21 September 2026
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine updated the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 21 September 2026.
Commission chair Erik Møse said Russian strikes on energy infrastructure are leaving civilians more exposed as winter approaches; the commission will report fully to the General Assembly in October.
It is also examining weapons training made compulsory from age 14 in occupied areas.
Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova presented her report 'Nowhere is safe', drawing on nearly 400 documented cases of Russian repression of critics abroad.
She said between 650,000 and 900,000 people have left Russia since 2022 and that Russia files more INTERPOL red notices than any other country.
Report:
Nowhere is safe
Documented cases:
nearly 400
People who left Russia since 2022:
650,000 to 900,000
Why it matters for exams: UN human rights mechanisms such as commissions of inquiry and special rapporteurs, and INTERPOL notices, are asked in international relations papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Special Rapporteur — An independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council to report on a country or theme.
Red notice — An INTERPOL request to police worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
21 September 2026
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders and citizens to invest more in peace in his message for the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2026.
This year's theme was 'Invest in peace'.
With leaders gathering for the General Assembly's High-Level Week, he urged stronger diplomacy, dialogue, mediation and peacekeeping.
"Around the world, people are showing that we are not powerless," he said.
The UN's office in Nairobi, Kenya, held an event where students spoke on youth participation in peace.
Date:
21 September
2026 theme:
Invest in peace
Why it matters for exams: International days, their dates and annual themes are a staple of PSC and SSC current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
21 September 2026
Russia's Central Election Commission said on 21 September 2026 that the ruling United Russia party won 57.83 per cent of the vote in the election to the 9th State Duma, after 95.18 per cent of ballots were counted.
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation followed with 13.81 per cent, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia with 8.98 per cent, New People with 7.96 per cent and A Just Russia with 4.96 per cent.
Turnout in the vote, held from Friday to Sunday (18-20 September), was 59.32 per cent against 51.72 per cent in 2021.
The State Duma has 450 deputies: half are chosen from party lists and 225 in single-mandate constituencies.
Commission chairperson Ella Pamfilova announced the figures; final results were due on Friday.
United Russia vote share:
57.83 per cent
Turnout:
59.32 per cent
Seats in the State Duma:
450
Why it matters for exams: The structure of Russia's Federal Assembly and its major parties are asked in world polity and international affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
State Duma — The lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly, with 450 deputies.
CPRF Communist Party of the Russian Federation — Russia's main communist party, second in the 2026 Duma vote.
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.
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
On 21 September 2026 the Centre told the Supreme Court that a new office-cum-court complex of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had been inaugurated in Jammu.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Jammu Bench's complex at Bahu Plaza on Sunday, 20 September, in the presence of CAT Chairman Justice R.K. Morey.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana closed a 2020 PIL by Achal Sharma that had cited inadequate space and staff.
From inception to 30 June 2026, CAT benches received 10,01,177 cases and disposed of 9,32,723, a disposal rate of 93.16%.
The Jammu and Srinagar benches received 20,984 cases transferred from the erstwhile J&K High Court and 20,405 fresh cases.
Cases received (to 30 June 2026):
10,01,177
Cases disposed:
9,32,723
Disposal rate:
93.16%
Venue:
Bahu Plaza, Jammu
Why it matters for exams: Administrative tribunals under Article 323A and the CAT's jurisdiction over service matters are core polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CAT Central Administrative Tribunal — A tribunal that hears service disputes of central government employees.
PIL Public Interest Litigation — A petition filed in court to protect a public interest rather than a private right.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026, BJP members entered the Well of the J&K Legislative Assembly on the session's first day.
They raised the electricity tariff hike, demands of National Health Mission (NHM) employees and the regularisation of daily wagers.
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission had approved an average 6.83 per cent tariff increase effective 1 September.
The ruling National Conference, Congress and CPI(M) members demanded immediate restoration of statehood; CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami said two years had passed without the promise being fulfilled.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ruled that the protesting members' slogans would not go on record, and the House was adjourned till Tuesday.
Tariff increase approved by JERC:
6.83 per cent
Effective from:
1 September 2026
Ruling alliance:
NC, Congress, CPI(M)
Why it matters for exams: Restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a Union Territory since 2019, is a live polity question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
JERC Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission — The regulator that sets electricity tariffs for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
NHM National Health Mission — The Centre's flagship programme for public health services in States and Union Territories.
Well of the House — The space in front of the Speaker's chair where protesting members gather.
21 September 2026
The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly began in Srinagar on Monday, 21 September 2026.
The session has seven sittings and runs from 21 to 30 September 2026.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather opened proceedings with obituary references to three former legislators.
They were Sheikh Mustafa Kamal of the National Conference (three terms as MLA), Dharam Paul of the Congress (four terms) and Ghulam Hassan Khan of the PDP (one term).
The House observed a two-minute silence in their memory before taking up business.
Session:
Autumn session
Sittings:
7
Dates:
21-30 September 2026
Speaker:
Abdul Rahim Rather
Why it matters for exams: The functioning of the J&K Legislative Assembly after the 2019 reorganisation, its Speaker and sessions are polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Obituary reference — A formal tribute in a legislature to members who died since its last sitting.
PDP Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party — A regional political party of Jammu and Kashmir.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026, Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan criticised the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) over a shortage of aravana payasam at the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine.
Aravana, made from red rice, jaggery and ghee, is offered as prasadam at Sabarimala.
The minister said the shortage occurred because the manufacturing plant was being renovated and that the work should have been done while the temple was closed; the TDB has said the renovation was being done now to prevent problems during the pilgrimage season.
He said 'The government cannot sit idle' and action would follow after discussions with the Chief Minister.
The government is considering informing the Kerala High Court and, with the court's permission, appointing a special team for the Mandalakala-Makaravillakku pilgrimage.
Shrine:
Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine
Board:
Travancore Devaswom Board
Cause of shortage:
Plant renovation
Why it matters for exams: The Travancore Devaswom Board, Sabarimala administration and the High Court's oversight role are recurring Kerala governance topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TDB Travancore Devaswom Board — The statutory board that manages Sabarimala and other temples of the former Travancore State.
Aravana — A sweet offering of red rice, jaggery and ghee given as prasadam at Sabarimala.
21 September 2026
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said on 21 September 2026 that Kerala will implement the Centre's new Labour Codes while protecting workers' rights.
He spoke at a leadership meeting of the Congress-affiliated INTUC in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said the codes cannot be left unimplemented because Parliament passed them, and they replaced the earlier labour laws.
The four Labour Codes, announced by the Centre in November 2025, consolidate 29 existing labour laws.
The government will consider INTUC's suggestions during implementation; INTUC state president R. Chandrasekharan attended.
Labour Codes:
4
Laws consolidated:
29
Announced:
November 2025
Why it matters for exams: The four Labour Codes and labour as a Concurrent List subject that States must implement are standard polity and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
INTUC Indian National Trade Union Congress — The trade union wing affiliated to the Congress party.
Labour Codes — Four central laws that merged 29 older labour laws on wages, industrial relations, social security and safety.
21 September 2026
In a statement on 21 September 2026, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the UDF government had not changed its decision to discontinue the Loka Kerala Sabha in the form held by the previous LDF government.
He said not a single rupee had been allocated for the sixth edition of the Loka Kerala Sabha.
Funds have been allocated only for the LKS Secretariat's administrative costs and certain programmes, including a Business Leadership Meet run through NORKA.
He said expatriate welfare schemes are a top priority and funds have been allocated for initial work on them.
KPCC president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph called the change a 'right turn', not a U-turn.
Edition with no funds:
Sixth
Programme run via NORKA:
Business Leadership Meet
Why it matters for exams: The Loka Kerala Sabha and NORKA are Kerala's institutions for the diaspora and appear in governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NORKA Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs — Kerala's department for the welfare of non-resident Keralites.
Loka Kerala Sabha — A forum bringing together representatives of the Kerala diaspora with legislators.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026 the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said permission had not been denied to any film for screening at the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).
The festival is organised in Thiruvananthapuram by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
The Academy had sought exemption from certification for 347 films, and most have been cleared.
The ministry said six films were asked for more detailed synopses and some were referred to sectoral authorities.
Exemptions for non-commercial festival screenings are given under Section 9 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952; films already certified by the CBFC need none.
Festival:
18th IDSFFK
Organiser:
Kerala State Chalachitra Academy
Films sought for exemption:
347
Legal provision:
Section 9, Cinematograph Act, 1952
Why it matters for exams: Film certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Kerala's state film festivals are frequent polity and culture questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IDSFFK International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala — Kerala's annual festival of documentaries and short films.
CBFC Central Board of Film Certification — The statutory body that certifies films for public exhibition in India.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026 the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast rain across Kerala until 25 September, with heavy rain in isolated places.
A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, a trough from the southeast Arabian Sea and a cyclonic circulation over central Tamil Nadu were driving the weather.
Yellow alerts were issued for several districts; a yellow alert indicates possible heavy rain of 7 to 11 cm in 24 hours.
A landslide at Kottakamboor in Vattavada, Idukki, on Sunday evening killed two people.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan ordered hourly assessments, and Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneswari met the Collectors of Idukki and Kottayam.
Rain forecast till:
25 September 2026
Yellow alert rainfall:
7 to 11 cm in 24 hours
Vattavada landslide deaths:
2
Why it matters for exams: IMD colour-coded alerts and the weather systems behind Kerala's rain are standard geography and disaster-management questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IMD India Meteorological Department — The national agency for weather forecasts and warnings.
Low-pressure area — A region of lower air pressure that draws in moist winds and brings rain.
21 September 2026
Results for the chairperson and mayor posts of Rajasthan's civic bodies were announced after the ward polls of 9 and 11 September 2026. The BJP won 197 posts and the Congress 94. Results had been declared for 301 of the 309 civic bodies, and seven of the ten municipal corporations had completed their mayoral contests. The Congress won the Bikaner corporation, where Anil Kalla was elected. The ward results were declared together on 14 September, the first time all urban local bodies in the state did so under the 'One State-One Election' model.
BJP posts won:
197
Congress posts won:
94
Civic bodies with results:
301 of 309
Corporations completed:
7 of 10
Why it matters for exams: Urban local body elections, the State Election Commission and the 'One State-One Election' model are standard polity and state-governance questions.
UPSCSSC
20 September 2026
The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) signed an MoU on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at the Delhi Secretariat.
The MoU covers the redevelopment of the historic Town Hall complex in Chandni Chowk as a 'Global Heritage Centre'.
It was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The Grade-I heritage complex was built between 1860 and 1866 and covers about 12,180 square metres, including the Town Hall, the Press Building and the park.
The MCD keeps ownership of the complex. It moved its headquarters to the Dr SP Mukherjee Civic Centre in 2010.
The MoU has an initial term of 30 years, which can be extended by another 30 years by mutual consent.
Area of the complex:
about 12,180 sq m
Built:
1860–1866
Initial MoU term:
30 years (+30 extendable)
Why it matters for exams: Heritage conservation in Delhi, the bodies involved and the dates of a colonial-era civic building are typical static-plus-current questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
DTTDC Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation — The Delhi government's tourism development agency.
MCD Municipal Corporation of Delhi — The civic body that governs most of Delhi's urban area.
Grade-I heritage — The highest category of protected heritage building in a city's heritage list.
20 September 2026
On 20 September 2026 Oman's Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) issued the Executive Regulations of the Special Economic Zones and Free Zones Law.
The law was promulgated by Royal Decree No. 38/2025; the regulations are Regulation No. 81/2026.
Applications for land and property allocation, licences, approvals, permits and certificates go through the One-Stop Shop, with automatic licensing after automated checks.
A strategic project must have an investment cost of no less than 10 million Omani Rials and meet one qualitative criterion, such as technology transfer or local content.
The regulations cover off-plan sales, escrow accounts and freehold ownership of units by non-Omanis in qualifying real estate projects.
HE Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef is Chairman of OPAZ.
Regulation:
No. 81/2026
Parent law:
Royal Decree No. 38/2025
Strategic project threshold:
10 million Omani Rials
Why it matters for exams: Special economic zones and free zones such as Duqm, Sohar and Salalah are central to Oman Vision 2040's push to diversify away from oil.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
OPAZ Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones — The Omani authority that regulates Oman's special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities.
One-Stop Shop — A single window where investors obtain all approvals and licences.
Escrow account — A regulated account that holds buyers' payments until set conditions are met.
Freehold — Full, permanent ownership of a property and its land.
20 September 2026
Two German states voted on Sunday 20 September 2026, with preliminary results released on Monday.
In Berlin, the Left Party under lead candidate Elif Eralp won 25.7% of the second votes, ahead of the CDU (18.8%), the AfD (16.3%) and the SPD (12.1%); it was the party's first win in the city-state.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 38.2%, ahead of the SPD at 35.5%.
The AfD had also come first in Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September with 43.8%.
The results added to pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose CDU fared badly in both states.
Berlin: Left Party:
25.7%
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: AfD:
38.2%
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: SPD:
35.5%
Why it matters for exams: Germany's federal structure, its parties and its Chancellor are asked in world polity and current affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AfD Alternative for Germany — A far-right German party, strongest in the former communist east.
CDU Christian Democratic Union — Germany's main centre-right party, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Second vote — In German elections, the vote cast for a party list, which decides the share of seats.
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.
20 September 2026
On 20 September 2026, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up with the Centre the conversion of the Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre in Uri.
A September 12 order handed the centre to the Tourism Department to promote border tourism.
The centre in Uri, Baramulla, was set up for cross-LoC trade with Muzaffarabad; barter trade in 21 items began in 2008.
Cross-LoC trade was suspended in April 2019.
The Tourism Department plans accommodation rooms, a cafeteria, a park and LoC viewpoints at the site.
Centre:
Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre, Uri
Barter items:
21
Trade began:
2008
Trade suspended:
April 2019
Why it matters for exams: Cross-LoC trade points, their 2008 launch and 2019 suspension are India-Pakistan confidence-building questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
LoC Line of Control — The military control line dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Barter trade — Exchange of goods for goods without money changing hands.
19 September 2026
The last date for withdrawal of nominations for the by-election to the Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency in Puducherry ended on 19 September 2026.
As none of the candidates with valid nominations withdrew, 11 candidates, including those from recognised political parties and Independents, are in the fray.
Major candidates are Ashok Anand of the All India N.R. Congress, Sethu Selvam of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, E. Vinayagam of the Indian National Congress, Mohammed Saleem A of the Communist Party of India and Karthikumari of Naam Tamilar Katchi.
The remaining candidates are Independents.
Polling will be held on October 6, while counting of votes will take place on October 9.
Candidates in the fray:
11
Polling:
October 6
Counting:
October 9
Constituency:
Thattanchavady
Why it matters for exams: By-election procedure, such as the withdrawal of nominations followed by polling and counting, is regular polity material.
Kerala PSCUPSC