Current Affairs One-Liner:12th September 2026

National: On 10 September 2026 , the Directorate General of Civil Aviation directed Indian airlines to conduct a one-time psychoactive-substance screening of approximately 14,000 pilots by 31 July 2027 . The decision followed an Air India Phuket–Delhi flight incident in which the pilot tested positive for a prohibited substance. Existing rules require annual random testing of 10% of pilots and air-traffic controllers. The measure aims to strengthen aviation safety and pilot accountability. On 11 September 2026 , India crossed 80 lakh HPV vaccinations under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign launched on 28 February 2026. The campaign provides free, voluntary, single-dose vaccination to 14-year-old girls , with parental consent, at government health facilities. It aims to prevent Human Papillomavirus infections and cervical cancer. Approximately 1.2 crore girls are expected to benefit from the nationwide programme. On 11 September 2026 , Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the month-long Seva Sankalp Campaign , scheduled from 17 September to 17 October 2026 . The campaign is based on four principles: service, public participation, dialogue and innovation. It aims to improve citizen engagement, encourage community service and promote direct interaction between government officials and the public. On 10 September 2026 , the Supreme Court directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to submit a scientifically justified timeline within ten days for implementing the second phase of Front-of-Pack Labelling . FSSAI has proposed red-hexagon warnings on foods high in sugar, salt or saturated fat. The Court questioned the phased rollout and sought clarity on the labels’ shape, size, colour and visibility. On 9 September 2026 , the 16th Sansad Ratna Awards were presented at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. BJP MP P. P. Chaudhary , representing Pali in Rajasthan, received the award for the fourth time for his parliamentary performance. He chairs the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the One Nation, One Election Bills. The awards were instituted in 2010 by the Prime Point Foundation on the suggestion of former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. International: On 11 September 2026 , US health authorities declared the country’s largest recorded multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak over. The outbreak was linked to processed iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico . It caused 12,883 illnesses across 21 states , 570 hospitalisations and two deaths. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. The US Food and Drug Administration continued investigating the source of contamination. On 11 September 2026 , the US Embassy in India announced India–US cooperation to strengthen the security, resilience and diversification of global undersea cable networks. Government and industry representatives participated in an Undersea Cables Workshop under the TRUST Initiative , meaning Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technologies. Undersea cables carry most international digital traffic and are vital for cloud services, artificial intelligence, digital commerce and secure communications. On 8 September 2026 , UNESCO announced six winners of its International Literacy Prizes. The King Sejong Literacy Prize went to programmes from Colombia, the Netherlands and Nigeria. The Confucius Prize for Literacy recognised initiatives from Lebanon, Mexico and Thailand. Each winner received US$30,000 , a medal and a diploma. The awards were presented during International Literacy Day celebrations in Chiapas, Mexico, under the theme Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity . Banking: From 7 to 11 September 2026 , Axis Bank conducted the fourth edition of Sparsh Week across India under the theme Act with Speed . The customer-engagement initiative aimed to conduct more than 2.5 lakh customer conversations through listening sessions, leadership visits and community outreach. It focused on converting customer feedback into faster action and included a paperless automobile and two-wheeler financing process offering eligible customers disbursement within 30 minutes. On 10 September 2026 , new UPI products were announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 . They included NFC-based tap-to-pay at point-of-sale terminals and MyUPI , which provides a unified view of transactions made through different UPI applications. PIN-less payments of up to ₹5,000 can be made through the new facility, while larger transactions require a UPI PIN. Bharat Connect also introduced multicurrency capabilities for foreign-exchange transactions. Economy: On 10 September 2026 , the National Statistics Office released India’s first district-level estimates for the unincorporated non-agricultural sector, based on ASUSE 2025 data. The estimates covered 757 districts and examined establishments, employment, women’s participation, emoluments and Gross Value Added. The top 50 districts generated nearly one-third of the sector’s activity, while women constituted at least one-third of the workforce in 237 districts. Science & Technology: On 11 September 2026 , QClairvoyance Quantum Labs and IITM–C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation announced an MoU covering quantum computing, quantum algorithms, quantum artificial intelligence, post-quantum cybersecurity and next-generation computing. Samgnya is India’s National Hub for Quantum Communication under the National Quantum Mission . The partnership will support research, technology development, testing, validation, talent development and the commercial deployment of quantum solutions. Summits & Conferences: The 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia was held from 7 to 10 September 2026 in Dili, Timor-Leste. It was organised by WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Office and hosted by Timor-Leste. Health ministers discussed universal health coverage, primary healthcare, maternal and child health, mental health, non-communicable diseases and emergency preparedness. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Dili Declaration . The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit was held on 12–13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under India’s chairmanship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the summit under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability . Leaders and representatives from the 11 member countries discussed trade, investment, energy security, payment-system interoperability, global institutional reforms, technology and major international conflicts. Key participants included Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Masoud Pezeshkian. As of 12 September 2026 , BRICS had 11 members : Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. China was the largest BRICS economy by projected nominal GDP at approximately US$20.65 trillion , while India ranked second at about US$4.15 trillion . BRICS countries collectively represented around half of the world’s population and approximately 40% of global GDP in purchasing-power-parity terms. On 10 September 2026 , diplomat Sudhakar Dalela was highlighted as India’s BRICS Sherpa for the 2026 summit. Dalela serves as Secretary, Economic Relations, in the Ministry of External Affairs. A Sherpa coordinates the country’s position, prepares summit agendas, negotiates declarations, reconciles differences among members and monitors implementation. India’s priorities included inclusive growth, Global South cooperation, institutional reforms, digital innovation, sustainability and secure payment systems. The BRICS summit process began with the first formal summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on 16 June 2009 . South Africa joined in 2010. Major outcomes included the establishment of the New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement in 2014 , the 2023 decision to expand membership and the 2024 creation of the partner-country category. Brazil hosted the 2025 summit, while India hosted the 18th summit in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026 . MoUs: On 10 September 2026 , IIT Ropar and the Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, signed an agreement to award an MTech in Defence Technology to Indian Army officers completing the Long Air Defence Course. IIT Ropar Director Professor Rajeev Ahuja signed the agreement. The programme will combine military training with formal technical education and strengthen officers’ knowledge of modern air-defence systems, emerging technologies and defence innovation. On 9 September 2026 , the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, and the Heartfulness Institute signed a five-year MoU. The partnership will combine Ayurveda with meditation, yoga and lifestyle-based healthcare. It will support joint research, academic programmes, clinical studies, community health initiatives and environmental sustainability. The collaboration seeks to develop scientifically evaluated models of integrative and preventive healthcare. On 10 September 2026 , Digital Bharat Nidhi, the Jharkhand government and Jharkhand Digital Infrastructure Corporation signed a Project Implementation and Support Agreement for the Amended BharatNet Programme , or BharatNet Phase III. The ₹1,684-crore project will extend high-speed fibre broadband to 260 blocks, 4,395 Gram Panchayats and 26,777 non-GP villages, improving access to e-governance, education, healthcare and digital services. On 10 September 2026 , NIELIT launched its collaboration with US-based Saylor University to integrate more than 160 free, self-paced courses into the NIELIT Digital University platform. Learners will gain access to courses covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, programming, data science and other digital skills. The partnership aims to make affordable, employment-oriented technology education available to learners across India. The NDU platform was originally launched on 2 October 2025. On 9 September 2026 , Odisha signed agreements with UAE-based International Holding Company and the Adani Group during an investor outreach programme in Abu Dhabi. The parties proposed 14 projects worth approximately ₹2.105 lakh crore covering critical minerals, metals, renewable energy, healthcare, coal-to-chemicals and port-based infrastructure. The projects are expected to create around 8.68 lakh direct, indirect and construction-related employment opportunities . Important Days: Himalaya Diwas was observed on 9 September 2026 to highlight the environmental, social and economic importance of the Himalayan region. Uttarakhand officially recognised the observance in 2015. Its main objective is to promote conservation of Himalayan ecosystems, forests, glaciers, rivers and biodiversity while encouraging development suited to the region’s fragile ecology. No separately verified official national theme was announced for 2026. World EV Day was observed on 9 September 2026 under the theme Switching Electric: Driving Down the Cost of Motoring . The observance promotes electric-vehicle adoption, cleaner transportation, charging infrastructure and public awareness about the economic and environmental advantages of electric mobility. World EV Day was first observed on 9 September 2020. World First Aid Day was observed on 12 September 2026 , the second Saturday of September, under the theme First Aid in Migration Contexts . The day promotes basic first-aid knowledge and highlights the importance of providing emergency support to migrants, refugees and displaced people, who may face language barriers, limited healthcare access and dangerous travel conditions. The United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation was observed on 12 September 2026 under the theme Solidarity Rising: Global Alliance for Inclusive and Innovative Development . It promotes technical, economic and developmental cooperation among countries of the Global South. It also encourages triangular cooperation, through which developed countries or international organisations support collaboration between developing nations. Obituaries: Princess Astrid of Norway died peacefully on 11 September 2026 at the age of 94. She was the elder sister of the late King Harald V and served as Norway’s First Lady after the death of her mother, Crown Princess Märtha, until 1968. She was widely respected for decades of service to the Norwegian Royal House. Her death occurred two days after King Harald’s funeral. Tamil scholar, orator and debate moderator Solomon Pappaiah died in Madurai on 11 September 2026 at the age of 90 following age-related health complications. He was famous for popularising Tamil Pattimandram , or public debate, through television and public programmes. He also worked as a professor, writer and actor. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contribution to Tamil literature and culture. Books & Authors: On 11 September 2026 , Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural during their meeting in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS Summit. Written by poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar , the work contains 1,330 couplets arranged into 133 chapters . It is divided into three sections dealing with virtue, wealth and governance, and love. Questions: Q1. Which new UPI facility allows users to view transactions made through different UPI applications in one place? a) Bharat Connect b) MyUPI c) UPI Circle d) UPI Global Answer: b) MyUPI provides users with a unified view of transactions conducted through different UPI applications. It was announced along with NFC-based UPI tap-to-pay facilities at the Global Fintech Fest on 10 September 2026. Q2. The ₹1,684-crore Amended BharatNet Programme agreement was signed to expand broadband connectivity in which state? a) Odisha b) Jharkhand c) Uttarakhand d) Telangana Answer: b) On 10 September 2026, Digital Bharat Nidhi, the Jharkhand government and Jharkhand Digital Infrastructure Corporation signed an agreement to implement the Amended BharatNet Programme, also called BharatNet Phase III.