Weekly at a glance
- Tue 15 Sep — MP Cabinet clears ₹41,000 cr development push; Ladli Behna's 40th installment reaches 1.25 crore women; Project Cheetah nears 4 years at Kuno
- Wed 16 Sep — MP Cabinet clears ₹42,490 cr package; Ladli Behna's 40th installment credited; cheetahs consolidate at Gandhi Sagar as GST hits ₹1.99 lakh cr
- Thu 17 Sep — Project Cheetah turns four with 52 cheetahs in MP; Union raises EPFO wage ceiling to ₹25,000; India's GDP grows 7.8%.
- Fri 18 Sep — MP clears ₹42,490 crore & readies Sugam Parivahan Bus Seva; Centre lifts EPFO ceiling to ₹25,000 and PM opens SEMICON India 2026
- Sat 19 Sep — MP Cabinet clears ₹42,490 cr package; Project Cheetah turns 4 with 'Dheera' shifted to Gandhi Sagar; Ladli Behna 40th installment paid
- Sun 20 Sep — MP Cabinet clears ₹42,490 crore development package; 40th Ladli Behna installment paid; Project Cheetah turns 4 with a new litter of 4 cubs at Kuno
All topics — key facts for revision
15 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet clears ₹41,000 crore development package
- Viksit Bharat — VB-GRAM-G rural scheme cleared with a total outlay of ₹29,619 crore (2026-31).
- Western Bhopal Bypass (35.61 km, 4-lane) and the Mehlua-Bina-Khimlasa-Malthone road (67.1 km) approved.
- ₹2,973 crore dairy plan with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
- Summer moong procurement limit raised from 25% to 60%; Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya split into 3 tech universities (Bhopal, Ujjain, Jabalpur).
SOCIETY Ladli Behna's 40th installment reaches 1.25 crore women
- ₹1,500 transferred to each of 1,25,22,542 (≈1.25 crore) eligible women via DBT.
- Monthly outlay is roughly ₹1,878 crore.
- August's payout was ₹1,750 as it carried a one-time ₹250 Raksha Bandhan gift; September reverts to the base ₹1,500.
- The scheme targets women's financial empowerment and household nutrition.
ECONOMY Wheat MSP for Rabi 2026-27 fixed at ₹2,600/quintal
- Price = Union MSP ₹2,585 + state bonus ₹15 = ₹2,600/quintal.
- NCCF to handle procurement; last season paid ≈₹16,000 crore for 77 lakh tonnes of wheat.
- Under the Bhavantar support, soybean farmers get an effective ₹5,328/quintal.
- MP is the 'Soybean State' (≈45% of India's output) and grows GI-tagged Sharbati wheat.
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah nears 4 years; Kuno→Gandhi Sagar expansion continues
- First 8 cheetahs from Namibia (2022) and 12 from South Africa (2023) were released at Kuno NP, Sheopur district.
- Cheetahs Prabhash and Pavak were the first shifted to Gandhi Sagar (Mandsaur-Neemuch) in 2025.
- The programme has recorded India-born (second-generation) cubs.
- A second habitat spreads ecological risk and supports a viable meta-population.
MADHYA PRADESH Ujjain plans world-record lamp-lighting at Mahakal on Sep 17
- About 58 lakh (5.8 million) lamps to be lit simultaneously at 7 pm across gram panchayats and urban wards.
- Named 'Ashirwad Ka Diya', framed as gratitude for 25 years of public service.
- Launches the month-long Seva-Sankalp Campaign (Sep 17 – Oct 17).
- Ujjain hosts the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and the twelve-yearly Simhastha Kumbh.
POLITY Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 to take effect from Oct 1
- Comes into force on October 1, 2026, replacing the 1891 Act.
- Provides a technology-neutral framework for treating electronic bank records as evidence.
- Aligns banking evidence rules with the new criminal-law and digital ecosystem.
ECONOMY Global Fintech Fest 2026: RBI names 2nd fintech SRO; SEBI's Demat 2.0
- RBI recognised the Unified Fintech Forum (UFF) as a second Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for fintech.
- SEBI launched a Demat 2.0 pilot for tokenised corporate bonds.
- PM Modi inaugurated the event (Sep 8-11); it is among the world's largest fintech gatherings.
IR Rajnath Singh's Sri Lanka visit — first by a Defence Minister in ~40 years
- Visit spanned Sep 8-10, 2026; three MoUs signed on air-defence, military education and youth cooperation.
- Three Bailey Bridges were inaugurated as part of India's assistance.
- Reinforces India's 'Neighbourhood First' and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
SCI-TECH Paris Space Summit: India-France sign three space pacts
- Summit (Paris, Sep 9-10) drew 90 countries and 51 announcements worth about €20 billion.
- India-France signed three space-cooperation agreements.
- Also this week, India held Exercise Samudra Laksamana (4th edition) with Malaysia off Lumut.
16 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet approves ₹42,490 crore development & welfare package
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: ₹36,006.22 crore for FY2026-27 to 2030-31 (pre-primary to Class 12)
- Irrigation ₹2,607 cr — Chitawad (Ujjain) ₹1,846 cr / 65,000 ha, plus Gaund (Singrauli) & Chanderi (Ashoknagar)
- Interest-free MARKFED loan of ₹2,220.62 cr for Rabi 2024-25 foodgrain credit
- 11 transport schemes (₹1,166.6 cr) and 8 horticulture/food-processing schemes (₹491 cr)
- New posts sanctioned for District Mineral offices (Maihar, Mauganj, Pandhurna) & school upgrades (Anuppur, Shahdol)
SOCIETY Ladli Behna Yojana: 40th monthly installment of ₹1,500 credited
- Direct Benefit Transfer of ₹1,500/month to about 1.27 crore women
- 40th installment released into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts
- Stated roadmap: raise the amount to ₹3,000/month by 2028
- Eligibility: married women 21–60 years with income and landholding ceilings
- Launched in 2023; among India's largest state women cash-transfer schemes
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah: animals consolidate at Gandhi Sagar alongside Kuno
- Project Cheetah launched 17 Sep 2022 at Kuno (Sheopur) with African cheetahs
- Gandhi Sagar WLS (Mandsaur–Neemuch) developed as the second cheetah site
- Second-generation cubs have been born on Indian soil at Kuno
- MP is India's 'Tiger State' (highest tiger count, 785) and has the largest forest cover by area
- Kuno lies in the Chambal landscape of north-west MP
MADHYA PRADESH MP procures a record 5.33 lakh tonnes of summer moong at MSP
- 5.33 lakh tonnes of summer moong procured (against 5.39 LT approved)
- Up about 36% from 3.93 lakh tonnes in 2025
- Procured through NAFED & NCCF at the Minimum Support Price
- MP is the 'Soybean State' and a leading pulses & wheat (Sharbati) producer
- Review flagged gaps in the crop-insurance WINDS weather network
SOCIETY Simhastha 2028 at Ujjain: infrastructure works fast-tracked
- Simhastha 2028 to be held at Ujjain, on the banks of the Kshipra (Shipra) river
- About ₹2,924 crore investment; ₹2,000 cr earmarked in the state Budget
- Fresh ₹491 cr of projects approved to accelerate preparations
- Ujjain hosts the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga (one of 12) and the Mahakal Lok corridor
- One of India's four Kumbh sites; held roughly every 12 years
IR India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit; New Delhi Declaration adopted
- Theme: 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation & Sustainability'
- New Delhi Declaration adopted by consensus
- Expanded bloc now has 10 members (added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Indonesia)
- Backed local-currency trade and Global South priorities
- BRICS runs the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai
IR India takes over the International Solar Alliance presidency (2026-28)
- The International Solar Alliance now has about 124 member countries; HQ at Gurugram
- India's target: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030
- Flagship initiative: One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)
- ISA was co-founded by India and France in 2015 at CoP-21, Paris
- It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation
SCI-TECH ISRO's GISAT-1A (EOS-05) geo-imaging satellite ends the launch pause
- GISAT-1A / EOS-05 is a geostationary Earth-observation satellite
- Launched on the GSLV from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota
- Enables near-real-time disaster, agriculture and forestry monitoring
- Restores continuity after the GISAT-1 / EOS-03 loss in 2021
- GSLV uses an indigenous cryogenic upper stage
ENVIRONMENT World Ozone Day (16 Sep): marking the 1987 Montreal Protocol
- Commemorates the Montreal Protocol (1987) on ozone-depleting substances
- Parent framework: the Vienna Convention (1985)
- The Kigali Amendment (2016) phases down HFCs, potent greenhouse gases
- India has ratified Kigali and is phasing out HCFCs
- The ozone layer is on track to recover by around mid-century
17 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH Project Cheetah Turns Four: India's Cheetah Count Reaches 52 at Kuno & Gandhi Sagar
- India's cheetah population is now 52 — 49 at Kuno and 3 at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- 32 are India-born cubs; founding stock: 8 (Namibia, 2022), 12 (South Africa, 2023), 9 (Botswana, 2026).
- The cheetah went extinct in India in 1952; the project aims to restore grassland & open-forest ecosystems.
- MP is the only state hosting cheetahs, adding 'Cheetah State' to its wildlife titles.
MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet Clears ₹42,490 crore Package for Education, Irrigation & Farm Credit
- ₹36,006 crore to continue Samagra Shiksha (2026-27 to 2030-31), pre-primary to Class 12.
- ₹2,607 crore for three irrigation projects — Chitawad (Ujjain), Gaund (Singrauli), Chanderi Micro (Ashoknagar), ~1.27 lakh ha.
- ₹2,220.62 crore interest-free loan to MARKFED; ₹1,166.6 crore for 11 transport schemes.
- ₹491 crore for eight horticulture & food-processing schemes to raise farmer income.
MADHYA PRADESH MP to Launch 'Sugam Parivahan' Public Bus Service From 25 September
- ~1,000+ routes across all 55 districts: ~150 city, ~450 intercity, ~436 interstate.
- Electric/CNG buses with CCTV, GPS, panic buttons; run on PPP via MPYPIL with an Intelligent Transport Management System.
- Target: connect 75% of villages by 2030; MoU with a ride-hailing firm for first/last-mile in Bhopal & Indore.
- An electric-bus plant at Pithampur (5,000/year capacity) to support the fleet.
SOCIETY 7,500+ Meritorious Students Get E-Scooties Under Mukhyamantri Scooty Yojana
- Beneficiaries: top-scoring Class 12 students of the 2025-26 board exams.
- Aim: cut transport barriers to college, reward merit and promote electric mobility.
- Adds to MP's student-support ecosystem (scholarships, laptop assistance).
ENVIRONMENT Beyond the Tiger: MP Cements Status as India's Multi-Species 'Wildlife State'
- MP is Tiger, Leopard, Cheetah, Vulture, Gharial and Wolf State.
- Biodiversity: 5,000+ plant, 500+ bird, 180 fish species; 53 gharials & 33 turtles released in the Kuno river.
- Key tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura; MP has India's largest forest cover.
- Water drive restored/created 56,000 water sources, 827 stepwells and cleaned 212 rivers.
ECONOMY EPFO Wage Ceiling Raised From ₹15,000 to ₹25,000; 51 Lakh More Covered
- Expected to bring 51 lakh+ additional employees under mandatory EPFO cover.
- Extends access to provident fund, EPS pension and EDLI insurance.
- Annual government outgo rises to about ₹11,339 crore (from ~₹10,250 crore).
- Average private-sector salary (~₹23,000) had outgrown the old ₹15,000 threshold.
POLITY Supreme Court Upholds RBI's Power to Supersede Multi-State Co-op Bank Boards
- Reads the third proviso to Article 243ZL as incorporating the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (Sec 36AAA).
- Cooperatives were added to the Constitution by the 97th Amendment (2011), Part IX-B.
- Depositor protection justifies banking regulation overriding general cooperative safeguards.
- Distinguishes state vs multi-state cooperative banks on consultation.
ECONOMY Indian Economy Grows 7.8% in Q1 FY27, Fastest Among Major Economies
- Sectors: manufacturing +9.2%, services +10%, construction +7.7%, agriculture +3.6%; mining -2.4%.
- Investment (GFCF) +11.9%; private consumption +7.1%; exports +12%.
- Growth outpaces China (~4.3%) and major ASEAN economies.
IR 26th SCO Summit Held at Bishkek; India Balances Engagement and Concerns
- SCO was founded in 2001; secretariat in Beijing, RATS in Tashkent; India a full member since 2017.
- Members include China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and Central Asian states.
- India stresses counter-terrorism and connectivity respecting sovereignty (Chabahar/INSTC).
SCI-TECH ISRO Launches EOS-05 Earth-Observation Satellite; Space-Sector Reforms Advance
- EOS-05 supports development planning, agriculture, disaster and security monitoring.
- ISRO to focus on R&D and transfer launch-vehicle production to the private sector.
- Enabled by the IN-SPACe / NSIL ecosystem promoting private space activity.
DEFENCE Pakistani Corvette PNS Hunain Collides With Indian Navy Ship in Arabian Sea
- India cited violation of the 1991 Agreement on advance notice of naval movements; Pakistan claimed its EEZ.
- Minor damage reported; the episode recalls the 2011 PNS Babur-INS Godavari incident.
- Underlines the need for maritime confidence-building measures (CBMs).
18 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet approves ₹42,490 crore for schools, irrigation & transport
- ₹36,006 crore for Samagra Shiksha (2026-27 to 2030-31), pre-primary to Class 12
- ₹1,846 crore Chitawad project (Ujjain) to irrigate 65,000 ha; ₹750 cr Gaund (Singrauli) 34,500 ha
- ₹1,167 crore for 11 transport schemes; ₹491 cr for horticulture & food processing
- ₹2,220 crore interest-free loan to MARKFED for foodgrain credit
MADHYA PRADESH ‘Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Bus Seva’ to launch on 25 September
- MP road network of about 5 lakh km can potentially run 15,000+ buses
- MoU with Rapido for first- and last-mile connectivity
- MP Mobility Innovation Challenge 2026 launched for citizens & researchers
- Targets residents plus millions of tourists and pilgrims
MADHYA PRADESH Madhya Pradesh secures 12 GI tags in one phase — a national first
- Includes Noorjahan Mango (Alirajpur), Gajariya Mango (Betul), Khargone Red Chilli
- Also Kumbhraj Coriander (Guna), Barman Brinjal (Narsinghpur), Narsinghpur Jaggery
- Malvi Potato/Garadu, Jabalpur Green Pea & Singhada, Seoni Custard Apple
- MP horticulture area 2.8 mn ha, targeting 3 mn ha by 2030
MADHYA PRADESH Ujjain gears up for the Simhastha 2028 Kumbh on the Kshipra
- Simhastha is held every 12 years at Ujjain (last major mela in 2016)
- Ujjain hosts Mahakaleshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva
- The Mahakal Lok corridor has boosted pilgrim footfall in the city
- Kshipra rejuvenation and civic works are being fast-tracked
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah's MP story: Kuno anchors, Gandhi Sagar joins in
- Kuno NP lies in Sheopur district; Gandhi Sagar spans Mandsaur–Neemuch
- Cheetahs were sourced from Namibia (2022) and South Africa/Botswana
- MP is India's ‘Tiger State’ and has the largest forest cover by area
- Recent concern: a proposed irrigation dam near Kuno's cheetah habitat
ECONOMY Union Cabinet raises EPFO wage ceiling ₹15,000 → ₹25,000
- Expected to bring about 51 lakh more employees under mandatory EPFO cover
- Estimated annual government outgo of about ₹11,339 crore
- Raises the base for PF, pension (EPS) and insurance (EDLI) contributions
- Effective 17 September 2026
IR India–MERCOSUR sign First Additional Protocol for e-Certificates of Origin
- Amends Article 16 of Annex III (Rules of Origin) of the PTA
- MERCOSUR members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay (plus associates)
- India–MERCOSUR PTA has been in force since 2009
- e-CoO cuts paperwork and speeds up preferential tariff claims
ECONOMY Centre notifies zero charges on UPI payments up to ₹2,000
- Issued under Section 10A of the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007
- MDR = Merchant Discount Rate, the fee a merchant pays per card/UPI sale
- Keeps small merchants on the digital payment network cost-free
- UPI is operated by NPCI
SCI-TECH PM opens SEMICON India 2026 on the ‘Silicon to Systems’ theme
- 600+ exhibitors including 300 international firms, 6 country pavilions
- 12 semiconductor projects approved; 3 units in commercial production
- Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0; EDA tools extended to 400+ institutes
- Organised by India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), MeitY and SEMI
DEFENCE India–US hold Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 in a first dual-theatre format
- Held at Auli (Uttarakhand) — high-altitude, and Mahajan (Rajasthan) — mechanised
- US contingent includes the 11th Airborne Division
- First-ever dual-theatre format for the exercise
- Focus: interoperability under a UN peacekeeping mandate
19 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet clears ₹42,490 crore development & welfare package
- Samagra Shiksha continued to 2030-31 with ₹36,006.22 crore (pre-primary to Class 12).
- Irrigation: Chitawad (₹1,846.05 cr), Gaund (₹749.62 cr) & Chanderi — 1.27 lakh hectare new capacity.
- Horticulture: ₹491 crore for 8 schemes (₹100 cr each for fruit & spice).
- MARKFED interest-free loan of ₹2,220.62 crore; extra ₹250 aid to Ladli Behna women.
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah completes 4 years; 'Dheera' shifted to Gandhi Sagar
- Launched 17 Sept 2022 at Kuno NP (Sheopur) — world's first inter-continental big-cat reintroduction.
- Population now 52 (49 at Kuno, 3 at Gandhi Sagar); 32 cubs born in India.
- Sourced from Namibia (8, 2022), South Africa (12, 2023), Botswana (9, 2026).
- MP is India's only 'Cheetah State'; cheetah is IUCN 'Vulnerable', CITES Appendix I.
SOCIETY Ladli Behna Yojana: 40th installment credits ₹1,500 to 1.25 crore women
- About ₹1,835 crore disbursed to nearly 1.25 crore women (Sep 2026).
- Monthly cash of ₹1,500 to eligible women aged 21-60.
- Delivered through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to bank accounts.
- Cabinet added ₹250 special assistance for beneficiaries.
ECONOMY MP the 'Soybean State': kharif MSP raised for 2026-27
- Soybean MSP raised to ₹5,708/quintal for 2026-27 (+7.1%, up ₹380).
- MP leads India in soybean; also key in gram, wheat (Sharbati) & pulses.
- Major hub for MSP-based kharif procurement and summer moong.
- Soybean grown mainly on the Malwa plateau black-cotton (regur) soils.
MADHYA PRADESH Ujjain gears up for Simhastha 2028 with big infrastructure push
- Simhastha = MP's Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years at Ujjain on the Kshipra (Shipra).
- Around ₹2,005 crore earmarked; the wider plan runs into thousands of crores.
- Ujjain hosts the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and the Mahakal Lok corridor.
- Held when Jupiter enters Simha (Leo) rashi — hence 'Simhastha'.
REPORT India ranked #1 business climate in Global Business Climate Survey 2026
- India ranked #1 of 41 economies; 73% rated the climate good/very good.
- 80% held a positive global outlook; 44% plan higher capex.
- Asia-Pacific led regional investment allocation.
- Signals resilience despite global geopolitical shocks.
SCI-TECH 'OneTag' to allow FASTag bank portability
- Enables bank portability via the Rajmargyatra app, keeping the same RFID Tag ID.
- Zero hardware replacement; no re-tagging fees.
- A 6-month cooling period applies between porting requests.
- Rolled out by NHAI + NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).
SCI-TECH Deep Ocean Mission: India eyes deep-sea minerals with Matsya-6000
- Matsya-6000 submersible tested to 5,270 m depth (Samudrayaan).
- India holds 3 ISA exploration contracts over ~95,000 sq km.
- ~366 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules (Ni, Cu, Co, Mn) identified.
- Surveys logged ~1,300 deep-sea species, incl. 23 new to science.
POLITY Uniform Civil Code & Article 44 back in debate
- Article 44 (DPSP) urges a UCC; it is a directive, not judicially enforceable.
- Uttarakhand operationalised a UCC in January 2025.
- Core tension: gender justice vs religious freedom (Art. 25, 29).
- Law Commission (2018) favoured targeted reform over a blanket code.
IR Island-wide blackout hits Cuba
- Nationwide grid failure affected 9 million+ citizens.
- Cuba = largest Caribbean island; capital Havana.
- Borders the Straits of Florida, Caribbean Sea & Gulf of Mexico.
- A unitary socialist republic facing chronic fuel shortages.
20 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet clears ₹42,490 crore development package
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan gets a ₹36,006.22 crore five-year outlay for school education.
- ₹1,166 crore cleared for 11 transport schemes; ₹491 crore for 8 horticulture schemes.
- Over ₹2,600 crore for irrigation at Chitawad (Ujjain), Gaund (Singrauli), Chanderi (Ashoknagar) — covering 1.27 lakh hectares.
- New posts sanctioned for the new districts Maihar, Mauganj and Pandhurna.
SOCIETY Ladli Behna: 40th installment credits ₹1,500 to 1.25 crore women
- ₹1,500 transferred to each of about 1.25 crore women beneficiaries.
- Total outgo of roughly ₹1,835 crore in the 40th installment.
- A ₹250 Raksha Bandhan shagun bonus was added earlier in the year.
- Launched in 2023, the scheme targets women aged 21–60 via DBT into their accounts.
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah turns 4; litter of 4 cubs born at Kuno
- The cubs were born to India-raised female KGP12, extending the first India-born generation.
- The project began on 17 September 2022 with 8 cheetahs from Namibia; 12 more came from South Africa in 2023.
- The cheetah had been declared extinct in India in 1952.
- Range is being expanded to Gandhi Sagar sanctuary and Nauradehi.
ENVIRONMENT MP consolidates its 'Tiger + Cheetah State' tag
- MP has about 785 tigers — the highest of any state (2022 census).
- Major tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay-Dubri.
- It is the only Indian state with wild cheetahs (Kuno).
- MP hosts 9 national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.
ECONOMY MP fixes ₹2,600/quintal wheat MSP; agri economy in focus
- MP wheat MSP procurement has neared a record 85 lakh metric tonnes in recent seasons.
- MP is India's 'Soybean State' and grows the premium Sharbati wheat (GI-tagged).
- Agriculture & allied activities contribute a large share of the state's GSDP.
- Key crops: soybean, wheat, gram/pulses, fed by the Narmada valley.
POLITY Tribal welfare & PESA remain central to MP governance
- MP has the largest ST population in India (about 1.53 crore, over 21% of the state).
- PESA Act, 1996 empowers Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas; MP notified state PESA Rules in 2022.
- Major tribes include Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Sahariya, Korku.
- Welfare runs through forest rights (FRA 2006), tribal sub-plans and residential schooling.
ECONOMY RBI holds repo at 5.25%; August CPI climbs to 4.82%
- Repo rate held at 5.25%; stance neutral.
- CPI inflation rose to 4.82% in August from 4.45% in July.
- Inflation stays within the RBI's 2–6% tolerance band (target 4%).
- The MPC is a 6-member body chaired by the RBI Governor (Sanjay Malhotra).
POLITY PM Modi hands 51,000 appointment letters at Rozgar Mela
- Over 51,000 appointees inducted across central government departments.
- It was the 20th edition of the Rozgar Mela, launched in 2022.
- Recruits join ministries such as Railways, Home Affairs, Posts and Finance.
- New hires begin with the online orientation module Karmayogi Prarambh.
POLITY Active FCRA-registered NGOs fall to 14,466
- Active FCRA NGOs dropped to 14,466 (as of Sept 2026) from 29,022 in 2015 — a fall of over 50%.
- Many registrations lapsed or were cancelled/not renewed.
- FCRA, 2010 (amended 2020) regulates foreign funding of associations.
- The nodal authority is the Ministry of Home Affairs.
ENVIRONMENT PM inaugurates climate & environment conference at Vigyan Bhawan
- The conference focused on climate resilience, ecology and sustainable development.
- India targets net-zero by 2070 under its climate commitments.
- Aligns with LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and updated NDCs.
- Comes amid India's push on renewables and green hydrogen.
IR Global postings: new WFP chief; India names envoy to Cuba
- Luke Lindberg was appointed Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
- The WFP is a UN agency and 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, headquartered in Rome.
- Hansraj Singh Verma named India's next Ambassador to Cuba.
- Such postings reflect India's expanding diplomatic footprint.
SCI-TECH Sci-tech: $1bn AI-safety tie-up; NASA expands SpaceX crew deal
- Anthropic and Accenture committed at least $1 billion each toward independent frontier-AI model evaluation.
- NASA expanded its Commercial Crew contract with SpaceX by $946 million for 3 more Dragon missions.
- The moves signal a push on AI safety and sustained low-Earth-orbit access.
- Independent evaluation aims to test AI models for reliability and risk.
Prelims rapid-fire — 36 facts
| Kuno National Park is in Sheopur district; Gandhi Sagar sanctuary spans Mandsaur & Neemuch. |
| Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover of any Indian state. |
| Sharbati wheat (Sehore-Vidisha belt) carries a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. |
| India's CPI inflation for August 2026 was 4.82%; RBI's tolerance band is 4% ± 2%. |
| The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 replaces the 1891 Act from October 1. |
| Exercise Samudra Laksamana is a bilateral naval exercise of India and Malaysia. |
| Neeraj Chopra won javelin gold at the 2026 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. |
| D. Gukesh retained the World Chess Championship title. |
| Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 — India beat Sri Lanka to lift the title (Dubai). |
| Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 — India–Japan air exercise held at Jodhpur. |
| India's Q1 FY2026-27 GDP grew 7.8% YoY. |
| BRICS now has 10 members; World Ozone Day falls on 16 September. |
| Kuno National Park (Sheopur, MP) hosted India's first wild cheetahs, reintroduced on 17 Sep 2022. |
| MP's Sharbati wheat and Chinnor rice carry GI tags; MP is India's top soybean producer. |
| The EPFO wage ceiling was revised to ₹25,000/month, effective 17 Sep 2026. |
| Article 243ZL is in Part IX-B (Cooperative Societies), added by the 97th Amendment, 2011. |
| India's Q1 FY27 GDP grew 7.8%; the RBI's inflation tolerance band is 2-6%. |
| The SCO secretariat is in Beijing; India became a full member in 2017. |
| Retail inflation eased to 4.82% in August 2026 (food 5.95%). |
| Asian Games 2026 open at Aichi–Nagoya, Japan (19 Sep–4 Oct); India send 508 athletes. |
| 18 September marks International Equal Pay Day and World Bamboo Day. |
| Dhiraj Bommadevara becomes the first Indian man to win the Archery World Cup Final (recurve). |
| MP's Gandhi Sagar WLS (Mandsaur–Neemuch) is India's second cheetah home. |
| MP's e-Mandi system now runs in 259 mandis with about 40 lakh farmers. |
| Project Cheetah completed 4 years (launched 17 Sep 2022 at Kuno, MP). |
| India's CPI inflation = 4.82% in August 2026 (10th straight monthly rise). |
| MP's Ladli Behna 40th installment: ₹1,500 to ~1.25 cr women. |
| Soybean MSP for 2026-27 = ₹5,708/quintal; MP is India's top producer. |
| Matsya-6000 submersible tested to 5,270 m (Deep Ocean Mission). |
| Simhastha Kumbh at Ujjain (Kshipra) recurs every 12 years; next in 2028. |
| Kuno National Park — India's only cheetah habitat — is in Sheopur district of MP. |
| MP's Rewa Ultra Mega Solar is one of India's largest solar parks. |
| The Narmada is MP's lifeline river; the Sardar Sarovar dam is on it. |
| Sharbati wheat (Sehore/Vidisha belt) carries a GI tag for its quality. |
| RBI repo rate stands at 5.25%; the current Governor is Sanjay Malhotra. |
| India's CPI basket has a ~46% weight for food & beverages. |
Data points of the period
4.82%
India Retail Inflation (CPI), August 2026
Consumer Price Index inflation rose to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.44% in July — the highest since December 2024 — with food inflation at 5.95%. It stays within the RBI's 4% (±2%) tolerance band.
Consumer Price Index inflation rose to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.44% in July — the highest since December 2024 — with food inflation at 5.95%. It stays within the RBI's 4% (±2%) tolerance band.
₹1,99,853 crore
August 2026 GST collection
Up 14.8% YoY over August 2025 (₹1.74 lakh cr). Domestic GST ₹1.37 lakh cr (+9.3%); import GST ₹62,604 cr (+29%). Cumulative Apr–Aug 2026: ₹10.42 lakh crore.
Up 14.8% YoY over August 2025 (₹1.74 lakh cr). Domestic GST ₹1.37 lakh cr (+9.3%); import GST ₹62,604 cr (+29%). Cumulative Apr–Aug 2026: ₹10.42 lakh crore.
₹30.77 lakh crore
MP investment intent — Global Investors Summit 2025
Record investment MoUs/intentions attracted at the Bhopal Global Investors Summit (Feb 2025); MP's task now is to convert these into ground-level industrial projects and jobs.
Record investment MoUs/intentions attracted at the Bhopal Global Investors Summit (Feb 2025); MP's task now is to convert these into ground-level industrial projects and jobs.
₹600 cr → ₹27,000+ cr
MP farm budget & the ‘Soybean State’
MP's agriculture budget grew from about ₹600 crore (2002-03) to over ₹27,000 crore (2024-25); 2026 is the state's ‘Year of Agriculture’ and MP leads India in soybean output (the ‘Soybean State’).
MP's agriculture budget grew from about ₹600 crore (2002-03) to over ₹27,000 crore (2024-25); 2026 is the state's ‘Year of Agriculture’ and MP leads India in soybean output (the ‘Soybean State’).
4.82%
CPI retail inflation (August 2026)
Retail inflation rose for the 10th straight month in August 2026, staying above the RBI's 4% target but within the 2-6% tolerance band. RBI's FY27 forecast is ~4.6%. Food and services prices were the key drivers.
Retail inflation rose for the 10th straight month in August 2026, staying above the RBI's 4% target but within the 2-6% tolerance band. RBI's FY27 forecast is ~4.6%. Food and services prices were the key drivers.
~85 lakh MT
MP MSP wheat procurement (record)
Madhya Pradesh's MSP wheat procurement has neared a record 85 lakh metric tonnes, underscoring its role as a top wheat-procuring state, with Rabi 2026–27 wheat priced at ₹2,600/quintal.
Madhya Pradesh's MSP wheat procurement has neared a record 85 lakh metric tonnes, underscoring its role as a top wheat-procuring state, with Rabi 2026–27 wheat priced at ₹2,600/quintal.
12 practice MCQs — MPPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, MP. 2. The first cheetahs were brought from Namibia. 3. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as a second home. Which of the statements are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
Project Cheetah began at Kuno (Sheopur) on 17 Sep 2022 with 8 Namibian cheetahs; Gandhi Sagar (Mandsaur-Neemuch) is the second planned habitat. All three are correct.
Project Cheetah began at Kuno (Sheopur) on 17 Sep 2022 with 8 Namibian cheetahs; Gandhi Sagar (Mandsaur-Neemuch) is the second planned habitat. All three are correct.
Q2. With reference to India's retail inflation (CPI), consider the following: 1. It is compiled by the National Statistical Office (MoSPI). 2. The RBI's inflation tolerance band is 2% to 6%. 3. The August 2026 CPI print was 4.82%. Which are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
CPI is released by NSO/MoSPI; the RBI's flexible inflation target is 4% with a 2%-6% band; the August 2026 reading was 4.82%. All correct.
CPI is released by NSO/MoSPI; the RBI's flexible inflation target is 4% with a 2%-6% band; the August 2026 reading was 4.82%. All correct.
Q3. Consider the following statements about Project Cheetah: 1) It was launched at Kuno National Park. 2) Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in MP is being developed as a second home for cheetahs. 3) The cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa. Which of the statements are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
All three are correct. Project Cheetah began at Kuno (Sheopur, MP) on 17 Sep 2022 with cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, and Gandhi Sagar WLS is the designated second site.
All three are correct. Project Cheetah began at Kuno (Sheopur, MP) on 17 Sep 2022 with cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, and Gandhi Sagar WLS is the designated second site.
Q4. The 'Ladli Behna Yojana', frequently in the news, is best described as which of the following?
- A Rajasthan crop-insurance scheme
- A Madhya Pradesh monthly cash-transfer scheme for women
- An Uttar Pradesh girl-child education scheme
- A Bihar bicycle-distribution scheme
Show answer
Answer: B
Ladli Behna Yojana is a Madhya Pradesh Direct Benefit Transfer scheme giving eligible women a monthly cash transfer (currently ₹1,500), with a stated roadmap toward ₹3,000.
Ladli Behna Yojana is a Madhya Pradesh Direct Benefit Transfer scheme giving eligible women a monthly cash transfer (currently ₹1,500), with a stated roadmap toward ₹3,000.
Q5. Consider the following about Project Cheetah: 1) It is the world's first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore. 2) The cheetahs were first released at Kanha National Park. 3) The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Which of the above are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: A
Cheetahs were first released at Kuno National Park, not Kanha, so statement 2 is wrong. Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Cheetahs were first released at Kuno National Park, not Kanha, so statement 2 is wrong. Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Q6. With reference to the EPFO, consider: 1) It administers the Employees' Pension Scheme. 2) Its wage ceiling was raised to ₹25,000 per month in September 2026. 3) It functions under the Ministry of Finance. Which are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: A
EPFO works under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, not Finance, so statement 3 is wrong. Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
EPFO works under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, not Finance, so statement 3 is wrong. Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Q7. Which of the following (product – district) is correctly matched among Madhya Pradesh's 2026 GI-tagged horticultural crops?
- Noorjahan Mango – Alirajpur
- Khargone Red Chilli – Betul
- Barman Brinjal – Guna
- Kumbhraj Coriander – Seoni
Show answer
Answer: A
Noorjahan Mango is from Alirajpur. Khargone Red Chilli is from Khargone, Barman Brinjal from Narsinghpur, and Kumbhraj Coriander from Guna.
Noorjahan Mango is from Alirajpur. Khargone Red Chilli is from Khargone, Barman Brinjal from Narsinghpur, and Kumbhraj Coriander from Guna.
Q8. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider: (1) It was launched at Kuno National Park in 2022. (2) Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as a second cheetah home in MP. Which is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: C
Both are correct: Project Cheetah began at Kuno NP (Sheopur) in September 2022, and Gandhi Sagar WLS (Mandsaur–Neemuch) is the designated second habitat.
Both are correct: Project Cheetah began at Kuno NP (Sheopur) in September 2022, and Gandhi Sagar WLS (Mandsaur–Neemuch) is the designated second habitat.
Q9. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following statements: 1) It was launched at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. 2) The first cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa. 3) The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Which of the above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
All three are correct. Kuno (MP) hosted the launch on 17 Sep 2022; the first cheetahs came from Namibia (2022) and South Africa (2023); India declared the cheetah extinct in 1952.
All three are correct. Kuno (MP) hosted the launch on 17 Sep 2022; the first cheetahs came from Namibia (2022) and South Africa (2023); India declared the cheetah extinct in 1952.
Q10. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops is recommended by which of the following bodies?
- NITI Aayog
- Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
- Reserve Bank of India
- Food Corporation of India
Show answer
Answer: B
MSP is recommended by the CACP (under the Ministry of Agriculture) and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. FCI is the procurement/storage agency.
MSP is recommended by the CACP (under the Ministry of Agriculture) and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. FCI is the procurement/storage agency.
Q11. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following: 1) It began in September 2022 with cheetahs from Namibia. 2) Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh. 3) The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Which are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
All three are correct: Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022 with 8 Namibian cheetahs at Kuno NP (MP); the cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.
All three are correct: Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022 with 8 Namibian cheetahs at Kuno NP (MP); the cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.
Q12. The Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana of Madhya Pradesh is best described as:
- A crop insurance scheme for women farmers
- A monthly Direct Benefit Transfer to eligible women
- A free-education scheme for the girl child
- A housing subsidy for rural women
Show answer
Answer: B
Ladli Behna provides a monthly DBT (currently ₹1,500) to eligible women aged 21–60, launched in 2023.
Ladli Behna provides a monthly DBT (currently ₹1,500) to eligible women aged 21–60, launched in 2023.
Mains practice questions
- Madhya Pradesh's simultaneous pursuit of large welfare transfers (e.g., Ladli Behna) and a ₹41,000 crore asset-creating development package reflects a balance between direct benefit transfers and capital investment. Critically examine this fiscal strategy for a state economy. (250 words)
- Madhya Pradesh's development model increasingly rests on large welfare cash transfers alongside heavy capital spending. Examine the fiscal-sustainability and social-justice implications, drawing on recent state cabinet decisions. (250 words)
- Project Cheetah has been described as both an ecological experiment and a governance challenge. In the light of four years of implementation in Madhya Pradesh, examine its achievements and the challenges of sustaining a wild cheetah population. (250 words)
- Madhya Pradesh's new Sugam Parivahan Bus Seva and its record 12 GI tags reflect a governance approach that ties public-service delivery to the rural economy. Examine.
- 'Madhya Pradesh has emerged as India's laboratory for both wildlife conservation and welfare delivery.' Examine with reference to Project Cheetah and the state's flagship welfare schemes.
- "Direct Benefit Transfer schemes for women, such as Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana, are politically popular but fiscally demanding." Critically examine. (250 words)
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