Article 253
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Current affairsExercise Veer Guardian 2026: India-Japan Bilateral Air Exercise at Jodhpur — Second Edition, F-2A Fighters on Indian Soil for the First TimeThe Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) are conducting Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 — the second edition of their bilateral air exercise — at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan (September 9–22, 2026). Japanese F-2A fighters operated from Indian soil for the first time, both air chiefs flew the indigenous LCA Tejas, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the exercise as a "significant milestone" for the India-Japan strategic partnership. Current affairsDeep-Sea Mining in India: ISA Contracts, Deep Ocean Mission, and the Critical Minerals vs. Conservation DilemmaIndia is accelerating its deep-sea mineral exploration programme under the Deep Ocean Mission, holding three contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) covering ~95,000 km² across three ocean zones. A high-level industry outreach workshop convened by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in September 2026 spotlighted the strategic imperative of securing critical minerals — nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese — while environmentalists warn of irreversible benthic habitat destruction. Current affairs18th BRICS Summit 2026: New Delhi Declaration — India's Chairmanship, UN Reform, and Global South AgendaIndia hosted the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on September 12–13, 2026, under its 2026 BRICS Chairmanship. The 11-member bloc adopted the New Delhi Declaration — a 140-point document covering United Nations reform, multilateral trade, artificial intelligence governance, climate finance, and the Palestinian conflict. Current affairsUK Recognises India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) Under UK CBAM — A Climate and Trade MilestoneThe United Kingdom's HM Treasury has officially recognised India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying carbon-pricing mechanism under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), effective ahead of the UK CBAM's full launch on January 1, 2027. Indian exporters of steel and aluminium to the UK can now claim carbon-price relief, avoiding double taxation on emissions already priced domestically under CCTS — a major win for India's climate diplomacy and export competitiveness. Current affairsEl Niño 2026 OND Forecast: India's Rabi Crops, Wheat, and Winter Agriculture at RiskThe World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) have confirmed that El Niño conditions are intensifying and forecast to peak during the October–December (OND) 2026 quarter, with sea surface temperature anomalies in the Niño 3.4 region reaching approximately +3.6°C. This raises significant risks for India's Rabi crop season — particularly wheat, chickpea, mustard, and lentils — through reduced winter rainfall in northwest India and above-normal temperatures. Current affairsSEBI-ESMA MoU on Central Counterparties (September 2026): India-EU Clearing House Cooperation and Its SignificanceSEBI and ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) signed an MoU on September 4, 2026, in Paris, covering cooperation and information exchange on Central Counterparties (CCPs). The agreement — signed by SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey and ESMA Chair Verena Ross — replaces the 2017 MoU and enables Indian CCPs to re-apply for ESMA recognition under EMIR, restoring EU clearing members' access to Indian clearing infrastructure. Current affairsUNEP "Limiting Overshoot" Report 2026: World Set to Breach 1.5°C — Paris Agreement Pathways and India's Climate ObligationsUNEP's "Limiting Overshoot" report (September 2026) declares that breaching the 1.5°C Paris Agreement warming threshold is now unavoidable in the near term. Without enhanced action, global temperatures could reach 2.6°C by 2100, but an "overshoot-peak-decline" pathway can return temperatures below 1.5°C through aggressive emissions cuts and large-scale carbon dioxide removal. Current affairsIndia-Belgium Joint Statement 2026: Investment Fast-Track Mechanism, IMEC Semiconductor Partnership, and Defence CooperationBelgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited India (September 2–4, 2026) — the first Belgian PM visit in two decades — and issued a comprehensive Joint Statement. India and Belgium set a target of doubling bilateral trade from approximately USD 13 billion, established an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism, announced IMEC semiconductor research collaboration, and signed a defence Letter of Intent covering exchanges, staff talks, and joint production. Current affairs26th SCO Summit Bishkek 2026: Bishkek Declaration, English as Official Language, and India's Priorities Under PM ModiThe 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on August 31–September 1, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended, signed the Bishkek Declaration alongside 13 key outcome agreements, and advanced India's three-pillar agenda of Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity. English was recognised as an official SCO working language for the first time. Current affairsNepal Monsoon Floods 2026: Death Toll Crosses 1,000 — India's Humanitarian Response, Disaster Diplomacy, and India-Nepal RelationsNepal's 2026 monsoon floods have claimed over 1,000 lives — one of the country's worst flood disasters — with Nepal's hydropower generation dropping approximately 10%, requiring emergency power imports from India. India deployed rescue teams, dispatched humanitarian aid, and coordinated with China and Nepal for relief operations, demonstrating India's Neighbourhood First policy in action. Current affairsIndia Hosts International Tiger Landscapes Workshop; IBCA Signs MoU with ADB for Nature-Positive Conservation FinancingThe International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed a landmark MoU with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the sidelines of the International Tiger Landscapes Workshop (September 2–3, 2026) in New Delhi — unlocking nature-positive blended finance for landscape-scale tiger conservation across six Asian tiger-range nations. Current affairsPCA Rules Indus Waters Treaty Remains Fully Binding: India Cannot Suspend the 1960 Accord — Kishanganga, Ratle Hydropower Dispute and India's Jurisdictional StandThe Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague unanimously ruled on 31 August 2026 that India cannot unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, declaring the accord "remains fully in force." India, which placed the treaty in abeyance in April 2025, rejected the court's jurisdiction and did not participate in the hearings — a ruling with major implications for India-Pakistan relations, water security, and international treaty law.
In previous-year questions
- Which Article of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to make laws for giving effect to international agreements and treaties — the constitutional basis for the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999 and India's FDI policy framework?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which constitutional provision gives India's Parliament the power to make legislation for implementing international treaties and agreements entered into with other countries, such as BRICS commitments?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Under which Article of the Constitution of India does Parliament have the power to make laws for implementing treaties, agreements or conventions with foreign countries?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which entry in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India gives Parliament exclusive power to enter into treaties with foreign countries?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Article of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to legislate for the implementation of international treaties, agreements, and conventions — including climate agreements like the Paris Agreement?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which constitutional provision forms the primary legal basis for India entering into bilateral defence agreements such as the one with Japan that enables Acquisition and Cross-Servicing (ACSA)?UPSC · Current Affairs