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Support21 September 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)
We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exam.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Framework for Solid Waste Management
Why in News?
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) launched an indigenous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework, integrated with a digital Greenhouse Gas (GHG) calculator, to support scientific decision-making in solid waste management.
- The framework was jointly developed by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras; Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-BHU), Varanasi
- It aims to assess and optimise waste-management technologies based on their environmental impacts.
About the LCA Framework
- The framework evaluates the environmental footprint of municipal solid waste management across the waste-handling chain, from primary collection to technology-based final disposal.
- It incorporates an integrated digital GHG calculator to assess the climate impact of different waste-treatment pathways.
Key Features
- Life-cycle evaluation: Examines environmental impacts across successive stages of municipal waste management.
- GHG assessment: Estimates net emissions and avoided emissions associated with waste-treatment technologies.
- Emission coverage: Includes gases and pollutants such as Methane (CH₄), Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), Black carbon
- Technology comparison: Enables assessment of different waste-treatment options according to their environmental performance.
- Decision-support tool: Provides Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with scientific inputs for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and selecting suitable waste-management pathways.
Solid Waste Management Technologies in India
|
Technology |
Mechanism and Application |
Operational Challenges |
|
Composting and |
Organic waste is biologically decomposed, |
Contamination by mixed waste, slow |
|
Biomethanation |
Microorganisms break down biodegradable |
Non-biodegradable contamination reduces |
|
Waste-to-Energy |
High-calorific, non-recyclable dry waste |
High moisture content and low calorific |
|
Sanitary Landfilling |
Residual and inert waste is disposed of in |
Urban land scarcity limits expansion, while |
|
Biomining and |
Legacy waste is excavated and segregated to |
High costs, lengthy processing periods and |
Why is the LCA Framework Needed?
1. Evidence-Based Decision-Making
- Moves waste-management planning towards science-based environmental assessment rather than relying primarily on lowest-cost procurement.
- Helps ULBs identify technologies suited to the composition and characteristics of their municipal waste.
2. Resource Recovery and Circularity
- Supports the transition towards a circular waste-management system.
- Helps evaluate combinations of technologies, including Biomining, Anaerobic digestion, Material recovery
- Enables assessment of pathways for recovering materials and bioenergy from different waste streams.
3. Reducing Landfill Emissions
- Helps assess options for reducing methane emissions and leachate-related impacts from legacy waste sites.
- Supports efforts to make municipal waste management more climate-conscious, in line with India’s Net Zero target for 2070.
4. Access to Climate Finance
- Quantification of avoided GHG emissions can provide a basis for assessing the climate benefits of sustainable waste-management projects.
- Such assessments may help ULBs explore opportunities to access carbon-credit and climate-finance mechanisms, subject to applicable methodologies and verification requirements.
Implementation Challenges
1. Limited India-Specific Data
- The accuracy of life-cycle assessments depends on the availability of reliable, representative data.
- Scarcity of city-level and India-specific datasets may require the use of global baseline data that does not fully reflect local waste conditions.
2. Technical Capacity Constraints
- Many ULBs have limited financial and human resources.
- Shortages of specialised personnel can make it difficult to Interpret complex GHG profiles, Evaluate digital scenarios, Apply LCA results to project planning and technology selection
3. Procurement-Related Constraints
- Conventional municipal procurement often emphasises financial bids and cost considerations.
- Integrating environmental-performance criteria into tendering and contract-award processes may require changes in procurement practices and institutional capacity.
- The application of environmental criteria must remain consistent with relevant procurement rules, including the General Financial Rules (GFR).
Antarctic Ozone Hole Expansion
Why in News?
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reported that the Antarctic ozone hole expanded rapidly in 2026, reaching approximately 25 million sq. km—around 5 million sq. km above the seasonal average.
Key Factors Behind the Expansion
1. Extreme Stratospheric Cold
- Exceptionally low temperatures in the Antarctic stratosphere favour the formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs).
- These clouds provide surfaces for chemical reactions involving chlorine and bromine compounds.
- When sunlight returns during the Antarctic spring, these reactions release reactive forms of chlorine and bromine that accelerate ozone destruction.
2. Polar Vortex Variability
- The polar vortex is a large circulation of strong winds that develops around the polar stratosphere during winter.
- Its strength and stability influence the movement and isolation of cold air over Antarctica.
- Variations in the polar vortex can affect stratospheric temperatures, PSC formation and the extent of seasonal ozone depletion.
Important Clarification
- A larger ozone hole in a particular year does not necessarily indicate that the global ozone layer is no longer recovering.
- Year-to-year changes can result from variations in stratospheric temperature and polar-vortex conditions.
- The reported expansion should therefore be understood in the context of short-term atmospheric variability, rather than as evidence that the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances has failed.
About the Antarctic Ozone Hole
- The ozone hole is a region of substantial seasonal depletion of stratospheric ozone, particularly over Antarctica.
- It generally develops during the Antarctic spring, when sunlight triggers chemical reactions that destroy ozone.
- The phenomenon is closely associated with Extremely low stratospheric temperatures, Polar stratospheric clouds, Chlorine- and bromine-containing ozone-depleting substances, Seasonal changes in sunlight and polar-vortex conditions
How Is the Ozone Hole Defined?
- CAMS identifies ozone-hole areas using a threshold of total column ozone below 220 Dobson Units (DU).
- Monitoring includes Minimum ozone levels, Total ozone mass deficit, The geographical extent of the depleted region
About CAMS
- Full name: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service
- Programme: Component of the European Union’s Space Programme
- Implementation: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
- Major Functions: CAMS combines satellite observations, ground-based measurements and atmospheric modelling to monitor Air pollutants and atmospheric composition, Ozone concentrations and polar stratospheric processes, Greenhouse-gas fluxes, Aerosols and their distribution
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Why in News?
The recent discovery of five orangutans in a forest in Balasore, Odisha, has raised concerns regarding illegal wildlife trade and the implementation of CITES regulations.
About CITES
- Full Name: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- CITES is an international treaty that regulates international trade in wild animals, plants and their parts or derivatives.
- Objective: To ensure that international wildlife trade is Legal, Sustainable, Traceable
- Its overarching aim is to prevent international trade from threatening the survival of species in the wild.
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Signed |
1973 |
|
Place of signing |
Washington, D.C., USA |
|
Entered into force |
1975 |
|
Parties |
185, according to the provided source |
|
India became a Party |
1976 |
Legal Status and Implementation
- CITES is legally binding on its Parties.
- However, it does not override the domestic legislation of member countries.
- Parties are required to adopt appropriate national laws and administrative measures to implement their obligations under the Convention.
Regulation of International Wildlife Trade
- CITES does not impose a blanket prohibition on international wildlife trade.
- Instead, it regulates trade through a system of permits and certificates.
- The applicable requirements depend on the species’ listing in the CITES Appendices and the nature of the proposed transaction.
|
Appendix |
Key Features |
|
Appendix I |
Includes species threatened with extinction. International commercial trade is generally prohibited, |
|
Appendix II |
Includes species that may become threatened unless their trade is strictly regulated. International |
|
Appendix III |
Includes species protected in at least one country that seeks cooperation from other Parties to |
CITES and Indian Wildlife Law
- India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, was amended in 2022 to strengthen alignment with CITES obligations.
- The amendment introduced a dedicated Schedule for CITES-listed specimens.
- The legislation provides the domestic legal framework for regulating wildlife-related activities and implementing relevant international commitments.
Significance of CITES
- Conservation of Threatened Species: Helps prevent international trade from contributing to the decline of vulnerable wildlife and plant species.
- Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade: Permit and certificate requirements help authorities monitor cross-border trade and identify unauthorised transactions.
- International Cooperation: Facilitates collaboration between countries where wildlife is sourced, transported or traded.
- Sustainable and Traceable Trade: Establishes controls intended to ensure that permitted trade is legal and does not threaten species’ survival.
First Diplodocus Fossils Discovered in Europe
Why in News?
Spanish palaeontologists have confirmed the discovery of approximately 150-million-year-old Diplodocus fossils in Teruel, Spain. This marks the first known record of the dinosaur genus outside North America.
Key Findings
1. Fossil Evidence:
- Researchers identified 14 well-preserved tail vertebrae along with several chevron bones.
- The specimen is estimated to have been around 25 metres (82 feet) long, comparable in size to Late Jurassic Diplodocus relatives from North America.
2. Significance of the Discovery:
- The fossils challenge the earlier understanding that Diplodocus was restricted to North America.
- The discovery suggests that temporary land connections may have linked North America and Europe during the Late Jurassic.
- Such connections could have enabled sauropods to disperse between the continents.
About Diplodocus
1. Classification:
-
A genus of herbivorous sauropod dinosaurs.
2. Geological Period:
-
Late Jurassic.
3. Size:
-
Some complete specimens are estimated to have reached approximately 90–100 feet in length and weighed around 30 tonnes.
4. Distinctive Features:
- Its elongated body and tail contributed to its characteristic appearance.
- Hollow vertebrae helped reduce the weight of its large skeleton.
- The name Diplodocus means “double beam,” referring to the paired chevron bones beneath its tail vertebrae.
- These chevron bones are thought to have helped protect blood vessels and other tissues in the tail.
Discovery and Earlier Distribution
- The genus was first identified in 1877 from fossil remains discovered in Colorado, USA.
- Before the Spanish discovery, Diplodocus was known primarily from North American fossil sites, including Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.
1. Indian Fossil Record
- Diplodocus itself has not been reported from India.
- However, fossils of related dinosaurs belonging to the superfamily Diplodocoidea have been discovered in the country.
2. Tharosaurus indicus
- Discovery: Reported in 2023 from the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan.
- Age: Approximately 167 million years.
- Classification: Dicraeosaurid sauropod belonging to Diplodocoidea.
- Significance:
- It has been described as the oldest known diplodocoid.
- Its discovery supports the possibility that the superfamily originated in Gondwanan India before dispersing to other regions.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U)
Why in News?
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-U 2.0 have together facilitated the delivery of more than one crore pucca houses to eligible urban beneficiaries.
About PMAY-U
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched PMAY-U in 2015 to provide all-weather pucca houses with basic civic amenities to eligible urban households, including slum dwellers.
- Houses are to be registered In the name of an adult female member, or Under joint ownership of spouses.
- PMAY-U functions as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme across most of its verticals.
- The Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS) operates as a 100% Central Sector component.
|
Category |
Centre : State/UT Share |
|
North-Eastern States, Himalayan States and UTs with Legislature |
90 : 10 |
|
Other States |
60 : 40 |
|
UTs without Legislature |
100% Central funding |
Eligibility and Coverage
1. Eligible Beneficiaries
- PMAY-U covers families belonging to Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG)
- The beneficiary family should not own a pucca house anywhere in India.
- Houses measuring less than 21 sq. m. may be Expanded up to 30 sq. m., or Replaced where expansion is not feasible.
2. Geographical Coverage
- Covers statutory towns notified in Census 2011.
- It also extends to urban local bodies subsequently notified by respective State Governments.
Implementation and Governance
1. Cooperative Federalism
- Implementation involves coordination between the Centre, States and urban local bodies.
- State-Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committees (SLSMCs) approve and monitor housing projects to facilitate transparent achievement of regional housing targets.
2. Technology Innovation Sub-Mission
- The Technology Innovation Sub-Mission (TISM) promotes the adoption of Modern construction technologies, Green construction techniques, Disaster-resistant building technologies
3. Digital Governance
- PMAY-U incorporates technology-based monitoring and delivery mechanisms, including GIS-based geo-tagging for stage-wise monitoring of construction, Unified web portals for processing applications, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to reduce financial leakages.
4. Convergence with Other Schemes
- PMAY-U promotes convergence with programmes and schemes such as Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, PM SVANidhi, PM Surya Ghar, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana
PMAY-U 2.0
- The second phase, PMAY-U 2.0, seeks to support an additional 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families during 2024–2029.
- Eligible households can receive assistance of up to ₹2.50 lakh per unit for constructing or acquiring affordable housing.
|
Category |
Annual Household Income |
|
EWS |
Up to ₹3 lakh |
|
LIG |
₹3–6 lakh |
|
MIG |
₹6–9 lakh |
Four Implementation Verticals under PMAY-U 2.0
1. Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC)
- Provides central assistance to EWS households for constructing or upgrading their own houses.
2. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP)
- Supports affordable housing projects undertaken through partnerships involving State agencies and Private developers
- Focuses on providing housing for landless urban beneficiaries.
3. Affordable Rental Housing (ARH)
- Promotes managed rental housing through public-private models.
- Targets groups such as Migrant workers, Students, Vulnerable and destitute populations
4. Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS)
- Provides a 4% interest subsidy on eligible home loans.
- Applicable to EWS, LIG and MIG households.
- The scheme covers home loans of up to ₹25 lakh, subject to the property having a value of not more than ₹35 lakh.
PM Vishwakarma
Why in News?
- As the PM Vishwakarma Scheme approaches three years of implementation, its registration target of 30 lakh beneficiaries has already been achieved.
- A concurrent evaluation conducted by IIM Mumbai found that 93% of surveyed beneficiaries reported a moderate to significant increase in income after undergoing training.
About PM Vishwakarma
- Launch Date: 17 September 2023
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME)
- Nature: Central Sector Scheme
- Financial Outlay: ₹13,000 crore
- Implementation Period: FY 2023–24 to FY 2027–28
- Objective: To provide end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftspeople, covering recognition, skill development, tools, credit, digital transactions and market access.
Three Pillars
- Samman – Recognition and dignity for traditional artisans.
- Samarthya – Enhancement of skills and capabilities.
- Samriddh – Promoting income generation and economic prosperity.
The scheme also seeks to preserve and strengthen the Guru-Shishya parampara, particularly the family-based transmission of traditional skills.
Traditional Trades Covered
PM Vishwakarma covers 18 traditional trades:
|
Trade |
Trade |
Trade |
|
Carpenter |
Boat Maker |
Armourer |
|
Metalsmith |
Hammer and Toolkit Maker |
Locksmith |
|
Goldsmith |
Potter |
Sculptor/Stone Breaker |
|
Cobbler/Shoesmith/Footwear Artisan |
Mason |
Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver |
|
Doll & Toy Maker |
Barber |
Garland Maker |
|
Washerman |
Tailor |
Fishing Net Maker |
Major Components of the Scheme
1. Recognition
- Eligible artisans receive PM Vishwakarma Certificate and PM Vishwakarma ID Card
- Registration is followed by a verification process.
2. Skill Development
- Basic Training: 5–7 days
- Advanced Training: 15 days or more
- Trainees receive a ₹500 per day stipend during training.
3. Modern Toolkit Support
- Eligible beneficiaries can receive assistance of up to ₹15,000 for modern toolkits.
4. Credit Support
- The scheme provides collateral-free enterprise development loans of up to ₹3 lakh in two tranches:
|
Feature |
First Tranche |
Second Tranche |
|
Loan amount |
Up to ₹1 lakh |
Up to ₹2 lakh |
|
Tenure |
18 months |
30 months |
|
Interest rate |
5% concessional rate |
5% concessional rate |
- The Government provides 8% interest subvention.
5. Digital Incentives
- Beneficiaries receive ₹1 per eligible digital payout.
- The incentive is available for a maximum of 100 eligible transactions per month.
Eligibility: An applicant must generally
- Be 18 years or older.
- Work with hands and tools in one of the 18 notified traditional trades.
- Be engaged in the unorganised sector on a self-employment basis.
- Not have availed loans under similar schemes during the preceding five years.
- Have only one eligible member from a family registered under the scheme.
- Persons in government service and their family members are not eligible.
World Circular Economy Forum 2026
Why in News?
India is hosting the 10th World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking the first occasion on which the forum is being held in South Asia.
About the World Circular Economy Forum
- WCEF is an annual global platform dedicated to accelerating the transition towards a circular economy.
- It brings together Governments, Businesses, Policymakers, International organisations, Experts, Innovators
- The forum provides a platform for sharing ideas, innovations and policy approaches for reducing resource use and promoting sustainable economic systems.
1. Origin
- The WCEF was launched in 2017 by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
- The 2026 edition is being jointly organised by:
- Sitra
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India
2. WCEF 2026
- Edition: 10th
- Host Country: India
- Venue: Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Regional milestone: First WCEF held in South Asia
- Theme: “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity”
Understanding the Circular Economy
A circular economy seeks to replace the conventional “take–make–dispose” model with a system designed to maximise the useful life of resources and minimise waste.
Key Principles
- Reduce: Lower consumption of raw materials and resources.
- Reuse: Extend the life of products through repeated use.
- Repair: Restore products instead of discarding them.
- Refurbishment: Renew used products for continued use.
- Remanufacturing: Recover and rebuild products or components to usable standards.
- Recycling: Process discarded materials into resources for new products.
|
Linear Economy |
Circular Economy |
|
Take → Make → Dispose |
Reduce → Reuse → Recover |
|
High resource consumption |
Efficient resource utilisation |
|
Waste generated at end of product life |
Waste minimisation |
|
Products often have a short-use cycle |
Products and materials kept in use longer |
|
Focus on consumption and disposal |
Focus on resource efficiency and circularity |
Significance
- Promotes resource efficiency and reduced pressure on natural resources.
- Encourages waste reduction and material recovery.
- Supports sustainable production and consumption.
- Creates opportunities for innovation and new circular business models.
- Strengthens international cooperation on the transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Artemis Accords
Why in News?
Djibouti has become the 72nd country and the 8th African nation to sign the Artemis Accords, expanding international participation in the framework for cooperation in lunar and broader deep-space exploration.
About the Artemis Accords
- The Artemis Accords comprise a set of non-binding principles governing cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, Comets, Asteroids
- They were established in 2020 by the United States and NASA.
- Signatories agree to undertake space-exploration activities in accordance with the principles of the Outer Space Treaty, 1967.
1. Nature of the Accords
- The Accords are non-binding in nature.
- They provide a common framework for responsible international cooperation in space exploration.
- They complement existing international space law rather than replacing the Outer Space Treaty.
2. Founding Signatories
- Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
3. India and the Artemis Accords
- India signed the Artemis Accords in 2023.
- India’s participation reflects its engagement in international cooperation concerning peaceful and responsible space exploration.
Core Principles
- Peaceful Exploration: Space exploration and utilisation should be conducted for peaceful purposes.
- Transparency: Signatories promote transparency regarding their space exploration policies and activities.
- Interoperability: Encourages compatible systems and technologies to facilitate cooperation among participating countries.
- Emergency Assistance: Supports assistance to astronauts in distress or emergency situations.
- Registration of Space Objects: Reinforces the importance of registering space objects in accordance with international obligations.
- Scientific Data Sharing: Encourages the release and sharing of scientific data generated through space exploration.
- Preservation of Space Heritage: Promotes the protection of historically and scientifically significant sites and artefacts in space, including lunar heritage sites.
- Responsible Use of Space Resources: Supports the responsible extraction and utilisation of space resources, consistent with applicable international law.
Kosovo
Why in News?
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders of war crimes linked to the 1998–99 Kosovo conflict.
- On 16 September 2026, the Trial Panel found Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi criminally responsible for specified war crimes, including arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder.
- Hashim Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.
- The court did not find the accused guilty of crimes against humanity, stating that the prosecution had not proved the required elements beyond reasonable doubt.
About Kosovo
- Capital: Pristina
- Kosovo is a landlocked territory in the Balkans of Southeastern Europe.
- It declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
1. Geographical Location
- Serbia – north and east
- North Macedonia – southeast
- Albania – southwest
- Montenegro – west and northwest
2. International Status
- Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations.
- It is also not a member of the European Union.
- Kosovo uses the euro as its de facto currency, without a formal monetary agreement with the EU.
- Kosovo's declaration of independence remains internationally contested, with some states recognising it and others maintaining support for Serbia's territorial position.
3. India–Kosovo Position
- India does not recognise Kosovo as an independent state and maintains its position in support of Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kosovo Conflict: Background
- The Kosovo conflict of 1998–99 involved fighting between Serbian/Yugoslav forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
- The conflict became a major international issue and subsequently led to international administration and institutional arrangements in Kosovo.
- The proceedings against Thaçi and his co-defendants concern events between March 1998 and September 1999 in Kosovo and parts of northern Albania.
Kosovo Specialist Chambers
- The Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) is a court based in The Hague, Netherlands.
- It deals with allegations of crimes arising from the Kosovo conflict.
- The court is distinct from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- The Thaçi trial began in April 2023, with the Trial Panel delivering its judgment on 16 September 2026.
Acharya Vinoba Bhave (1895–1982)
Why in News?
Prime Minister paid tribute to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his birth anniversary on 11 September, recalling his contribution to India’s freedom struggle, social reform and the Sarvodaya movement.
About Acharya Vinoba Bhave
- Born: Vinayak Narahari Bhave
- Period: 1895–1982
- He was a Gandhian freedom fighter, Social reformer, Spiritual leader, Prominent exponent of Sarvodaya, meaning the welfare and upliftment of all.
Association with Mahatma Gandhi
- Vinoba Bhave joined Gandhi’s Kochrab Ashram in Gujarat in 1916.
- In 1921, he was entrusted with the responsibility of the Satyagraha Ashram at Wardha.
- He became closely associated with Gandhian principles of Non-violence, Constructive social work, Rural development, Self-reliance
Role in the Freedom Struggle
1. Nagpur Flag Satyagraha, 1923
- Vinoba participated in the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha, a movement associated with asserting the right to hoist the national flag.
2. Individual Satyagraha, 1940
- Mahatma Gandhi selected Vinoba Bhave as the first Individual Satyagrahi in 1940.
- Jawaharlal Nehru was chosen as the second Individual Satyagrahi.
3. Quit India Movement, 1942
- He also participated in the Quit India Movement launched in 1942.
4. Bhoodan Movement
- Vinoba Bhave launched the Bhoodan Movement in Pochampally, Telangana, in 1951.
- Movement sought to address rural landlessness through voluntary donations of land by landowners.
- Donated land was intended to be distributed among the landless.
- Core Idea: Landowners → Voluntary land donation → Redistribution → Landless beneficiaries
5. Gramdan Movement
- The Gramdan Movement emerged from the Bhoodan initiative in 1952.
- It went beyond individual land donations by advocating the voluntary transfer of individual landownership to village communities.
- The approach emphasised collective ownership and village-level cooperation.
6. Gram Seva Mandal
- Established: 1934
- Location: Wardha
- Purpose: Promoted rural reconstruction and constructive social work.
7. Brahma Vidya Mandir
- Established: 1959
- Location: Paunar, Maharashtra
- Nature: A self-sufficient women’s community inspired by Vinoba’s ideas of spiritual and social development.
8. Major Works
- Gitai – Marathi rendering of the Bhagavad Gita, Talks on the Gita, Swarajya Shastra, Sthitaprajna Darshan, Ishavasyavritti
|
Year |
Honour |
|
1958 |
Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership |
|
1983 |
Bharat Ratna, awarded posthumously |
SARAL AI
Why in News?
The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) is using SARAL AI to transform research published in its journals into engaging and accessible video content.
About SARAL AI
- SARAL stands for Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning.
- It is a technology-driven, AI-enabled platform designed to convert research papers into easy-to-understand video summaries.
- The platform supports content in multiple Indian languages, helping make scientific and academic research more accessible to a wider audience.
Key Features
- AI-based transformation: Converts complex academic papers into simplified video presentations.
- Multilingual accessibility: Enables research communication in multiple Indian languages.
- Simplification of research: Presents technical and academic findings in an engaging and easier-to-understand format.
- Research dissemination: Facilitates wider public access to scientific knowledge.
- AI-integrated workflows: Seeks to make academic communication processes faster, smoother and more accessible.
Objective
SARAL AI aims to democratize access to research by bridging the gap between complex academic publications and wider audiences.
It seeks to:
- Improve the accessibility of scientific literature.
- Simplify communication of research findings.
- Expand the reach of academic knowledge through visual and multilingual content.
- Leverage AI to improve research communication workflows.
Institutional Association
- Initiative: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
- User Institution: CSIR-NIScPR
- Primary application: Converting research published in CSIR-NIScPR journals into accessible video summaries.
G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting
Why in News?
India participated in the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting held in Houston, USA, convened under the United States’ G20 Presidency.
About the Meeting
- The G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting serves as a ministerial-level platform for cooperation among G20 members on energy-related issues.
- It focuses on strengthening energy security, affordability and resilience through coordinated policy and infrastructure measures.
Key Objectives
- Enhance energy security and affordability.
- Promote efficient and predictable regulatory frameworks.
- Support energy infrastructure development.
- Strengthen supply chains for critical minerals essential to modern energy technologies.
Three Pillars of the Meeting
1. Energy Security and Affordable Baseload
- Focuses on ensuring reliable and affordable energy supplies.
- Emphasises the availability of dependable baseload energy to support economic activity.
2. Permitting and Regulatory Efficiency
- Seeks to make approval and permitting processes more efficient and streamlined.
- Faster regulatory procedures can facilitate the development of energy and related infrastructure.
3. Critical Minerals and Resilient Supply Chains
- Addresses the need for secure and diversified supplies of critical minerals.
- Emphasises greater resilience of supply chains supporting energy and clean-technology systems.
New Zealand
Why in News?
New Zealand has passed legislation to give effect to its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, marking a step towards implementing the bilateral trade agreement signed in 2026.
India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
- The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in New Delhi in April 2026.
- Key provisions include around 95% of New Zealand’s exports to India will receive elimination or significant reduction in tariffs.
- All Indian goods will obtain duty-free access to the New Zealand market.
- The agreement is intended to strengthen bilateral trade and improve market access for businesses in both countries.
Geographical Profile of New Zealand
- Location: New Zealand is an island country situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia.
- Capital: Wellington
- Nearest Major Country: Australia, located across the Tasman Sea.
- Highest Peak: Aoraki/Mount Cook
Soil Carbon Payments
Why in News?
India’s first soil-carbon payments were released under the Aadi programme, benefiting 2,550 farmers in Punjab and Haryana.
About the Aadi Programme
- Aadi is a farmer-focused carbon programme launched in 2019 by Grow Indigo, a private agricultural solutions company.
- The programme aims to generate agricultural carbon credits by encouraging farming practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil organic carbon.
- It operates with technical guidance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Participating farmers adopted the following practices during 2019–2022:
- Direct Seeded Rice (DSR): Establishing rice crops without conventional transplanting of seedlings.
- Reduced tillage: Minimising soil disturbance during cultivation.
- Crop-residue management: Managing agricultural residues through practices that support emission reduction and soil-carbon improvement.
These practices aim to reduce agricultural emissions while increasing the amount of organic carbon stored in the soil.
Cardiff Agreement
- Cardiff Agreement: The First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed the Cardiff Agreement, affirming the right to self-determination and calling for constitutional processes concerning Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- It calls on the UK Government to:
- Facilitate constitutional change towards independence for Scotland and Wales.
- Hold a border poll concerning Irish reunification in Northern Ireland.
- UK: The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
All Set with 21 September Current Affairs? Let’s Quiz!
- Essential for Exams: The Current Affairs of 21 September 2026 cover topics that are often asked in competitive exams.
- Boosts Your Knowledge: Helps you stay informed about the latest events and updates.
- Improves Accuracy: Daily practice with Current Affairs of 21 September 2026 improves your speed and accuracy in exams.
- Quick Revision: Acts as a daily revision tool for upcoming exams.
- Saves Time: You don’t need to search multiple sources; everything is here in one place!
- Helps in Interviews: Being updated with Current Affairs of 21 September 2026 gives you confidence for personal interviews and group discussions.
Why is 21 September 2026 Current Affairs Important for You?
- Read Properly: Go through the 21 September 2026 Current Affairs to stay updated.
- Make Notes: Summarize key points and important updates in your own words.
- Link with Syllabus: Identify topics relevant to your exam and connect them with your syllabus.
- Practice Daily Quizzes: Test your knowledge by taking daily quizzes based on 21 September 2026 Current Affairs.
- Revise Often: Review the updates multiple times to boost your recall and confidence.
- Discuss with Peers: Join discussions and share insights to deepen your understanding.
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