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18th September 2026 Current Affairs

Friday · 10 news items · 10 MCQs

Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign Launched; India Begins First-Ever Soil-Carbon Payments for Farmers; India Welcomes Passage of New Zealand's FTA Legislation

In this edition

Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign Launched
India Begins First-Ever Soil-Carbon Payments for Farmers
India Welcomes Passage of New Zealand's FTA Legislation
GIFT City Climbs to 37th in Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 40)
Retail Inflation (CPI) Rises to 4.82% in August 2026
PM Modi Inaugurates SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi
Dhiraj Bommadevara Becomes First Indian Man to Win Archery World Cup Final Gold
Sethuraman Panchanathan Wins 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award
India's 51st Doppler Weather Radar Inaugurated at Sambalpur, Odisha
World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 Held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Daily Current Affairs Quiz (10 questions)

📘 18th September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

10 questions · attempt all, submit, then see your score and the solutions

Take the Quiz ›

🇮🇳 National

Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign Launched

Why in News?

The nationwide cleanliness campaign began on September 17, 2026, and runs through October 17, 2026, under the theme "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat." ICAR (Ministry of Agriculture) has partnered in the drive as part of the broader Swachh Bharat Mission.

Key Highlights

Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 runs from 17 September to 17 October 2026
Theme: "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat"
ICAR (Ministry of Agriculture) is a partner in the drive
Part of the Swachh Bharat Mission

Static GK

The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on 2 October 2014
ICAR was established in 1929 and is headquartered in New Delhi

🇮🇳 National

India Begins First-Ever Soil-Carbon Payments for Farmers

Why in News?

Direct benefit transfers under a regenerative-agriculture initiative were made to over 2,500 smallholder farmers in Punjab and Haryana — India's first soil-carbon credit payment scheme, incentivizing practices that improve soil carbon sequestration.

Key Highlights

India's first soil-carbon credit payments to farmers
Direct benefit transfers to 2,500+ smallholder farmers
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana
Rewards practices that increase soil carbon sequestration

Static GK

The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched in 2015
ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) is headquartered in New Delhi

🌍 International

India Welcomes Passage of New Zealand's FTA Legislation

Why in News?

New Zealand's Parliament passed legislation enabling implementation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, a key step to operationalize the pact and boost bilateral trade. India's Commerce Ministry officially welcomed the move.

Key Highlights

New Zealand's Parliament passed the law to implement the India–NZ FTA
A key step towards bringing the pact into force
Expected to boost bilateral trade
Welcomed by India's Commerce Ministry

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Wellington is the capital of New Zealand
New Zealand's currency is the New Zealand dollar

📈 Economy

GIFT City Climbs to 37th in Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 40)

Why in News?

India's GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) rose nine places to rank 37th globally in the 40th edition of the Global Financial Centres Index, also entering the Asia-Pacific top 15. GFCI ranks the competitiveness of financial centres worldwide.

Key Highlights

GIFT City rose nine places to 37th in GFCI 40
Entered the Asia-Pacific top 15
GFCI ranks the competitiveness of global financial centres
GIFT = Gujarat International Finance Tec-City

Static GK

GIFT City is in Gandhinagar, Gujarat; its IFSC is regulated by the IFSCA, set up in 2020
The GFCI is published twice a year by Z/Yen Group, London

📈 Economy

Retail Inflation (CPI) Rises to 4.82% in August 2026

Why in News?

India's Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation rose to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.45% in July 2026; Telangana recorded the highest state-level inflation at 6.27%. Data released by MoSPI.

Key Highlights

CPI inflation rose to 4.82% in August 2026
Up from 4.45% in July 2026
Telangana recorded the highest state-level inflation at 6.27%
Data released by MoSPI (base year 2024=100)

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CPI data is released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI
RBI's inflation target is 4%, with a tolerance band of ±2%

📈 Economy

PM Modi Inaugurates SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi (September 17–19), India's largest semiconductor industry event, with 600+ companies from 52 nations participating, highlighting India's growing chip-manufacturing ecosystem.

Key Highlights

PM Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026
Held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, 17–19 September
600+ companies from 52 nations
India's largest semiconductor industry event

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The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was launched in 2021 under MeitY
Yashobhoomi is the India International Convention & Expo Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi

🏆 Sports & Awards

Dhiraj Bommadevara Becomes First Indian Man to Win Archery World Cup Final Gold

Why in News?

The Indian recurve archer won gold at the Archery World Cup Final 2026, becoming the first Indian male archer to claim the title — a landmark for Indian recurve archery.

Key Highlights

Dhiraj Bommadevara won the Archery World Cup Final 2026
First Indian male archer to win the title
Competes in the recurve discipline
A landmark for Indian recurve archery

Static GK

World Archery, the sport's global governing body, is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland
The Archery Association of India is the national federation for the sport

🏆 Sports & Awards

Sethuraman Panchanathan Wins 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award

Why in News?

Sethuraman Panchanathan — Arizona State University professor and former Director of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) — became the first Indian American to receive the US National Academy of Engineering's (NAE) Arthur M. Bueche Award for engineering and technology leadership.

Key Highlights

Sethuraman Panchanathan won the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award
First Indian American to receive it
Awarded by the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
Former NSF Director; professor at Arizona State University

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The US National Academy of Engineering was founded in 1964
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) was established in 1950

🔬 Science & Technology

India's 51st Doppler Weather Radar Inaugurated at Sambalpur, Odisha

Why in News?

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India's 51st Doppler Weather Radar at Sambalpur, Odisha, under Mission Mausam, with 40 more radars planned nationwide to strengthen extreme-weather forecasting.

Key Highlights

India's 51st Doppler Weather Radar inaugurated at Sambalpur, Odisha
Inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
Installed under Mission Mausam
40 more radars planned nationwide

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) was established in 1875
Mission Mausam is run by the Ministry of Earth Sciences

🗺️ State

World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 Held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Why in News?

India hosted the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from September 15–18, 2026 — the first time the forum was held in South Asia — in partnership with Finland's Sitra and UNDP.

Key Highlights

WCEF 2026 held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 15–18 September 2026
First time the forum was held in South Asia
Organised with Finland's Sitra and UNDP
Focus on circular-economy solutions

Static GK

The World Circular Economy Forum is an initiative of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
The first WCEF was held in Helsinki, Finland, in 2017

📘 18th September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

10 questions · attempt all, submit, then see your score and the solutions

Take the Quiz ›