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29th September 2026 Current Affairs

Tuesday · 10 news items · 10 MCQs

IRDAI Appoints Two New Whole-Time Members; Arogya Manthan 2026 Marks 8 Years of PM-JAY, 5 Years of ABDM; DDU-GKY Completes 12 Years of Rural Skilling

In this edition

  1. IRDAI Appoints Two New Whole-Time Members
  2. Arogya Manthan 2026 Marks 8 Years of PM-JAY, 5 Years of ABDM
  3. DDU-GKY Completes 12 Years of Rural Skilling
  4. INS Trishul Arrives in France for 24th Edition of Exercise VARUNA
  5. India's Industrial Output (IIP) Growth Accelerates to 8.0% in August 2026
  6. New UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) Rule Effective October 15, 2026
  7. India Retains Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy at 46th Chess Olympiad
  8. India Finishes 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
  9. India's First Port-Based e-Methanol Plant Comes Up at Kandla
  10. NMDC Commissions ₹5,427-Crore Iron Ore Project in Chhattisgarh
  11. Daily Current Affairs Quiz (10 questions)

📘 29th September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

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

Take the Quiz ›
🇮🇳 National

IRDAI Appoints Two New Whole-Time Members

Why in News?

Dinesh Pant (former LIC MD) and Girija Subramanian (former NIACL CMD) join IRDAI as Whole-Time Members. The Centre, on the recommendation of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, appointed Dinesh Pant as Whole-Time Member (Actuary) and Girija Subramanian as Whole-Time Member (Distribution) at the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, each for a five-year term or until age 65.

Key Highlights

  • Dinesh Pant appointed IRDAI Whole-Time Member (Actuary)
  • Girija Subramanian appointed Whole-Time Member (Distribution)
  • Pant is a former LIC MD; Subramanian a former NIACL CMD
  • Five-year term or until age 65

Static GK

  • IRDAI was set up under the IRDA Act, 1999 and is headquartered in Hyderabad
  • LIC was established in 1956
🇮🇳 National

Arogya Manthan 2026 Marks 8 Years of PM-JAY, 5 Years of ABDM

Why in News?

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda inaugurates two-day Arogya Manthan 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event celebrated 8 years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (60+ crore beneficiaries, 49 crore Ayushman Cards, ₹2 lakh crore+ in treatment value) and 5 years of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (97.8 crore ABHAs created). New tools launched include the NHPR mobile app, NHCX Implementation Guide, and a Secure Data Environment app. Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and J&K were recognised as top performers.

Key Highlights

  • Arogya Manthan 2026 inaugurated by J.P. Nadda at Vigyan Bhawan
  • Marked 8 years of PM-JAY and 5 years of ABDM
  • PM-JAY: 60+ crore beneficiaries, 49 crore Ayushman Cards
  • ABDM: 97.8 crore ABHAs; AP, Sikkim and J&K top performers

Static GK

  • The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was launched on 27 September 2021
  • ABHA stands for Ayushman Bharat Health Account
🇮🇳 National

DDU-GKY Completes 12 Years of Rural Skilling

Why in News?

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (Ministry of Rural Development) marks 12 years since its September 2014 launch. The scheme has trained 18.47 lakh rural youth (aged 15–35) across 800+ job roles and placed 12.43 lakh candidates. Under DDU-GKY 2.0 (updated May 2025), minimum placement retention was extended to 6 months; the 2026–27 budget allocation is ₹750 crore.

Key Highlights

  • DDU-GKY completed 12 years since its September 2014 launch
  • 18.47 lakh rural youth trained; 12.43 lakh placed
  • Covers 800+ job roles for youth aged 15–35
  • 2026–27 budget allocation: ₹750 crore

Static GK

  • DDU-GKY is run by the Ministry of Rural Development under DAY-NRLM
  • It was launched on Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary, 25 September
🌍 International

INS Trishul Arrives in France for 24th Edition of Exercise VARUNA

Why in News?

Indian Navy ship INS Trishul reached the French naval base at Toulon for the 24th edition of the India–France bilateral maritime exercise VARUNA. Exercise VARUNA began in 1993 and was renamed "VARUNA" in 2001. The 2026 edition (held on the Mediterranean coast) includes cross-deck visits, operational drills, and joint sporting activities between the two navies.

Key Highlights

  • INS Trishul reached Toulon for the 24th edition of VARUNA
  • India–France bilateral maritime exercise
  • Includes cross-deck visits, drills and joint sports
  • Held on the Mediterranean coast

Static GK

  • The India–France naval exercise began in 1993 and was named VARUNA in 2001
  • Toulon is France's main naval base on the Mediterranean
📈 Economy

India's Industrial Output (IIP) Growth Accelerates to 8.0% in August 2026

Why in News?

Index of Industrial Production rose 8.0% year-on-year in August 2026, up from 6.7% in July. Government data showed manufacturing grew 9.0%, electricity & gas supply surged 12.3%, and capital goods expanded 16.9%, while mining & quarrying contracted 5.6%. It marks the third straight month of 8%+ manufacturing growth.

Key Highlights

  • IIP grew 8.0% in August 2026, up from 6.7% in July
  • Manufacturing +9.0%; electricity & gas +12.3%
  • Capital goods +16.9%; mining & quarrying −5.6%
  • Third straight month of 8%+ manufacturing growth

Static GK

  • The IIP is released monthly by the National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI
  • Manufacturing has the largest weight in the IIP
📈 Economy

New UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) Rule Effective October 15, 2026

Why in News?

NPCI's new 0.4% MDR will apply to select UPI Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions above ₹2,000. The Supreme Court declined to grant an interim stay on the rule but issued notices to the Central Government, RBI, and NPCI on a plea challenging it. Transactions at or below ₹2,000 remain free of any MDR charge for consumers.

Key Highlights

  • 0.4% MDR on select UPI P2M transactions above ₹2,000
  • Effective 15 October 2026
  • Supreme Court declined an interim stay
  • SC issued notices to the Centre, RBI and NPCI

Static GK

  • The RBI regulates payment systems under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
  • NPCI was set up in 2008
🏆 Sports & Awards

India Retains Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy at 46th Chess Olympiad

Why in News?

At Samarkand, Uzbekistan (15–27 September 2026), India's Open team won silver and the Women's team won bronze. This is India's third consecutive retention of the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy (awarded for combined Open + Women's team performance). The Open team was led by GM Srinath Narayanan and the Women's team by GM Swayams Mishra. Uzbekistan won Open gold; China won Women's gold.

Key Highlights

  • 46th Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 15–27 September 2026
  • India's Open team won silver; Women's team won bronze
  • India retained the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy for the third time in a row
  • Uzbekistan won Open gold; China won Women's gold

Static GK

  • FIDE, the world chess body, was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Lausanne
  • India hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai in 2022
🏆 Sports & Awards

India Finishes 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

Why in News?

India won 6 silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai (concluded 27 September 2026). WorldSkills is a global vocational-skills competition; India's contingent is fielded under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship / NSDC.

Key Highlights

  • India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, Shanghai
  • Won 6 silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence
  • Competition concluded on 27 September 2026
  • Contingent fielded by MSDE / NSDC

Static GK

  • The WorldSkills Competition is held every two years
  • NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) was set up in 2008 as a public-private partnership
🔬 Science & Technology

India's First Port-Based e-Methanol Plant Comes Up at Kandla

Why in News?

A ₹2,300-crore e-Methanol plant (150 tonnes/day capacity) is being built at Kandla, Gandhidham (Kutch, Gujarat). It is a joint venture between Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APCL), expected to produce methanol at ~USD 750/tonne against a global rate of ~USD 1,300/tonne. Phase-I is targeted for completion by January 2027 and Phase-II by March 2027.

Key Highlights

  • India's first port-based e-Methanol plant at Kandla, Gujarat
  • ₹2,300 crore; 150 tonnes/day capacity
  • JV of Deendayal Port Authority and Assam Petro-Chemicals
  • Phase-I by January 2027; Phase-II by March 2027

Static GK

  • e-Methanol is made from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide
  • The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched in January 2023
🗺️ State

NMDC Commissions ₹5,427-Crore Iron Ore Project in Chhattisgarh

Why in News?

State-run NMDC commissioned an integrated iron ore processing project, including a 2 MTPA pellet plant, in the Bailadila/Nagarnar region of Chhattisgarh. The ₹5,427-crore project strengthens India's domestic iron ore processing capacity and supports the Nagarnar Steel Plant value chain.

Key Highlights

  • NMDC commissioned a ₹5,427 crore integrated iron ore project
  • Includes a 2 MTPA pellet plant
  • In the Bailadila/Nagarnar region of Chhattisgarh
  • Supports the Nagarnar Steel Plant value chain

Static GK

  • NMDC is a PSU under the Ministry of Steel, headquartered in Hyderabad
  • Bailadila is in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh

📘 29th September 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

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

Take the Quiz ›