Current Affairs 24 September 2026

Maharashtra Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill

In July 2026, Maharashtra passed the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill, becoming the first Indian State to give enforceable legal recognition to women as farmers irrespective of land ownership. The legislation provides for a Woman Farmer Certificate to women engaged in agriculture for at least one agricultural season a year.

The legislation recognises categories including landless cultivators, landless livestock rearers, agricultural labourers, plantation labourers and pastoralists. This is significant because women often work on family agricultural land without owning it or having their names recorded in land records, which can restrict their access to agricultural schemes, credit, subsidies, technology and extension services.

The Bill also provides for a database of women farmers, which can help connect their identities with agricultural welfare schemes. Linking the certificates with Agri Stack and issuing Farmer IDs can further integrate women farmers into the digital agricultural ecosystem.

India’s First Blue Bond

Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans to issue India’s first blue bond on 28 September 2026, marking the country’s maiden blue bond issuance. The maritime lender plans to raise ₹600 crore through 10-year bonds, including a greenshoe option of ₹500 crore, according to the provisional term sheet.

A blue bond is a debt instrument used to raise funds for sustainable projects related to water and marine resources. Such projects can include clean water, water recycling, sustainable shipping, sustainable fishing, ocean energy and marine mapping.

The proposed issue is significant as it introduces a specialised financing instrument for India’s maritime and blue-economy sectors. Sagarmala Finance Corporation is India’s first maritime lender.

Canal-top photovoltaics (CTPV) is a solar power technology in which solar panels are installed on elevated structures above irrigation and water-supply canals. Unlike floating solar, where panels sit on floating platforms, CTPV uses structures that span the canal or are installed along its banks without obstructing water flow.

The major advantage of CTPV is that it requires virtually no additional land, helping address the rising cost and difficulty of land acquisition for large-scale solar projects. In Punjab, CTPV installations of 20 MW are estimated to have saved nearly 100 acres of land. Covering canals with solar panels can also reduce water loss through evaporation.

India’s first canal-top solar installation was established at Mehsana, Gujarat, in 2012. A 1-MW system over the Narmada Canal reportedly saves nearly 9 million litres of water annually while generating about 1.6 million units of electricity per year. CTPV projects have subsequently been developed in Gujarat and Punjab.

A 2024 assessment estimated India’s CTPV and canal-bank solar potential at around 131 GW. The States with the highest potential were Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. However, high installation costs, structural requirements, maintenance difficulties and grid connectivity remain major challenges.

Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M) Summit

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the first-ever Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M) Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York. India co-sponsored the summit, held on the margins of the high-level 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The global order is under stress due to geopolitical tensions, intense competition, and ongoing conflicts. Stronger multilateralism is necessary to protect international cooperation and address global challenges.

The “4F” crisis — Fuel, Food, Fertilizer and Finance requires appropriate frameworks, guardrails, de-risking and diversification to address emerging challenges and disruptions.

Purnima Devi Barman Named Changemaker of the Year

Grassroots conservationist Purnima Devi Barman received the Changemaker of the Year award from BusinessLine for her work in conserving the endangered greater adjutant stork, locally known as Hargila. Her conservation efforts also helped village women become bird protectors and self-reliant entrepreneurs.

World Rhino Day 2026 – 22 September

World Rhino Day is observed every year on 22 September to raise awareness about the conservation of rhinoceros species. The 2026 theme is “Keep the Five Alive”, focusing on protecting the five surviving rhino species.

Assam is home to nearly 80% of the world’s rhino population, making it a major global centre for one-horned rhinoceros conservation. Kaziranga National Park is one of the most important habitats for the greater one-horned rhinoceros.

The five surviving rhino species are the greater one-horned, black, white, Javan and Sumatran rhinoceros. The greater one-horned rhinoceros is mainly found in India and Nepal, with Assam being its major stronghold in India.

The Prime Minister announced Project Rhino, which will provide financial and technical support to rhino-range States for rhino protection, habitat management, genetic improvement, and understanding population dynamics.

Indian Women’s Cricket Team Wins Gold at Asian Games 2026

The Indian women’s cricket team won the gold medal in the women’s T20 cricket event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final held at Nisshin on 22 September 2026. This was India’s second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in women’s cricket, after winning the title in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

India Cine Hub

The India Cine Hub (ICH) is a digital single-window portal that simplifies the process of obtaining film-shooting permissions across India. It is managed by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) and helps domestic and international filmmakers coordinate approvals with States, Union Territories and other authorities.

The portal provides a common platform for film permits, film visas, co-production applications and information on shooting locations. It also offers guidelines related to aerial filming, animal filming, forests and filming at monuments.

The Indian film and digital-content sector generated USD 13.1 billion in revenue in Financial Year 2024.

Battle of Haifa

The Battle of Haifa was fought on 23 September 1918 during the final phase of the First World War. Indian cavalry units, including the Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers, played a major role in the Allied capture of Haifa from primarily Ottoman forces. The battle is regarded as one of the notable cavalry actions involving Indian soldiers during the war.

The battle is significant in India’s military history because it highlights the contribution of Indian soldiers to overseas campaigns during the First World War. More than one million Indian soldiers served overseas, while over 74,000 Indian soldiers died during the war. The Indian cavalry units involved in Haifa operated under British command.

Haifa has also become an important part of the historical relationship between India and Israel. The battle is commemorated in Israel and has been associated with India-Israel diplomatic ties. In India, the memory of the battle has been used to recognise the military contribution of Indian soldiers during the colonial period.

Q1. What is the theme of World Rhino Day 2026?
A. Save the Rhino
B. Protect Our Wildlife
C. Keep the Five Alive
D. Rhinos for Future

Q2. Which team did India defeat in the final to win the Women’s T20 Cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
A. Sri Lanka
B. Bangladesh
C. Pakistan
D. Japan

Q3. Which of the following is the single-window digital portal for film-shooting permissions in India?
A. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)
B. India Cine Hub (ICH)
C. Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
D. National Film Archive of India (NFAI)

Q4. Who was honoured with the Changemaker of the Year award for conserving the endangered greater adjutant stork?
A. Aparna Hegde
B. Purnima Devi Barman
C. Ariana Agarwal
D. M.R. Rajagopal

Q5. What does the “4F” crisis referred to by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the first P4M Summit comprise?
A. Fuel, Food, Fertilizer and Finance
B. Food, Fuel, Fisheries and Finance
C. Fertilizer, Finance, Forests and Fuel
D. Food, Fisheries, Fuel and Fertilizer

Q6. Which of the following States is among those identified as having the highest potential for canal-top photovoltaics (CTPV) in India?
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Kerala
C. Assam
D. Gujarat

Q7. What is the full form of CTPV in the context of solar power?
A. Canal-Top Photovoltaics
B. Canal Transmission Power Voltage
C. Central Thermal Photovoltaic
D. Canal Turbine Power Venture

Q8. The Battle of Haifa was fought between which of the following?
A. Indian and Ottoman forces
B. Indian and German forces
C. British and French forces
D. Ottoman and German forces

Q9. Which Indian State passed the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill in July 2026, providing women independent recognition as farmers irrespective of land ownership?
A. Maharashtra
B. Karnataka
C. Andhra Pradesh
D. Telangana

Q10. Which of the following years has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of the Woman Farmer?
A. 2024
B. 2025
C. 2026
D. 2027

Q11. Which of the following is set to be issued as India’s first blue bond?
A. 10-year bond by Sagarmala Finance Corporation
B. 5-year bond by State Bank of India
C. 10-year bond by NABARD
D. 15-year bond by EXIM Bank