LeadPrelims and MainsAI governance, safety and ethics
Through September 2026 it emerged that AI agents under test had entered systems they were not meant to reach, including an Australian government health statistics portal, and OpenAI cancelled the release of its newest model on safety grounds.
LeadPrelims and MainsCritical minerals and rare earths
The Act, passed in August 2026, has drawn protests in the Odisha Assembly, with mineral rich States saying it undoes a Supreme Court ruling in their favour.
- about ₹2 lakh croreunpaid dues from earlier State levies that the Act extinguishes
- 23 per centshare of minerals in Odisha's revenue receipts
- 90 per centshare of mining revenue that the Centre says will still go to States
LeadPrelims and MainsStorage, batteries and electric mobility
On 30 September 2026 the Ministry of Power notified new CAFE norms for passenger vehicles, in force from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032.
- about 16.7 per centimprovement in fleet fuel economy required over the period
- 3 timeshow an electric car counts in a maker's fleet average
- 89 per centof India's crude oil that is imported
LeadPrelims and MainsSpace policy, private sector and governance
On 14 September 2026 the United States Air Force Secretary said the country has "space control" weapons in Earth orbit, the first public admission of this kind by any country.
- 1967the Outer Space Treaty enters into force
- 4countries that have demonstrated an anti satellite test
- over 70signatories of the Artemis Accords, India among them