INTERNATIONAL NEWS

18th BRICS Summit 2026

• India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12–13 September 2026.

• The theme of the summit was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, representing B-R-I-C-S.

• The summit marked India’s fourth BRICS Chairship and the 20th anniversary of BRICS.

• The summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, covering global governance, trade, economy, technology, AI and security.

• BRICS called for reforms in the UN Security Council, IMF and World Bank to provide greater representation to the Global South.

• The summit emphasised resilient supply chains, local-currency trade settlements and opposition to unilateral coercive tariffs.

• BRICS supported responsible AI governance, ethical regulation and cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), while also stressing zero tolerance for terrorism and terror financing.

• BRICS has 11 full members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE; China will hold the BRICS Chairship and host the 19th Summit in 2027.

US Russia Sanctions Bill 2026

• Bill: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act — a US sanctions proposal concerning Russia and Iran.

• Senate: The original bill was passed by the US Senate in August 2026 by 86–11 votes.

• India Named: A House amendment specifically names India among countries that could face proposed 100% duties on trade in Russian oil.

• 10 Countries: The amendment names China, India, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovak Republic, UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic.

• Amendment: Congressman Steny Hoyer moved the amendment naming these countries; it was made public by the House Rules Committee on 14 September 2026.

• Section 113: Congressman Gregory Meeks proposed deleting Section 113, which would provide presidential authority to impose broad secondary tariffs on Russia’s trading partners.

• Secondary Sanctions: The proposed measure targets third countries continuing trade with Russia, particularly Russian oil purchasers.

• Status: The proposal had not yet become US law; it still had to go through the US legislative process before presidential action.

Exercise Eager Lion 2026

• Exercise Eager Lion 2026 began on 15 September 2026 at Fort Carson, Colorado, and will continue for two weeks.

• It is conducted by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Jordanian Armed Forces, involving 200+ military personnel from both countries.

• Eager Lion is a biennial US–Jordan military exercise, with 2026 marking its 12th edition and the first time the US is hosting it.

• The exercise covers counterterrorism, air defence, maritime security, cyber operations and disaster response.

• The Colorado–Jordan State Partnership Program was established in 2004 to strengthen long-term military cooperation.

• Personnel from the Colorado National Guard and Illinois National Guard are participating in the 2026 exercise.

• Admiral Brad Cooper is the Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

• The exercise focuses on enhancing joint readiness, coordination and operational effectiveness between the United States and Jordan.

STATE NEWS

World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026

• WCEF 2026 was inaugurated on 15 September 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking its 10th edition and first in South Asia.

• The forum is being held from 15–18 September 2026 at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre, Gandhinagar.

• Theme: “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”

• A circular economy promotes reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling and resource efficiency to reduce waste.

• Over 2,000 stakeholders from 66 countries are participating in the forum.

• The programme includes 4 plenaries, 16 parallel sessions, and accelerator sessions on 17–18 September.

• A Circularity Expo with more than 125 national and international exhibitors was also inaugurated.

• WCEF 2026 focuses on circular supply chains, urban governance, AI, finance, employment, digitalisation, innovation and sustainable products.

Kumik – Ladakh’s First Heritage Village, 2026

• Kumik village in Zanskar was declared Ladakh’s first designated Heritage Village on 15 September 2026 by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

• The declaration was made during the launch of the Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2026.

• Kumik is known for its traditional mud houses, sacred spaces, agricultural practices and Buddhist traditions.

• The village has Kanjur manuscripts and other Tibetan Buddhist materials, forming an important part of its textual heritage.

• Zanskar is a high-altitude Himalayan region known for its Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, manuscripts and oral traditions.

• Ladakh’s traditional mud architecture uses locally available earth, stone and wood, suited to its cold-desert climate.

• The Heritage Village status is expected to promote heritage tourism and conservation of architecture, crafts, rituals and manuscripts.

• The initiative reflects the Union Government’s vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi”, combining development with preservation of cultural heritage.

Engineers’ Day and Karnataka’s State Recognition – 2026

• Karnataka declared September 15 as Engineers’ Day and an official annual state event in 2026.

• The State also permitted engineers to use the professional prefix “Er.” before their names.

• Engineers’ Day is observed on September 15 to mark the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

• Sir M. Visvesvaraya was born on 15 September 1861 and received the Bharat Ratna in 1955.

• He served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918 and contributed to irrigation, flood control and industrial planning.

• He designed the automatic sluice gates of the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) Dam in Karnataka.

• Karnataka has a major engineering-education base, with over one lakh engineers graduating annually.

• Bengaluru, Mysuru and other cities host numerous engineering colleges, technical universities and research institutions.

Yudh Abhyas 2026

• The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas began on 15 September 2026 at Auli, Uttarakhand, and Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.

• The exercise involves around 600 personnel each from the Indian Army and US Army and will conclude on 28 September 2026.

• Yudh Abhyas is an annual bilateral military exercise focused on field training, tactical drills and operational coordination.

• Auli provides high-altitude Himalayan terrain, while Mahajan supports desert warfare, field firing and manoeuvre training.

• Training focuses on Integrated Battle Groups, infantry operations, interoperability, joint planning and mission execution.

• Both armies are training with drones and autonomous systems for surveillance and reconnaissance.

• Contemporary weapon systems are also being demonstrated at the Mahajan Field Firing Range.

• The opening ceremony was addressed by Major General Amaresh Gunjan and Colonel Benjamin Jackman, representing the Indian and US armies respectively.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference – 2026

• The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) is being held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13–19 September 2026.

• It is hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and CPA South Africa Branch under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

• The CPC is an annual gathering of parliamentarians focusing on parliamentary democracy, legislative practices and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

• The Indian delegation is led by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and includes MPs from both Houses and P. C. Mody, Secretary General of Rajya Sabha.

• On 15 September, Harivansh held bilateral meetings with Angela Thokozile Didiza, Poobalan Govender and Annelie Lotriet, senior office-holders of the South African Parliament.

• Dr. D. Purandeswari participated in the CPA Executive Committee meeting, while Vijender Gupta, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, chaired a workshop on inclusivity in capacity-constrained parliaments.

• The Parliament of South Africa consists of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, while India’s Parliament comprises the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

• The conference theme is “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”