Daily Current Affairs- 12th September 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 12th September 2026

Gujarat Passes 24×7 Shops Bill to Boost Ease of Doing Business

In the News: The Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Gujarat Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026 in September 2026. The legislation permits shops and commercial establishments across the State to operate 24×7 while simplifying compliance requirements and promoting a business-friendly regulatory environment.

Key Points:

• 24×7 Commercial Operations: The Bill allows shops, malls, restaurants, hotels, cafés and other commercial establishments to remain open round-the-clock. The reform expands 24-hour operations beyond the locations previously specified under State law.
• Ease of Doing Business Reforms: The legislation introduces amendments across multiple State laws to reduce regulatory burdens. It promotes self-declaration, self-certification and risk-based inspections instead of excessive prior approvals.
• Worker Safeguards: Continuous operation of establishments does not remove labour protections relating to working hours, overtime and rest periods.
• Parent Legislation: The reform modifies provisions of the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019. The law regulates employment conditions in shops and commercial establishments in Gujarat.

OPU-IVF Calf Born in Badri Cattle in Major Indigenous Breed Conservation Milestone

In the News: A healthy female Badri calf was born in September 2026 using Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation technology. The breakthrough is significant for the conservation and rapid multiplication of the indigenous Badri cattle breed of Uttarakhand.

Key Points:

• Institutions Involved: The project involved ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. It also received support from the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council.
• OPU-IVF Technology: Oocytes are collected from genetically superior donor cattle and fertilised outside the body. The resulting embryos are transferred to recipient animals to produce offspring with desirable genetic traits.
• Badri Cattle: Badri is an indigenous cattle breed associated with the Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand. It is adapted to hilly terrain and was officially registered as a recognised Indian cattle breed in 2016.
• Conservation Significance: OPU-IVF enables faster multiplication of genetically valuable animals compared with conventional breeding. It can help conserve indigenous breeds with small or geographically restricted populations.
• ICAR-NBAGR: The ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources is headquartered at Karnal, Haryana. It is the nodal institution for documentation, registration and conservation of India's indigenous livestock and poultry breeds.

India to Host World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar

In the News: India is hosting the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in September 2026. The tenth edition of the forum is significant as it is the first WCEF to be organised in South Asia.

Key Points:

• Venue and Edition: WCEF2026 is being held at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar. It marks the tenth edition of the World Circular Economy Forum and its first edition in South Asia.
• Organisers: The forum is jointly organised by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and India's Central Pollution Control Board. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Gujarat Government are also associated with the event.
• Origin of WCEF: The World Circular Economy Forum was first organised in Helsinki, Finland, in 2017. It brings together governments, businesses and experts to promote practical solutions for a circular economy.
• Circular Economy Concept: A circular economy seeks to reduce waste by promoting reuse, repair, recycling and efficient use of resources. It contrasts with the traditional linear economic model of “take, make and dispose”.

UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2026: Six Initiatives Honoured for Impact

In the News: UNESCO honoured six initiatives with its 2026 International Literacy Prizes during International Literacy Day celebrations in September 2026. The awardees came from Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Thailand.

Key Points:

• King Sejong Literacy Prize: Three initiatives from Colombia, the Netherlands and Nigeria received the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize. The award particularly promotes mother-tongue literacy and multilingual education.
• Confucius Prize for Literacy: Initiatives from Lebanon, Mexico and Thailand received the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy. The prize focuses on functional literacy, rural populations, technology and out-of-school youth.
• Two Major UNESCO Literacy Awards: The King Sejong Literacy Prize was established in 1989 with support from the Republic of Korea. The Confucius Prize for Literacy was established in 2005 with support from China.
• International Literacy Day: International Literacy Day is observed every year on 8 September. UNESCO proclaimed the observance in 1966 to promote literacy as a tool for empowerment and sustainable development.
• Global Literacy Challenge: Hundreds of millions of youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, with women forming a significant proportion. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia account for a large share of the global literacy gap.