SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS

A Regional Bloc with Wider Geopolitical Linkages

GS II International Relations

Why in News?

The four Visegrád countries recently supported India’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council at the first V4+India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

What is the Visegrád Group?

• The Visegrád Group (V4) is a regional cooperation platform of four Central European countries.
• It was established in 1991 in the Hungarian city of Visegrád.
• It promotes cooperation in political, economic, security, cultural and other areas.

Advancing Socio-Economic Empowerment of Scheduled Castes

GS II Governance

Why in News?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment reported that over ₹11,186 crore has been released under the three components of PM-AJAY. 16,022 villages have been declared Adarsh Grams, while the Grant-in-Aid component has benefited 34.61 lakh people.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana

• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Target Group: Scheduled Castes (SCs)
• Implemented since: 2021–22 as a merger of three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes

 Objectives

• Reduce poverty among SC communities through employment, skill development and income-generating activities.
• Improve infrastructure and basic services in SC-dominated villages.
• Promote education and literacy through hostels and residential facilities.

 Three Major Components

Climate-Resilient Water Management

GS-III – Environment & Ecology

Why in News?

• The 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 is being held from 22–26 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• It is organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the theme “Climate Resilient Water Management.”

Key Focus Areas

• Inclusive and equitable water governance
• Optimal use of water resources
• Technology and community participation
• Climate-related water risks
• Innovative financing for water infrastructure
• Sustainable water-resource management
• Water for people and planet

Dermatophytes: When Climate and Lifestyle Shape Fungal Disease

GS III Health

Why in News?

Dermatophytic fungal infections remain an important public-health concern, particularly in warm, humid and densely populated settings.

What are Dermatophytes?

• Dermatophytes are fungi that utilise keratin, a structural protein present in: Skin, Hair. Nails
• They primarily infect keratinised tissues rather than deeper living tissues.
• Common genera include: Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton
• Transmission may also occur through contaminated objects (fomites) such as towels, clothing, footwear and hairbrushes.

Transmission

Core Issue

The spread of dermatophytosis is not determined by the pathogen alone. Climate, population density, hygiene practices, urbanisation and lifestyle can collectively create conditions favourable for transmission and persistence.

Significance

• Climate: Warm and humid conditions favour fungal growth and transmission.
• Overcrowding: Close physical contact facilitates person-to-person spread.
• Lifestyle: Occlusive footwear, prolonged sweating and shared facilities can increase exposure.
• Public Health: Recurrent infections can increase treatment requirements and healthcare expenditure.
• One Health Dimension: Zoophilic and geophilic transmission highlights the interaction between humans, animals and the environment.

Energy Security in the Era of Energy Transition

GS III Environment | GS II International Relations

Why in News?

The G20 Energy Ministers concluded the Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, with four broad consensus outcomes covering energy access, infrastructure, water resilience and critical-mineral supply chains.

Four Broad Outcomes

• Energy Access and Clean Cooking : Focus on household energy access and cleaner cooking solutions.
• Infrastructure and Regulatory Efficiency : Improve energy infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support reliable and affordable energy.
• Water Resilience : Promote water reuse and address the water–energy nexus, particularly in power generation and industry.
• Critical-Mineral Supply Chains : Strengthen secure and resilient supply chains for minerals essential to clean-energy and digital technologies.

Why Important for India?

• Energy Access: Expanding affordable clean cooking remains important for reducing dependence on traditional polluting fuels.
• Critical Minerals: Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements are important for batteries, renewable-energy technologies, electronics and other strategic sectors.
• Water–Energy Nexus: Power generation and industrial activities require significant quantities of water, making water availability an increasingly important energy-security concern.

Managing Liquidity Without Changing the Policy Rate

GS III – Indian Economy

Why in News?

The RBI conducted an OMO sale auction of ₹25,000 crore of Government Securities (G-Secs) to absorb durable surplus liquidity from the banking system.

What is OMO?

Open Market Operations (OMO) are the RBI''s purchase or sale of Government Securities in the secondary market to regulate liquidity in the financial system.

How Does It Work?

Why is OMO Important?

• OMO allows the RBI to manage durable/systemic liquidity without necessarily changing the policy repo rate.
• It is therefore an important instrument for maintaining appropriate monetary and financial conditions.

OMO vs Repo

Excess Liquidity Can:

• weaken monetary-policy transmission,
• push money-market rates away from the desired operating framework,
• contribute to demand-side inflationary pressures under certain conditions.

Excessive Liquidity Absorption Can:

• put upward pressure on bond yields,
• increase borrowing costs,
• tighten financial-market conditions.

National Formulary of India: From Drug Availability to Patient Safety

GS Paper II –Governance

Why in News?

The 7th edition of the National Formulary of India (NFI) was launched along with the Biovigilance Programme of India.

What is NFI?

• The National Formulary of India (NFI) is a guidance document for healthcare professionals that promotes the rational, safe and appropriate use of medicines.
• It is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).

NFI 2026

• 34 chapters
• 20 appendices
• 653 drugs
• 42 fixed-dose combinations
• 30 immunologicals

 Aligned with the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and national health programmes.

Biovigilance Programme of India

• Focuses on monitoring adverse events associated with biological products, including those used in transplantation.
• It complements the broader safety-monitoring framework:

Parbati-II: Hydropower Expansion versus Himalayan Fragility

GS Paper III – Infrastructure | Environment | Disaster Management

Why in News?

Leakage from the Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh''s Kullu district affected nearby settlements and agricultural land.

Project Profile

• Location: Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
• River: Parbati
• Tributary of: Beas
• Type: Run-of-the-river
• Capacity: 800 MW
• Dam: 83.7 m concrete gravity dam
• Head Race Tunnel: 31.56 km
• Developer: NHPC

NHPC Limited

• Full Form: NHPC Limited (originally National Hydroelectric Power Corporation)
• Established: 1975
• Ministry: Ministry of Power
• Nature: Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE)
• Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana
• Primary role: Development and operation of hydropower and renewable-energy projects.

Key Challenges

• Geological instability: Young and tectonically active Himalayan terrain is vulnerable to landslides and slope failures.
• Extreme weather: Cloudbursts, intense rainfall, floods and glacial hazards can increase infrastructure risks.
• Tunnel uncertainty: Long tunnels can encounter unforeseen geological conditions, groundwater pressure and seepage.
• Downstream impacts: Altered flow regimes can affect aquatic ecosystems, sediment movement and local livelihoods.
• Cumulative risk: Multiple dams, tunnels, roads and transmission infrastructure can produce impacts greater than those assessed project-by-project.
• Human vulnerability: Settlements and agricultural land located downstream or near project infrastructure can face heightened exposure.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: Terai Ecology and Transboundary Conservation

GS III Environment

Why in News?

Tourism access to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve has been extended, allowing visitors to access the reserve for a longer period.

Location

• Located in Uttar Pradesh, primarily across Pilibhit and Lakhimpur Kheri districts.
• Forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL).
• Located along the India–Nepal border, making landscape connectivity important for wildlife conservation.

Ecological Significance

• Important habitat for tigers and other Terai fauna.
• Characterised by Sal-dominated forests, grasslands and wetlands.

Supports species such as:

Hydrological Importance

• The reserve forms part of an important Terai river and wetland system.
• It is associated with rivers and streams including the Sharda, Mala and Khannot.
• The Gomti River originates in the Pilibhit region, making the landscape significant from a watershed perspective.

Reformed Multilateralism: Creating Space Between Polarisation and Fragmentation

GS II International relations

Why in News?

The Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) summit was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2026. It brings together countries seeking flexible cooperation across geopolitical divisions and supporting reforms in multilateral institutions.

What is P4M?

• Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) is a flexible, network-based platform that seeks to strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote reforms in global institutions.
• It is not intended to function as a rigid geopolitical bloc. Instead, it promotes cooperation among countries on common global issues while supporting the existing multilateral system.

Why is it Important for India?

• Global South Representation: Provides an additional platform to advocate greater representation of developing countries.
• UNSC Reform: Supports India''s broader demand for reform of the UN Security Council and more representative global governance.
• Global Financial Reform: Creates space to push for reforms in international financial institutions.
• Strategic Autonomy: Allows India to engage with different countries through issue-based coalitions rather than fixed geopolitical alignments.
• Rules-Based Order: Supports India''s interest in a predictable international system based on international law and multilateral institutions.

Scrub Typhus: The Neglected Vector-Borne Disease Beyond Mosquitoes

Why in News?

A recent death in Tamil Nadu has brought attention to scrub typhus, an important but often under-recognised febrile illness.

What is Scrub Typhus?

• Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi.
• It is transmitted through the bite of infected larval mites called chiggers.
• It is associated with vegetated, scrub and rural environments, particularly where humans come into contact with mite habitats.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle/body pain
• Rash
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Eschar: a dark, scab-like lesion that may develop at the site of the mite bite.

Severe disease may cause:

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Shock
• Meningitis
• Kidney failure
• Multi-organ complications.

Treatment