21 September 2026
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited on 21 September 2026 to procure Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for T-72 and T-90 tanks.
The contract is worth Rs 586 crore and was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The APU is an alternate source of electric power for the tank's fire control system, firing circuit, gun stabilisation system and other ancillaries.
The units are indigenously developed through industry-led research and development under the Make-II category.
The ministry said the induction will strengthen the operational readiness of the Indian Army's Mechanised Formations.
Contract value:
Rs 586 crore
Tanks:
T-72 and T-90
Category:
Make-II
Why it matters for exams: Defence indigenisation, the Make-II procurement route and India's main battle tanks are regular defence and security questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
APU Auxiliary Power Unit — A unit that powers a tank's electrical systems without running the main engine.
Make-II — A defence procurement category for industry-funded development of equipment for the armed forces.
21 September 2026
The Index of Core Industries (ICI) grew by 4.8 per cent in August 2026 (provisional) over August 2025, slightly below the 5.0 per cent of July 2026.
Cement (12.5 per cent), Electricity (11.6 per cent), Iron Ore (5.5 per cent), Steel (3.4 per cent) and Refinery Products (2.6 per cent) grew.
Coal, Natural Gas, Crude Oil and Fertilizers recorded negative growth.
Cumulative growth for April-August 2026 was 4.3 per cent against 2.4 per cent a year earlier.
The July 2026 growth rate was revised from 5.4 per cent to 5.0 per cent; the index uses the base year 2022-23 and Electricity carries the largest weight.
ICI growth, August 2026:
4.8 per cent
Fastest-growing sector:
Cement, 12.5 per cent
April-August 2026:
4.3 per cent
Base year:
2022-23
Why it matters for exams: The ICI, its component industries and their weights are standard economy questions in UPSC and bank examinations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICI Index of Core Industries — A monthly index of output in core sectors such as coal, steel, cement and electricity.
21 September 2026
Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 20 Sep 2026, the Navy announced on 21 September.
They are there for the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA).
The JCA brings together maritime forces of ASEAN Member States and eight Plus countries to improve interoperability.
The Navy linked the deployment to the Act East Policy and the vision of MAHASAGAR.
It also builds on the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership established in August 2025.
Ships:
Sahyadri and Kulish
Port:
Subic Bay, Philippines
Arrival:
20 Sep 2026
Why it matters for exams: ADMM-Plus, the Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR and India-Philippines ties are frequent international relations and defence questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ADMM-Plus ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus — A forum of the ten ASEAN defence ministers and eight partner countries including India.
JCA Joint Cooperation Activity — A combined activity of ADMM-Plus forces to build maritime cooperation.
21 September 2026
Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel launched the 7th Edition of the National Formulary of India (NFI) on 21 September 2026 in New Delhi.
She also released a guidance document on reporting medical device-related adverse events and the ADR-PvPI 2.0 mobile app for iOS users.
The launch was at the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week (17–23 September 2026), organised by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).
She announced that the Government of India has approved the Biovigilance Programme of India, covering medicines and biological products used in organ and tissue transplantation.
She said India rose from 123rd position during 2009-2014 to 8th globally in contributions to the WHO patient safety database.
NFI edition:
7th
Pharmacovigilance Week:
6th, 17–23 September 2026
India in WHO safety database contributions:
8th
Why it matters for exams: Drug safety programmes (PvPI, MvPI and now biovigilance) and the role of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission are asked in health and governance papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NFI National Formulary of India — A reference book guiding doctors and pharmacists on the rational use of medicines.
PvPI Pharmacovigilance Programme of India — The national programme that collects and analyses reports of adverse drug reactions.
IPC Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission — The body that sets standards for medicines in India.
21 September 2026
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Global Conservation Conference of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) at Jaipur on 21 September 2026.
Representatives from more than 100 countries attended.
He said protected areas rose from around 750 to more than 1000 in the last decade, tiger reserves from 47 to 58 and elephant reserves from 30 to 33.
Ramsar sites rose from 24 to 101 in the same period.
He cited conservation breeding of the Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan and community protection of sacred groves called Oran.
Tiger reserves:
47 to 58
Elephant reserves:
30 to 33
Ramsar sites:
24 to 101
Why it matters for exams: Counts of tiger reserves, elephant reserves and Ramsar sites, and species such as the Great Indian Bustard, are frequent environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
WWF World Wide Fund for Nature — An international non-governmental organisation working on wildlife and environmental conservation.
Ramsar site — A wetland listed as internationally important under the 1971 Ramsar Convention.
21 September 2026
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) released guidelines on 21 September 2026 for planning and designing High-Speed Access controlled National Highways, other than Expressways.
They apply to all upcoming 4/6 lane Greenfield and Brownfield high-speed access-controlled corridors.
The roadmap envisages 50,000 km of access-controlled High-Speed Corridors under Viksit Bharat 2047.
Corridors with traffic up to 15,000 vehicles will have a width of 60 metres; those with 15,000 to 40,000 vehicles will have 70 metres.
A 1-metre-high boundary wall is prescribed along the corridor to keep out encroachments and stray cattle.
High-speed corridor target:
50,000 km
Width up to 15,000 vehicles:
60 metres
Boundary wall:
1-metre-high
Why it matters for exams: Highway development targets, NHAI's role and road-safety design norms are asked under infrastructure and governance.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NHAI National Highways Authority of India — The statutory body under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways that develops National Highways.
Access-controlled highway — A highway that vehicles can enter or leave only at designated interchanges.
21 September 2026
The National Steering Committee of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has approved a Strategic Investment Plan worth ₹320 crore for the Kurukshetra ITI Cluster in Haryana, the ministry announced on 21 September 2026.
The approval is under the PM-SETU scheme for upgrading Industrial Training Institutes.
Jindal Naveen Avsar Limited will be the Anchor Industry Partner with the Government of Haryana.
The cluster follows the Hub-and-Spoke model, with Government ITI Kurukshetra as the hub and six spoke ITIs.
Cumulative investment sanctioned under PM-SETU has risen to ₹2,491 crore across 10 ITI clusters.
Kurukshetra cluster plan:
₹320 crore
Cumulative PM-SETU sanction:
₹2,491 crore across 10 ITI clusters
ITIs in cluster:
seven Government ITIs
Why it matters for exams: Skilling schemes, ITI reform and the hub-and-spoke model are asked in economy and social-sector questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PM-SETU Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs — A central scheme to upgrade government ITIs with industry partners.
ITI Industrial Training Institute — A vocational training institute that teaches trades to school leavers.
20 September 2026
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the valedictory session of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) two-day International Conference on 'The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics' in New Delhi on 20 September 2026.
She stressed climate resilience through people-centric, community-based adaptation rooted in traditional knowledge.
Union Minister Manohar Lal said non-fossil sources account for nearly 55 per cent of installed generation capacity, and the 50 per cent target was met five years early.
Supreme Court judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna spoke of the Court's shift towards an ecocentric approach.
NGT's souvenir 'Harit Nyayam' was released; the session was attended by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava.
Non-fossil share of installed capacity:
nearly 55 per cent
NGT souvenir:
Harit Nyayam
NGT Chairperson:
Justice Prakash Shrivastava
Why it matters for exams: The NGT, India's non-fossil capacity targets and the ecocentric approach in environmental law are common polity and environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NGT National Green Tribunal — A specialised tribunal set up in 2010 to decide environmental cases.
Ecocentric approach — A view of law that treats nature as valuable in itself, not only for human use.
21 September 2026
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Centenary Conference of the UPASI (United Planters' Association of Southern India) Tea Research Foundation at Coonoor, The Nilgiris, on 21 September 2026.
The Foundation has completed 100 years of service to the tea industry.
He called for more research, modernised tea factories and strong Indian tea brands instead of bulk tea.
He urged value addition and attention to the welfare of plantation workers.
He asked UPASI to use its centenary year to expand its tea research network.
Institution:
UPASI Tea Research Foundation
Milestone:
100 years
Venue:
Coonoor, The Nilgiris
Why it matters for exams: Plantation crops of the Nilgiris and Western Ghats, tea research bodies and the tea economy are asked in Kerala PSC and UPSC geography and economy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UPASI United Planters' Association of Southern India — An association of plantation owners in south India that runs a tea research foundation.
21 September 2026
Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Himanshu Dhillon and Parth Rakesh Mane won the silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Men’s Team event at the Asian Games 2026.
Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil also won a bronze in the individual 10m Air Rifle Men’s event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the shooters on both medals on 21 September 2026.
The 20th Asian Games are being held at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
Team event:
Silver Medal in the 10m Air Rifle Men’s Team event
Individual medal:
Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Bronze
Host:
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Why it matters for exams: Indian medal winners and the host of the Asian Games are standard sports questions in PSC and SSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
21 September 2026
A Supreme Court bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar delivered its judgment in Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol v. State of Punjab (2026 INSC 1022) on 21 September 2026.
It held that once a person is released because the grounds of arrest were not furnished as required by Article 22(1), the police cannot re-arrest at their own discretion.
The investigating agency must apply to the Magistrate, with the application endorsed by the superior of the officer who made the first arrest.
The investigation must pass to another officer and a departmental inquiry must follow; re-arrest is allowed only if the Magistrate is satisfied.
The Court said Article 22(1) applies to every arrest, including under special statutes, and that such a release is not bail.
Case:
Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol v. State of Punjab
Citation:
2026 INSC 1022
Bench:
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Justice Atul S. Chandurkar
Why it matters for exams: Article 22 safeguards on arrest and detention are core fundamental-rights questions in polity papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Article 22(1) — The constitutional right of an arrested person to be told the grounds of arrest and to consult a lawyer.