Daily Current Affairs for Uttar Pradesh PSC (UPPCS)
UPPSC Current Affairs — 18 September 2026
UP Cabinet extends Ganga Expressway to Haridwar and clears a ~₹24,000 crore expressway-and-industry package; one lakh government jobs to be filled from Sep 19; EPFO wage ceiling raised to ₹25,000.
Friday, 18 September 2026 · IST · Uttar Pradesh + National · 9 items · 2 MCQs
The UP Cabinet's September package headlines the day — extending the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar (₹10,761 crore) and clearing 11 industrial projects, alongside flagship youth, women and artisan welfare schemes. The state also announced recruitment of one lakh youth within six months from September 19. Nationally, the Union Cabinet raised the EPFO wage ceiling to ₹25,000, UPI stayed charge-free up to ₹2,000, and SEMICON India 2026 was inaugurated in New Delhi.
Today at a glance — things to remember
Ganga Expressway to be extended to Haridwar — six-lane greenfield corridor at ₹10,761 crore.
UP Cabinet clears a ~₹24,000 crore package of expressways and 11 industrial projects.
One lakh government jobs in six months; recruitment from Sep 19, with 77,000 in Police & Home Guards.
Cabinet approves 25 lakh free tablets (Yuva Sashaktikaran), free bus travel for women aged 60+, and Vishwakarma Shram Samman 2.0.
Social-security widened — 1.10 crore seniors, destitute women and PwD get ₹12,000/year pension; coverage to rise.
UPITS 4.0 at Greater Noida on Sep 25-29, 2026 showcases ODOP products and MSMEs.
Union Cabinet raises EPFO wage ceiling to ₹25,000 (from ₹15,000) — first revision since 2014.
PM inaugurates SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi — 600+ exhibitors, 12 chip projects approved.
India signs the India–MERCOSUR First Additional Protocol; 2027 declared Year of India–Vietnam Friendship.
The UP Cabinet cleared extending the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar, linking two major Ganga-side Kumbh cities.
Key facts
Six-lane greenfield corridor, expandable to eight lanes.
Estimated cost ₹10,761 crore; a detailed project report (DPR) is to be prepared.
Extends the Meerut end onward to Haridwar (Uttarakhand).
Cuts UP–Uttarakhand travel time and boosts religious tourism.
Way forward
Creates a continuous Prayagraj–Haridwar access-controlled corridor, deepening the Ganga-belt road grid.
Concept
UPEIDA (UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority) is the nodal agency for the state's expressways; the Ganga Expressway runs Meerut–Prayagraj (~594 km).
Corridor schematic showing Prayagraj–Meerut–new link–Haridwar with cost, lane and Kumbh-city facts. — StudyForGS
Q1. The Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana, approved by the UP Cabinet, primarily provides:
Free tablets to students
Free UPSRTC bus travel to women aged 60 and above
Interest-free loans to artisans
Old-age pension to farmers
Show answer
Answer: B It grants lifetime free travel on UPSRTC buses to women aged 60+, benefiting over 1 crore women.
Q2. The EPFO mandatory wage ceiling was recently revised to:
₹18,000 per month
₹21,000 per month
₹25,000 per month
₹30,000 per month
Show answer
Answer: C The Union Cabinet raised it from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000/month — the first revision since 2014.
Mains practice question
Q. “Uttar Pradesh's expressway network is increasingly being leveraged as a backbone for industrial corridors.” Discuss with recent examples. (GS-III)
Hint / approach
Link the Ganga and Jhansi Link Expressways to the BIDA/defence corridor and logistics clusters; cover investment, jobs, regional balance (Bundelkhand, Purvanchal) and ODOP linkage.
📌 One-line revision: Ganga Expressway → Haridwar (₹10,761 crore) • 1 lakh UP jobs from Sep 19 • 25 lakh free tablets • EPFO ceiling ₹15k→₹25k • UPITS 4.0 Sep 25-29 at Greater Noida.
