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21st September 2026 Current Affairs

Monday · 10 news items · 10 MCQs

HAL delivers first indigenous HTT-40 "Ankur" trainer aircraft to IAF; FCRA data: NGOs halve in 10 years, foreign funding rises to ₹22,974 crore; Luke Lindberg appointed new Executive Director of UN World Food Programme (WFP)

In this edition

  1. HAL delivers first indigenous HTT-40 "Ankur" trainer aircraft to IAF
  2. FCRA data: NGOs halve in 10 years, foreign funding rises to ₹22,974 crore
  3. Luke Lindberg appointed new Executive Director of UN World Food Programme (WFP)
  4. International Day of Peace 2026 observed on September 21
  5. New UPI merchant charges: 0.4% MDR from October 15, 2026
  6. Union Cabinet's "Semicon 2.0" — India Semiconductor Mission Phase II
  7. Asian Games 2026 (Aichi-Nagoya, Japan): India opens medal tally with shooting silvers
  8. Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar wins trap gold at ISSF Junior World Cup
  9. India's first soil carbon payment programme, 'Aadi', pays ₹2.9 crore to farmers
  10. Karnataka Cabinet approves Tulu as second official language in Dakshina Kannada & Udupi
  11. Daily Current Affairs Quiz (10 questions)

📘 21st September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

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

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🇮🇳 National

HAL delivers first indigenous HTT-40 "Ankur" trainer aircraft to IAF

Why in News?

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft — named "Ankur" — to the Indian Air Force on September 18, 2026, alongside two LCA Tejas twin-seater (FOC) trainers and four Dhruv-NG helicopters to Pawan Hans. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended; the IAF has contracted 70 HTT-40 aircraft in total, and this handover completes the 4-aircraft Tejas FOC twin-seater contract.

Key Highlights

  • HAL delivered the first HTT-40 "Ankur" basic trainer to the IAF on 18 September 2026
  • Also handed over two LCA Tejas twin-seater trainers and four Dhruv-NG helicopters
  • IAF has contracted 70 HTT-40 aircraft
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended

Static GK

  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was established in 1940 and is headquartered in Bengaluru
  • Pawan Hans is a government-owned helicopter service company
🇮🇳 National

FCRA data: NGOs halve in 10 years, foreign funding rises to ₹22,974 crore

Why in News?

Ministry of Home Affairs data shows active FCRA-registered NGOs fell from 29,022 (2015) to 14,466 now, even as foreign contributions rose from ₹17,832 crore (2015-16) to ₹22,974 crore (2024-25). Delhi received the highest contribution (₹5,834 crore), followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu has the most registered associations (2,102); the USA is the largest source country (₹12,113 crore).

Key Highlights

  • Active FCRA-registered NGOs fell from 29,022 (2015) to 14,466
  • Foreign contributions rose to ₹22,974 crore (2024-25)
  • Delhi received the most (₹5,834 crore); Tamil Nadu has the most registered associations
  • USA is the largest source country (₹12,113 crore)

Static GK

  • Foreign contributions to NGOs are regulated under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
  • The FCRA is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs
🌍 International

Luke Lindberg appointed new Executive Director of UN World Food Programme (WFP)

Why in News?

UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Luke J. Lindberg, a US agriculture official, as the new Executive Director of the World Food Programme in September 2026, confirmed via an official UN press release.

Key Highlights

  • Luke J. Lindberg appointed Executive Director of the World Food Programme
  • Appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres
  • A US agriculture official
  • Confirmed in an official UN press release

Static GK

  • The World Food Programme was established in 1961 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy
  • The WFP won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020
🌍 International

International Day of Peace 2026 observed on September 21

Why in News?

The UN's International Day of Peace 2026 theme is "Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day," confirmed on the official UN Peacekeeping site, calling for sustained investment in peacebuilding worldwide.

Key Highlights

  • International Day of Peace observed on 21 September
  • 2026 theme: "Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day"
  • Calls for sustained investment in peacebuilding
  • Observed by the United Nations

Static GK

  • The International Day of Peace was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981
  • It has been observed on 21 September every year since 2002
📈 Economy

New UPI merchant charges: 0.4% MDR from October 15, 2026

Why in News?

NPCI has notified a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 made to large/high-volume merchants, effective October 15, 2026. Charges apply to merchants, not to peer-to-peer or small-merchant UPI payments, which remain free for consumers.

Key Highlights

  • 0.4% MDR on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 to large merchants
  • Effective 15 October 2026
  • Charged to merchants, not customers
  • P2P and small-merchant UPI payments stay free

Static GK

  • MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) is the fee a merchant pays its bank for accepting digital payments
  • UPI is operated by NPCI and was launched in 2016
📈 Economy

Union Cabinet's "Semicon 2.0" — India Semiconductor Mission Phase II

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet approved India Semiconductor Mission Phase II ("Semicon 2.0") in July 2026 with a ₹1,27,500 crore (~USD 13.5 billion) outlay across six pillars: design, equipment & materials, fabs, advanced packaging, applied R&D, and talent. It targets 200 chip design start-ups and 1 lakh new jobs.

Key Highlights

  • Cabinet approved India Semiconductor Mission Phase II ("Semicon 2.0") in July 2026
  • Outlay: ₹1,27,500 crore (~USD 13.5 billion)
  • Six pillars: design, equipment & materials, fabs, packaging, R&D and talent
  • Targets 200 chip-design start-ups and 1 lakh new jobs

Static GK

  • The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was launched in 2021 under MeitY
  • ISM Phase I had an outlay of ₹76,000 crore
🏆 Sports & Awards

Asian Games 2026 (Aichi-Nagoya, Japan): India opens medal tally with shooting silvers

Why in News?

At the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, India won its first medals — silver in the women's 10m Air Rifle Team (Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, Vidarsa Vinod), silver in the individual women's 10m Air Rifle (Elavenil Valarivan), and silver in the men's 10m Air Rifle Team (Rudrankksh Patil, Himanshu Dhillon, Parth Mane).

Key Highlights

  • India's first medals at the 2026 Asian Games came in shooting
  • Silver: women's 10m Air Rifle Team and individual women's 10m Air Rifle (Elavenil Valarivan)
  • Silver: men's 10m Air Rifle Team
  • Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan

Static GK

  • The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is headquartered in Munich, Germany
  • The Asian Games are governed by the Olympic Council of Asia, headquartered in Kuwait
🏆 Sports & Awards

Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar wins trap gold at ISSF Junior World Cup

Why in News?

Indian shooter Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar won gold in the men's trap event at the ISSF Junior World Cup held in Italy in September 2026.

Key Highlights

  • Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumaar won men's trap gold
  • At the ISSF Junior World Cup in Italy
  • September 2026
  • Trap is a shotgun shooting discipline

Static GK

  • The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is headquartered in Munich, Germany
  • The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) governs shooting in India
🔬 Science & Technology

India's first soil carbon payment programme, 'Aadi', pays ₹2.9 crore to farmers

Why in News?

Per a PIB release, 'Aadi' — run by Grow Indigo with ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) guidance — became India's first soil carbon payment programme, disbursing ₹2.9 crore to 2,550 farmers in Punjab and Haryana (average ₹11,478/farmer) for climate-smart practices like Direct Seeded Rice, verified under the Verra VM0042 standard.

Key Highlights

  • 'Aadi' became India's first soil carbon payment programme
  • ₹2.9 crore paid to 2,550 farmers in Punjab and Haryana
  • Average payout ₹11,478 per farmer
  • Run by Grow Indigo with ICAR guidance; verified under Verra VM0042

Static GK

  • Verra is a non-profit that manages the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) for carbon credits
  • ICAR was established in 1929 and is headquartered in New Delhi
🗺️ State

Karnataka Cabinet approves Tulu as second official language in Dakshina Kannada & Udupi

Why in News?

The Karnataka Cabinet approved Tulu as the second additional administrative/official language for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, with an allocation of ₹82 lakh for implementation. The decision follows a 2023 committee report led by M. Mohan Alva.

Key Highlights

  • Tulu approved as additional official language for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi
  • Approved by the Karnataka Cabinet
  • ₹82 lakh allocated for implementation
  • Based on a 2023 committee report led by M. Mohan Alva

Static GK

  • Tulu is not among the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
  • The Tulu-speaking region (Tulu Nadu) spans coastal Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala

📘 21st September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

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

Take the Quiz ›
21st September 2026 Current Affairs — News Summary & MCQ Quiz | Vision Educare