Daily Current Affairs - 17-09-2026

National News

Census Town Definition Termed Outdated by Housing Ministry

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs, chaired by TDP MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, that the existing Census Town criteria introduced in 1981 need revision. As per the 2011 Census, 68.8% (83.3 crore) of India’s population lived in rural areas and 31.2% (37.7 crore) in urban areas, while the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) estimated using satellite data that India’s urbanisation could have reached 63% in 2015. A Census Town is a village with a minimum population of 5,000, at least 75% of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural activities, and a population density of at least 400 persons per sq. km. The Ministry identified limitations including the exclusion of female workforce participation, uniform national thresholds that may disadvantage hilly and northeastern States, density calculations based on administrative boundaries, and the exclusion of peri-urban settlements and growth corridors. It proposed greater use of satellite imagery and a “transitional areas” category for rapidly urbanising regions. The Registrar-General of India (RGI) decided to continue with the 1981 framework for Census 2027, citing the need to finalise enumeration blocks, boundaries, training and field deployment in advance.

Economy News

EPFO Wage Ceiling Raised to ₹25,000

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has increased the monthly wage ceiling to ₹25,000. The estimated annual government expenditure under the revised ceiling is about ₹11,339 crore, compared with the existing annual budgetary support of about ₹10,250 crore. The contributions of employees and employers towards the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) will increase according to the new wage ceiling. A government survey found that the average salary in private establishments is about ₹23,000 per month. The expansion of EPFO coverage will extend benefits such as pension, death insurance and interest on savings to more workers. The wage ceiling was last increased in 2014.

FCNR(B) Deposits Support India’s BoP in July 2026

Foreign Currency Non-Resident Bank (FCNR(B)) deposits held by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) rose to $33.5 billion in July 2026, supporting India’s Balance of Payments (BoP). The capital account surplus increased from $3.5 billion in July 2025 to $27.7 billion in July 2026, mainly due to dollar-denominated NRI bank deposits. Without the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) special deposit scheme, monthly NRI deposits would have remained around $1 billion, and along with a $15 billion outflow in other bank capital, the capital account would have recorded a $4.8 billion deficit. Combined with a $7 billion current account deficit, India would have faced an overall BoP deficit of $11.8 billion. The RBI special deposit scheme attracted a total of $127 billion in NRI deposits, with more than 26% of the inflows recorded in July 2026, contributing to an overall BoP surplus of $20.8 billion during the month. FCNR(B) and External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) were major sources of capital inflows during this period.

UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) from October 2026

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that from 15 October 2026, a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) of 0.4% will apply to UPI payments of ₹2,000 or more made to mid-sized and large merchants, covering about 2.5% of UPI transactions by volume. Person-to-Person (P2P) transactions and merchant payments up to ₹2,000 will remain free of MDR, while small merchants, including street vendors receiving up to ₹1 lakh per month through UPI QR codes under the Person-to-Person-Merchant (P2PM) category, will also be exempt. Transactions of ₹2,000 or more in essential and low-margin sectors such as railways, telecommunications, insurance, fuel and agricultural inputs will attract a flat ₹5 MDR per transaction, while specified capital market transactions involving mutual funds, stockbrokers, dealers and equities will attract 0.02% MDR, capped at ₹300 per transaction. Transactions subject to MDR account for about 20% of the total value of UPI transactions, with potential revenue estimated at a maximum of ₹2,400 crore per month based on August 2026 trends. The largest share of MDR is allocated to the customer’s bank, followed by the merchant’s bank, UPI applications and other payment processors. Among UPI applications, PhonePe and Google Pay together accounted for nearly 80% of transaction volume in August 2026.

RBI Absorbs ₹2.9 Lakh Crore Through VRRR Auctions

On September 16, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) absorbed nearly ₹2.9 lakh crore from the banking system through overnight Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auctions to reduce excess liquidity. In the first auction, the RBI targeted ₹2,50,025 crore and received bids worth ₹3,17,088 crore, accepting ₹2.5 lakh crore at a 5.4% cut-off and weighted average rate. In the second auction, the RBI set a target of ₹1 lakh crore, but received bids worth only ₹40,302 crore.

MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 and State Taxation Powers

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 includes Section 9D, which restricts State Governments from imposing taxes, cesses or other levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, except as permitted under conditions prescribed by the Central Government. The constitutional framework provides States with the power to tax mineral rights under Entry 50 of the State List and lands and buildings under Entry 49 of the State List, subject to applicable constitutional limitations. In 2024, a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in Mineral Area Development Authority v. Steel Authority of India held that royalty on minerals is not a tax and recognised the States’ legislative power to tax mineral rights, including the taxation of mineral-bearing land under their land-taxing power. The NITI Aayog Fiscal Health Index has highlighted the revenue mobilisation performance of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, where mining receipts are significant sources of State revenue. Major mineral-producing States include Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, which possess substantial reserves of coal, iron ore and other minerals.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration and Local Currency Trade

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration addressed the promotion of local currency trade among BRICS member countries. According to the Commerce Ministry, India’s rupee trade with BRICS partners remained limited, with UAE and Russia participating in such transactions. India has been using the UAE dirham for payments for Russian oil. China accounts for about two-thirds of BRICS exports, making the Chinese yuan a major currency in BRICS local currency trade. The article also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened 100% tariffs on countries adopting a BRICS currency, while Iran and Russia have sought to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar.

Science and Technology News

E20 Fuel Programme in India

E20 petrol contains 80% motor gasoline and 20% anhydrous ethanol. India introduced E20 fuel on February 6, 2023, through public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) at selected outlets. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that E20 can reduce fuel economy by 2% to 6%, depending on vehicle category and age. A study by The Reporters Collective, authored by Ayushi Kar, estimated an additional consumer expenditure of ₹88,234 crore over three years due to mileage loss. Ethanol has lower energy content per litre than gasoline, requiring more fuel to cover the same distance, and a mileage loss above 4% can result in higher overall carbon emissions. The diversion of sugarcane and maize for ethanol production has implications for food security and agricultural exports; India imposed restrictions on sugar exports in 2023 and became a net importer of maize in the following year. Policy measures discussed in the context of E20 include countercyclical indirect taxation, continued availability of E10 and E20 fuel options, and expansion of public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure.

Environment News

Pygmy Hog Conservation and Grassland Restoration

The Pygmy hog (Porcula) is the only surviving species of the genus Porcula and the world’s smallest wild suid. Its conservation is linked to the protection of alluvial floodplain grasslands, which also support threatened species such as the Bengal florican, hispid hare, hog deer, and greater one-horned rhinoceros. The Assam Government’s captive breeding programme has increased the pygmy hog population in the State by 32 times over three decades. The species was considered extinct by the mid-20th century due to the conversion and degradation of floodplain grasslands, but a few individuals were rediscovered in 1971. Formal conservation efforts began through the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme in 1995. According to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, around 250 pygmy hogs existed in early 2025, with the last surviving natural population found in the Panbari grasslands of Manas National Park, Assam. The conservation target is to increase the wild pygmy hog population to 300 by 2040, along with restoration of fragmented grasslands in Rupahi and Kanchanbari and buffer zones around Manas National Park, Orang National Park, and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Reports and Indices

India Ranks 131st in Global Gender Gap Index 2026

The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the Global Gender Gap Index 2026, in which India ranked 131st, retaining the same position as the previous year. Iceland, Finland and Norway secured the first, second and third positions, respectively. India’s progress towards gender parity stood at 64.5%, which was below the global average, although its overall score improved slightly from the previous year. 14 countries were ranked below India, including Papua New Guinea, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Mali, Algeria and Congo. Chad ranked lowest, while Iran and Pakistan joined Chad among the bottom three countries.

Thirukkural to be Published in 30 More Languages

The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), located at Perumbakkam, Chennai, has announced plans to publish Thirukkural translations in 30 more languages, including tribal languages. R. Chandrasekaran, Director of CICT, made the announcement during a seven-day national seminar on “Thirukkural Translations in Hindi”. The institute has already translated and published Thirukkural in 25 Indian languages, including Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati, Telugu, Punjabi, Manipuri and Malayalam. The translation initiative focuses on making the concepts of Aram (Virtue), Porul (Wealth) and Inbam (Love) accessible to speakers of different languages.

India’s Unemployment Rate Falls to 5% in August

India’s overall unemployment rate declined to 5% in August, from 5.1% in July and 5.1% in August of the previous year. Rural unemployment fell from 4.5% in July to 4.1% in August, the lowest level recorded since January, while urban unemployment remained nearly stable at 6.8%, compared with 6.7% in July. Among persons aged 15 years and above, male unemployment declined for the third consecutive month to 4.9%, while female unemployment fell from 5.9% in June to 5.1% in August, with rural female unemployment declining from 4.3% to 3.9%. The national Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased from 55.4% to 55.6%, with rural LFPR rising from 58% to 58.2%, urban LFPR remaining at 50.4%, and female LFPR increasing from 34.4% to 34.8%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) rose from 52.5% to 52.8%, with rural WPR increasing from 55.4% to 55.8%, while urban WPR remained at 47%. LFPR includes employed persons and those actively seeking work, whereas WPR measures persons currently employed. The monthly estimates were based on direct field survey data collected from 3.7 lakh people across India.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 for Anant Nag

Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024, becoming the second artist from Karnataka to receive the honour after Dr. Rajkumar, who received it in 1995; Karnataka-born cinematographer V.K. Murthy received the award in 2008 for his contribution to Hindi cinema. Anant Nag, born as Anant Nagarkatte in 1948 in Uttara Kannada district, made his film debut with the 1973 Kannada film Sankalpa and has acted in more than 300 films over a career spanning more than five decades, including over 250 Kannada films. He has received five Karnataka State Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2024. The Government of India, on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, announced the honour, which will be presented at the 72nd National Film Awards Ceremony on September 22, 2026, at Kevadia, Gujarat.

Sports News

Chess Olympiad 2026: India Begins with Victories

The 46th Chess Olympiad began on September 16, 2026, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with 208 teams in the Open section and 191 teams in the Women’s section. Defending champions India’s Open and Women’s teams won their first-round matches against Thailand and the Dominican Republic, respectively. In the Open section, India defeated Thailand 3.5–0.5, with D. Gukesh, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi securing victories, while Aravindh Chithambaram lost his game. In the Women’s section, India defeated the Dominican Republic 4–0, with victories for R. Vaishali, Savitha Shri, Koneru Humpy and Vantika Agrawal. In other Open-section matches, Uzbekistan defeated Jamaica 4–0, the United States defeated Iraq 3.5–0.5, and China defeated Ukraine 4–0; in the Women’s section, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, Kazakhstan and China recorded 4–0 victories against Trinidad & Tobago, Georgia, Botswana and Zambia, respectively.

Tamil Nadu News

Breakfast Scheme Extended to Classes 6–8 in Tamil Nadu

The Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu, initially launched for students of Classes 1–5 in government schools on September 15, 2022, was later extended to government-aided schools and currently benefits 19.34 lakh students in 37,447 government and government-aided schools. The scheme has been named after former Chief Minister Kamarajar and has now been extended to students of Classes 6–8. The extended scheme will be launched on September 22, 2026, by Chief Minister Vijay, and will be implemented across all districts of Tamil Nadu. A total of 15,30,141 students studying in 15,910 government and government-aided schools will benefit from the extension. Social Welfare Department Secretary Pallavi Baskar communicated the arrangements related to the implementation of the scheme.

Body-Worn Cameras for Tamil Nadu Armed Reserve Police

The Tamil Nadu Armed Reserve Police is implementing a scheme to equip personnel with Body-Worn Cameras for monitoring prisoners during escort duties across the State in a phased manner. The Armed Reserve has 14,277 personnel and is responsible for prisoner escort, court escort, protection of important persons, disaster relief operations, temple festival security, handling protests, and election duties. The Body-Worn Camera scheme was initially trialled in Coimbatore, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai and is now being extended across Tamil Nadu. The cameras are equipped with 4G internet connectivity to enable monitoring from the Armed Reserve Control Roo