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TOPPER IAS · CURRENT AFFAIRS INTELLIGENCE

18 September 2026

19 developments → 6 GS areas → 20 minutes · all editions · Read in: हिन्दी · ಕನ್ನಡ · తెలుగు · தமிழ் · മലയാളം · मराठी · বাংলা · ગુજરાતી · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

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Today's 20-minute UPSC session

18 September 2026 · read the priority topics, take the test, revise what you missed

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🔁 Revision5 minStart

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Today's UPSC priority

5 topics you cannot afford to miss — and why

  1. Government puts 25 coal blocks up for sale in 16th round of commercial auctionsEconomy · asked in UPSC 2019; factual, Prelims-type
  2. Debate on Merchant Discount Rate for high-value UPI transactionsEconomy · asked in UPSC 2024; factual, Prelims-type
  3. Kalyana Karnataka Utsav marks special-status development push for the regionKarnataka · asked in KPSC 2023; factual, Prelims-type; Karnataka-specific
  4. Semicon India 2026: PM pitches India as a trustworthy chipmaking hubEconomy · factual, Prelims-type
  5. EPFO wage ceiling proposed to be raised to ₹25,000Polity · factual, Prelims-type
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Personalise: exam · Prelims / Mains · subject
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Must read 5 · Important 8 · Quick scan 6

High Prelims + Mains value · PYQ-linked · read fully

EconomyGAPrelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★★☆☆

25 coal blocks go up for auction, but the exam answer is the year captive-only mining ended

Government puts 25 coal blocks up for sale in 16th round of commercial auctions

Why in News? Centre launched the 16th round of commercial coal mine auctions, offering 25 blocks to boost domestic production.

Prelims Commercial coal mining, which permits sale of coal in the open market rather than only for captive use, was opened to the private sector in 2020.

Mains GS3 - Economy/Infrastructure: energy security. Issue: despite large reserves, India remains import-dependent for coal; Provision: 2020 reforms ended t…

🔁 PYQ · UPSC 2019Read · 2 min →Test
Economy
EconomyGAPrelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★★☆☆

UPI has never charged a fee — the Merchant Discount Rate debate that could change that

Debate on Merchant Discount Rate for high-value UPI transactions

Why in News? A debate over levying Merchant Discount Rate on high-value UPI transactions has surfaced, with UPI so far kept MDR-free to encourage adoption.

Prelims UPI transactions are currently free of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges.

Mains GS3 - Indian Economy - issues relating to digital payments and banking sector reforms. Issue: the MDR-free structure of UPI has driven mass adoption o…

🔁 PYQ · UPSC 2024Read · 2 min →Test
Karnataka
KarnatakaKPSCPrelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★☆☆☆ KPSC ★★★★★

One region, extra reservation in jobs and colleges: the Article 371J story behind Kalyana Karnataka Utsav

Kalyana Karnataka Utsav marks special-status development push for the region

Why in News? Kalyana Karnataka marked its development utsav; the region has special status under Article 371J, inserted by the 98th Amendment.

Prelims Article 371J grants special status to the Kalyana Karnataka region of Karnataka.

Mains Under GS2 (Polity - Special provisions relating to certain states), the issue is regional backwardness in Kalyana Karnataka, addressed through the 98t…

🔁 PYQ · KPSC 2023Read · 2 min →Test
Economy
EconomyGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Global chip supply chains are being weaponised: the Mission India is betting on to stay trusted

Semicon India 2026: PM pitches India as a trustworthy chipmaking hub

Why in News? At Semicon India 2026, the PM projected India as a trustworthy chipmaking hub, highlighting the India Semiconductor Mission.

Prelims The India Semiconductor Mission aims to build domestic capacity in chip design, fabrication and packaging.

Mains GS3 (Economy/Infrastructure/Technology): rising global concern over weaponisation of technology supply chains has pushed India to indigenise semicondu…

Read · 2 min →Test
Polity
PolityGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Still stuck at ₹15,000: the EPFO ceiling number about to jump for GS2 social security

EPFO wage ceiling proposed to be raised to ₹25,000

Why in News? EPFO's wage ceiling for mandatory PF coverage is being raised to ₹25,000, its first revision since 2014.

Prelims The EPFO wage ceiling was last revised in the year 2014.

Mains GS2 - Social Justice: the issue is that a stagnant EPFO wage ceiling has long excluded a large section of low-wage and informal workers from mandatory…

Read · 2 min →Test

Next: Important →

Know the fact and the angle · 1 minute each

Polity
PolityGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Railways failed passenger amenities again — the CAG-PAC oversight chain every Polity answer needs

Public Accounts Committee pulls up Railways over gaps in passenger amenities

Why in News? Parliament's Public Accounts Committee criticised the Railways Ministry for continuing gaps in passenger amenities despite past assurances.

Prelims The Public Accounts Committee examines audit reports submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Mains GS2 - Parliament and its committees: the PAC's scrutiny of Railways over unresolved passenger-amenity gaps shows how financial oversight committees ex…

Read · 2 min →Test
International RelationsGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Up to what tariff on Russian oil buyers? The Bill testing GS2 India-US ties

US House passes Bill for tariffs on countries buying Russian oil

Why in News? US House passed a Bill permitting up to 100% tariffs on countries importing Russian oil, a category that includes India; China has objected.

Prelims The US House Bill proposes tariffs of up to 100% on countries continuing to import Russian crude oil

Mains GS2 - International Relations: developed countries' unilateral trade measures, such as this US tariff Bill, can directly affect India's energy securit…

Read · 2 min →Test
EconomyGAPrelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

EU tightened steel curbs, yet most Indian exports were unaffected: the FTA clause GS3 trade answers need

EU curbs fail to dent India's steel exports as most retain FTA benefits

Why in News? Most of India's steel exports to the EU continue to enjoy FTA-linked benefits despite tighter EU import curbs.

Prelims The EU's tightened steel-import safeguards are partly linked to concerns over global overcapacity, particularly Chinese steel.

Mains GS3 (Economy) - The issue concerns the effect of EU import safeguards on India's steel exports; the provision at play is India's retention of FTA-link…

Read · 2 min →Test
EnvironmentGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

World's smallest wild pig, bred in captivity, released in Assam: the Schedule I case Prelims tests

Assam's pygmy hog conservation programme releases captive-bred hogs into the wild

Why in News? Assam's Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme continues to reintroduce captive-bred pygmy hogs into protected grasslands to save the endangered species.

Prelims The pygmy hog is the world's smallest wild pig species.

Mains GS3 (Environment and Biodiversity): the pygmy hog's survival is threatened by shrinking grassland habitat in Assam, addressed through captive breeding…

Read · 2 min →Test
Science & TechGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

IAF's newest aircraft carries no weapons - the HTT-40 tests your grip on Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence

HAL hands over HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force

Why in News? HAL delivered the indigenously built HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF, advancing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Prelims The HTT-40 is a Basic Trainer Aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Mains GS3 - Science and Technology: indigenization of defence technology. Issue - the IAF's dependence on ageing, often imported, basic trainer aircraft for…

Read · 2 min →Test
Science & TechGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

NPTEL's free lectures may not stay free: the IIT-IISc platform every GS2 education answer cites

NPTEL survey proposing a charge for free learning modules draws discontent

Why in News? NPTEL, the IIT/IISc online learning platform, surveyed users on introducing a charge for currently free modules, prompting concern among learners.

Prelims NPTEL is a joint initiative of the IITs and the IISc, Bengaluru, supported by the Ministry of Education.

Mains GS2 - Social Justice: the NPTEL fee-survey controversy raises the issue of equitable access to free online learning resources for exam and skill prepa…

Read · 2 min →Test
Science & TechGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

Stem cell therapy for autism, only inside trials: the ICMR-DBT rule GS2 health questions test

Centre says stem cell therapy for autism only in approved clinical trials

Why in News? Centre clarified that stem cell therapy for autism is permitted only within approved clinical trials, not as routine treatment.

Prelims Guidelines on stem cell research and therapy in India are issued jointly by the ICMR and the Department of Biotechnology.

Mains GS2 - Health: the issue concerns regulation of unproven medical interventions marketed to vulnerable families; the ICMR-DBT joint guidelines provide t…

Read · 2 min →Test
KarnatakaKPSCPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆ KPSC ★★★★★

124 taluks now drought-hit in Karnataka: the SDRF-NDRF relief chain GS3 keeps testing

Karnataka's drought-hit taluks rise to 124

Why in News? Karnataka increased its drought-declared taluks to 124, making more farmers eligible for SDRF/NDRF relief.

Prelims Karnataka has increased the number of drought-declared taluks to 124.

Mains Under GS3 (Disaster Management), the issue is Karnataka's recurring dryland drought vulnerability leading to the expansion of drought-declared taluks …

Read · 2 min →Test

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More

PYQ connections · weekly & monthly tests · past editions

🔁 Today's PYQ connections (3)

Government puts 25 coal blocks up for sale in 16th round of commercial auctions
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC 2019

Consider the following statements: 1. Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. 2. Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery …

Debate on Merchant Discount Rate for high-value UPI transactions
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC 2024

Consider the following statements in respect of the digital rupee: 1. It is a sovereign currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in alignment with its…

Kalyana Karnataka Utsav marks special-status development push for the region
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · KPSC 2023

Under Article 371-J, the Governor have special provisions with respect to the state of

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