Daily Current Affairs - 13 September 2026

Introduction

The CareerUdaya Daily Current Affairs - 13 September 2026 edition covers PMAY-Urban approvals involving Assam, conservation of the Badri cattle breed, HPV vaccination, bamboo livelihoods in the Northeast, ship repair, maritime heritage, Indian Ocean security, India-Malaysia relations, dryland research and CAG audit reporting. These notes are designed for APSC, ADRE, Assam Police, Assam TET, SSC, Banking and Railway examinations. Attempt the Daily Current Affairs Quiz - 13 September 2026 after revising the notes.

Assam and Urban Housing - PMAY-U 2.0 Approvals

The ninth meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved more than 29,000 additional houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). The approvals covered six States, including Assam, under the Beneficiary-Led Construction and Affordable Housing in Partnership verticals. With this round, total PMAY-U 2.0 sanctions reached 18.77 lakh houses.

The central concept is that the CSMC is an approval and monitoring body within the urban-housing scheme, not a construction agency. PMAY-U concerns housing for eligible urban beneficiaries, whereas PMAY-Gramin has a different rural focus. The two verticals named in the decision also matter: Beneficiary-Led Construction supports eligible beneficiaries in constructing or enhancing their homes, while Affordable Housing in Partnership involves housing projects undertaken with partner entities. Candidates should link this update with MoHUA, urban housing, scheme verticals and Assam’s inclusion in the approved States.

Source: PIB release on the 9th CSMC meeting under PMAY-U 2.0

Agriculture and Biotechnology - Badri Cattle OPU-IVF Milestone

A Badri female calf was born through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology after transfer of a Badri embryo into a Sahiwal recipient cow. The achievement involved ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology. Badri cattle are an indigenous cattle genetic resource of Uttarakhand and are recognised as the State animal of Uttarakhand.

OPU-IVF is an assisted reproductive technology. In this case, oocytes are collected, fertilised in a laboratory and the resulting embryo is transferred to a recipient animal. It is useful for multiplication and genetic improvement of valuable indigenous breeds, but it is not the same as ordinary artificial insemination. The update is relevant for questions on animal husbandry, indigenous breeds, reproductive biotechnology and conservation of animal genetic resources. Retain the specific association: Badri cattle - Uttarakhand - OPU-IVF.

Source: PIB release on the Badri cattle OPU-IVF calf

Public Health - National HPV Vaccination Campaign

India administered more than 80 lakh doses under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign launched in February 2026. The campaign provides voluntary, free, single-dose Human Papillomavirus vaccination to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, subject to parental consent. Assam crossed 90% coverage of its identified target population, while Mizoram was among the States that achieved 100% coverage.

HPV vaccination is a preventive public-health intervention linked to long-term protection against cervical cancer. The campaign uses the U-WIN platform to monitor district-level coverage and identify gaps. It should not be confused with treatment for cancer or with a general vaccination campaign for all age groups. A useful examination distinction is between vaccination, which helps prevent infection-associated disease, and screening or clinical treatment, which are different parts of health care. Candidates should remember the eligible cohort, the voluntary single-dose design and the Assam coverage update.

Source: PIB release on the 80-lakh HPV vaccination milestone

Assam, Northeast and Environment - Bamboo as a Livelihood Resource

A PIB backgrounder highlighted bamboo-based livelihoods and enterprises, including examples from Assam, Sikkim, Tripura and Mizoram. The wider policy context is important: bamboo is taxonomically a grass, and the 2017 amendment to the Indian Forest Act removed bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the legal definition of a tree. This eased certain felling and transit restrictions for its economic use outside forest areas.

The change did not remove all regulation of bamboo grown in forest areas. Its main purpose was to support cultivation, value addition and livelihoods on non-forest land. This is especially relevant for the Northeast, where bamboo supports crafts, construction materials, food processing and local enterprise. The update connects environmental law with rural livelihoods and entrepreneurship. Do not treat “bamboo is a grass” as meaning every bamboo activity is unregulated; legal treatment can differ according to where it is grown and the applicable rules.

Sources: PIB backgrounder on bamboo enterprises; PIB release on the 2017 bamboo amendment

Maritime Industry - Cochin Shipyard and Drydocks World Joint Venture

Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World, a DP World company, signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement to operate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility at Cochin. The agreement formalises collaboration that had earlier been explored through an MoU during India Maritime Week 2025.

The joint venture is intended to expand ship-repair capacity and serve Indian, regional and international demand. It combines Cochin Shipyard’s domestic shipbuilding and repair capability with Drydocks World’s experience in high-end vessel repair, conversions and offshore engineering. This is an industrial partnership, not an acquisition of Cochin Shipyard by a foreign firm. It is relevant to questions on public-sector shipyards, maritime infrastructure, India-UAE economic cooperation and the difference between a Memorandum of Understanding and a formal joint venture.

Source: PIB release on the CSL-Drydocks World joint venture

Culture and Maritime Heritage - NMHC at Lothal

The second Governing Council meeting of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) Society reviewed progress of the complex being developed at Lothal, Gujarat. Phase 1A had reached approximately 82% physical completion, and 13 countries had signed MoUs for collaboration on the project.

Lothal is a major archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilisation and is strongly associated with India’s ancient maritime heritage. NMHC is designed as a cultural, educational and tourism complex, not as an operating commercial port. Its international collaborations may support exchanges of artefacts, replicas, ship models, research and cultural engagement. Candidates should connect Lothal with Gujarat and the Harappan civilisation, while remembering that the NMHC is a contemporary heritage project. The Governing Council also approved proposed bye-laws for the Society’s institutional governance.

Source: PIB release on the NMHC Governing Council meeting at Lothal

Defence and Indian Ocean Security - Colombo Security Conclave Exercise

A three-day Table Top Exercise under the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) concluded at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. It focused on a coordinated response to illicit maritime activities in the Indian Ocean Region, including maritime terrorism, narcotics smuggling, human trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

A Table Top Exercise uses simulated scenarios for planning, coordination and decision-making; it is not the same as a live sea exercise involving ships and aircraft. The participants reviewed Standard Operating Procedures and information-sharing arrangements to improve Maritime Domain Awareness. This update is relevant to regional security cooperation and non-traditional maritime threats. For exams, distinguish the CSC’s cooperative security role from a military alliance, and retain its focus on the Indian Ocean Region and coordinated response mechanisms.

Source: PIB release on the Colombo Security Conclave Table Top Exercise

International Relations - India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

India and Malaysia reviewed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during a bilateral meeting held alongside the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The Malaysian Prime Minister conveyed concurrence for establishing a Consulate General of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The two sides also reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, defence, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education and tourism.

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, a Malaysian State on the island of Borneo. The proposed consulate is a diplomatic and consular representation, not an embassy: embassies are ordinarily located in a country’s capital, while consulates serve particular cities or regions. Malaysia’s participation in BRICS as a Partner Country is distinct from India-Malaysia bilateral cooperation. The update is useful for mapping, Act East-related engagement with Southeast Asia, and the practical functions of consular diplomacy.

Source: PIB release on the India-Malaysia bilateral meeting

Agriculture and International Research - ICAR-ICRISAT Partnership

The Dryland Congress 2026 marked fifty years of partnership between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The discussions focused on resilient dryland farming systems, seed systems, agrobiodiversity, climate-smart approaches and the participation of women and youth in dryland agriculture.

ICAR is India’s apex national organisation for agricultural research and education under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education. ICRISAT is an international agricultural-research institution focused on crops and farming systems for semi-arid tropics. The partnership is relevant because drylands face linked challenges such as water scarcity, land degradation and climate variability. Do not confuse the collaboration with a new crop-insurance scheme or a food-grain procurement programme. Its key examination value lies in the institutional pairing and the focus on resilient dryland agriculture.

Source: PIB release on 50 years of ICAR-ICRISAT partnership

Constitutional Bodies - CAG Reports in a State Legislature

Seven audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) were placed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. They included reports on State finances, State public sector enterprises, revenues, the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Smart City Mission, power-generation activities and educational scholarship schemes.

The CAG is an independent constitutional authority established under Article 148 of the Constitution. At the State level, its reports are submitted to the Governor, who causes them to be laid before the State Legislature. Legislative committees, especially the Public Accounts Committee, examine audit findings and hold the executive accountable. The CAG does not itself impose criminal penalties or directly administer schemes. Candidates should connect this development with financial accountability, legislative oversight and the constitutional role of the CAG.

Source: PIB release on CAG audit reports placed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Revision Notes

Revise these ten anchors: PMAY-U 2.0 - Assam included in latest approvals; Badri cattle - Uttarakhand and OPU-IVF; HPV campaign - free voluntary single dose for 14-year-old girls; bamboo - grass and 2017 non-forest amendment; CSL-Drydocks World - 50:50 ship-repair joint venture; NMHC - Lothal, Gujarat; CSC Table Top Exercise - illicit maritime activities; Kota Kinabalu - Sabah, Malaysia; ICAR-ICRISAT - dryland research; CAG - audit reports laid before State Legislature. Attempt the Daily Current Affairs Quiz - 13 September 2026 to test these points.

Exam Snapshot Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OPU-IVF in animal husbandry?

It is an assisted reproductive technique involving collection of oocytes, laboratory fertilisation and embryo transfer to a recipient animal.

Who are covered by the National HPV Vaccination Campaign?

The campaign provides voluntary, free, single-dose HPV vaccination to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, with parental consent.

What is a Table Top Exercise?

A Table Top Exercise uses simulated situations to practise planning, coordination and decision-making; it differs from a live field or sea exercise.

Where is Kota Kinabalu located?

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, a Malaysian State on the island of Borneo.

What is the constitutional role of the CAG?

The CAG audits public finances and reports to the President or Governors for legislative scrutiny; it is established under Article 148 of the Constitution.