UPSC Current Affairs, 23 September 2026
10 stories from the news of the day, each in short with why it matters for Prelims and Mains. Practise their UPSC-style questions and take the daily quiz in CAShorts.
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PolityPrelimsGS2
Election Commission freezes Trinamool Congress name and symbol
The Election Commission of India froze the All India Trinamool Congress's name and its 'Flowers and Grass' symbol on September 17, 2026, ruling in a 14-page order that rival groups led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy both claim the party and the dispute needs substantive determination. Both factions have been allotted new names and symbols pending the decision.
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PolityPrelimsGS2
FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 would vest lapsed NGOs' foreign assets in government
The proposed FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 provides that when an NGO's FCRA certificate is cancelled, surrendered or lapses, its foreign contributions and assets created from them vest in a government-appointed designated authority. Assets return if registration is restored in time; otherwise they may be sold, proceeds going to the Consolidated Fund of India. A Joint Parliamentary Committee is examining it.
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Sci-TechPrelimsGS3
ISRO and ESA renew space cooperation till 2032
The Indian Space Research Organisation and the European Space Agency have renewed their cooperative agreement until 2032, their chiefs signing the extension at the International Space Summit in Paris on September 9-10. The renewed pact widens collaboration to space weather and human and robotic exploration. The agencies have worked together since 1978, with a framework agreement in 2002.
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EnvironmentPrelimsGS3
Centre doubles environmental clearance validity for ports to 20 years
The Environment Ministry has amended the EIA Notification 2006 to make environmental clearances for ports and harbours valid for a minimum of 20 years, up from ten. Two five-year extensions are possible if appraisal committees find safeguards adequate, the second only in deserving cases where the project has not been operationalised. The notification was published on Monday.
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PolityGS2Prelims
Supreme Court holds UP Gangsters Act 'stillborn'
A two-judge Supreme Court Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran ruled on August 20 that the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 is 'stillborn' and proceedings under it cannot survive. The Court held that the Act created no offence, leaving the determination of who is a gangster to executive-made rules and gang charts.
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EnvironmentGS3Prelims
Punjab's groundwater extraction rate eases to 152%; 110 of 153 blocks over-exploited
Punjab extracted 26.32 billion cubic metres (BCM) of groundwater in 2025-26 against an annual extractable resource of 17.29 BCM, its latest Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment shows: a stage of groundwater extraction of 152.22%, down from 156.36% in the 2025 national assessment. Of its 153 assessment blocks, 110 are over-exploited and only 20 safe. Irrigation alone drew 24.95 BCM.
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World & IRGS3Prelims
US law provides for up to 100% tariffs on top Russian-oil buyers
US President Donald Trump on 18 September signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. It directs duties of up to 100% on all goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude or gas that keep buying after 30 days. China and India import the most Russian crude. The President may waive a duty.
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EconomyGS3Prelims
0.4% MDR on UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000 from October 15
A 0.4% merchant discount rate applies to person-to-merchant UPI payments above Rs 2,000 from October 15, 2026, capped at Rs 300 per transaction for payments of Rs 75,000 and above, NPCI's fact sheet says. P2PM small merchants receiving up to Rs 1 lakh a month stay at zero MDR; GST on the fee is claimable as input credit.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2
BRICS Delhi Declaration notes UNSC Resolution 2803, reaffirms 1967 borders
The BRICS New Delhi Declaration, adopted by consensus on September 12, 2026, takes note of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which endorsed US President Donald Trump's Gaza plan, and reaffirms a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Its 140 paragraphs do not mention Yemen. It notes the International Court of Justice's provisional measures in South Africa's case against Israel.
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EconomyGS3Prelims
India-New Zealand free trade agreement takes effect October 20
The India-New Zealand free trade agreement comes into force on October 20, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced after both countries completed domestic procedures. New Zealand eliminates duties on 100% of tariff lines for Indian goods immediately; India opens about 70% of its lines while shielding dairy, sugar and key farm produce. Both sides aim to double trade by 2030.
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