Current affairs — 4 September 2026

Prelims pointers

• The ESI Ki Baat report was prepared by Safe In India, a non-profit organisation, to examine the functioning of ESIC.
• The report recommended raising the wage ceiling for ESIC coverage from ₹21,000 to ₹33,000.
• ESIC Director General Ashok Kumar Singh said the Code on Social Security would enable more workers to access ESIC benefits.
• Panchdeep 2.0 was described as an upgraded digital platform intended to scale ESIC healthcare and cash-benefit services nationwide.
• The report said ESIC had tie-ups with 2,836 hospitals, which expanded access but did not eliminate delays or out-of-pocket expenses.

Prelims pointers

• A Social Investigation Report under the JJ Act should detail the child’s family background, social environment and basic necessities.
• The Telangana State Judicial Academy convened the annual State-level stakeholders consultation on the JJ Act, 2015.
• Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh said NGOs, the judiciary and police all have roles in protecting children’s rights.
• Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya said JJ Act implementation should use relevant provisions of POCSO and the BNS in conjunction.
• DGP C.V. Anand supported re-examining heinous offences but cautioned against diluting the opportunity for juvenile reform.

Prelims pointers

• Karnataka Irrigation Minister Chaluvaraya Swamy met CWC chairman Anupam Prasad to seek speedy approval for the Mekedatu project.
• Karnataka submitted a Detailed Project Report for the proposed Mekedatu dam in 2019.
• The CWC returned the DPR on June 29, 2026, citing conflict with the Cauvery tribunal’s final award and the Supreme Court judgment.
• Karnataka submitted a revised Mekedatu DPR before August 19, following the return of its earlier report.
• Anbumani Ramadoss also sought withdrawal of the permission granted to Karnataka in 2018 to submit the DPR.

Prelims pointers

• The RBI scheduled a Variable Rate Reverse Repo auction under the LAF for September 4, 2026.
• The notified amount for the auction is ₹7,00,000 crore and its tenor is three days.
• The auction window is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on September 4, 2026.
• The reversal date for the three-day auction is Monday, September 7, 2026.
• The operational guidelines in RBI Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 remain applicable.

Prelims pointers

• The article reported more than 1,250 deaths and over 4,000 missing persons after the 2026 Rasuwa floods in Nepal.
• At least 900 workers were believed trapped at 12 hydropower projects affected in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
• Nepal was described as accounting for only 0.1% of total global greenhouse-gas emissions.
• The United Nations sought to mobilise $35 million for humanitarian assistance following Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.
• A 2009 essay by former diplomat Shyam Saran described South Asia as an ecologically interconnected system requiring collaborative climate action.

Prelims pointers

• Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired the Himalayan preparedness review on September 3, 2026.
• The meeting reviewed risks from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and snow avalanches in the Himalayan region.
• Participating Himalayan jurisdictions included Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
• The review included NDMA, CWC, IMD, and the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment alongside the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The Centre asked States to expedite GLOF-mitigation projects sanctioned in 2024.

Prelims pointers

• ISRO launched the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• EOS-05 is described as India's first-ever imaging satellite in geo-orbit.
• The spacecraft entered its intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes after liftoff.
• The successful launch took place on Friday, September 4, 2026.
• EOS-05 is intended to provide real-time imagery for uses including agriculture and disaster management.

Prelims pointers

• BCG and ACMA estimate that annual Indian vehicle production could rise from about 30-35 million units in FY25 to 50-55 million by 2030.
• Pune’s auto cluster needs about 27,000 new skilled workers annually, while relevant training completions total about 5,000 a year.
• ADAS availability in new passenger vehicles increased from less than 1% in 2021 to about 8% in 2025.
• Using PLFS 2022-23 data, NCAER found that 93.3% of workers in vehicle repair and maintenance had no technical education.
• PM-SETU includes upgrading 1,000 government ITIs in a 200-hub and 800-spoke model and aims to train 20 lakh youth over five years.

Prelims pointers

• India said CFSL, SFSL, NFSU and suitably accredited laboratory services would be available for profiling relatives of Nepal flood victims.
• Eligible first-degree relatives in India include a missing person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling.
• Nepal Police advised autosomal STR DNA profiling, subject to technical requirements communicated by Nepali authorities.
• DNA profiles can be sent to Nepal Police for comparison with profiles from unidentified mortal remains.
• At the report’s publication, more than 12,000 people had been rescued and roughly 5,000 remained missing.

Prelims pointers

• A bond sell-off increases supply relative to demand, lowering bond prices while raising yields because the promised payout is unchanged.
• The 10-year United States Treasury yield was around 4.81%, described as its highest level since late 2023.
• India’s benchmark 10-year bond yield moved from 6.94% to 6.97%, with the latest cited level at 6.96%.
• Higher sovereign yields raise government borrowing costs and can make corporate bond borrowing more expensive because sovereign bonds provide a baseline.
• The United States federal debt exceeded $40 trillion in August 2026, about 126% of GDP, while India’s general government debt was about 80-84% of GDP.

Prelims pointers

• Saudel made its third landfall along Fujian’s coast on September 3 after strengthening over the South China Sea.
• Saudel was the seventh typhoon to hit China that year and the third to strike Yuhuan in under two months.
• More than 83,000 residents were evacuated in Fujian as Saudel moved inland and soaked surrounding areas.
• Authorities closed schools, suspended public transport and enforced emergency flood protocols in coastal areas.
• An expert said warm weather could extend the typhoon season into December instead of ending in October or November.

Prelims pointers

• Stegodyphus sarasinorum is an Indian-subcontinent colonial spider that builds communal nests and captures prey cooperatively.
• Researchers combined transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and Confocal Raman Spectroscopy to profile its venom gland.
• The analysis found 31 transcriptomic protein components, 32 proteins through proteomics and 81 metabolites through UHPLC-MS.
• Venom-gland extracts showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity against cultured Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites cancer cells.
• The team says animal work, further cell studies and clinical trials are needed before any clinical application.

Prelims pointers

• Rizvi identifies a rock-ice avalanche as the immediate mechanism but says its trigger and water volume remain under investigation.
• A conventional GLOF occurs when glacier meltwater forms a lake, often held by fragile moraine, and that containment fails.
• India’s 195 high-risk glacial lakes were identified through consultations among scientists, States and disaster agencies.
• Proposed lake-risk measures include syphoning water, pumping down levels and creating alternative drainage channels.
• Rizvi calls for continuous hazard-information exchange among monitoring centres in India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

Prelims pointers

• The Air Force said it disabled advertising identifiers on computers and phones two months before the September 4 disclosures.
• The Army said Windows advertising IDs were blocked before 2021 and mobile IDs disabled by default since at least February 2026.
• Mobile advertising IDs are unique device-linked identifiers that track app activity and can help pinpoint physical location.
• The restrictions followed reports that commercially available location data had been used to target U.S. forces in West Asia.
• A privacy specialist said apps may still track people by combining device details with network or other location data.

Prelims pointers

• The study focuses on millisecond pulsars and white dwarfs, two extremely dense kinds of stellar remnants.
• A millisecond pulsar is a rapidly rotating neutron star emitting regular electromagnetic beams at intervals below 10 milliseconds.
• The framework considers stellar consumption, continued dark-matter feeding, Hawking evaporation and quantum effects.
• The calculations suggest dark-matter feeding could let black holes with initial masses near 40 tonnes overcome evaporation.
• The researchers used ages near one billion years for millisecond pulsars and ten billion years for white dwarfs to constrain dark matter.

Prelims pointers

• The UN report says Sri Lanka denounced racism and promoted unity but risks losing momentum on truth and justice.
• The report finds meaningful progress largely absent on accountability for alleged international crimes by State forces and the LTTE.
• Sri Lanka’s Provincial Council elections have remained pending for over a decade, according to the UN report.
• The UN office received information on 46 PTA detention cases in 2025 and 12 cases through March 2026.
• Human Rights Watch reported that more than 580 skeletons had been unearthed at Chemmani near Jaffna.

Prelims pointers

• Denmark, Greece, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands agreed to pursue a return hub for rejected asylum applicants outside the EU.
• The proposed partner country was not disclosed, although Uganda and Rwanda were mentioned only as possibilities.
• A Greek minister said the objective was to make the return hub operational in a non-EU country by 2027.
• In June, the European Parliament approved rules allowing return hubs and giving authorities broader detention powers.
• Britain abandoned its Rwanda scheme, while Italian-run facilities in Albania faced legal challenges and slow uptake.

Prelims pointers

• Chakmas and Hajongs displaced from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of erstwhile East Pakistan were settled by the Centre in Arunachal Pradesh in the 1960s.
• The article describes the Chakmas as predominantly Buddhist and the Hajongs as Hindu.
• The Chakma Development Foundation of India approached the NHRC after community members were allegedly blocked from an SIR hearing at Bordumsa.
• A cited 1996 Supreme Court direction required Arunachal Pradesh to protect the life and personal liberty of every Chakma in the State.
• The Electoral Registration Officer reportedly heard 222 of 252 Form-6 applications and 150 of 303 Form-7 applications before the hearing was disrupted.

Prelims pointers

• The KRMB committee included the Board’s Member-Secretary and the Engineers-in-Chief of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Andhra Pradesh sought continuation of a 66:34 ad hoc sharing ratio, while Telangana maintained its demand for a 50% share.
• Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar were described as common storage facilities for the two States.
• Both States sought 47 tmc ft each for drinking needs until October-end because poor inflows restricted the agreed use to drinking needs.
• By September 4 morning, Srisailam had received 213.6 tmc ft since June 1 and Nagarjunasagar had received 93.1 tmc ft.

Prelims pointers

• Sankalp, DKMS and Cure2Children Foundation completed 1,000 paediatric stem-cell transplants for children with thalassemia.
• Repeated blood transfusions caused severe iron overload affecting Muhammad Shaheem’s heart and liver, making transplantation high-risk.
• Shaheem’s seven-year-old sister was identified as a full Human Leukocyte Antigen-matched donor.
• The reported cost of a stem-cell transplant in India ranges from ₹12 lakh to ₹40 lakh.
• DKMS supported transplantation costs for more than 820 children, while Sankalp serves over 3,000 children through 30 day-care centres.

Prelims pointers

• Jitendra Singh and Philippe Baptiste held a virtual bilateral meeting on India-France space cooperation.
• The International Space Summit was scheduled for September 9-10, 2026 in Paris.
• The Bengaluru Space Expo was scheduled for September 7-9, 2026, with French participation discussed.
• The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in human spaceflight, advanced technologies and agency-industry engagement.
• The ISRO Chairman was invited to give a keynote on India's future human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit.

Prelims pointers

• Piyush Goyal addressed the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue on the India-EU FTA in Mumbai.
• Goyal said the FTA brings together two billion people and a market of USD 24 trillion.
• He said the combined market represents one-quarter of global GDP and one-third of world trade.
• The release says India-EU trade doubled over the preceding decade to nearly USD 140 billion.
• The Port of Antwerp-Bruges was highlighted as a gateway for Indian exports into Europe.

Prelims pointers

• The first Corporate Mitra Course batch commenced with 2,879 registered learners under Ministry of Corporate Affairs guidance.
• The Corporate Mitra initiative was announced by the Government of India in the Union Budget 2026-27.
• Its objective is to create trained and certified paraprofessionals to support MSME business and regulatory compliance.
• The programme combines the professional expertise of ICAI, ICSI and ICoAI.
• IIT Madras, IIT Madras Pravartak and SWAYAM Plus provide technology and academic support to the programme.

Prelims pointers

• CAQM conducted the special industrial inspection drive in Nuh, Haryana, on September 3, 2026.
• Eight CAQM Flying Squads joined Haryana pollution-control board and state-administration officials for the drive.
• Of 35 units inspected, 17 were non-compliant, 11 compliant and seven closed or non-operational.
• Among the 11 compliant units, ten were fully compliant and one received recommendations for improvement.
• Reported problems included defective wet scrubbers, poorly maintained electrostatic precipitators and inadequate stack arrangements.

Prelims pointers

• NAMASTE cards were issued to waste pickers from the MCD Najafgarh Zone at a programme in Matiala.
• Ayushman cards were also distributed among waste pickers present at the programme.
• More than 300 waste pickers from the Najafgarh Zone participated in the card-distribution programme.
• NAMASTE is described as a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The release says NAMASTE is implemented for sanitation-worker safety, dignity and socio-economic upliftment.

Prelims pointers

• NCPCR's Pan-India Rescue and Rehabilitation Campaign ran from June 12 to August 31, 2026.
• The campaign targeted children engaged in child labour and those vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.
• NCPCR coordinated with State and UT administrations, district magistrates, labour departments and police authorities.
• The campaign reported that more than 3,800 children were rescued in collaboration with state authorities.
• More than 575 First Information Reports were registered during the nationwide campaign.

Prelims pointers

• The Government notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy in September 2025, with MNRE as nodal ministry.
• ONGC Energy Centre commissioned the country's first two geothermal wells at Puga Valley, Ladakh, in July 2026.
• The two Puga Valley wells are 1,000 metres deep and will support reservoir evaluation.
• The release says the wells pave the way for a proposed one-megawatt demonstration geothermal power project.
• Puga Valley is described as being over 14,000 feet above sea level and known for hot springs and underground heat reserves.

Prelims pointers

• NFRA constituted an Advisory Committee on Audit Quality, Assurance and Technology to provide inputs on audit-quality matters.
• Rules 15 and 16 of the NFRA Rules, 2018 authorise NFRA to form committees, study groups and task forces.
• The committee includes professionals, CFOs, audit-committee members, independent directors, technology experts, regulators and industry representatives.
• NFRA's Technical Advisory Committee was constituted in 2020 and its term ended in December 2022.
• In July 2024, NFRA formed an Advisory Group concerning Auditor-Audit Committee resources and related outreach activities.

Prelims pointers

• Total foreign-exchange reserves were reported at ₹70,66,658 crore, or $740.803 billion, as on August 28, 2026.
• Foreign currency assets were $600.670 billion and gold reserves were $116.409 billion within the reported reserve total.
• Scheduled commercial banks’ aggregate deposits stood at ₹2,69,31,346 crore as on August 15, 2026, with 14.7% year-on-year growth.
• Scheduled commercial banks’ bank credit stood at ₹2,20,07,764 crore as on August 15, 2026, with 18.3% year-on-year growth.
• M3 stood at ₹3,22,94,503 crore on August 15, 2026, while its reported year-on-year growth was 14.2%.

Prelims pointers

• India said climate action must follow common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
• The External Affairs Ministry said historically high-emitting developed countries should lead emission cuts and provide finance and technology.
• Nepal’s Foreign Minister identified China, the United States and India as the three largest greenhouse-gas emitters.
• The flash-flood disaster struck Nepal on August 26, after which India sent several relief consignments.
• India’s assistance included a large team of tunnel-rescue specialists, and Nepal’s Prime Minister thanked India in Parliament.

Prelims pointers

• The Mercator projection expands the apparent size of land masses located nearer the poles.
• On a Mercator map Greenland appears roughly as large as Africa, although Africa is about 14 times larger.
• The UN resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, which portrays continental sizes more accurately.
• The non-binding General Assembly resolution passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions.
• The resolution expressly leaves Mercator’s use for maritime and aerial navigation unchallenged.

Prelims pointers

• The report says “the agreement” is expected to eliminate or reduce tariffs on more than 95% of Indian and European goods exports.
• India-Belgium bilateral trade was approximately $13.08 billion in the 2025-26 financial year.
• The India-EU FTA covers around two billion people, about one-quarter of global GDP and one-third of world trade.
• All 27 EU countries supported completing the remaining FTA formalities, according to Piyush Goyal.
• India-Belgium gems and jewellery trade was around $3.5 billion in 2025-26.

Prelims pointers

• RBI’s order dated August 31, 2026 imposed a ₹6,89,600 penalty on CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited.
• The relevant directions concern compensation for delayed updation or rectification of credit information.
• RBI acted under Section 25(1)(iii), read with Section 23(4), of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.
• The statutory inspection referred to the company’s financial position as on March 31, 2025.
• The sustained charge was failure to credit compensation to certain eligible complainants’ bank accounts within the prescribed period.

Prelims pointers

• The CEA’s revised plant-specific coal-stocking framework came into effect on December 6, 2021.
• Revised SHAKTI Window I offers linkages to central government generators and State utilities at notified prices.
• Revised SHAKTI Window II permits other eligible producers to obtain coal through auctions at a premium over the notified price.
• India produced 1,047.52 MT of coal in FY2024-25 and 1,040.08 MT in FY2025-26.
• Coal- and lignite-based plants had about 230.8 GW capacity and supplied 69.54% of electricity in April-June 2026.

Prelims pointers

• Bab al-Mandab lies at the Red Sea’s southern entrance and connects it to the Indian Ocean.
• Through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Bab al-Mandab forms a route between the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
• The Houthis hold Hodeida north of Mokha but did not control the areas directly bordering Bab al-Mandab.
• The September 4 toll was 129: 66 government troops, at least 62 Houthi militants and one civilian.
• Bab al-Mandab gained importance for Saudi oil transit after Iran largely halted Gulf shipments by blockading Hormuz.

Prelims pointers

• SGB 2021-22 Series VI was issued on September 7, 2021 under a Government of India notification dated May 12, 2021.
• Premature redemption of the Gold Bond may be permitted after the fifth year from issue on a date when interest is payable.
• The due date for premature redemption of the specified tranche is September 7, 2026.
• The redemption price uses the simple average of IBJA closing prices for gold of 999 purity over the previous three business days.
• The September 7, 2026 premature-redemption price is ₹15,334 per SGB unit, based on prices from September 2, 3 and 4.