Current Affairs 22 September 2026
30 stories for 22 September 2026: the Hon'ble President at the 72nd National Film Awards, the ban on paraquat, UDAN's next phase, the Supreme Court on grounds of arrest, the India–New Zealand FTA's entry-into-force date, the 9th India International Water Week, women's cricket gold at the Asian Games and World Rhino Day.
On this page
Key facts at a glance
The numbers and names most likely to turn up in Prelims, Phase 1 or a GA section.
| Topic | What to remember | Source, date |
|---|---|---|
| 72nd National Film Awards | Ekta Nagar, Gujarat; first outside Delhi | MIB |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Shri Anant Nag | MIB |
| Paraquat | Banned; Insecticides Act, 1968 (S.O. 5234(E)) | MoA&FW |
| UDAN | Extended 10 years; MoUs with 21 States/UTs | MoCA |
| India Water Week | 9th; 'Climate Resilient Water Management' | MoJS |
| Grounds of arrest | Art. 22(1); Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol case | SC |
| India–NZ FTA | In force 20 Oct 2026 | MoCI |
| New GDP base year | 2022-23 (8th revision) | MoSPI |
| Coal plants critical | 74 of 190 | CEA |
| Tarang Shakti | 26 Sept–12 Oct, Jodhpur | IAF |
| UNGA-81 President | Khalilur Rahman (Bangladesh) | UN |
| Women's cricket | Gold, beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs | Asian Games |
Economy
5 storiesIndia–New Zealand FTA to take effect on 20 October
The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement has been ratified and will enter into force on 20 October 2026. It was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026 by Union Commerce Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Trade Minister Mr Todd McClay. New Zealand gives duty-free access to all of India's exports. India offers concessions on about 70% of tariff lines, covering about 95% of New Zealand's exports by value. Dairy has been fully excluded by India.
MoSPI's new GDP series uses double deflation
MoSPI's 'Sources and Methods' document for the new GDP series with base year 2022-23 shows double deflation is used for 28 of 30 manufacturing categories. Double deflation adjusts both output and input values by their own prices to estimate real gross value added. It avoids distortions when input and output prices move differently. Earlier, it was used mainly for agriculture and mining. The 2022-23 series is India's eighth base-year revision, replacing 2011-12.
New national accounts series: key changes
The new national accounts series with base year 2022-23 draws on ASUSE and PLFS data for the household sector. Private final consumption now follows COICOP 2018. Quarterly GDP uses the proportional Denton method and more GST data. The Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics set up four sub-committees for the revision. Better data sources aim to improve the accuracy of GDP estimates.
Nearly 40% of coal power plants critically low on stock
Central Electricity Authority data show 74 of the 190 coal-based power plants it monitors had critically low coal stocks as of 19 September 2026. The number was about 60 a week earlier and 45 at the end of August. A plant is classed as critical when its stock is below 25% of the normative requirement. The CEA sets stock norms and publishes daily data. Shortages often come from logistics constraints and rain-hit mining.
Concept paper on critical mineral recycling
Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy opened a national seminar on India's critical minerals recycling ecosystem. It was organised by the Ministry of Mines with the Materials Recycling Association of India. A Concept Paper on a Critical Mineral Recycling Ecosystem was released. Discussions covered metal recovery from lithium-ion batteries and e-waste. Recycling can reduce dependence on imports of primary minerals.
Polity & Governance
7 storiesRegistration of paraquat dichloride prohibited
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare prohibited registration of the herbicide paraquat dichloride through a final order, S.O. 5234(E), dated 22 September 2026 and published in the Gazette of India. The order was issued under Sections 27 and 28 of the Insecticides Act, 1968. All existing registration certificates were cancelled. State Governments are to implement the order. The herbicide has been linked to many poisoning deaths.
Hon'ble Vice-President inaugurates India International Water Week
Hon'ble Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 22 September 2026. The event is organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It runs until 26 September. The theme is 'Climate Resilient Water Management'. India Water Week brings together policymakers, experts and industry.
National conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force heads
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah opened the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force heads in New Delhi on 22 September 2026. The two-day event was organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau. The theme was 'United Resolve, Shared Responsibility'. It was built around the Vision Document on Narcotics Control 2026-29.
Supreme Court: release if grounds of arrest not given
In Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol v. State of Punjab, decided on 21 September 2026, the Supreme Court held that a person arrested without written grounds of arrest must be released immediately. The grounds must be given in a language the person understands, along with access to a lawyer. The Bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S. Chandurkar said Article 22(1) applies to all offences. This includes the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and special laws. Earlier, Pankaj Bansal (2023) and Prabir Purkayastha (2024) required written grounds under PMLA and UAPA.
Explainer: Articles 371 to 371J
Articles 371 to 371J contain special provisions for certain States. Article 371 covers Maharashtra and Gujarat, while 371A to 371J cover Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka. Article 371J, added by the 98th Amendment in 2012, covers the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The MHA proposed a new constitutional provision for Ladakh at talks with the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance on 9 September. The Sixth Schedule provides autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
Delhi High Court ends points system for senior advocates
The Delhi High Court notified new rules on 3 September 2026 for designating senior advocates, ending the points-based system. The Full Court will now decide by consensus or, failing that, by a two-thirds majority. A Permanent Secretariat replaces the Permanent Committee and will invite applications every year. The earlier 100-point assessment had been reviewed by the Supreme Court in May 2025. Senior advocate designation is provided for under Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
NHRC holds Statutory Full Commission meeting
The National Human Rights Commission held a Statutory Full Commission meeting in New Delhi on 22 September 2026. Representatives of all seven deemed members of the Commission attended. It was chaired by NHRC Chairperson Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian. He said the Chairpersons of the National Commissions are ex-officio Members of the NHRC. He suggested appointing a Nodal Officer to coordinate among all the National Commissions.
International Relations
2 storiesUNGA-81 general debate opens
The general debate of the 81st UN General Assembly opened in New York on 22 September 2026. It is presided over by UNGA President Mr Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh. By tradition, Brazil spoke first. UN Secretary-General Mr António Guterres gave his last address to the debate, as his term ends on 31 December 2026. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is due to speak for India on 26 September.
India co-sponsors Partners for Multilateralism
India joined as a founding co-sponsor of Partners for Multilateralism, launched on the UNGA sidelines on 22 September 2026. The group was launched by European Council President Mr António Costa. Other co-sponsors include Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, the EU and Kenya. It aims to uphold the UN Charter and support reform of the multilateral system. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar attended the meeting.
World
1 storyIreland's DPC fines Google €403 million
Ireland's Data Protection Commission fined Google €403 million under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation on 22 September 2026. The regulator found unlawful tracking of users' location data in 2018–20. It is the commission's fourth-largest privacy fine. The GDPR took effect in 2018. Ireland's DPC is the lead regulator for many technology firms with EU headquarters in Ireland.
Schemes & Missions
2 storiesUDAN next phase: MoUs with 21 States and UTs
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India signed MoUs with 21 States and UTs for the next phase of UDAN on 22 September 2026. The regional connectivity scheme has been extended by 10 years. It targets about 4 crore more passengers. Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri K. Rammohan Naidu launched a Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development. The portal aims to cut the time to build a regional airport to about 18 months.
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes and other inclusion schemes
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment outlined its economic inclusion initiatives on 22 September 2026. They include the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) and the Venture Capital Fund for Backward Classes. The VCF-SC has a total corpus of ₹750 crore. It gives financial assistance from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 crore at an interest rate of 4%. The Ministry also runs a rehabilitation component for persons engaged in begging under the SMILE scheme.
Environment
1 storySBM-Urban: 3.66 crore tonnes of legacy waste remediated in 2025
Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, 3.66 crore tonnes of legacy waste were remediated in 2025. In all, 459 urban local bodies in 29 States have fully remediated their dumpsites. Lakshya Zero Dumpsite and the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme are speeding up the work. Biomining separates waste into refuse-derived fuel, soil, recyclables and inert material. At Delhi's Bhalswa site, 99.07 lakh tonnes had been remediated by July 2026.
Science & Tech
3 storiesI-STEM: first meeting of State nodal officers
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser held the first meeting of State government nodal officers on 21 September 2026. Officers from 23 States and 4 UTs took part. The aim was to widen access to scientific equipment through the I-STEM portal. The portal lists over 31,000 instruments in about 4,000 institutions. Publicly funded equipment costing over ₹20 lakh must be registered on it.
Drug-resistant fungi prompt rethink of treatment
Scientists are reassessing antifungal strategies as drug-resistant fungal infections rise in hospitals. Candida auris shows over 90% resistance to azoles and about 30% to polyenes. Its infections carry 30–40% mortality in ICU settings. It was first reported in Japan in 2009. The three main antifungal drug classes are azoles, polyenes and echinocandins.
TRAI drive test on the Gandhidham–Santhalpur stretch of NH-27
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released findings of an Independent Drive Test on the Gandhidham to Santhalpur stretch of NH-27 in Gujarat on 22 September 2026. The test was conducted in July 2026. It assessed the real-time quality of voice and data services of telecom service providers. Parameters included coverage, call drop rate, call setup success rate and download and upload speeds. Tests were run on 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks.
Defence
1 storyTarang Shakti 2026 announced
The IAF announced on 22 September 2026 that the second edition of its multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti will run from 26 September to 12 October. It will be held at Jodhpur and nearby bases. Aircraft from eight countries will take part, including Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, the UAE and the USA. There will be 32 observer nations. The first edition was held in 2024.
Appointments
1 storyHon'ble President presents 72nd National Film Awards
Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on 22 September 2026. It was the first time the ceremony was held outside Delhi. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred on Kannada actor Shri Anant Nag. Best Actor was shared by Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan, and Best Actress went to Yami Gautam. Union I&B Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said future ceremonies will rotate among major tourist destinations.
Sports
4 storiesIndia's women retain Asian Games cricket gold
India's women beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the Asian Games cricket final at Nisshin on 22 September 2026. India scored 216 for 3, with Smriti Mandhana making 79 off 45 balls. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69, with Deepti Sharma taking three wickets. It was India's first gold of the 2026 Games. India also won the title at Hangzhou; Pakistan took bronze.
Badminton medal assured; tally rises to 7
India's medal tally rose to seven, with one gold, four silver and two bronze, after Day 3 on 22 September 2026. The men's badminton team beat Japan 3-0 in the quarter-final, assuring a medal. Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag and Ayush Shetty won their matches. The men's hockey team beat Sri Lanka 16-1. India won men's team badminton silver at Hangzhou.
India beat Japan in first men's T20I
India beat Japan by 2 runs in the first men's T20 International between the two sides at Sano, Tochigi, on 22 September 2026. The rain-shortened match was reduced to five overs a side. It marked 75 years of India–Japan diplomatic relations. Shreyas Iyer captained India. India and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1952.
Mark Wood retires from international cricket
England fast bowler Mark Wood, 36, retired from international cricket on medical advice on 22 September 2026. He took 119 Test, 80 ODI and 54 T20I wickets. He was part of England's 2019 ODI World Cup-winning side. He also won the 2022 T20 World Cup with England. He was known for his pace.
Important Days
3 storiesWorld Rhino Day
World Rhino Day was observed on 22 September 2026 with the message 'Keep the Five Alive' for the world's five rhino species. It was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010. India is home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Most of India's rhinos live in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
World Rose Day
World Rose Day is observed on 22 September for the well-being of cancer patients. People give roses to cancer patients as a sign of hope. The day encourages support and care for patients and families. It is not a UN-designated day.
World Car Free Day
World Car Free Day is observed on 22 September. It encourages people to walk, cycle or use public transport instead of cars. Many cities close some streets to vehicles for the day. Such events highlight air pollution and congestion. India promotes public transport through metro projects and bus electrification schemes.
Quick-revision MCQs
Tap an option to check it. Every question comes from the stories above.
Q1.The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held at:
Answer: B. First ceremony held outside Delhi.
Q2.Paraquat dichloride was banned under the:
Answer: B. Sections 27 and 28 of the Insecticides Act.
Q3.Article 22(1) of the Constitution provides:
Answer: B. 22(2) covers production before a magistrate.
Q4.The India–New Zealand FTA enters into force on:
Answer: C. 20 October 2026.
Q5.Article 371J relates to:
Answer: B. Added by the 98th Amendment, 2012.
Q6.Double deflation in GDP compilation adjusts:
Answer: C. It gives better real GVA estimates.
Q7.The 9th India International Water Week's theme is:
Answer: B. Organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Q8.Who presides over the 81st UN General Assembly?
Answer: B. Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh.
Q9.Tarang Shakti is a multinational exercise conducted by the:
Answer: B. IAF's multinational air exercise.
Q10.Most of India's greater one-horned rhinos are found in:
Answer: B. Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
Source: PIB, The Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindu and the Gazette of India.
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