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Weekly Wisdom - September 18, 2026

  •   Fri, Sep 18 2026 10:04:43 AM
  •  By Daijiworld Media Network

Mangalore IAS - Current Affairs 2026

 

1. Anant Nag to Get Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been named as the recipient of the Prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, he has been awarded for his contribution to the Indian cinema. This award will be presented to him at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22nd, 2026. This recognition honors his decades long career across the different Indian language cinema, as well as his work in the theatre and television.

 

2. Karnataka Declares September 15 Engineers’ Day, Allows ‘Er.’ Prefix

Karnataka has declared September 15 as Engineers’ Day and engineers of Karnataka are permitted to append the professional title ‘Er.’ in front of their names. The order for this was released on September 15, 2026, giving official recognition to the annual event. The step is aimed at associating Engineers’ Day with the memory of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya whose birthday is celebrated every year as Engineers’ Day.

 

3. UPI Transactions Above Rs 2,000

UPI transactions for consumers remain completely free, as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Ministry of Finance have introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) that applies strictly to merchants for specified Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective from October 15, 2026. Normal individuals sending money to friends, family, or small vendors will face absolutely no charges.

 

Questions:

1. "While digital payments act as the bedrock of a formalised economy, the debate surrounding the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) reflects a core tension between financial sustainability for banks and digital inclusion for users." Critically examine the impact of MDR frameworks on India's digital payment ecosystem. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answer email to: mangaloreias@gmail.com

 

2. What is the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) in the context of digital payment systems, and who primarily bears this cost?

A. It is a penalty levied by the Reserve Bank of India on commercial banks for failed transactions, and the cost is borne entirely by the central bank.

B. It is a cash-back incentive provided by the government to promote digital transactions, with the cost absorbed through the Consolidated Fund of India.

C. It is a percentage fee charged to a merchant by acquiring banks for processing payments through digital instruments like debit or credit cards, and the cost is primarily borne by the merchant.

D. It is an annual membership fee charged to cardholders by card-issuing networks, and the cost is borne exclusively by the retail consumer.

Answer email to: mangaloreias@gmail.com

 

4. BRICS 2027: China to Host Next Summit

China will host the 19th BRICS Summit in 2027 after taking over the rotating presidency from India, as reported by Xinhua.

Summit Announcement The Host: Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the move during the closing session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The Handover: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated China on taking over the leadership role for 2027.

Key Goals for 2027According to Reuters, China plans to focus on several new projects:

  • Build a BRICS AI Open-Source Zone for artificial intelligence cooperation.
  • Form a BRICS Special Economic Zone partnership.
  • Host a BRICS Service Trade Forum to improve trade and investment.

 

5. World Ozone Day 2026

The World Ozone Day 2026 theme is "Global action for a cooler planet – Celebrating 10 years of sustainable cooling under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol".

Key Details of the 2026 Theme Main Slogan: "Global action for a cooler planet"

Milestone: Marks the 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment (adopted in 2016) to the Montreal Protocol.

Core Focus: Promotes sustainable, energy-efficient cooling solutions and the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to protect both the ozone layer and the global climate.

Date Observed: September 16, 2026.

 

6. Thirukkural?

Honorable PM Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural while hosting him in New Delhi prior to the BRICS Summit.

The Thirukkural, also known as the Kural, is an ancient Tamil text traditionally written by Thiruvalluvar. The book consists of 1,330 couplets that contain one idea or lesson.

This text is made up of 133 chapters, each consisting of 10 couplets. Instead of focusing on one area, it addresses a wide variety of aspects of human life.

What Are the Three Parts of Thirukkural?

The 133 chapters of the Thirukkural are divided into three major sections:

 

Question

"The Thirukkural is not merely a compendium of ancient ethics, but a timeless blueprint for statecraft, diplomacy, and universal humanism." Evaluate this statement in the context of its contemporary relevance to national governance and international relations. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Answer email to: mangaloreias@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

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Title: Weekly Wisdom - September 18, 2026



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