23 September 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF

Today’s Highlight: India’s Index of Core Industries grew 4.8% year-on-year in August 2026, with cement, electricity and iron ore leading the gains, a key macroeconomic indicator for Banking and SSC aspirants tracking industrial output trends.

News in One Liner – 23 September 2026

PIB News

India’s Core Industries Output Grows 4.8% in August 2026

India’s Index of Core Industries recorded 4.8% year-on-year growth in August 2026, with cement, electricity and iron ore leading the gains. Five of the eight core sectors expanded while coal, natural gas, crude oil and fertilizers declined. July 2026’s growth rate was revised down to 5.0% from an earlier estimate of 5.4%.

MoD Signs ₹586 Crore Deal for T-72/T-90 Tank Power Units

The Ministry of Defence signed a rupees 586 crore contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited to supply indigenous Auxiliary Power Units for T-72 and T-90 tanks. APUs independently power fire control, gun stabilization and firing systems without running the tank’s main engine. The deal was processed under the industry-funded Make-II route to boost indigenous defence manufacturing.

Health Ministry Launches 7th National Formulary of India 2026

Union Minister Anupriya Patel launched the 7th Edition of the National Formulary of India 2026, containing 653 drug monographs across 34 chapters. The government also approved the Biovigilance Programme of India to monitor adverse events from organ and tissue transplants, and launched the ADR-PvPI 2.0 app. India has climbed from 123rd to 8th position globally in the WHO’s patient safety database.

India Wins Silver in Women’s 10m Air Rifle Team Event at Asian Games

Indian shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar, Elavenil Valarivan and Vidarsa K. Vinod won the Silver medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle team event at the Asian Games 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the trio for their teamwork. Elavenil Valarivan is a former world number one in the discipline and an Arjuna Award recipient.

13th India-Sri Lanka Maritime Exercise SLINEX-26 Begins at Visakhapatnam

The 13th edition of the India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-26 began at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, running from 17 to 21 September 2026. India is represented by INS Kavaratti and INS Jyoti, while Sri Lanka deployed SLNS Sindurala. The exercise aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR regional maritime security framework.

PM Distributes Over 51,000 Appointment Letters at 20th Rozgar Mela

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed out more than 51,000 appointment letters at the 20th Rozgar Mela via video conference. He highlighted the PM-SETU scheme, which is modernizing 1,000 government ITIs with a rupees 60,000 crore outlay, and the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, a rupees 1 lakh crore scheme targeting formal employment for 2 crore youth.

PM Modi Inaugurates NGT’s International Conference on Environment and Climate

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the National Green Tribunal’s two-day international conference on the future of environment and climate dynamics in New Delhi, and launched the NGT Mobile Application. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said non-fossil sources now supply 54.18% of India’s installed electricity capacity, beating the COP26 target nine years early.

Biometric Aadhaar Authentication Mandatory for Subsidised LPG from October 1

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has made Biometric Aadhaar Authentication mandatory from 1 October 2026 for domestic LPG consumers seeking subsidised refills. The move aims to curb misuse and fake connections; over 27.43 crore consumers, or 89.9% of the base, have already completed verification. Those who opt out can still buy non-subsidised cylinders at market price.

Keel Laid for Navy’s First Next Generation Missile Vessel at Cochin Shipyard

Cochin Shipyard Limited held the keel-laying ceremony for the lead ship of the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel project in Kochi. Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu attended as chief guest. The construction contract was signed with CSL in March 2023, and the vessels will carry advanced indigenous anti-ship weapons and sensors.

India Only G20 Nation to Meet Paris COP-21 Targets Early: PM

PM Modi said India is the only G20 country to have met its Paris Agreement COP-21 climate commitments ahead of deadline, with per-capita emissions less than half the global average. Rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar has crossed 5 million homes, and EV sales have grown from under 3,000 units before 2014 to nearly 2.5 million units in the past year.

Government Doubles Sugar Stockholding Limit for Bulk Industrial Users

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs raised the sugar stockholding limit for large industrial consumers from 15 to 30 days of consumption. Ex-mill sugar prices fell about 10% to rupees 58.50 per kg, and the Fair and Remunerative Price paid to farmers rises to rupees 365 per quintal from 1 October 2026.

Industry News

India-New Zealand FTA to Take Effect on October 20

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will come into force on 20 October 2026, giving 100% duty-free access to Indian exports. New Zealand will invest USD 20 billion in India over 15 years, and the pact targets doubling bilateral trade to NZD 7 billion by 2030.

CBDT Removes Arrest Provisions from Tax Recovery Rules

The Central Board of Direct Taxes notified the Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026, removing personal arrest and detention provisions from tax recovery, retrospectively from 1 April 2026. Recovery will now proceed only through property attachment and asset sales, and registered valuers got an extension until 31 March 2027 to update registrations.

BHEL, Titagarh Rail Systems Form JV for Vande Bharat Sleeper Maintenance

BHEL and Titagarh Rail Systems formed a 50:50 joint venture to maintain 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets over 35 years, part of a rupees 24,000 crore Indian Railways contract. The JV will be incorporated as a private limited company in New Delhi with paid-up capital of rupees 50 lakh.

Financial News

RBI Issues Final Basel III Market Risk Capital Rules for Banks

The RBI issued final directions on minimum capital requirements for market risk under the revised Basel III framework, adopting the Simplified Standardised Approach. The rules take effect from 1 April 2027, giving banks a transition period after the draft was first released in February 2023.

RBI Extends Certified KYC Document Facility to Foreign Portfolio Investors

RBI amended its KYC Master Direction to extend the certified-copy document facility, earlier available only to NRIs and PIOs, to Foreign Portfolio Investors. Attestation can now be done abroad by Indian bank branches, partner foreign banks, notaries, magistrates or Indian embassies.

Finance Ministry Reviews Plans Ahead of Proposed 3-Day Bank Strike

The Department of Financial Services met heads of Public Sector Banks, RRBs, IBA and NABARD to plan for a three-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions from September 28-30, demanding a five-day work week. Combined with the preceding weekend, the strike could disrupt banking for five straight days during the half-yearly closing.

National & State News

Cheetah ‘Radha’ Released at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav released three-year-old female cheetah ‘Radha’ into Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, taking the sanctuary’s cheetah count to four. India’s total cheetah population now stands at 56 – 52 at Kuno National Park and four at Gandhi Sagar – as Project Cheetah expands to a second site.

World News

India, Canada to Launch Fifth Round of CEPA Talks on October 5

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced the fifth round of India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement talks will begin on October 5, after the fourth round concluded in Mumbai. Both sides aim to finalize the deal by end-2026; bilateral trade stood at about USD 8 billion in FY 2025-26.

Defence News

India Flight-Tests Indigenous Long-Range Attack Drone ‘KAL’

India’s first indigenous long-range attack drone, ‘KAL’, developed by IG Defence, was successfully flight-tested from a vehicle-mounted launcher at Pokhran. It has a strike range of 1,000 km, 7-8 hours of endurance, a 50 kg payload capacity, and can operate up to 5,000 metres altitude.

Indian Army to Set Up Six ‘AASHVAST’ Cybersecurity Labs

The Indian Army’s DG EME is establishing six ‘AASHVAST’ labs to test electronic systems, drones and CCTV cameras for hardware and firmware vulnerabilities, developed with QuickPay Pvt Ltd. The labs will screen for foreign-origin components, hidden backdoors and embedded passwords before military deployment.

IAF, JASDF Chiefs Fly Joint LCA Tejas Sortie in Veer Guardian 2026

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and JASDF Chief General Takehiro Morita flew a joint formation sortie in India’s LCA Tejas at Jodhpur during Exercise Veer Guardian 2026. It marked the first time Japanese F-2A jets operated from Indian soil, boosting Indo-Pacific interoperability.

Science & Technology

NPCIL Begins Fuel Loading at Rajasthan Atomic Power Unit 8

NPCIL commenced Initial Fuel Loading at Unit 8 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project in Rawatbhata after AERB clearance. RAPP-8 is a 700 MWe indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor, the fourth in India’s series of 16 planned 700 MWe PHWRs, and will next move toward first criticality.

Ranking and Reports

India’s Software and ITES Exports Grow 8.2% to $221.4 Billion

RBI’s latest survey shows India’s computer software and ITES exports grew 8.2% year-on-year to $221.4 billion in FY 2025-26. Including foreign affiliate sales, total exports reached $239.3 billion, with the US and UK remaining the top destinations.

India’s Exports to Core BRICS Nations Jump 34% to $19.9 Billion

India’s exports to founding BRICS members – China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa – rose 34% year-on-year to $19.9 billion between April and August, driven by a 39% jump in shipments to China worth $9.8 billion. Exports also grew strongly to Japan, Italy and South Korea.

Sports News

20th Asian Games Open in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan

The 20th Asian Games officially opened at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India’s 501-member contingent was led by joint flag-bearers Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat, and Teqball made its debut as a medal sport.

India’s Men Beat Spain 3-1 at Chess Olympiad in Samarkand

India’s men’s chess team beat Spain 3-1 at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with World Champion D. Gukesh winning on top board against Alexei Shirov. The Indian women’s team also won 3-1 against Mongolia, led by B. Savitha Shri’s fourth straight win.

India Wins Silver in Men’s 10m Air Rifle Team Event

Indian shooters Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Divyansh Singh Panwar won Silver in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle team event at the Asian Games. President Droupadi Murmu and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the trio.

India Sweeps Medals Across 10m Air Rifle Events at Asian Games

India’s Himanshu Dhillon, Parth Mane and Rudrankksh Patil won Silver in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle Team event with a score of 1,890.1, behind China. Dhillon also took individual Silver and Patil individual Bronze, while the Women’s team of Elavenil Valarivan, Vidarsa Vinod and Sonam Maskar won Silver, and Suchika Tariyal won Bronze in Mixed Martial Arts.

Important Days

UN Observes International Day of Peace 2026 on September 21

The United Nations marked the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2026, under the theme ‘Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted grassroots ‘everyday architects of peace’ driving local stability.

Summits & Conferences

Jaishankar to Lead India at 81st UNGA High-Level Week

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will lead India’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York and address the assembly on September 26. This year’s UNGA theme is ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.’