Table of Content
1.SRO Chief: “No Privatisation, but Space Economy Has to Grow”
2.Amit Shah: PM Modi’s 22-Country Diplomacy Helped India Withstand Global Headwinds
3.DAC Approves Defence Acquisition Proposals Worth ₹1.1 Lakh Crore
4.Lucknow Cleanest, Indore Second Among Million-Plus Cities: Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026
5.ISRO’s EOS-05 Placed in Elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
6.Why the SGPC Hasn’t Held Elections in 15 Years
7.Dogri’s Takri Script Makes a Comeback on Jammu Signboards
8.AfD’s Rise: How Germany’s Far-Right Party Went Mainstream
9.US Share in India’s LPG Imports Surges Past 50% from Under 10%
10.UK to Recognise India’s Carbon Trade Plan (CCTS) Under Its CBAM
1. ISRO Chief: “No Privatisation, but Space Economy Has to Grow”
Why in News: ISRO Chairman Dr V. Narayanan, speaking at the ninth edition of the Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX), addressed concerns raised by ISRO employee associations over the reported transfer of manufacturing and operational functions to private players.
Key Facts
- Nine ISRO employee associations wrote to the Chairman on September 4, 2026, seeking clarity on the reform roadmap.
- Narayanan clarified ISRO “is not being privatised” — it remains a government investment, but “the space ecosystem in the country has to grow and the space economy has to grow.”
- India’s space reforms began six years ago (Indian Space Policy 2023 and related liberalisation), under which ISRO is expected to hand-hold private industry and startups.
- Nearly 80% of the budget for a PSLV/GSLV launch already flows into Indian industry; around 450 industries currently work with ISRO.
- India’s requirement is estimated at ~50 launch vehicles a year, necessitating a scaled-up private manufacturing base.
- ISRO’s ambition: grow India’s space economy from ~USD 8.4 billion (₹74,340 crore) currently to USD 44 billion (₹3,89,400 crore) by 2033.
- The trigger for employee unease was a remark by IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka that ISRO would eventually exit routine launch-vehicle manufacturing.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper III: Science & Technology, Indian Space Policy 2023, Public Sector Reforms, FDI in Space Sector.
- Mains Angle: “Discuss the rationale behind involving the private sector in India’s space programme without diluting ISRO’s strategic role.” (GS III)
2. Amit Shah: PM Modi’s 22-Country Diplomacy Helped India Withstand Global Headwinds
Why in News: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing a function in Panaji, Goa to confer the President’s Colour on the Goa Police, linked India’s economic resilience to PM Modi’s global diplomatic outreach.
Key Facts
- PM Modi travelled to 22 countries over the past year; heads of state from around 15 countries visited India in the same period.
- India recorded a GDP growth rate of 7.8% in Q1 (April–June) of FY 2026-27.
- India has concluded nine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) by 2026.
- Shah attributed India’s steady growth to sustained dialogue amid global turbulence caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Iran-Gulf conflict.
- He reiterated PM Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 (India’s 100th year of independence).
GS Relevance
- GS Paper II: India and its Neighbourhood, Bilateral/Multilateral Groupings, Effect of Foreign Policy on Domestic Economy.
- Prelims Angle: Watch for questions on number of FTAs concluded by India and recent high-level bilateral visits.
3. DAC Approves Defence Acquisition Proposals Worth ₹1.1 Lakh Crore
Why in News: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) — the in-principle approval stage — for military procurements worth ₹1.10 lakh crore.
Key Facts
- ~98% of procurement value is slated to be sourced from Indian industry, reinforcing the Atmanirbhar Bharat push in defence.
- For the Army: CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) Reconnaissance Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), Trawl Tanks, and the Sarvatra Bridge System.
- For the Navy: Arudhra radars (to replace Air Route Surveillance Radars at naval air stations) and indigenously designed Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs) to cut dependence on foreign warship-propulsion suppliers.
- For the Air Force: Upgrades enhancing the war-fighting capability of fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters.
- Also approved: Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJ) for electronic warfare, and the Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) — an RFID-based smart ID system replacing paper passes.
- Note: AoN is only the first administrative step; it does not represent a signed contract.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper III: Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)/Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), Indigenisation, Internal Security.
- Static Link: Understand the difference between AoN, RFP (Request for Proposal), and Contract signing stages in India’s defence procurement cycle.
4. Lucknow Cleanest, Indore Second Among Million-Plus Cities: Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026
Why in News: On Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026, the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan awards were announced by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, ranking cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Key Facts
- Lucknow topped the million-plus population category with 198 points, followed by Indore and Jabalpur (3rd), while Bhopal and Agra tied for 4th.
- Lucknow’s winning measures: induction of electric vehicles into the municipal waste fleet, mechanised road-sweeping to control dust, and remediation of legacy waste sites.
- Delhi ranked 30th and Mumbai 37th in the same category; Chennai, Jamshedpur, Kota, Kolkata, and Madurai were among the bottom five.
- The survey assessed 130 cities under NCAP, grouped by population (below 3 lakh; 3 lakh–1 million; above 1 million).
- The PRANA portal (Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities) tracks air-quality management parameters for NCAP cities.
- Evaluation process: self-assessment → State-level Monitoring Committee approval → CPCB assessment → independent field verification.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper III: Environmental Pollution & Degradation, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Urban Governance.
- Prelims Angle: NCAP’s targets (originally 20–30% PM2.5/PM10 reduction by 2024 from a 2017 base, revised to 40% reduction target by 2026), PRANA portal, CPCB’s role.
5. ISRO’s EOS-05 Placed in Elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
Why in News: ISRO successfully launched GSLV-F17, carrying EOS-05 — India’s first dedicated imaging satellite designed for geosynchronous orbit — from the Second Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 4 September 2026.
Key Facts
- EOS-05 was placed into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO) with a perigee of ~170 km and apogee of ~28,934–31,026 km, inclined at 19.28°; the satellite will use onboard thrusters for further orbit-raising manoeuvres to reach its final geosynchronous slot at ~36,000 km.
- This mission is a replacement for EOS-03, which was lost in 2021 after a cryogenic-stage anomaly on GSLV-F10.
- GSLV-F17 is the 19th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 107th launch from Sriharikota; it carried the heaviest-ever GSLV payload (2,367 kg).
- EOS-05 is designed to provide near-continuous, multispectral/hyperspectral imagery for disaster management, agriculture, and strategic surveillance — unlike most Earth-observation satellites that orbit in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with only brief overpasses.
- India’s existing geostationary Earth-observation assets are the INSAT-3D, INSAT-3DR, and INSAT-3DS meteorological satellites; EOS-05 adds a dedicated imaging (not just weather) capability from that altitude.
- ISRO has six more launches planned in FY 2026-27, including NVS-03 (navigation) and the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper III: Space Technology, Earth Observation Satellites, Disaster Management applications.
- Prelims Angle: Difference between Geostationary, Geosynchronous, and Sun-synchronous orbits; EOS series vs. INSAT series; GSLV vs. PSLV vs. LVM3.
6. Why the SGPC Hasn’t Held Elections in 15 Years
Why in News: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the apex representative body of Sikhs, often called the “mini parliament of the Sikhs” — continues to function without fresh elections since its last polls.
Key Facts
- SGPC was established under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, following the Gurdwara Reform Movement of the 1920s, which wrested control of gurdwaras from hereditary mahants.
- The current General House was elected in 2011; its five-year term legally expired in December 2016, but elections have not been held since — a gap of roughly 15 years, and a 50%+ decline in registered voters compared to 2011.
- SGPC has 179–180 members: 159 directly elected, plus co-opted members and the jathedars of the five Takhts and the head granthi of the Golden Temple.
- Reasons behind the delay include: extended litigation (including on voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs), the carving out of a separate Haryana SGPC after a Supreme Court directive, and slow voter registration.
- Elections are conducted by the Union Home Ministry through the Gurdwara Election Commission, Chandigarh — making the delay a recurring bone of contention in Centre–Punjab and Akali Dal politics.
- Historically, SGPC elections have often been delayed: gaps of 14, 17, 8, and 7 years occurred after 1965, 1979, 1996, and 2004 respectively.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper I/II: Religious institutions and society, Centre-State relations, Federalism, Minority welfare bodies.
- Mains Angle: “Examine the challenges in ensuring periodic democratic elections to religious/community bodies like the SGPC and their implications for representative governance.” (GS II)
7. Dogri’s Takri Script Makes a Comeback on Jammu Signboards
Why in News: The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), along with local civil society groups, has launched an initiative to bring Dogri’s traditional Takri (Dogra Akkhar) script back into public visibility through city signboards.
Key Facts
- Dogri is a language of the Jammu region, included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003; its traditional script is Takri, also called Dogra Akkhar.
- Over the 20th century, Dogri literature shifted to the Devanagari script, rendering Takri functionally extinct — it is neither taught in schools today nor used in mainstream publishing.
- Under the new JMC drive, Takri signboards have been installed at 24+ prominent locations (major chowks, the Jammu Railway Station, Jammu Airport, bus stand, and religious sites), with 40 more localities identified for future coverage.
- The initiative follows a proposal by the Siyana Nagrik Muddad Seva Sanstha, executed under JMC Commissioner Devansh Yadav.
- Related efforts include a proposed Centre for Takri Script at the Central University of Jammu and moves to get Takri included among “Recently Extinct Indian Scripts” by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore.
- Historical note: the modified Dogri script was introduced by Dogra ruler Maharaja Ranbir Singh, and the first Dogri book in this script was published in 1884.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper I: Indian Culture, Art forms, Literature, Regional Languages and Scripts.
- Prelims Angle: Languages in the Eighth Schedule (22 languages), scripts associated with regional languages (e.g., Takri/Dogra Akkhar for Dogri, Modi script for Marathi).
8. AfD’s Rise: How Germany’s Far-Right Party Went Mainstream
Why in News: Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) made a historic breakthrough in the Saxony-Anhalt state election (6 September 2026), polling far ahead of the CDU and threatening to become a governing party at the state level for the first time.
Key Facts
- AfD was founded in 2013 as a Eurosceptic party; it failed to cross the 5% threshold that year but grew steadily — 12.6% (2017), 20.8% (2025 federal election, becoming the second-largest party).
- In the Saxony-Anhalt (Sept 2026) state poll, AfD-aligned support was estimated around 41%, roughly 20 points ahead of the CDU — enough for a potential outright majority if smaller parties (like the SPD) fall below the 5% threshold.
- The AfD’s growth is built on anti-immigration and “remigration” (mass deportation) rhetoric, Euroscepticism, and dissatisfaction with mainstream economic policy.
- Germany’s mainstream parties have long maintained the “Brandmauer” (firewall) — an informal pact never to cooperate with the AfD — but this consensus has been weakening (e.g., a 2025 CDU-backed asylum-tightening vote that passed with AfD support).
- Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) has classified several state units of the AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist, and the national party as a suspected extremist organisation.
- The AfD’s rise is strongest in the former East German states (rural, lower-migration areas) and weaker in urban, university-oriented regions — a pattern debated by political analysts.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper II: Comparative politics, rise of right-wing populism in Europe, effect of policies of developed countries on India’s interests.
- Essay/Mains Angle: “The mainstreaming of far-right politics in Europe: causes and global implications.”
9. US Share in India’s LPG Imports Surges Past 50% from Under 10%
Why in News: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the United States has become India’s largest LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) supplier, with its import share climbing dramatically.
Key Facts
- India initially targeted sourcing about 10% of its LPG needs from the US; that share has since risen sharply to around 67%, making the US India’s top LPG supplier, overtaking traditional Gulf sources.
- India imports roughly 65% of its total LPG consumption (around 31 million tonnes annually); until recently, nearly 90% of these imports came from UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
- Indian PSU oil firms — IOC, BPCL, and HPCL — signed a one-year structured contract to import about 2.2 million tonnes of LPG from the US Gulf Coast, supplied by Chevron, Phillips 66, and TotalEnergies Trading.
- Puri clarified the diversification was a strategic, independent decision and not driven by Strait of Hormuz-related supply-security concerns.
- The government is also promoting the ₹84,000 crore “Samudra Manthan” mission to boost deep-sea hydrocarbon exploration, aimed at long-term energy self-reliance.
- This shift is part of the broader India-US energy and trade engagement, alongside rising US crude oil imports into India.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper III: Indian Economy, Energy Security, Infrastructure (Energy).
- Prelims Angle: LPG import dependency, key exporting nations, schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) driving LPG demand growth.
10. UK to Recognise India’s Carbon Trade Plan (CCTS) Under Its CBAM
Why in News: The UK Government (HM Treasury) has included India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) in its indicative list of qualifying carbon pricing mechanisms under the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Key Facts
- The recognition means British importers of eligible Indian goods can seek carbon price relief corresponding to the carbon price already paid under India’s CCTS — directly reducing the CBAM liability on Indian exports and avoiding “double taxation.”
- India’s CCTS was notified via gazette in June 2023 under the Energy Conservation Act, forming the backbone of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM), administered with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
- The UK currently recognises 16 qualifying carbon pricing schemes globally, including the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
- Cooperation will continue via the UK-India Energy Memorandum of Understanding and the Partnership for Market Implementation.
- Context: Under the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, India had not secured a blanket exemption from UK’s CBAM (effective 2027) for carbon-intensive exports like steel and aluminium — making this partial recognition a significant, if limited, relief for exporters.
- The UK’s CBAM, covering sectors like iron, steel, aluminium, fertiliser, hydrogen, ceramics, glass, and cement, is due to take effect in 2027, following the EU’s own CBAM.
GS Relevance
- GS Paper II/III: International trade agreements, Climate change negotiations, India-UK relations, Carbon markets.
- Prelims Angle: CBAM (EU vs UK), India’s CCTS/ICM, Article 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement on international carbon trading.