Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 30 September, 2026

Context
A sighting of the Afro-Asian Sand Snake was reported from Kutch, Gujarat — a species of India’s arid north-west.

What It Is

• Psammophis schokari — also called the Schokari Sand Racer, Forskål’s Sand Snake or Sind Sand Snake
• Family Psammophiidae (earlier placed under Lamprophiidae; often listed historically under Colubridae)
• First described by Forskål in 1775

Distribution

• Found across North Africa, West Asia, Central Asia and north-western India — hence the name “Afro-Asian”
• In India, recorded from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir
• One of about four Psammophis species recorded in India, alongside P. condanarus, P. leithii and P. longifrons

Conservation Status

• IUCN: Least Concern

Important Facts for Exams

• Psammophis schokari — Afro-Asian Sand Snake / Schokari Sand Racer; family Psammophiidae
• IUCN: Least Concern; described by Forskål, 1775
• Distribution: North Africa to Central Asia and north-western India; in India from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, HP and J&K
• Rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) — fangs at the back of the upper jaw; venom is delivered by chewing, and such snakes are generally not medically significant to humans
• India’s “Big Four” medically significant snakes: Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, common krait and spectacled cobra
• Kutch, Gujarat — India’s largest district, containing the Great and Little Rann of Kutch, a salt marsh ecosystem
• The Rann of Kutch is the world’s only breeding ground for Greater Flamingos in the region — Flamingo City

Context
India showcased its progress in forest and landscape restoration at the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) in Rome, Italy.

What COFO Is

• The highest statutory global intergovernmental body on forestry under the FAO
• An international forum for policy dialogue, intergovernmental collaboration and technical direction on forest ecosystems and landscape governance
• Meets biennially at FAO Headquarters, Rome
• Brings together 128 member countries, ministers, heads of national forest services and partner agencies
• Reports to the FAO Council on programme and budgetary matters, and to the FAO Conference on global policy

Important Facts for Exams

• COFO 28 — Rome; COFO is the highest FAO forestry body, meeting biennially, with 128 members
• Publishes the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) — biennial — and the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) — five-yearly
• India in FRA 2025: 9th in total forest area; 3rd in net annual gain; 82.74 mn ha, 25.17 per cent of geographical area
• India has 101 Ramsar Sites — the third-highest globally, after the UK and Mexico, and the most in Asia
• Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam — over 3.5 billion saplings planted
• Bonn Challenge — launched 2011 by Germany and IUCN; target 350 million hectares globally by 2030
• KMGBF — adopted at CBD COP15, 2022; includes the “30×30” target
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: 2021–2030
• FAO — headquartered at Rome, founded 1945

• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) was launched on 25 September 2014 under DAY-NRLM.
• It provides placement-linked skill training to rural youth from poor households, mainly in the 15–35 years age group.
• Since launch, over 18.47 lakh candidates have been trained and more than 12.43 lakh placed.
• DDU-GKY 2.0, notified in May 2025, increased the minimum placement duration from 3 months to 6 months and also covers wage, self-employment and gig employment.

• Arogya Manthan 2026 was organised by the National Health Authority (NHA) to mark 8 years of AB PM-JAY and 5 years of ABDM.
• New initiatives included the National Healthcare Providers Registry Mobile App, NHCX Implementation Guide and a Secure Data Environment framework.
• The event reviewed the progress of health assurance and digital health infrastructure in India.
• Several States and UTs were recognised for performance under AB PM-JAY and ABDM.

• India won gold in the women’s 4×400m relay with a timing of 3:29.69.
• The Indian team comprised Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj.
• Bahrain won silver and China won bronze.
• India reclaimed the Asian Games title after China had won the event in the previous edition.

• Exercise KAZIND-2026 is the 9th India–Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise.
• The exercise is being held at Oskemen, Kazakhstan.
• It focuses on interoperability and joint counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment.
• A 60-member Indian Armed Forces contingent is participating.

• India’s first port-based e-methanol production facility is being established at Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, Gujarat.
• The plant will use renewable power, water and biogenic CO₂ to produce e-methanol.
• Total planned capacity is 150 tonnes per day, with an estimated project cost of ₹2,300 crore.
• The project is being developed by Deendayal Port Authority and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd.

• India’s first Victim Rights Centre (VRC) was inaugurated at the Bihar State Legal Services Authority in Patna.
• It provides legal, medical, psychological and social assistance through a single-window system.
• It will maintain case records and track cases until relief is delivered.
• The centre particularly supports children, elderly victims, survivors of sexual offences and other vulnerable groups.

• CSIR-NIScPR launched five popular science magazines on the 85th Foundation Day of CSIR.
• The magazines cover Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.
• The initiative aims to make scientific knowledge accessible in Indian languages.
• A CSIR mascot, CSIR@85 postal stamp and Technology Compendium were also launched.

• TRAI launched the Digital Connectivity Rating (DCR) Platform for rating digital connectivity at properties.
• Users can search properties by name, location or certificate ID.
• Digitally signed certificates can be verified through QR codes.
• The platform connects property managers, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies and consumers.

• Indian scientists Roxy Mathew Koll and Neelima Satyam were among the 43 AGU 2026 awardees.
• Roxy Mathew Koll received the Pavel S. Molohanov Climate Communications Prize.
• Neelima Satyam received the Devendra Lal Memorial Medal.
• The awards recognise contributions to Earth and space sciences, climate research and scientific communication.

• India will host the 4th Junior & 11th Senior Asian Pencak Silat Championship 2027.
• The event will be held at Manohar Parrikar Stadium, Goa, from 19–23 April 2027.
• The championship has been endorsed by the International Pencak Silat Federation (PERSILAT).
• It will bring together junior and senior athletes from across Asia.

• World Maritime Day was observed on 24 September 2026.
• It is observed annually on the last Thursday of September under the leadership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
• The 2026 theme is “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.”
• The day highlights maritime safety, security, environmental protection and sustainable shipping.

• World Pharmacists Day is observed on 25 September every year.
• The 2026 theme is “Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures.”
• It is associated with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).
• The first World Pharmacists Day was observed in 2010.

• Antyodaya Diwas is observed on 25 September to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• 25 September 2026 marked his 110th birth anniversary.
• The Government declared 25 September as Antyodaya Diwas in 2014.
• On the first observance, Aajeevika Skills was relaunched as DDU-GKY.

Context
The rupee has been under sustained pressure, driven by a combination of external shocks, capital outflows and domestic macro imbalances — even as India’s growth and reserves remain strong.

Key Figures

• The rupee has depreciated about 8 per cent in real terms over the past year, per the REER
• It touched an all-time low near ₹97 per dollar in May 2026
• Forex reserves reached a record $785.7 billion in the week ended 4 September
• The RBI mobilised $136.37 billion through its concessional swap facility

Major Reasons Behind Rupee Depreciation

1. High Crude Oil Prices

• India imports over 85% of its crude oil.
• Brent crude crossed $100/barrel, nearing $110 amid West Asia tensions.
• Higher oil prices increase dollar demand and import costs, putting pressure on the rupee.
• Every $10 rise in crude prices may reduce India’s growth by about 44 basis points, according to Ind-Ra.

2. Foreign Capital Outflows

• Foreign investors selling Indian assets increase demand for foreign currency.
• FPI equity outflows: about $19 billion in 2025 and $25 billion in 2026.
• Around $13 billion flowed out in March 2026 alone.
• Net FDI: only about $0.4 billion in 2024-25, partly due to investment repatriation.

3. Narrower India-US Interest Rate Differential

• A smaller gap between Indian and US interest rates can reduce the attractiveness of rupee assets.
• US rates were around 3.75–4%, while US Treasury yields also increased.
• This can encourage investors to shift funds towards US assets, adding pressure on the rupee.

4. Structural Trade Deficit

• India imports more goods than it exports, creating a persistent merchandise trade deficit.
• Services exports and remittances partly offset this deficit.
• CAD was around 0.6% of GDP in 2024-25 but may widen towards 2% of GDP.
• Higher prices of energy, fertilisers and sulphur can further increase import costs.

Key Terms

• Rupee Depreciation: Fall in the value of the rupee against foreign currencies, especially the US dollar.
• FPI: Foreign Portfolio Investment in assets such as shares and bonds without controlling the company.
• FDI: Foreign Direct Investment involving long-term investment in a foreign business.
• Trade Deficit: When a country’s imports of goods exceed its exports.
• CAD: Current Account Deficit, when a country’s payments to the rest of the world exceed its receipts.
• Interest Rate Differential: Difference between interest rates of two countries.
• Terms of Trade: Ratio of a country’s export prices to import prices.
• Basis Point (bp): 1 bp = 0.01 percentage point; 100 bps = 1 percentage point.

• Nirmala Sitharaman launched the IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund-I, an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
• It is a joint initiative of Unicorn India Ventures, IIT Madras and IIT Madras Research Park.
• The fund raised ₹450 crore in its first close, against a target of ₹1,000 crore.
• It will provide ₹5–20 crore to early-stage startups, especially in the deep-tech sector.

• Dinesh Pant and Girija Subramanian assumed charge as Whole-Time Members of IRDAI.
• Pant has been appointed Whole-Time Member (Actuary) and previously served as MD of LIC.
• Subramanian has been appointed Whole-Time Member (Distribution) and previously served as CMD of New India Assurance.
• Their tenure is 5 years or until 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

Context
An Indian delegation led by a senior External Affairs Ministry official attended the SCO National Coordinators’ meeting in Islamabad — the first official Indian visit to Pakistan since Operation Sindoor. Pakistan announced it would host the SCO Summit in August 2027.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• Established: 15 June 2001, at Shanghai
• Founded by six countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
• Headquarters and Secretariat: Beijing, China
• RATS — Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• India and Pakistan joined: 2017
• Current full members: 10

The Ten Members

China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus

Main Areas of Cooperation

• Security — counter-terrorism, separatism and extremism, known as the “three evils”
• Economy — trade, investment and economic cooperation
• Connectivity — transport, infrastructure and regional connectivity
• Energy — cooperation in energy-related areas
• Culture and education — people-to-people cooperation

Important Facts for Exams

• SCO National Coordinators’ meeting, Islamabad; India represented by Joint Secretary Alok Dimri
• Pakistan to host the SCO Summit in August 2027; theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity”
• SCO founded 2001 in Shanghai, from the Shanghai Five; Secretariat at Beijing
• RATS — Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, headquartered at Tashkent
• India and Pakistan joined in 2017; Iran 2023; Belarus 2024 — making 10 members
• Türkiye is currently a Dialogue Partner and would need consensus among members for full membership — meaning India could block it
• The 26th SCO Summit was held at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

• Four major road infrastructure projects worth ₹1,941 crore were inaugurated in Delhi.
• The major project is Barapullah Phase-3, costing around ₹1,635 crore.
• The 3.5-km elevated stretch connects Mayur Vihar Phase-I with Sarai Kale Khan and extends signal-free connectivity towards South Delhi.
• Other projects include the Mukarba Chowk underpass, Modi Mill–Savitri Cinema flyover and Loni underpass.

• The Kandla e-methanol project supports India’s transition towards green maritime fuels.
• It will use renewable energy and biogenic CO₂, linking clean energy with low-carbon fuel production.
• The project has a planned capacity of 150 TPD and an estimated cost of ₹2,300 crore.
• It is being implemented by Deendayal Port Authority and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd.

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs signed MoUs with institutions including IISc, IIM Bangalore and IIT Madras.
• IIM Bangalore will undertake third-party monitoring of PM VIKAS training in the South zone.
• IIT Madras-CUBE will assess infrastructure quality and sustainability of PMJVK projects.
• The partnerships also support startups, incubation, skilling, research and entrepreneurship under the Prime Minister Minority Venture Fund.

• The first Victim Rights Centre provides integrated assistance through a single-window mechanism.
• It covers legal, medical, psychological and social support.
• The initiative is particularly relevant for vulnerable victims and witnesses.
• It also aims to improve case tracking and timely delivery of relief.

• IIT Delhi has developed an indigenous working micro-GPU using an FPGA-based design.
• The system can support industrial displays, e-rickshaw dashboards, e-readers and embedded visualisation.
• The roadmap includes an 8–16 core vector-style GPU and an eventual 65-nm ASIC proof of concept.
• It is significant for developing indigenous computing hardware.

• India won the women’s 4×400m relay gold with a timing of 3:29.69.
• The quartet consisted of Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj.
• Bahrain won silver and China won bronze.
• It was India’s seventh Asian Games gold in this event.

• The 9th India–Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise is being conducted at Oskemen, Kazakhstan.
• It focuses on counter-terrorism operations and interoperability.
• A 60-member Indian contingent is participating.
• The exercise is conducted in a sub-conventional environment under a UN mandate.

• Observed on 24 September 2026.
• Organised under the leadership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
• Theme: “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.”
• Focus: maritime safety, security and environmental sustainability.

• Observed on 25 September 2026.
• Theme: “Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures.”
• The day highlights the role of pharmacists in healthcare.
• It is associated with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).