India’s ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 Mission on September 4, 2026, carrying India’s first geo-imaging satellite into a sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit. HighlightsLaunch Date: September 4, 2026Rocket & Payload: GSLV carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satelliteLaunch Site: Second Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), SriharikotaSignificance: India’s first imaging satellite deployed from a geosynchronous orbit, designed for near-real-time imaging and persistent coverage for civilian and strategic applicationsMilestone: This flight marked the 19th mission for the GSLV family.
- The Supreme Court quashed all FIRs against students who participated in Cockroach Janta Party–led protests between July 20–25, invoking Article 142 to protect their future prospects, while directing the Centre to pay compensation within three months to families of students who died after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
- A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant allowed Delhi Police to register fresh FIRs against 2,873 individuals with serious criminal antecedents present at the Jantar Mantar protests, but ordered that no other protest-related FIRs across states be pursued.
- The apex court reiterated that every road must have encroachment-free space for walking, directing urban local bodies to clear footpaths in a time-bound manner, a ruling likely to trigger large-scale demolition drives in major cities.
- In a significant customs law judgment, the Supreme Court set aside a ₹425.28 crore penalty imposed using an AI-assisted order that contained hallucinated facts, directing a different officer of the same rank to decide the matter afresh and leaving open disciplinary action against the erring official.
- The Court’s new Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Courts, 2026, came into focus, emphasizing human primacy, transparency and accountability, and permitting AI only for research, citation and summarization under strict human supervision.
- The Supreme Court’s forensic analysis in SBI v. Amit Iron Private Limited clarified the legal test for classifying loan accounts as fraudulent, reinforcing that mere default is not fraud absent specific intent to deceive at the time of borrowing.
- Wholesale inflation in India eased to 3.85%, offering some relief to policymakers, but the government faced criticism after a former finance secretary claimed Q1 GDP growth was only 2.6%, prompting a strong defence of official data.
- GST collections jumped 12% in February to ₹1.49 lakh crore, with cess receipts hitting a record high, indicating robust formalization and compliance even as global headwinds persisted.
- India’s manufacturing PMI showed steady growth in February, supported by domestic demand and export orders, though high input costs and logistics bottlenecks remained concerns for smaller firms.
- The RBI reported record $127 billion in forex deposits, a buffer that policymakers cited as evidence of external stability despite volatile capital flows and oil-price shocks.
- The government withdrew trading licences of oil tankers and cargo vessels older than 25 years, a move aimed at improving safety and reducing environmental risks, but one that shipping lobbies warned could tighten capacity in the short term.
- Tata Sons cleared a ₹10,000 crore investment plan for Air India, subject to conditions, as the carrier accelerated fleet expansion and route launches ahead of peak travel season.
- GIFT Nifty jumped 105 points, signaling a positive start for Dalal Street, with brokers attributing the optimism to easing inflation, strong GST numbers and hopes of further FII inflows.
- BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao released a “chargesheet” against the Telangana Congress government’s first 1,000 days, calling it a “criminal waste” and alleging economic devastation, unmet job promises and failures in welfare schemes like Mahalaxmi.
- Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy dropped Endowments and Forests Minister Konda Surekha from the cabinet after the TPCC disciplinary committee recommended action over derogatory remarks by her daughter against the CM and his family, escalating the old-guard versus new-guard rift.
- Revanth Reddy met AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal in Delhi to press for the removal of Surekha and Planning Board vice-chairman G. Chinna Reddy, signaling his determination to enforce party discipline before state elections loom.
- BRS spokesperson Ravula Sridhar Reddy accused the Congress of betraying its six guarantees, while party workers launched protest programmes across districts, alleging failures on gas subsidies, education assurance cards and employment promises.
- In Andhra Pradesh, TDP leaders held a press conference in Amaravati questioning Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s claims of credit for the Polavaram project, accusing him of “credit theft” and daring him to contest elections if he was confident of public support.
- Former Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy reportedly shifted his base to Tadepalli, planning more party meetings and grassroots outreach as he sought to rebuild organizational strength after his government’s term ended.
- National media carried appreciative reports on Jagan’s PPP-model medical colleges initiative, portraying it as a potential template for affordable healthcare expansion, though political rivals dismissed it as poll-season posturing.
- A major drug trafficking case in the U.S. saw multiple Indian-origin individuals among those sentenced for fentanyl distribution, underscoring the transnational nature of narcotics networks and the challenges for Indian law enforcement in tracking overseas links.
- Police in several Indian metros reported a spike in cyber-enabled scams, with FinCEN-style advisories echoing domestically as banks were told to flag transactions linked to scam centers and politically exposed persons.
- The IMD forecast isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds over Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, with rainfall likely over Telangana, prompting disaster-management departments to put teams on high alert for urban flooding and crop damage.
- Banks in Andhra Pradesh remained closed on September 4 for Janmashtami (Vaishnava), affecting routine transactions and highlighting the need for digital alternatives in rural areas where branch access is limited.
- The Environment Minister called for unified action against air pollution in Delhi-NCR, proposing stricter enforcement of construction norms and vehicle-emission standards as winter approached and stubble-burning season neared.
- El Niño conditions sharpened the debate over drought declarations, with research showing that political calculations often influence which blocks are notified, complicating relief and compensation for affected farmers.
- India’s forex reserves fell by $325 million to $560.94 billion in the latest week, a modest dip attributed to valuation changes and RBI intervention to smooth rupee volatility.
- Raghuram Rajan advised the government to find less costly ways to address pension concerns instead of reviving the old pension scheme, warning of long-term fiscal stress if populist measures were expanded.
- The government fixed a wheat procurement target of 34.15 million tonnes for 2023–24, aiming to bolster buffer stocks and ensure food-security coverage under welfare schemes amid global grain-market uncertainty.
- India voiced support for Ajay Banga’s nomination for World Bank president, aligning with other major economies behind a candidate seen as reform-minded and familiar with climate-finance challenges.