Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 15 September, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz | NABARD Grade A & RBI Grade B | Economy, Banking & Agriculture

Daily Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A and RBI Grade B 2026 covering the most important developments in Indian Economy, Banking, RBI, Agriculture, Rural Development, Government Schemes, Financial Markets, Reports & Indices, International Relations, Environment and Science & Technology.

NABARD Current Affairs

Agriculture Current Affairs in News

1. Grow Indigo Pays Farmers for Agricultural Carbon Credits

Source: Business Standard

Context

Agri-tech startup Grow Indigo has paid around 2,500 farmers ₹3,000–₹15,000 each for more than 57,000 agricultural carbon credits. The company made the payment from its own funds, even though the carbon credits have not yet been completely sold to buyers.

Key Highlights

Direct-Seeded Rice

• Many carbon credits were generated through Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) instead of traditional rice transplantation.
• DSR: Rice seeds are directly sown in the field, avoiding the need to first grow seedlings in a nursery and then transplant them.

DSR Can Reduce Methane Emissions

A study by CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV) and Savannah Seeds found that direct-seeded rice using SAVA-134 FullPage:

• Reduced methane emissions by nearly 90%.
• Improved water productivity.
• Improved soil health.
• Increased potential for carbon-credit generation.

Key Terms

• Carbon Credit: A tradable certificate representing the reduction or removal of a specified amount of greenhouse-gas emissions, generally 1 tonne of CO₂-equivalent.
• Agricultural Carbon Credit: Carbon credits generated through farming practices that reduce emissions or increase carbon storage.
• Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR): A method in which rice seeds are directly sown in the field instead of transplanting seedlings.
• Methane (CH₄): A powerful greenhouse gas produced in large quantities in flooded rice fields.
• Carbon Market: A market where carbon credits are generated, bought and sold.
• Water Productivity: The amount of agricultural output produced per unit of water used.

2. Grass Mache Technique

Source: New Indian Express

Context
A Srinagar artisan developed the Grass Mache technique, converting aquatic weeds and grasses removed from Dal Lake into decorative and utility products.

What It Is

• An innovative craft technique using discarded aquatic weeds and grasses from Dal Lake as raw material
• Adapts techniques from Kashmir’s centuries-old papier-mâché tradition
• Creating sustainable products from biological waste

How It Works

• Dried weeds are processed into a fine fibrous pulp
• Mixed with suitable materials
• Moulded into shapes and dried
• Producing a natural, stone-like texture

Important Facts for Exams

• Grass Mache — craft technique using Dal Lake aquatic weeds, adapted from papier-mâché
• Dal Lake, Srinagar — an urban lake suffering from eutrophication, encroachment and weed infestation
• Main invasive weeds in Dal Lake: Azolla, Salvinia, water hyacinth and Ceratophyllum
• Eutrophication — nutrient enrichment causing excessive weed and algal growth, depleting dissolved oxygen
• Dal Lake is managed by the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), formerly LAWDA
• Kashmiri papier-mâché holds a GI tag; other J&K GIs include Kashmir Pashmina, Kashmir Saffron, Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving and Basohli Painting
• Wular Lake in J&K is a Ramsar Site; Hokersar, Surinsar-Mansar and Tsomoriri are others in the region
• Related concept: circular economy — converting waste streams into inputs

3. Moth Bean

Source: PIB

Context
Four newly developed moth bean varieties — CAZRI Moth-4, 5, 6 and 7 — by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur demonstrated remarkable field-level resilience during an El Niño year in Kharif 2026.

What It Is

• Vigna aconitifolia — also called mat bean, Turkish gram or dew bean
• An extremely drought-hardy, herbaceous, short-day annual legume of the family Fabaceae
• Recognised as one of the most resilient pulse crops of the hot arid and semi-arid zones of South Asia

Habitat and Growing Conditions

• Native to South Asia; cultivated in hot, rainfed, marginal desert tracts
• Most extensively in the Thar Desert region of western Rajasthan, and parts of Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab
• Thrives in extremely low and erratic rainfall, poor sandy soils with low organic carbon and fertility, and ambient temperatures exceeding 40°C

Important Facts for Exams

• Vigna aconitifolia — moth bean, mat bean, Turkish gram, dew bean; family Fabaceae
• A short-day annual legume; among the most drought-tolerant pulses
• Grown mainly in the Thar Desert, western Rajasthan; also Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab
• Regional rainfall 150–250 mm; normal dry spells of 20–30 days
• Varieties CAZRI Moth-4, 5, 6 and 7 survived a 35-day dry spell (3 August – 7 September 2026)
• “Pala” — the dry fodder from moth bean, valued for desert livestock
• Rhizobium symbiosis fixes atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules
• Other Vigna pulses: moong (V. radiata), urad (V. mungo), cowpea (V. unguiculata)
• ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur — the nodal institute for arid zone research
• India is the world’s largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses

4. Ophiopogon japonicus Recorded for the First Time in India

• Ophiopogon japonicus, an evergreen perennial herb, was recorded for the first time in India from West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• It belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is commonly known as dwarf lilyturf or mondo grass.
• The species is mainly found in China, Japan and Korea, generally at elevations of 200–2,800 metres.
• Its roots, known as Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), are used in traditional East Asian medicine.

Schemes in News

1. PM Matsya Sampada Yojana Completes Six Years

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) completed six years on 10 September 2026.
• Launched in 2020 with an outlay of ₹20,050 crore, it aims to promote sustainable and responsible fisheries development.
• The scheme was initially planned for FY2020–21 to FY2024–25 and was later extended through FY2025–26.
• It is implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and has Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Scheme components.

2. Chhattisgarh CM Startup and NIPUN Mission

• The Chhattisgarh Cabinet approved the CM Startup and New-Age Industry Preparedness through Up-skilling of New Generation Youth (NIPUN) Mission with an outlay of ₹500 crore for five years.
• It will establish Entrepreneurship Development Centres in all 33 districts.
• The mission will create 5 Centres of Excellence and 100 Emerging Technology Labs covering AI, Internet of Things, Big Data and Blockchain.
• The NIPUN Job Engine will connect trained youth with industrial employment opportunities.

RBI Current Affairs

Banking and Finance

1. India’s Forex Reserves Reach Record $785.7 Billion

• India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by a record $44.9 billion in the week ended 4 September 2026.
• Total reserves reached $785.7 billion, making India the fourth-largest holder of forex reserves globally, according to the source.
• Reserves have increased by more than $100 billion since 5 June, when the concessional swap scheme was announced.
• FCNR(B) flows reached about $127 billion, higher than expected.

2. Global Fintech Fest 2026

• The 7th Global Fintech Fest (GFF 2026) was held in Mumbai from 8–11 September 2026.
• Theme: “Potential to Impact: Agentic AI | Tokenisation | Quantum: Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance.”
• The Unified Fintech Forum (UFF) was recognised by RBI as the second Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for the fintech sector.
• RBI also expanded Bharat Connect forex services to include EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF and AED, while SEBI launched the Demat 2.0 pilot for corporate bond tokenisation using Distributed Ledger Technology.

RBI and NABARD Current Affairs

1. World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026

Source: News on Air

Context
India will host the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 15 to 18 September 2026.

What It Is

• The world’s premier global platform for advancing the transition from a linear “take-make-waste” model to a regenerative circular economy
• Through cross-sectoral collaboration, policy development and business innovation

The 2026 Edition

• Host: Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Theme: “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity”
• The 10th milestone edition of WCEF
• Its debut in the South Asian region

Background

• Created in 2017 on the initiative of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
• To mark the centenary of Finland’s independence and foster global circular business solutions

Aim

• Accelerate market transformation
• Foster international partnerships with the Global South
• Mobilise private-sector capital and circular finance
• Demonstrate scalable solutions reconciling economic prosperity with planetary boundaries

Economy in News

1. CSL–Drydocks World 50:50 Joint Venture

• Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and UAE-based Drydocks World (DDW) signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement to expand the International Ship Repair Facility in Kochi, Kerala.
• Both partners will invest ₹900 crore each, giving a total investment of ₹1,800 crore.
• The partnership combines CSL’s shipbuilding and repair expertise with Drydocks World’s global capabilities in vessel repair, maintenance, conversion and offshore EPC services.
• CSL is a Miniratna enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

2. Tata Steel Commissions COG Injection Project in Odisha

• Tata Steel commissioned India’s first Coke Oven Gas (COG) Injection Project at Blast Furnace 1 of its Meramandali plant in Odisha.
• COG is a hydrogen-rich by-product of coke production and contains more than 55% hydrogen.
• The purified gas is injected into blast furnaces through tuyeres, reducing dependence on carbon-based reducing agents.
• The project aims to reduce fossil-fuel consumption and carbon emissions and support Tata Steel’s Net Zero target for 2045.

Social Issue in News

1. Rajnath Singh’s Visit to Sri Lanka

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Sri Lanka from 8–10 September 2026 to strengthen defence and maritime security cooperation.
• It was the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in nearly 40 years.
• India and Sri Lanka virtually inaugurated three Bailey Bridges constructed by Indian Defence Forces.
• The two countries signed three MoUs covering air-defence capability, military education and youth cooperation.

Misc GA in News

1. NIXI–APNIC MoU on Internet Infrastructure

• National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) signed an MoU on 8 September 2026 in Mumbai.
• The partnership focuses on internet security, technical training, capacity building and network resilience.
• It supports Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) for more secure internet routing and encourages wider adoption of IPv6.
• APNIC 62 marked the conference’s return to India after 14 years.

2. International Space Summit 2026

• The inaugural International Space Summit 2026 was held in Paris on 9–10 September 2026.
• It brought together representatives from nearly 90 countries to discuss space cooperation, exploration and security.
• Around 51 announcements worth about €20 billion were made through investments, contracts and collaborations.
• India and France signed three agreements covering areas such as satellite launches, surveillance systems and microsatellite development.

3. India–Malaysia Maritime Exercise ‘Samudra Laksamana 2026’

• The 4th edition of the India–Malaysia bilateral maritime exercise Samudra Laksamana was conducted at Lumut, Malaysia.
• It aims to improve maritime cooperation, interoperability and operational coordination.
• The exercise included a Harbour Phase with professional discussions and exchanges, followed by a Sea Phase involving joint maritime activities and training.
• The Malaysian Navy participated with KD Lekir and KD Gagah Sam.

4. Eknath Shinde Receives Three International Awards

• Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde received three international awards during his London visit from 9–11 September 2026.
• The awards included the Commonwealth Public Leadership Recognition and Statesmanship Award for Transformative Leadership.
• He also received the Global Pride of Maharashtra Award for promoting Marathi culture globally.
• The awards recognised his contributions to governance, infrastructure development and regional growth.

5. N. Purushothama Mallya Passes Away

• N. Purushothama Mallya, a noted educationist, writer and Konkani language activist, passed away at the age of 97.
• He received the Padma Shri in 2015 for Literature and Education.
• He contributed to Konkani literature and translated Thirukkural into Konkani.
• He also received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award in 2008.

6. World Suicide Prevention Day 2026

• World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on 10 September to raise awareness and reduce stigma around suicide.
• The 2024–26 theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, with the call to action “Start the Conversation.”
• The day was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with WHO.
• The first observance was held on 10 September 2003 in Stockholm, Sweden.

7. National Forest Martyrs Day 2026

• National Forest Martyrs Day is observed in India on 11 September to honour people who lost their lives protecting forests and wildlife.
• The day commemorates the Khejarli Massacre of 1730 in Rajasthan.
• The observance was designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2013.
• The day is commemorated at the National Forest Martyrs Memorial in Dehradun.

8. International Day for South-South Cooperation 2026

• The International Day for South-South Cooperation is observed annually on 12 September.
• The 2026 theme is “Solidarity Rising: Global Alliance for Inclusive and Innovative Development.”
• It promotes cooperation among developing countries in economic, social, cultural, technical and political fields.
• The date commemorates the 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) on technical cooperation among developing countries.