Daily Current Affairs 22 September 2026: National, Defence & Awards
# Daily Current Affairs – 22 September 2026
## 1. 72nd National Film Awards
President Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on 22 September 2026. Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024. The ceremony was notable for being held outside Delhi for the first time.
**Exam Facts**
- Award: Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024
- Recipient: Anant Nag
- Venue: Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
## 2. 9th India International Water Week 2026
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was held from 22–26 September 2026 under the theme **“Climate Resilient Water Management.”**
The event focused on water security, urban river management and sustainable reservoir management.
**Exam Facts**
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Theme: Climate Resilient Water Management
## 3. Exercise Veer Guardian 2026
The bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026 between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September after 14 days.
Aircraft reported in the exercise included India's Su-30MKI, Rafale and LCA Tejas, and Japan's F-2A.
**Exam Facts**
- Participants: India and Japan
- Type: Bilateral air exercise
- Venue: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
## 4. Modified UDAN Scheme
The Ministry of Civil Aviation signed 21 MoUs with States/Union Territories and the Airports Authority of India for the next phase of UDAN. A Challenge Mode Portal was introduced to help states nominate airstrips and helipads for development.
UDAN aims to improve regional air connectivity and make air travel more accessible.
## 5. Project Rhino
On World Rhino Day, Project Rhino was announced to support rhino-range states with financial and technical assistance for conservation, habitat management and population studies. Assam is home to a major share of the world's greater one-horned rhinoceros population.
**Exam Facts**
- Focus: Rhino conservation
- Important state: Assam
- Important day: World Rhino Day, 22 September
## 6. National Single Window System
The National Single Window System, launched on 22 September 2021, completed five years. This digital platform helps businesses access multiple central and state-level approvals through a common system.
**Exam Focus:** Ease of doing business and digital governance.
## 7. Asian Games 2026 – Women's Cricket
Reports on the Asian Games 2026 stated that India's women's cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to win the gold medal. It was reported as India's first gold medal of the edition.
## 8. TRAI's Voice-and-SMS Vouchers
TRAI notified the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The changes require telecom operators to provide voice-and-SMS-only special tariff vouchers with a wider range of validity periods, including shorter-validity options.
## 9. Exercise VARUNA
INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, for the 24th edition of Exercise VARUNA, the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.
**Exam Facts**
- Participants: Indian Navy and French Navy
- Type: Bilateral maritime exercise
- Location: Toulon, France
## Practice MCQs
**Q1. Who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024?**
A. Mammootty
B. Anant Nag
C. Kartik Aaryan
D. Naseeruddin Shah
**Answer: B. Anant Nag**
**Q2. Where was India International Water Week 2026 inaugurated?**
A. Mumbai
B. Hyderabad
C. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
D. Jaipur
**Answer: C. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi**
**Q3. Exercise Veer Guardian is conducted between India and which country?**
A. France
B. Japan
C. Australia
D. Singapore
**Answer: B. Japan**
**Q4. Project Rhino focuses on the conservation of which animal?**
A. Tiger
B. Rhino
C. Snow leopard
D. Elephant
**Answer: B. Rhino**
**Q5. UDAN is primarily associated with which sector?**
A. Civil aviation
B. Higher education
C. Rural banking
D. Space research
**Answer: A. Civil aviation**
**Q6. Exercise VARUNA is conducted between India and which country?**
A. Germany
B. Japan
C. France
D. Brazil
**Answer: C. France**
### One-Liner Revision
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient: Anant Nag
- Water Week venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Veer Guardian: India–Japan air exercise
- Project Rhino: Rhino conservation
- UDAN: Regional air connectivity
- VARUNA: India–France naval exercise
*For examination use, verify time-sensitive awards, results and official notifications against primary sources.*
## 1. 72nd National Film Awards
President Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on 22 September 2026. Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024. The ceremony was notable for being held outside Delhi for the first time.
**Exam Facts**
- Award: Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024
- Recipient: Anant Nag
- Venue: Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
## 2. 9th India International Water Week 2026
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was held from 22–26 September 2026 under the theme **“Climate Resilient Water Management.”**
The event focused on water security, urban river management and sustainable reservoir management.
**Exam Facts**
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Theme: Climate Resilient Water Management
## 3. Exercise Veer Guardian 2026
The bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026 between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September after 14 days.
Aircraft reported in the exercise included India's Su-30MKI, Rafale and LCA Tejas, and Japan's F-2A.
**Exam Facts**
- Participants: India and Japan
- Type: Bilateral air exercise
- Venue: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
## 4. Modified UDAN Scheme
The Ministry of Civil Aviation signed 21 MoUs with States/Union Territories and the Airports Authority of India for the next phase of UDAN. A Challenge Mode Portal was introduced to help states nominate airstrips and helipads for development.
UDAN aims to improve regional air connectivity and make air travel more accessible.
## 5. Project Rhino
On World Rhino Day, Project Rhino was announced to support rhino-range states with financial and technical assistance for conservation, habitat management and population studies. Assam is home to a major share of the world's greater one-horned rhinoceros population.
**Exam Facts**
- Focus: Rhino conservation
- Important state: Assam
- Important day: World Rhino Day, 22 September
## 6. National Single Window System
The National Single Window System, launched on 22 September 2021, completed five years. This digital platform helps businesses access multiple central and state-level approvals through a common system.
**Exam Focus:** Ease of doing business and digital governance.
## 7. Asian Games 2026 – Women's Cricket
Reports on the Asian Games 2026 stated that India's women's cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to win the gold medal. It was reported as India's first gold medal of the edition.
## 8. TRAI's Voice-and-SMS Vouchers
TRAI notified the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The changes require telecom operators to provide voice-and-SMS-only special tariff vouchers with a wider range of validity periods, including shorter-validity options.
## 9. Exercise VARUNA
INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, for the 24th edition of Exercise VARUNA, the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.
**Exam Facts**
- Participants: Indian Navy and French Navy
- Type: Bilateral maritime exercise
- Location: Toulon, France
## Practice MCQs
**Q1. Who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024?**
A. Mammootty
B. Anant Nag
C. Kartik Aaryan
D. Naseeruddin Shah
**Answer: B. Anant Nag**
**Q2. Where was India International Water Week 2026 inaugurated?**
A. Mumbai
B. Hyderabad
C. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
D. Jaipur
**Answer: C. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi**
**Q3. Exercise Veer Guardian is conducted between India and which country?**
A. France
B. Japan
C. Australia
D. Singapore
**Answer: B. Japan**
**Q4. Project Rhino focuses on the conservation of which animal?**
A. Tiger
B. Rhino
C. Snow leopard
D. Elephant
**Answer: B. Rhino**
**Q5. UDAN is primarily associated with which sector?**
A. Civil aviation
B. Higher education
C. Rural banking
D. Space research
**Answer: A. Civil aviation**
**Q6. Exercise VARUNA is conducted between India and which country?**
A. Germany
B. Japan
C. France
D. Brazil
**Answer: C. France**
### One-Liner Revision
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient: Anant Nag
- Water Week venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Veer Guardian: India–Japan air exercise
- Project Rhino: Rhino conservation
- UDAN: Regional air connectivity
- VARUNA: India–France naval exercise
*For examination use, verify time-sensitive awards, results and official notifications against primary sources.*