Bank of Canada Unveils Vertical 20 Banknote With King Charles III
The Bank of Canada unveiled a new vertical 20 banknote featuring the portrait of King Charles III in Ottawa, September 2026. The note replaces the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II and marks the first appearance of King Charles III on a Canadian banknote, and the first time in more than 70 years that a new monarch appears on a Canadian note. Queen Elizabeth II had appeared on the Bank of Canada’s inaugural 20 note in 1935. The redesign aligns currency with contemporary symbols and security features, reflecting Canada’s constitutional ties to the Commonwealth. Users and collectors may notice design changes and updated anti-counterfeiting measures.
Chandigarh Hosts 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards and UT Councils
The 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils was hosted in Chandigarh, September 2026, and organized by the National Biodiversity Authority. The two-day event brought representatives from state boards and UT councils to discuss biodiversity governance, local implementation, and institutional mechanisms for conservation. Delegates reviewed ongoing conservation projects and shared best practices for protecting India’s biological resources, emphasizing sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing. The meeting highlighted the need for stronger data collection at the district level, clearer roles for local authorities, and improved coordination among central and state agencies to speed up enforcement and monitoring. Participants also discussed funding and policy alignment to strengthen biodiversity governance nationwide.
Focus on biodiversity governance and local implementation
Strengthening institutional mechanisms for conservation
Enhanced coordination between central and state agencies
Data collection and district-level monitoring emphasized
Funding and policy alignment discussed
Chhattisgarh Tops Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 3.0
Chhattisgarh topped the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 3.0 rankings in September 2026. The state completed 77,719 of 79,775 registered water conservation structures and had five districts among the top 10 nationwide. The programme promotes public participation in water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge as part of the Catch the Rain campaign by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. These results reflect strong community engagement and effective implementation of water-resource management strategies, with potential benefits for agriculture, drinking water supply, and drought resilience across districts.
Chhattisgarh ranked first in Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 3.0
77,719 of 79,775 structures completed
Five districts among top 10 nationwide
Public participation emphasized in water conservation
Razorpay and IndusInd Bank Launch AI Account Manager ‘RAY’
Razorpay partnered with IndusInd Bank to launch an AI-powered conversational account manager called ‘RAY’ in September 2026. The service operates through WhatsApp and targets businesses and MSMEs. RAY can assist users with payments, transactions, settlements, refunds and customer-support queries through conversational messages. The platform reduces dependence on traditional dashboards and reflects the growing use of artificial intelligence and conversational technology in banking and digital payment services. By enabling quick responses and streamlined operations, RAY aims to improve efficiency for small and medium enterprises and enhance customer experience.
India Valve Registry Launched at India Valves 2026
Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan launched the India Valve Registry at the India Valves 2026 conference in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, September 2026. The registry is a multicentre national database created to collect secure and de-identified real-world information on patient outcomes related to heart valve interventions. The initiative is expected to support research and improve the understanding of treatment outcomes across India. By providing a standardized data framework, clinicians and policymakers can compare practices, identify gaps, and drive evidence-based cardiovascular care while protecting patient privacy through data de-identification.
India Valve Registry launched at India Valves 2026
Multicentre national database for heart valve outcomes
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty Win China Masters 2026
The China Masters 2026 badminton tournament in Shenzhen marked India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty winning the men’s doubles title after a strong comeback in the final. The pair had previously earned silver medals in the 2023 and 2025 editions. In women’s singles, South Korea’s An Se-young captured the title, becoming the first player to win the China Masters crown three consecutive times. The results reflect India’s rising prowess in doubles badminton on the world stage, while reaffirming An Se-young’s dominance in the women’s singles category at this event.
Rankireddy/Shetty won men's doubles in Shenzhen
Previous silver medals in 2023 and 2025 editions
An Se-young won women’s singles (three consecutive titles)
India strengthens doubles badminton on world stage
China Masters highlights era of dominance in women’s singles
Dinesh Sharma Named Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Dinesh Sharma was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in September 2026. As Lieutenant Governor, he is responsible for administering the Union Territory on behalf of the President of India, coordinating policy implementation and governance across central and local administrations. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold strategic importance given their location in the Bay of Bengal, making efficient governance and security coordination a priority for national planning and central government policy.
Dinesh Sharma appointed LG of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Role includes administration on behalf of the President
Punjab Launches Pehchaan Portal for Unidentified Deceased Persons
Punjab launched the Pehchaan portal in September 2026 to identify unidentified and unclaimed deceased persons. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh inaugurated the portal, which is based on Punjab’s Medico-Legal Examination and Post-Mortem Reporting System, or MedLEaPR. The portal is publicly accessible and free of cost, enabling families to trace identities of bodies kept in government mortuaries. It aims to provide closure for families and improve forensic data management by linking mortuary records with medico-legal reports, contributing to faster identification and better record-keeping across the state.
Birkbeck to Establish Bengaluru Campus After UGC Approval
Birkbeck, University of London, received a Letter of Approval from India's University Grants Commission to establish and operate a campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The approval signals the final regulatory clearance required under the UGC’s 2023 regulations governing Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India. The Bengaluru campus expands international higher education activity in India, potentially broadening academic collaborations, student exchanges, and the diversification of degree programs available to Indian learners. This development aligns with broader reforms in cross-border education and the growth of global university presence in India.
Birkbeck approved to operate Bengaluru campus
Final clearance under UGC 2023 regulations
Expands foreign higher education presence in India
Potential for increased collaboration and exchanges
Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal Appointed Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice
Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal was appointed the 44th regular Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on 5 September 2026. He previously served as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court. His elevation is part of a broader Central Government decision to appoint eight new Chief Justices to different High Courts across India. The appointment underscores ongoing efforts to ensure judicial leadership across the system and to manage rising caseloads, with implications for case progression times and court administration in Rajasthan.
Sanjay Kumar Agrawal named 44th Rajasthan HC Chief Justice
Appointed on 5 September 2026
Previously judge at Chhattisgarh High Court
Part of eight new Chief Justices nationwide
Aims to improve court administration and efficiency