Daily Current Affairs - 26th September 2025

Preparing for UPSC 2026 or State PCS? This 26th September 2025 Current Affairs edition brings exam-focused updates with GS linkages, Prelims facts, and Mains insights. Key topics include the Children in India 2025 Report with vital data on IMR, U5MR, dropout rates, child marriage, adoptions, and GPI parity, and the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies—the WTO’s first sustainability-driven pact—prohibiting harmful subsidies and supporting SDG 14. Track the Supreme Court’s ruling on Article 304(a) clarifying interstate tax equality, and the IUCN recognition of India’s Dugong Conservation Reserve, spotlighting marine biodiversity and global replication.

Also cover the Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025 Report introducing SEEA-based forest valuation, the Mahi Banswara Atomic Power Project under India’s Fleet Mode PHWR initiative, and the National Initiative on Water Security aligning MGNREGA with groundwater conservation mandates. Note RBI’s guidelines on Two-Factor Authentication for digital payments, UAE’s Sovereign Mobility Cloud for autonomous mobility, and DRDO’s rail-based Agni-Prime missile test. Strengthen GS-III with FIU-IND’s role in financial crime intelligence, NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission outreach in Kashmir, and policy relevance of 2G ethanol exports.

Round off with global security and science updates like the EU’s AI-powered Drone Wall against aerial threats and renewed concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment reaching weapons-grade potential.

Use this compact sheet to sharpen Prelims 2026 recall and add depth to Mains-ready analysis—structured, comparative, and scoring-focused with The PRESS Pad.

Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).

Children in India 2025 Report Launched

1. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the 4th issue of the Children in India 2025 Report to support evidence-based policies that improve children’s rights and well-being.

2. The report presents indicators on health, education, nutrition, protection, and gender equality of children in India.

3. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) decreased from 44 in 2011 to 25 in 2023.

   • IMR refers to the number of deaths of infants below one year of age per 1,000 live births in a year.

4. The Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) declined from 30 in 2022 to 29 in 2023.

   • U5MR is the probability of a child dying before age five per 1,000 live births in a year.

5. The Birth Rate reduced to 18.4 per 1,000 population in 2023, with 20.3 in rural areas and 14.9 in urban areas.

   • Birth rate indicates the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in a year.

6. The dropout rate at the preparatory stage of school fell sharply from 8.7% in 2022-23 to 2.3% in 2024-25.

7. The preparatory stage refers to the early grades under the new education framework (Classes 3–5).

8. At the middle level of schooling (Classes 6–8), the dropout rate declined from 8.1% to 3.5% in the same period.

9. At the secondary level (Classes 9–10), the dropout rate reduced from 13.8% to 8.2%.

10. The child marriage rate among women aged 20–24 years who were married before 18 reduced from 26.8% (2015-16) to 23.3% (2019-21).

    • Child marriage is defined as a marriage where at least one partner is below 18 years of age.

11. The total number of adoptions rose from 3,927 in 2017-18 to 4,515 in 2024-25.

12. In-country adoptions were 4,155, while inter-country adoptions ranged from 360 to 653 annually.

    • In-country adoptions refer to adoptions by Indian citizens residing in India.

    • Inter-country adoptions involve Indian children being adopted by foreign citizens.

13. The Gender Parity Index (GPI) achieved parity across all education stages by 2024-25.

    • GPI is a ratio that compares the enrollment of girls to boys at a given level of education, where a value of 1 means equal access for both genders.

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies enters into force

1. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference in 2022.

2. The Agreement entered into force after two-thirds of WTO members submitted their instruments of acceptance, which are official legal documents confirming approval.

   • Instruments of acceptance are formal documents by which countries consent to be bound by an agreement.

3. It establishes binding rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to overfishing.

4. This is the first multilateral agreement of the WTO with environmental sustainability at its core.

5. The Agreement directly supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

6. India has not joined the agreement to protect subsidies for small fishers, safeguard livelihoods, and ensure food security.

7. The Agreement prohibits subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

   • IUU fishing refers to fishing activities that break laws, are not reported to authorities, or take place in unregulated waters.

8. It also prohibits subsidies related to overfished stocks, which are fish populations exploited beyond sustainable levels.

   • Overfished stocks are fish populations reduced below sustainable levels due to excessive harvesting.

9. Further, it bans subsidies linked to fishing activities in unregulated high seas.

   • High seas refer to ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction, where no country has exclusive rights.

10. Under the Agreement, members are required to provide fisheries-related information for transparency.

11. A WTO Fish Fund has been established to assist developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in implementing the Agreement.

12. This Fund is supported through voluntary contributions from WTO members.

13. The Agreement also provides special and differential treatment for developing countries, allowing flexibility in implementation, while keeping the same overall framework of rules.

14. The need for this Agreement arises because in 2021, 35.5% of global fish stocks were overfished, compared with only 10% in 1974.

15. Governments worldwide spend about US$ 22 billion annually on subsidies that expand fishing capacity.

16. Such subsidies lead to overcapacity and overfishing, putting oceans and marine biodiversity at risk.

SC Ruling on Article 304: No Tax Discrimination on Interstate Goods

1. The Supreme Court of India has ruled that taxation cannot be used as a tool to discriminate against goods imported from other states under Article 304(a) of the Constitution.

2. The Court clarified that states can design taxes in a way that ensures imported goods bear the same tax burden as locally produced goods.

3. Article 304(a) of the Constitution provides that a State or Union Territory can impose taxes on goods coming from other States or Union Territories.

4. However, Article 304(a) prohibits discrimination between imported goods from outside the state and similar goods produced within the state.

5. In simple terms, the same type of goods must be taxed equally, whether they are locally manufactured or brought from another state or UT.

India’s Dugong Conservation Reserve Recognized by IUCN

1. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially recognized India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve.

2. The recognition was made during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.

3. The Reserve is located in Palk Bay, situated in the northern coastal region of Tamil Nadu.

4. IUCN has adopted a formal motion acknowledging the conservation efforts undertaken by India.

5. To strengthen dugong protection globally, IUCN also encouraged replicating the Indian model across the Indian Ocean and similar habitats worldwide.

About the Dugong Conservation Reserve

1. The Dugong Conservation Reserve was established in 2022 by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

2. It was declared under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

3. The Reserve covers an area of 448.34 square kilometres in the northern part of Palk Bay.

4. The region includes over 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows, which are crucial for dugong survival.

5. These seagrass meadows also support a diverse range of other marine species, increasing the ecological value of the area.

6. Seagrasses play a critical role in carbon sequestration, helping mitigate climate change.

   • Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

About Dugong (Sea Cow)

1. The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal and is the only herbivorous marine mammal that feeds exclusively on seagrass.

2. In India, dugongs are primarily found in Palk Bay, which hosts the largest population.

3. They are also found in other regions like the Gulf of Mannar and the Gulf of Kutch.

4. The estimated dugong population in Indian waters is approximately 200 individuals.

Threats and Conservation Status

1. Major threats to dugongs include habitat degradation, hunting, and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.

2. The dugong is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, indicating a high risk of extinction in the wild.

3. In India, dugongs are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides them the highest level of legal protection.

Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025 Report Launched

1. The Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025 Report was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

2. This is the 8th consecutive issue related to environmental accounts published by MoSPI.

3. It is also the first dedicated report focused specifically on forest accounting in India.

4. The report is based on the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) Framework.

About the SEEA Framework

1. The SEEA Framework was developed in 2012 by the United Nations, European Commission, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

2. It is an international statistical standard for integrating economic and environmental data.

3. The SEEA helps assess both the contribution of the environment to the economy and the impact of the economy on the environment.

4. MoSPI officially adopted the SEEA Framework in 2018 for environmental accounting in India.

Key Findings of the Forest Accounting Report

Physical Asset Account

1. The Forest Cover in India increased by 17,444.61 sq. km between 2010–11 and 2021–22.

2. This represents a 2.4% increase, bringing the total forest cover to 7.15 lakh sq. km.

3. Forests now account for 21.76% of India’s total geographical area.

4. The top states with the highest forest cover gains are Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Extent Account

1. Between 2013 and 2023, there was a net increase of 3,356 sq. km in forest extent.

2. This increase is mainly due to reclassification of land and boundary adjustments.

3. Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Jharkhand recorded the highest forest extent within Recorded Forest Area (RFA).

   • RFA refers to land legally recorded as forest in government records.

Condition Account

1. The Condition Account evaluates the ecosystem quality, focusing on the growing stock of forests.

2. Growing stock refers to the volume of usable wood in living trees, indicating forest productivity.

3. From 2013 to 2023, India’s growing stock increased by 305.53 million cubic metres.

4. This marks a 7.32% rise in the total growing stock during the decade.

5. The top contributing states to this growth are Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

Service Accounts

Provisioning Services

1. Provisioning services refer to the economic value derived from forest products, including timber and non-timber products.

2. The value of provisioning services reached approximately 0.16% of India’s GDP in 2021–22.

3. The top states contributing to provisioning services are Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala.

Regulating Services

1. Regulating services represent the environmental functions of forests, especially in carbon retention and climate regulation.

2. The value of regulating services was estimated at 2.63% of India’s GDP in 2021–22.

3. Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam were the top contributors to regulating services.

Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP)

1. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP).

2. The project is located in Banswara district of Rajasthan, near the Mahi Dam on River Mahi.

3. MBRAPP will comprise 4 nuclear power units, each of 700 MWe capacity.

4. The reactors will be Indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).

   • PHWRs use heavy water as both coolant and moderator, and natural uranium as fuel.

5. The project is being developed by Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam (ASHVINI).

   • ASHVINI is a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).

Part of India’s Fleet Mode Initiative

1. The MBRAPP is a component of India’s “Fleet Mode” initiative.

2. Under this initiative, ten identical 700 MW PHWRs are being constructed across the country.

3. These reactors are being built using uniform design and standardized procurement plans to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Nuclear Power Capacity in India – Status and Expansion

1. As of January 30, 2025, India operates 24 nuclear reactors spread across 7 power plants.

2. The total installed nuclear power capacity is currently 8180 MW.

3. The government has set a target to increase this capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031–32.

4. In 2022–23, nuclear power contributed 3.61% to India's total electricity generation.

5. This makes nuclear energy the fifth-largest source of electricity among non-fossil fuel options in India.

India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme (NPP)

1. India is currently in the first stage of its three-stage Nuclear Power Programme (NPP).

2. The first stage is based on PHWRs using natural uranium fuel.

3. The second stage involves Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) that use plutonium-based fuel.

4. The third stage will utilize thorium-based reactors, leveraging India’s abundant thorium reserves.

National Initiative on Water Security

1. The Central Government has launched the National Initiative on Water Security as a major step toward sustainable water management.

2. The initiative places water security as a national priority under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.

3. To operationalize this, Schedule I of MGNREGA has been amended by the Centre.

   • Schedule I outlines the permissible works under MGNREGA.

4. This amendment has been made using powers granted under sub-section (1) of Section 29 of MGNREGA.

5. Under MGNREGA, over 1.25 crore water conservation assets have already been created across the country.

6. These assets include farm ponds, check dams, community tanks, and other water-harvesting structures.

Objectives of the Initiative

1. The main objective is to boost groundwater levels in vulnerable regions.

2. It also aims to rejuvenate rivers and ensure sustainable water resource management in rural areas.

Mandatory Fund Allocation under MGNREGA for Water Conservation

1. The initiative mandates specific fund allocation percentages for water conservation based on groundwater status.

2. For critical blocks (with 90–100% groundwater extraction), 65% of MGNREGA funds must be used for water-related works.

3. For semi-critical blocks (70–90% extraction), the required allocation is 40% of MGNREGA funds.

4. In safe blocks (where extraction is ≤70%), a minimum of 30% of funds must be spent on water conservation.

Groundwater Assessment and Block Classification

1. Groundwater status of blocks has been classified by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

2. This classification is based on the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment Report (2024).

3. As per the report, 3.05% of blocks are classified as critical in terms of groundwater usage.

4. 10.54% of blocks fall under the semi-critical category.

5. 11.13% of blocks are marked as over-exploited, where groundwater usage exceeds replenishment.

6. 73.39% of blocks are considered safe, with sustainable groundwater levels.

7. The remaining 1.88% of blocks are categorized as saline, where water quality is unsuitable for most uses.

Significance of the Initiative

1. The initiative shifts India’s approach from reactive to preventive water management.

2. It ensures that MGNREGA funds are prioritized for regions with critical water scarcity.

3. It supports rural development, improves agricultural productivity, and enhances livestock sustainability.

4. It also contributes to environmental resilience and climate adaptation in water-stressed areas.

Other Key Government Initiatives for Water Conservation

24. Mission Amrit Sarovar aims to construct and rejuvenate 75 water bodies in every district across India.

25. Atal Bhujal Yojana is a community-led groundwater management scheme.

26. It targets water-stressed regions and is jointly implemented by the Government of India and the World Bank.

27. The National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) project is being implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

28. Under NAQUIM, about 25 lakh sq. km of India’s geographical area has already been mapped.

29. The goal is to identify, map, and manage aquifers for sustainable groundwater use.

    • An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock from which groundwater can be extracted

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – RBI Guidelines and Concept

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released new guidelines on authentication for digital payment transactions.

2. These guidelines make Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) mandatory for all digital payments.

3. However, the framework does not prescribe any specific method for implementing 2FA.

4. The RBI mandates that at least one of the authentication factors in a digital payment must be dynamically created or verified during the transaction.

   • This applies to all transactions except for “card present” transactions where the physical card is used.

What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?

1. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security method used for identity verification and access control.

2. It requires the user to provide two different forms of identification to access a digital system or service.

3. 2FA is a part of identity and access management designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems.

How 2FA Works – Authentication Factors

1. 2FA combines two of the following three types of authentication factors:

2. The first is something you know, such as a password or PIN.

3. The second is something you have, such as a mobile phone, security token, or OTP device.

4. The third is something you are, which refers to biometric identifiers like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scan.

5. Combining two of these ensures that even if one factor is compromised, unauthorized access is still unlikely.

Autonomous Mobility – UAE’s Strategic Push

1. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled its First Sovereign Mobility Cloud to advance its autonomous mobility strategy.

2. The Sovereign Mobility Cloud aims to establish a secure and self-reliant digital infrastructure for future transportation systems.

3. This cloud infrastructure will support critical mobility functions like high-definition mapping, telematics, fleet operations, and traffic management.

Understanding Autonomous Mobility

1. Autonomous mobility refers to transportation systems that rely on autonomous vehicles for movement.

2. An autonomous vehicle is a type of vehicle that can operate independently with little or no human input.

3. These vehicles function through advanced technologies such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Global Positioning System (GPS).

   • LiDAR uses laser light to measure distances and create detailed 3D maps of the environment.

Potential Benefits of Autonomous Mobility

1. Autonomous mobility can help optimize traffic flow, reducing congestion on roads.

2. It can significantly enhance road safety by minimizing human error in driving.

3. The technology also supports efficient fleet operations and real-time traffic management.

Agni-Prime Missile

1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) have successfully test-launched the Agni-Prime missile.

2. The launch was conducted from a rail-based mobile launcher system, marking a significant technological milestone.

3. This is the first-of-its-kind futuristic rail-based missile system in India.

4. The system is capable of moving across the rail network without any pre-conditions or special preparations.

About Agni-Prime Missile

1. Agni-Prime is an advanced ballistic missile developed by DRDO as part of the Agni missile series.

2. It is the newest and most modern addition to India’s Agni missile family.

3. The missile is two-stage and solid-fueled, making it more reliable and quicker to launch.

   • Solid fuel provides faster ignition and requires less maintenance than liquid fuel.

4. It is canister-launched, meaning it is stored and launched from a protective container, which enhances mobility, safety, and storage life.

5. The Agni-Prime missile has a range of up to 2000 kilometers, classifying it as an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).

6. It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, giving it strategic versatility.

Financial Intelligence Unit - India (FIU-IND) – Role in Combating Financial Crimes

1. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

2. The purpose of this MoU is to strengthen cooperation in combating cybercrimes and financial frauds.

About Financial Intelligence Unit - India (FIU-IND)

1. FIU-IND was established in the year 2004.

2. It functions as the central national agency for handling information related to suspicious financial transactions.

3. The agency is responsible for the receipt, processing, analysis, and dissemination of information on suspect financial activities.

4. It shares this intelligence with domestic enforcement agencies and foreign Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs).

   • FIUs are national agencies that track illegal financial activities globally.)

5. FIU-IND is an independent body, which ensures its operational autonomy and neutrality.

6. It reports directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC), which is chaired by the Finance Minister of India.

Legal Authority and Powers of FIU-IND

1. The FIU-IND derives its powers from the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

2. Under this law, it is empowered to monitor, investigate, and assist in curbing money laundering and related financial crimes.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

1. The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative launched by NITI Aayog in 2016.

2. The core objective of AIM is to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India.

Recent Collaboration with University of Kashmir

1. AIM, in collaboration with the University of Kashmir, has launched the ATL Sarthi and Frontier Region Programme.

2. These initiatives aim to expand innovation infrastructure in remote and underserved regions of the country.

3. Under the Frontier Region Programme, 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) will be established in Jammu & Kashmir.

About Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)

1. An Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) is a state-of-the-art innovation space set up in schools under the Atal Innovation Mission.

2. The purpose of ATLs is to foster curiosity, creativity, and innovation among students from Grade 6 to 12.

3. These labs equip students with 21st-century tools and technologies to solve real-world problems.

4. ATL students work with modern technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and microelectronics.

   • IoT refers to interconnected devices that exchange data over the internet.

5. The ATLs aim to empower students to become future innovators, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs.

2G Ethanol – Recent Developments and Overview

1. Recently, India has allowed the export of 2nd Generation (2G) ethanol, subject to mandatory licensing and feedstock certificate requirements.

2. 2G ethanol, also known as cellulosic ethanol or advanced biofuel, is produced from plant fibers called cellulose.

3. The primary sources of 2G ethanol include agricultural waste residues such as rice and wheat straw, cane trash, corn cobs, and stover (the leaves and stalks of crops).

Other Generations of Ethanol

1. 1st Generation (1G) ethanol is produced from food crops like rice, wheat, barley, and corn.

2. 3rd Generation (3G) ethanol is derived from aquatic biomass, primarily algae.

3. 4th Generation (4G) ethanol is obtained from engineered plants and microorganisms, involving advanced biotechnological processes.

Drone Wall – EU’s Response to Drone Threats

1. Following suspected Russian drone incursions in Denmark, the European Union (EU) has initiated efforts to build a ‘drone wall’ for enhanced security.

2. The drone wall is based on an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered multilayered drone defence system called Eirshield.

3. Eirshield is an advanced anti-drone platform designed to detect and counter fast-flying unmanned aerial targets potentially carrying warheads.

4. This system provides early warning, real-time threat detection, and actionable intelligence against drone incursions.

5. Additionally, it protects against GPS jamming and other forms of unconventional attacks, which disrupt navigation systems.

Enrichment of uranium

1. Recently, concerns were raised about Iran’s resumption of uranium enrichment, which has attracted international attention.

2. To “enrich” uranium means increasing the proportion of the fissile isotope uranium-235 (U-235) relative to uranium-238 (U-238).

3. Natural uranium contains mostly U-238 and only about 0.7% U-235.

4. The goal of enrichment is to raise the share of U-235 by removing some U-238.

5. The main method of enrichment uses centrifuges, which separate isotopes by mass.

6. Centrifuges spin uranium hexafluoride gas at extremely high speeds so the heavier U-238 moves outward and the lighter U-235 remains closer to the center.

7. Low-enriched uranium (3–5% U-235) is used to fuel civilian nuclear power reactors.

8. Enrichment above 20% U-235 is considered highly enriched uranium (HEU) and is suitable for medical or research reactors but also raises proliferation concerns.

9. Weapons-grade uranium (~90% U-235) is concentrated enough to be compact and efficient for nuclear weapons.

Explore more on UPSC Content

Click for Daily Quotes:

Stay updated with the latest news by joining our Telegram channel – The PRESS Pad , and follow us on Instagram.