NMDC Ltd has commissioned a 2 million tonne per annum pellet plant at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh as part of a Rs 5,427-crore integrated iron ore processing project. The project connects the company’s Bacheli iron ore operations with its steel plant at Nagarnar through processing facilities, a slurry pipeline and pellet production.
Key facts
The pellet plant has a capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum.
The integrated project has a cost of Rs 5,427 crore.
The project includes an iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, a 15 MTPA slurry pipeline and the pellet plant at Nagarnar.
The 135-km slurry pipeline transports iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar.
The facilities process iron ore fines and slimes from the Bailadila mines into concentrate and pellets.
The pellet plant uses Straight Grate Induration technology.
The pipeline passes through 61 villages in Bastar and Dantewada districts.
NMDC aims to increase its iron ore production capacity to 100 million tonnes in the long term.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on NMDC, iron ore processing, public sector enterprises, industrial infrastructure, Chhattisgarh’s mineral economy and value addition in the steel sector.
Parul Chaudhary Wins Bronze in Women’s 3000m Steeplechase at Asian Games
Parul Chaudhary won a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Asian Games and achieved a personal best. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her for the performance.
Key facts
Parul Chaudhary won the bronze medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
The event was held at the Asian Games.
She recorded a personal best during the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her through a post shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X.
The Prime Minister praised her dedication and perseverance.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on Indian sports achievements, athletics and Asian Games medal winners.
Sarvesh Kushare Wins Silver in Men’s High Jump at Asian Games
Sarvesh Kushare won a silver medal in the men’s high jump at the Asian Games. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him and described the achievement as ending India’s five-decade wait for a medal in the event.
Key facts
Sarvesh Kushare won the silver medal in the men’s high jump.
The medal was won at the Asian Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Kushare.
The achievement was described as ending India’s five-decade wait for a medal in this event.
The Prime Minister credited perseverance and determination for the achievement.
Exam relevance: Relevant for sports current affairs and questions on India’s performance at the Asian Games.
‘Mera Swasthya, Mera Garv’ Activities Held at Over 400 Locations
Under the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan, MY Bharat and partner organisations conducted health and wellness activities at more than 400 locations across India. Over 2.5 lakh youth and citizens participated in programmes promoting physical well-being, mental wellness and awareness about substance abuse.
Key facts
The activities were organised under the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan.
MY Bharat and its partner organisations conducted the activities at more than 400 locations across the country.
Over 2.5 lakh youth and citizens participated.
Health check-up camps, health expert sessions and meditation sessions were organised.
The initiative promoted preventive health, healthy lifestyles and awareness of the harmful effects of substance abuse.
Several programmes included the Nasha Mukt Yuva Pledge.
The campaign aims to encourage sustained youth engagement and support a healthy, addiction-free society.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on government youth initiatives, drug-abuse prevention, public health awareness, MY Bharat and campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles.
Nirmala Sitharaman to Attend AIIB Annual Meeting in Qatar
Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Qatar from 27 to 29 September 2026. She will attend the 11th Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Doha and hold bilateral and business-related engagements.
Key facts
Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Qatar from 27 to 29 September 2026.
She will lead a delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Finance.
She will attend the 11th Annual Meeting of the AIIB in Doha on 28 September 2026.
She will participate in the meeting as India's Governor to the AIIB.
India is the second-largest shareholder of the AIIB.
She is scheduled to hold meetings with the AIIB President and counterparts from Jordan, Switzerland, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Nepal.
The AIIB focuses on sustainable infrastructure development and investment in Asia.
Exam relevance: Important for questions on India's participation in multilateral financial institutions, the AIIB, international economic relations and the role of the Union Finance Minister.
Harita Bhadra Wins Bronze in Women’s 200m at Asian Games
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Harita Bhadra for winning a bronze medal in the Women’s 200m event at the Asian Games. The achievement came during her Asian Games debut.
Key facts
Harita Bhadra won a bronze medal in the Women’s 200m event.
The medal was won at the Asian Games.
This was Harita Bhadra’s Asian Games debut.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her for the achievement.
The Prime Minister praised her confidence and determination.
The congratulatory message was shared through the Prime Minister’s Office post on X.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on sports achievements, Asian Games performance and important national personalities’ congratulatory messages.
India Secures 10th Position at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, winning six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence. The result improved upon India’s 13th-place finish at WorldSkills Lyon 2024.
Key facts
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 was held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026.
India secured 10th position, compared with 13th place at WorldSkills Lyon 2024.
Team India won six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence.
The six Silver Medals were won in Bakery, Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design, Industrial Design Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, and Retail Sales.
Smriti Nambiar won the Silver Medal in Bakery and was recognised as Best of Nation for India.
India sent its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skills.
The competition brought together over 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions.
India’s participation was coordinated by the National Skill Development Corporation under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Exam relevance: Important for questions on India’s performance in international competitions, skill development, WorldSkills, the National Skill Development Corporation, and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Tourism Ministry Launches National Digital Tourism Stack and Dekho Apna Desh Campaign 2.0
The Ministry of Tourism celebrated World Tourism Day 2026 in New Delhi by launching the National Digital Tourism Stack and the National Mission for Alternative Destinations under Dekho Apna Desh Campaign 2.0. The initiatives aim to improve digital access to tourism services, promote lesser-known destinations and expand opportunities for local communities.
Key facts
The initiatives were launched at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on World Tourism Day 2026.
The National Digital Tourism Stack is being developed with ONDC and support from ICDIA.
The digital stack is intended to support discovery, verified identities, supplier credentials, payments, ratings and grievance redressal.
A pilot of the National Digital Tourism Stack is planned for January 2027.
Dekho Apna Desh Campaign 2.0 seeks to promote lesser-known destinations and redistribute tourism demand.
The alternative destinations mission will initially focus on hill and mountain, coastal and waterfront, heritage and cultural, and regional pilgrimage destinations.
The Ministry exchanged five MoUs with Airbnb India, FlixBus India, Glance Digital Experience, Eicher Group Foundation and MakeMyTrip.
India Tourism Statistics 2026 was released during the event.
Exam relevance: Important for questions on Ministry of Tourism initiatives, digital public infrastructure, sustainable and responsible tourism, alternative destinations, tourism-related MoUs, and India Tourism Statistics.
National Zoological Park Conducts Bird, Butterfly and Dragonfly Walks
The National Zoological Park, New Delhi, organised its 15th Sunday Bird Walk and 4th Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk to promote citizen science, biodiversity documentation and wildlife conservation awareness. Participants recorded 47 bird species, 8 butterfly species, 10 dragonfly species and 5 damselfly species.
Key facts
The walks were organised by the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.
The event included the 15th Sunday Bird Walk and the 4th Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk.
A total of 15 participants took part in the walks.
Participants documented 47 bird species and more than 750 individual birds.
The observations also included 8 butterfly species, 10 dragonfly species and 5 damselfly species.
Wildlife Week 2026 will be observed at NZP from 2 October to 8 October 2026.
No fee will be charged for Wildlife Week activities, and participating children up to 12 years will receive free entry during the week.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on biodiversity conservation, citizen science, wildlife awareness initiatives and the National Zoological Park, New Delhi.
Amit Shah Addresses Centenary Celebrations of Ashok Singhal
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the inaugural ceremony of the centenary year celebrations commemorating the birth anniversary of former Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Ashok Singhal in New Delhi.
Key facts
The ceremony was held in New Delhi.
Amit Shah addressed the inaugural ceremony.
The celebrations commemorated the birth anniversary centenary of Ashok Singhal.
Ashok Singhal was a former president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
The event included presentations on various service initiatives.
The digital inauguration of 11 Shri Ram Stambhs was held.
The source stated that the pillars commemorate the route associated with Shri Ram's exile.
Exam relevance: Useful for current-affairs questions on national events, public figures, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Shri Ram Stambhs.
Lalit Kala Akademi Announces 20 Awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art
The Lalit Kala Akademi selected 20 artworks by 20 artists for its awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art. The exhibition showcased selected contemporary visual artworks from artists across India.
Key facts
The exhibition was organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, the National Academy of Art.
The 65th National Exhibition of Art received 6,175 artworks from 2,495 artists.
The participating artists represented 27 States and Union Territories.
A First-Tier Jury selected 270 artworks for display.
A Second-Tier Jury selected 20 artworks by 20 artists for the Lalit Kala Akademi Awards.
The exhibition featured practices such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing and mixed media.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on Indian art and culture, national academies, awards and contemporary visual arts.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan Attends SUT Academy Graduation Ceremony
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan attended the 15th Graduation Day Ceremony of Sree Uthradom Thirunal Academy of Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram as Chief Guest. He highlighted the role of technology in healthcare while stressing that medical practice must retain compassion, ethics and human responsibility.
Key facts
The ceremony was the 15th Graduation Day of SUT Academy of Medical Sciences.
It was held in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan attended as the Chief Guest.
The institute inaugurated Robotic Surgery and Computer-Aided Diagnosis facilities.
The Vice-President said technology should assist doctors but not replace the human dimension of medicine.
He highlighted knowledge, compassion and integrity as guiding principles for graduating doctors.
The ceremony included degrees for 60 women and 32 men at the undergraduate level, and 5 women and 2 men at the postgraduate level.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on the Vice-President, medical education, healthcare technology and current affairs related to Kerala.
INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish Participate in ADMM-Plus Maritime Security Activity
Indian Navy ships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish concluded their participation in the 23rd ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security Joint Cooperation Activity at Subic Bay, Philippines. The exercise focused on maritime coordination, interoperability and regional cooperation.
Key facts
INS Sahyadri is an Indian Navy stealth frigate.
INS Kulish is an Indian Navy missile corvette.
The activity was held at Subic Bay, Philippines, from 21 to 25 September 2026.
The activity was hosted by the Philippine Navy and co-chaired by Japan.
The sea phase included search and rescue, hydrographic survey, casualty and medical evacuation, and deck landing qualification.
India’s participation was linked to the Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on Indian naval exercises, ADMM-Plus, ASEAN-related defence cooperation, India’s Act East Policy, maritime security and the MAHASAGAR vision.
Senior Citizens Participate in Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign in Maharashtra
Senior citizens at Jay Shriram Senior Citizen Home in Kargani, Maharashtra, participated in cleanliness activities under the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign. Their participation highlighted Jan Bhagidari, civic responsibility and the role of elderly citizens in community mobilisation.
Key facts
The cleanliness drive was held at Jay Shriram Senior Citizen Home in Kargani, Maharashtra.
The home is operated by Atpadi Taluka Gramin Vikas Sanstha.
The activity was conducted under the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign.
The campaign theme is “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”.
Senior citizens participated in cleanliness activities in and around the old age home.
The initiative emphasised Jan Bhagidari and shared responsibility for clean and healthy communities.
The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment was associated with encouraging participation and social engagement among senior citizens.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on Swachh Bharat-related campaigns, Jan Bhagidari, social inclusion, senior citizens and Maharashtra current affairs.
Youth Participation in Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan Highlighted
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted youth-led efforts under the 100-week Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan during the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat. The campaign promotes awareness against substance abuse through volunteers, educational institutions and partner organisations.
Key facts
The campaign is being implemented for 100 weeks.
It brings together MY Bharat and National Service Scheme volunteers.
Schools, colleges, universities and social and spiritual organisations are participating.
Pledge ceremonies and awareness programmes have been organised across the country.
The Nasha-Mukti Ka Sandesh initiative spreads anti-substance-abuse messages in local languages and creative formats.
MY Bharat has organised anthem, slogan-writing and street-play competitions.
Health check-ups and meditation camps are planned as part of the campaign's outreach.
Exam relevance: Important for questions on government campaigns, youth mobilisation, substance-abuse prevention, MY Bharat, the National Service Scheme and Mann Ki Baat.
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026: “Power in Partnership”
The Indian Air Force is conducting the multilateral Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 26 September to 12 October 2026. The exercise focuses on joint training, interoperability, operational cooperation and mutual learning among participating air forces.
Key facts
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 is being conducted by the Indian Air Force.
The exercise is scheduled from 26 September to 12 October 2026.
Its operational phase is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
The theme of the exercise is “Power in Partnership”.
Seven Friendly Foreign Countries are participating: Australia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Participating aircraft include the F-35 Lightning II, Rafale, F-16, A400M, MRTT, C-130, C-130J and KC-30A.
The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, aerospace safety, operational understanding and defence cooperation.
Professional, cultural and outreach activities include a seminar, industrial tour, Sekhon Marathon, heritage tours and yoga sessions.
Exam relevance: Important for defence and international relations questions involving Indian military exercises, participating countries, aircraft platforms, interoperability and regional security cooperation.
