UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

The United Kingdom announced the launch of No. III Space Effects Squadron, a Royal Air Force unit intended to counter hostile activity threatening British interests in space.

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹810.79 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for 160 Satellite Smart Anti Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force.

IG Defence has announced the successful flight test of its indigenous long-range one-way attack drone, KAL, at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan. The Noida-headquartered company said the drone was launched from a vehicle-mounted platform and that the trial validated its integrated airframe, propulsion, avionics, navigation and mission architecture.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two LCA Tejas twin-seat trainers in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration to the Indian Air Force in Bengaluru. 

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched OneTag, a new FASTag portability service on the Rajmargyatra mobile application.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated and implemented indigenous Gallium Nitride Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (GaN MMIC) technology for high-frequency defence applications.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched its first Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The three-day event is being held from September 14 to 16, 2026, with participation from more than 20 defence companies, start-ups, MSMEs, DPSUs and innovators.

Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) launched ‘Sagar Manthan’ on September 9, 2026. The indigenous ocean research vessel is being built for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a Tata Group company, has reportedly emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) in the competition to develop the next-generation Zorawar light battle tank for the Indian Army.

The first International Space Summit opened at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, on 9 September 2026, bringing together delegations from around 120 countries and roughly 2,000 participants.