Daily Current Affairs — 11 September 2026
· 13 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)
Today's digest covers International Relations, Defence & Security, Polity & Schemes, Economy & Infrastructure, Environment, Science & Technology, Awards & Books, Sports, Important Days and a Telangana Focus, followed by 8 practice questions.
1. International Relations
India–Sri Lanka Defence Ties Strengthened
Why in news: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a three-day visit to Sri Lanka from 8 to 10 September 2026, becoming the first Indian Defence Minister to visit the island nation in 38 years.
During the visit, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. The first covered the upgradation of 6 L-70 air-defence guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force under an Indian government grant. He met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
Key facts to remember
- Second MoU: Cooperation between India's National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Defence College of Sri Lanka for youth exchange.
- Bailey Bridges: Both leaders virtually inaugurated 3 Bailey Bridges built by Indian forces in Sri Lanka.
- Operation Sagar Bandhu: India's relief mission after Cyclone Ditwah (2025), which included building Bailey bridges.
- Sri Lanka capitals: Colombo (commercial capital) and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (administrative capital).
18th BRICS Summit Hosted by India
Why in news: India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, on 12–13 September 2026, as India holds the BRICS chairship for 2026.
India took over the chairship from Brazil (which hosted the 17th summit in 2025) on 1 January 2026. The theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' — its four pillars. The year 2026 marks 20 years of BRICS.
Membership and expansion
- 11 members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
- Partner countries: BRICS also has 10 partner countries in addition to its 11 members.
- Xi Jinping's visit: Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India — his first visit in about 7 years.
- India as host: India has hosted BRICS summits earlier in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
2. Defence & Security
Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 (India–US Army)
Why in news: The 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas, the annual India–US joint army exercise, is being held from 9 to 28 September 2026 across two theatres for the first time.
The two locations are the Mahajan Field Firing Range near Bikaner in Rajasthan (a desert terrain) and Auli in Uttarakhand (a high-altitude area about 95 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China). Around 700 troops (about 350 each) are taking part, and it features Apache attack helicopters for the first time.
Key facts to remember
- Started: Yudh Abhyas began in 2004; hosting alternates between the two countries.
- 2025 edition: The previous edition was held in Alaska, USA.
- QUAD link: India and the US are both QUAD members, along with Australia and Japan.
Exercise Samudra Laksamana 2026 (India–Malaysia Navy)
Why in news: The 4th edition of Exercise Samudra Laksamana, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy, is being held at Lumut Naval Base, Malaysia.
INS Mysore arrived on 9 September 2026, joining the Royal Malaysian Navy ships KD Lekir and KD Gagah Samudera, with more than 600 personnel. The exercise aligns with 2026 being the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation and India's MAHASAGAR vision.
Record Domestic Defence Production
Why in news: India's domestic defence production reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, about three times the FY 2014-15 figure of ₹46,429 crore.
- Exports: Defence exports crossed a record ₹38,000 crore, up from ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14.
- Share: DPSUs/PSUs contribute about 76% and the private sector about 24%.
- 2029 target: ₹3 lakh crore production and ₹50,000 crore exports by 2029.
- Drivers: Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
3. Polity & Schemes
CM Khel Protsahan Yojana (Delhi)
Why in news: The Delhi (NCT) government approved the CM Khel Protsahan Yojana to promote sports among young athletes.
The scheme provides ₹2,000 per month in financial assistance to young athletes in the under-14, under-17, under-19 and under-21 categories who train at Delhi government sports training centres, to help them buy equipment and meet travel costs.
NCSC Chairperson Honoured at Sansad Ratna Awards
Why in news: Kishor Makwana, Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), received the 'Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Jansewa Puraskar 2026' at the 16th Sansad Ratna Awards in New Delhi.
The Sansad Ratna Awards are organised by the Prime Point Foundation. The NCSC is a constitutional body that safeguards the interests of Scheduled Castes.
About NCSC
- Constitutional article: NCSC is a constitutional body under Article 338 of the Constitution.
- Separation: It was separated from the combined SC/ST commission by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, effective from 2004.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
4. Economy & Infrastructure
PM-SETU: ₹735.70 Crore for Three ITI Clusters
Why in news: The National Steering Committee under PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) approved ₹735.70 crore of investment plans for three ITI clusters.
The three clusters approved
- Medchal (Telangana): ₹254.30 crore — the largest of the three; led by Hyderabad-based ZEN Technologies.
- Bhiwadi (Rajasthan): ₹241 crore.
- Meerut (Uttar Pradesh): ₹240.40 crore.
- Total sanction: The scheme's total sanction now stands at ₹2,171 crore across 9 clusters.
5. Environment
August 2026 — Another Hottest Month on Record
Why in news: August 2026 tied July 2023 as the hottest month ever recorded, with a global average surface temperature of about 16.96°C against July 2023's 16.95°C.
The data comes from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the European Union's climate observatory. The UNEP report 'Limiting Overshoot' warns that Earth's average surface temperature will likely exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within the next few years and could rise by about 2.6°C by 2100.
6. Science & Technology
India–France Space Cooperation: SBS-III Deal
Why in news: At the first-ever International Space Summit held in Paris, France (9–10 September 2026, joined virtually by the Prime Minister), India and France signed private-sector space deals centred on India's Space-Based Surveillance (SBS-III) programme.
France's Safran Space signed contracts worth over €5 million with India's Dhruva Space (based in Hyderabad) to supply communication systems, inertial navigation units and optical payloads for India's planned SBS-III constellation of 52 satellites, to be deployed between 2027 and 2030.
GalaxEye Wins US Patent for OptoSAR
Why in news: Bengaluru-based space-tech startup GalaxEye became the first Indian space-tech startup to win a US patent for its satellite-imaging technology 'OptoSAR'.
OptoSAR synchronises optical and radar (SAR) sensors on one platform to image the same spot simultaneously, giving clear images even through clouds and in darkness. Its OptoSAR satellite 'Drishti' was launched on 3 May 2026.
7. Awards & Books
Salman Rushdie to Receive US National Book Award Medal
Why in news: Indian-born (Mumbai) author Salman Rushdie will receive the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, a lifetime-achievement honour.
He is the 39th recipient of this medal and only the 4th born outside the United States. The 77th National Book Awards ceremony will be held on 18 November 2026 in New York (Manhattan).
Dryland Congress 2026 & ICRISAT ISSCA Award
Why in news: ICRISAT and ICAR are hosting the Dryland Congress 2026 (10–12 September 2026) at the NASC Complex, New Delhi, on the theme 'Transforming Dryland Agriculture through South–South Cooperation.'
- ISSCA Award 2026: ICRISAT's ISSCA Award 2026 (Crop Improvement category) goes to the groundnut variety GPBD-4.
- Developed by: GPBD-4 was developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka).
- ICRISAT HQ: ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru, Hyderabad (Telangana).
- Dryland farming: Crops grown in rain-fed areas with annual rainfall under about 750 mm.
8. Sports
Pickleball World Cup 2026 — India Finishes 4th
Why in news: At the Pickleball World Cup 2026, held at Da Nang, Vietnam (the first time in Asia), India finished 4th among 82 nations.
- India's medals: 41 medals — 7 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze — up from 7th place last year.
- Table topper: Host Vietnam topped the medal table.
- About pickleball: Pickleball combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis.
World Archery Para Series 2026, Stage 3
Why in news: Stage 3 of the World Archery Para Series 2026 concluded at Ahmedabad, where India won a total of 15 medals.
9. Important Days
11th Ayurveda Day
Why in news: The main national celebrations of the 11th Ayurveda Day will be held on 23 September 2026 at Nagpur, Maharashtra, organised by the Ministry of AYUSH.
- Theme: 'Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow.'
- First celebrated: Ayurveda Day was first celebrated on 28 October 2016, traditionally on Dhanwantari Jayanti.
- Awards: National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards are given on this occasion.
10. Telangana Focus
Three Telangana Connections in Today's News
Why in news: Several of today's national developments have a direct Telangana link — in agriculture research, skilling and space technology, all centred on Hyderabad.
- ICRISAT: Headquartered at Patancheru, Hyderabad, ICRISAT is co-hosting Dryland Congress 2026 and giving the ISSCA Awards 2026.
- PM-SETU / Medchal: Telangana's Medchal ITI cluster gets ₹254.30 crore — the largest of the three approved — led by Hyderabad-based ZEN Technologies.
- Dhruva Space: The Hyderabad company Dhruva Space won the Safran Space contracts for India's 52-satellite SBS-III surveillance constellation.
Practice questions with answers
With reference to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's September 2026 visit to Sri Lanka, consider the following statements:
- He was the first Indian Defence Minister to visit Sri Lanka in 38 years.
- An MoU was signed for the upgradation of 6 L-70 air-defence guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force.
- Both leaders virtually inaugurated 3 Bailey Bridges built by Indian forces.
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are correct. Rajnath Singh was the first Indian Defence Minister to visit Sri Lanka in 38 years; an MoU covered the upgradation of 6 L-70 guns under an Indian grant; and both leaders virtually inaugurated 3 Bailey Bridges linked to Operation Sagar Bandhu.
The 18th BRICS Summit (2026) is being hosted by India at which venue?
- Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
- Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi
- Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar
- HICC, Hyderabad
Answer: (A) Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Explanation: India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on 12–13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. India holds the BRICS chairship for 2026, which now has 11 members, and 2026 marks 20 years of BRICS.
Match the military exercise with its partner country:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Yudh Abhyas | 1. Sri Lanka |
| B. Samudra Laksamana | 2. USA |
| C. Bailey Bridges (Op Sagar Bandhu) | 3. India–ASEAN |
| D. ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Year | 4. Malaysia |
- A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
- A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
- A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
Answer: (A) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Explanation: Yudh Abhyas is the India–US army exercise; Samudra Laksamana is with Malaysia; the Bailey Bridges under Operation Sagar Bandhu relate to Sri Lanka; and 2026 is the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation. Hence A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3.
Under PM-SETU, which ITI cluster received the largest investment (₹254.30 crore) among the three recently approved?
- Bhiwadi (Rajasthan)
- Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)
- Medchal (Telangana)
- Patancheru (Telangana)
Answer: (C) Medchal (Telangana)
Explanation: The Medchal (Telangana) ITI cluster received ₹254.30 crore, the largest of the three, ahead of Bhiwadi (₹241 crore) and Meerut (₹240.40 crore). It is led by Hyderabad-based ZEN Technologies. Total scheme sanction is now ₹2,171 crore across 9 clusters.
Consider the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is a constitutional body.
Reason (R): The NCSC is established under Article 338 of the Constitution and was separated from the combined SC/ST commission by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- A is true, but R is false
- A is false, but R is true
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Both statements are true and R correctly explains A. The NCSC is a constitutional body precisely because it is established under Article 338, and the 89th Amendment (effective 2004) separated it from the earlier combined SC/ST commission. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.
Which organisation provided the data confirming that August 2026 tied for the hottest month ever recorded?
- NASA Goddard Institute
- Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)
- World Meteorological Organization
- IPCC
Answer: (B) Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)
Explanation: The data came from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the EU's climate observatory. August 2026 (~16.96°C) tied July 2023 (~16.95°C). The UNEP report 'Limiting Overshoot' warns the 1.5°C Paris Agreement limit may be crossed within a few years.
With reference to India–France space cooperation announced in September 2026, consider the following statements:
- France's Safran Space signed contracts with Hyderabad's Dhruva Space for India's SBS-III programme.
- The SBS-III constellation will have 52 satellites deployed between 2027 and 2030.
- The deals were signed at the first International Space Summit held in Paris.
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are correct. Safran Space (France) signed contracts worth over €5 million with Dhruva Space (Hyderabad) for communication systems, inertial navigation units and optical payloads for India's 52-satellite SBS-III constellation (2027–2030), at the first International Space Summit in Paris (9–10 September 2026).
At the Pickleball World Cup 2026 held at Da Nang, Vietnam, where did India finish?
- 1st, topping the medal table
- 7th, same as last year
- 4th, with 41 medals
- 2nd, behind Vietnam
Answer: (C) 4th, with 41 medals
Explanation: India finished 4th among 82 nations with 41 medals (7 gold, 17 silver, 17 bronze), improving from 7th last year. Host Vietnam topped the table. The event was held in Asia for the first time. Pickleball blends badminton, table tennis and tennis.