APPOINTMENTS
Tavengwa Mukuhlani Appointed ICC Deputy Chairperson – 2026
• Tavengwa Mukuhlani was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 17 September 2026 and will serve until November 2027.
• He became the first Zimbabwean to hold the ICC Deputy Chairperson position.
• Mukuhlani is the Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket and represents Zimbabwe on the ICC Board.
• He is also a member of the ICC Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee and Nominations Committee, and chairs the HR and Remuneration Committee.
• Imran Khwaja of Singapore stepped down as ICC Deputy Chairperson before Mukuhlani’s appointment.
• The ICC, founded in 1909 as the Imperial Cricket Conference, is the global governing body for international cricket.
• The ICC Board is the principal decision-making body, with committees dealing with finance, nominations, human resources and remuneration.
• Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia will co-host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, while Zimbabwe is one of the ICC’s Full Members with Test status.
Michael Kremer Appointed World Bank Chief Economist – 2026
• Michael Kremer was appointed Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics of the World Bank Group on 16 September 2026.
• His appointment will take effect from 1 October 2026, succeeding Indermit Gill, who retired from the position in September 2026.
• The Chief Economist leads the World Bank Group’s research, data and analytical agenda, particularly through the Development Economics Vice Presidency.
• The Development Economics Vice Presidency conducts policy research on areas including poverty, economic growth, trade, education, health and public finance.
• Michael Kremer, aged 61, is a Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, having received the 2019 Nobel Prize jointly with Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo.
• The 2019 Nobel Prize recognised their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty, a methodology central to modern development economics.
• Before joining the World Bank, Kremer served as Director of the Development Innovation Lab and as a University Professor at the University of Chicago; his research includes education, health, water, finance and agriculture in developing countries.
• The World Bank Group, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a multilateral development institution comprising entities including the IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and IDA (International Development Association).
N. Chandrasekaran Reappointed as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons – 2026
• N. Chandrasekaran was reappointed as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons on 17 September 2026 for another five-year term, extending his leadership until 2032.
• Tata Sons is the principal holding company of the Tata Group, which operates across sectors including steel, automobiles, information technology and consumer goods.
• Tata Trusts holds 66% of Tata Sons, making it the dominant shareholder and an important part of the group’s ownership structure.
• The reappointment was approved by a majority vote at a Tata Sons Board meeting in Mumbai; Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts and a Tata Sons director, voted against the resolution.
• Tata Trusts subsequently described the reappointment as illegal and a legal nullity, citing provisions of Tata Sons’ Articles of Association.
• The decision followed the RBI’s rejection on 11 September 2026 of Tata Sons’ application to surrender its registration as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
• As an upper-layer NBFC, Tata Sons therefore remained subject to the applicable regulatory framework requiring it to list within three years following the RBI’s decision.
• Tata Trusts had unanimously recommended Chandrasekaran’s five-year extension in July 2025; following the September 2026 announcement, investor interest in several Tata Group companies increased, with some shares rising by up to 14%.
Sanjukta Parashar – First Woman to Head CRPF CoBRA Unit 2026
• Sanjukta Parashar, a 2006-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, became the first woman officer to head the CRPF’s CoBRA unit in September 2026.
• She took charge as Inspector General (IG) of the 10-battalion CoBRA formation, succeeding Danesh Rana, a 1996-batch IPS officer.
• CoBRA stands for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action and is the specialised jungle-warfare and anti-Naxal unit of the Central Reserve Police Force.
• CoBRA functions as a 10-battalion force trained for operations in forested, difficult and insurgency-affected terrain.
• CoBRA battalions are deployed mainly in areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and have operated in states including Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
• Two CoBRA battalions were also deployed in Manipur during periods of ethnic tensions, reflecting the unit’s role in challenging internal-security environments.
• Parashar has served as head of the CID wing of Assam Police and has experience in counter-insurgency, field policing and national-security investigations; she has also served with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• The appointment reflects the increasing assignment of women officers to operational and command positions in central armed police forces; the CRPF functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement 2026
• New Zealand Parliament passed legislation on 16 September 2026 to implement the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by a vote of 93–29.
• The FTA was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026, after negotiations began in March 2025 and concluded in December 2025.
• The agreement covers trade in goods and services, border procedures and market-access commitments, and will enter into force after ratification by both countries.
• Under the agreement, tariffs on around 95% of New Zealand’s exports to India will be eliminated or reduced, with more than half becoming duty-free from the date of entry into force.
• Indian goods will receive 100% duty-free access to the New Zealand market once the agreement becomes operational.
• Bilateral trade stood at approximately NZ$3.99 billion in the year ending June 2026, with India ranking as New Zealand’s ninth-largest goods and services export market.
• New Zealand has committed to invest approximately US$20 billion in India over 15 years, while Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Christopher Luxon have set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
• The FTA provides preferential market access and faster border procedures for sectors including food, fibre, technology, education, tourism and professional services.
Canada–European Union Proposed Associate Membership – 2026
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on 16 September 2026 that Canada could become the European Union’s first “associate member” during her State of the Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the address, and Canada–EU summit was scheduled for late October 2026 to discuss bilateral relations.
• The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states, but its treaties currently contain no formal legal category of “associate membership.”
• Therefore, the proposed status has no settled legal definition, including whether and to what extent an associate member could obtain access to the EU single market.
• Canada and the EU already have a trade framework through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), although some EU member states have yet to complete its ratification.
• The proposal comes amid Canada’s efforts to diversify its economic relationships beyond the United States, following renewed trade tensions and US tariffs under President Donald Trump.
• Von der Leyen linked the proposal to shared democratic values and cooperation on issues including artificial intelligence, climate change and the war in Ukraine.
• Mark Carney has stated that Canada is not seeking full EU membership; the precise legal and institutional scope of the proposed associate status is expected to be determined through future Canada–EU negotiations.
NATIONAL NEWS
Swachhata Hi Seva 2026
• Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 began across India on 17 September 2026 and will continue for one month until 17 October 2026.
• The campaign is jointly organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Department of Urban Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The 2026 theme is “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”, emphasising public participation in cleanliness.
• The campaign has five pillars: transforming cleanliness target units, Swachh Paathshala for youth engagement, SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivir, Jan Bhagidari, and Swachhata se Samriddhi through waste-to-wealth initiatives.
• A nationwide collective Shramdaan, titled “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath”, will be organised on 1 October 2026.
• On 2 October 2026, observed as Swachh Bharat Diwas and Gandhi Jayanti, activities include Special Gram Sabhas, awareness on Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree plantation drives.
• The Sikkim state-level launch was held at Ridge Park, Gangtok, on 17 September 2026, attended by Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
• The campaign is linked to the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on 2 October 2014; the 2025 Swachhata Hi Seva campaign recorded participation of over 18 crore citizens, including 14 crore from rural areas.
Project Cheetah Completes Four Years – 2026
• Project Cheetah completed four years on 17 September 2026, with India’s cheetah population reaching 52, including 32 cheetahs born in India.
• The cheetahs are currently distributed between Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh.
• The project began on 17 September 2022, when eight cheetahs from Namibia were released at Kuno National Park by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• India subsequently received 12 cheetahs from South Africa on 18 February 2023 and nine cheetahs from Botswana on 28 February 2026.
• Project Cheetah is India’s first intercontinental large-carnivore translocation programme, aimed at restoring cheetahs to their historical range; cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.
• As of 16–17 September 2026, 49 cheetahs were in Kuno and 3 in Gandhi Sagar; at Kuno, 17 were free-ranging while 32 were in soft-release enclosures.
• Of the 32 cheetahs in soft-release enclosures, 5 were males, 8 females and 19 were cubs below one year; the birth of 32 cheetahs in India represents an important breeding phase.
• Mukhi, the only surviving cub from the first litter born in India in March 2023, gave birth to five cubs in November 2025, while the project aims to establish a long-term cheetah meta-population across multiple suitable habitats in India.
RANKING AND INDEX
Global Gender Gap Index 2026
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 on 16 September 2026, covering 145 countries.
• India ranked 131st with an overall gender parity score of 64.5%, compared with the global average of 69.2%.
• India’s 131st rank remained unchanged from the 2025 edition, despite a slight improvement in its overall score.
• The Index measures gender parity across four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.
• Educational Attainment was India’s strongest dimension, with a parity score of 96.6%.
• Economic Participation and Opportunity was India’s weakest dimension, with a parity score of 41.2%.
• India ranked 67th globally in Political Empowerment, with a parity score of 24.5%.
• Iceland retained the 1st rank for the 17th consecutive year, while the report estimated that global gender parity would take 120 years at the current pace of progress.
India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025
• Delhi ranked first in the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025 with an overall score of 84.
• The IEMI was developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with WRI India to assess the electric-mobility readiness of States and Union Territories.
• The index uses three weighted themes: Transport Electrification Progress (50%), Charging Infrastructure Readiness (30%), and EV Research and Innovation Status (20%).
• Delhi improved its score from 77 to 84 compared with the previous edition, reflecting progress in its overall electric-mobility performance.
• Maharashtra scored 78 and Karnataka scored 73, placing both among the top three performers in the overall IEMI 2025 ranking.
• Delhi recorded 94 in EV Research and Innovation Status, the highest score in this theme, which evaluates research activity, innovation capacity and ecosystem support.
• Electric mobility covers transport systems powered by electricity, including electric two-wheelers, cars, buses and charging infrastructure.
• NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s policy think tank, uses such state-level assessments to track EV adoption, charging infrastructure and innovation, with electric mobility linked to the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
GIFT City in Global Financial Centres Index 40 – 2026
• GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) ranked 37th globally in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) 40 released in September 2026.
• GFCI 40 assessed 139 financial centres using 144 quantitative measures and 39,531 professional assessments.
• Published by Z/Yen Partners and the China Development Institute, the GFCI evaluates financial centres on competitiveness, business environment, human capital, infrastructure, financial-sector development and reputation.
• GIFT City improved by nine places to rank 37th and became the only Indian financial centre among the top 15 Asia-Pacific hubs identified in the index.
• Mumbai also improved, rising three places to 49th position in the global ranking.
• GIFT City ranked 26th globally in FinTech, improving by three places compared with the previous edition.
• Financial services in GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) are regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), the statutory regulator for India’s IFSCs.
• GIFT City was among the top 15 Asia-Pacific financial hubs identified as likely to gain importance over the following two to three years, reflecting its growing role in international finance and FinTech.
SPORTS
Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027
• The fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will be held from 14 January to 7 February 2027.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) governs the WPL and is responsible for announcing its schedule, auction and retention rules.
• The player auction for WPL 2027 is scheduled for 28 October 2026 in Kochi.
• The retention deadline for the five WPL franchises has been fixed as 28 September 2026.
• The WPL is a franchise-based women’s Twenty20 (T20) cricket tournament in India and was launched in 2023.
• WPL 2027 will feature five franchises, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) entering the season as the defending champions.
• RCB won the 2026 WPL title by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final.
• The host cities for WPL 2027 had not been officially announced as of 16 September 2026; Mumbai and Vadodara were among the likely venues after hosting matches in the previous edition.
AWARDS
Anant Nag – Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024
• Veteran actor Anant Nag was announced as the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 by the Government of India on 16 September 2026.
• The award will be presented at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on 22 September 2026.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest honour in cinema, recognising outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
• The award was instituted in 1969 and is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, widely regarded as the father of Indian cinema.
• Anant Nag has had a film career spanning more than five decades and has acted in over 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Malayalam cinema.
• He is also widely known for his role in the television series Malgudi Days, based on the works of author R. K. Narayan.
• Anant Nag will become the second Kannada actor to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award after Dr. Rajkumar, who received it in 1995.
• Anant Nag was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2025; the Dadasaheb Phalke Award announcement followed the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.
Sethuraman Panchanathan – Arthur M. Bueche Award 2026
• Sethuraman Panchanathan has been named the recipient of the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
• The award will be presented on 4 October 2026 in Washington, D.C., during the 2026 NAE Annual Meeting.
• Panchanathan is the first Indian American and first Arizonan to receive the Arthur M. Bueche Award in its more than 40-year history.
• The Arthur M. Bueche Award, established in 1982–83, recognises contributions to science and technology, US science and technology policy, technological development, and industry–government–university collaboration.
• Panchanathan served as the 15th Director of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) from June 2020 to April 2025.
• He has been associated with Arizona State University (ASU) since 1997 and currently serves as its University Professor of Technology and Innovation.
• In April 2026, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego appointed Panchanathan to lead the Phoenix Quantum Strategy; he was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2025.
• The award recognises his leadership in fundamental science, technology and policy, particularly in advancing translational research, which connects laboratory discoveries with practical applications.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Elias 2-24 b – Youngest Known Planet
• Elias 2-24 b was confirmed as the youngest known planet, with an estimated age of less than 1 million years, as of 17 September 2026.
• The planet orbits Elias 2-24, a young star located approximately 450 light-years from Earth.
• Elias 2-24 b remains embedded in the dusty gas-and-debris protoplanetary disk from which it formed and is located within a prominent gap in the disk.
• The planet has a mass comparable to Jupiter, placing it among gas giant planets.
• It is still accreting material from the surrounding protoplanetary disk, providing evidence of an active stage of planetary formation.
• The planet was first inferred from a gap in the disk in 2017, but its existence was subsequently confirmed through further observations.
• The confirmation used observations from the W. M. Keck Observatory (Hawaii), ALMA (Chile) and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (Chile), along with NASA-funded archival data.
• The discovery, led by Andrea Bernardi of Universidad Diego Portales, Chile, is significant because planets younger than 1 million years are extremely rare, offering a valuable opportunity to study the earliest stages of planet formation.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
43rd Indian Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference – 2026
• The 43rd Indian Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference began in New Delhi on 17 September 2026 and will continue for three days until 19 September 2026.
• The conference is being held at the Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, bringing together senior commanders to review operational, strategic and administrative matters.
• The Commanders’ Conference is the apex annual forum of the Indian Coast Guard, where force-level priorities, operational preparedness and resource deployment are reviewed.
• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is India’s maritime law-enforcement and search-and-rescue force under the Ministry of Defence; it was established in 1977 and functions under the Coast Guard Act, 1978.
• Its key responsibilities include maritime security, protection of maritime interests, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, anti-piracy support and marine-environment protection.
• Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth addressed the senior leadership on 17 September 2026; discussions cover emerging maritime-security challenges, operational readiness and resource deployment.
• The conference focuses on capability enhancement and force modernisation, including measures to strengthen surveillance, response capabilities and overall operational preparedness.
• The conference also reviews indigenisation under Make in India, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of greater domestic defence manufacturing and reduced dependence on imports; India has a coastline of approximately 7,516.6 km.
MISCELLANEOUS
Swachh Seva Aankalan (SSA) – 2026
• Swachh Seva Aankalan (SSA) is an annual digital self-assessment framework at the Gram Panchayat level for monitoring rural sanitation service delivery under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) 2.0.
• Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil launched SSA on 15 September 2026 during a virtual meeting with States and Union Territories; Minister of State V. Somanna also participated.
• SSA was developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, to strengthen grassroots-level sanitation monitoring.
• The framework involves Gram Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and district and State/UT authorities.
• Under SSA, ODF Plus (Model) Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and local communities assess the sustainability of ODF (Open Defecation Free) status, visual cleanliness and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).
• The assessment also covers the functionality and operation and maintenance (O&M) of sanitation assets and community waste-management infrastructure.
• Self-assessment findings are discussed and validated by the concerned Gram Sabha, making community participation an integral part of the assessment process.
• SBM-G was launched in 2014 as India’s rural sanitation programme, while ODF Plus under SBM-G 2.0 focuses on sustaining sanitation outcomes and strengthening waste-management systems.
