UPSC Current Affairs 25 September 2026: Make in India, CEC Removal Motion, NISAR-2
Every day brings news that matters for your UPSC preparation, and 25 September 2026 was no different. This blog covers the top stories of the day in simple language, with facts you can use directly in your answers.
Make in India Completes 12 Years: PLI Scheme Investment, Exports Data (GS3 - Economy)
Make in India completed 12 years on 25 September 2026. The government launched this scheme on 25 September 2014 to turn India into a global hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation.
Over the years, the scheme grew into Make in India 2.0, which now covers 27 sectors — 15 manufacturing sectors and 12 service sectors. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme is one of its biggest tools. Simply put, PLI gives companies a cash reward for making more goods in India instead of importing them.
Key numbers from the 12-year review:
Indicator | Data |
PLI investment attracted | ₹2.40 lakh crore (as of June 2026) |
Number of PLI schemes | 14 |
Manufacturing IIP growth | 7% (April–July 2026, compared to same period in 2025) |
Vehicle production (2024-25) | 31.03 million units, 33% higher than 2014-15 |
Jobs created under PLI | Over 14 lakh (as of June 2026) |
Exports supported by PLI | ₹15.20 lakh crore |
India's global merchandise export share | 1.7% in 2025-26 |
The top five PLI sectors solar modules, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and components, specialty steel, and large-scale electronics — together attract about 83% of all PLI investment.
Despite these gains, one number stands out for the wrong reason: India's share of world exports is still around 1.7%, almost the same as it was in 2013. This shows that while manufacturing capacity has grown, India has not yet become a major force in global trade the way the scheme originally hoped.
Why this matters for UPSC: This topic connects directly to GS3 economy questions on industrial policy, manufacturing growth, and India's trade position. Remember the launch year (2014), the PLI investment figure, and the export share stagnation — these are common prelims traps.
CEC Removal Motion 2026: Article 324 Explained (GS2 – Polity)
The Opposition announced plans to move a motion in Parliament seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). This news broke after a newspaper investigation reported that two Election Commissioners had internally objected to certain decisions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), including matters linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Article 324 of the Constitution is the key provision here. It does three things:
It establishes the Election Commission of India.
It provides for the appointment of the CEC and other Election Commissioners.
It lays down rules for their tenure and removal.
Here's the important distinction UPSC often tests:
The CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge — through a Parliament motion with a special majority, based on proven misbehaviour or incapacity.
An Election Commissioner (not the CEC) can be removed by the President, but only on the recommendation of the CEC.
This is not the first such attempt. In April 2026, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman had declined to admit similar removal motions, and they did not record their reasons for the rejection. The fresh motion in September 2026 comes after the internal dissent reports became public.
Why this matters for UPSC: Article 324 is a favourite for both Prelims and Mains. Learn the difference between how a CEC and an Election Commissioner are removed; this small detail decides marks in many past papers.
UNSC Veto Reform Demand 2026: G20 Houston Meeting (GS2 - International Relations)
At a three-day G20 meeting held in Houston, Texas, discussions touched on reforming the veto power in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). A declaration calling for veto reform gained support from 128 countries, including the United Kingdom.
To understand why this matters, here is how the UNSC works:
The UNSC has 15 members in total.
Five are permanent members (P5): China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Ten are non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms.
Under Article 27 of the UN Charter, any substantive decision needs at least nine affirmative votes, and all five P5 members must agree (or at least not vote against it).
If even one P5 member votes "no," the resolution is blocked. This blocking power is called the veto.
The veto system came from the post-World War II order, when the major victorious powers were given special authority to keep peace and security. Critics argue this structure reflects the world of 1945, not today's reality, where power is spread across many more countries.
Why this matters for UPSC: Questions on UNSC reform, veto power, and India's push for a permanent seat appear regularly in GS2. Remember the five permanent members and the nine-vote rule under Article 27.
NISAR-2 Satellite Launch: ISRO-NASA Joint Mission (GS3 - Science & Tech)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) jointly developed and launched the NISAR-2 satellite. Its main job is to monitor global environmental dynamics; in simple words, it tracks changes happening on Earth's surface, such as shifts in land, ice, and forests.
This mission builds on the original NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) partnership, which uses radar imaging to study Earth from space. Radar imaging means the satellite can "see" the ground even through clouds and at night, which normal cameras cannot do.
Such missions help scientists study:
Earthquakes and land movement
Melting glaciers and ice sheets
Changes in forest cover
Groundwater levels
Why this matters for UPSC: Space cooperation between India and the US is a recurring GS3 theme, especially under science and technology and international collaboration. Note the full form of NISAR NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar since acronym-based questions are common.
PM-Vikas Scheme Cabinet Review 2026: Beneficiary Groups (GS2 – Government Schemes)
The Cabinet reviewed the PM-VIKAS scheme, which stands for Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan. This is a Central Sector scheme run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and its goal is to support skill development, entrepreneurship, and education among minority and artisan communities.
Here's what the scheme covers:
Six notified minority communities are the main beneficiaries.
It merges five older schemes: Seekho Aur Kamao, Nai Manzil, Nai Roshni, Hamari Dharohar, and USTTAD.
The scheme has four components: skilling and training, women leadership and entrepreneurship, education (through the National Institute of Open Schooling), and infrastructure development.
It uses a "Hub and Spoke" model to build Vishwakarma Villages that support artisans and their traditional crafts.
The scheme is expected to benefit around 9 lakh candidates during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2025-26).
It works through 59 Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) across states and union territories.
For someone wanting self-employment, the scheme also offers career counselling, mentoring through Business Mentors or Udyami Mitras, and credit support through the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC).
Why this matters for UPSC: Government scheme questions often ask about the nodal ministry, target group, and full form. Remember: Ministry of Minority Affairs, six minority communities, and the Hub and Spoke model for Vishwakarma Villages.
SIMBEX 2026 Naval Exercise: India-Singapore Maritime Drill (GS3 - Defence)
SIMBEX is the annual naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). It started in 1994 as "Exercise Lion King" and has grown into the longest continuously running bilateral naval exercise the Indian Navy holds with any country.
Key facts about SIMBEX:
It supports India's Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and its Act East Policy.
The exercise has two phases: a Harbour Phase (professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports) and a Sea Phase (gunnery firing, anti-submarine warfare, air-defence drills).
Past editions have used the South China Sea and the Bay of Bengal as exercise areas, depending on the host year.
The goal is to improve interoperability between the two navies and to jointly tackle threats like piracy at sea.
Why this matters for UPSC: Defence exercises are a low-effort, high-return topic. Just remember the country partner, the starting year (1994), and the purpose (maritime security and interoperability) for each named exercise - SIMBEX, SLINEX, Malabar, and others follow a similar pattern.
International Year of Women Farmers 2026: UN Recognition (GS3 - Agriculture)
The United Nations recognised 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers. The declaration gained backing from 128 countries, including the United Kingdom, showing wide global support for the initiative.
Women farmers play a major role in food production, especially in developing countries, but they often face unequal access to land, credit, and farming technology. A UN-recognised year draws global attention to these gaps and pushes governments to design policies that support women in agriculture, such as land rights, access to loans, and training in modern farming methods.
For India, this is especially relevant because a large share of agricultural labour comes from women, even though land ownership among women farmers remains low.
Why this matters for UPSC: Gender and agriculture is a growing theme in GS3 and GS1 (society). Link this to India's own schemes for women farmers, such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), if the question asks for a national example.
Daily Prelims MCQ Recap: ECI, Anti-Dumping Duty, Neelakurinji, Article 3
This section is a quick revision list of terms that appeared in daily prelims practice sets. Use it as a rapid-fire check before moving to the next topic.
ECI (Election Commission of India): Set up under Article 324, it conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
Anti-dumping duty: A tax imposed on imported goods that are priced lower than their normal value in the exporting country, to protect domestic industries from unfair competition.
Neelakurinji: A flowering shrub found in the Western Ghats, famous because it blooms only once every 12 years, turning hillsides blue-purple. It is often asked about in environment-related prelims questions.
Article 3: This article of the Constitution gives Parliament the power to form new states, change boundaries, or rename existing states, by passing a law with a simple majority (after getting the President's recommendation and the affected state's views).
Why this matters for UPSC: These four terms often repeat across prelims papers in different years. Keep one-line notes ready for each, since prelims rewards quick recall over long explanations.
FAQs
What is Make in India, and when was it launched?
Make in India is a government initiative launched on 25 September 2014 to make India a global hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. It completed 12 years on 25 September 2026.
Under which article can the Chief Election Commissioner be removed?
The CEC can be removed only through a process similar to a Supreme Court judge's removal, as provided under Article 324 of the Constitution, requiring a special majority in Parliament.
What is PM-VIKAS, and who benefits from it?
PM-VIKAS stands for Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan. It is a Central Sector scheme by the Ministry of Minority Affairs that supports skill development and entrepreneurship for six notified minority communities.
What does the NISAR-2 satellite do?
NISAR-2 is a joint ISRO-NASA satellite that uses radar imaging to monitor changes on Earth's surface, such as land movement, ice melt, and forest cover, helping scientists study environmental changes.
Why is UNSC veto reform being demanded?
Critics argue the current veto system, which gives only five permanent members blocking power, reflects the 1945 post-war order and not today's global power balance. Many countries want a fairer, more representative structure.
What is SIMBEX, and which countries take part in it?
SIMBEX is an annual naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy. It started in 1994 and is the longest continuous bilateral naval exercise India holds with any nation.
Conclusion - UPSC Current Affairs 25 September 2026
UPSC Current Affairs 25 September 2026 carried news across economy, polity, international relations, science, government schemes, defence, and agriculture, a good spread for UPSC preparation. Focus on the numbers behind Make in India, the constitutional details in the CEC removal issue, and the basic structure of the UNSC veto system, since these topics connect directly to both Prelims and Mains answers.
Revise the short-answer terms daily, and tie each news item back to its GS paper so recall becomes easier during the exam.
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