Daily Current Affairs Quiz 23rd September, 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs: 23 September 2026

Q1. Indian women defeated which team in the final to win its first-ever gold medal in women’s cricket at the Asian Games 2026?

(a) Afghanistan

(b) Pakistan

(d) Sri Lanka

(e) Nepal

Answer: d

Solution:

India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to win its first-ever gold medal in women’s cricket at the Asian Games 2026.
India posted 216/3 in 20 overs, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 79 runs and Richa Ghosh remaining unbeaten on 49.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 runs in 15.4 overs.

Q2. Smriti Mandhana scripted history by becoming the first cricketer in the world to reach 11,000 international runs in women’s cricket during the Asian Games 2026 final. Whom did she surpass to achieve this record?

(a) Meg Lanning

(b) Suzie Bates

(d) Charlotte Edwards

(e) Ellyse Perry

Answer: c

Solution:

Smriti Mandhana became the first cricketer in the world to score 11,000 runs in women’s international cricket.
She achieved the milestone during the Asian Games 2026 final against Sri Lanka.
Mandhana surpassed the previous record held by former Indian captain Mithali Raj, who had scored 10,868 runs.

Q3. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads in New Delhi on 22 September 2026. What is the official theme of this conference?

(a) Nasha Mukt Bharat: Shared Vision

(b) United Resolve, Shared Responsibility

(d) Strengthening Law Enforcement & Youth Protection

(e) Narcotics Free India 2047

Answer: b

Solution:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads of States and Union Territories in New Delhi on 22 September 2026.
The two-day conference is being organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Heads of ANTFs from 36 States and Union Territories are participating.
Theme: “United Resolve, Shared Responsibility.”
The conference focuses on the progress of targets assigned to State and UT ANTFs under the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–29).

Q4. According to the provisional estimates released for August 2026, the Index of Core Industries (ICI) registered a year-on-year growth rate of 4.8 per cent. Which of the following sectors recorded a negative growth rate during August 2026?

(a) Cement

(b) Steel

(d) Iron Ore

(e) Electricity

Answer: c

Solution:

The Index of Core Industries (ICI) grew by 4.8% year-on-year in August 2026, according to provisional estimates.

This was slightly lower than the 5.0% growth recorded in July 2026.

Cement (12.5%), Electricity (11.6%), Iron Ore (5.5%), Steel (3.4%) and Refinery Products (2.6%) recorded positive growth.

Coal, Natural Gas, Crude Oil and Fertilizers recorded negative growth.

Iron Ore, Electricity and Cement were major contributors to overall ICI growth.

The cumulative growth of the ICI during April–August 2026 stood at 4.3%, compared with 2.4% during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Q5. The 18th edition of the annual Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT (September 21 – October 03, 2026) is being conducted between India and which country at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand?

(a) Kazakhstan

(b) Mongolia

(d) Uzbekistan

(e) Tajikistan

Answer: b

Solution:

The 18th edition of India–Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
The exercise is being conducted from 21 September to 3 October 2026.
It is an annual platoon-level exercise conducted alternately between India and Mongolia.
The Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are participating with 45 personnel each.
The exercise aims to enhance joint capabilities for counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate.
The previous edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May–June 2025.

Q6. The 9th edition of India’s flagship water event (organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from 22–26 September 2026) was rebranded as India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026. What was the central theme for the 2026 event?

(a) Water Security for Sustainable Growth

(b) Valuing Water: Global Perspectives

(d) Integrated Water Resources Management

(e) Clean Water, Healthy Ecosystems

Answer: c

Solution:

Vice President P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 in New Delhi on 22 September 2026.
The event is being organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from 22–26 September 2026.
Theme: “Climate Resilient Water Management.”
The event provides a multidisciplinary platform for policymakers, water experts, researchers, industry, civil society and young professionals to discuss emerging water challenges.
The event was originally conceptualised in 2012 as India Water Week (IWW).
Eight editions of India Water Week were organised between 2012 and 2024.
It will now be organised as India International Water Week (IIWW).

Q7. World Rhino Day is observed globally on September 22 to raise awareness about the conservation of the five remaining rhinoceros species. In which year was World Rhino Day first announced by WWF-South Africa before expanding into an international observance?

(a) 2008

(b) 2010

(d) 2014

(e) 2016

Answer: b

Solution:

World Rhino Day is observed annually on 22 September to raise awareness about rhinoceros conservation.

Theme 2026: “Keep the Five Alive.”

The theme calls for stronger efforts to protect rhino habitats, prevent poaching and combat the illegal trade in rhino horn.

Around 27,000 rhinos remain in the wild, compared with nearly 5 lakh a century ago.

India and Nepal together are home to nearly 4,000 greater one-horned rhinoceros.

World Rhino Day was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010 and developed into an international observance in 2011.

Q8. India’s first indigenous Long-Range One-Way Attack (OWA) drone successfully completed its flight tests at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in September 2026. What is the name of this drone platform developed by IG Defence?

(a) NAGASTRA

(b) Surya

(d) ABHYAS

(e) KAL

Answer: e

Solution:

India’s first indigenous Long-Range One-Way Attack (OWA) drone, named ‘KAL’, successfully completed flight testing in September 2026.
The trials were conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR), Rajasthan.
The drone was designed and developed by IG Defence, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
The trials validated its airframe, propulsion, avionics, navigation and mission systems.
The drone was launched from a vehicle-mounted platform.

Q9. Until when have the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) extended their bilateral Cooperative Agreement?

(a) 31 December 2030

(b) 8 January 2032

(d) 10 September 2028

(e) 26 January 2030

Answer: b

Solution:

ISRO and the European Space Agency (ESA) have extended their Cooperative Agreement until 8 January 2032.
The extension was formalised through an exchange of letters in Paris on 10 September 2026 during the International Space Summit.
The original agreement came into force in January 2002.
The renewed cooperation covers human and robotic exploration, space weather and sustainable outer-space activities.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher signed the extension documents.

Q10. According to the State of Global Water Resources 2025 report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), approximately what estimated ice mass was lost across major glaciated regions during the 2025 hydrological year?

(a) 150 gigatonnes

(b) 250 gigatonnes

(d) 620 gigatonnes

(e) 800 gigatonnes

Answer: c

Solution:

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of Global Water Resources 2025 report, highlighting persistent changes in global water availability.

42% of the global land area experienced below-normal water storage in 2025.

Global terrestrial water storage has shown a declining trend since 2014–16.

For the fourth consecutive year, all major glaciated regions recorded ice-mass losses.

Global glacier loss during the 2025 hydrological year was estimated at around 408 gigatonnes, equivalent to approximately 1 mm of global sea-level rise.

2025 was among the driest years for global rivers in 35 years, with normal flows recorded across only 36% of global river-basin area.

Persistent groundwater deficits during 2022–25 were reported in parts of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India, southern Africa and Australia.

In India, below-normal terrestrial water storage was recorded in 2025, particularly in the northern region.

The Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Indus recorded above-normal to much-above-normal discharge in 2025.

Despite higher river flows, India continued to experience persistent groundwater deficits during 2022–25, particularly in northwestern India.