CURRENT AFFAIRS 16-17 September, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 16-17 September, 2026

1. N CHANDRASEKARAN REAPPOINTED AS TATA SONS CHAIRMAN –

• N Chandrasekaran has been given the position of chairman of Tata Sons again for a period of five years, retracting from his earlier decision of not seeking an extension of his term.
• This has come into effect after the Tata Sons board’s approval on September 17, 2026, following their request to him to change his mind regarding the same. This situation arises amidst disagreements between the Tata Sons board and the Tata Trusts who own more than 66% of the holding company. Noel Tata, the chairman of the Tata Trusts, opposed the reappointment of Chandrasekaran and has raised questions about its legitimacy.

Chandrasekaran to Lead Tata Sons for Another Five Years

• In a statement, Tata Sons clarified that Chandrasekaran decided to revisit his previous decision upon a request made by the board of directors. The board unanimously decided to reappoint him for five more years in office. Currently, Chandrasekaran has been the Chairman of Tata Sons since 2017 when he was first reappointed in 2022. His tenure is expected to elapse in February 2027.

2. PM MODI INAUGURATES SEMICON INDIA 2026 IN NEW DELHI –

• Honorable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026, the fifth edition of the event, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, India, on 17th September, heralding the start of a three-day event centered on the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem of India. The event will be held from 17th to 19th September and will see the gathering of semiconductor companies, policymakers, investors, research institutions, startups, academia and students. The event, which is organized by India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and SEMI, has been given the theme “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem.”

SEMICON India 2026: Theme and Focus Areas

• SEMICON India 2026 focuses on building capabilities in the entire value chain for semiconductors including materials, manufacturing, chip design, packaging, electronics and systems.
• The three-day program involves technical sessions, panel discussions, country roundtable discussions and industry interactions on semiconductor manufacturing, AI, digital transformation, supply chain, materials, sustainability, product design, startups, innovation and talent/skilling.

3. INDIA ELECTRIC MOBILITY INDEX 2025: DELHI TOPS NITI AAYOG RANKINGS –

• India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025, launched by the NITI Aayog in partnership with the WRI India, has ranked Delhi as the leader in India’s transition towards electric mobility. Delhi has been awarded with total 84 points out of 100, followed by Maharashtra with 78 and Karnataka with 73. This second edition evaluates all 36 states and union territories based on the adoption of electric vehicles, readiness of charging infrastructure, and research and innovation.
• IEMI 2025 demonstrates overall progress as well; it indicates that the median score has increased from 36 in 2024 to 40 in 2025.
• Delhi and Maharashtra have maintained their top two positions respectively, whereas Karnataka has taken the third spot. Maharashtra and Karnataka are the only two large states which fall under the category of Top Performers.
• Among hilly and northeastern states, Manipur has topped the list with 46 points.

What is the India Electric Mobility Index?

• The India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) is an index that tries to evaluate the efficiency of state and UT governments in promoting electric mobility. The IEMI, jointly developed by NITI Aayog and WRI India, evaluates 36 regions through the analysis of 16 indicators under three major themes.

4. PM MODI TURNS 76: 10 MAJOR INITIATIVES AND AREAS OF WORK UNDER THE MODI GOVERNMENT-

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi became Prime Minister on 26 May 2014, while his third consecutive tenure started on 9 June 2024. The various governments led by Prime Minister Modi since 2014 have started various programs in relation to financial inclusion, sanitation, drinking water, health care, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, digital and rural development.

5. FED RAISES RATES BY 25 BPS: WILL RBI FOLLOW ? –

• The US Federal Reserve increased the its federal funds rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, 16th September, 2026. This increased the federal funds target range up to 3.75%-4%. The unanimous decision marked the first rate hike since July 2023 and the first policy move of Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, who assumed office in May. Revised projections suggested that the policymakers viewed further rate hikes as feasible by year-end, including another quarter-point increase.

Why Did the Federal Reserve Raise Rates?

• In an FOMC statement, economic activity was seen growing at a moderate pace with robust domestic demand and good productivity gains, even as inflation remained elevated, thus necessitating an increase in borrowing costs.
• Policymakers were concerned about rising inflation that required inflation readings to show sustained moves toward the Fed’s 2% objective.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  On September 16, 2026, the 3rd BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine began in Goa. Which of the following countries is NOT a member of BIMSTEC ?

1. a) Myanmar
2. b) Thailand
3. c) Maldives
4. d) Sri Lanka

Q2.  The New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS countries, was recently in the news. Which of the following is the primary objective of the NDB ?

1. a) Financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects
2. b) Regulating global financial markets
3. c) Providing military assistance to BRICS countries
4. d) Managing foreign exchange reserves of member countries

Q3.  PM Modi recently gifted a Russian translation of the Thirukkural to President Putin ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit. What is the Thirukkural primarily known for ?

1. a) A Buddhist text on meditation
2. b) A Sanskrit text on ancient Indian astronomy
3. c) A Tamil epic describing the Chola dynasty
4. d) A Tamil text on ethics and moral values

Q4.  With reference to the militarisation and weaponisation of outer space, consider the following statements:

1. Militarisation of space strictly involves deploying systems designed to attack or destroy ground-based targets using space assets.
2. The phenomenon where ASAT attacks create orbital debris that triggers cascading collisions, rendering space unusable, is known as the Kessler Syndrome.
3. India, the United States, Russia, and China have all demonstrated Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capabilities.

         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-

• Explanation of Statement 1: Incorrect. This statement describes “weaponisation,” not militarisation. Militarisation refers to using satellites and space assets for supportive military purposes such as communication, navigation, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Weaponisation involves deploying systems explicitly designed to attack, disrupt, or destroy space or ground targets.
• Explanation of Statement 2: Correct. The Kessler Syndrome is a major concern where space debris generated by ASAT attacks or collisions triggers a cascading chain reaction of further collisions, making orbital zones hazardous and unusable.
• Explanation of Statement 3: Correct. The text explicitly notes that the US, Russia, China, and India have all successfully demonstrated Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capabilities.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the Kishau Multipurpose Project:

1. The project is proposed to be constructed on the Tons River, which is a major tributary of the Yamuna River.
2. It is located along the border of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
3. The central government bears 90% of the cost allocated specifically for the water component of the project.

         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 Kishau Multipurpose Project is proposed on the Tons River, a principal tributary of the Yamuna River, originating in the Garhwal region.
• Statement 2 is correct: Geographically, the dam site is located on the border between the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh and the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand.
• Statement 3 is correct: Under the funding framework finalized by the participating Kishau Dam project stakeholders, the Centre funds approximately 90% of the water-component cost, while the remaining 10% is distributed among the basin states in line with the 1994 Yamuna Water Agreement.

Answer Key