UPSC current affairs · Monday

Current Affairs, 21 September 2026

6 issues picked from 45 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

India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. India-New Zealand FTA takes effect 20 October 2026, with duty-free access for all Indian exports.
Pharmacovigilance Programme of India and Biovigilance Programme. Government approves Biovigilance Programme under IPC; 7th National Formulary of India launched.
GSDP Estimates by Expenditure Approach (Base Year 2022-23). MoSPI published the methods manual behind India's new 2022-23 base-year national accounts series.
NHAI Guidelines for Access-Controlled High-Speed Corridors. NHAI issues uniform design and safety standards for access-controlled high-speed highways, other than Expressways.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and Lakshya Zero Dumpsite. Biomining under SBM-U 2.0 is clearing legacy dumpsites and turning them into parks and processing facilities.
I-STEM Portal. PSA's office meets State nodal officers to onboard State R&D facilities onto the I-STEM portal.

International relations

India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

GS2 International relationsGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 September 2026, India and New Zealand announced that their Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on 20 October 2026, after both sides completed internal processes.
What it is: The India-New Zealand FTA is a bilateral trade agreement covering goods, services, investment and mobility of professionals and students. It cuts tariffs both ways and adds cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other areas. Like any FTA, it enters into force only after both sides finish domestic approval steps.

Tariffs: New Zealand has removed duties on all tariff lines of Indian exports, ending peak tariffs of up to 10%.
Sensitive sectors: Dairy, sugar, edible oils and key farm commodities are excluded from concessions.
Mobility: Annual quota of 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas and 1,000 Working Holiday visas; no cap on Indian students.
Agricultural Productivity Partnership: Action plans for kiwifruit, apples and honey; tariff rate quotas for these are linked to delivery, overseen by a Joint Agriculture Productivity Council.
Protected sectors: Dairy, animal meat (except sheep), sugar, edible oils and key farm commodities are excluded from tariff concessions. Apples, kiwifruit and Manuka honey get limited access through Tariff Rate Quotas with Minimum Import Price.
Investment commitment: New Zealand has committed to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment into India.
Signing: The FTA was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026.
Access for Indian goods: New Zealand gives duty-free access to 100 per cent of Indian exports from the date of entry into force.
Access to India's market: India gives enhanced and preferential, not full, access to New Zealand goods such as wood, wool, sheep meat and raw hides.
Investment: The agreement provides for facilitating USD 20 billion of investment into India.
Status: The agreement is not yet in force; both countries are completing domestic processes.
Access to New Zealand: New Zealand gives duty-free access to 100% of India's exports, covering all tariff lines, from entry into force.
India's offer: India liberalises 70.03% of tariff lines, covering 95% of bilateral trade value. It excludes 29.97% of lines, such as dairy, to protect sensitive sectors.
Negotiation time: The FTA was concluded in a record nine months after talks were launched on 16 March 2025.
Tariff access for India: Duties are eliminated on all Indian exports from entry into force. Tariffs on leather and footwear fall from 5 per cent to zero.
Health and Traditional Medicine chapter: The FTA has a dedicated chapter on Health and Traditional Medicine. It is the first time either country has recognised AYUSH in such a pact.
Regulatory access: The FTA provides for acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable international regulators. This should ease compliance and speed approvals for Indian pharma makers.
Agra leather: Agra makes about 75 per cent of India's leather footwear. It holds a GI tag and is an One District One Product item.

Don’t confuse with FTA vs CECA/CEPA: An FTA mainly cuts tariffs; CECA/CEPA pacts such as India-Japan's are broader, adding services, investment and cooperation. This deal is called an FTA though it covers services and investment too.

Don’t confuse with Tariff Rate Quota vs Minimum Import Price: A TRQ allows a set quantity at a lower duty. A Minimum Import Price sets a floor price for imports to protect domestic producers. The deal uses both for some fruits and honey.

Don’t confuse with FTA vs CEPA: An FTA mainly cuts tariffs on goods; a CEPA also covers services, investment and wider cooperation. This pact is called an FTA but also has services and investment chapters.

Don’t confuse with GMP vs GCP: GMP is Good Manufacturing Practice, for production quality. GCP is Good Clinical Practice, for the conduct of clinical trials.

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

Gives Indian exporters, especially MSMEs and artisans, duty-free access to an advanced market and a level field with New Zealand's other FTA partners.
Adds mobility, AYUSH services access and farm technology cooperation, going beyond tariffs.
Shows India's push for deals with developed economies.
Gives Indian labour-intensive exports such as textiles, leather and gems duty-free access, adding to India's network of FTAs with developed economies.
Provides mobility for skilled workers, students and youth, and a USD 20 billion investment commitment.
Strengthens the new Strategic Partnership and the Roadmap to 2030 in the Indo-Pacific.
Duty-free access helps Indian labour-intensive exports such as textiles, leather and pharmaceuticals.
Mobility pathways and USD 20 billion investment facilitation deepen economic and people-to-people ties.
Gives Indian labour-intensive exports such as textiles, leather and footwear zero-duty access to a developed market.
Opens skilled mobility, student pathways and AYUSH recognition, and supports India's Indo-Pacific economic ties.
Adds to India's push for trade pacts with developed economies and aids supply-chain diversification.
Duty-free access helps labour-intensive exports such as leather and footwear, and MSMEs.
Mobility and education provisions deepen people-to-people ties with a Indo-Pacific partner.

Problems

Small trade base: the 2030 goal is only NZ$7 billion, so gains depend on exporters actually using the pact.
Farm and dairy sensitivities need protection, and rules of origin must stop circumvention.
Trade is small (about USD 1.1 billion), so the gains may be limited unless exports are diversified.
Farmers may fear import pressure on apples, kiwifruit and honey despite safeguards.
Investment commitments are to 'facilitate', not binding, so delivery depends on the private sector.
Opening India's market to wool, sheep meat and raw hides may worry domestic producers.
Gains depend on meeting quality and standards rules and on using the concessions.
Sensitive sectors such as dairy and farm produce face pressure; the tariff rate quotas must protect farmers.
The USD 20 billion investment is a facilitation commitment, not a guaranteed inflow.
New Zealand is a small trade partner, so gains depend on rules of origin compliance and exporters' ability to use the pact.
Dairy and farm-sector concerns over imports from a major dairy exporter.
MSMEs may lack awareness and capacity to use FTA tariff benefits.

Way forward

Spread awareness among industry and districts so exporters use the preferences.
Deliver the Centres of Excellence and Action Plans on time, and monitor the safeguard mechanism.
Monitor TRQs and the Joint Agriculture Productivity Council so that market access comes with real productivity gains for farmers.
Help MSMEs use the FTA through awareness, certification and rules of origin guidance.
Track investment and visa use and review them against the 2030 trade target.
Complete domestic processes quickly so the agreement enters into force.
Help exporters, especially MSMEs, use the preferences through awareness and standards support.
Complete ratification quickly and run the safeguard and quota monitoring through the Joint Agriculture Productivity Council.
Help MSMEs use the FTA through export readiness programmes and awareness of rules of origin.
Run outreach so MSMEs understand rules of origin and claim benefits.
Complete domestic approvals quickly and monitor the impact after entry into force.

Put in your answer

Agricultural Productivity Partnership: Example of linking market access to farmer welfare through Centres of Excellence for kiwifruit, apples and honey.

Services and mobility offer: New Zealand's services offer covers about 118 sectors with MFN commitments in about 139 sub-sectors.

Safeguards: Rules of origin, a bilateral safeguard mechanism and anti-circumvention provisions protect against misuse.

Trade target: The Roadmap to 2030 aims to double bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion.

Farm protection: Dairy, sugar and edible oils are excluded, while the Agriculture Productivity Partnership sets up Centres of Excellence and action plans.

Pharma regulation: New Zealand will accept inspection approvals from regulators such as the US FDA, EMA, UK MHRA and Health Canada, easing market entry for Indian pharma.

Duty-free access: 100 per cent of Indian exports get duty-free access to New Zealand from entry into force.

Investment: The pact provides for facilitating USD 20 billion of investment into India.

Bilateral trade: Bilateral merchandise trade was USD 1.3 billion in FY 2024-25, up 49% on the previous year.

Trade remedies: A bilateral safeguard can be invoked if an import surge from tariff cuts causes serious injury to domestic industry.

GI protection: New Zealand will amend its GI law within 18 months of entry into force to register India's wines, spirits and other goods.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 26

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

1.New Zealand has eliminated customs duties on all tariff lines covering Indian exports under the FTA.
2.Dairy, sugar and edible oils are among the products given tariff concessions by India under the agreement.
3.Tariff Rate Quotas for apples, kiwifruit and Mānuka honey are linked to delivery of Action Plans overseen by a Joint Agriculture Productivity Council.
4.The agreement imposes an annual cap on the number of Indian students who can study in New Zealand.
5.New Zealand has, for the first time, given dedicated access in Health and Traditional Medicine Services covering Ayurveda and Yoga.
6.Negotiations on the FTA were launched in March 2025 and concluded within nine months.
7.The India-New Zealand Roadmap to 2030 aims to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion.
8.The India-New Zealand FTA enters into force on 20 October 2026.
9.Under the FTA, all Indian exports to New Zealand become duty-free from the day it enters into force.
10.Dairy products and sugar have been opened to New Zealand under the FTA through tariff concessions.
11.New Zealand's access for apples, kiwifruit and Manuka honey is structured through Tariff Rate Quotas with a Minimum Import Price and seasonal windows.
12.The FTA provides 5,000 Working Holiday visas and 1,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas each year for Indians.
13.The agreement allows post-study work rights of up to three years for STEM graduates and four years for doctoral scholars.
14.The India-New Zealand FTA was signed in New Delhi in April 2026.
15.Under the agreement, New Zealand offers duty-free access to all Indian exports from the date of entry into force.
16.India has given duty-free access to all New Zealand exports under the agreement.
17.The agreement provides for facilitating USD 20 billion of investment into India.
18.The agreement is confined to trade in goods and has no provisions on services or mobility.
19.The July 2026 visit of India's Prime Minister to New Zealand was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in four decades.
20.Passage of legislation by New Zealand's Parliament means the FTA has already come into force.
21.The agreement provides duty-free access to New Zealand for all tariff lines of India's exports.
22.Dairy products are among the sectors India has kept in exclusion from tariff cuts.
23.The agreement removes numerical caps on Indian students in New Zealand.
24.Apples from New Zealand are placed under a tariff rate quota at 50% duty.
25.The Temporary Employment Entry visa allows stay of up to five years for Indian professionals.
26.The agreement enters into force immediately on signing.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 21 Sep, 19:01 IST · Release 295052

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Pharmacovigilance Programme of India and Biovigilance Programme

GS2 HealthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 September 2026, MoS Health Anupriya Patel launched the 7th National Formulary of India at the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week and announced that the government has approved a Biovigilance Programme of India, led by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission.
What it is: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous body under the Union Health Ministry. It sets drug quality standards through the Indian Pharmacopoeia. It also hosts the National Coordination Centre of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), which collects and analyses adverse drug reaction reports.

Biovigilance Programme: Approved by the Government of India. IPC will lead reporting, assessment, monitoring and prevention of adverse events linked to medicines and biological products used in organ and tissue transplantation, for donors and recipients.
Three vigilance programmes: Pharmacovigilance covers medicines, materiovigilance covers medical devices, and biovigilance covers transplant procedures. Together they form the safety-monitoring net.
PvPI coordination: PvPI is coordinated by the National Coordination Centre at IPC. It collects, assesses and analyses adverse drug reaction information.
ADR reporting centres: About 1,150 centres operate in public and private hospitals and medical colleges. The government plans to extend them to primary healthcare level.
IPC and global harmonisation: IPC became a member of the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group in 2023. Around 25 countries recognise the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

Don’t confuse with Pharmacovigilance vs materiovigilance vs biovigilance: Pharmacovigilance tracks adverse drug reactions (PvPI). Materiovigilance tracks adverse events from medical devices (MvPI). Biovigilance tracks adverse events in organ and tissue transplantation.

Don’t confuse with National Formulary of India vs Indian Pharmacopoeia: The Indian Pharmacopoeia sets quality standards for drugs. The NFI is a guide for prescribing and rational use of medicines. IPC publishes both.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting health-regulation topic under the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission. Facts are thin for a statement-based question, and no debate for Mains.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 21 Sep, 14:13 IST · Release 295030

Issue page →

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

Economy

GSDP Estimates by Expenditure Approach (Base Year 2022-23)

GS3 Economy · National incomePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 September 2026, MoSPI released "Sources and Methods for Compilation of National Accounts Statistics", explaining how the new GDP series (base year 2022-23) is compiled.
What it is: GSDP is the total value of goods and services produced within a State in a year. It is usually estimated from the production (output) side and the income side. The expenditure approach adds up spending on final goods and services: consumption, investment and net exports. The guideline sets a common method for States and UTs.

Who issued it: The National Statistics Office under MoSPI prepared the draft guideline.
Expenditure components: Covers PFCE, GFCE, GFCF, changes in inventories, valuables and net exports.
Current State practice: Some States/UTs compile GFCF and GFCE, but none compiles PFCE.
Missing data: Where direct State-level data are lacking, allocation methods and indicators are recommended.
Expenditure identity: GDP by expenditure = C + I + G + (X - M).
Release and update dates: MoSPI released the series on 27 February 2026 and updated it on 31 August 2026 to reflect new PPI and IIP series.
Advisory Committee (ACNAS): MoSPI set up ACNAS under Prof. B.N. Goldar on 27 June 2024. It formed four sub-committees, one of them on Regional Accounts chaired by Prof. R.H. Dholakia.
Consumption classification: Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) now uses the UN's COICOP 2018 classification.
Quarterly GDP method: Quarterly accounts replace the old benchmarking method with the Proportional Denton approach and use more GST and administrative data.
Household sector data: Household sector estimates now come directly from two MoSPI surveys, ASUSE and PLFS.

Don’t confuse with GDP vs GVA: GVA is output minus intermediate consumption; GDP equals GVA plus taxes minus subsidies on products.

Don’t confuse with PFCE vs GFCE: PFCE is household (and NPISH) spending; GFCE is government spending on collective and individual services.

Don’t confuse with Production vs expenditure approach: The production approach sums value added by sectors (GVA). The expenditure approach sums final spending: consumption, investment and net exports.

Don’t confuse with GVA vs GDP: GVA is output minus intermediate consumption. GDP is GVA plus taxes on products minus subsidies on products.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, 21 Sep, 16:27 IST · Release 295039

Issue page →

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

In the news

NHAI Guidelines for Access-Controlled High-Speed Corridors

GS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 September 2026, NHAI released guidelines for planning and designing high-speed, access-controlled National Highways other than Expressways. They set uniform standards for DPRs and safety.
What it is: Access-controlled highways allow entry and exit only at designated interchanges, with no direct access from roadside property or side roads. NHAI builds and maintains National Highways under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. These guidelines cover high-speed corridors that are not Expressways and fill a gap in design standards.

Scope: The guidelines apply to all upcoming 4/6 lane greenfield and brownfield high-speed access-controlled National Highways, other than Expressways.
Target: The strategic roadmap envisages 50,000 km of access-controlled High-Speed Corridors under Viksit Bharat 2047.
Why needed: No separate standards existed for such corridors, and DPR standards varied.
Boundary wall: A 1-metre-high boundary wall along the outer edge is prescribed to stop encroachment, unauthorised access and stray cattle.
Interchanges: Ramped interchanges are to be provided at crossings with Expressways, NHs, State Highways and important arterial roads, and for ports, airports, MMLPs, industrial areas and major tourist sites.

Don’t confuse with Expressway vs high-speed access-controlled NH: These guidelines cover high-speed access-controlled National Highways other than Expressways. Expressways are a separate category.

Don’t confuse with Greenfield vs brownfield: Greenfield is a new alignment on fresh land. Brownfield is the upgrade or widening of an existing road.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: New design standards for 50,000 km of high-speed corridors. Useful infrastructure context, but few testable facts.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 21 Sep, 16:43 IST · Release 295041

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and Lakshya Zero Dumpsite

GS2 Urban governance and waste managementGS3 EnvironmentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 September 2026, PIB published a feature on how cities are turning legacy dumpsites into usable land under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, citing Gorakhpur, Delhi, Nagpur and Raichur.
What it is: Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 is the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry's programme for garbage-free cities, covering solid waste, used water management and sanitation. PRAGATI-50 is a focused layer within it. It picks 50 cities for KPI-based action and close, technology-enabled monitoring.

PRAGATI-50 cities: The initiative covers 50 model cities across 24 states, including major cities, cultural and tourism centres and economic hubs.
Monitoring: A PRAGATI-like digital review system is on the Swachhatam Portal. Ministry officers are assigned to specific cities for supervision and handholding.
Swachh Bharat Test Bed: A national facility at Durgapur with CSIR-CMERI for research, testing, validation, certification and capacity building in sanitation technologies.
Guidelines released: An SOP for secondary collection centres for C&D waste and guidelines for source segregation of municipal solid waste, mandated under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, were released.
Biomining outputs: At Gorakhpur, biomining separated waste into refuse-derived fuel, black soil, recyclables and inert material. The fuel went to cement industries for co-processing.
Sustaining tools: City Solid Waste Action Plans, the SBM-U portal and Swachh Survekshan rankings are used to keep progress on course.
Nodal ministry: SBM-U is run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Don’t confuse with PRAGATI-50 vs PRAGATI platform: PRAGATI-50 is a cleanliness initiative for 50 cities. The PRAGATI platform is the Prime Minister's ICT-based system for reviewing projects. The new initiative's review mechanism is modelled on it.

Don’t confuse with SBM-Urban vs SBM-Gramin: SBM-Urban is run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. SBM-Gramin is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Don’t confuse with SBM-U vs SBM-Gramin: SBM-U covers urban areas and is run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. SBM-Gramin covers rural areas and is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Don’t confuse with Biomining vs landfill capping: Biomining excavates and sorts old waste for reuse. Capping covers the waste in place and does not recover the land.

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 with a legacy-waste focus. Features are testable, but this feature piece adds no fresh decision.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 21 Sep, 17:03 IST · Release 295045

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

I-STEM Portal

GS3 Science and technologyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 21 September 2026, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor held the first State Governments Nodal Officers Meeting for the I-STEM Portal. It aimed to bring State universities and R&D facilities onto the national platform.

Launch: The Prime Minister launched I-STEM in January 2020; the Office of the PSA conceived and supported it.
Scale: The portal lists over 31,000 instruments across nearly 4,000 institutions and has over 65,000 registered users.
Listing threshold: Publicly funded equipment costing above ₹20 lakh is to be listed on I-STEM.
Meeting participation: Nodal officers from 23 States and 4 UTs took part in the meeting.
Integration of other portals: Similar existing portals, such as CSIR's ANALYTICS portal, are being linked to I-STEM through API linkages.

Don’t confuse with I-STEM vs ONOS: I-STEM gives shared access to scientific equipment and facilities. One Nation One Subscription gives access to scholarly journals and resources.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting national platform for shared scientific infrastructure. Features are testable, but UPSC rarely asks such platforms.

Source: PIB, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI, 21 Sep, 21:17 IST · Release 295066

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

Anant Nag gets the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024; the 72nd National Film Awards are on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
The Sowa-Rigpa Working Group under PCIM&H held its first meeting on 18 September to start Sowa-Rigpa Pharmacopoeias and Formularies.

Source: PIB, 21 Sep

What we left out: 37 of 45 releases

Speeches without a decision (5)
Routine exercises and deployments (3)
Same issue as another release (2)
Ceremonies and campaigns (7)
Same issue as on file (5)
Beneficiary stories (3)
Routine defence contracts (1)
Routine administrative action (2)
Routine data releases (1)
Routine review meetings (1)
Condolences and congratulations (4)
Routine seizures (1)
Routine MoUs (2)

Practise the day’s news

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

1India-New Zealand Free Trade AgreementMCQ · 26 true or false · Mains
2GSDP Estimates by Expenditure Approach (Base Year 2022-23)MCQ · 5 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

India and New Zealand have announced that their Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on 20 October 2026. Examine the main provisions of the agreement on tariffs, agriculture, services and mobility, and discuss its significance for India's trade strategy with developed economies and the concerns it raises for domestic farmers.

From: India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

Write and get it marked

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