CURRENT AFFAIRS 18-19 September, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 18-19 September, 2026

1. RAJNATH SINGH CALLS FOR INTEGRATED CIVIL-MILITARY AEROSPACE ECOSYSTEM –

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for an integrated civil-military aerospace ecosystem in Bengaluru on 18 September 2026. He linked the proposal with indigenous capability in aircraft design, avionics, propulsion, composite materials, flight control systems, manufacturing, and certification.

Integrated Aerospace Ecosystem

• An integrated aerospace ecosystem is a framework in which civil aviation and military aviation share industrial, technological, and manufacturing capabilities. In India, such an ecosystem involves public sector undertakings, private firms, research institutions, and certification agencies.

Indigenous Aerospace Capabilities

• Aircraft design is the process of planning the structure, aerodynamics, and systems of an aircraft. Avionics refers to electronic systems used in aircraft, including navigation, communication, and flight management. Propulsion covers engines and power systems, while composite materials are used in airframes and structural components for strength and weight reduction.

2. PAWAN SEHRAWAT NAMED INDIA’S MALE FLAG-BEARER FOR ASIAN GAMES 2026 –

• Pawan Sehrawat, an Indian kabaddi player, was named India’s male flag-bearer for the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 19 September 2026. He replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, while shooter Manu Bhaker remained the female flag-bearer for the Indian contingent.

Asian Games and Flag-Bearer Role

• The Asian Games are a continental multi-sport event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia. The flag-bearer is the athlete chosen to carry the national flag during the opening ceremony, and countries often select athletes with major international medals or strong sporting records.

Pawan Sehrawat and Kabaddi

• Pawan Sehrawat was part of India’s gold-winning men’s kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games. Kabaddi has been a regular medal sport for India at the Asian Games, and the men’s team has won multiple gold medals in the event’s history.

Opening Ceremony Details

• The Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 19 September 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s ceremonial kit was expected to arrive at Nagoya airport at 3 PM, which affected his availability for the opening ceremony.

3. ODISHA PLANS 870-ACRE SILICON VALLEY HUB IN CUTTACK –

• Odisha has announced an 870-acre “Odisha Silicon Valley” project at Naraj near Cuttack for semiconductor, electronics, and information technology industries. The plan was announced during SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, and the site lies close to the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar urban corridor and the Mahanadi River.

Project Location and Connectivity

• Naraj is located near Cuttack in Odisha and has access to the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar urban corridor. The site also has multimodal connectivity to Paradip Port and Dhamra Port, along with links to national highways.

Industrial Focus of the Hub

• The proposed hub is intended for semiconductor fabrication, electronics manufacturing, and IT projects. Semiconductor fabrication units require large quantities of water and power, and river-adjacent industrial locations are often preferred for such facilities.

4. MARATHI FILM GONDHAL BECOMES INDIA’S OSCARS 2027 ENTRY –

• The Film Federation of India selected the Marathi-language film Gondhal as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The announcement was made on 18 September 2026, and the film was chosen from a list of 33 films considered for the national entry.

Academy Awards and International Feature Film category

• The Academy Awards are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States. The Best International Feature Film category is reserved for feature-length films produced outside the United States with predominantly non-English dialogue.

About Gondhal

• Gondhal is a Marathi-language psychological and cultural thriller film written and directed by Santosh Davakhar. The film is set in rural Maharashtra and deals with ritual tradition, personal ambition, and human vulnerability.

5. SEMICON INDIA 2026 UNVEILS SEMICON 2.0 ROADMAP –

• SEMICON India 2026 is being held from 17 to 19 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi, also called the India International Convention and Expo Centre, in Dwarka, New Delhi. The fifth edition of SEMICON India was inaugurated on 17 September 2026 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the event covered India’s semiconductor policy, manufacturing, and design ecosystem.

Semicon 2.0 Framework

• Semicon 2.0 is the next phase of India’s semiconductor programme and is structured around six pillars. These pillars are chip design, machines and materials, fabrication facilities, advanced packaging, applied research and development, and talent development.
• The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 in July 2026 with an outlay of Rs 1.275 trillion, or US$13.23 billion. The programme expands government support across the semiconductor value chain, from design to manufacturing and packaging.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Sohar Port, that was recently seen in the news, is located in which country ?

1. a) Qatar
2. b) Oman
3. c) Egypt
4. d) Saudi Arabia

Q2.  India’s first soil-carbon payments to farmers in Punjab and Haryana were made under which programme ?

1. a) Aadi farmer carbon Programme
2. b) National Regenerative Farming Programme
3. c) Soil Carbon Mission
4. d) Green Kisan Programme

Q3.  Which State/UT ranked first in the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025 ?

1. a) Maharashtra
2. b) Delhi
3. c) Karnataka
4. d) Jammu and Kashmir

Q4.  With reference to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), consider the following statements:

1. BIMSTEC was established through the Bangkok Declaration in 1997.
2. It serves as a strategic bridge linking India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy with its “Act East” policy.
3. The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is located at Dhaka, Bangladesh, serving as the headquarters for regional health protocols.

         Which of the statements given above is/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: BIMSTEC was founded on 6 June 1997 through the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration. Its permanent secretariat is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Statement 2 is correct: Geographically and strategically, BIMSTEC bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia. For India, it acts as a vital overlapping platform that synergizes the “Neighbourhood First” initiative with the “Act East” policy, complemented by cross-border connectivity projects like the Kaladan Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is established in Jamnagar, Gujarat (India), not in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dhaka serves as the headquarters of BIMSTEC itself, not the WHO traditional medicine center.

Q5.  Consider the following statements with reference to India’s official stance on the Pakistan–China boundary arrangements:

1. India officially recognizes the 1963 China–Pakistan Boundary Agreement as a legally valid framework for the Shaksgam Valley.
2. India maintains that Pakistan has no locus standi to enter into any territorial arrangements with third countries regarding the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
3. New Delhi contends that there is no legally recognized common boundary between Pakistan and China.

         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 incorrect: India has consistently rejected and never recognized the 1963 China–Pakistan Boundary Agreement, under which Pakistan illegally ceded the Shaksgam Tract (Trans-Karakoram Tract) to China. India maintains that Pakistan has no sovereign right to negotiate or bargain away Indian territory under its illegal occupation.
• Statement 2 is correct: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterates that the entire union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. Therefore, Pakistan has no locus standi (legal standing) to make territorial arrangements with any third nation over these areas.
• Statement 3 is correct: India holds the firm geopolitical view that because the region legally belongs to India, no recognized, lawful international boundary exists directly between Pakistan and China in those sectors.

Answer Key