NEWS & VIEWS: 14/09/2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS: 14/09/2026

MONDAY: OPINIONATED

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ।

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

TODAY, MAHARASHTRIANS, AND MANY INDIANS ARE CELEBRATING GANAPATY CHATURTHI.

NATIONAL:

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu has extended greetings on the occasion of *Ganesh Chaturthi* 💐.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the inaugural session of Hindi Diwas 2026 and the 6th All India Official Language Conference in Mumbai today. *HINDI DIWAS* is celebrated on 14 September as on this day the Constituent Assembly of India had adopted Hindi written in Devanagri script in 1949 as the official language of the Republic of India.

Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav said that the recognition of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in the New Delhi Declaration is an important step towards strengthening global cooperation in traditional medicine.

India will host the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, from 15th to 18th of this month. The forum will be organized under the theme “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity.”

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will organize a six-day Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights for senior-level functionaries of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of the Global South from today.

The three-day Dryland Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi with a call for greater South-South and triangular cooperation to accelerate solutions for dryland agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that the event culminated with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D).

Indian Railways registered a 5.4 per cent year-on-year growth, loading 137.9 million tons of freight during August 2026, compared to 130.9 million tons in August 2025.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called upon the Indian gems and jewelry industry to ensure that the entire ecosystem and manufacturing chain of lab-grown diamonds remains firmly in Indian hands. Addressing the 52nd India Gems and Jewelry Awards ceremony in Mumbai.

BENGAL NEWS:

OBC Certificates Cancelled: The Calcutta High Court cancelled the revised OBC-A and OBC-B certificates.

Bankura Violence: Three people were arrested after a CJP volunteer's father died following an attack in Bankura's Karisunda.

Security Interrogation: State investigative agencies questioned a Pakistani national found in West Bengal to gather more intelligence.

Deeper details from the interrogation of the captured Pakistani national, Rana Rauf (alias Wahab Alam), revealed his core mission. Intelligence agencies discovered he was actively monitoring Fort William in Kolkata to gather intelligence on the movement patterns of the Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF). Unfortunately—Every Muslim is a suspect- unless proved otherwise. A good screening is need of the hour.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued urgent alerts following a severe depression over coastal West Bengal. Meteorologists warned of cloudburst-like conditions and exceptionally heavy downpours tracking in from Bangladesh, threatening widespread public disruption across South Bengal and Kolkata.

Panchayati Raj Infrastructure: Official state reports compiled up to August 2026 confirmed the successful completion of 124 new Gram Panchayat Bhawan units across rural Bengal out of 199 approved constructions intended to boost local governance infrastructure.

Eco Park Mega Project: Major developmental blueprints were advanced, outlining plans for a massive 125-foot statue of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee alongside a dedicated memorial museum inside Kolkata’s Eco Park.

INTERNATIONAL:

The 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi yesterday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscoring that the BRICS’ diversity should remain identity, cooperation its inspiration, and its progress should contribute to the cause of humanity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments and discussed ways to further advance bilateral cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.

The External Affairs Ministry said, the BRICS Summit, which concluded in New Delhi, produced a number of concrete and development- oriented outcomes.

Home Minister Amit Shah Announces Nationwide ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ from Sep 17 to Oct 17.

India–Vietnam: India and Vietnam agreed to accelerate defense-technology sharing and defense-industrial cooperation, while strengthening maritime ties.

Russia–Ukraine war: Ukraine remains under pressure from Russian attacks, while international discussions continue over the war and possible peace efforts.

Beijing tightens drone rules: China is set to ban possession of drones in Beijing from November as authorities increase regulation of unmanned aircraft.

NEPAL FLOOD:

Casualty & Displacement Figures Fatalities by District: Out of the 1,388 bodies recovered, the heaviest casualties are concentrated in Chitwan (364 bodies), Nawalparasi East (230), Nawalparasi West (222), and Nuwakot (199).

The Missing: Roughly 4,089 to 5,130 people remain missing or unaccounted for across the central and northern river corridors. This figure still includes approximately 600 foreign nationals (mostly tourists, trekkers, and pilgrims).

Rescues & DNA Profiling: A total of 13,676 individuals have been successfully rescued. To assist families searching for their loved ones, authorities have collected over 3,132 DNA samples for victim identification.

Displaced Populations: Over 2,712 displaced individuals are actively being sheltered in state-run temporary holding centers and local monasteries.

 On-the-Ground Operations-Tunnel Rescues: The Nepali Army has focused extensive manpower on subterranean operations, particularly at the Upper Trishuli-3B hydropower project site. Special rescue teams have successfully cleared over 70 meters of mud and debris inside the tunnels to reach trapped workers.

Remote Relief Supply: With major arterial highways completely cut off, the government has officially deployed heavy-payload cargo drones to transport food, urgent medical supplies, and emergency kits to isolated villages.

Sanitation Drives: To counteract the threat of post-disaster waterborne epidemics, health teams are aggressively conducting disinfection operations in mud-laden residential areas.

Financial & Infrastructure Impact: The Nepal Government's Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment (RDNA) officially projects that the country requires $4.78 billion USD for comprehensive reconstruction and rehabilitation. This includes an immediate $364.28 million USD earmarked strictly for road recovery, track reopening, and rebuilding the 37 motor able bridges that were entirely washed away.

India has sent the first consignment of components for a 70-metre Bailey bridge to Nepal to help restore connectivity in the flood-affected Betrawati area.

GULF WAR:

Hormuz Peace Talks Postponed: A critical diplomatic meeting scheduled for Monday in Oman between Iran and Gulf Arab countries was indefinitely postponed. The summit was meant to address shipping rules in the Strait of Hormuz, but fractured after Bahrain refused to participate, citing a lack of diplomatic ties with Tehran and objecting to maritime transit fees.

Shipping Arteries under Fire: The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported that a commercial vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a shipboard fire. Concurrently, Iran claimed one person was killed when an Iranian commercial vessel was hit near Qeshm Island, blaming the U.S...

Yemen Escalation: Ground fighting intensified as Yemen's army, supported by Saudi air strikes, targeted Iran-aligned Houthi vehicles in Dhubab and Mocha to push back against the group's recent capture of Perim Island near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane.

Saudi Infrastructure Impact: Saudi Arabia released footage detailing residential damage in its southern Jazan province from cross-border Houthi drone and missile attacks. This follows the shutdown of Saudi Arabia's 1,200-km East-West pipeline due to drone strikes earlier in the week.

BALOCH NEWS:

Industrial Tragedy: Harnai Coal Mine Explosion: A powerful methane gas accumulation triggered a massive explosion and subsequent collapse at PMDC Coal Mine 151 in the Shahrag area of Harnai district. The accident trapped eight miners, killing four and injuring four others before rescue teams and the army managed to clear the shaft.

Till Mid-September, in several coordinated operations BLO eliminated over 100 Pakistan army personnel.

LEGAL, CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

The Government has debunked a fake loan approval letter circulating on social media, claiming to sanction a loan of 20 lakh rupees under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana on payment of over three thousand rupees as agreement charges. The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit has said that the MUDRA scheme does not provide direct loans to individuals or micro-entrepreneurs, as it is a refinancing agency. The Fact Check Unit has urged people to remain cautious and not fall for such claimers.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has joined the investigation into the ₹100-crore ‘mini Jamtara’ cyber fraud racket busted in Lucknow, registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and launching a detailed probe into the syndicate’s financial network.

MISHAPS:

In Delhi: A four-storey building tilted in Gandhi Nagar, prompting the evacuation of residents and cordoning off of the surrounding area as a precaution against collapse

In Uttar Pradesh: A truck carrying 370 LPG cylinders caught fire near Amkol village in Gorakhpur. Firefighters brought the blaze under control before it reached the cylinders, averting a potentially major disaster.

In Indonesia, the death toll has risen to six after a ferry carrying more than 240 people overturned due to bad weather in the Java Sea.

GAMES & SPORTS:

The Indian Air Force has congratulated Squadron Leader Neha for an outstanding performance at the Khardung La Challenge 72K, one of India’s toughest high-altitude ultra-races.

Sqdn. Ldr. Neha completed the grueling 72-km challenge in an impressive time of 8 hours, 56 minutes and 15 seconds, securing third position in the competition.

Asia Cup Trophy Controversy: India has clinched the Women's Asia Cup 2026 title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The victory secured India a record-extending eighth Asia Cup crown and avenged their defeat against Sri Lanka in the 2024 edition.  Following the final, the Indian women's team stood united by skipping the official trophy presentation. The decision aligned with the BCCI's political stance, as the team refused to collect the silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan cricket Chief Mohsin Naqvi. Sri Lanka accepted their runners-up medals normal.

IND vs AFG T20I: In men's international cricket, India secured a comfortable 7-wicket win over Afghanistan. Arshdeep Singh's clinical three-wicket haul limited Afghanistan's target, which was effortlessly chased down thanks to a brutal half-century from Abhishek Sharma.

Junior Men's Asia Cup Champions: The Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team successfully defended their continental crown by defeating South Korea 4-1 in the gold medal match in Moqi, China. This victory marks India's record sixth title in the tournament's history.

DAS CAPITAL:

The Indian stock markets (NSE and BSE) are closed today, Monday, 14 September 2026, in observance of Ganesh Chaturthi.

BULLIONS:

Gold 24K (99.9% Purity) 10 grams: ₹1, 54,530Flat (₹0)

Silver (99.9% Purity) 1 Kilogram: ₹2, 45,000

Currency:

GBP: ₹129.11/- EUR: ₹110.71/- USD: ₹94.49/- CNY: ₹14.12/-

THE END