Introduction

Bank and government exam current affairs from 14–20 September 2026 covered India climbing to fourth place in global forex reserves, the opening of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, and Anant Nag being named for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — from Project Cheetah's fourth anniversary to Kenya winning the 2029 World Athletics hosting rights. This weekly current affairs Q&A is built specifically for exam preparation: quick, accurate revision instead of another long video to sit through. This roundup covers 26 exam-important questions from 14–20 September 2026, each followed by four options, the correct answer, and a short explanation with the key facts you need.

National Affairs & Government Schemes

Q1. What is India's rank in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 released by the World Economic Forum?

  • a) 129th
  • b) 131st
  • c) 127th
  • d) 143rd

Answer: b) 131st

India is ranked 131st out of 145 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 from the World Economic Forum (WEF). This is the same rank India held in the 2025 edition, which covered 148 countries. Iceland is first, Finland second and Norway third. Among India's neighbours, Bangladesh is 79th, Maldives 119th, Nepal 120th, Bhutan 121st, Sri Lanka 129th and Pakistan 143rd. The WEF has published the report every year since 2006, and the organisation itself was founded in 1971 with its headquarters in Cologny, Switzerland.

Q2. Five baby orangutans were recovered from a protected reserve forest in Balasore district. Which state is Balasore in?

  • a) West Bengal
  • b) Odisha
  • c) Assam
  • d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: b) Odisha

Five orangutans, three male and two female and all under one year old, were recovered from a protected reserve forest in Odisha's Balasore district. Orangutans are not native to India, so agencies are investigating possible wildlife trafficking. The animals have been moved to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar for care. Orangutans are great apes native to the islands of Indonesia and Malaysia. All three species (Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli) are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Q3. Which state topped the National HPV Vaccination Campaign by vaccinating more than 22 lakh adolescent girls?

  • a) Maharashtra
  • b) Bihar
  • c) Uttar Pradesh
  • d) Rajasthan

Answer: c) Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh leads the National HPV Vaccination Campaign with more than 22 lakh adolescent girls vaccinated, and the national total has crossed 80 lakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan on 28 February 2026. Girls aged 14 receive a free, single-dose HPV vaccine at government health centres. The aim is to prevent cervical cancer.

Q4. On which river is the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project, covered by a recent agreement among six states, proposed?

  • a) Yamuna
  • b) Tons
  • c) Giri
  • d) Pabbar

Answer: b) Tons

Six states signed an agreement in New Delhi on the Kishau Multipurpose Project on the Tons river: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. The Tons is a tributary of the Yamuna and flows mainly through Uttarakhand. The project lies on the Uttarakhand–Himachal Pradesh border. It will have 660 MW of power generation capacity, and its reservoir is expected to irrigate about 97,000 hectares.

Q5. Tso Kar Lake, which is being revived through a mega water-diversion project, is located in which state/UT?

  • a) Himachal Pradesh
  • b) Sikkim
  • c) Ladakh
  • d) Uttarakhand

Answer: c) Ladakh

Tso Kar is a high-altitude lake at about 15,000 ft in the Changthang region of Ladakh. It has lost about 70% of its area in the last decade, shrinking from roughly 11,000 acres to about 3,200 acres. Under the revival plan, glacier-fed water from a stream at about 18,000 ft will be diverted into the lake, at around 320 million litres a day. The Tso Kar Wetland Complex became a Ramsar site in 2020. It is an important habitat for migratory birds and the black-necked crane.

Q6. In which year was the PM Vishwakarma Yojana launched?

  • a) 2021
  • b) 2022
  • c) 2023
  • d) 2024

Answer: c) 2023

PM Narendra Modi launched the PM Vishwakarma Yojana on Vishwakarma Jayanti, 17 September 2023, and the scheme completed three years on 17 September 2026. It supports traditional artisans and craftspeople through financial assistance, skill training and exposure to modern tools. The scheme runs for five years, from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28, with an outlay of ₹13,000 crore. It has recorded about 30 lakh registrations so far.

Q7. Who secured the first position in the overall category of the India Electric Mobility Index 2025?

  • a) Maharashtra
  • b) Karnataka
  • c) Delhi
  • d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: c) Delhi

Delhi ranked first overall in the India Electric Mobility Index 2025 with a score of 84 out of 100. Maharashtra was second and Karnataka third. The index ranks states and UTs on their electric vehicle ecosystem as a whole, not only EV sales. It also covers charging infrastructure, government policy and implementation pace.

Q8. How many years did Project Cheetah complete on 17 September 2026?

  • a) 2 years
  • b) 3 years
  • c) 4 years
  • d) 5 years

Answer: c) 4 years

Project Cheetah was launched on 17 September 2022 to reintroduce cheetahs to India, where the animal was declared extinct in 1952. The first batch was 8 cheetahs from Namibia, followed by 12 from South Africa on 18 February 2023 and 9 from Botswana on 28 February 2026. India's cheetah population has now grown to 52, of which 32 were born in India. There are 49 cheetahs in Kuno National Park and 3 in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh.

Banking, Finance & Economy

Q9. In September 2026, India overtook which country to become the world's fourth-largest holder of foreign exchange reserves?

  • a) Switzerland
  • b) Russia
  • c) Japan
  • d) Saudi Arabia

Answer: b) Russia

India's foreign exchange reserves crossed a record USD 785 billion in September 2026. According to a Bloomberg-compiled global reserves comparison, this moved India past Russia into fourth place worldwide. China leads with more than USD 3.3 trillion, followed by Japan and Switzerland.

International Affairs

Q10. Houthi rebels recently captured which historic port city of Yemen?

  • a) Aden
  • b) Hodeidah
  • c) Mokha
  • d) Mukalla

Answer: c) Mokha

Houthi rebels have taken the Red Sea port city of Mokha in western Yemen from Saudi-backed forces that support Yemen's government. The Houthis are backed by Iran. Mokha lies close to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Houthi control of the port raises the risk to global oil shipping and trade through this chokepoint, at a time when tensions are already high over the Strait of Hormuz.

Q11. Where was the G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting held from 14 to 16 September 2026?

  • a) South Africa
  • b) Brazil
  • c) United States
  • d) India

Answer: c) United States

The G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting took place in the United States, which holds the G20 Presidency in 2026. Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar represented India. The meeting discussed energy security, affordable energy, infrastructure approvals and critical mineral supply chains. The 2026 G20 Leaders' Summit will be held in Miami, after the 20th summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2025.

Q12. India and Vietnam have decided to celebrate which year as the "Year of India–Vietnam Friendship"?

  • a) 2025
  • b) 2026
  • c) 2027
  • d) 2028

Answer: c) 2027

India and Vietnam will celebrate 2027 as the Year of India–Vietnam Friendship, which marks 55 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The decision came at the 19th India–Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar co-chaired it with Vietnam's Foreign Minister. Cultural programmes will be held in both countries to strengthen people-to-people ties.

Sports

Q13. Which team won the Duleep Trophy 2026-27?

  • a) South Zone
  • b) West Zone
  • c) East Zone
  • d) Central Zone

Answer: c) East Zone

East Zone, captained by Ishan Kishan, won the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 by beating South Zone in the final. The final was played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Ishan Kishan was Player of the Match in the final, and Tilak Varma was named Player of the Tournament.

Q14. Which country won the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026?

  • a) Sri Lanka
  • b) Pakistan
  • c) Bangladesh
  • d) India

Answer: d) India

India won the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026, beating defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final. The final was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Shafali Verma was Player of the Match, and Harmanpreet Kaur captained India.

Q15. Which country did India defeat in the final of the Men's Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026?

  • a) China
  • b) Pakistan
  • c) South Korea
  • d) Malaysia

Answer: c) South Korea

India's men beat South Korea in the final of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Men's Junior Asia Cup 2026, held in China from 4 to 13 September. India's women also won their title by beating hosts China in the women's final. Both Indian teams have qualified for the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2027.

Q16. Who won the women's singles title at the US Open 2026?

  • a) Aryna Sabalenka
  • b) Coco Gauff
  • c) Elena Rybakina
  • d) Iga Swiatek

Answer: c) Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the US Open 2026 women's singles title by beating Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka in the final. It is Rybakina's third Grand Slam singles title. Sabalenka was the defending champion, having won the US Open in 2025. The US Open is the last of the four Grand Slams each year and is played on hard courts.

Q17. Who won the men's singles title at the US Open 2026?

  • a) Ben Shelton
  • b) Alexander Zverev
  • c) Jannik Sinner
  • d) Carlos Alcaraz

Answer: b) Alexander Zverev

Germany's Alexander Zverev won the US Open 2026 men's singles title by beating Ben Shelton of the USA in the final. It is Zverev's first US Open title, and it follows his first-ever Grand Slam win at the 2026 French Open. The 2026 tournament was the 146th edition of the US Open, which began in 1881.

Q18. Which city will host the World Athletics Championships 2029?

  • a) Beijing
  • b) Munich
  • c) Doha
  • d) Nairobi

Answer: d) Nairobi

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, will host the World Athletics Championships in 2029. It will be the first time an African country hosts the event. The championships are held every two years: Tokyo hosted in 2025, Beijing will host in 2027 and Munich in 2031.

Q19. Where are the 20th Asian Games 2026 being held?

  • a) Tokyo
  • b) Hangzhou
  • c) Aichi-Nagoya
  • d) Hiroshima

Answer: c) Aichi-Nagoya

The 20th Asian Games are being held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026. This is the third time Japan has hosted the Games, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The first Asian Games were held in 1951.

Awards, Recognition & Research

Q20. Which show won the Outstanding Comedy Series award at the 78th Emmy Awards 2026?

  • a) The Pitt
  • b) Abbott Elementary
  • c) The Bear
  • d) Widow's Bay

Answer: d) Widow's Bay

Apple TV's comedy-horror series Widow's Bay won Outstanding Comedy Series at the 78th Emmy Awards on 14 September 2026 in Los Angeles. The show won 14 Emmys for the season, which is a new record for the most Emmys won by a single season. The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series. The Emmy Awards are the top US honours for television.

Q21. Who has been named for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2024?

  • a) Mohanlal
  • b) Kamal Haasan
  • c) Mammootty
  • d) Anant Nag

Answer: d) Anant Nag

Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024. He will be honoured at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony at Kevadia, Gujarat on 22 September 2026. Anant Nag has acted in more than 300 films over five decades and received the Padma Bhushan in 2025. The previous award, for 2023, went to Malayalam actor Mohanlal.

Q22. The Maha Kumbhabhishekam of which famous temple was held in September 2026 after a gap of 17 years?

  • a) Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
  • b) Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
  • c) Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai
  • d) Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai

Answer: c) Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai

The Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, was held after 17 years. In this ritual, the temple gopurams and the main deities are consecrated with holy water. It is normally held every 12 years. The last one was in 2009, but it was delayed because of renovation work after a fire in the temple complex. The temple, from the Pandya period, is a well-known example of Dravidian architecture.

Q23. Who is the author of the book "A Century of Service: The RSS in 100 Acts of Seva"?

  • a) Kiran Bedi
  • b) Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan
  • c) Nirmala Sitharaman
  • d) Smriti Irani

Answer: b) Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched "A Century of Service: The RSS in 100 Acts of Seva" by Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan in New Delhi. The book covers service activities from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's first 100 years; the RSS was founded in 1925 and completed its centenary in 2025. Dr Soundararajan was Governor of Telangana from 2019 to 2024 and also served as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

Important Days

Q24. On which day is Hindi Diwas celebrated every year in India?

  • a) 10 January
  • b) 21 February
  • c) 14 September
  • d) 26 November

Answer: c) 14 September

Hindi Diwas is celebrated on 14 September. On that date in 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. It was first observed in 1953. It should not be confused with World Hindi Day, which is observed on 10 January.

Q25. The Nuakhai festival is mainly celebrated in which state?

  • a) Assam
  • b) Odisha
  • c) Kerala
  • d) Punjab

Answer: b) Odisha

Nuakhai is an agricultural festival mainly celebrated in western Odisha, and some communities in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand also observe it. In Odia, "nua" means new and "khai" means food, and the festival welcomes the new paddy harvest. It falls on the Panchami of Bhadrapada, the day after Ganesh Chaturthi. In 2026 it was celebrated on 15 September.

Q26. When is World Ozone Day observed every year?

  • a) 5 June
  • b) 22 April
  • c) 16 September
  • d) 16 October

Answer: c) 16 September

World Ozone Day, also called the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed on 16 September. It marks the signing of the Montreal Protocol in Montreal, Canada in 1987, and it was first observed in 1995. The 2026 theme is "Global Action for a Cooler Planet: Celebrating 10 Years of Sustainable Cooling under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol."

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Conclusion & Summary

This week's current affairs reflected India's sporting success, with titles at the Women's T20 Asia Cup and both Junior Asia Cup hockey events. It also saw India move up to fourth in global forex reserves, Project Cheetah reach four years with 52 cheetahs, and Anant Nag named for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Bookmark this weekly current affairs page for quick revision before your bank or government exam, and check back every Sunday for the next roundup.