NEWS 25-09-2026. News For 26th-Sep (Saturday) National 1. India’s first AI-powered WAP-7 passenger locomotive was successfully manufactured at the Patiala Locomotive Works in Punjab, equipped with an automated Overhead Equipment inspection system to predictively detect faulty lines and prevent railway accidents. 2. The Union Government notified the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with a massive budget of ?1,27,500 crore, focusing on six core strategic pillars including Chip Design, Machines & Materials, Fabs, ATMP/OSAT, R&D, and Talent Development. 3. Pharmaceutical majors Takeda and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories partnered to launch India’s first approved dengue vaccine, named Qdenga, in the private market following final CDSCO clearance for preventive healthcare. 4. The Union Cabinet officially approved India's first Venus Orbiter Mission, code-named VOM, and ISRO announced that the spacecraft is targeted for launch on March 29, 2028, aboard the LVM3 rocket to study the planet's atmosphere and geology. International 1. The 25th Meeting of SCO Ministers Responsible for Foreign Trade was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on September 17, 2026, where India participated and strongly advocated for lower trade costs, simplified customs procedures, and resilient regional supply chains. 2. The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was formally ratified by both governments on September 21, 2026, and this landmark economic pact will officially come into force on October 20, 2026, to boost bilateral trade. 3. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in New York on September 20, 2026, after a brief transit visit to Switzerland, leading the Indian delegation at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly to address global security challenges. 4. The Ministry of External Affairs is closely tracking a new U.S. Congress bill called the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act which threatens up to 100% tariffs on countries—explicitly targeting India—that continue to import Russian oil, adding tension to Indo-U.S. ties. Defence 1. Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth undertook a vital three-day official visit to Russia from September 16 to 18, 2026, holding high-level meetings with the Russian military leadership to deepen army-to-army cooperation and defense technology sharing. 2. State-run HAL handed over two indigenous LCA Tejas twin-seater trainer aircraft and the new HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force in Bengaluru, significantly boosting the military's self-reliance in advanced pilot-training infrastructure. 3. The Ministry of Defence signed a ?811 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited on September 23, 2026, for manufacturing 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons to enhance the IAF's precision-strike capability against enemy runways. 4. The Indian Army operationalized a specialized laboratory named AASHVAST under the DG EME, which is dedicated to testing and detecting hidden firmware-level security vulnerabilities, spyware, and foreign malicious code in military drones and hardware. Sports 1. The 20th Asian Games officially commenced in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19, 2026, where double Olympic medalist shooter Manu Bhaker and Kabaddi icon Pawan Sehrawat proudly served as the joint flag bearers for India during the opening ceremony. 2. The Indian Women's Cricket Team won a historic gold medal on September 22, 2026, by crushing Sri Lanka in the final, scoring a strong total of 216 runs and bundling out Sri Lanka for 69 to win the match by a massive margin of 147 runs. 3. On the opening days of the games, the Indian shooting contingent shined bright as the trio of Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod bagged silver in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Team Event, while Elavenil also clinched the individual silver medal. 4. Continuing India’s stellar run in shooting, the women's trio of Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan, and Parinaaz Dhaliwal shot a combined score of 331 to win a historic bronze medal in the Women's Skeet Team Event. < < Back