🔥 UPSC/PCS Current Affairs | 20 September 2026

1. India’s Climate Commitments, NDCs & Paris Agreement

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s climate record at an international conference organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). He argued that the carbon-emissions burden has often been unfairly placed on developing countries and highlighted India’s progress under the Paris Climate Agreement.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Climate Justice, CBDR, Carbon Sink, Renewable Energy and India’s Climate Policy.

Prelims Facts

• India’s first NDC contained three major quantitative targets.
• India has already achieved its emissions-intensity and non-fossil electricity-capacity targets ahead of schedule.
• Non-fossil sources accounted for about 52.57% of installed electricity capacity by February 2026.
• India’s target is to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030 through additional forest and tree cover.
• India reported an additional carbon sink of about 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent between 2005 and 2021.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Environment, Climate Change and Energy

Revision Note: India’s climate diplomacy combines development needs, climate justice, renewable-energy expansion and differentiated historical responsibility.

2. El Niño: Scientists Call for Greater Preparedness

Why in News?

A group of 188 Indian scientists and ecologists called for greater preparedness for the possible effects of El Niño, as abnormal warming continues in the Pacific Ocean.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for ENSO, El Niño, La Niña, Indian Monsoon, Agriculture, Drought, Heatwaves and Climate Variability.

Prelims Facts

• El Niño is associated with abnormal warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
• El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
• The newspaper reported Pacific temperatures exceeding the relevant 0.5°C threshold.
• El Niño can influence India’s monsoon, agriculture, temperature and water availability.

Mains Perspective

GS-I: Geography
GS-III: Environment and Disaster Management

Revision Note: ENSO demonstrates how ocean-atmosphere interactions in the Pacific can influence rainfall, food security and disaster risk in India.

3. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) & Electoral-Roll Appeals

Why in News?

The Election Commission informed the Supreme Court that more than 22 lakh voters excluded from West Bengal’s electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision had filed appeals challenging their exclusion.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Election Commission of India, Electoral Rolls, Article 324, Representation of the People Act, Voting Rights, Electoral Administration and Free & Fair Elections.

Prelims Facts

• About 22.21 lakh appeals were filed against exclusion.
• About 16.10 lakh appeals were filed against inclusion.
• A total of approximately 38.31 lakh appeals were filed before the tribunals.
• The cases were being handled by 19 Appellate Tribunals.
• More than 37 lakh appeals remained pending.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Constitution, Elections and Governance

Revision Note: Electoral-roll revision must balance accuracy of voter lists with due process, transparency and protection against wrongful exclusion.

4. Shahzad Bhatti Network Designated Terrorist Organisation under UAPA

Why in News?

The Union Home Ministry designated the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Security agencies have linked the network to cross-border terror activities, organised crime and online recruitment.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for UAPA, Internal Security, Terror Financing, Cross-Border Terrorism, Social-Media Radicalisation and Organised Crime. It has additional relevance for Punjab PCS.

Prelims Facts

• The UAPA was enacted in 1967.
• Section 35 empowers the Union government to designate organisations as terrorist organisations.
• SBN became the 46th outfit designated as a terrorist organisation under the relevant UAPA framework, according to the report.
• The network allegedly used social media to recruit economically vulnerable youth.
• The report linked its activities with arms, explosives and narcotics smuggling across the border.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Internal Security and Terrorism

Revision Note: Contemporary terrorism increasingly combines organised crime, social-media recruitment, cross-border networks and illicit financing.

5. India-Pakistan Naval Incident & 1991 Agreement

Why in News?

A recent India-Pakistan naval incident in the North Arabian Sea has brought attention to bilateral confidence-building arrangements intended to prevent dangerous manoeuvres and miscalculations between military vessels.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for India-Pakistan Relations, Maritime Security, Confidence-Building Measures, Arabian Sea and Naval Diplomacy.

Prelims Facts

• The relevant bilateral framework dates to 1991.
• Article 10 contains provisions aimed at reducing dangerous military manoeuvres and miscalculation.
• The provision is a bilateral India-Pakistan requirement, not a universal international rule applicable to all warships.
• A similar reported naval incident occurred in 2011 involving INS Godavari and PNS Babur.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: India and its Neighbourhood
GS-III: Maritime and National Security

Revision Note: Military confidence-building measures are important for preventing accidental escalation between nuclear-armed neighbours.

6. U.S. Sanctions on Russia & Implications for India

Why in News?

The U.S. President signed legislation authorising new sanctions intended to increase pressure on Russia over the Ukraine war. The development has implications for countries maintaining major economic and energy ties with Russia, including India.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for India-U.S. Relations, India-Russia Relations, Strategic Autonomy, Energy Security, Economic Sanctions and Geoeconomics.

Prelims Facts

• Economic sanctions can include restrictions on trade, finance, investment, technology and transactions.
• Secondary sanctions can potentially affect entities in third countries dealing with sanctioned actors.
• Russia remains important to India in areas including energy and defence cooperation.
• The issue tests India’s policy of strategic autonomy.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations
GS-III: Energy Security

Revision Note: India must balance energy and strategic interests with relations with major Western partners while navigating sanctions regimes.

7. U.S.-Denmark-Greenland Security Deal & Arctic Geopolitics

Why in News?

The U.S., Denmark and Greenland announced an agreement in principle concerning an expanded American military presence in Greenland, while Denmark and Greenland stressed that their sovereignty and territorial integrity would not be compromised.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Arctic Geopolitics, NATO, Greenland, Denmark, Strategic Resources, Emerging Sea Routes and Great-Power Competition.

Prelims Facts

• Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
• It is strategically located between the Arctic and North Atlantic.
• Arctic geopolitics is increasingly shaped by security, resources and emerging shipping routes.
• Denmark is a member of NATO.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations
GS-I: World Geography

Revision Note: Climate change and strategic competition are transforming the Arctic from a remote region into an increasingly important geopolitical space.

8. Antimicrobial Resistance: Kerala Surveillance Report

Why in News?

Kerala’s antimicrobial-resistance surveillance report found widespread prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria across hospitals and also highlighted resistance among some community-acquired pathogens.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Antimicrobial Resistance, Public Health, One Health Approach, Antibiotic Stewardship and Health Governance.

Prelims Facts

• The surveillance network analysed data from 55 laboratories across 14 districts.
• The report covered 65,849 unique-patient isolates of nine priority pathogens in 2025.
• E. coli accounted for the largest share of isolates, followed by Klebsiella species.
• AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve and become resistant to antimicrobial medicines.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Health and Governance
GS-III: Science & Technology

Revision Note: AMR is a One Health challenge requiring coordinated action across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment.

9. U.S. Extends $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Order

Why in News?

The U.S. administration extended for another year an executive order seeking a $100,000 fee for H-1B non-immigrant visas, while also tightening scrutiny of applications.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for India-U.S. Relations, Skilled Migration, Indian IT Sector, Labour Mobility and Immigration Policy.

Prelims Facts

• The H-1B programme allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialised occupations.
• Indians are the largest beneficiary group of the programme, according to the report.
• The proposed fee is $100,000.
• The original fee-hike order was issued in September 2025 and has faced legal challenges.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: India-U.S. Relations
GS-III: Economy and Services Sector

Revision Note: Changes in skilled-migration policy can directly affect India’s technology workforce, services trade and people-to-people economic ties with the U.S..

10. Western Ghats & Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Why in News?

Debate over the Centre’s draft notification proposing Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) across parts of the Western Ghats has resurfaced in Karnataka, with concerns about the impact on traditional cultivators and local communities.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for Western Ghats, Ecologically Sensitive Areas, Kasturirangan Committee, Biodiversity Conservation and Environment-Development Conflict.

Prelims Facts

• The Western Ghats are a globally important biodiversity hotspot.
• The K. Kasturirangan Committee examined conservation and development issues in the Western Ghats.
• Ecologically Sensitive Areas are intended to provide additional environmental safeguards to vulnerable landscapes.
• The current debate includes concerns over human habitations, cultivated land and traditional livelihoods.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation

Revision Note: Western Ghats conservation illustrates the challenge of balancing ecological security with livelihoods and sustainable development.

📰 Editorial Focus – Climate Justice, NDCs & India’s Development Path

Editorial Theme

The climate debate increasingly revolves around how the burden of emission reduction should be distributed between developed and developing countries, while ensuring adequate development space for the Global South.

Key Issues

• Climate Justice
• Historical Responsibility
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
• Nationally Determined Contributions
• Paris Agreement
• Renewable Energy
• Carbon Sinks
• Climate Finance
• Global South

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Environmental Cooperation
GS-III: Environment and Climate Change

Mains Takeaway: Effective climate action requires a balance between ambitious mitigation, historical responsibility, climate finance and the developmental needs of emerging economies.

⚡ Prelims Concept – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Know the Concept

• NDCs are national climate-action commitments submitted under the Paris Agreement.
• They contain measures countries intend to take to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
• The Paris framework follows a bottom-up approach: countries determine their own national commitments.
• NDC ambition is expected to increase progressively over time.
• India’s climate commitments include emissions-intensity reduction, expansion of non-fossil electricity capacity and enhancement of carbon sinks.

Prelims Trap: NDCs are nationally determined commitments; the Paris Agreement does not impose an identical numerical emission-reduction target on every country.

🔥 Most Important Topics for UPSC/PCS Today

• India’s Climate Commitments, NDCs & Paris Agreement
• El Niño & Indian Monsoon
• SIR, Election Commission & Electoral Rolls
• Shahzad Bhatti Network & UAPA
• India-Pakistan Naval Incident & 1991 Agreement
• U.S.-Russia Sanctions & India’s Strategic Autonomy
• Greenland & Arctic Geopolitics
• Antimicrobial Resistance & One Health
• H-1B Visa Policy & India-U.S. Relations
• Western Ghats & Ecologically Sensitive Areas

One-Line Fact:
India’s non-fossil sources accounted for 52.57% of total installed electricity capacity by February 2026.

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