UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 24-09-2026

One Liners 24-09-2026

Geography

EU’s First Full-Scale CO₂ Storage Facility

Denmark has inaugurated the Greensand carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, operated by INEOS, which began storing CO₂ beneath the North Sea on September 18, 2026.

• It is the EU’s first full-scale CO₂ storage site and integrated value chain.
• Location and Capacity – Located about 200 km off Denmark’s west coast, the project stores CO₂ beneath the former Nini West oil platform.
• Its initial capacity is 400,000 tonnes annually, with plans to reach 4–8 million tonnes per year by 2030.
• Transport and EU Target – CO₂ will mainly come from Danish biomethane plants and be transported by ship from Esbjerg. The EU aims for 50 million tonnes of annual CO₂ storage capacity by 2030.

International Relations and Issues

V4+India Foreign Ministers'

The first V4+India Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

• The Participants – Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with foreign ministers and deputy prime ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4)—comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.
• The meeting took place under the Slovak Presidency of the V4.
• Significance – S. Jaishankar called the inaugural session a "new historic occasion" as it marks the official start of structured, high-level diplomatic engagement between India and the V4 nations as a collective group.
• Key Outcomes and Agreements
• Regular Dialogues – The ministers agreed to hold annual foreign ministers' meetings and establish an Annual Business Forum to boost economic and corporate ties.
• Core Areas of Cooperation – Discussions focused on expanding partnerships in trade, technology, innovation, resilient supply chains, research and education, defence, space, connectivity, and people-to-people mobility.
• Global Issues & UNSC Support – The leaders exchanged views on global challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine and developments in the Gulf.
• Significantly, the V4 countries expressed backing for India's bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The 25th Ministers Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

The 25^th meeting of SCO Ministers Responsible for Foreign Economic and Trade Activities was held on September 17, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

• Key Highlights & Discussions
• India's Three Pillars – India emphasized Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity as the core framework for advancing regional economic cooperation.
• Trade Facilitation – India advocated for paperless trade, digitalized customs procedures, and reduced transit costs to boost intra-SCO trade.
• Resilient Value Chains – Discussions prioritized strengthening collaboration in critical sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and green energy.
• MSMEs and Start-ups – The delegation underscored the importance of digital payments and better trade finance access to integrate smaller enterprises into regional commerce.
• Key Outcomes & Deliverables

• Action Plan 2026–2030 – Ministers agreed on the implementation action plan for multilateral trade and economic cooperation, which will be forwarded to the SCO Council of Heads of Government.

• Creative Economy – Approval was granted for establishing a Special Working Group on the Development of the Creative Economy.

• Future Venue – Uzbekistan was announced as the host for the subsequent ministerial meeting in 2027.

L.69 Consultative Ministerial Interaction on UN Security Council (UNSC)

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar co-chaired the L.69 Consultative Ministerial Interaction on UN Security Council (UNSC) reform with Saint Lucia’s Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste.

• Concerns of the Global South – Jaishankar said the Global South is disproportionately affected by major global changes, while the UN has often fallen short of expectations.
• He highlighted the UNSC’s difficulties in addressing ongoing conflicts and threats to international peace and security.
• Ending Historical Injustice – He stressed that delaying UNSC reform perpetuates historical injustice and called for greater urgency in the reform process.
• Members of the L.69 and C-10 groups are working together to push for comprehensive reform.
• L.69 and C-10
• L.69 – A cross-regional coalition of developing countries seeking comprehensive UNSC reform.
• C-10 – A group of 10 African countries advocating the African Union’s Common African Position on UNSC reform.

Health

India’s Commitment to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis

India has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030.

Key Measures Taken by India

• Antenatal screening to detect hepatitis infection during pregnancy.
• Hepatitis B vaccination to prevent new infections.
• Free diagnosis and treatment for affected people.
• Safe blood transfusion services to reduce transmission.
• Counselling and rehabilitation for people who inject drugs.
• Greater emphasis on equitable access to testing and treatment and stronger health systems.
• What is Hepatitis?
• Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by viruses, alcohol, certain medicines, toxins or other medical conditions.
• Viral hepatitis is caused by hepatitis viruses and can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
• Why Hepatitis B and C Matter?
• Hepatitis B and C are particularly important because they can become chronic infections.
• Over time, chronic infection can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.
• Many infected people may have few or no symptoms initially, making screening and early diagnosis important.
• India’s strategy therefore focuses on the entire chain—from prevention and vaccination to testing, treatment and long-term care—to achieve the 2030 elimination target.

Energy

Ultra-Supercritical Thermal Power Plant at Chapar

The Ultra-Supercritical Thermal Power Plant at Chapar in the Dhubri district of Assam is a major upcoming energy project.

• Once completed, it will become the largest power generation asset and project in Northeast India, surpassing the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project.
• Developer – Adani Power Limited
• Capacity – 3,200 MW (comprising four units of 800 MW each)
• Investment – Rs.48,000 crore (part of a broader ₹63,000-crore energy investment plan by the group in Assam that also includes pumped storage plants)
• Timeline – Commissioning is planned in phases starting from December 2030.

• Technology and Significance

• Ultra-Supercritical Technology – The plant uses advanced ultra-supercritical steam parameters, operating at higher temperatures and pressures than conventional subcritical coal plants.
• This increases thermal efficiency and lowers fuel consumption and emissions per megawatt-hour produced, though it remains a coal-based generation source.
• Energy Security – The facility aims to deliver reliable and affordable power to meet growing residential, commercial, and industrial electricity demands across Assam and the wider northeastern grid.
• Economic Impact – The project is projected to create thousands of jobs during construction (up to 20,000) and several thousand operational roles, while stimulating local MSMEs, suppliers, and state revenue through SGST.

Environment

Hazaribagh Emerges as Vulture Safe Haven

A 100-km radius around Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, is emerging as a safe habitat for vultures.

• Conservation and Breeding Centre Proposed – The Jharkhand Forest Department has proposed a conservation-cum-breeding centre in Hazaribagh. of India’s nine vulture species are reportedly found in Hazaribagh,

• The proposal has been submitted to the government and is expected to be implemented soon.
• The initiative aims to strengthen vulture conservation and increase their population.
• Evidence of Natural Breeding

• Forest officials have observed increasing vulture activity in Hazaribagh’s forests.
• The presence of young vultures suggests that the birds may be breeding naturally in the region.
• Mahavar Hill is identified as a traditional vulture habitat, offering feeding areas and safe roosting sites.
• Proposed 100-km Vulture Safe Zone

• The Forest Department, Reliance Foundation and NGO New Foundation are working to develop the wider region as a vulture safe zone.
• The proposed zone would cover parts of:
  • Jharkhand: Hazaribagh, Chatra, Latehar, Lohardaga, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Giridih and Koderma
  • West Bengal: Purulia
  • Bihar: Nawada and Gaya

Science

Digital Communications Commission DissolvedSample

The Government of India has dissolved the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) through a notification dated September 19. The decision takes effect from the date of publication.

• 37 Years of Telecom Decision-Making – Originally established as the Telecom Commission in 1989, it was renamed the DCC in 2018.
• It served as an apex inter-departmental body handling major telecom policy and financially significant matters.
• Role in Telecom Policy – The DCC included senior officials from various government departments and helped resolve key issues before they went to the Cabinet.
• It dealt with matters such as spectrum pricing and recommendations from TRAI.
• Final Meeting and Satcom – The Commission held its last meeting on September 3, approving recommendations on satellite communication spectrum.
• Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications have received permission to provide satcom services, subject to spectrum allocation and security clearances.

Sports

India’s first-ever medal in soft tennis

India's Jay Meena made history at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games by winning the country's first-ever medal in soft tennis.

• The 26-year-old athlete from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, secured a bronze medal in the men's singles event.
• Journey to the Podium – Jay Meena's path to the historic medal was filled with grit and determination
• Quarter-final Thriller – He overcame the Philippines' Sherwin Nuguit 4-3 in a tense seven-game match to guarantee a podium finish.
• Semi-final Clash – He faced Japan's Takuya Kurosaka in the semi-finals, staging a strong fightback after dropping the early games before losing 2-4 to take home the bronze.
• Background – Initially dreaming of becoming a cricket player, Meena discovered soft tennis as a school ball boy in Dewas before rising through national and international ranks.

Miscellaneous

International Day of Sign Languages

The International Day of Sign Languages was observed globally on September 23, 2026.

• This annual UN-recognized day highlights the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.
• 2026 Theme & Significance
• Theme – "Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights"
• Core Focus – Calling for action to make the rights of Deaf people a reality in all areas of life, driven primarily by access through national sign languages.
• Milestones – The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and 20 years since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

World Maritime Day 2026

World Maritime Day 2026 is celebrated on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

• It is focusing on the critical importance of turning international shipping regulations into real-world implementations.

• Official Theme – "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence" (running as a two-year focus for 2026–2027).
• Core Goal – Highlighting the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) dedication to incorporating globally agreed standards into national legislation and applying them consistently.
• Key Challenges – Addressing safety strains from geopolitical tensions, protecting seafarers in active conflict zones, and pushing for sustainable energy transitions.