Prelims Current Affairs includes Adb Raises India’s Gdp Growth Forecast To 7% For Fy2026-27, 9th India International Water Week 2026 , Delhi Launches Durga Scheme For 1,300 Pink E-Autos, Andhra Pradesh Police Launches Ai Drone Portal, Safestay App, Bhikaji Cama Birth Anniversary, Hurricane Polo Reaches Category 5 Off Mexico & Himachal To Impose Waste Management Fee On Tourists

ECONOMY

1. ADB RAISES INDIA’S GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO 7% FOR FY2026-27

Current Context: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 to 7%, from 6.6% projected in July 2026.

ABOUT THE FORECAST

• The revision was mainly driven by India’s stronger-than-expected 8% year-on-year GDP growth in Q1 FY2026-27, supported by investment, consumption, manufacturing and services.

Key Drivers:

• Solid demand for investments
• Strong public infrastructure investment
• Accommodative fiscal and monetary policy

Inflation Forecast:

• FY2026-27: Reduced to 5% (from 5.2%)
• FY2027-28: 4% (unchanged)
• Fiscal Deficit:~4.3% of GDP
• Forex Reserves:USD 740.8 billion

ABOUT ADB

• Established:
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
• Members: 69 members, including 49 from the Asia-Pacific region.
• Objective: Promote economic and social development, poverty reduction and sustainable growth in developing economies of Asia and the Pacific.

ENVIRONMENT/WATER 

2.  9TH INDIA INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK 2026

Current Context: The 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 was inaugurated by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

ABOUT IIWW 2026

• The five-day event is being organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from 22-26 September 2026 with the theme “Climate Resilient Water Management.”
• India International Water Week (IIWW) is an international platform for discussions on water resources management, water security and sustainable development.
• The event was conceptualised in 2012 as India Water Week (IWW).
• Eight editions were held under the name India Water Week between 2012 and 2024.
• From the 2026 edition, the event has been organised as India International Water Week, reflecting its expanding international participation.
• It brings together governments, international organisations, researchers, academia, industry, civil society, start-ups and young professionals.
• Partner Countries:Netherlands and Germany

INTERNATIONAL WASH CONFERENCE

• The Second International WASH Conference 2026 is being held alongside IIWW.
• WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
• It focuses on drinking-water access, sanitation, hygiene behaviour, public health and climate-resilient WASH services.

STATES IN NEWS

3. DELHI LAUNCHES DURGA SCHEME FOR 1,300 PINK E-AUTOS

Current Context: The Delhi Cabinet approved the DURGA scheme on 23 September 2026, aimed at providing self-employment opportunities to women and transgender persons through electric autos.

ABOUT DURGA SCHEME

• In the first phase, 1,300 pink electric autos will be allocated, with 1,170 for women and 130 for transgender beneficiaries.
• DURGA: Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green E-Auto.

Financial Support:

• ₹50,000 purchase incentive (first year)
• 100% exemption from road tax and registration fees

Eligibility:

• Age: 20-40 years
• Delhi residency proof, valid voter ID
• LMV driving licence, PSV badge
• Family income below ₹5 lakh

STATES IN NEWS

4. ANDHRA PRADESH POLICE LAUNCHES AI DRONE PORTAL, SAFESTAY APP

Current Context: Andhra Pradesh Police launched the AI-based Centralised Drone Monitoring Portal (CDMP) and SafeStay AP application in Guntur.

ABOUT CDMP

• CDMP is an AI-based platform that brings live feeds from police drones across Andhra Pradesh onto a single centralised dashboard.
• It uses AI-based monitoring and advanced analytics to help police assess situations at the field level and respond more quickly.

ABOUT SAFESTAY AP

• SafeStay AP is a digital application providing police with real-time information on guests staying in hotels and Paying Guest (PG) accommodations across Andhra Pradesh.
• It also provides occupancy-related information, helping police in public safety, crime prevention and investigation.

HISTORY

5. BHIKAJI CAMA BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

Current Context: 24 September 2026 marks the 165th birth anniversary of Madam Bhikaji Cama.

ABOUT BHIKAJI CAMA

• She is particularly remembered for unfurling an early version of the Indian national flag at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907.
• Therefore, she is widely remembered as one of the first Indians to display an Indian national flag on foreign soil.
• Colours:Green, saffron, and red bands
• Symbols:Eight lotuses (green), “Vande Mataram” (central), sun and crescent (red)
• Known As:“Mother of the Indian Revolution”
• She belonged to a Parsi family and became actively involved in nationalist activities during the freedom struggle.
• She initially worked in social service, including helping victims during the Bombay plague epidemic of 1896-97.
• She later went to Europe, where she became associated with Indian nationalists and revolutionary circles.

ROLE IN INDIA’S FREEDOM STRUGGLE

• In London, she came into contact with leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji and Shyamji Krishna Varma and supported India’s nationalist cause.
• She later moved to Paris, where she helped spread nationalist literature and propaganda against British colonial rule.
• She was associated with the Paris Indian Society and supported revolutionary activities abroad.
• She also helped publish nationalist literature, including Bande Mataram and Madan’s Talwar.

GEOGRAPHY

6. HURRICANE POLO REACHES CATEGORY 5 OFF MEXICO

Current Context: Hurricane Polo intensified to Category 5 off Mexico’s Pacific coast on 22 September 2026.

ABOUT HURRICANE POLO

• Polo is a tropical cyclone that developed in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the southwestern coast of Mexico.
• Coastal areas of Guerrero and Michoacán were particularly exposed to heavy rainfall.
• Heavy rainfall created risks of flash flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous terrain.
• Category 5 is the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE

• It classifies hurricanes according to their maximum sustained wind speeds.
• Category 1: 119-153 km/h
• Category 2: 154-177 km/h
• Category 3: 178-208 km/h, major hurricane
• Category 4: 209-251 km/h, major hurricane
• Category 5: ≥252 km/h, catastrophic damage potential.

HIMACHAL NEWS

7. HIMACHAL TO IMPOSE WASTE MANAGEMENT FEE ON TOURISTS

Current Context: Tourists visiting major destinations in Himachal Pradesh may soon have to pay a waste management fee under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The provision applies particularly to areas with high tourist footfall.

ABOUT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2026

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, replacing the 2016 Rules.
• The new Rules came into force on 1 April 2026 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• They cover urban and rural areas, along with commercial, institutional and government establishments.

SPECIAL PROVISION FOR HILLY AREAS

• The 2026 Rules contain specific provisions for hilly areas and islands, recognising their geographical and ecological vulnerability.
• Local bodies can levy user fees on tourists to support solid waste management.
• Local bodies can also regulate tourist inflow according to the waste-management capacity of the area.
• Designated collection points are to be established for non-biodegradable waste.
• Hotels and restaurants are required to undertake decentralised processing of wet waste according to applicable norms.

Key Features:

• User charges for solid waste management in rural areas
• Gram panchayats to incorporate provisions in bylaws
• Door-to-door collection, source segregation, scientific processing
• Prevention of open dumping and burning
• Students trained as “Household Supervisors”
• Committees:State-level and district-level implementation committees constituted
• Existing Measures:Manali levies green tax on outside vehicles

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