CURRENT AFFAIRS 25-26 September, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 25-26 September, 2026

1. INDIA WOMEN’S KABADDI TEAM WINS ASIAN GAMES GOLD –

• The Indian women’s kabaddi team won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on 26 September 2026. India defeated Iran 37-34 in the final at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium and secured its fourth Asian Games gold in women’s kabaddi.

Kabaddi at the Asian Games

• Kabaddi is a contact team sport played on a rectangular court, and the Asian Games have included kabaddi as a medal event for both men and women. India has won multiple Asian Games gold medals in women’s kabaddi, with titles in 2010, 2014, 2022, and 2026.

India’s Record in Women’s Kabaddi

• India defended its Asian Games title in 2026 after winning gold in the 2022 Asian Games, which were held in 2023. India’s only non-gold finish in women’s kabaddi at the Asian Games came in 2018, when the team won silver after losing to Iran.

2. MAHARASHTRA DECLARES 265 TALUKAS DROUGHT-AFFECTED –

• Maharashtra declared 265 of its 358 talukas drought-affected on 26 September 2026. The affected talukas account for about 74% of the state’s total landmass. The declaration followed a rainfall deficit of 18.8% between 1 June and 18 September 2026 and a two-month monsoon break linked with El Niño conditions.

Drought as a Revenue and Administrative Category

• In India, drought declaration is an administrative process used by state governments for relief measures under revenue and disaster management provisions. Taluka is a sub-district administrative unit used in several Indian states, including Maharashtra. Drought-affected classification is often based on rainfall shortage, crop condition, water availability, and ground-level field assessment.  

3. INDIA RANKS 31ST IN WEF TRAVEL & TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX 2026 –

• India ranked 31st in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, which assessed 110 economies and was published on 25 September 2026. India moved up nine places from 39th in the 2024 index, while Japan secured the first rank in the 2026 edition.

Travel & Tourism Development Index

• The Travel & Tourism Development Index, or TTDI, is a global index that measures the conditions supporting sustainable and resilient tourism growth. It does not measure only tourist arrivals or tourism spending, and it covers factors linked to the long-term development of the travel and tourism sector.

India’s Position in the 2026 Index

• India’s 31st rank placed it among the better-performing large tourism markets in the 2026 edition. The country’s score improved on account of cost-competitive travel, cultural resources, tourism infrastructure, and business travel facilities.

4. MANDEEP K. BHANDARI APPOINTED CBSE CHAIRMAN –

• Mandeep K. Bhandari, a 2001-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the AGMUT cadre, was appointed chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education on 25 September 2026. The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, and the post was temporarily upgraded to the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India.

Central Board of Secondary Education

• The Central Board of Secondary Education is a national school education board under the Union Government of India. It conducts examinations and frames affiliation-related norms for schools across the country.

5. PLI SCHEMES DISBURSE ₹36,754 CRORE –

• The Government of India has disbursed ₹36,754 crore in incentives under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes since their launch in 2020. The data covers disbursements up to 30 June 2026 and was placed in the public domain by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on 25 September 2026.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme

• The Production Linked Incentive scheme is a central government incentive framework launched in 2020. It covers 14 sectors and has an approved outlay of ₹1.91 lakh crore. The scheme links incentives to incremental production, sales, or investment by eligible companies.

Sector-wise Disbursement Pattern

• Large-scale electronics manufacturing received the highest disbursement among the PLI sectors, with ₹19,090.98 crore by June 2026. The pharmaceutical sector received ₹6,662 crore, while food products received ₹3,271.44 crore. Automobiles and auto components received ₹3,174.15 crore during the same period.cise Tarang Shakti 2026 has been started by the Indian Air Force in operational mode at Air

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Recently in the news regarding Rs. 200 crore support under the RDI Fund, what is ‘Agnibaan RLV’ related to ?

1. a) Reusable Space Launch Vehicle
2. b) Manned Space Station
3. c) Reusable Space Capsule
4. d) Earth Observation Satellite

Q2.  The ‘Make in India’ initiative, which completed 12 years on September 25, 2026, was launched in which year ?

1. a) 2012
2. b) 2013
3. c) 2014
4. d) 2015

Q3.  What is the primary objective of the ‘Challenge Mode’ launched under the UDAN scheme on 22 September 2026 ?

1. a) Fixing airfares for international flight services
2. b) Providing loans to private airline companies to purchase new aircraft
3. c) Allowing States/Union Territories to nominate airstrips and helipads for development
4. d) Privatizing all regional airports

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI):

1. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) enjoys identical constitutional protection against removal as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
2. Other Election Commissioners cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
3. A motion seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner can only be initiated in the Lok Sabha with the support of at least 100 members.

         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: Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution of India, the Chief Election Commissioner is provided with security of tenure. The provision states that the CEC cannot be removed from office except in “like manner and on the like grounds” as a Judge of the Supreme Court. According to Article 124(4), the grounds for such removal are limited strictly to proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Constitution explicitly draws a distinction between the security of tenure of the CEC and other Election Commissioners. An ordinary Election Commissioner or Regional Commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner. This safeguard is designed to ensure they can function independently without fearing arbitrary removal by the executive, though their protection is less rigid than that of the CEC.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: A motion seeking the removal of the CEC can be initiated in either House of Parliament (not exclusively the Lok Sabha). The procedural framework mandates that the notice of the motion must be signed by at least 100 members in the case of the Lok Sabha OR at least 50 members in the case of the Rajya Sabha.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):

1. It is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
2. It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. It is mandated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food.

         Which of the statements given above is/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: FSSAI is a statutory autonomous body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidated various older laws like the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: FSSAI functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, not the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Statement 3 is correct: One of FSSAI’s core statutory functions is laying down science-based standards for food manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure safety.

Answer Key