Current affairs — 8 September 2026

Chief of Defence Staff: General N.S. Raja Subramani; Army Chief: General Dhiraj Seth from June 2026

General N.S. Raja Subramani assumed charge as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on June 1, 2026. General Dhiraj Seth took over as Chief of the Army Staff on June 30, 2026. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan became Chief of the Naval Staff on June 1, 2026, while Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh continues as Chief of the Air Staff since September 30, 2024. Mahesh Dixit (IPS) was appointed Director of Intelligence Bureau from July 1, 2026.

Why it matters: Heads of armed forces and intelligence agencies are critical current affairs topics for defence and general awareness sections

Key Bureaucratic Appointments: Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala as MoES Secretary; TV Somanathan, Govind Mohan Get Extension

Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in August 2026. Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan received one-year extensions in August 2026. Ms. Pallavi Jain Govil (IAS, MP 1994) was appointed Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, while Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee (IAS, MP 1993) became Secretary of the Department of Higher Education in August 2026.

Why it matters: Top bureaucratic appointments, especially Secretary-level positions and extensions of Cabinet Secretary, are frequently asked in current affairs

DRDO Plans Strategic Roadmap for ISRO's Kulasekharapatnam Spaceport in Tamil Nadu

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced it is preparing a strategic roadmap to utilize ISRO's upcoming spaceport at Kulasekharapatnam, Tamil Nadu. Dr. BK Das, Director General (Electronics & Communication Systems) at DRDO, confirmed this at the CII Tamil Nadu Defence X Conclave 2026 in Chennai in July 2026. The move aims to deepen convergence between India's military and civilian aerospace capabilities for high-stakes space missions.

Why it matters: Integration of defence and space infrastructure reflects India's strategic autonomy and dual-use technology development

RBI Maintained Repo Rate at 5.25% in February 2026; Revised FY26 GDP Growth to 7.4%

The Reserve Bank of India held its key repo rate at 5.25% during its February 2026 monetary policy meeting, after a 25 bps cut in December 2025. RBI raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2025-26 to 7.4% from 7.3%, with Q1 and Q2 FY27 growth projected at 6.9% and 7.0% respectively. Inflation for FY2025-26 was projected at 2.1%, well below the 2-6% tolerance band. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate remains at 5.0% and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) at 5.50%.

Why it matters: RBI monetary policy decisions, repo rate, and GDP growth projections are core topics for banking and economy sections in all competitive exams

Union Budget 2026-27: Fiscal Deficit at 4.3% of GDP; Capital Expenditure ₹12.2 Lakh Crore

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The budget projected fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP and national debt at 55.6% of GDP. Total revenue (non-debt receipts) was estimated at ₹36.5 lakh crore, with total expenditure at ₹53.5 lakh crore. Capital expenditure was allocated ₹12.2 lakh crore. India's real GDP growth for FY2025-26 was estimated at 7.4%, with nominal growth projected at 10% for FY2026-27.

Why it matters: Budget figures on fiscal deficit, capital expenditure, and GDP growth targets are essential for economy and governance questions

₹2.5 Lakh Crore Credit Guarantee Scheme Proposed for MSMEs Hit by West Asia Crisis

The Indian government is considering a ₹2.5 lakh crore credit guarantee scheme to support businesses, particularly MSMEs, adversely affected by the ongoing West Asia crisis and US-Iran conflict. The initiative, modeled after the pandemic-era Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), aims to provide a 90% credit guarantee on loans up to ₹100 crore to help lenders manage defaults and ensure liquidity for firms facing high input and logistics costs due to supply chain disruptions.

Why it matters: Credit guarantee schemes for MSMEs and government response to geopolitical crises affecting economy are important for economy and governance sections

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 Held in New Delhi (February 16-20, 2026)

India hosted the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16-20, 2026. It was the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South, following the AI Action Summit in Paris (2025), AI Seoul Summit (2024), and Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit (2023). The summit aimed to strengthen India's role in shaping the global AI agenda and shift focus toward practical AI implementation and measurable outcomes rather than just safety and governance.

Why it matters: India's positioning as an AI leader and hosting major global summits reflects its growing technological diplomacy and soft power

8th Pay Commission Conducts Regional Consultations; Puducherry Meeting Scheduled for September 2026

The 8th Pay Commission, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and constituted on November 3, 2025, is conducting stakeholder consultations across India. Regional meetings have been held in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Srinagar, Ladakh, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata through July 2026, with Chennai scheduled for September 7-8 and Puducherry for September 9, 2026. The deadline for ministries to upload workforce data was extended to July 31, 2026. The Commission is expected to submit its report within 18 months, likely in early-to-mid 2027.

Why it matters: 8th CPC will revise salaries, pensions, and allowances for ~49 lakh central employees and 65 lakh pensioners; fitment factor and pay matrix crucial for all government job aspirants

DA at 60% from January 2026; Speculation of 3% Hike to 63% by September 2026

The Union Cabinet approved a 2% Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) increase effective January 1, 2026, raising the rate from 58% to 60% of Basic Pay/Pension. Media reports suggest central government employees may receive another DA hike to 63% in September 2026, though no official announcement has been made yet. DA revisions occur biannually based on All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) data.

Why it matters: DA directly impacts take-home salary of all central government employees and pensioners; biannual revisions are regular exam questions

Cabinet Approved Major Schemes in August 2026: Khelo India Revamp, PM-KISAN Extension, Offshore Exploration

The Union Cabinet approved several major schemes in August 2026, including: Revamped Khelo India Scheme with ₹36,441 crore outlay; Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) for floating solar energy; 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme with ₹84,084 crore outlay; Continuation of PM-KISAN scheme till 2030-31 with ₹3.15 lakh crore outlay; and GOBARdhan Scheme with ₹23,731 crore push for compressed biogas and circular bioenergy.

Why it matters: New and revamped schemes with financial outlays are high-priority topics for prelims and mains; PM-KISAN is India's largest direct benefit transfer scheme

ISRO Employee Bodies Seek Clarity on Privatisation Plans; IN-SPACe Reassures Core Role

On September 4, 2026, nine ISRO employee associations submitted a joint representation to the Space Commission chairman seeking clarification on privatisation plans, after IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka stated ISRO would exit launch vehicle manufacturing. Goenka subsequently clarified that ISRO will remain the 'bedrock' of India's space sector, focusing on advanced R&D, strategic missions, and frontier exploration, while mature systems are transferred to private industry or PSUs. ISRO continues to lead national and strategic space missions.

Why it matters: India's space sector reforms under Indian Space Policy 2023 and the evolving role of ISRO vs private players is important for governance and economy sections

West Indies Cricket Team to Tour India: September 27 - October 17, 2026

The West Indies cricket team is scheduled to tour India from September 27 to October 17, 2026. The tour will consist of three One Day International (ODI) matches and five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. This is part of India's home cricket season for 2026-27, which commences on September 27, 2026. The series will be played across various venues in India.

Why it matters: Major international cricket series and India's hosting schedule are regular questions in sports current affairs