Current Affairs Quiz - September 2026

Notes:
The fourth instalment of ₹3,000 under the Annapurna Yojana was transferred to the bank accounts of around 1.5 crore women beneficiaries in West Bengal. Annapurna Yojana is implemented by the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal. The scheme aims to provide assured monthly financial assistance to eligible women residing in West Bengal. It focuses on women’s empowerment and socio-economic upliftment. Eligible women receive ₹3,000 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The assistance is credited directly to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account.

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Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) scientists discovered a new conger eel species from the Arabian Sea. The new species is named Ariosoma cmfriense after CMFRI, marking its 80th anniversary. It was found off Kollam, Kerala, at a depth of about 300 metres in January 2026. The species was identified using morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. The discovery was made under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). The holotype has been deposited in the CMFRI Marine Biodiversity Museum. The discovery is expected to strengthen understanding of deep-sea biodiversity and marine resource conservation.

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Scholars at Risk released the Free to Think 2026 report on academic freedom and attacks on higher education. The report documented 382 attacks on higher-education communities across 59 countries and territories between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026. India was placed in the “Severely Restricted” category for academic freedom. India’s Academic Freedom Index (AFI) score declined from 0.38 in 2022 to 0.14 in 2025. The report identified issues related to university governance, appointments, campus expression, student protests, research, teaching and publication. The “Completely Restricted” category included countries/territories such as China, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and North Korea.

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Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) was launched on 17 September 2015 for the welfare and development of mining-affected areas and communities. It is implemented through District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. At least 70% of funds go to high-priority sectors such as health, education, drinking water, environment and livelihoods. As of July 2026, more than 4.70 lakh projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore had been sanctioned. 2,92,156 projects had been completed. 78,809 projects were under execution with over ₹30,512 crore in committed funds.

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The 17th Kathakali Festival was inaugurated at the Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. The festival is organised by the Kalakshetra Foundation under the Ministry of Culture. The three-day festival is held from 18–20 September 2026 with the theme “Kadha Rasa Sangama – Confluence of Essence of Stories.” Three prominent Kathakali institutions—Sadanam Academy, Kerala Kalamandalam and Margi Theatre—are presenting different productions. The festival opened with “Mandodari”, presented by Sadanam Academy and based on the Ramayana.

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Karnataka approved Tulu as its second additional administrative language for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in September 2026. The decision followed several years of demands and consultations, including a committee report submitted in 2023 under educationist M. Mohan Alva. Tulu is primarily spoken in the coastal region known as Tulu Nadu, covering Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Tulu is also spoken in parts of Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan and Kodagu districts. The government has allocated ₹82 lakh for translation, training and other activities related to the use of Tulu.

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Researchers have found evidence that Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus that can cause severe pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems, is developing resistance to mycophenolic acid (MPA). The disease caused by it is known as Pneumocystis pneumonia. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an immunosuppressive drug mainly used to prevent organ rejection after solid-organ transplantation. MPA was not intended to act as an antifungal drug, but it was found to exert unintended pressure on Pneumocystis jirovecii.

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Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan won the silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle individual event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Japan’s Hinata Taichi won the gold medal, while South Korea’s Ban Hyojin secured bronze. Elavenil led the final for much of the competition and finished with 211.1 points after 20 shots before eventually securing silver. Earlier, Elavenil, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod won silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event, giving India its first medal of the Games. Suchika Tariyal also secured a medal in women’s traditional 60 kg Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) after winning her quarterfinal.

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Luke J. Lindberg of the United States was appointed as the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in September 2026, succeeding Cindy H. McCain. The appointment was announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, with concurrence from the WFP Executive Board. WFP is the United Nations’ leading organisation dedicated to combating hunger and food insecurity and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of Global Water Resources 2025 report, highlighting a persistent decline in groundwater levels in India. Over-extraction of groundwater is identified as a major reason for the decline, with extraction exceeding natural recharge in several regions. Northern and north-western India are particularly affected by declining groundwater levels.Globally, 34% of groundwater observation stations recorded below-normal to much-below-normal levels in 2025, compared with 25% in 2024. Groundwater levels in the report are assessed against the 2001–2020 reference period. The report indicates a broader trend of groundwater depletion, declining freshwater storage and glacier retreat.