Daily Current Affairs- 22nd September 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 22nd September 2026

Nomadic Elephant 2026 Begins in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh

In the News: The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026 began on 21 September 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise will continue until 3 October 2026 and involves personnel from the Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces.

Key Points:

• 18th Edition: Nomadic Elephant is an annual platoon-level bilateral military exercise conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. The previous edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May-June 2025.
• Participation: The Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are represented by 45 personnel each. The exercise aims to improve coordination, interoperability and the exchange of operational best practices between the two forces.
• Operational Focus: Training focuses on counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. It also strengthens cooperation in peacekeeping and mountain warfare environments.
• Major Drills: Activities include cordon and search operations, room intervention drills, special heliborne operations, cyber-security training, drones and counter-drone systems.
• India-Mongolia Defence Ties: Mongolia is an important strategic partner for India under its Act East Policy. Nomadic Elephant is a key component of growing bilateral defence cooperation.

President Amends Inter-State Council Order, 1990

In the News: President Droupadi Murmu issued the Inter-State Council (Amendment) Order, 2026, modifying the Inter-State Council Order, 1990. The amendment specifies circumstances in which Governors and Lieutenant Governors are to be invited to meetings of the Inter-State Council.

Key Points:

• Constitutional Basis: The amendment was issued under Article 263 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to establish an Inter-State Council for coordination and discussion of issues involving the Union and States.
• States under President’s Rule: If a proclamation under Article 356 is in force in a State, the Governor of that State is to be invited to meetings of the Inter-State Council.
• Delhi Provision: Where an order under Article 239AB is in force in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor is to be invited to Council meetings. Article 239AB deals with failure of constitutional machinery in Delhi.
• Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir: The amendment similarly covers Section 51 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 for Puducherry and Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 for Jammu and Kashmir.
• Inter-State Council: The Council was constituted in 1990 following recommendations associated with the Sarkaria Commission. It serves as an important mechanism for Centre-State coordination and cooperative federalism.

India Co-Sponsors Inaugural P4M Summit at UN

In the News: India co-sponsored the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M) Summit held on 21 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for a more representative, transparent and effective multilateral system.

Key Points:

• P4M Initiative: P4M stands for Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity. Its initial co-sponsors include Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, India and Kenya.
• India’s Participation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the inaugural summit and highlighted the need for global institutions to respond more effectively to contemporary geopolitical, economic and developmental challenges.
• Core Objectives: The initiative promotes multilateral cooperation, respect for international law, peaceful settlement of disputes and inclusive global prosperity amid increasing geopolitical tensions.
• Reform of Multilateralism: India has consistently advocated reforms in global institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to ensure greater representation for developing countries and reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
• UN General Assembly: The summit was held during the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The United Nations was established in 1945 and is headquartered in New York.

How the Supreme Court has strengthened safeguards around arrest — and re-arrest

In the News: The Supreme Court strengthened constitutional protections against unlawful arrest by holding that non-compliance with safeguards under Articles 22(1) and 22(2) can invalidate an arrest. Under the case  Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol v State of Punjab, decided on 21 September 2026 by Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and A.S. Chandurkar. It also prescribed additional safeguards before a person released due to an unconstitutional arrest can be re-arrested.

Key Points:

• Article 22 Safeguards: Article 22(1) requires an arrested person to be informed of the grounds of arrest, while Article 22(2) requires production before a magistrate within 24 hours, excluding the time necessary for the journey.
• Written Grounds of Arrest: The Court reiterated that grounds of arrest should ordinarily be supplied in writing and in a language understood by the arrested person. Failure to comply with this constitutional requirement can render an arrest illegal.
• Re-Arrest Requires Judicial Scrutiny: Police cannot automatically re-arrest a person after an earlier arrest has been declared unconstitutional. Investigating agencies must approach the jurisdictional magistrate and explain why fresh custody is necessary.
• Additional Accountability: A re-arrest application must explain the earlier violation and carry the endorsement of the immediate superior of the concerned officer. The ruling also strengthens departmental accountability for violations of arrest safeguards.
• Important Precedents: Cases such as Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India (2023) and Mihir Rajesh Shah v. State of Maharashtra (2025) have contributed to the evolving jurisprudence on communication of grounds of arrest.

US, Denmark and Greenland Sign Defence Pact

In the News: The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a trilateral security agreement on 22 September 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The agreement expands defence cooperation in Greenland while recognising the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of Greenlanders to self-determination.

Key Points:

• Signatories: The pact was signed by US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. It focuses on security in the Arctic and North Atlantic region.
• Expanded US Presence: The agreement provides scope for an expanded American military presence in Greenland, including additional defence infrastructure and upgrades linked to the strategically important Arctic region.
• Sovereignty Retained: Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The agreement recognises Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while affirming the right of Greenlanders to self-determination.
• Strategic Importance: Greenland lies between the Arctic and North Atlantic and occupies an important position along possible military and missile routes between North America, Europe and Russia. The US operates Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.
• NATO Dimension: The agreement is linked to wider NATO security cooperation and aims to strengthen the defence of the Arctic region. It is subject to the necessary domestic and parliamentary procedures before entering into force.

India-EU FTA: Copyright Concerns

In the News: Copyright provisions in the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement have drawn attention over their possible implications for India’s existing copyright exceptions related to education, research, libraries and digital intermediaries. The Intellectual Property chapter has therefore become an important area of discussion.

Key Points:

• India-EU FTA: Negotiations on the trade agreement concluded in January 2026. Its Intellectual Property chapter covers copyright, trademarks, geographical indications, designs, undisclosed information and enforcement provisions.
• Copyright Act, 1957: Concerns centre on whether some FTA provisions could affect safeguards available under India’s Copyright Act, 1957, particularly those related to education, research, archives and certain digital activities.
• Section 52: Section 52 of the Copyright Act lists acts that are not treated as copyright infringement. These include specified forms of fair dealing and certain uses for education, research and transient electronic storage.
• Section 65A: Section 65A deals with technological protection measures, commonly associated with digital locks or Digital Rights Management. It also contains protections for certain lawful uses and specified activities.
• Government Position: The Government of India has stated that the FTA’s intellectual property provisions are consistent with India’s existing IP regime and on January 29, the government released an FAQ saying the IP chapter does not require India to amend its IP laws.