Daily Current Affairs - 26 September 2026
Generated by AllJobAlerts on 29 September 2026
Bharat Taxi Launched in Five Uttar Pradesh Cities
- Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative ride-hailing service, launched on 23 September 2026 in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj.
- Flagged off by CM Yogi Adityanath; addressed by MoS Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol.
- Operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited on “Driver is the Owner” principle.
- Zero commission; earnings credited directly; drivers (Saarthis) hold ownership stakes.
- Around 40,000 Saarthis registered in the five cities; nationally over 10 lakh since February 2026 launch.
- Daily rides ≈20,000; ~40 lakh passengers; more than ₹100 crore credited to drivers.
Delhi Cabinet Approves DURGA Scheme for Women & Transgender E-Autos
- The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by CM Rekha Gupta, approved the DURGA (Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green E-Auto) scheme on 23 September 2026.
- First phase: 1,300 pink electric autos — 1,170 for women (max 90 per district) and 130 for transgender persons (max 10 per district).
- Beneficiaries will own and drive the vehicles; applications via dedicated online portal.
- Eligibility (women): age 20–40, Delhi resident, valid voter ID, LMV licence, PSV badge, ≤3 children, family income ≤₹5 lakh (FY 2025-26), no family-owned transport vehicle.
- Three-year lock-in period; DMRC has prepared EV charging at 70 metro stations.
Maruti Suzuki Commissions First Green Hydrogen Plant
- Maruti Suzuki India commissioned its first Green Hydrogen (GH₂) electrolyser plant at Manesar, Haryana on 24 September 2026.
- 300 kW pilot project producing green hydrogen via electrolysis using surplus solar energy from the facility.
- Hydrogen is blended with natural gas and used as process fuel in manufacturing operations.
- Part of the company’s broader clean-energy strategy that includes solar power, biogas and battery storage.
Mizoram’s Lalrithangi Named Among FAO 100 Women Heroes
- Pi Lalrithangi (also referred as Pi Mari-i), a former teacher turned farmer from Sangau, Lawngtlai district, Mizoram, selected among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems.
- Honour linked to UN’s International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.
- She is one of two Indian women chosen; notified by FAO on 21 September 2026.
- Started strawberry farming in 2024 with 1,000 plants; now cultivates over 10,000 plants plus avocado and banana on two hectares.
- Earned more than ₹10 lakh in 2025 and also produces strawberry wine.
- Postgraduate in Sociology (IGNOU); left teaching for farming after learning via online videos and peer guidance.
BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities Meeting Held in New Delhi
- The BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities Meeting concluded India’s Chairship of the BRICS tax cooperation track in New Delhi on 23 September 2026.
- Participating countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and UAE.
- Inaugurated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman; focus areas during India’s chairship were technology, administration and people.
- Two India-led Working Groups formally established: International Taxation & Transfer Pricing, and Revenue Statistics.
- BRICS Tax Cross-Learning Lab launched as a peer-learning platform.
India Wins Bronze in Men’s & Women’s Skeet Team Events
- India secured bronze medals in both men’s and women’s skeet team events at the Asian Games 2026 on 23 September 2026.
- The men's team (Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Bhavtegh Singh Gill) scored 346 points and defeated Kazakhstan in a shoot-off.
- The women's team (Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan) scored 331 hits; this was India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the women’s team skeet event.
- By 23 September, India’s shooting contingent had won seven medals (four silver, three bronze).
Shantanu Moitra to Receive National Lata Mangeshkar Award 2026
- Music director Shantanu Moitra will be honoured with the National Lata Mangeshkar Award 2026 by the Madhya Pradesh government.
- The award, carrying a tax-free cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a citation, will be presented on 28 September 2026 in Indore.
- Ceremony to be held at Lata Mangeshkar Auditorium during a two-day event marking her birth anniversary.
- The event starts 27 September with the musical programme “Amar Lata Hamari Lata…”, followed by an award function and performance by Sachet-Parampara.
- Programmes are free and open to the public.
Actor Mushtaq Khan Passes Away at 56
- Veteran character actor Mushtaq Khan died on 24 September 2026 at Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai, aged 56.
- He had been hospitalized for about 15 days after battling cancer (initially lung cancer, later reports mentioned relapse and liver involvement).
- Known for supporting and comic roles in Hindi films including Welcome, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Hera Pheri, Jodi No. 1, Gadar 2, Badhaai Do and Stree 2.
- Also worked in television.
Theatre Personality Soorya Krishnamoorthy Dies
- Soorya Krishnamoorthy, theatre director, cultural organiser and former ISRO scientist, died on 23 September 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Founded the Soorya Festival in 1977, recognised by Limca Book of Records as Asia’s longest-running cultural festival with participation from over 30 countries.
- Worked with ISRO for more than two decades as a scientist-engineer and was associated with A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
- Later served as director of Kerala State Film Development Corporation (three terms) and chairman of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.
NASA Selects PRIMA for Phase B Development
- NASA selected PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) to enter Phase B (preliminary design and technology development) on 23 September 2026.
- First mission in the new Probe Explorers class under the Explorers Program.
- Features a 1.8-metre (5.9-foot) telescope; targeted launch in 2033 with a five-year mission life.
- Project cost capped at $1.2 billion (excluding launch and non-project costs); managed by JPL.
- Will observe in the far-infrared band, bridging JWST and radio telescopes like ALMA.
- Science goals include planet formation, galaxy and black-hole growth, dust/element accumulation, and water delivery to Earth.