Weekly Current Affairs Test : 1st to 7th September 2026

The Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) has entered a new phase with several digital initiatives aimed at improving transparency, fertilizer availability and data-driven monitoring. iFMS is developed and technically supported by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for the Department of Fertilizers. The system connects major stages of the fertilizer supply chain, including production, imports, movement, stocks, retail sales and subsidy processing. iFMS covers more than 14 crore Aadhaar-linked fertilizer buyers, over 2.5 lakh retailers and around 7 crore metric tonnes of annual fertilizer sales transactions. It also supports administration of nearly ₹2 lakh crore in fertilizer subsidies annually.

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with The Serenity Trust and the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, provided essential field gear and equipment to frontline staff of Kamlang Tiger Reserve. Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the southeastern part of Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot. The reserve is named after the Kamlang River, which flows into the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by Namdapha National Park in the south, Lang River in the north, Lati River in the west, and Tawe River in the east.

India’s squash player Abhay Singh won the men’s singles title at the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy 2026 in Seremban, Malaysia. The top-seeded Indian defeated Hong Kong’s Henry Leung 3–2 in the final of the PSA Challenger Tour 15 event. The victory marked Abhay Singh’s 13th PSA Tour title and his second title of 2026, following his Indian Open victory in Mumbai. Ranked World No. 24, Abhay is currently India’s highest-ranked men’s squash player.

The 13th North East Zone Shooting Championship 2026 was held in Guwahati, Assam. Laxuman Adhikari of Sikkim won a historic bronze medal in the Master Men’s 10m Air Pistol Individual category. It was the first-ever medal won by a shooter representing Sikkim at the North East Zonal level. Anu Chettri and Tshering Yangden Bhutia, both from Sikkim, qualified for the 69th National Shooting Championship 2026. Anu Chettri qualified in the 10m Air Pistol event, while Tshering Yangden Bhutia qualified in the 10m Air Rifle event. A total of 11 shooters from Sikkim participated in the zonal championship.

Indian table tennis player Ankur Bhattacharjee won his maiden WTT men’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Olomouc tournament in Czechia. In the singles final, Ankur defeated Slovenia’s Deni Kozul, the third seed, 3–1. Ankur also won the men’s doubles title with fellow Indian Akash Pal. The Indian pair defeated Hungary’s Csaba Andras Szantosi and Poland’s Alan Kulczycki Zalewski 3–1 in the doubles final. Ankur had previously been a finalist at the Europe Youth Smash in Sweden in 2025.

Indian Railways has approved three projects worth a combined ₹675 crore to improve railway safety, signalling and freight movement. ₹170 crore has been sanctioned for deploying Kavach Version 4.0 across the remaining 712 Route Kilometres (Rkm) of Moradabad Division. Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), control train speed and reduce collision risks.

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi has launched a digital dialogue series called ‘AyurVarta’. AIIA is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Ayush. The initiative aims to spread authentic knowledge, scientific perspectives and contemporary relevance of Ayurveda to audiences in India and abroad. ‘AyurVarta’ was launched ahead of Ayurveda Day, which will be observed on 23 September.

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has launched the Adoption Awareness 2026 campaign to promote legal, safe, transparent and child-centric adoption. The theme of the campaign is “Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption!” CARA functions under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The campaign focuses on preventing illegal adoption practices and ensuring that adoption follows the prescribed legal framework.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award 2026 has been awarded to Tommy Koh (Singapore), Bo Kyi (Myanmar) and Runa Khan (Bangladesh). The Ramon Magsaysay Award is widely regarded as “Asia’s Nobel Prize” and recognises selfless public service in Asia. The award was established in 1958 and is named after Ramon Magsaysay, former President of the Philippines. The awards will be presented at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila, Philippines, on 15 November 2026. Each recipient will receive a medallion, an inscribed certificate and a cash prize.

A new species of stingless honey bee, Tetragonula nagalandensis, has been discovered in Nagaland. Unlike many common honey bees, the new species is subterranean, with colonies found up to 80 cm beneath moist soil. The bee is approximately 5 mm long and is distinguished by specific features of the male reproductive anatomy. Its nesting behaviour is also distinctive, with compact clusters of brood cells protected by layers of wax and organic material. The discovery brings the number of known stingless bee species in India to 19.

The V-Dem Institute’s 2026 Electoral Democracy Index ranked India 106th among 179 countries, with a score of 0.38 for 2025. V-Dem classified India as an “electoral autocracy”, alongside countries such as Kazakhstan and Pakistan. India’s score was reported as its lowest level since 1975. India ranked 105th on the Liberal Democracy Index, with a score of 0.26. V-Dem is based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and assesses democracy using indicators including elections, freedom of expression, media independence and civil society.

The 7th Status of Coral Reefs of the World Report was released by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), highlighting the increasing frequency of coral bleaching and shrinking recovery periods. Global hard coral cover has declined by about 9.5% compared with the 1980–2009 reference period. 87% of reefs experienced unprecedented heat stress in 2024, while 42.6% faced heat stress severe enough to risk widespread bleaching and mortality. Marine heatwaves, driven by climate change, have become the strongest global driver of coral-cover decline.
Major global bleaching events occurred in 1998–99, 2010–11, 2016–17 and 2023–24.

The Gollalagudi (Gollala Gudi) Temple at Palampet has been declared a Monument of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. The temple is located in Mulugu district, Telangana, near the famous Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents the architectural and cultural heritage of the Kakatiya dynasty. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture will oversee its conservation and preservation.

The fifth edition of the nationwide ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ campaign was launched in September 2026 to promote cleaner oceans and address marine litter. International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed globally on the third Saturday of September every year. The campaign focuses on ocean health restoration, coastal security and public awareness about marine pollution. It particularly highlights pollution from land-based plastic waste and discarded fishing gear.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with ICAR-CMFRI and international experts, discovered a new deep-sea skate species, Dipturus dhritiae, in the southeastern Arabian Sea. The species, named Arabian Skate, was collected at depths of 400–600 metres off Kerala and the Wadge Bank during the Deep Ocean Mission. It had remained unidentified for over 40 years and was earlier misidentified as Dipturus springeri. The species can grow up to 131.5 cm and has five distinct rows of thorns along its tail. Genetic analysis showed 3.8–4.7% divergence from its closest known relative, the Travancore Skate. It is named after Dhriti Banerjee, ZSI’s first woman Director.

The Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) Initiative is being strengthened to transform every district into a centre of export planning and global market access. It is implemented by the Department of Commerce through Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), DEH identifies district-specific products and services with export potential and strengthens MSMEs, employment and local economies. DEH builds on the One District One Product (ODOP) concept and supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local. As of January 2026, DEH covered more than 770 districts, while 590 draft District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) had been prepared by March 2026, with 249 formally adopted.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the first flight trial of the indigenous Khagantak-243 long-range glide bomb at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, after releasing it from a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. The trial successfully met its objectives and is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous long-range strike capability and reducing dependence on imported precision-guided munitions. The glide bomb is designed to strike targets from considerable distances while allowing the launching aircraft to remain outside the effective range of enemy air-defence systems. It can reportedly cover 144–180 km when released from around 12 km altitude at Mach 0.8.

A flock of more than 30 Fulvous Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) was spotted at Venjali wetlands in Malappuram district, Kerala, marking the first reported sighting in Malappuram. The species is commonly found in the wetlands of Assam and other northeastern States and was earlier reported in Kerala from Kollam. The birds usually reach Kerala around the beginning of the monsoon and return by October. They inhabit freshwater wetlands, marshes, ponds and shallow water bodies and generally occur in flocks. The Fulvous Whistling Duck is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced the winners of the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026 on 3 September 2026 for sustainable plantation and landscaping along National Highways. The awards have three categories: Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations, and Plantation in Land Parcels. The Six-laning of Chilakaluripet Bypass on NH-16 in Andhra Pradesh won the first prize. The Padra–Vadodara section of Vadodara–Kim Expressway in Gujarat won the second prize. The Gagariya–Bakhasar section of NH-925 and Satta–Gandhav section of NH-925A won the third prize. The awards were instituted in 2025 by NHAI under the Green Highways Policy, 2015.

The Tamil Nadu Government has directed the Water Resources Department (WRD) to redesign the proposed project to divert surplus Cauvery water from Mayanur Barrage to Ponnaniyar and Kannuthu dams as a solar-powered water-lifting irrigation project. It is located near Pooncholai village in the Kadavur hill region of Manapparai taluk, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu. The dam has very low storage because its source channels receive little inflow.

The Pickleball World Cup 2026 is held from August 30 to September 6, 2026 at the Tien Son Sports Palace in Da Nang, Vietnam. This is the first time the Pickleball World Cup is being hosted in Asia. India has won 37 medals so far, including 6 gold, 16 silver and 15 bronze, placing it fourth in the medal tally.

The Government has constituted a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal head the committee, which includes members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha approved the referral of the Bill to the JPC on August 12, 2026 for detailed scrutiny. The Bill seeks to further amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA). Its key objective is to make the use of foreign contributions more transparent and accountable.

The Subarnarekha River breached its banks again in Balasore, Odisha, affecting more than 45,000 people across 22 gram panchayats in three blocks. The Subarnarekha River originates near Nagri village in Ranchi district, Jharkhand, and flows through Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha before draining into the Bay of Bengal. It is an important east-flowing interstate river of eastern India and its major tributaries include the Kharkai and Kanchi rivers.

Botanists Birina Bhuyan and Selim Mehmud have discovered a new perennial herb species named Ophiorrhiza assamensis in Kamrup Metropolitan district, Assam. The plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, commonly known as the coffee family, and the Ophiorrhiza genus. It is a small shade-loving herb with large ribbed leaves and clusters of small white flowers. Species of the Ophiorrhiza genus are known for producing camptothecin, a compound used in anti-cancer medicines. Ophiorrhiza assamensis has been provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN guidelines because of its highly localised population and threats from local development.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched BIO-NIVESH, a strategic platform to strengthen collaboration between biotechnology innovators, startups and investors. BIO-NIVESH aims to catalyse private investment in biotechnology innovations and support their scale-up and commercialisation. The platform is being developed as a recurring initiative, with future editions planned across different cities to connect regional biotech ecosystems with investment networks. BIO-NIVESH seeks to help promising technologies move from laboratory to market and from India to global markets. Make a quiz like which initiative

The Government approved Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 on 5 May 2026 to provide credit support to businesses affected by external economic disruptions. The scheme is implemented by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) and aims to facilitate additional credit flow of up to ₹2.55 lakh crore. ECLGS 5.0 will remain operational until 31 March 2027 or until ₹2.55 lakh crore in guarantees are issued, whichever is earlier. As of August 2026, 6,73,979 guarantees worth ₹2,50,024 crore had been issued, with MSMEs accounting for 97.3% of guarantees by number.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the CSS Shield initiative in New Delhi to support bereaved families of Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers. The initiative is based on the principle “Contribute for Family, Support with Dignity.” It aims to provide collective financial assistance to families of deceased CSS officers. The government is considering additional support, including scholarships for children of deceased CSS officers.

Nagaland Tourism and Higher Education Minister recently highlighted Raja Mircha, also known as Naga King Chilli, in a humorous social media post. Raja Mircha is scientifically known as Capsicum chinense and is cultivated mainly in Nagaland. It is among the world’s hottest chillies, known for its extreme pungency and fruity aroma. The chilli changes from green to vibrant red as it matures and has a wrinkled, conical shape. Naga Mircha received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008, becoming the first product from Nagaland to receive the tag.

A recent study warned that Myristica Swamps are on the cusp of extinction, highlighting the need for urgent conservation. They are freshwater swamps dominated by evergreen trees of the Myristicaceae family. They are considered living fossils because of the primitive characteristics of Myristica plants, with genetic diversity dating back around 500 million years. These forests have trees with large protruding roots growing in soil that remains waterlogged throughout the year. In India, Myristica Swamps are mainly found in the Western Ghats, with smaller occurrences in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 was observed on 5 September, the first Saturday of September. The day highlights the ecological importance of vultures and the need for their conservation. Vultures act as nature’s cleanup crew by rapidly consuming animal carcasses. They help prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases such as anthrax, rabies and bovine tuberculosis. Vulture conservation is important for maintaining ecosystem health and ecological balance.