Current Affairs Quiz - September 2026

Notes:
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.

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Scientists from the ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-CICFR) have recorded the rare fish Schizopygopsis waddellii for the first time from a natural lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The fish was recorded at an altitude of around 12,800 feet above sea level. The discovery expands the known range of this rare Himalayan fish into India. Earlier, Schizopygopsis waddellii had been recorded from the Tibetan and China Plateau. The finding adds to the understanding of India’s freshwater biodiversity, particularly in the Himalayan region.

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NIT Rourkela, ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), and Tea Board India have joined hands to develop an AI-based system for monitoring tea plantations. The project is titled “CHAYANKAN: Comprehensive AI-based Geospatial Data Analytics for Tea Plantation Monitoring.” CHAYANKAN is a three-year Advanced Research and Development project. The project will combine satellite imagery, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) observations, ground-level data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI and machine-learning models will help identify tea plantations, assess plantation health and estimate crop yields. The system will also analyse vegetation, weather and other geospatial indicators to forecast pest and disease outbreaks.

Notes:
Saragarhi Day is observed every year on 12 September to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of 21 Sikh soldiers. The soldiers belonged to the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army. The Battle of Saragarhi was fought on 12 September 1897 in the North-West Frontier Province, which is now in Pakistan. The 21 Sikh soldiers were led by Havildar Ishar Singh. They defended the Saragarhi communication post against a vastly larger force of Afghan tribesmen.

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India’s women’s hockey team has won the Junior Asia Cup title for the third consecutive time. India defeated China 1–0 in the final at Moqi, China. Sanika Chandrakant Mane scored the only goal of the match in the 17th minute. With this victory, India completed a hat-trick of Junior Asia Cup titles. India had previously won the tournament in 2023 and 2024. India entered the tournament as the defending champion. The victory highlights India’s continued dominance in junior women’s hockey in Asia.

Notes:
Gujarat has completed mangrove plantation across 27,000 hectares in Kutch under the MISHTI scheme. This represents a major portion of the state’s 29,000-hectare mangrove plantation target. MISHTI focuses on the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems. A scientific nursery has been established at Jakhau to raise mangrove and seaweed species suited to local tidal conditions. The initiative involves active participation of local coastal communities and the Border Security Force (BSF).

Notes:
Pramod Bhagat won the gold medal in men’s singles SL3 at the Japan International Para Badminton tournament. The Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist defeated fellow Indian Umesh Kumar in the singles final. Bhagat won the final 21–16, 21–8. Bhagat is a six-time World Champion in para badminton. In men’s doubles SL3–SU5, Pramod Bhagat partnered with Sukant Kadam. The Indian pair won the silver medal in the doubles category. They were defeated by Indonesia’s Hikmat Ramdani and Fredy Setiawan in the final.

Notes:
The International Day of Democracy is observed annually on 15 September. The day focuses on democracy, public participation, human rights and accountable governance. The 2026 focus was on bringing diverse voices and human rights into decision-making through deliberative democracy. The observance also highlighted the importance of inclusive communities and accountable governance.

Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS). The scheme aims to improve higher education opportunities for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) students. From 2014–15 to 2025–26, around ₹3,509.39 crore was spent under its four major components. During the same period, 1,18,248 beneficiaries were covered under these components. SHREYAS provides a continuum of support ranging from competitive-examination coaching to advanced research.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered a new species of darkling beetle in Kerala’s Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The new species has been named Steneucyrtus wayanadensis. It belongs to the genus Steneucyrtus and family Tenebrionidae. The specimens were collected from the Chethalayam Forest area during a scientific survey. Researchers used light traps at night to collect the specimens. The beetle has a blackish body with golden-green metallic iridescence. Its hard front wings, called elytra, are completely flat and lack rough/wrinkled texture.