Daily Current Affairs · Last published 25 September 2026
UPSC Prelims Current Affairs: 25 September 2026
SEBI approves sweeping market reforms, the Supreme Court Collegium clears twelve High Court judges, and the government dissolves the 37-year-old Digital Communications Commission.
SEBI board approves PMS-mutual fund route, REIT and InvIT reforms, and wider FPI access to commodity derivatives
The Securities and Exchange Board of India approved a wide-ranging set of reforms at its board meeting on 24 September 2026, including a new Portfolio Managers Route for Investing in Mutual Fund units (PRIM) with a minimum ticket size of Rs 25 lakh, and simplified portfolio manager regulations allowing investment in IPOs and unlisted debt. The board also cleared the issuance of depository receipts on units of REITs and InvITs to attract foreign capital, and widened foreign portfolio investor access to non-agricultural commodity derivatives, subject to safeguards. A reformed accredited investor framework will deem all persons resident outside India, including FPIs, as accredited investors for eligible market products.
Supreme Court Collegium recommends 12 additional judges as permanent judges in four High Courts
The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath and B V Nagarathna, met on 23 September 2026 and approved the appointment of 12 additional judges as permanent judges across four High Courts. Five judges were approved for the Andhra Pradesh High Court and five for the Kerala High Court, while one additional judge each was approved as a permanent judge for the Uttarakhand and Gauhati High Courts.
Government dissolves the 37-year-old Digital Communications Commission
The government notified the dissolution of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) through a resolution dated 19 September 2026, ending the run of the Department of Telecommunications' apex inter-departmental decision making body after nearly 37 years. Formed in 1989 as the Telecom Commission and renamed in 2018, the DCC brought together senior officials from NITI Aayog, the Finance Ministry and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade to clear telecom policy matters, spectrum pricing and TRAI recommendations before sending them to the Cabinet. Its last meeting, held on 3 September 2026, firmed up the DCC's decision on satellite communication spectrum, which now goes to the Cabinet for final approval.
Cyclone Arnab's deep depression crosses the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast, over 1,500 evacuated from Gajapati
The deep depression associated with Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast late on 23 September 2026, bringing high winds and heavy rain to both states, according to the India Meteorological Department. Odisha authorities evacuated more than 1,500 residents from Gajapati district alone, on top of about 5,000 evacuated a day earlier as heavy rain lashed coastal Odisha, and placed 380 Fire and Emergency Services teams along with 33 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams on alert. The system was expected to retain its intensity through Thursday before gradually weakening, and the cyclone was named Arnab, meaning ocean in Bengali, by Bangladesh.
NGT pulls up Centre and Uttarakhand for failing to restore Chopra Gadhera stream damaged by rail project muck dumping
The National Green Tribunal, in an order dated 21 September 2026, criticised the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, the Rudraprayag district administration, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited for failing to report progress on restoring Chopra Gadhera, a freshwater stream in Jawadi village damaged by illegal muck dumping during the Rishikesh to Karnaprayag rail project. The tribunal noted that its earlier direction to release a penalty of over Rs 2.03 crore to a Committee of Experts for the stream's restoration had still not been carried out, and directed Uttarakhand's Chief Secretary and top forest officer to personally ensure compliance.
Vice-President launches Sustainable Urban River Management Framework at 9th India International Water Week 2026
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 22 September 2026, a five-day event organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on the theme Climate Resilient Water Management. On the occasion, the Vice-President launched the Sustainable Urban River Management (SURM) Framework and an AI and machine learning driven Integrated Reservoir Sediment Management initiative, and noted that 10 inter-State memoranda of understanding have been signed for water sharing, including the Kishau Multipurpose Project agreement among six States.
Southwest monsoon withdraws from Delhi two days ahead of schedule
The India Meteorological Department said the southwest monsoon withdrew from Delhi on 23 September 2026, two days ahead of the normal withdrawal date of 25 September. Delhi recorded 728.6 mm of rainfall between 1 June and 23 September, against a normal of 629.7 mm, about 16 percent above normal and within the IMD's normal rainfall category. The monsoon had arrived over Delhi on 2 July this year, later than its normal onset date of 27 June.
India fields its largest ever 70-member team as competition begins at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
Competition began on 23 September 2026 at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, a day after Team India's largest ever contingent of 70 young competitors marched at the Opening Ceremony alongside nearly 1,400 competitors from more than 65 countries and regions, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said. Fourteen of the 70 competitors are from Industrial Training Institutes, and for the first time India is competing in 11 new skill categories including Unmanned Aerial Systems, Software Testing, Dental Prosthetics and Aircraft Maintenance. The competition runs until 26 September, with a closing ceremony on 27 September.