Weekly Current Affairs Test : 8th to 14th September 2026

The discharge from Mettur Dam was increased to 12,000 cusecs to meet rising irrigation demand in the Cauvery delta region. Mettur Dam is located at Mettur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu and is one of the largest dams in India as well as the largest in Tamil Nadu. The dam is built across the Kaveri River at the point where the river enters the plains through a gorge. It is a masonry gravity dam, and the reservoir formed by it is known as the Stanley Reservoir, which contributes about 240 MW of hydroelectric power.

Indian badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the men’s doubles title at the China Masters in Shenzhen. They defeated China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in the final, 11–21, 21–13, 21–17. The victory gave India its first-ever China Masters title in men’s doubles. It was the duo’s second title of the season, after the Singapore Open Super 750. They had earlier finished runners-up at the Thailand Open Super 500. Satwik and Chirag had been runners-up at the China Masters in 2023 and 2025 and reached the semifinals in 2024.

The 11th Ayurveda Day will be observed on 23 September 2026 in Nagpur with the theme “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow.” The campaign focuses on integrative healthcare, preventive healthcare, healthy lifestyles, nutrition, wellness and holistic healthcare. The three key focus areas are Integrative Healthcare for Better Health Outcomes; Evidence, Research and Innovation in Ayurveda; and Ayurveda for Community Well-being and Sustainable Living. The government aims to strengthen research and innovation and promote the global acceptance of Ayurveda.

NITI Aayog’s e-FAST India initiative launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) at the 5th e-FAST India Summit 2026. PACT aims to aggregate freight demand from shippers, logistics service providers and other stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission trucks. It will improve demand visibility, support charging infrastructure planning and strengthen the commercial case for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Chhattisgarh has emerged as the top-performing state in the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) and Catch the Rain campaigns. Five districts of Chhattisgarh — Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Balodabazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdham — featured among India’s top 10 districts for water conservation. Launched in September 2024, JSJB focuses on community-led rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and revival of defunct borewells. In the third edition, Chhattisgarh registered 79,775 water conservation structures, of which 77,719 were completed.

The Cell Broadcast System (CBS) has been resumed in India by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) for rapid public warning and emergency alerts. CBS is an indigenous telecom-enabled system that allows authorities to send simultaneous, geo-targeted alerts to mobile phones within a defined area. It was developed by C-DOT under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has developed a smartphone application named ‘MatsyaMetri’ to measure the length and width of fish without physical contact. It uses ARCore-supported Android devices and the smartphone camera to provide an on-screen measuring guide. MatsyaMetri can generate length-frequency datasets and export collected data in CSV format. It is designed for fisheries scientists, researchers and field survey teams, especially for quick data collection at busy fish landing centres.

The historic Shekhawati Havelis of Rajasthan have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List, marking a step towards their possible inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The listed havelis are located across 14 places, including Alsisar, Churu, Fatehpur, Jhunjhunu, Mandawa, Nawalgarh and Sikar. Shekhawati Havelis are famous for their colourful fresco paintings, distinctive architecture and cultural heritage. Their paintings provide insights into Rajasthan’s artistic traditions and social and cultural life. The inclusion is expected to promote heritage conservation and tourism in the Shekhawati region.

India’s Karan Singh won the Men’s Singles title at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men’s World Tour M15 in Bali, Indonesia. The fourth-seeded Indian defeated Isaac Becroft of New Zealand in the final on hard courts, winning 7–5, 7–6(3). It was Karan Singh’s fourth career title and his third title of the 2026 season, including his second singles title. The 23-year-old from Karnal, Haryana, recently won the doubles title at the ITF M15 Astana in Kazakhstan. He also won an ATP Challenger doubles title at the 2024 Brazzaville Challenger with Florent Bax.

14 Indian B-schools, including 7 IIMs, have secured places among the world’s top 100 in the Financial Times Masters in Management (MiM) 2026 ranking. IIM Bangalore was the highest-ranked Indian institution at 21st, improving from 28th in 2025 and 41st in 2024. SPJIMR Mumbai ranked 26th, followed by IIM Ahmedabad (27th), XLRI (33rd) and IIM Calcutta (39th). The ranking considers career opportunities, salary growth, value for money, international exposure, student diversity and sustainability across 19 criteria. University of St Gallen, Switzerland retained the first position globally, followed by Nova School of Business and Economics, Portugal, and Antai College of Economics and Management, China.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the 9th edition of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on 9 September. The month-long campaign will be observed from 9 September to 8 October 2026 under the theme “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari.” The campaign focuses on dietary diversity, adequate protein intake, fresh hot cooked meals, maternal health and early childhood development. Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the government is upgrading 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis.

Scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru have developed a metal-free organic material that can improve solar-driven hydrogen production. The material combines aspartic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid, with perylene diimide (PDI), a light-absorbing organic molecule. These molecules self-assemble into highly ordered 2D nanosheets in water, improving light absorption and the separation and movement of charges. The new material produced nearly 18% higher photocurrent than its bulk counterpart during solar-driven water splitting.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched India’s advanced Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) ‘Sagar Manthan’ at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata. The vessel has been designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). It is being developed under Vertical-4, Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration of the Deep Ocean Mission, at an estimated cost of around ₹840 crore. ‘Sagar Manthan’ is an all-weather, multidisciplinary research vessel designed to conduct oceanographic and geophysical research, including surveys of deep-sea mineral resources.

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dipak Misra has been honoured with the Kalinga Ratna Award by Sarala Sahitya Sansad in Cuttack, Odisha. The award includes a silver idol of Goddess Saraswati and a citation. Justice Misra highlighted the importance of fraternity, dignity and respect for every individual, rising above caste, creed, language and social status. He also spoke about the destructive consequences of war, noting that victory does not necessarily bring peace. The Sarala Samman was also conferred on eminent litterateur Dr Ramachandra Behera for his contribution to Odia literature spanning more than six decades.

Saitual district in Mizoram has become the first and only district in the state to achieve ‘Surakshit’ status under the Mobilisation AIDS Suraksha (MAS) campaign. Saitual achieved all three 95-95-95 HIV targets — people knowing their HIV status, diagnosed people receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), and treated people achieving viral-load suppression. Under the campaign, ‘Surakshit’ is given to districts that achieve all three targets, while ‘Surakshit+’ also requires zero mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The achievement was supported by health officials, community leaders, NGOs and churches, especially through HIV testing and awareness programmes.

Kishor Makwana, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), received the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Jan Seva Award 2026. The award recognised his dedicated service to the NCSC and contribution to social justice. It was presented during the 16th Sansad Ratna Awards 2026 ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

INS Mysore arrived at Lumut, Malaysia, on 9 September 2026 to participate in the 4th edition of Exercise Samudra Laksamana. The exercise is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy. It includes harbour and sea-based professional engagements, including cross-deck visits and operational interactions. Sporting engagements are also part of the exercise to strengthen mutual understanding between naval personnel. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, professional exchanges and maritime cooperation between India and Malaysia.

Sikkim-made feature film ‘Numahangma’ has been selected for the 2nd Nepal Indigenous Film Festival (NIFF) 2026. The festival is scheduled to be held in London, United Kingdom, on 27 September 2026. The 90-minute film is directed by Niyara Subba and produced by H.M. Subba. The film is based on the real-life journey and experiences of H.M. Subba. It portrays a woman’s struggles, family responsibilities, perseverance and journey towards success.

The Global Dryland Congress 2026 is being held in New Delhi from 10–12 September 2026. It is jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The theme is “Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South-South Cooperation.” The Congress marks 50 years of the ICAR–ICRISAT partnership. More than 800 scientists, policymakers, farmers and development partners are participating. Drylands cover about 45% of the world’s land surface and support the livelihoods of over 2 billion people.

Bakhira Lake in Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, provides a 25,000-year record of Indian Summer Monsoon variability. The study was conducted by researchers from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Researchers used environmental magnetic properties of lake sediments to reconstruct past monsoon activity. Bakhira Lake is part of the Ghaghara–Rapti alluvial system and is a perennial oxbow/floodplain wetland. It was designated a Ramsar Site in 2022. The study covers the Last Glacial Maximum, Bølling–Allerød, Younger Dryas and Holocene Climatic Optimum.

Google has unveiled the AlphaGenome Atlas, a high-resolution digital resource for studying the effects of genetic variations across the human genome. The Atlas is based on AlphaGenome, an artificial intelligence model developed by Google DeepMind. Human DNA contains roughly 3 billion base pairs; around 2% codes for proteins, while the remaining 98% is largely non-coding DNA. AlphaGenome Atlas aims to understand how variations in both coding and non-coding regions can affect biological processes. Researchers have computationally predicted the effects of approximately 9 billion possible single-nucleotide changes across human DNA.

Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have reportedly seized control of the Yemeni port city of Mocha (Al Mokha).
The development represents a significant strategic gain for the Houthis along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Mocha (Mokha) Port is located in southwestern Yemen on the Red Sea coast. It lies on the Tihāmah coastal plain of Yemen. The port is located approximately 75–100 km west of Taiz. Mocha is situated near the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Mocha has great historical significance because it was once a major coffee-exporting centre of Arabia.

The Delhi Government has approved a new ‘Grassroot Training Support Assistance’ component under the Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana. Eligible athletes training regularly at Delhi government sports centres and stadiums will receive financial assistance of ₹2,000 per month. The initiative covers athletes in the Under-14, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 categories. The assistance is intended to help young athletes continue their training without financial interruptions. The monthly support can help meet expenses related to nutrition, local travel, basic sports equipment and medical needs.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the ‘One Tag’ facility in Mumbai. The facility enables FASTag portability when a vehicle owner changes their bank account. Users can link their existing FASTag to a new bank account through the Rajmarg Yatra app. Motorists do not need to remove or replace the existing FASTag sticker when changing their bank account. The initiative aims to make FASTag management simpler and more convenient for vehicle owners. The government aims to reduce the waiting time at toll plazas to less than 10 seconds by the end of the current financial year.

India has crossed the milestone of 80 lakh Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign. It aims to strengthen preventive healthcare and protect against HPV infection and HPV-associated cancers, particularly cervical cancer. The campaign provides free and voluntary single-dose HPV vaccination. The target beneficiaries are 14-year-old girls, with parental consent. Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of vaccinations, with more than 22 lakh adolescent girls vaccinated. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100% coverage of their identified targets.

A three-day Table Top Exercise (TTX) under the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) was conducted at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam from 9–11 September 2026. It focused on developing a “Coordinated Response to Illicit Maritime Activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)”. The Colombo Security Conclave is a regional security grouping focused on cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. Its cooperation covers areas such as maritime security, counter-terrorism, disaster management and transnational organised crime.

A healthy Badri female calf was successfully born on 11 September 2026 through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology. The calf was produced after a Badri embryo was transferred into a Sahiwal recipient cow. The achievement was carried out at the Academic Dairy Farm through collaboration between ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Badri cattle are an indigenous cattle breed/genetic resource associated with the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. They are recognised as the state animal of Uttarakhand.

Russia has publicly unveiled the S-71K Kovyor, a new air-launched stand-off weapon designed for the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It is designed to provide a lower-cost option between expensive cruise missiles and attack drones. The S-71K is reportedly powered by an R500 turbojet engine and has a range of approximately 300 km. The unveiling comes as Russia is seeking to expand Su-57E sales and possible production cooperation with India.

The Archery Premier League (APL) will hold its second season in Hyderabad from 8 to 18 October 2026. The tournament will feature 36 leading Indian archers and 12 international stars from 10 countries. The competition will have six mixed-gender franchise teams competing in the Recurve and Compound categories. Indian recurve stars include Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das and Dhiraj Bommadevara, the reigning Asian champion. The compound category will feature Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Abhishek Verma and Ojas Pravin Deotale.

In tennis, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles final of the US Open 2026. Rybakina won the final 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York. This was Rybakina’s first US Open title. The victory gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam singles championship. Earlier in 2026, Rybakina had won the Australian Open, adding another Grand Slam title to her season.