UPSC current affairs · Friday

Current Affairs, 11 September 2026

7 issues picked from 35 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model

How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.

In 60 seconds

Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026. New Act replaces 1891 law; banking records in any form become admissible evidence.
National HPV Vaccination Campaign. India crosses 80 lakh HPV doses for 14-year-old girls; four States reach full coverage.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY). PM-KMY, the farmers' pension scheme, completes seven years with about 24.96 lakh enrolments.
BRICS and India's 2026 Chairship. At the BRICS Business Forum, Goyal urged open markets, local-currency trade and linked payment systems.
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). NSKFDC offers concessional loans and skill training to sanitation workers, waste pickers and manual scavengers.
National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal. Lothal's maritime heritage complex is 82% built; 13 nations have signed collaboration MoUs.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0. CSMC sanctions 29,000 more PMAY-U 2.0 houses; total sanctioned reaches 18.77 lakh.

Law and statutory body

Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026

GS3 EconomyGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: The Finance Ministry said on 11 September 2026 that the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 will come into force on 1 October 2026, under a notification dated 10 September 2026.
What it is: The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 sets the rules for using a bank's records as evidence in court. It replaces the 1891 Act of the same name. It is meant to fit modern banking, where records are kept electronically and in the cloud.

Assent: The President gave assent on 13 August 2026.
Commencement: A notification of 10 September 2026 fixes 1 October 2026 as the start date.
Technology-neutral: Records in physical, electronic, digital, virtual, cloud-based and other forms are recognised. Certification can use manual, digital or electronic signatures.
Summoning bank officials: Where the bank is not a party to the case, the court must record a 'special cause' in writing to summon its officials.
Extension: The Central Government may extend the framework to specified financial sector entities or classes of entities.

Don’t confuse with Bankers' Books Evidence Act vs Banking Regulation Act, 1949: The first governs use of bank records as evidence in court. The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 regulates the business and licensing of banks.

Don’t confuse with Evidence Act vs Bankers' Books Evidence Act: The general law of evidence is the Indian Evidence Act, now replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. This Act is a special law for bank records.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

Test yourselfMains

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 11 Sep, 14:53 IST · Release 294575

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

National HPV Vaccination Campaign

GS2 HealthGS3 Science and technologyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 September 2026, the Health Ministry said India has given more than 80 lakh HPV vaccine doses under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign, launched in February 2026.
What it is: The National HPV Vaccination Campaign gives free, voluntary, single-dose HPV vaccine to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, with parental consent. It aims to prevent cervical cancer, which is caused mainly by persistent infection with high-risk HPV types. Vaccination is tracked through the U-WIN digital platform.

Target group and dose: 14-year-old girls get one free dose, voluntarily, with parental consent, at government health facilities.
Launch: The Prime Minister launched the campaign in February 2026.
Annual cohort: About 1.2 crore girls turn 14 each year, based on Registrar General of India 2021 estimates.
Digital monitoring: U-WIN lets programme managers track district-level coverage and find missed beneficiaries.
Safety arrangements: Sessions are run under trained Medical Officers, with links to 24x7 facilities for managing rare adverse events following immunisation (AEFI).

Don’t confuse with HPV vaccine vs Universal Immunisation Programme: The HPV campaign targets one cohort of 14-year-old girls. The Universal Immunisation Programme covers infants and pregnant women for many diseases.

Don’t confuse with U-WIN vs Co-WIN: U-WIN is the digital platform for routine immunisation records. Co-WIN was built for Covid-19 vaccination.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 11 Sep, 14:12 IST · Release 294573

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Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY)

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 AgriculturePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 September 2026, PIB marked seven years of PM-KMY, which completes its seventh year on 12 September 2026. Enrolment stood at 24.96 lakh farmers by 6 February 2026.
What it is: PM-KMY is a voluntary, contributory old-age pension scheme for small and marginal farmers, launched in 2019. Farmers aged 18-40 pay a monthly contribution and the Centre matches it. LIC manages the pension fund and payouts.

Administration: Central Sector Scheme run by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, implemented with LIC.
Pension: Minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month after age 60.
State spread: Haryana leads enrolments with about 5.75 lakh, followed by Bihar with over 3.46 lakh.

Don’t confuse with PM-KMY vs PM-KISAN: PM-KISAN gives income support of cash transfers; PM-KMY is a contributory pension. Farmers may use PM-KISAN benefits to pay PM-KMY contributions.

Don’t confuse with PM-KMY vs PM-SYM: PM-SYM is the pension scheme for unorganised workers; PM-KMY is for small and marginal farmers. PM-SYM beneficiaries are excluded from PM-KMY.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Test yourself

Source: PIB Headquarters, 11 Sep, 17:18 IST · Release 294581

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

International relations

BRICS and India's 2026 Chairship

GS2 International relations · GroupingsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 September 2026, at the opening session of the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged members to deepen intra-BRICS trade. He asked them to open markets, simplify rules and link payment systems under India's Chairship.
What it is: BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies that works through three pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The chair rotates yearly and sets the agenda and theme. The BRICS Parliamentary Forum brings together legislatures of member countries for parliamentary diplomacy alongside the leaders' summit.

Forum and theme: The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in New Delhi on 26-27 October 2026 under the theme of people-centric development.
India's chairship: India's 2026 chairship carries the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit on 12-13 September 2026.
Three pillars: Cooperation runs across political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people pillars.
IPU and BRICS Plus: Members noted Russia's initiative to consider a BRICS Plus geopolitical group within the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Next chair: China will chair BRICS in 2027.
Counter-terrorism machinery: The declaration welcomes the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its five subgroups, and calls for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN.
Event: The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 was inaugurated by the Lok Sabha Speaker at Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
Theme: The theme is 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development'.
Four pillars: The two-day Forum discusses four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Summit link: The BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government in New Delhi, chaired by PM Modi, unanimously adopted a Joint Statement.
Modi's vision: PM Modi's vision is to make BRICS an 'ecosystem of solutions'.
Members at the meeting: Ten BRICS tax administrations took part: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE.
New working groups: Two India-led Working Groups were set up: International Taxation and Transfer Pricing, and Revenue Statistics. They will continue beyond the Chairship.
Host body: The meeting was hosted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Ministry of Finance.
Next tax-track Chair: China is the incoming Chair of the BRICS tax cooperation track for 2027.
Institutional outcomes: The Young Tax Professionals programme became an annual feature. The Tax Cross-Learning Lab was launched. Terms of Reference of the BRICS Tax Support Network were approved.
UN tax negotiations: India stressed that BRICS views matter in the negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
Summit and host: The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi, with India as chair in 2026.
Outcome document: The summit adopted the New Delhi BRICS Leaders' Declaration, setting shared priorities and direction for BRICS cooperation.
Reform of the UN: India's PM called for greater representation in global institutions, especially the UN Security Council.
BRICS financial institutions: BRICS has the New Development Bank (HQ Shanghai) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
Summit and theme: The XVIII BRICS Summit met in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026. Its theme was Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
UNSC reform stand: China and Russia reiterated support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council.
WTO dispute settlement: BRICS called for immediate restoration of a fully functioning two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement system and appointment of new Appellate Body members.
Share of global trade: BRICS accounts for nearly one-fourth of global trade, according to the Commerce Minister.
Intra-BRICS trade growth: Trade among BRICS countries rose from USD 84 billion in 2003 to nearly USD 1.2 trillion in 2024.
Strategy document: The BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030 guides economic integration among members. The Jaipur Consensus was cited as a basis for a common BRICS mechanism to support MSMEs.
Startup and business bodies: India's Chairship has pushed the BRICS incubator network and the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund. The BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women's Business Alliance bring business into the BRICS process.
Original members: The original BRIC grouping was Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.
India's earlier Chairships: India chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The 2012 Delhi Summit proposed a development bank and laid the basis of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
Share of world: Members hold 49.5% of world population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.
Host office: The meeting was hosted by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Main outcome: The meeting adopted Updated Operational Guidelines to guide result-oriented cooperation and joint efforts on global IP standards.
Patent cooperation study: Progress was noted on a study on reinforced patent examination cooperation to reduce backlogs and improve exchange of search results.
Traditional knowledge: The IP heads recognised the importance of protecting and preserving traditional knowledge and traditional systems of medicine.
Meeting: The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting was held in New Delhi under India's 2026 Chairship, led by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Chairship theme: India's chairship redefines BRICS as 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability', with a people-centric approach and the spirit of 'Humanity First'.
Four priorities: The environment track priorities are sustainable lifestyles; afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience; circular economy; and adaptation.
Outcome: The meeting adopted the Joint Ministerial Statement by consensus. It has four Outcome Documents, and four Knowledge Compendiums were launched.
Outcome documents: They cover a network of institutions on sustainable lifestyles, landscape management against desertification, forest fire preparedness, and community-based climate adaptation.
Decision-making: BRICS works by consensus and has no secretariat or charter; the chair rotates annually.
BRICS CONNECT: An India-proposed platform for technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity building among BRICS members, covering labour market intelligence, skills forecasting and social security.
Declaration priorities: The Declaration has four priorities: social security and formalisation, women's participation, employability and skills mapping, and digital technologies for all workers including gig and platform workers.
ILO occupations study: The ILO, with India and Brazil, is running a feasibility study on an International Reference Classification of Occupations; members are encouraged to join a pilot in Digital, Care and Green sectors.
Knowledge partners: ILO, the International Social Security Association and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office supported the technical deliberations.
Social protection coverage: ILO running estimates put India's social protection reach at 1 billion people.
Meeting and place: The 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting was held in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on 11 July 2026 under India's chairship.
Working Group role: The Transport Working Group's senior officials finalised the agenda outcomes and the draft Declaration before ministers adopted it.
Declaration themes: The Declaration covers circularity in infrastructure, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, transport decarbonisation, urban mobility hubs, logistics supply chain cooperation and a BRICS Railway Research Network.
Decision by consensus: The Declaration was adopted unanimously, reflecting BRICS' consensus-based way of working.
Chair rotation: The BRICS chair rotates annually, and India will hand over these initiatives to the next chair.
New centre: The BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage was launched under the Energy Research Cooperation Platform. It is a voluntary platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Guiding principles: The BRICS Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage were adopted.
Other bodies present: The International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuels Alliance and the New Development Bank took part in the deliberations.
Energy Track theme: India's Energy Track theme was "Sarveshaam Urjam" (Energy for All), with three priorities: energy security, energy access and equity, and technology and innovation.
Indore Declaration: The BRICS agriculture ministers adopted the joint declaration unanimously. It covers food security, farmer welfare, climate-resilient farming, trade and digital agriculture.
BRICS weight in agriculture: BRICS has nearly half the world's population, about 42% of global agricultural land and about 42% of global foodgrain output (as stated by the Minister).
Digital Agriculture Network: A BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture will cover AI, geospatial technology and digital public infrastructure. IIT Delhi will coordinate it.
Agro-Ecology Centres of Excellence: A BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture was set up. India's centre is the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram.
Seed forum and AgriN: A Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems and BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network) were announced.
Research platform: The existing BRICS Agricultural Research Platform is to be developed into a 'Knowledge-to-Action Hub'.

Don’t confuse with BRICS Summit vs BRICS Parliamentary Forum: The Summit is the leaders' executive-level meeting; the Parliamentary Forum is a meeting of legislature presiding officers and delegations.

Don’t confuse with Member vs partner countries: Members sign the declaration; partner countries are welcomed to take part in engagements but are a separate category.

Don’t confuse with BRICS tax track vs BRICS Summit: The Heads of Tax Authorities meeting is a sectoral track meeting under the Chair. The Summit is the leaders' annual meeting.

Don’t confuse with CBDT vs Department of Revenue: CBDT is a statutory body within the Department of Revenue. The Department sits in the Ministry of Finance.

Don’t confuse with New Development Bank vs Contingent Reserve Arrangement: The NDB funds infrastructure and sustainable development projects. The CRA is a liquidity backstop for members facing balance-of-payments pressure.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs BRICS Plus/Partner countries: Members are the full BRICS grouping. Partner countries and Outreach/BRICS Plus invitees take part in engagements but are not full members.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs New Development Bank: BRICS is the political-economic forum. The New Development Bank is its multilateral lender, headquartered in Shanghai.

Don’t confuse with BRICS Business Council vs BRICS Business Forum: The Business Council is a standing body of business leaders. The Business Forum is an event held during the Chairship.

Don’t confuse with Full member vs Partner Country: Full members (11) take part in the core structure. Partner countries such as Vietnam and Nigeria have a separate, structured engagement channel.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs BIMSTEC: BIMSTEC is a Bay of Bengal regional grouping. It was invited to the 2016 Goa BRICS Outreach Summit but is a separate body.

Don’t confuse with IP BRICS vs WIPO: IP BRICS is a cooperation track among five or more member IP offices. WIPO is the UN agency that sets global IP rules and treaties.

Don’t confuse with Mission LiFE vs Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles and behaviour change. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is a tree-planting campaign. Both were cited as examples of public participation.

Don’t confuse with ILO vs ISSA: The International Labour Organisation is a UN specialised agency on labour standards. The International Social Security Association is a separate body of social security institutions.

Don’t confuse with BRICS vs BRICS+: BRICS refers to the core member grouping; 'BRICS+' is used for its wider outreach with partner and invited countries.

Don’t confuse with Ministerial Meeting vs Senior Officials' Meeting: Officials negotiate and finalise the text; ministers adopt it.

Don’t confuse with ISA vs GBA: The International Solar Alliance promotes solar energy. The Global Biofuels Alliance promotes biofuels. Both are India-backed bodies, and neither is a BRICS body.

Don’t confuse with NDB vs ERCP: The New Development Bank is the BRICS bank that finances projects. The Energy Research Cooperation Platform is a research and knowledge forum on energy.

Don’t confuse with Existing platform vs new networks: The Agricultural Research Platform is old and is being upgraded. The four networks and forums (agro-ecology centres, digital agriculture, seed rights forum, AgriN) are new.

Don’t confuse with Members vs partners: Delegates came from BRICS member and partner countries. Partner countries are not full members.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

Why it matters

Parliamentary diplomacy adds a legislative layer to India's engagement with the Global South.
Shared positions on UN Security Council reform and terrorism, including the 22 April 2025 Pahalgam attack, support India's foreign policy goals.
Digital public infrastructure and AI cooperation let India share its technology model.
Parliamentary diplomacy adds a legislative layer to BRICS and helps turn summit commitments into laws and budgets.
It supports India's push to voice Global South concerns.
Permanent working groups let India shape BRICS positions on transfer pricing and tax data beyond its own year as Chair.
A common BRICS voice strengthens the Global South's say in global tax rules such as the UN tax convention talks.
Gives India a platform to push Global South concerns and UN Security Council reform.
Shows India's role in shaping multilateral rules through a non-Western-led grouping.
Gives the Global South a joint platform to push reform of the UN, IMF, World Bank and WTO.
Shows backing from China and Russia for India's UNSC aspirations.
Lets India shape agendas on health, digital public infrastructure, AI, disaster resilience and climate.
Gives India a platform to push for Global South priorities and a reformed multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.
Supports India's export push in engineering goods, electronics and pharmaceuticals, and promotes UPI and digital public infrastructure abroad.
Gives India a platform to voice Global South concerns and push reform of the IMF, World Bank and WTO.
Chairing lets India set the agenda on practical cooperation such as digital public infrastructure, health, MSMEs and counter-terrorism.
The NDB and CRA offer alternatives to Western-led financing.
Shared IP cooperation helps members shape global IP standards and voice Global South concerns.
Work on GIs and traditional knowledge supports protection and commercialisation of such products in BRICS markets.
Lets India push Global South concerns on climate finance, adaptation and equity.
Shares India's community-based models such as Mission LiFE across emerging economies.
Shows India using its chair to push a Global South, people-centric labour agenda.
BRICS CONNECT moves cooperation from policy dialogue to practical capacity building.
Sectoral tracks like transport give India a chance to shape BRICS' agenda on sustainable infrastructure and logistics.
Cooperation on SAF and decarbonisation links trade and connectivity with climate goals.
Lets India push the Global South view that countries need policy space and their own energy pathways.
Showcases India's clean energy and biofuel leadership and builds cooperation on smart grids, storage and hydrogen.
Gives India agenda-setting power on food security and Global South farm concerns during its chairship.
Links research, digital tools and seed conservation to climate-resilient farming across a bloc with large farmland and foodgrain share.

Problems

Members hold different views, with several in tension (for example, over West Asia and sanctions), so declarations stay general and consensus-based.
Expanded membership dilutes cohesion and makes common positions harder.
Members differ in political systems and national priorities, so parliamentary outcomes stay non-binding and hard to turn into action.
Members differ in tax systems, capacity and geopolitical interests, which makes common positions hard.
BRICS outcomes are non-binding and depend on each chair's follow-through.
Members differ in interests and geopolitical positions, which makes consensus hard.
Expansion of membership can dilute focus and cohesion.
Consensus is hard in a larger BRICS with diverse and sometimes conflicting interests.
India and China differ on some issues, and a BRICS stance on de-dollarisation and sanctions can strain India's ties with the West.
Many outcomes are voluntary and non-binding, so follow-through is uneven.
Non-tariff measures and regulatory barriers raise export costs and limit intra-BRICS trade.
Members differ in size, interests and geopolitics, which makes consensus on common payment or currency mechanisms hard.
A larger, more diverse membership makes consensus harder, as members have differing interests and rivalries.
Divergent positions among members, for example India and China, limit common stands on issues like terrorism and UN reform.
Most cooperation is voluntary and non-binding, so delivery depends on follow-through.
Members differ in IP regimes and in priorities, such as public health access versus patent protection.
Backlogs and uneven examination capacity slow cooperation.
Outcome documents are consensual and non-binding, so implementation depends on members.
Members differ on climate finance, energy transition and emission priorities.
The Declaration is non-binding; social protection expansion is left to nationally determined levels.
Members differ widely in labour markets and capacity, making common standards hard.
Consensus-based declarations are often broad and non-binding.
Members differ in economic structure and priorities, which makes implementation uneven.
BRICS members differ in energy mix and interests, so outcomes are consensus-based and voluntary.
The new centre is voluntary and non-binding, so impact depends on member participation and funding.
BRICS declarations are non-binding, so implementation depends on members' will and funding.
Members differ on trade, subsidies and seed or intellectual property rules, which may slow the Grain Exchange and seed forum.

Way forward

Turn declarations into concrete work such as the digital public infrastructure repository and pilot projects.
Use the IPU and the 2027 Chinese chairship to carry forward Global South priorities, while managing differences through consensus.
Use legislatures' oversight and budget roles to track Joint Statement commitments, and share best practices among parliaments.
Continue the work through the working groups and hand over smoothly to China in 2027.
Use shared tools such as peer learning and the Support Network to build capacity in member tax administrations.
Focus on concrete, deliverable outcomes such as capacity building and the proposed seafarers network.
Build consensus on institutional reform through coordinated positions in the UN and other forums.
Turn declarations into funded, time-bound projects through the NDB and working groups.
Use the chairship to link BRICS positions with G20 and other fora for reform.
Keep a balanced stance, including local-currency payments without hurting multilateral ties.
Simplify regulatory procedures, speed up customs clearance and recognise professional qualifications.
Link payment systems step by step and expand local-currency settlement.
Strengthen institutional mechanisms and turn declarations into funded, time-bound projects.
Settle a clear rotation formula and criteria for members and partners.
Use the Chairship to build consensus on reformed multilateralism and local-currency trade.
Use patent examination cooperation and shared search results to cut backlogs.
Review projects periodically so cooperation continues across chairships.
Turn principles into funded joint projects, training and technology exchange.
Track delivery through the knowledge network and the next chair's agenda.
Turn BRICS CONNECT into funded, time-bound programmes with measurable outcomes.
Extend the occupation classification pilot and share India's digital platforms such as e-Shram with partners.
Convert declaration themes into funded joint projects, such as the Railway Research Network.
Ensure continuity by handing over initiatives to the next chair with clear timelines.
Turn the guiding principles into pilot projects and shared standards.
Use the NDB and other bodies for affordable financing of clean energy in developing economies.
Set timelines, funding and national focal institutions for each network.
Link the networks to existing national schemes and farmer groups so that research reaches small farmers.

Put in your answer

Counter-terrorism stance: The declaration condemns the 22 April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir and calls for zero tolerance and no double standards.

UN reform: Members support comprehensive UN reform, including the Security Council, to make it more representative.

Digital public infrastructure: A proposal to launch a DPI repository and pilot projects for BRICS countries was noted.

Institutional continuity: India-led working groups and an annual training programme show how a chair can leave lasting mechanisms in BRICS.

Global South rule-shaper: The PM said BRICS can train young diplomats and policymakers from the Global South in negotiation skills and legal expertise, so they move from rule-taker to rule-shaper.

Partnership, not privilege: The PM urged turning the pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership in global governance.

Terrorism stand: The Declaration condemns the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, and rejects double standards on terrorism.

IMF quota reform: BRICS urged the 16th General Review of Quotas increases to take effect and quota realignment under the 17th review.

Opposition to unilateral sanctions and CBAM: BRICS opposes unilateral measures such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms.

Non-tariff barriers: Non-tariff measures impose higher export costs than tariffs for 88 per cent of countries. Useful to argue for regulatory simplification.

IP BRICS projects: New projects include an IP Awareness Series, a FinTech Innovation Monitor and a Industrial Property Commercialisation Forum, plus work on IP policies for public health.

India's new NDC: India's new Nationally Determined Contribution for 2031-2035 was cited as combining climate action with inclusive development and energy security.

Mission LiFE and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Cited as examples of combining ecological restoration, public participation and community ownership.

Labour Codes: India merged 29 labour laws into four Labour Codes in November 2025, cited as a worker-centric reform.

e-Shram: The portal gives unique identification and benefit access to over 317 million registered unorganised workers.

BRICS Transport Declaration 2026: Example of India using its chairship to push sustainable transport themes such as SAF, decarbonisation and logistics.

India's solar growth: Solar capacity rose from about 3 GW in 2014 to over 154 GW, per the Power Minister.

India's energy targets: India aims for over 400 GWh of energy storage by 2032 and 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.

BRICS share of agriculture: About 42% of global farmland and foodgrain production, and nearly half the world's population, as stated by the Minister.

Seed rights forum: The Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems focuses on protecting farmers' seed rights and indigenous seed diversity.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 28

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.BRICS cooperation rests on four pillars, including a separate defence pillar.
2.India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in September 2026.
3.Russia is to chair BRICS in 2027.
4.The declaration takes note of a proposal to set up a BRICS Plus geopolitical group within the Inter-Parliamentary Union, put forward by India.
5.The BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group operates through five subgroups.
6.The BRICS chair rotates every five years.
7.The XVIII BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi in September 2026.
8.The Declaration says BRICS cooperation rests on two pillars: political and security, and economic and financial.
9.China and Russia reiterated support for Brazil's and India's aspirations to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council.
10.India will chair BRICS in 2027 and host the XIX Summit.
11.BRICS called for restoring a two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement mechanism and appointing new Appellate Body members.
12.The Declaration supports Ethiopia's and Iran's bid for accession to the WTO.
13.The Declaration welcomes India's Chairship of the Kimberley Process in 2026.
14.The New Development Bank is headquartered in New Delhi.
15.The BRICS Presidency rotates annually according to the alphabetical order of member countries' names.
16.Indonesia joined as the eleventh full member of BRICS in January 2025.
17.The Partner Country category gives partner countries full membership rights in BRICS.
18.The acronym 'BRIC' was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs.
19.The New Development Bank has its headquarters in New Delhi.
20.The Contingent Reserve Arrangement is meant to give short-term liquidity support to members facing financial instability.
21.The 13th BRICS Summit, hosted by India in 2021, was held in person in New Delhi.
22.The Indore Declaration was adopted unanimously by the BRICS agriculture ministers.
23.The BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture will be coordinated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research headquarters in New Delhi.
24.The Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, is India's Centre of Excellence under the new BRICS agro-ecology network.
25.BRICS countries together hold about 42 per cent of global agricultural land, according to the Union Minister.
26.The BRICS Agricultural Research Platform was newly created at the Indore meeting.
27.The chair of BRICS rotates every year and sets the agenda for that year.
28.The BRICS Grain Exchange was formally established at the Indore meeting.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 11 Sep, 12:10 IST · Release 294568

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Law and statutory body

National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)

GS2 Welfare of vulnerable sectionsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 September 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment said NSKFDC has sanctioned and disbursed Rs 3,365.93 crore to 6.10 lakh persons since inception, up to 10 September 2026.
What it is: NSKFDC is the apex corporation for the upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, waste pickers, manual scavengers and their dependents. It is a wholly owned Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It runs loan-based schemes and non-loan programmes such as skill training and awareness camps.

Status: A wholly owned Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Set up: Established on 24 January 1997 as a not-for-profit company; operational since October 1997.
Loan limits: Up to Rs 30 lakh for an individual and Rs 75 lakh for a group.
Delivery channels: Loans go through State Channelizing Agencies nominated by States/UTs, Regional Rural Banks and Public Sector Banks.
Operational since: NSKFDC has worked since October 1997 for sanitation workers, waste pickers, manual scavengers and their dependents.
Capital: Authorised share capital is ₹785 crore and paid-up capital is ₹720 crore. Cumulative disbursement is ₹3340.67 crore to over 6.08 lakh people as on 31.03.2026.
Role in NAMASTE: NSKFDC is an implementing agency of the NAMASTE scheme and fully used the funds MoSJE released to it.
Swachhata Udyami Yojana: Under SUY, an upfront capital subsidy of ₹14.84 crore went to 320 Sanipreneurs for mechanised sanitation livelihoods.
SRMS: Under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers, a capital subsidy of ₹4.72 crore reached 204 people.

Don’t confuse with NSKFDC vs National Commission for Safai Karamcharis: NSKFDC is a finance corporation giving loans and training. The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis is a separate body that monitors welfare schemes and looks into grievances.

Don’t confuse with NSKFDC vs National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK): NSKFDC is a finance and development corporation giving loans. NCSK is a commission that monitors welfare schemes and advises the government.

Don’t confuse with NAMASTE vs SRMS: NAMASTE promotes mechanised sanitation and safety of sewer and septic tank workers. SRMS is an older scheme to rehabilitate manual scavengers through self-employment.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting body on the syllabus with loan limits, but statutory bodies are only 7 of 327 Prelims questions and Mains is unlikely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 11 Sep, 17:44 IST · Release 294585

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Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Place in the news

National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal

GS1 Art and culturePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 September 2026, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the 2nd Governing Council meeting of the National Maritime Heritage Complex Society and reviewed progress at Lothal, Gujarat. Phase 1A is about 82% complete, and 13 countries have signed MoUs.
What it is: The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is a museum and heritage project coming up at Lothal in Gujarat under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It aims to showcase India's maritime history of over five millennia. Lothal is a Harappan site known for its ancient dockyard.

Location: NMHC is being built at Lothal, Gujarat, a Harappan-era site, with the aim of making it a global centre of maritime heritage, education and tourism.
Later phases: Phases 1B and 2 add a 5D Dome Theatre, Coastal States Pavilion, a Lighthouse Museum with DGLL, a Maritime Research Institute with IMU, a Museotel and an Eco Resort.
Excavation at Lothal: The Archaeological Survey of India is carrying out excavation at Lothal, now at 70 percent.
Lothal's dockyard: Lothal, a Harappan site in Gujarat, is known for its ancient dockyard, evidence of Indus Valley maritime trade.
Nodal ministry: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is building the complex. The minister also asked for closer work with the Ministries of Culture and Tourism.
Phase 1B: Phase 1B needs about ₹3,000 crore. It adds eight more galleries, a lighthouse museum and a 50-dome theatre.
International MoUs: Ten countries have signed MoUs: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, UAE, Portugal, Vietnam, Oman, Israel and Thailand. Italy, France, Myanmar and Cambodia are likely to sign.

Don’t confuse with Lothal vs Dholavira: Both are Harappan sites in Gujarat. Lothal is known for its dockyard; Dholavira is known for its water management and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting heritage project at Lothal, Gujarat. Places are 8% of Prelims; places almost never reach Mains.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Shipping, 11 Sep, 20:08 IST · Release 294590

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 September 2026, the 9th Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) meeting approved over 29,000 more houses under PMAY-U 2.0. Total sanctions under the scheme now stand at 18.77 lakh.
What it is: PMAY-U 2.0 is the Centre's urban housing scheme for EWS, LIG and MIG families. It follows the earlier PMAY-Urban and aims at 'Housing for All' in cities. It offers four routes: self-built houses, affordable housing in partnership, affordable rental housing and an interest subsidy on loans.

Approving body: The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) sanctions houses under the scheme. The Secretary, Department of Urban Development, MoHUA, chaired its 9th meeting.
Verticals covered in this meeting: The new approvals fell under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) and Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP). They covered six States.
Eligible households: The scheme serves EWS/LIG and MIG families with annual household income up to ₹9 lakh.
Women's ownership: Houses are sanctioned in the woman's name or in joint ownership. About 92% of the sanctioned houses (17.19 lakh) have gone to women.
Combined progress: Under PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0 together, over 1.25 crore houses are sanctioned and over 1 crore completed.
Meeting schedule: CSMC meetings will be held in the second week of every month. States must submit approved projects by month-end.

Don’t confuse with PMAY-U vs PMAY-U 2.0: PMAY-U 2.0 is the successor to the earlier PMAY-Urban. Both are urban schemes. The 1.25 crore sanction figure covers both, while the 18.77 lakh figure is for 2.0 only.

Don’t confuse with PMAY-U vs PMAY-G: PMAY-Urban serves urban areas and is run by MoHUA. PMAY-Gramin serves rural areas and is run by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting scheme worth a card; today's news is a routine sanction meeting with 18.77 lakh houses approved, so little to build a question on.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, 11 Sep, 22:01 IST · Release 294595

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Quick facts

G20 Energy Ministers' meeting is in Houston, 14-16 September 2026, under the US G20 Presidency; India is represented by Manohar Lal.
Cochin Shipyard and Drydocks World formed a 50:50 joint venture to run and expand the International Ship Repair Facility in Cochin.

Source: PIB, 11 Sep

What we left out: 26 of 35 releases

Speeches without a decision (5)
Tributes and remembrance (3)
Routine condolence and ex-gratia (1)
Same issue as another release (5)
Ceremonies and campaigns (1)
Clarifications and rebuttals (1)
Visits and reviews (2)
Routine data (1)
Conferences and webinars (2)
Beneficiary stories (2)
Bilateral meetings without a decision (3)

Practise the day’s news

In UPSC’s formats, inside each issue. The answer and why come after you choose.

1Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026MCQ · 6 true or false
2National HPV Vaccination CampaignMCQ · 6 true or false
3Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY)MCQ · 7 true or false
4BRICS and India's 2026 ChairshipMCQ · 28 true or false · Mains

Mains question of the day

10 marks · 150 words

The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, which replaces the 1891 Act, comes into force on 1 October 2026. Discuss its main provisions and examine how it helps courts and banks deal with electronic and cloud-based banking records.

From: Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026

Write and get it marked

Keep reading

The day before

Thursday, 10 September 2026BRICS and India's 2026 Chairship · Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 · Forest Rights Act, 2006 and 9 more

The day after

Saturday, 12 September 2026BRICS and India's 2026 Chairship · Colombo Security Conclave · Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and 1 more

All days

Practice · 4 Mains question