rate stood at 6.27%, compared with a peak of 6.36% in June.
Tamil Nadu recorded 5.92%, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 5.55%.
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha recorded inflation rates of 5.53% and 5.52%, respectively.
Telangana’s rural inflation stood at 6.79%, while urban inflation was 5.88%.
National rural inflation averaged 5.23%, compared with 4.31% in urban areas.
Key Fact: Telangana’s August 2026 combined inflation was 6.27%.

International News

New Zealand Parliament Passes India FTA Bill With 93 Votes

New Zealand’s Parliament passed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Bill by 93 votes to 29.
The agreement provides for eliminating or substantially reducing tariffs on around 95% of New Zealand exports to India.
All Indian goods will receive duty-free access to the New Zealand market.
More than half of the covered products are expected to become duty-free when the agreement enters into force.
New Zealand has committed to invest $20 billion in India over the next 15 years.
Two-way trade reached NZ$3.99 billion in the year to June 2026.
Key Fact: The FTA Bill was passed by 93–29 votes.

EU Proposes Digital Access Restrictions For Children Under 13

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed new digital restrictions for children on September 16, 2026.
The proposal would restrict children under 13 from accessing social media, online games and chatbots.
Teenagers aged 13 to 15 could use “mini accounts” monitored or chaperoned by guardians.
The proposal responds to concerns about excessive online engagement and exposure to extreme content.
It also addresses misuse of girls’ photographs to create AI-generated sexualised images.
The proposal is not yet an EU-wide law and requires consideration by the bloc’s 27 member states.
Key Fact: The proposed restrictions apply to children under 13.

EU Proposes Canada As First Associate Member Of Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada as the European Union’s first associate member.
The proposal was made during her State of the European Union address on September 16, 2026.
The EU and Canada could build on their existing CETA free trade agreement.
The proposed “Alliance for the Future” would focus on economic security and shared democratic values.
Cooperation could cover advanced manufacturing, technology and defence production.
Other areas include the Arctic, energy, critical minerals, batteries, AI, quantum computing and cybersecurity.
Key Fact: Canada has been proposed as the EU’s first associate member.

Banking News

NABARD Marks 23rd GI Day With Heritage And Livelihood Focus

NABARD’s New Delhi Regional Office observed the 23rd Geographical Indications Day on September 16, 2026.
The programme was held under the theme “Preserving Heritage and Fostering Livelihoods.”
Professor (Dr) Unnat P Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, chaired the event.
NABARD launched the short film “नव सृजन” showcasing six Delhi crafts.
A Coffee Table Book on GI initiatives was also released.
A GI Bazar featured 22 stalls displaying traditional products from four states and Delhi.
Key Fact: The GI Bazar featured 22 stalls.

Kamlesh Chandra Varshney Reappointed As SEBI Whole-Time Member

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the reappointment of Kamlesh Chandra Varshney as SEBI Whole-Time Member.
His existing tenure was scheduled to end on September 19, 2026.
He will continue until August 4, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Varshney became a SEBI WTM in September 2023 after serving in the Department of Revenue.
He is a 1990-batch Indian Revenue Service officer.
His responsibilities include corporate finance, investigation, integrated surveillance and legal affairs.
Key Fact: His new tenure runs until August 4, 2029, subject to earlier orders.

New UPI Framework Keeps Most Digital Payments Free For Users

The new UPI framework keeps all person-to-person transactions free regardless of the amount transferred.
Merchant payments up to ₹2,000 will continue with zero Merchant Discount Rate.
Specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000 will attract an MDR of 0.4%.
MDR will be capped at ₹300 for transactions of ₹75,000 or more.
Essential sectors such as railways, telecommunications, insurance, fuel and agricultural inputs will face a flat ₹5 MDR above ₹2,000.
About 96% of merchant transactions are expected to remain unaffected.
Key Fact: P2P UPI transactions will remain free irrespective of transaction value.

Economy News

India’s Labour Force Participation Rate Rises To 55.6% In August

India’s Labour Force Participation Rate for people aged 15 years and above rose to 55.6% in August 2026.
The LFPR increased from 55.4% in July, according to the PLFS Monthly Bulletin.
Rural LFPR rose to 58.2%, while urban LFPR remained at 50.4%.
Female LFPR increased to 34.8%, with rural female participation reaching 39.4%.
The Worker Population Ratio increased to 52.8% from 52.5% in July.
Overall unemployment declined from 5.1% to 5.0%, while rural unemployment fell to 4.1%.
Key Fact: India’s August 2026 LFPR stood at 55.6%.

India’s Exports Rise 26.12% In August, Trade Deficit Narrows

India’s merchandise exports increased 26.12% year-on-year to $43.81 billion in August 2026.
The growth marked the strongest export expansion in more than four years.
Merchandise imports rose 14.1% to $70.76 billion during the month.
The trade deficit narrowed to $26.86 billion, a five-month low.
Gold imports fell 57.7% to $2.3 billion from $5.4 billion a year earlier.
During April-August 2026-27, exports rose 17.85% to $215.91 billion.
Key Fact: August 2026 merchandise exports reached $43.81 billion.

Awards News

Vasundhara Doraswamy To Receive Excellence Award For Dance

Renowned Bharatanatyam exponent, choreographer and scholar Dr Vasundhara Doraswamy will receive the Excellence Award 2026.
The Padmabhushan Guru Dr Saroja Vaidyanathan Excellence Award will be presented by Nataraj Music & Dance Academy.
The honour will be given during the Vysakhi Nrithyotsav Indian Dance Festival in Visakhapatnam.
The festival is scheduled for September 26 and 27.
Doraswamy has spent more than five decades performing, teaching and researching Bharatanatyam.
Her notable choreographies include Panchali, Ganga Lahari and Sama Veda.
Key Fact: Doraswamy has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Shantala Award.

Defense News

Bharat Forge And Pratt & Whitney Evaluate Engines For DRDO UAV

Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada announced a collaboration on September 15, 2026.
The companies will evaluate advanced turboprop engines for a DRDO High-Altitude, Long-Endurance UAV.
The partnership will assess engine compatibility, performance and installation requirements.
Bharat Forge will lead engine-airframe integration and related installation design.
Pratt & Whitney Canada will evaluate the suitability of its turboprop engines.
HALE UAVs support missions such as surveillance, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.
Key Fact: HALE stands for High-Altitude, Long-Endurance.

Sanjukta Parashar Becomes First Woman To Lead CRPF CoBRA

Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch IPS officer, became the first woman to lead the CRPF’s CoBRA unit.
CoBRA stands for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action and specialises in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency.
Parashar belongs to the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
She previously headed the CID wing of Assam Police and served with the National Investigation Agency.
She gained recognition for operations against the NDFB while serving as Sonitpur SP in 2013–14.
CoBRA personnel conduct operations in forest areas, particularly in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Key Fact: Sanjukta Parashar is a 2006-batch IPS officer.

MDL Joins Maharashtra Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited signed an MoU with NSHIPML to participate as the Anchor Shipyard.
The proposed Greenfield Shipbuilding Industrial Cluster will be established at Dighi in Maharashtra.
The project targets annual shipbuilding capacity of at least 1.2 million Gross Tonnage.
Estimated investment in the cluster is around ₹15,000 crore.
The initiative aims to develop an integrated maritime ecosystem involving MSMEs, ancillary industries and technology partners.
It will expand MDL’s activities beyond warships and submarines into commercial shipbuilding.
Key Fact: The cluster targets at least 1.2 million GT annual capacity.

GRSE Lays Keels For Two Coastal Research Vessels

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers laid the keels for two Coastal Research Vessels for the Geological Survey of India.
Each vessel will be 64 metres long and 13 metres wide.
The vessels will operate within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone for geological and marine research.
Their missions will include geological mapping, mineral exploration, dredging and ocean environment monitoring.
Each vessel will have about 461 tonnes deadweight, 15-day endurance and a maximum speed of 10 knots.
They will feature scientific laboratories, Dynamic Positioning-1 systems and diesel-electric propulsion.
Key Fact: The vessels can conduct research at depths from 5 to 1,000 metres.

Yudh Abhyas 2026 Begins With India And US Armies In Uttarakhand

The 22nd edition of India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 began on September 15, 2026.
The opening ceremony was held at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand.
The exercise is being conducted simultaneously at Auli and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
A total of 600 personnel from each country are participating.
The drill focuses on interoperability and coordinated operations in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain.
Training includes Integrated Battle Groups, drones, autonomous systems, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Key Fact: Yudh Abhyas 2026 is the 22nd edition of the exercise.

Schemes News

PM Vishwakarma Completes Three Years With 30 Lakh Registrations

The PM Vishwakarma Scheme completed three years on September 17, 2026.
Around 30 lakh traditional artisans and craftspeople registered after completing the three-stage verification process.
Launched on September 17, 2023, the scheme covers artisans across 18 traditional trades.
Around 24.50 lakh beneficiaries have received basic skill training.
About 6.18 lakh Vishwakarmas have received loans worth ₹5,297 crore at a concessional 5% annual interest rate.
The scheme has delivered 18.15 lakh modern toolkits through India Post.
Key Fact: PM Vishwakarma covers 18 traditional trades.

Sports News

Brendan Taylor Breaks Tendulkar’s Record For Longest ODI Career

Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Brendan Taylor surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to record the longest ODI career in men’s cricket.
Taylor’s career has spanned 22 years and 148 days, compared with Tendulkar’s 22 years and 91 days.
He achieved the milestone during Zimbabwe’s ODI against Australia in Harare on September 15, 2026.
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya ranks third with 21 years and 184 days.
Tendulkar continues to hold the ODI records for most runs and appearances.
Taylor has scored 6,704 ODI runs, including 11 centuries, since his debut in April 2004.
Key Fact: Brendan Taylor’s ODI career spans 22 years and 148 days.

Important Days News

World Ozone Day 2026 Highlights Sustainable Cooling And Climate Action

World Ozone Day is observed annually on September 16 to promote awareness about protecting the ozone layer.
The 2026 observance marks 10 years since the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
The theme is “Global Action for a Cooler Planet – Celebrating 10 Years of Sustainable Cooling under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.”
The Kigali Amendment focuses on reducing hydrofluorocarbons, which are powerful greenhouse gases.
It also promotes energy-efficient cooling technologies and entered into force in 2019.
The Vienna Convention was adopted in 1985, followed by the Montreal Protocol in 1987.
Key Fact: World Ozone Day is observed on September 16 every year.