In Current Affairs for 23 September 2026, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 23 September 2026
International Day of Sign Languages 2026
The International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated every year on 23 September to highlight the importance of sign languages in ensuring the full realization of the human rights of deaf people.
The theme for 2026 is:
“Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights.”
The theme emphasizes the connection between access to sign languages and:
- Inclusive education
- Healthcare and public services
- Workplace and information
- Social and political participation
- Deaf culture and language
Indian Sign Language (ISL) is a visual-manual language used by the Deaf community in India. According to the Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC), ISL has its own vocabulary and grammatical system.
India at Asian Games 2026
India began its campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 23 September.
India won its first gold medal through the women’s cricket team on Day 3. At the beginning of Day 4, India’s medal tally stood at:
- Gold: 1
- Silver: 4
- Bronze: 2
India subsequently won three more medals during the day.
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg category, securing her first-ever Asian Games medal.
Chanu lifted a total of 198 kg, comprising:
- Snatch: 87 kg
- Clean & Jerk: 111 kg
North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won gold after lifting a world-record 215 kg, while Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Wijayana won bronze with a total of 191 kg.
Mirabai Chanu’s silver also marked India’s first weightlifting medal since 1998.
US, Denmark and Greenland Sign New Arctic Defense Agreement
The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement to amend and enhance the 1951 Defense Agreement on Greenland.
The agreement provides for a substantial revision of the framework governing US military operations in Greenland.
It was signed in New York on 22 September 2026 and covers:
- Arctic security
- Military access
- Defence infrastructure
- Cooperation among the three parties
One provision allows the parties to take necessary actions to defend NATO, Greenland and the American continent, while taking Greenland’s interests into account.
Another important provision permits the United States to improve and increase its military presence at Pituffik Space Base, located in northwest Greenland.
The agreement also provides the US military with freedom of transit and movement between Defence Areas throughout Greenland, including its territorial waters.
US aircraft will be allowed to fly and land in Greenland, while US civilian ships will have access to and movement within Greenland’s territorial waters as specified in the treaty.
The agreement also states that Greenlandic entities and sources should receive US contracts for establishing, maintaining and servicing Defence Areas to the greatest extent possible, based on competence and practicality.
Foreign states that are neither NATO nor EU members and are not NATO partners will generally not be allowed to exercise control, influence or access sensitive non-public information relating to particularly sensitive sectors and activities where such access could harm national security or public order.
Hepatitis Elimination by 2030
India has reiterated its commitment to achieving the goal of eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030.
The approach focuses on a comprehensive, people-centric strategy covering:
- Prevention
- Screening
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Care
The issue was discussed at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) during the side event titled:
“Advancing Global Action to Eliminate Hepatitis.”
At the UNGA 81 side event, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized India’s comprehensive approach to combating Hepatitis.
The strategy aims to provide effective public health measures throughout the entire process, from prevention and screening to treatment and care.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India remains committed to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to Hepatitis and the elimination of Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030.
The article also notes provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drug Rules concerning medicines. Several medicines, including NSAIDs and antibiotics, are categorized under Schedules G, H, H1 and X, depending on their classification and risks under the Drug Rules, 1945.
Cyclone Arnab
A weather system that developed over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression and was approaching the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system was likely to cross the coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, near Kalingapatnam, by the night of 23 September.
Late on 22 September, the system was located near 18.0°N and 85.0°E, approximately:
- 100 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam
- 150 km south of Gopalpur
It was moving westwards at approximately 7 kmph, although it was forecast to subsequently turn west-northwestwards.
Arnab is the next name assigned to a regional cyclone in the North Indian Ocean. The name was provided by Bangladesh.
However, according to the current IMD forecast, the system was expected to pass as a deep depression rather than a cyclonic storm.
As per IMD categorization:
- Deep Depression: sustained winds of 52–61 kmph
- Cyclonic Storm: sustained winds of 63 kmph or more
The system was expected to bring rainfall across coastal areas. The IMD issued an advisory for heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh, with extremely heavy rainfall expected in some districts.
Areas mentioned in the advisory included Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts of Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam and adjoining areas were also expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Ayushman Bharat Completes Eight Years
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) completed eight years on 23 September 2026.
The scheme was launched on 23 September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and provides cashless health coverage to eligible families in India.
As of 23 September 2026, AB PM-JAY covered more than 60 crore people.
The scheme is described in the PPT as the world’s largest government-funded health insurance programme.
It provides:
- ₹5 lakh cashless health cover per family per year
- Coverage for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation
- 1,961 procedures
- 27 medical specialties
By 23 September 2026, more than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards had been created.
As of 31 August 2026, the programme had funded:
- More than 13.25 crore hospital admissions
- Worth approximately ₹2.03 lakh crore
- Through more than 38,000 empanelled public and private hospitals
The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated ₹9,500 crore for PM-JAY.
The scheme continues to operate as a central government health insurance programme through empanelled hospitals and digital beneficiary cards.
Review Questions
1. What is the theme of the International Day of Sign Languages 2026?
A. Sign Language for Inclusive Education
B. Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights
C. Empowering the Deaf Community
D. Sign Languages for a Better World
Answer: B. Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights
2. According to the Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC), Indian Sign Language (ISL) has:
A. Only a standardized vocabulary
B. Its own vocabulary and grammatical system
C. Only a regional vocabulary
D. No independent grammatical structure
Answer: B. Its own vocabulary and grammatical system
3. Which Indian weightlifter won a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg category at the Asian Games 2026?
A. Karnam Malleswari
B. Mirabai Chanu
C. Saikhom Mirabai
D. Jeremy Lalrinnunga
Answer: B. Mirabai Chanu
4. How much total weight did Mirabai Chanu lift to win the silver medal at the Asian Games 2026?
A. 191 kg
B. 195 kg
C. 198 kg
D. 215 kg
Answer: C. 198 kg
5. The new Arctic Defense Agreement was signed between which three parties?
A. USA, Canada and Greenland
B. USA, Denmark and Greenland
C. USA, Norway and Denmark
D. Canada, Denmark and Greenland
Answer: B. USA, Denmark and Greenland
6. Which US military facility in Greenland is specifically mentioned in the new Arctic Defense Agreement?
A. Thule Air Base
B. Pituffik Space Base
C. Nuuk Military Base
D. Kangerlussuaq Air Base
Answer: B. Pituffik Space Base
7. India has committed to eliminating which diseases as public health threats by 2030?
A. Malaria and Dengue
B. Tuberculosis and Malaria
C. Hepatitis B and C
D. HIV and AIDS
Answer: C. Hepatitis B and C
8. The name “Arnab” for the regional cyclone in the North Indian Ocean was provided by which country?
A. India
B. Myanmar
C. Bangladesh
D. Sri Lanka
Answer: C. Bangladesh
9. What is the annual cashless health cover provided per family under AB PM-JAY?
A. ₹2 lakh
B. ₹3 lakh
C. ₹5 lakh
D. ₹10 lakh
Answer: C. ₹5 lakh
10. How many years did Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY complete on 23 September 2026?
A. 5 years
B. 6 years
C. 7 years
D. 8 years
Answer: D. 8 years
