Current Affairs 26 September 2026

OneSCD Global Partnership for Sickle Cell Care

India co-hosted the launch of OneSCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York. The initiative aims to strengthen global cooperation and promote equitable and accessible care for people living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

The partnership brought together organisations and governments including the Government of Nigeria, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), World Coalition on Sickle Cell Disease and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

India highlighted its National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in 2023, with the goal of eliminating Sickle Cell Anaemia as a public health problem by 2047. The Indian approach includes population-level screening, early diagnosis, counselling, treatment, follow-up and digital tracking.

Under the Mission, more than 7.29 crore people had been screened, over 20 lakh carriers had been identified, and 2.5 lakh people had been diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. More than 4.93 crore Sickle Cell Cards had also been distributed.

National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR)

The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR) is a premier institution dedicated to the education, research and promotion of Sowa Rigpa, the traditional system of medicine practised in the Himalayan region. It is located in Leh, Ladakh.

Sowa Rigpa means “Science of Healing” or “Knowledge of Healing” in the Bhoti language, and it can also be translated spiritually as the “nourishment of awareness.” It is commonly known as Traditional Tibetan Medicine or the Amchi system of medicine.

Interarch Building Solutions to Invest ₹300 Crore in Andhra Pradesh

Noida-based Interarch Building Solutions Limited will invest around ₹300 crore in a phased manner to expand its manufacturing facilities at Athivaram Industrial Park in Ojili mandal, SPSR Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. The company announced the investment while inaugurating a new heavy structural steel manufacturing facility at the industrial park.

The newly inaugurated facility has an initial manufacturing capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes (MT) per annum and has been established on 20 acres of land. The company plans to invest approximately ₹220 crore in the facility over the next two-and-a-half years to increase its capacity to 50,000 MT per annum.

Interarch Building Solutions has also entered into a joint venture with a Canadian company to manufacture high-quality products for export.

Chandavaram Buddhist Stupa

The Chandavaram Buddhist Stupa in Donakonda mandal of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, is set to be developed as an international tourist destination.

Located on Singarakonda Hill near the Gundlakamma River, the ancient double-terraced stupa is described as the largest among the 150 Buddhist stupas discovered in Andhra Pradesh. The region flourished between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE and was situated along an ancient route connecting Kashi and Kanchipuram.

A spiritual tourism circuit is also being planned, linking the Chandavaram Stupa with the Tripuranthakeswara Swamy and Bala Tripura Sundari Devi temple complex at Tripurantakam and the Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple at Markapuram.

Nidhi Companies

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued an advisory to the public regarding Nidhi Companies, cautioning people to conduct proper background checks before investing, particularly when companies or their agents promise unusually high returns.

A Nidhi Company is a mutual-benefit company regulated by the MCA under the Companies Act, 2013 and the Nidhi Rules, 2014. Such companies can accept deposits and provide loans only to their members. Companies seeking to function as Nidhi Companies are required to file an application in Form NDH-4 for being declared or updated as a Nidhi.

Cooperative Societies vs Nidhi Companies

Examples of Nidhi Companies in Andhra Pradesh

• Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan (Andhra) Nidhi Limited
• Star Sri Nidhi Limited

International Payment System

The SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) system is a Belgium-based global financial messaging network used by banks to exchange information related to cross-border payments. Growing use of financial sanctions and concerns over dependence on the U.S. dollar-based financial system have encouraged some countries to develop alternative payment and financial messaging arrangements.

One major alternative is CIPS (Cross-Border Interbank Payment System), backed by the People’s Bank of China and launched in 2015 to promote international use of the Chinese yuan (renminbi). CIPS enables participating banks to clear cross-border yuan transactions directly through China. It has expanded its international participation and processed an average of 679.8 billion yuan per day in 2025, although its scale remains smaller than major established international payment systems.

Russia developed SPFS (System for Transfer of Financial Messages) in 2014 to provide an alternative financial messaging system amid Western sanctions. After Russian banks were excluded from SWIFT in 2022, SPFS became an important channel for Russian financial institutions.

Project mBridge is a multi-central-bank multi-CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) platform designed for cross-border payments. It involves the central banks/monetary authorities of China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The project developed the mBridge Ledger, a blockchain-based platform intended to enable direct peer-to-peer settlement using CBDCs without relying on correspondent banks.

Major International Payment Systems

Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastic

The Union Government recently launched the commercial use of bio-based biodegradable plastic based on Polylactic Acid (PLA). The initiative was being taken forward by Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) under the Government’s BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) framework.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a bio-based polymer that can be produced from renewable biological resources. Its biodegradable nature makes it relevant to the development of more sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics.

Make in India Completed 12 Years

Make in India was launched on 25 September 2014 with the objective of making India a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation. After 12 years, the initiative had expanded under Make in India 2.0 to cover 27 sectors — 15 manufacturing sectors and 12 services sectors.

Several initiatives supported the manufacturing ecosystem, including Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, National Single Window System (NSWS), PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and India Industrial Land Bank. As of June 2026, PLI schemes covering 14 sectors had attracted ₹2.40 lakh crore in investment and generated more than ₹22.66 lakh crore in production and sales. New initiatives such as BHAVYA, Semicon 2.0, Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme and the scheme for manufacturing sintered rare-earth permanent magnets further expanded the focus on strategic manufacturing capabilities.

Key Points for Exams:

• Make in India launched: 25 September 2014
• Expanded version: Make in India 2.0 (no specific launch date)
• Sectors under Make in India 2.0: 27
• Defence production in FY 2025–26: ₹1.78 lakh crore
• PLI schemes: Cover 14 sectors
• VIKRAM3201 and KALPANA3201: Indigenous microprocessors developed by ISRO and SCL for space applications
• Semicon 2.0 allocation: ₹1,27,500 crore
• BHAVYA allocation: ₹33,660 crore for 100 industrial parks
• Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme allocation: ₹62,500 crore
• Rare-earth permanent magnet scheme allocation: ₹7,280 crore

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 2.0

The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) was launched on 25 September 2014 under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission to provide placement-linked skill training to rural youth from poor households. The upgraded DDU-GKY 2.0 Guidelines were notified in May 2025, with greater emphasis on training quality, employment sustainability, placement retention and post-placement support.

DDU-GKY 2.0 is currently being implemented across 31 States and Union Territories through 749 approved projects, 760 active training centres and more than 455 Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).

A major change under DDU-GKY 2.0 is the extension of the minimum placement duration from three months to six months. Candidates receive ₹7,620 as financial assistance at ₹1,270 per month for six months, along with ₹5,000 retention support for candidates who remain employed for 365 days, subject to the prescribed conditions.

Two special initiatives operate under DDU-GKY 2.0: Roshni for vulnerable regions, particularly Left-Wing Extremism-affected districts and Aspirational Districts, and Himayat for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

24th Edition of Exercise VARUNA

INS Trishul participated in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise VARUNA between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. Exercise VARUNA was a bilateral maritime exercise between India and France aimed at strengthening naval cooperation and interoperability between the two countries. The exercise provided an opportunity for the two navies to enhance coordination and share operational experience in the maritime domain.

14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting

India participated in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM) and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation held in Manila, Philippines.

Economic Ministers or their representatives from all 11 ASEAN member states participated along with EAS partners, including India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States. Discussions covered regional and global economic developments and the expected outlook for trade and investment in 2027.

India-ASEAN bilateral trade reached USD 128.38 billion in 2025–26, with ASEAN accounting for 10.55% of India’s total global trade.

Q1. The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa is located in which of the following places?
A. Leh, Ladakh
B. Gangtok, Sikkim
C. Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
D. Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Q2. What was the India-ASEAN bilateral trade in the year 2025–26?
A. USD 118.38 billion
B. USD 128.38 billion
C. USD 138.38 billion
D. USD 148.38 billion

Q3. The 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise ‘VARUNA’ was conducted between the Indian Navy and which country’s Navy?
A. Italy
B. France
C. Germany
D. Spain

Q4. Which of the following Indian Navy ships participated in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise ‘VARUNA’?
A. INS Vikrant
B. INS Trishul
C. INS Chennai
D. INS Kolkata

Q5. What is the primary focus of the OneSCD Global Partnership launched at the 81st United Nations General Assembly?
A. Eliminating Tuberculosis globally
B. Advancing equitable and accessible Sickle Cell care
C. Eradicating Malaria worldwide
D. Expanding global vaccination programmes

Q6. The recently launched commercial use of bio-based biodegradable plastic contains which of the following materials?
A. Polylactic Acid (PLA)
B. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
C. Polyethylene (PE)
D. Polypropylene (PP)

Q7. How many sectors are covered under Make in India 2.0?
A. 20 sectors
B. 25 sectors
C. 27 sectors
D. 30 sectors

Q8. Roshni and Himayat are the two special initiatives operating under which of the following schemes?
A. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 2.0
B. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
C. Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes
D. National Rural Livelihoods Mission

Q9. SPFS is an alternative payment system developed by which country to facilitate financial messaging outside the SWIFT system?
A. China
B. Russia
C. Iran
D. India

Q10. In which district of Andhra Pradesh is Interarch Building Solutions Limited establishing its new heavy structural steel manufacturing facility?
A. Visakhapatnam district
B. Kurnool district
C. SPSR Nellore district
D. Tirupati district

Q11. Chandavaram Buddhist Stupa, which is proposed to be developed as an international tourist destination, is located in which district of Andhra Pradesh?
A. Guntur district
B. Prakasam district
C. Palnadu district
D. Bapatla district