Daily notes mapped to syllabus topics, with “Asked before” PYQs and original practice MCQs.
On 23 September 2026 the cooperative ride service Bharat Taxi was launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Run on the "Driver is the Owner" principle, it has more than 10 lakh drivers (Saarthis) in six months, about 20,000 rides a day and over Rs 100 crore credited to drivers.
UPSC angle: Mains: Can platform cooperatives protect gig workers?
23 Sep 2026
On 22 September 2026 TRAI released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. Operators must now offer voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers, at a lower tariff, for each validity of thirty days and less that they offer for data packs, so low-income users who do not need data can recharge cheaply.
UPSC angle: Prelims: TRAI as regulator; STV meaning.
22 Sep 2026
The National Single Window System (NSWS) turned five on 22 September 2026. Run by DPIIT, it lets investors find, apply for and track business approvals in one place. It offers over 327 Central and 3452 State approvals, gets over 3.06 lakh applications a year and has onboarded over 5.69 lakh business entities.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NSWS implementing department (DPIIT).
22 Sep 2026
On 22 September 2026 President Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity. She conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 on veteran actor Anant Nag for his contribution to Indian cinema. She asked that women be part of every regional jury.
UPSC angle: Prelims: recipient and year of Phalke Award.
22 Sep 2026
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, launched on 23 September 2018, marked eight years in September 2026. It gives cashless hospital cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family a year. It has funded about 13.25 crore admissions worth ₹2.03 lakh crore, and over 48.51 crore people, about 33% of India, hold Ayushman cards.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PM-JAY cover amount; four pillars. · Mains: Has PM-JAY reduced out-of-pocket expenditure?
22 Sep 2026
The 7th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 22 September 2026, co-chaired by the Petroleum Minister and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais. Talks covered oil market stability, energy security and timely investment. The dialogue began in 2015; the 8th meeting will be in Vienna.
UPSC angle: Prelims: OPEC HQ; India not a member.
22 Sep 2026
On 21 September 2026 MoSPI released "Sources and Methods for Compilation of National Accounts Statistics" for the new series with base year 2022-23. The series, India's eighth base-year revision, replaced the 2011-12 series on 27 February 2026 and was updated on 31 August 2026. The book explains the data, methods and concepts behind GDP.
UPSC angle: Prelims: new GDP base year; PPI replacing WPI as deflator (check text).
21 Sep 2026
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, signed on 27 April 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, will enter into force on 20 October 2026 (PIB, 21 September 2026). From day one, all of India's exports to New Zealand become duty-free. Dairy, sugar and edible oils stay out of India's tariff cuts, and New Zealand commits to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment.
UPSC angle: Prelims: entry-into-force date; zero-duty coverage. · Mains: India's new FTA strategy after leaving RCEP.
21 Sep 2026
The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began on 21 September 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, and runs to 3 October. It is an annual platoon-level exercise held in India and Mongolia by turns. Each side sends 45 personnel to train for counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Nomadic Elephant = Mongolia.
21 Sep 2026
The Index of Core Industries grew 4.8% in August 2026 over August 2025, slightly below 5.0% in July (PIB, 21 September 2026). Cement grew 12.5% and electricity 11.6%, while coal, natural gas, crude oil and fertilizers shrank. Growth for April to August 2026 was 4.3%, up from 2.4% a year earlier. The index uses base year 2022-23.
UPSC angle: Prelims: which industries are in the ICI (base 2022-23).
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