• The achievement was recorded under ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for adult education.
• ULLAS, also known as the New India Literacy Programme, targets non-literate persons aged 15 years and above who missed formal schooling.
• The Ministry of Education, Government of India, is the nodal ministry for the ULLAS scheme.

2. Odisha Governor Launches Boeing Sukanya STEM Lab to Promote Girls in Aviation

• Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati inaugurated the Boeing Sukanya Programme STEM Lab and Aeromodelling Training Centre at The Kosala School in Bargarh district, Odisha.
• The STEM Lab will provide hands-on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
• The programme is implemented by Boeing in partnership with Learning Links Foundation.

3. Kerala Launches India’s First Ecosystem Red List Assessment

• The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) launched India’s first Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) assessment project in Kollam, Kerala.
• Ecosystems are classified according to risk categories, including Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable.
• Red List Assessment is a scientific process used to evaluate the risk of extinction of species or the risk of collapse of ecosystems.

4. Delhi Ranks 193rd In World’s Friendliest Cities Index 2026

• Mérida, Mexico, ranked first with a score of 95.0, followed by Glasgow, Scotland (94.9), and Bogotá, Colombia (94.5).
• Delhi ranked 193rd out of 200 cities in the Friendliest Cities Index 2026, commissioned by travel platform Fernwayer.
• Delhi received a score of 43.6 out of 100 in the index.

5. NPCI Defers 0.4% MDR on Select UPI Transactions Above ₹2,000

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) deferred the implementation of the proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI merchant transactions above ₹2,000 until after Diwali 2026.
• Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is a fee paid by merchants to banks and payment service providers for processing digital transactions. The fee is shared among participants involved in the payment ecosystem, including banks and payment service providers.  
• NPCI is incorporated as a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.

6. Navy to Commission Indigenous Multipurpose Vessel INS Samarthak

• The Indian Navy is scheduled to commission Samarthak, its first of four Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs), at Naval Base, Karwar, Karnataka.
• The vessel has been built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Ltd. under the Government of India’s Make in India initiative.
• Utkarsh, meaning “Superior in Conduct,” is the second Multi-Purpose Vessel built by L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy and was launched on 13 January 2025.

7. Shefali Verma, Shubman Gill named ICC Women’s and Men’s Player of Month

• Indian cricketer Shafali Verma was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September 2026 for her performances in the Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games.
• Indian captain Shubman Gill was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for September 2026 following his outstanding performance in the ODI series against the West Indies.
• Shubman Gill won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for a record-equalling fifth time, matching West Indies captain Hayley Matthews’ five monthly awards.

8. Subhash Tamang to Become First Nepali Golfer in DP World Tour Event

• Nepali golfer Subash Tamang is set to become the first golfer from Nepal to compete in a DP World Tour event at the DP World India Championship, held at Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi.
• Nepal will become the 120th nation represented in DP World Tour history since the tour began in 1972.
• Tamang secured his place after finishing 23rd in the Race to DP World India Championship standings on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).