• The 2026 southwest monsoon ended with rainfall at 87% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
• India received about 759.4 mm of rainfall against the LPA of 868.6 mm.
• The 13% deficit was the largest in more than a decade, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• A strong El Niño in the Pacific was one of the factors associated with the deficient monsoon.

• The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25, released by MoSPI, reported 2.7 lakh factories and 1.67 crore workers.
• The average wage per factory worker increased 5.3% to ₹2.28 lakh.
• Jharkhand recorded a 5.2% fall in average wages, although its average wage of ₹3.04 lakh remained above the national average.
• Bihar recorded a 16.7% increase in average wages to ₹1.63 lakh.

RBI Current Affairs

• SEBI approved changes to the Portfolio Management Services (PMS) regulatory framework.
• PMS providers will be allowed to invest client funds in direct mutual fund schemes and Specialised Investment Funds (SIFs) under the proposed framework.
• PMS can also invest up to 10% of client AUM in investment-grade unlisted debt, subject to conditions and client consent.
• SEBI also approved changes to settlement proceedings, including formula-based settlement amounts and a fast-track mechanism for certain violations.

• India’s net FDI increased to US$7.35 billion in July 2026, the highest since May 2021.
• Gross FDI inflows stood at US$14.58 billion during July.
• Major sectors receiving equity inflows included communication, financial services and computer services.
• During April–July 2026, net FDI reached US$13.4 billion, compared with US$9.7 billion a year earlier.

• Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd. (SMFCL) launched India’s first blue bond.
• It aims to raise ₹600 crore, with a ₹500 crore green-shoe option.
• The 10-year bond will support maritime lending, greenfield ports and coastal road projects.
• Blue bonds are debt instruments used to finance projects linked to marine and water-related sustainability.

• IndusInd Bank launched a dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) Banking vertical.
• It combines digital banking, employee banking, commercial cards, FEMA/capital-account solutions and foreign-currency banking.
• Its International Banking Unit at GIFT City will support cross-border banking requirements.
• India’s GCC ecosystem has grown significantly, with 2,117 GCCs reported in the supplied data.

Context
SPIR 2026 was released, based on a 16-state survey of 8,306 citizens — mapping cybercrime exposure, vulnerability patterns and police redressal mechanisms.

What It Is

• An empirical multi-state study of the everyday interface between citizens and the police
• Tracking the lifecycle of cyber frauds — from digital exposure and victimisation to formal reporting and financial recovery
• Published jointly by Lokniti–CSDS and Common Cause

Key Findings

• Cybercrime increased sharply: Cybercrime cases rose 17.9%, from 86,420 in 2023 to 1,01,928 in 2024, while overall registered crime fell by about 6%.
• High exposure to scams:
  • 33% received calls about unordered deliveries.
  • 31% encountered high-return investment scams.
  • 27% received calls from fake bank officials seeking account details.
• More internet use, more exposure: 46% of high internet users reported moderate-to-high scam exposure, compared with 19% among non-internet users.
• Cybercrime victims: Around 13% of respondents had directly experienced cybercrime in the previous 2–3 years. Among them, 54% faced financial fraud, and 23% lost more than ₹20,000.
• Higher-income and educated groups also targeted: Financial fraud affected 57% of affluent victims compared with 47% of poor victims. Among education groups, 59% of graduates were targeted compared with 40% of non-literate citizens.
• Low police reporting: Only 49% of victims filed a formal police complaint, while 39% did not complain and 9% discontinued the process after the first visit.
• Bribery and recovery: 27% of complainants reported paying a bribe. Among those who paid, 41% recovered their full loss, compared with 12% among those who did not pay. This is a survey finding showing an association, not proof that bribery causes better recovery.
• Greater burden on poorer victims: 51% of poor victims reported paying a bribe, compared with 12% of affluent victims. 55% of poor victims relied on informal influence networks to advance their cases.

Important Facts for Exams

• Cybercrime: Crime committed using computers, mobile phones, networks or the internet.
• Social Engineering: Manipulating people psychologically to obtain money, passwords or sensitive information.
• Cyber Fraud: Using digital technologies to deceive people and illegally obtain money or information.
• CFCFRMS: System designed to coordinate rapid action to freeze funds lost through cyber financial fraud.
• I4C: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which coordinates India’s cybercrime response.
• CEIR: Central Equipment Identity Register, used to track and block lost or stolen mobile phones.
• ASTR: Technology used to identify suspicious or fraudulent mobile connections.
• Procedural Fatigue: Discouragement or withdrawal caused by lengthy, complicated or repeated official procedures.

Context
A new global demographics report by Moody’s Ratings underscores a structural shift — more than 70 per cent of the world’s population now lives in countries with fertility at or below replacement rate.

Key Highlights

• Global ageing: Over 70% of the world’s population lives in countries with fertility at or below replacement level. Global fertility fell from 4.9 (1950) to about 2.2.
• India’s ageing: India entered the “ageing” category around 2024, with 65+ population crossing 7%. It may become “aged” (14%) by 2049 and “super-aged” (21%) by 2065.
• Demographic dividend: About 68% of Indians were aged 15–64 in 2025, but the working-age share is expected to decline after 2030.
• Economic opportunity: Demographic change contributed about 1.9 percentage points annually to India’s growth during 1981–2021.
• Women’s employment: Female labour-force participation is around 32%. Raising it to 50% could add about 1 percentage point annually to GDP growth, according to the World Bank estimate cited.
• Elderly population: Indians aged 60+ are projected to rise from 153 million (2022) to 347 million (2050).
• Policy challenge: India needs more jobs, skills and female employment while preparing for higher demand for pensions, healthcare, geriatric care and senior housing.

Key Terms

• Demographic Dividend: Economic growth potential created when the working-age population becomes larger relative to dependants.
• Replacement-Level Fertility: Fertility rate needed to maintain a broadly stable population; generally around 2.1 children per woman.
• Working-Age Population: Usually the population aged 15–64 years.
• Ageing Population: A population in which the share of older people is increasing significantly.
• Super-Aged Society: A society where 21% or more of the population is aged 65 or above.
• Silver Economy: Economic activities and markets related to the needs of older people.
• Female Labour-Force Participation Rate (FLFPR): Share of working-age women who are employed or actively seeking employment.

• A US Department of State report assessed India’s investment environment and highlighted issues related to foreign-investment restrictions and regulatory practices.
• The report noted that India permits 100% FDI in many sectors, while some sectors still require government approval.
• These include areas such as multi-brand retail, private banking, pharmaceuticals, defence, media and satellites.
• These are claims and assessments of the US report, rather than an independent conclusion.

• The government notified the third phase of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE-III) norms.
• The norms will apply from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032.
• They tighten fleet-level fuel-efficiency requirements and provide incentives for EVs, hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles and other cleaner technologies.
• Under the framework, a battery electric vehicle counts as three vehicles for the fleet-efficiency calculation.

• The Union Cabinet approved Green Energy Corridor Phase III with an outlay of over ₹1.86 lakh crore.
• It aims to integrate up to 135 GW of renewable energy into the electricity grid by FY2032–33.
• Around ₹1.36 lakh crore is allocated for intra-state transmission systems.
• A dedicated ₹50,000 crore component will support 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

• India participated in the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation and the 14th East Asia Summit–Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Manila.
• Discussions covered trade, investment, energy security, industrial clusters and regional economic cooperation.
• India called for a balanced and trade-facilitative review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
• India-ASEAN trade reached US$128.38 billion in 2025–26.

• HAL and SkyPulse Solutions IFSC signed an MoU for a proposed ₹2,491 crore helicopter programme.
• The programme covers 30 HAL-manufactured helicopters, with 10 planned during 2027–29 and 20 from 2030 onwards.
• Applications include emergency medical services, disaster response, search and rescue, tourism and UDAN.
• The programme also covers leasing, financing, MRO, training and engineering support.

• India International Water Week 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 22–26 September.
• The theme was “Climate Resilient Water Management.”
• Participants from around 150 countries discussed sustainable and technology-driven water management.
• The event also promoted South-South cooperation and progress towards SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.

• The Seva First Innovation Challenge (SFIC) was launched to encourage young people to develop solutions to community problems.
• It has three levels: Junior, Technical and Open for school students, ITI/polytechnic students, and higher-education/research participants.
• Key themes include sustainable development, farmers, health, education and security.
• The challenge is being organised by the Ministry of Education, AICTE and UGC, with IISc Bengaluru as a nodal institution.

• ECINET, launched by the Election Commission in 2026, is a unified digital platform integrating more than 40 election-related portals and applications.
• It provides services relating to electoral rolls, candidates, political parties and polling information.
• The issue discussed in the supplied article concerns the balance between centralised software systems and the statutory role of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
• The Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer sought changes to preserve ERO discretion in handling voter-data discrepancies.

• Sunil Kumar won bronze in the men’s 87 kg Greco-Roman wrestling event.
• He defeated the Philippines’ Roberts Callum Johnston 9–0 by technical superiority.
• He had earlier lost his semifinal 0–11 to Japan’s Taizo Yoshida.
• This became his second Asian Games medal, making him the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to achieve this.

• Lovlina Borgohain reached the women’s 75 kg boxing final.
• She defeated Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova 3–2 in the semifinal.
• She became the first Indian woman boxer to reach back-to-back Asian Games finals.
• Priya Ghanghas and Kapil Pokhariya won bronze medals.

• India defeated South Korea 2–0 to reach the women’s hockey final.
• Ishika Chaudhary and Salima Tete scored for India.
• India dominated possession but struggled to convert penalty corners during the early stages.
• The result put India one step away from reclaiming the Asian Games women’s hockey gold.

• The Sanskrit verse highlights six qualities: diligence, courage, patience, wisdom, strength and valour.
• The verse conveys that human effort and ability are important for achieving success.
• It links wisdom and courage with effective action.
• The message combines the ideas of human effort and destiny.

• Singapore Airlines was named the World’s Best Airline in the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards.
• Qatar Airways ranked second and Cathay Pacific third.
• Air India was the highest-ranked Indian airline at 57th globally.
• IndiGo ranked 61st and was recognised as the Best Low-Cost Airline in India & South Asia.

• Indian spacetech company TakeMe2Space plans to launch India’s first networked orbital data-centre mission in 2028.
• Two satellites of about 100 kg each are planned for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
• Each satellite is planned to carry NVIDIA Thor GPUs, 100 TB storage and 1.5 kW power.
• The project aims to enable in-orbit computing and data processing across satellites.

• Indian-origin British chess player Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) at age 11.
• She secured her third and final WGM norm at the 46th Chess Olympiad.
• She represented England at the Olympiad in Samarkand.
• She also became one of the youngest players to achieve major international chess milestones.

• V.S. Rathanvel of Tamil Nadu became India’s 99th Grandmaster.
• He crossed the required 2,500 Elo rating.
• The achievement came during the 3rd Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026.
• The milestone added another Indian player to the country’s growing pool of chess Grandmasters.

• World Contraception Day is observed on 26 September.
• The 2026 theme was “No Barriers, Just Choices.”
• It promotes awareness of contraceptive methods and informed reproductive-health choices.
• The first observance was held in 2007.

• Observed annually on 26 September.
• It promotes awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament.
• The UN General Assembly designated the day through Resolution A/RES/68/32 in 2013.
• The first observance took place in 2014.

• Observed on 26 September every year.
• The 2026 theme was “Environmental Health: Standing with Science to Protect Communities.”
• It highlights the role of environmental health professionals in public health and community protection.
• The observance is coordinated by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH).

• Delhi launched the ‘Udyog Mitra’ portal under the Ease of Doing Business initiative.
• It provides a single-window platform for business licences and NOCs.
• The portal initially integrates 50+ services from 15 departments, with plans for further expansion.
• It includes features such as Single Sign-On, Common Application Form, Know Your Approvals and application tracking.