Today important Current Affairs – 9 September 2026, Daily current affairs for preparation of UPSC, SSC, Bank, RRB, UPSSSC competitive exams. Compiled from official public sources.
Awards and Honors
Former CJI Justice Dipak Misra Conferred with Kalinga Ratna Award in Cuttack
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dipak Misra has been conferred with the Kalinga Ratna Award by Sarala Sahitya Sansad in Cuttack on 9 September 2026.
- The award comprises a silver idol of Goddess Saraswati and a citation.
- Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mishra said a person may travel far in life, but the soil of birth continues to shape memory, identity and cultural inheritance.
- Turning to the Constitution, Justice Misra described fraternity in the Preamble as a living moral bond that rises above caste, creed, language and social status.
- The dignity of an individual, he emphasised, could never be protected by diminishing another’s dignity.
5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards conferred on Best Performing Cities and Wards on Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026; Compendium of Best Management Practices under NCAP released
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized the Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026 on 7 September 2026, on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
- The event was presided over by Chairperson, National Green Tribunal (NGT), Justice Prakash Shrivastava as Chief Guest.
- Other dignitaries gracing the occasion included Secretary (EFCC), Shri Tanmay Kumar; Chairperson (CAQM), Shri Rajesh Verma; DG (Forest) and Special Secretary (EFCC), Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi; Chairperson (CPCB), Shri Amandeep Garg; and AS (EFCC), Shri Ashutosh Agnihotri.
- Officials from Union Ministries, Multilateral organisations, Mayors, District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners of award-winning Cities and wards, besides officials from MoEFCC, CPCB and CAQM were present.
- In his address, Justice Shrivastava appreciated the efforts of Union and State Governments under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
National
AIR DEFENCE EXERCISE WITH JASDF: EX VEER GUARDIAN-2026
Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) will conduct bilateral Air Exercise, Veer Guardian-2026, at Air Force Station Jodhpur, from 09 Sep 26 to 22 Sep 2026.
- The Indian Air Force will participate with a diverse mix of frontline combat aircraft including indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30 MKl and Rafale.
- During the fourteen-day exercise, participating air warriors will undertake advanced operational missions and engage in extensive professional interactions.
- The program integrates mission planning conferences, subject matter expert exchanges, and interaction between personnel on engineering and aspects of aerospace safety, fostering deep operational synergy between the two Air Forces.
- Exercise Veer Guardian-26 reflects a deepening strategic partnership between India and Japan by enhancing tactical proficiency and aerospace operational synergy.
India steps up deep-sea mining push to secure critical minerals and strengthen Blue Economy
08/09/26 | 11:27 pm | Blue Economy | critical minerals | deep sea mining | Ministry of Earth Sciences | MoES | National Institute of Ocean Technology | NIOT India is stepping up efforts to develop deep-sea mining capabilities as part of its strategy to secure critical mineral supplies and strengthen its position in the emerging Blue Economy on 8 September 2026.
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), in association with knowledge partner EY and NITI Aayog, organised a high-level industry outreach workshop on “Deep Sea Mining – Business Opportunities and Strategic Importance” at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
- The workshop brought together policymakers, regulators, technology developers, research institutions and financial leaders from India and abroad to explore opportunities for greater private-sector participation in deep-sea mining and the development of an integrated maritime industrial ecosystem.
- Deep-sea mining is gaining strategic importance as critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese are essential for clean-energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, high-computing systems and electric mobility.
- The government sees alternative sources of these minerals as important for strengthening India’s long-term economic and geopolitical security amid growing global demand and supply-chain uncertainties.
Economy
Automobile retail sales rise by 17.51% to hit record 24.23 lakh units in August this year
The country’s automobile retail sales rose 17.51 per cent year on year to over 24 lakh units in August this year, according to a report released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations on 8 September 2026.
Important Days
International Literacy Day observed today with focus on literacy for people, planet and prosperity
The Day is celebrated on the 8th of September every year to remind everyone of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies on 8 September 2026.
- This year the theme for International Literacy Day is “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity”.
- Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 during the 14th session of its General Conference, International Literacy Day provides an opportunity to review progress, deepen understanding of persistent and emerging challenges, and shape future literacy agendas in a rapidly changing world.
- To mark the International Literacy Day 2026, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Government of Mexico, is organising a global celebration on “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity” in Mexico.
- The event will also feature the presentation of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.
International
US Says, it destroyed 5 Iranian oil tankers in Persian Gulf after attacks on American warship
Tensions across West Asia have escalated sharply as the United States and Iran continue to exchange strikes, raising fears of a wider regional conflict on 9 September 2026.
Science and Technology
Scientists uncover a way to outsmart quantum entanglement loss with a single move
Scientists have found a way to preserve entanglement for an extended period by applying a well-timed flip operation, demonstrating that when to act is as important as what operation to apply in quantum systems on 8 September 2026.
- The trick could help fragile quantum links inside future quantum computers survive longer — without changing the hardware at all.
- Entanglement is a property that intertwines the state of one particle with another far-flung particle.
- However, entanglement can decay or weaken when it interacts with the environment.
- An operation on one will affect the other in the same way even though they are in different environments.
Sports
503-member Indian contingent receives grand send-off for Asian Games 2026
08/09/26 | 10:43 pm | Asian Games 2026 | Indian contingent | Mansukh Mandaviya | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports The 503-member Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026 received a grand send-off in New Delhi on Tuesday, with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr.
- Mansukh Mandaviya urging athletes to turn pressure into performance and opportunities into achievements.
- Mandaviya, along with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T.
- Usha, Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao and Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav, unveiled the official contingent jersey in the presence of athletes and support staff.
- Expressing confidence in India’s performance at the Games, Mandaviya said, “I have complete faith that our contingent will perform well at the Asian Games and increase the pride of the country.” He stressed that success in sport goes beyond individual achievement and contributes to national pride.