Daily Current Affairs - 16-09-2026

National News

Indian Languages and Rajbhasha Sammelan

The 6th All India Rajbhasha Sammelan was held at Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, on September 14, 2026. Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the event. The Central Government aims to promote Indian languages as languages of governance and science and to enrich them through education. Under the National Education Policy (NEP), learning through the mother tongue and learning an additional language are emphasized. Hindi is described as a link among Indian languages, while Marathi was granted Classical Language status by the Government of India. Vande Mataram is the National Song of India and is associated with the Indian freedom movement and cultural heritage. Hindi Diwas was observed on September 14, highlighting India’s linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.

Release of Nehru’s ‘Ulaga Sarithiram’ and Pre-booking of Indira Gandhi Photographic History

The Tamil translation of ‘Ulaga Sarithiram’, a compilation of letters written from prison by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was released at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, Royapettah, Chennai, the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Congress. The English work was translated into Tamil by former Union Minister O.V. Alagesan. During the same event, the pre-booking scheme for ‘Indira Gandhi’s Rare Photographic History’, edited and written by A. Gopanna, Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Congress, was launched; the book is scheduled for release on November 19. Manickam Tagore, President of the Tamil Nadu Congress, released the Tamil translation of ‘Ulaga Sarithiram’, which was received by Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister R. Rajendran, and also launched the pre-booking scheme for the Indira Gandhi book.

NCERT Textbook Development Committees

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) constituted two committees on September 8, 2026 to develop Economics and English Language and Literature textbooks for Classes 11 and 12. The 17-member English Language and Literature Textbooks Committee includes Saket Bahuguna, Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the Central Institute of Hindi, Delhi, and is headed by N. Nagaraju, Vice-Chancellor of the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. The 14-member Economics Textbooks Committee is headed by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC), while Shamika Ravi, another PM-EAC member, is also part of the committee. The committees have been directed to incorporate equity and inclusion, age-appropriate pedagogy, value education, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Indian Knowledge Systems, and environmental education as cross-cutting themes in the new textbooks.

Science and Technology News

Advanced Endoscopic Fusion Surgery for Spinal Disorders

On September 14, 2026, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, introduced Endoscopic Fusion surgery for the first time to treat selected spinal disorders. The minimally invasive technique reduces tissue damage, blood loss and post-operative pain and can support faster recovery compared with conventional open surgery. It is used for degenerative lumbar spine conditions, including spinal disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and certain early-stage spinal instability, as well as spinal disc herniation and nerve compression. The procedure may help preserve the spine’s natural stability and reduce the need for extensive fusion in selected cases. Its suitability is determined through assessment of the patient’s physical condition and complete medical examination, while standard surgery may be required for severe spinal deformities. Dr. P. Keerthivasan, Senior Spine and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, is associated with the procedure.

US Space Force and Space-Based Weapons

The United States Space Force was established in 2019 to address space-related security threats. Countries including Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and India also maintain space forces or space-related military organizations. Troy Meink, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, stated that the U.S. Space Force has deployed weapons in space to counter threats. Charles Galbreath, a retired U.S. Space Force Colonel, has been associated with discussions on the use of lasers and jammers to disrupt hostile satellites. China and Russia have expressed opposition to the militarization of space. In 2024, Russia placed two satellites in orbit that were reported to have capabilities affecting satellite communications. Chinese scientists have also developed the TPG 1000s microwave weapon, which is designed for potential deployment on satellites to target other satellites. India, the United States, Russia and China possess missile capabilities for targeting satellites from the ground.

BRICS and Artificial Intelligence Cooperation

The BRICS Summit discussed cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), including the development of open-source AI and collaborative approaches among member countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted concerns related to the weaponisation of technology and minerals, while Chinese President Xi Jinping supported the concept of a BRICS AI open-source community. India has emphasised keeping AI development separate from national rivalries and has supported wider international cooperation in AI. BRICS initiatives seek to expand cooperation among emerging and middle powers, promote access to AI technologies, and develop defensive capabilities against emerging AI and cybersecurity risks. Open-source and collaborative AI models are also being developed as alternatives to proprietary frontier AI systems, with potential applications in countries where AI development is still at an early stage.

Economy News

UPI Merchant Discount Rate for Commercial Transactions Above ₹2,000

From October 15, 2026, a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) of up to 0.4% will apply to commercial UPI transactions above ₹2,000, as announced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The charge is applicable to merchants, while person-to-person (P2P) UPI transfers and consumer payments made by scanning QR codes remain free. UPI transactions up to ₹2,000, which constitute more than 95% of daily small commercial transactions, will have no MDR. For commercial transactions of ₹75,000 and above, the maximum MDR is capped at ₹300. For utility payments such as railways, telecommunications, petrol pumps, insurance premiums, electricity and water, transactions above ₹2,000 will attract a fixed charge of ₹5 per transaction, while capital market investments will attract 0.02%, subject to a maximum of ₹300. Small merchants and street vendors receiving up to ₹1 lakh per month through UPI are exempt from MDR. A dedicated fund is also proposed to promote UPI transactions in rural areas and small towns. Around ₹20,000 crore annually is estimated to be spent on UPI infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital technology, while MDR on commercial transactions above ₹2,000 is estimated to generate around ₹16,000 crore annually. The Union Ministry of Finance has clarified that no direct or indirect charges can be imposed on RuPay debit card transactions or UPI transactions up to ₹2,000. The measure follows an amendment to Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

FPI Outflows and Rupee Pressure

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) sold Indian equities worth ₹13,138 crore during the first 10 trading sessions of September 2026, equivalent to 44% of their ₹29,631 crore net inflow recorded in August. During the first eight months and 10 days of 2026, cumulative FPI net outflow from the Indian stock market reached ₹2,37,579 crore, marking a record annual outflow so far. FPIs had been net sellers for most of 2026, while July and August 2026 recorded net buying. In the primary market, FPI investment up to September 12, 2026 stood at ₹1,336 crore, taking their total primary-market investment during 2026 to ₹47,183 crore. Continued FPI outflows have also increased pressure on the Indian rupee, prompting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to announce measures to attract dollar-denominated deposits from Non-Resident Indian (NRI) customers of domestic banks. According to CCIL data, the rupee declined for the fifth consecutive trading session to ₹95.88 per US dollar, compared with ₹95.54 in the previous session. The rupee remains sensitive to global macroeconomic factors, including US monetary policy and crude oil prices.

India’s Revised GDP Base Year

India’s GDP base year was revised to 2022-23, incorporating updated data sources and methodological improvements. The revised series reduced India’s estimated nominal GDP by about 2.7% in 2022-23, 3.5% in 2023-24 and 3.8% in 2024-25 compared with the earlier series. India had earlier shifted its GDP base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12. The February 27, 2026 press release on the new GDP series detailed methodological improvements, updated data sources and sector-wise revisions. Agriculture and allied activities were revised upward by about 3.8%-5.9%, while financial services, real estate, professional services and ownership of dwellings were revised upward by about 7.8%-9.0%. In contrast, trade, transport and storage recorded downward revisions of around 23%-26%; Trade GVA was revised downward by 36%, while road transport GVA was revised downward by 16.9% and hotels and restaurants GVA upward by 5.7%. A major factor in the revision was improved measurement of the unincorporated sector, using data from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The World Bank’s April 2026 India Development Update also reported that India’s nominal GDP was revised downward by 3%-4% in each of the four years from FY2022-23, mainly due to reassessment of the informal economy. GDP estimates are updated using data such as GST collections and industrial production, along with quarterly figures.

India’s Merchandise Exports and Trade Deficit

India’s overall exports, including merchandise and services, increased by 25.4% to $82.7 billion in August 2026, while imports increased by 18.7% to $92.1 billion, reducing the total trade deficit from $11.6 billion in August 2025 to $9.4 billion in August 2026. Merchandise exports increased by 26.1%, or $9.07 billion, to $43.8 billion, while merchandise imports increased by 14%, or $8.71 billion, to $70.7 billion. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated that merchandise export growth increased in both value and volume terms, with export growth exceeding import growth in absolute value terms for the first time.

International News

Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz Shipping Concerns

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India was concerned about disruptions in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. The issue was discussed during the meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. More than 2.4 million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia. A Panama-flagged oil tanker, El Gaia, carrying 23 crew members, including 14 Indians, was targeted off the Oman coast and was reportedly believed to have struck an Iranian mine in the Strait of Hormuz; 13 Indian seafarers were among those rescued, while one Indian seafarer remained missing. Omani authorities assisted in the search and rescue operations, while the Indian Embassy in Muscat remained in contact with the authorities. The developments involved the security of commercial shipping and freedom of navigation through important international waterways, particularly the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Strait of Hormuz. During the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also discussed the safety of navigation, commerce and seafarers with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.