The Cabinet's EPFO wage-ceiling hike formally takes effect, NPCI finalises a revised UPI merchant-charge framework, GIFT City climbs nine places in the Global Financial Centres Index, DRDO moves its 30kW anti-drone laser toward production, and India opens its Asian Games campaign in Japan with two shooting silvers on Day 1. Here is the news that matters for competitive exams today.
India – National Affairs
Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 to take effect from 1 October
Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI), has notified that the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Act No. 12 of 2026) will come into force from 1 October 2026, following its passage by Parliament and Presidential assent. The Act amends Section 13(3) of the RBD Act, 1969 (as amended in 2023), to make delayed registration more stringent and streamlined.
Key provisions
- Registration of a birth or death is mandatory at the place of occurrence; the certificate issued serves as legal evidence of the event.
- Births, deaths and stillbirths must generally be reported within 21 days of occurrence.
- Registrations delayed beyond 1 year but within 2 years require approval from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised Executive Magistrate, after verification and payment of a prescribed fee.
- Registrations delayed beyond 2 years require an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), introducing higher judicial scrutiny.
NITI Aayog releases India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025; Delhi tops again
NITI Aayog, in partnership with World Resources Institute (WRI) India, released the 2nd edition of the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI 2025), tracking the progress of 36 States and UTs on e-mobility adoption through calendar year 2025.
Key rankings
- Overall: Delhi retained the top spot with a score of 84 (up from 77 in the previous edition), followed by Maharashtra (78) and Karnataka (73).
- Large States: Maharashtra topped, followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (61).
- Hilly and North-Eastern States: Manipur (46) topped, followed by Tripura (36) and Assam (35).
- UTs and City States: Delhi, Chandigarh and Goa were the top performers.
- Methodology: 16 indicators across three themes – Transport Electrification Progress (50%), Charging Infrastructure Readiness (30%) and EV Research & Innovation Status (20%).
EPFO wage ceiling hike to Rs. 25,000 takes effect from Sewa Divas
The Union Cabinet's approval to raise the EPFO wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month came into effect from 17 September 2026 (Sewa Divas).
- Employees earning between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000 a month, previously outside mandatory coverage, are now brought within the statutory social security framework – extending Provident Fund savings, pension protection under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) and insurance cover under the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI).
- The monthly pension contribution cap under EPS rises to Rs. 2,080, up from Rs. 1,250.
MoPNG issues component-wise guidelines for the GOBARdhan scheme
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued operational guidelines for the GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme to boost India's Compressed Biogas (CBG) sector, covering six components: CBG offtake assurance, pricing framework, capital assistance, pipeline infrastructure, credit guarantee support, and a CBG Ecosystem Challenge Fund.
Key numbers
- Government has assured full offtake of saleable CBG, subject to technical and operational feasibility.
- City Gas Distribution companies face a mandatory CBG purchase obligation: 3% in FY27, rising to 4% in FY28 and 5% from FY29.
- Administered CBG Price set at Rs. 2,110 per MMBTU (about Rs. 98/kg at 95% methane content), fixed until 31 March 2036 unless revised.
- Financial assistance of Rs. 1.25 crore per TPD for new CBG plants, capped at Rs. 30 crore per project.
Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign launched nationwide
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation jointly launched the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 campaign on 17 September at India Gate, New Delhi, with a plantation drive under 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam'.
- Duration: 17 September to 2 October 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti).
- Theme: "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat."
- Five pillars: Transformation of Cleanliness Target Units; Swachh Paathshala – Yuva for Swachhata; SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivir; Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata; Swachhata Se Samriddhi.
- SHS 2025 saw about 18 crore participants nationwide.
NITI Aayog releases 9th Trade Watch Quarterly on metals and ores trade
Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, released the 9th edition of the Trade Watch Quarterly (TWQ), focused on metals and ores, for Q1 FY27 (April–June 2026).
- Global goods trade reached USD 13.7 trillion in H1 CY26, up 12.5% year-on-year; services trade grew 10.5%.
- India's merchandise and services trade rose to USD 506.9 billion in Q1 FY27, up 15.5% y-o-y.
- Merchandise exports grew 16% y-o-y to USD 129.5 billion; imports grew 19.8% to USD 216.1 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 86.6 billion.
Other national headlines
- Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the SPROUT facility (SpeedSeed Phenotyping and Resource Optimization for Unified Trait Analysis) at BRIC-NIPGR, New Delhi, to develop climate-resilient crops, initially focused on chickpea, using SpeedSeed technology that cuts crop cycles to about 40 days.
- The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment extended its MoU with The Art of Living under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to strengthen awareness and prevention of substance abuse.
- NSTFDC and HPCL signed an MoU worth Rs. 16.01 crore to set up smart classrooms and computer labs in 29 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 11 districts of Rajasthan, benefiting over 10,000 Scheduled Tribe students.
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government to develop a Rs. 27,000 crore Greenfield Shipbuilding Industrial Cluster at Dighi, Raigad district, with MDL investing about Rs. 15,000 crore as anchor shipyard for a capacity of 1.2 million GT per annum.
- Obituary: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan died at 78 in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu. He represented Sivaganga in the 13th Lok Sabha (1999–2004) and Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha (2004–2016), and served as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (2013–14).
Daily Current Affairs 21 September 2026 - Download Free PDF Here
Economy & Banking
GFCI 40: GIFT City jumps nine places to 37th; New York retains top spot
The Z/Yen Partners, with the China Development Institute, released the 40th Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 40). India's GIFT City climbed to 37th globally, up nine places from 46th in GFCI 39.
Key facts
- Top rankings: New York (1st), London (2nd), Hong Kong (3rd), Singapore (4th).
- GFCI 40 researched 139 financial centres, of which 117 were included in the main index and 22 as associate centres.
- Assessed using 144 quantitative indicators and nearly 39,531 assessments from 6,147 respondents across five areas: Business Environment, Human Capital, Infrastructure, Financial Sector Development and Reputation.
NPCI finalises revised UPI Merchant Discount Rate framework
The UPI and Services Committee, headed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), released a revised Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework, effective from 15 October 2026.
Framework at a glance
- Below Rs. 2,000: both P2P and P2M UPI transactions remain free for users and merchants.
- P2P transactions: remain completely free at any amount, with no charges on individuals.
- Above Rs. 2,000, select categories (railways, telecom, insurance, fuel): a flat MDR of Rs. 5 per transaction.
- Capital markets (mutual funds, securities, stockbrokers/dealers): MDR of 0.02%, capped at Rs. 300.
- This finalised structure follows the Finance Ministry's earlier notification under Section 10A of the PSS Act, 2007, keeping small-value UPI and RuPay debit transactions charge-free.
NSE enables India's first tokenised corporate bond issuances, worth Rs. 1,000 crore
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) enabled India's first tokenised bond issuances on its Electronic Bidding Platform (NSE EBP) under the SEBI Regulatory Sandbox Framework, 2020, formally launched by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey in Mumbai.
- REC Limited and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) jointly raised Rs. 1,000 crore (Rs. 500 crore each).
- REC's issuance was oversubscribed 7.9 times its base size, accepting Rs. 500 crore at a 7.30% coupon rate.
- The technology uses Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to enable atomic settlement and greater transparency across the securities lifecycle.
Kamlesh Chandra Varshney reappointed SEBI Whole-Time Member
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the reappointment of Kamlesh Chandra Varshney as a Whole-Time Member of SEBI beyond 19 September 2026, until he turns 65 in August 2029.
- A 1990-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, he was earlier India's first Commissioner of Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) and has received the Finance Minister Award for contributions to tax policy.
RBI-Tata Sons and Russia sanctions law: follow-through
Markets continue to track whether Tata Sons will move toward a stock market listing after the RBI's rejection of its Core Investment Company deregistration bid earlier in the week. Separately, Indian exporters and policymakers continue assessing the implications of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, signed into US law on 18 September, which allows tariffs of up to 100% on the largest importers of Russian energy, including India.
Science & Technology
DRDO to select industry partner for 30kW anti-drone laser weapon within six months
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will issue an Expression of Interest within six months to select an industry partner to take its 30kW-class Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) toward its First-of-Production Model (FOPM).
Key details
- The truck-mounted laser system is designed to engage drone swarms, fixed-wing UAVs and surveillance sensors at ranges of up to 5 km.
- Final trials of the system were completed in August 2025, with DRDO stating the technology has been proven.
- Dr B.K. Das, Director General (Electronics and Communication Systems), DRDO, confirmed the industry-selection timeline.
DRDO showcases indigenous platforms at Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo 2026
DRDO displayed a wide range of indigenous defence technologies at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026 Expo, held from 16 to 20 September at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Tshwane, South Africa – Africa's largest aerospace and defence exhibition.
- Systems on display included AEW&C systems, MRMR systems, Wheeled CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicles, PDDS-X and LFVDS sonar systems, Astra Mk 1 and Akash-NG missiles, and Active Protection Systems.
- The showcase supports India's broader push to expand defence exports and its position in global defence markets.
Defence & Security
DRDO hands over 9 tech transfer agreements to 13 industry partners at VIMARSH 2026
Follow-up from the VIMARSH 2026 DRDO–Industry Synergy Meet: DRDO formally handed over 9 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToTs) to 13 manufacturing partners, covering advanced naval, aerospace and missile-related technologies, including the multi-influence ground mine designed to target stealth ships and submarines.
- Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh noted that over 2,300 technology transfers have already been handed to more than 1,100 industries.
- Strategic MoUs were also exchanged with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Laghu Udyog Bharati.
MDL's Rs. 27,000 crore Dighi shipbuilding cluster
Beyond its economic significance, the new Greenfield Shipbuilding Industrial Cluster at Dighi, Maharashtra – anchored by defence PSU Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited – is aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and aims to build an annual shipbuilding capacity of at least 2 million Gross Tonnage, strengthening India's maritime industrial base.
Sports
Asian Games 2026: India open campaign with two shooting silvers on Day 1
India's campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, got off to a strong start on Day 1 (20 September), with the country finishing with two silver medals, a place booked in the women's cricket final, and commanding wins in hockey and badminton.
Day 1 highlights
- Shooting: Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa K. Vinod won silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event (1898.0 points; China gold with 1904.2, Japan bronze). Elavenil then won a second silver in the individual final.
- Cricket (Women): India thrashed Bangladesh, restricting them to 114 all out (15.4 overs) after posting 195/4 (Shafali Verma, 100 not out), to enter the gold medal match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday – a repeat of the final from three years ago.
- Hockey (Men): beat Indonesia 13-1 in their Pool A opener; Dilpreet Singh scored four.
- Hockey (Women): beat Uzbekistan 19-0 to open their campaign, chasing their first Asian Games gold since 1982.
- Badminton: India's women's team beat Kazakhstan 3-0, with straight-games wins from PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma, and later edged Singapore 3-2 in a dramatic tie.
- MMA: Suchika Tariyal reached the semi-finals of the women's traditional 60kg category, assuring India's first-ever MMA medal at the Asian Games.
- India's flagbearers for the Parade of Nations were Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor (subsequently listed with Pawan Sehrawat in some official records).
India's full-scale Day 2 (21 September) schedule
Indian athletes are in action today across hockey, kabaddi, badminton, shooting, swimming, boxing, MMA, table tennis, wushu, soft tennis and sepaktakraw, with shooting and MMA again tipped as the key medal disciplines to watch.
Context
- India's contingent numbers in the region of 500 athletes across 36–37 sports, its 20th consecutive Asian Games appearance since debuting in 1951.
- India's best-ever performance remains the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where it finished fourth overall with 106 medals (28 gold, 38 silver, 40 bronze).
- Teqball made its Asian Games debut this edition; India's Quimcy Dsouza competed in the women's singles on the opening day.
Important Days
World Patient Safety Day 2026 – 17 September (follow-up)
The 2026 theme was "Safe care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)", with the slogan "Safe care for life!", calling for multisectoral, multi-stakeholder action to ensure safe, harm-free care for people living with NCDs. The day was established in 2019 by the 72nd World Health Assembly through Resolution WHA72.6, "Global Action on Patient Safety"; the first observance was on 17 September 2019.
International Equal Pay Day 2026 – 18 September (follow-up)
18 September 2026 marked the 7th observance of International Equal Pay Day. The day originated from a 2019 proposal by Iceland and other members of the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) at the 41st UN Human Rights Council session; the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/74/142 on 18 December 2019, and the day was first observed on 18 September 2020.
Other recent and upcoming observances
- World Bamboo Day – 18 September: declared by the World Bamboo Organization at the 8th World Bamboo Congress, Bangkok, in 2009.
- World Alzheimer's Day – 21 September: observed globally under the auspices of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) to raise awareness of dementia and challenge the stigma around it.
- International Day of Peace – 21 September: established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 (formalised on a fixed date in 2001) to strengthen the ideals of peace through observing 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire.
Quick Revision – One-Liners
- RBD (Amendment) Act, 2026 – in force from 1 October 2026; reporting window 21 days; JMFC order needed for delays beyond 2 years.
- IEMI 2025 topper (overall) – Delhi (score 84), followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka; released by NITI Aayog with WRI India.
- EPFO wage ceiling – now Rs. 25,000/month, effective 17 September 2026 (Sewa Divas); EPS pension contribution cap now Rs. 2,080.
- GOBARdhan CBG purchase obligation for CGD companies – 3% (FY27) → 4% (FY28) → 5% (FY29 onward).
- Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 – 17 September–2 October; theme "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat."
- GFCI 40 – New York ranked 1st; GIFT City climbed to 37th (from 46th).
- Revised UPI MDR framework – effective 15 October 2026; flat Rs. 5 MDR on select categories above Rs. 2,000; P2P always free.
- NSE's first tokenised bond issuers – REC Limited and L&T, Rs. 500 crore each.
- DRDO's anti-drone laser weapon capability – 30kW, range up to 5 km; industry partner selection within six months.
- DRDO LAToTs handed over at VIMARSH 2026 – 9 agreements to 13 partners; over 2,300 technology transfers to date.
- Asian Games 2026 Day 1 India medal tally – 2 silver (women's 10m air rifle team and individual, Elavenil Valarivan).
- India's first assured Asian Games MMA medal – Suchika Tariyal (women's 60kg).
- India women's cricket at Asian Games 2026 – through to the gold medal match vs Sri Lanka.
- World Patient Safety Day 2026 theme – "Safe care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)."
- World Alzheimer's Day and International Day of Peace – both 21 September.
