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TOPPER IAS · CURRENT AFFAIRS INTELLIGENCE

28 September 2026

20 developments → 8 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

28 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. NITI Aayog releases 2nd India Electric Mobility IndexEconomy · asked in KPSC 2021; GS-3 core; factual, Prelims-type
  2. Karnataka renews objection to Western Ghats ESA draftEnvironment · asked in KPSC 2024; GS-3 core; factual, Prelims-type
  3. EC's electoral roll revision draws citizenship-proof rowPolity · GS-2 core; factual, Prelims-type
  4. Supreme Court to hear plea against UPI MDR chargesPolity · GS-3 core; factual, Prelims-type
  5. First LNG-fuelled train flagged off; Railways eyes zero diesel by 2030Economy · GS-3 core; factual, Prelims-type
Start reading →
Personalise: exam · Prelims / Mains · subject
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Must read 5 · Important 8 · Quick scan 7

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

EconomyGS-3Prelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★★★★

NITI Aayog just ranked States, not carmakers, on EVs: the IEMI explained

NITI Aayog releases 2nd India Electric Mobility Index

Why in News? NITI Aayog's second India Electric Mobility Index ranks States on EV adoption and charging infrastructure.

Prelims The India Electric Mobility Index ranks States/UTs on EV adoption and charging infrastructure - Correct

Mains GS Paper 3 - Economy/Infrastructure: uneven EV adoption and charging-infrastructure buildout across States is the core issue; NITI Aayog's IEMI respon…

🔁 PYQ · KPSC 2021Read · 2 min →Test
EnvironmentGS-3Prelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★★★☆

Gadgil wanted almost all of it, Kasturirangan a third: the Western Ghats ESA fight explained

Karnataka renews objection to Western Ghats ESA draft

Why in News? Karnataka has sought exclusion of villages from the Centre's draft Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area notification.

Prelims The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (2011) was headed by Madhav Gadgil.

Mains GS Paper 3 (Environment) and GS Paper 2 (federalism): the issue is balancing ecological conservation of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot against…

🔁 PYQ · KPSC 2024Read · 2 min →Test
PolityGS-2Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★★

Why a valid Indian passport wasn't enough in the SIR row: the RP Act, 1950 explained

EC's electoral roll revision draws citizenship-proof row

Why in News? The Election Commission's SIR exercise has drawn criticism over alleged wrongful deletions and citizenship-proof demands exceeding its mandate.

Prelims The Representation of the People Act, 1950 provides for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.

Mains GS Paper 2 (Polity/Governance): the SIR controversy raises the issue of the Election Commission, while revising electoral rolls under the RP Act, 1950…

Read · 2 min →Test
PolityGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★★

Who actually runs UPI? A Supreme Court MDR case puts NPCI's role on trial

Supreme Court to hear plea against UPI MDR charges

Why in News? The Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the imposition of Merchant Discount Rate charges on high-value UPI transactions.

Prelims The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) operates UPI, not the RBI.

Mains GS Paper 3 - Economy: UPI's MDR-free framework, jointly administered by the RBI and NPCI, has been central to India's digital payments and financial i…

Read · 2 min →Test
EconomyGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★★

India's first LNG train just rolled out: the 2030 zero-diesel deadline every Prelims answer needs

First LNG-fuelled train flagged off; Railways eyes zero diesel by 2030

Why in News? India's first LNG-fuelled train was flagged off as Railways targets ending diesel traction by 2030.

Prelims India's first train powered partly by LNG was flagged off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Mains GS Paper 3 - Infrastructure and environment: rising diesel dependence raises Railways' carbon footprint and import costs; the policy response is broad…

Read · 2 min →Test

Next: Important →

Know the fact and the angle · 1 minute each

EnvironmentGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★☆

Musk pods seized in Assam: the Schedule I, CITES Appendix I species Prelims tests

Musk deer pods seized in Assam highlight poaching threat

Why in News? Musk deer pods seized in Assam underline continuing poaching pressure on this Schedule I Himalayan species.

Prelims Musk deer belong to the genus Moschus and inhabit the Himalayan and trans-Himalayan region.

Mains GS Paper 3 - Environment: poaching for high-value musk pods threatens a Schedule I species despite the highest domestic protection under the WPA, 1972…

Read · 2 min →Test
EnvironmentGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★☆

A whimbrel ringed six years ago resurfaces in Kerala: the flyway UPSC keeps asking about

Ringed migratory waders resighted on Kerala coast

Why in News? A ringed Eurasian whimbrel and a marked Tibetan sand plover were resighted on the Kerala coast, both Central Asian Flyway migrants.

Prelims Ringing recoveries help scientists trace migration routes and stopover sites of birds.

Mains GS Paper 3 (Environment and Biodiversity): the resighting of ringed waders on the Kerala coast highlights the ecological importance of coastal wetland…

Read · 2 min →Test
EconomyGS-2Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★★★

Stalled since 2015 over one product: the dairy clause blocking India's New Zealand trade deal

India, New Zealand advance stalled free trade talks

Why in News? India-New Zealand free trade talks have advanced after years of being stalled chiefly over dairy market access.

Prelims India-New Zealand free trade talks resumed in 2023 after being stalled since 2015, chiefly over New Zealand's demand for dairy market access.

Mains GS Paper 2 - International Relations / India's bilateral trade agreements: the core issue is balancing domestic dairy farmer protection against the ga…

Read · 2 min →Test
International RelationsGS-2Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★★

G4 wants permanent UNSC seats — the two-thirds-plus-P5-ratification rule that keeps blocking them

UNGA's 81st session revives Security Council reform debate

Why in News? The UNGA's 81st session saw renewed debate on UN Security Council reform between the G4 and the Uniting for Consensus bloc.

Prelims The G4 grouping comprises India, Japan, Germany and Brazil.

Mains GS Paper 2 - International Relations. The UN Security Council's composition still reflects the 1945 post-war order, and its reform mechanism - a two-t…

Read · 2 min →Test
International RelationsGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★★

NTPC and France's EDF sign a renewables pact: the 500 GW target GS3 aspirants must know

NTPC, France's EDF sign pact for renewable energy projects

Why in News? NTPC signed a renewable-energy development pact with France's EDF, part of its diversification beyond thermal power.

Prelims NTPC Limited was originally established as the National Thermal Power Corporation, a public-sector thermal power undertaking.

Mains GS Paper 3 - Economy/Energy: the issue is India's public-sector power giants diversifying from coal-based thermal generation toward renewables to meet…

Read · 2 min →Test
Science & TechGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★☆

Vavilov built the first seed bank in Leningrad - which ICAR body guards India's crop diversity now?

Vavilov's seed-bank legacy underpins India's National Genebank

Why in News? Nikolai Vavilov's pioneering seed-bank work underlies modern gene banks, including India's NBPGR-run National Genebank.

Prelims Nikolai Vavilov pioneered the study of geographic centres of origin of cultivated plants.

Mains GS Paper 3 - Science and Technology / Agricultural biodiversity conservation. Issue: climate change, pests and disease threaten crop genetic diversity…

Read · 2 min →Test
KarnatakaGS-3Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★☆ KPSC ★★★★★

Karnataka's opposition skipped a Centre meet on drought relief: the NDRF rule GS3 tests

Karnataka drought relief exposes Centre-State friction

Why in News? A Central team will assess Karnataka's drought-hit districts as opposition parties skip an all-party Centre delegation on relief.

Prelims The National Disaster Response Fund supplements the State Disaster Response Fund for calamities of a severe nature under the Disaster Management Act, 2005

Mains GS Paper 3 - Disaster Management. Issue: Karnataka's drought relief request has turned into a Centre-State political rift, with opposition parties ski…

Read · 2 min →Test
KarnatakaGS-2Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★☆ KPSC ★★★★★

Cancer drugs marked up 70 times over cost: the price-control law meant to stop this

Karnataka flags steep markups on critical drugs

Why in News? Karnataka's Health Minister flagged markups of up to 70 times procurement cost on critical drugs, citing weak price-control enforcement.

Prelims Karnataka's Health Minister flagged markups of up to 70 times procurement cost on certain cancer, kidney and HIV/AIDS drugs sold in private hospitals and pharmacies.

Mains GS Paper 2 - Governance/Health policy: unchecked markups on critical-illness drugs expose gaps in enforcing the NPPA's mandate under the Drugs (Prices…

Read · 2 min →Test

Next: Quick scan →

Headlines only · open if it is your optional or state

⚡ Quick facts 20

One line each · the facts exams ask

  1. WorldA proposed US trade deal could shield India from a threatened 100% tariff tied to sanctions on Russian oil purchases.
  2. WorldFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman undertook an official visit to Qatar from 27 to 29 September 2026.
  3. ReportNITI Aayog released the ninth edition of its 'Trade Watch Quarterly' report tracking India's trade performance.
  4. SchemeThe GST Council is considering allowing freight movement by metro trains, widening urban rail's scope.
  5. SchemeThe Centre directed captive coal-based power plants to maximise output amid surging electricity demand.
  6. ReportA government report pegs tourism's contribution to India's GDP at over 5%, supporting more than 8 crore jobs.
  7. ReportThe RBI periodically sets the Centre's Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit to manage temporary cash mismatches without fresh borrowing.
  8. ReportThe Lalit Kala Akademi announced its national art awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art.
  9. ReportA low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal triggered a Yellow Alert and heavy rain across several eastern and southern States.
  10. ReportBoeing has flagged a software glitch in the 737 MAX's automated flight-guidance system.
  11. ReportA parliamentary panel sought an explanation from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs over non-implementation of a reservation policy at the ICAI.
  12. ReportThe RBI conducted an Overnight Variable Rate Reverse Repo auction under its Liquidity Adjustment Facility.
  13. SchemeNMDC announced a project worth over Rs 5,400 crore in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh.
  14. SchemeThe Centre is planning a major aviation-infrastructure push in West Bengal.
  15. ReportBank employee unions deferred a proposed nationwide strike after reaching an understanding with the Indian Banks' Association.
  16. KarnatakaA report found 39 lakes in Bengaluru encroached upon by government agencies themselves.
  17. KarnatakaMysuru Dasara is celebrated as Karnataka's official state festival, or Nadahabba.
  18. KarnatakaBengaluru recorded unusually high temperatures through September 2026, continuing an unseasonal heat trend for the city.
  19. KarnatakaTravel operators sought a tax waiver for out-of-State tourist vehicles entering Karnataka during the Mysuru Dasara season.
  20. KarnatakaGanesh idol immersion procedures in Belagavi, Karnataka, reportedly extended over 42 hours this year.

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PYQ connections · weekly & monthly tests · past editions

🔁 Today's PYQ connections (2)

Karnataka renews objection to Western Ghats ESA draft
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · KPSC 2024

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the K. Kasturirangan Committee? a) The Committee was set up in 2022. b) It was set up to study the st…

NITI Aayog releases 2nd India Electric Mobility Index
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · KPSC 2021

"Utkarsh 2022", seen in news recently, refers to:

🏆 WEEKLY

Weekly Current Affairs Challenge

50 questions · UPSC Prelims pattern · ⏱ 30 minutes

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📅 MONTHLY

Monthly Current Affairs Grand Test

100 questions · topic-wise performance · weak-area revision plan

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