CURRENT AFFAIRS 10-11 September, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 10-11 September, 2026

1. WHO IS SUDHAKAR DALELA? INDIA’S BRICS SHERPA 2026 –

• As India is organizing the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, 2026, the world’s focus will be on the world leaders. However, beyond the summits, there is a great deal of diplomatic work being done by senior diplomats who work on negotiation preparations and coordination of positions. Sudhakar Dalela is one such senior diplomat and is known as the BRICS Sherpa of India.
• Sudhakar Dalela, an IFS officer from the batch of 1993, is experienced in diplomatic matters for over 3 decades. He currently holds the position of Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Who Is Sudhakar Dalela?

• Sudhakar Dalela is a senior Indian diplomat and a 1993-batch IFS officer. He is currently serving as the Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs and has taken over the position from Dammu Ravi in 2025.
• He has held many important international diplomatic positions in his career, some of which are listed below,

1. Ambassador of India to Bhutan
2. Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
3. Consul General of India in Chicago from 2011 to 2014
4. Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the WTO in Geneva
5. Posts in diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv, Brasília and Dhaka

2. ARTICLE 371(K) FOR LADAKH –

• A new constitutional clause Article 371(K) has been suggested by the Centre for the region of Ladakh in a very important move where the region had always demanded some form of protection. This suggestion has come after the discussions between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the LAB and KDA of the region.
• This new arrangement can bring about a directly elected governing body that would have powers to legislate on issues like land, culture, language, forest, environment, natural resources, etc. However, the powers of this body have not yet been decided.

Why Does Ladakh Need Constitutional Safeguards?

• Ladakh is a union territory that was separated from Jammu and Kashmir with no legislative assembly in August 2019.
• Ladakh used to have four members in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir before its separation from Jammu and Kashmir. There were worries after its reorganisation as it was mostly run through a bureaucracy process.

Other worries included,

• Security of land and jobs
• Cultural and linguistic distinctiveness of Ladakh
• Ecological security
• Demographic changes
• Participation in democracy
• Powers of the Hill Councils

3. EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS 2026 BEGINS IN TWO-THEATRE FORMAT –

• Exercise Yudh Abhyas 22 between the Indian Army and the US Army commenced on September 9, 2026, and will run till September 28, 2026. One important difference in this year’s exercise is that the troops will train in two completely different terrains during the same exercise. The first phase of the exercise is taking place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, near Bikaner in Rajasthan, while the second phase of the exercise will take place at Auli in Uttarakhand. Through this format, the soldiers from both the armies will get training in precision fires, desert operations, high-altitude warfare, air mobility, and counter-drone exercises.

Yudh Abhyas 2026 Features Two Theatre Format

• The earlier versions of Yudh Abhyas usually concentrated on a particular operational environment, but the 2026 version of Yudh Abhyas takes a wider approach by switching from desert terrain to high-altitude terrain.
• In this exercise, the first phase of training is taking place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, near Bikaner, which will help the troops to practice precision fires and long-range fires.
• The second phase of the exercise is taking place at Auli, in Uttarakhand, which is close to the Line of Actual Control.

4. 503-MEMBER INDIAN CONTINGENT RECEIVES GRAND SEND-OFF FOR ASIAN GAMES 2026 –

• India’s contingent of 503 members headed for the Asian Games 2026 had been accorded a befitting send-off in New Delhi today. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya was full of confidence that Indian athletes would put up a good show and boost the pride of the nation. The official contingent jersey was also revealed during the ceremony in the presence of athletes and support personnel. One major feature of the contingent is its representation of more than 300 first-timers in the Asian Games which shows the emergence of new talent in the country.

Revealing Official Jersey before Asian Games

• Mansukh Mandaviya has revealed the official contingent jersey along with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav.
• Mandaviya stated that he was very sure that Indian contingent would do well at the Games. He added that accomplishments in sports were not just personal but the athletes also represented India and their achievements added to the pride of the nation.

5. RAJASTHAN’S SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS ADDED TO UNESCO TENTATIVE LIST –

• Shekhawati havelis of Rajasthan have made a great leap forward towards potential heritage recognition at the international level through being listed on the UNESCO Tentative List. Characterized by colorful façade, ornate frescoes, extensive courtyards, and grand architecture, these historic mansions offer visual documentation of the lifestyle of northeastern Rajasthan. This includes historic properties located in 14 towns such as Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Fatehpur, and Churu. Although inclusion on this list does not mean that the Shekhawati havelis are now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, their heritage value is now subject to greater international attention.

Which Shekhawati Towns Are Included?

In the proposal, heritage sites including historic havelis are included from 14 towns,

• Alsisar
• Bissau
• Chirawa
• Churu
• Dundlod
• Fatehpur
• Jhunjhunu
• Khetri
• Laxmangarh
• Mandawa
• Mahansar
• Nawalgarh
• Ramgarh
• Sikar

Why Are Shekhawati Havelis Famous?

• What makes the Shekhawati havelis unique is their fresco paintings. Wall, ceiling, and façade paintings tell stories of religion, mythology, wildlife, portraits, and the local way of life.
• The frescoes also help to trace social transformation taking place in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with depictions of innovations in transportation, lifestyle and foreign influences.
• Many havelis of Shekhawati are constructed by wealthy mercantile families and include elaborate entrances, courtyards, and lavish interiors.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Exercise Samudra Laksamana is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and which country ?

1. a) Egypt
2. b) Indonesia
3. c) Vietnam
4. d) Malaysia

Q2.  Bakhira Lake, that was recently seen in news, is located in which state ?

1. a) Uttar Pradesh
2. b) Gujarat
3. c) Haryana
4. d) Punjab

Q3.  Which airport in India operationalised the country’s first satellite-guided helicopter approach procedure (RNP CAT H) ?

1. a) Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai
2. b) HAL Airport, Bengaluru
3. c) Safdarjung Airport, Delhi
4. d) Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) in India:

1. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) primarily focuses on coal and bulk freight movement, whereas the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) handles container and EXIM cargo.
2. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor extends from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) in Maharashtra.
3. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

         Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: The Eastern DFC spans major regions of northern and eastern India with a key focus on coal and bulk freight. In contrast, the Western DFC runs through northern and western regions, specializing in container traffic and EXIM (Export-Import) cargo connectivity to western ports.
• Statement 2 is correct: The route of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is designed from Dadri (Uttar Pradesh) to JNPT (Maharashtra), linking the northern industrial hinterland directly with major western maritime ports.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is a special purpose vehicle created to build, maintain, and operate the DFCs, but it operates under the Ministry of Railways, not the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):

1. ISRO was established on August 15, 1969, by directly replacing the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR).
2. INCOSPAR was originally set up in 1962 under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
3. Since its inception in 1969, ISRO has functioned directly under the Department of Space, which is overseen by the Prime Minister of India.

         Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: ISRO was officially founded on August 15, 1969, superseding its predecessor, INCOSPAR, with a much wider and expanded mandate to harness space technology for national development
• Statement 2 is correct: INCOSPAR was established in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) at the initiative of visionary scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, who is widely regarded as the founding father of the Indian space program.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Although ISRO currently operates under the Department of Space (DOS), it was not brought under it at its inception in 1969. ISRO was initially under the DAE and was transferred to the newly created Department of Space in 1972 (which reports directly to the Prime Minister of India)

Answer Key