This is the current affairs 11 to 13 September 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. ‘Mokha Port’, which came into the news after being captured by Houthi rebels in Yemen, is located on the coast of which sea?
a. Arabian Sea
b. Mediterranean Sea
c. Red Sea
d. Black Sea
Answer: c. Red Sea
– Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha/Mocha.
– This city is about 75 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
– Mokha/Mocha was previously controlled by the Yemeni National Resistance Forces.
– It is a Saudi-backed group fighting against the Houthis.
– Fighting between the two had been going on for the last 9 days.
– The Houthis carried out missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia on September 8, 2026.
– In this attack, energy facilities associated with the state oil company Aramco in Abha, Najran and Jizan were targeted.
– Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has sent a message to Iran through Pakistan, asking it to tell the Houthis to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia.
– The Houthis already control Yemen’s capital Sana’a and the major Red Sea port of Hodeidah.
– Now, after capturing Mokha/Mocha, their position on the western coast has also become stronger.
– Defense experts say that if the Houthis further strengthen their hold in this area, it may become easier for them to monitor ships passing through the Red Sea.
Bab al-Mandeb
– Bab al-Mandeb is a narrow passage of the sea.
– It connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
– Therefore, even without capturing a large area, a threat can be created for ships passing through strategic locations in the surrounding area.
Houthi Support from Iran
– The Houthi rebels are supported by Iran, while the Yemeni government is supported by Saudi Arabia.
– Amid Houthi attacks in Yemen, Pakistan has currently denied military action.
Why has the fighting intensified again in Yemen?
– The civil war between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government in Yemen began in 2014.
– In 2022, a ceasefire was reached between the two sides through UN efforts.
– However, no permanent peace agreement could be reached.
– According to experts, Iran’s involvement in the ongoing conflict with the United States is also affecting Yemen.
– In such a situation, the Yemeni government wants to retake the areas controlled by the Houthis.
– Meanwhile, the Houthis want to further strengthen their hold along the Red Sea coast and around Bab al-Mandeb.
– This is why fighting has now intensified around Mokha, Taiz and Hodeidah.
Saudi Arabia started the war against the Houthis in 2015
– After Hadi stepped down, no single government remained in control of Yemen.
– This created a sense of threat in neighboring Saudi Arabia because Iran was supporting the Houthis.
– In such a situation, Saudi Arabia formed a military coalition with eight Arab countries in 2015 and started a war against the Houthis.
– The objective of this coalition was to bring President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s internationally recognized government back to power.
– After nearly eight years of fighting, Saudi Arabia realized that it was not possible to defeat the Houthis through military power alone.
– After this, it adopted the path of negotiations and began direct contact with Houthi leaders.
– The Houthis control large parts of northern Yemen.
– Southern Yemen is under the control of the internationally recognized government,
– which is largely dependent on Saudi Arabia for economic and military assistance.
Houthi Rebels?
– Houthi rebels are a powerful Shia Islamic (Zaidi Shia) political and armed organization of Yemen.
– Its official name is Ansar Allah.
– The Ansar Allah group’s name ‘Houthi’ (Houthis) was derived from the name of its founder, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi.
– Due to his leadership and the influence of the al-Houthi family, the world began calling them ‘Houthis’, while the official and religious name of the group is ‘Ansar Allah’ (meaning supporters of God).
– These Houthis currently control a large part of the country.
– In 2014, a rebellion took place in Yemen against President Hadi.
– In 2015, Houthi rebels captured the capital Sana’a.
– United Nations
Major factions in Yemen and their support
– Houthi rebels: Iran
– Yemeni government: Saudi Arabia
– National Resistance Forces: UAE and Saudi Arabia
– Hadrami: Saudi Arabia
– Southern Transitional Council (STC): UAE
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2. Which national park has emerged as a rich habitat for the endangered ‘Resplendent Shrub’ frog?
a. Periyar National Park
b. Bandipur National Park
c. Silent Valley National Park
d. Eravikulam National Park
Answer: d. Eravikulam National Park (in Munnar near the Western Ghats in Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala)
– This national park is located in Munnar near the Western Ghats in Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala.
– The survey was conducted from September 3 to 6, 2026, in protected areas under the Munnar Wildlife Division.
– The survey was carried out in Eravikulam, Anamudi Shola, Pampadum Shola and Mathikettan Shola National Parks, as well as Kurinjimala Sanctuary.
– A good number of Resplendent Shrub Frogs were recorded in nine camps of Eravikulam.
– It was described as the second most commonly found species in the grassland habitat.
9 species placed in the endangered category
– The researchers’ survey included 54 amphibian and 52 reptile species.
– According to the IUCN Red List, 19 species were placed in the endangered category during this survey.
– 10 critically endangered species (such as the Galaxy Frog) and seven near-threatened species (such as the Purple Frog) were also recorded.
Resplendent Shrub Frog
– Its scientific name is Raorchestes resplendens.
– It is an endemic frog species of the Western Ghats.
– It was placed in the Critically Endangered category of the IUCN in 2011.
– It was originally discovered at an altitude of about 2,695 meters at the peak of Anamudi, Eravikulam National Park, Kerala.
– Its preferred habitat is wet/marshy montane grasslands and clumps of Chrysopogon grass.
– It differs from many other frogs because it develops directly from an egg into a small frog.
– That is, there is no normal tadpole stage.
– Herpetologist Sandeep Das stated that more than 1,938 Resplendent Shrub Frogs were observed in the eastern national park during the survey.
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3. Which zone’s team won the Duleep Trophy 2026 title after 13 years?
a. East Zone
b. West Zone
c. North Zone
d. South Zone
Answer: a. East Zone
– The final match was held on September 10, 2026, at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
– In the final, East Zone defeated South Zone on the basis of a first-innings lead.
– East Zone had scored 708 runs in the first innings.
– In response, the South Zone team was bowled out for 336 runs.
– East Zone gained a massive lead of 372 runs.
– At the end of play on the fifth day, the match was drawn.
– Under the rules, East Zone was declared the winner on the basis of the first-innings lead.
– The captain of East Zone was Ishan Kishan.
About the Duleep Trophy
– The Duleep Trophy is one of India’s major domestic first-class cricket competitions.
– The trophy is named after the Prince of Nawanagar, Shri Duleepsinhji Jadeja (K. S. Duleepsinhji).
– The competition began in 1961-62.
– Usually, teams representing different geographical regions (zones) of India compete against each other.
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4. For which Union Territory has the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed a special constitutional provision, ‘Chapter K’, under Article 371 for an elected body?
a. Jammu and Kashmir
b. Ladakh
c. Puducherry
d. Lakshadweep
Answer: b. Ladakh
– The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a meeting with representatives of Ladakh (Leh Apex Body – LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance – KDA), has proposed adding ‘Chapter K’ (Article 371K) under Article 371 for Ladakh.
– Under this proposal, an elected governing body would be formed at the UT level, which would be selected through direct voting.
– It is proposed that this institution be given the power to make laws on matters related to land rights, employment, culture, language, forests and environment, and conservation of natural resources.
– Constitutional basis: Under this, the powers would relate to subjects reserved for the UT under Article 240 of the Indian Constitution.
Major demands and background of Ladakh
– After the removal of Article 370 in August 2019 and the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, Ladakh was made a Union Territory without a legislature.
– Due to the absence of a legislature and governance coming mainly under bureaucratic control, a feeling of political neglect increased among the local population.
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5. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a US non-profit policy think tank, approximately how many warheads are in India’s nuclear arsenal?
a. 190
b. 100
c. 150
d. 110
Answer: a. 190
– FAS released this report in September 2026.
– India has around 190 assembled nuclear weapons.
– More than 160 of these weapons are associated with delivery systems that are currently active.
– It includes 30 additional warheads for new missiles under production.
– The report also said that India has produced more weapons than the number of launchers it currently keeps ready.
– The remaining additional weapons have been made for missiles that are still in the production or development stage.
– These include missiles such as Agni-Prime and the long-range K-4.
– According to FAS, these estimates were obtained through an analysis combining open-source information, state-based data and commercial satellite imagery.
– According to an article titled ‘India’s Nuclear Weapons – 2026’, written by Hans Kristensen, Director of the FAS Nuclear Information Project, the report was released.
– FAS estimates that India may have produced approximately 730 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium.
– If approximately 4 kilograms of plutonium is considered necessary for one nuclear weapon, theoretically this could be used to make 140 to 225 nuclear weapons.
– However, this does not mean that India actually has 225 ready nuclear weapons.
– There is no clear information about how much plutonium has been used to make weapons.
– According to FAS, India is modernizing its nuclear weapons.
– And it is developing new missiles and sea-based nuclear systems.
– India’s capability to deliver nuclear weapons through all three mediums—air, land and sea—is being developed.
India’s Nuclear Policy
– India adopted the principle of ‘No First Use’ (No First Use/NFU) in its nuclear policy after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998.
– India continuously emphasizes maintaining Credible Minimum Deterrence.
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6. When is World First Aid Day celebrated?
a. First Saturday of September
b. Second Saturday of September
c. Third Saturday of September
d. Fourth Saturday of September
Answer: b. Second Saturday of September (September 12 in 2026)
Theme of 2026
– First Aid in the context of migration
– First Aid in Migration Contexts
– This day was started by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the year 2000.
– This day highlights the importance of first aid during an injury or accident.
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7. Who is the Sherpa for the 2026 BRICS Summit?
a. Vikram Misri
b. Sudhakar Dalela
c. T. S. Tirumurti
d. Syed Akbaruddin
Answer: b. Sudhakar Dalela
– India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, 2026.
– Sudhakar Dalela is a senior diplomat.
– Sudhakar Dalela, a 1993-batch IFS officer, is serving as Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
BRICS Sherpa?
– A BRICS Sherpa is a senior official responsible for representing their respective member country in the diplomatic preparations for the BRICS Summit before the summit.
– While political leaders make the final decisions, the Sherpa works behind the scenes.
– In India’s case, Dalela’s responsibility is to coordinate India’s position among the BRICS countries.
– To facilitate the process of bringing forward issues that can be accepted by consensus.
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8. Who became the first Indian bowler to take 50 wickets in the fewest matches in T20 International cricket?
a. Shreyanka Patil
b. Radha Yadav
c. Deepti Sharma
d. Shri Charani
Answer: d. Shri Charani
– Young left-arm spinner Shri Charani became the fastest Indian to take 50 wickets in T20 Internationals, achieving the feat in the fewest matches (29 matches).
– She became the player to achieve this feat in both women’s and men’s formats.
– Before this, men’s cricketer Kuldeep Yadav held the record, achieving it in 30 matches.
– 22-year-old Shri Charani completed this record by bowling against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semi-final on September 10, 2026.
– She moved jointly into second place in the all-time list of bowlers to take 50 wickets the fastest in this format.
– Shri Charani made her T20 International debut for India in 2025.
Fastest 50 wickets in Women’s T20
28 matches – Mengting Liu (China)
29 matches – Lea Kasparek (New Zealand)
29 matches – Anisa Mohammed (West Indies)
29 matches – Shri Charani (India)
34 matches – Sophie Ecclestone (England)
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9. Which male athlete set a new national record in the men’s hammer throw event at the Indian Athletics Series 2026 with a throw of 71.02 meters?
a. Neeraj Kumar
b. Nirbhay Chaudhary
c. Taranveer Singh
d. Pradeep Kumar
Answer: b. Nirbhay Chaudhary
– Delhi-based Nirbhay Chaudhary set this national record at the Indian Athletics Final Series 2026.
– He became the first Indian athlete to cross the distance of 71 meters in hammer throw.
– He broke Neeraj Kumar’s 70.23-meter throw record from 2016.
– Nirbhay Chaudhary had earlier won the Junior National Gold Medal in the Under-16 hammer throw category on October 16, 2020.
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10. Which female athlete set a new national record with a throw of 68.35 meters at the Indian Athletics Series 2026?
a. Tanya Chaudhary
b. Anushka Yadav
c. Manjpreet Kaur
d. Harshita Seharawat
a. Tanya Chaudhary
– Tanya from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, set this record at the Indian Athletics Final held in New Delhi on September 10, 2026.
– 22-year-old Tanya won the gold medal at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with this achievement.
– She surpassed Anushka Yadav, who had thrown 66.34 meters.
– In 2025, Tanya won a gold medal at Khelo India.
– She has also represented India at the international level.
– In 2026, she was also honored with the Rani Lakshmibai Award.
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11. Who was awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize 2026?
a. Escuelas LEO Programme (Colombia)
b. Language Friendly School (Netherlands)
c. Project PAL (Nigeria)
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above {Escuelas LEO Programme (Colombia), Language Friendly School (Netherlands), Project PAL (Nigeria)}
– UNESCO announced the names of the winners from Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria and Thailand for outstanding contributions to literacy.
– These awards were presented on September 8-9 on International Literacy Day in Chiapas, Mexico.
– The theme of the 2026 awards ceremony was “Literacy for People, Planet and Prosperity”.
UNESCO Literacy Prizes?
– These are global awards presented by UNESCO to recognize outstanding and innovative work in the field of literacy.
– There are two main categories:
1. UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize: Established in 1989 with the support of the Government of South Korea, this award gives special attention to mother tongue-based literacy development.
– The winner receives a medal, a diploma and US$30,000.
2. UNESCO Confucius Literacy Prize: Established in 2005 with the support of the Government of China, this award promotes functional literacy among adults and out-of-school youth in rural areas.
– The winner receives a medal, diploma and US$30,000.
Winners of the King Sejong Literacy Prize
– Supported by the Republic of Korea, this award is specifically related to the development of literacy programs based on the mother tongue.
1. Escuelas LEO Program (Colombia): Operated by BibloRed based in Bogotá, this program provides intercultural and multilingual literacy education for indigenous people, deaf people, migrants, displaced persons and the LGBTIQ+ community. The number of participants increased from 320 in 2024 to 443 in 2025.
2. Language-Friendly School Program – Netherlands
– Operated by the Rutu Foundation, this program encourages the use of the language spoken at home along with the language of instruction. The program is running in around 70 schools in 12 countries and involves more than 32,000 students.
3. Project PAL (Nigeria): The Primary Accelerated Literacy Project serves out-of-school children living in conflict-affected areas of the Niger Delta.
– This program uses solar-powered literacy centers, local-language instruction and the ‘Teaching at the Right Level’ strategy.
– From 2023 to 2025, 8,500 learners were included, of whom 82% achieved functional literacy.
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12. Who was honoured with the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy 2026?
a. Accelerated Learning for Out-of-School Displaced Youth (Lebanon)
b. Chiapas Pueden State Literacy Program (Mexico)
c. Language of Life (Thailand)
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
1) Accelerated Learning for Out-of-School Displaced Youth (Lebanon)
– The Alsama project provides accelerated learning to out-of-school and displaced youth with basic literacy skills.
– Through its intensive program, learners develop basic literacy and numeracy skills within six months.
– The Alsama project is engaged in educating more than 2,500 learners.
2) Chiapas Pueden State Literacy Program (Mexico)
– This program covers all 121 municipalities of Chiapas.
– And focuses especially on indigenous groups and women.
– The program includes bilingual education, digital and classroom-based learning, community study circles and the Matías de Córdova teaching model.
– It has targeted more than 140,000 learners.
– Its objective is to reduce the illiteracy rate in the state from 13.7% to 4%.
3) Language of Life (Thailand)
– Started in 2016 by Hat Yai Municipality, this program includes multilingual literacy through English, Malay and Chinese languages.
– It includes language teaching related to disaster communication, environment and economic activities.
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13. Solomon Pappaiah, a scholar, professor and Padma Shri awardee of which language, passed away on September 11, 2026?
a. Malayalam
b. Bengali
c. Tamil
d. Odia
Answer: c. Tamil
– 90-year-old Sundaram Solomon Pappaiah was born in Sathangudi near Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
– He was a Tamil scholar, speaker, professor and a cultural personality associated with Tamil literature, debate programs and public speaking.
– He taught Tamil at American College, Madurai, for more than three decades.
– He was Head of the Tamil Department from 1961 to 1994.
– Solomon Pappaiah was awarded the Kalaimamani Award in 2000 and the Padma Shri in 2021.
– He also appeared in small roles in Tamil films such as Mudhalvan, Boys and Sivaji: The Boss.
Pattimandram and Tamil Debate Tradition
– Pattimandram is a traditional style of Tamil debate in which speakers discuss a topic through structured arguments.
– Solomon Pappaiah popularized this style on television by using everyday social issues and presenting debates in a style accessible to a wide audience.
– He hosted more than 12,000 debate programs on various platforms.
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14. Princess Astrid of which country passed away on September 11, 2026?
a. Russia
b. Finland
c. Sweden
d. Norway
Answer: d. Norway
– 94-year-old Princess Astrid of Norway was the sister of the late King Harald V.
– King Harald V passed away on August 28, 2026.
– Princess Astrid’s last public appearance was on September 9 at Oslo Cathedral during the state funeral of King Harald V.
– Astrid was the last surviving child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha.
– Princess Astrid belonged to the Glücksburg dynasty.
– It has been the royal dynasty of Norway since 1905.
– King Olav V ruled from 1957 to 1991.
– She also served as Norway’s ‘First Lady’ from 1954 to 1968.
Norway
– Capital: Oslo
– King: Haakon VIII
– Prime Minister: Jonas Gahr Støre
– Currency: Norwegian Krone
– Population: 5.6 million
– Neighboring countries: Sweden, Finland, Russia
– Norway is one of the founding member countries of NATO, which was established on April 4, 1949.
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15. Which new global initiative has India joined along with 25 other countries?
a. Global 5G Alliance
b. Development of 6G Networks
c. G7
d. None of these
Answer: b. Development of 6G Networks
– India, along with the United States and 24 other countries, launched a global initiative for 6G network development.
– The agreement was announced in September 2026 during the G20 Innovation Ministerial Conference.
– The US Department of Commerce announced it in a social media post.
– Its main objective is to promote shared security interests in future telecommunications infrastructure and to make next-generation mobile networks open, secure and resilient.
– The sixth generation of mobile technology is expected to improve upon the previous 5G technology in terms of data speed, reduced latency and machine connectivity.
– India’s objective is to achieve a 10% contribution to global 6G standards and strengthen its role in these upcoming services by the 2030s.
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16. Rescued orangutans were given music therapy in which zoo in India to keep them away from stress?
a. Nandankanan Zoological Park (Odisha)
b. Chamarajendra Zoological Park (Mysore)
c. Allen Forest Zoo (Uttar Pradesh)
d. Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna)
Answer: a. Nandankanan Zoological Park (Odisha)
– This unique and sensitive effort is being carried out at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
– These orangutans were rescued from a coastal forest in Balasore district of Odisha on September 8, 2026.
– There are 5 baby orangutans, 4 of which are about 6 months old and one is about 1 year old.
– Due to trafficking and a long journey, they had suffered severe mental stress, after which zoo doctors adopted this unique method to calm them.
– Along with music, swings, ropes and soft toys have also been provided in their enclosure.
– They are being kept in a 24-hour air-conditioned environment.
How is music therapy helping?
– Slow and soothing music, such as flute melodies, classical music or sounds of nature (such as rain or birds chirping), is being played in the orangutans’ enclosure.
– Positive changes have been observed in the behavior of these animals after listening to music.
– Their aggressive behavior has decreased and they are feeling calmer and more comfortable.
– Due to reduced stress, the orangutans have started eating properly and are adapting to their new environment.
Orangutan?
– The orangutan is the only great ape found in Asia.
– They are the largest in size among all arboreal animals.
– They are found only in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo (Indonesia/Malaysia).
– It is not a species native to India.
– They are classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
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