Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 25&26 September, 2026

Context
India was ranked first in business climate among 41 global markets in the Global Business Climate Survey 2026, reflecting strong confidence among Swedish companies operating in India.

What the Survey Is

• An annual international benchmark capturing the operational perspectives, performance, profitability and expansion plans of Swedish multinational corporations operating in key global markets
• First instituted in 2020; the 2026 edition is the largest to date

Who Conducts It

• Business Sweden
• The Swedish Chambers of Commerce (SCI)
• Swedish embassies and consulates
• In partnership with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in India (SCCI)

Aim

• Provide a comparative framework tracking macroeconomic conditions, regulatory hurdles, ease of doing business and forward-looking investment sentiment for Swedish enterprises abroad

The Top Three

• India — first
• Ireland — second
• Vietnam — third

Standing out for economic momentum, political stability and high investor confidence.

India’s Performance

• Ranked No. 1 overall in business climate favourability
• In the global top three for four consecutive years
• 73 per cent of surveyed Swedish companies rated India’s operating climate good or very good
• Along with the Philippines and Poland, India recorded the highest market-level revenue and growth projections

Global Findings

• Despite geopolitical shocks, 64 per cent of Swedish companies globally reported profitability
• 80 per cent maintained a neutral or positive operational outlook
• About 44 per cent plan to scale up investments over the next 12 months
• Asia-Pacific leads capital allocation, ahead of Europe and the Americas
• Winning strategy identified: cost discipline, sharp sales execution and integration into local domestic supply chains

Context
Rampant destruction of Neelakurinji blooms across unprotected hill ranges in Munnar — including Lakshmi Hills and Chinnakkanal — triggered serious concern among Kerala Forest Department officials.

What It Is

• A purplish-blue flowering shrub of the genus Strobilanthes, family Acanthaceae
• The most famous species is Strobilanthes kunthiana
• Renowned for synchronised mass gregarious flowering every 12 years

Habitat and Distribution

• Exclusively adapted to montane shola-grassland ecosystems of peninsular India
• Typically at 1,000 to 2,500 metres above sea level
• Kerala — Munnar, Eravikulam National Park
• Tamil Nadu — Nilgiri Hills, Palani Hills
• Karnataka — Mandalpatti (Kodagu), Baba Budangiri and Mullayanagiri (Chikkamagaluru)
• Kurinjimala Sanctuary was notified by Kerala specifically to protect its habitat

Key Characteristics

• Plietesial lifecycle and mast seeding — flowers synchronously after long vegetative cycles of 3 to 16 years (12 years for S. kunthiana), sets seed and dies
• Shrub morphology — erect, 0.5 to 3 metres; some species up to 8 metres; opposite, stalked leaves containing mineral deposits called cystoliths
• Tubular hooded inflorescence — two-lipped flowers in dense spikes or panicles, in purplish-blue, violet and pale pink
• Pollination and honey — mass flowering attracts Indian honeybees and giant rock bees, producing Kurinjithen, a dark honey valued for medicinal properties
• Statutory protection — S. kunthiana is listed under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; unlawful collection or destruction may attract imprisonment and fines

Important Facts for Exams

• Strobilanthes kunthiana, family Acanthaceae; blooms once in 12 years
• Genus: about 450 species globally, 160+ in India, 72+ endemic to the Western Ghats
• Kurinjimala Sanctuary (Kerala) protects its habitat; Eravikulam National Park is the other key site
• The Nilgiris (“blue mountains”) are named after it
• Added to Schedule III, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2024
• Plietesial — grows vegetatively for years, flowers en masse once, sets seed and dies
• Mast seeding — synchronous mass seed production, which overwhelms seed predators
• Cystolith — a calcium carbonate deposit in leaf cells, characteristic of Acanthaceae
• Kurinjithen — the honey produced from Neelakurinji nectar

Context
The RBI Bulletin’s “State of the Economy” report said the Indian economy has performed well despite global headwinds, while noting that the escalation in West Asia this month caused a sharp rise in oil prices, reviving fears of inflationary pressure and supply chain disruption.

Key Highlights

• GDP Growth: India’s economy recorded strong growth in Q1 2026–27.
• Global Risks: Geopolitical tensions, higher crude oil prices and weather uncertainty remain key risks.
• FCNR(B) Deposits: Banks mobilised about $13.3 billion through FCNR(B) deposits, supporting liquidity and the rupee initially.
• Bank Deposits: Bank deposits recorded their fastest growth in 15 years in August.
• FDI: Net FDI rose 64% to $7.3 billion in July 2026.
• Major FDI Sectors: Communication, financial services and computer services.
• Major FDI Sources: Mauritius, UAE and the USA.

Important Facts for Exams

• FCNR(B): Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits held by eligible NRIs in foreign currencies.
• FDI: Investment by a foreign entity in a business in another country.
• Global Headwinds: Global conditions that create challenges for economic growth.
• Top source countries: Mauritius, UAE, US — about 70 per cent of equity inflows
• Top sectors: communication, financial and computer services — over four-fifths
• Net FDI = gross inflows − repatriation/disinvestment − outward FDI by Indian firms
• Mauritius dominates as a source because of tax treaty and routing history — the recorded source is often not the true origin of funds
• FDI is a non-debt creating inflow; FCNR(B) deposits are debt-creating

Context
The RBI’s Survey on Computer Software and Information Technology Enabled Services Exports: 2025-26 showed India’s software services exports rose 8.2 per cent year-on-year to $221.4 billion.

Key Figures

Important Facts for Exams

• Software services exports: $221.4 billion in 2025-26, up 8.2 per cent
• US 54.1 per cent; Europe 31.8 per cent; UK 15.4 per cent of the total
• Survey conducted annually by the RBI
• ITES — Information Technology Enabled Services, covering BPO, KPO, call centres and back-office work
• Software and IT services are India’s largest services export, and the main reason India runs a services trade surplus against a merchandise trade deficit
• This surplus, with remittances, keeps India’s current account deficit low — about 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2024-25
• India is the world’s largest remittance recipient, and the top exporter of digitally delivered services among developing economies

• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited changed its name to ICICI Life Insurance Limited from 22 September 2026.
• The change followed approval from the Registrar of Companies (RoC).
• The change is linked to the restructuring of Prudential plc’s role in the Indian insurance business.
• The company will undertake the required regulatory compliances with IRDAI.

• TBX, formerly TransBnk, launched B2B bill payments on its TrustHub platform through Bharat Connect for Business.
• Businesses can discover invoices, make payments and track transactions on one interoperable platform.
• IDFC FIRST Bank will act as the Sponsor Operating Unit.
• The service is useful for sectors such as manufacturing, retail, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automotive and education.

• IRDAI proposed lower Expense of Management (EoM) limits and product- and channel-specific commission caps for insurance distributors.
• Separate limits are proposed for individual and corporate distributors, with higher limits for individuals.
• Proposed commission caps include 30% for term insurance and 20% for health insurance for individual distributors.
• The changes may lead banks to reassess the insurance products they sell through their branches.

• RBI issued the RBI (Commercial Banks – Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk) Directions, 2026 under Basel III.
• The new market-risk capital framework will apply from 1 April 2027 and incorporates the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB) framework.
• RBI also eased KYC requirements for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) from 18 September 2026, allowing specified documents to be certified by authorised authorities outside India.
• Market risk refers to possible losses due to changes in interest rates, equity prices, exchange rates and commodity prices.

• RBI cancelled the Certificates of Registration (CoRs) of five NBFCs and accepted the surrender of licences by eight others during 4–31 August 2026.
• The five cancellations were Dar’s Financial Services, Rolta Holding and Finance Corporation, Vasudeo Securities, Parsoli Corporation and A C Choksi Financial Services.
• The action was taken under Section 45-IA(6) of the RBI Act, 1934.
• Among the surrendered licences, some entities exited the NBFC business, while others were merged/dissolved or reclassified as entities not requiring NBFC registration.

Context
A coalition of Opposition parties announced plans to submit notices of motion in both Houses of Parliament seeking the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Key Highlights

• Article 324(5): The CEC can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court Judge.
• Grounds: Removal is possible only for proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
• Other Election Commissioners: They can be removed by the President only on the recommendation of the CEC.
• Notice: Requires at least 100 Lok Sabha MPs or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs.
• Inquiry Committee:
  1. Supreme Court Judge
  2. Chief Justice of a High Court
  3. Distinguished jurist
• Parliamentary approval: The motion must pass in both Houses by a special majority:
  • Majority of the total membership of the House, and
  • At least two-thirds of members present and voting.
• Final step: After Parliament passes the address, it is presented to the President, who issues the removal order.
• Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968: Provides the framework for the inquiry process.

Important Facts for Exams

• Article 324(5) — CEC removal only like a Supreme Court judge; ECs only on the CEC’s recommendation
• Article 124(4) — grounds: proved misbehaviour or incapacity; requires a special majority
• Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 governs the inquiry
• Special majority under Article 124(4) — majority of total membership plus two-thirds of those present and voting
• No CEC has ever been removed; no Supreme Court or High Court judge has ever been removed by this route either — Justice V. Ramaswami (1993) came closest, when the motion failed for want of the required majority in the Lok Sabha
• The weaker protection for ECs — removable on the CEC’s recommendation — has long been criticised, and was noted in Anoop Baranwal (2023)
• Tenure: six years or age 65, whichever is earlier; no reappointment

Context
UN Women and UN DESA released “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2026” on 17 September 2026 — drawing on more than 100 data sources to track progress for women and girls across all 17 SDGs.

Key Highlights

• Gender Institutions: Around 1 in 3 gender-equality institutions have been weakened; 1 in 4 faced budget cuts.
• Funding: Between 2023–24, bilateral aid for gender equality fell 13%, while funding for women’s rights organisations fell 28%.
• UN Efforts: 42% of UN entities reported weakened gender-equality efforts due to funding cuts.
• Political Representation:
  • 6 in 7 countries are led by men.
  • Nearly 90% of defence ministers are men.
  • More than 80% of finance ministers are men.
• National Parliaments: Women’s representation increased from 22.3% (2015) to 27.4% (2026).
• Local Government: Women hold 35.6% of positions, with little change since 2023.

India-Specific Facts

• Global Gender Gap Index 2026: India ranked 131st, with 64.5% parity.
• Lok Sabha: Women constitute about 14% of members.
• Women’s Reservation: The 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, subject to delimitation following the relevant census.
• Panchayats: At least one-third of seats are reserved for women under Articles 243D and 243T; some states provide 50% reservation.
• Female Labour Force Participation Rate: 41.7% in 2023–24.

Key Terms

• SDG 5: Gender Equality — aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• UN Women: UN entity dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment, established in 2010.
• UN DESA: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, involved in monitoring and reporting on the SDGs.

• The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is also called the Indian Rhinoceros.
• Assam contains nearly 80% of the global population of this species.
• In India, it is mainly found in Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• It is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.

• The Planetary Health Check 2026 reported that 7 of the 9 planetary boundaries have crossed their safe operating limits.
• The assessment was released by the Planetary Boundaries Science Lab at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
• The seven transgressed boundaries include climate change, biosphere integrity, biogeochemical flows, novel entities, land-system change, freshwater change and ocean acidification.
• The planetary boundaries framework defines a safe operating space for humanity.

• The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on whether challenges to the Act should be heard by a five-judge Constitution Bench; the matter has been referred accordingly.
• The Act provides the statutory framework for the appointment, qualifications, service conditions and tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
• It replaced the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.
• The Anoop Baranwal judgment (2023) had provided an interim selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India until Parliament made a law.

• The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 was held from 15–18 September 2026 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• India became the first South Asian country to host the WCEF.
• The theme was “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”
• The forum focused on resource efficiency, reuse, recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and sustainable production and consumption.

• The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹586 crore Make-II contract with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited for 3,257 Auxiliary Power Units (APUs).
• The order covers 1,657 APUs for T-90 tanks and 1,600 for T-72 tanks.
• APUs provide electrical power to critical systems when the tank’s main engine is switched off.
• The project supports indigenisation and Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

• Nibe Limited and France’s Naval Group signed an MoU for cooperation in naval shipbuilding and defence technologies.
• Areas include underwater drones, submarine systems, mine-countermeasure vessels and autonomous systems.
• The partnership also covers modular naval launching systems and maintenance.
• It aims to strengthen India’s domestic naval technology capabilities and India-France defence cooperation.

• Yugan Sakthivel Muthukumar, a 15-year-old shooter from Tamil Nadu, won gold in the junior men’s trap event.
• The competition was held in Porpetto, Italy.
• He scored 27 hits out of 30 in the final.
• The achievement highlights India’s performance in junior international shooting.

• Indian opener Shafali Verma moved up two places to fourth in the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings.
• The rise followed her maiden T20I century at the women’s cricket competition of the Asian Games.
• She is among India’s leading batters in the T20I format.

• Indian Army personnel Salman Khan won a bronze medal in rowing at the Asian Games.
• He had previously worked as a cab driver before joining the Army.
• Despite having been unable to swim earlier, he took up rowing and progressed to the international level.
• His achievement is an example of India’s growing participation in rowing at major multi-sport events.

• Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal won bronze in the mixed team skeet event at the Asian Games.
• It was India’s first-ever mixed team medal in skeet shooting at the Asian Games.
• Naruka had narrowly missed a mixed team bronze at the Paris Olympics.
• The medal came at the Aichi Prefectural Shooting Range in Japan.

• Pune, Maharashtra, will host the UCI Road World Championships 2032 for the first time in India.
• The bid was jointly led by the Government of Maharashtra and Cycling Federation of India.
• The championship is one of the major global events in competitive road cycling.
• The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the global governing body for cycling.

• England fast bowler Mark Wood announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 36.
• He made his Test, ODI and T20I debuts in 2015.
• He was part of England’s 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup winning teams.
• His career included 119 Test wickets, 80 ODI wickets and 54 T20I wickets.

• Veteran Malayalam theatre and film actress Savithri Sreedharan passed away in Kozhikode, Kerala.
• She began amateur theatre in 1961 and entered professional theatre in 1984.
• She appeared in films including Kadavu, Virus, Pada and Paappan.
• She received the Kerala State Theatre Actress Award and the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Drama.

• Italian football legend Sandro Mazzola, former Inter Milan captain and Italy international, died at the age of 83.
• He spent his entire 17-year club career with Inter Milan.
• He won 4 Serie A titles and 2 European Cups with Inter Milan.
• He was part of Italy’s 1968 European Championship-winning team and the 1970 FIFA World Cup finalist team.

• Alfred Tyrone Cooke, a former IAF fighter pilot and Vir Chakra awardee, passed away at the age of 87.
• During the 1965 India–Pakistan War, he shot down a Pakistani F-86 Sabre while flying a Hawker Hunter.
• He served with No. 14 Squadron, “The Fighting Bulls.”
• He received the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award.

• Business strategist Hirav Shah launched his business novel SAARATHI in Ahmedabad.
• The story follows a struggling fashion designer who receives strategic guidance to revive the business.
• The book focuses on business strategy, financial discipline, decision-making and sustainable growth.
• It was independently published and distributed through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

• Hurun India, in association with M3M India, released the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026.
• Gautam Adani and family topped the overall list with wealth of ₹9.23 lakh crore, followed by Mukesh Ambani and family with ₹8.63 lakh crore.
• Mumbai had the highest number of individuals on the list, followed by New Delhi and Bengaluru.
• AI emerged as a new sector in the list, with 19 individuals having combined wealth of about ₹3.07 lakh crore.

• VARUNA is the annual bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and French Navy.
• The 24th edition is being hosted at Toulon Naval Base, France, with INS Trishul representing India.
• The exercise began as India-France naval interactions in 1983 and was formally named VARUNA in 2001.
• Major activities include air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surface combat, tactical drills, replenishment and coordinated manoeuvres. Other major India-France exercises are Shakti (Army) and Garuda (Air Force).

• PLA is a bio-based and compostable thermoplastic produced by converting plant-based sugars into lactic acid, which is then polymerised.
• Feedstocks include sugarcane, molasses, corn starch and cassava, creating a potential waste-to-wealth model using agricultural resources.
• A 100 TPA pilot facility is being developed at Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh, to test the technology and develop specialised PLA grades.
• PLA can be used in packaging, agricultural films, textiles and medical sutures, offering an alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

• TRAI launched the Digital Connectivity Rating (DCR) platform and mobile app to assess digital connectivity inside buildings.
• It covers residential, commercial and government properties, helping buyers and tenants check a property’s digital connectivity before purchase or lease.
• The rating considers factors such as mobile coverage, fixed-line connectivity and Wi-Fi availability.
• The initiative addresses in-building signal loss and is linked to wider telecom infrastructure concepts such as In-Building Solutions (IBS) and small cells.

• International Red Panda Day is observed on the third Saturday of September.
• In 2026, it was observed on 19 September.
• The Red Panda Network launched the observance in 2010.
• The day aims to create awareness about the conservation of the endangered red panda.

• World Alzheimer’s Day is observed every year on 21 September.
• It raises awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
• 2026 Theme: “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.”
• It is part of World Alzheimer’s Month, observed throughout September.

• The International Day of Peace is observed annually on 21 September.
• The day promotes peace, non-violence and ceasefire among nations and peoples.
• 2026 Theme: “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”
• In 2001, the UN designated 21 September as a permanent annual International Day of Peace.