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September 23rd Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – September 23rd

Table of Contents

Insults to National Honour: Supreme Court Examines Protection for Conscientious Objectors

Why in News?

The Supreme Court is examining a challenge to the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, particularly the extension of penal protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram. The issue arose after Carnatic vocalist T. M. Krishna challenged the amended law and government directions relating to the singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram.

Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

The Act was enacted to prevent disrespect to important national symbols.

It provides penal protection against:

  • Insult to the National Flag
  • Insult to the Constitution of India
  • Intentional prevention of singing the National Anthem
  • Disturbance of an assembly engaged in singing the National Anthem

Under the existing framework, violations can attract imprisonment up to three years, fine, or both.

What changed in 2026?

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 extended the relevant protection from the National Anthem to the National Song as well.

Thus, the law now covers Vande Mataram alongside Jana Gana Mana in relation to intentionally preventing its singing or causing disturbance to an assembly engaged in singing it.

Supreme Court proceedings

The Supreme Court has indicated that its focus is not on deciding which stanzas constitute the National Song. Rather, it is examining whether a person who respectfully refuses to sing because of conscience or religious belief can face criminal consequences.

The Court referred to its landmark Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala (1986) judgment, in which it protected schoolchildren who respectfully stood during the National Anthem but did not sing it because of their religious convictions.

Constitutional Issues Involved

The case raises questions involving:

Article 19(1)(a) – Freedom of speech and expression
→ Includes the broader question of whether the State can compel an individual to express a particular sentiment.

Article 25 – Freedom of conscience and freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion
→ Relevant where refusal to sing is based on genuine religious or conscientious objections.

Article 14 – Equality before law
→ Relevant to the constitutional validity and application of the penal provisions.

Secularism
→ The case also raises questions about balancing respect for national symbols with freedom of conscience and religious freedom.

Bijoe Emmanuel Case, 1986

Facts: Three schoolchildren belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses respectfully stood during the National Anthem but did not sing it because of their religious beliefs.

Supreme Court: The Court held that their respectful conduct did not amount to disrespect to the National Anthem and protected them under their fundamental rights.

Significance:
The judgment established that respect for a national symbol does not necessarily require compelled verbal participation, particularly where genuine freedom of conscience is involved.

Current issue regarding Vande Mataram

The controversy also concerns the six-stanza version of Vande Mataram. The petitioner has challenged government directions requiring its rendition at specified functions and argued that compulsory singing may raise questions concerning freedom of conscience and religious freedom.

In Karnataka, a separate controversy has arisen over the State Government’s decision to have only the first two stanzas sung at state government programmes, with exceptions for functions attended by certain constitutional authorities. The Karnataka High Court has deferred the matter while a related issue is pending before the Supreme Court.

The Battle of Haifa (1918): Indian Cavalry’s Historic Victory in World War I

Why in News?

September 23 is observed as Haifa Day, commemorating the Battle of Haifa fought on 23 September 1918 during the First World War. The battle is particularly significant for India because troops from the Mysore, Jodhpur and Hyderabad Lancers participated in the Allied campaign that captured Haifa from Ottoman forces. The contribution of the Mysore Lancers is being recalled in Karnataka as well.

Historical Background

The First World War (1914–1918) involved the Allied Powers fighting the Central Powers.

In West Asia, the Ottoman Empire was aligned with the Central Powers. The Allied forces sought to weaken Ottoman control over strategically important territories.

Haifa, located on the Mediterranean coast in present-day Israel, was strategically important because of:

  • Its natural harbour
  • Its position as an important railway link
  • Its proximity to Mount Carmel
  • Its importance for transporting military supplies.

Securing Haifa therefore had considerable strategic value for the Allied forces.

Battle of Haifa – 23 September 1918

On 23 September 1918, the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, part of the British-led Allied forces, was ordered to capture Haifa.

The Indian cavalry formations involved included:

  • Jodhpur Lancers
  • Mysore Lancers
  • Hyderabad Lancers

The Jodhpur Lancers carried out the principal mounted charge, while the Mysore Lancers supported the attack and advanced through difficult terrain around Mount Carmel.

How was the battle fought?

The Ottoman positions were protected by:

  • Machine guns
  • Artillery
  • Strong defensive positions around the Kishon River
  • The difficult terrain of Mount Carmel

Despite these obstacles, the Indian cavalry launched a mounted attack.

The Jodhpur Lancers broke through Ottoman positions and entered Haifa, while the Mysore Lancers provided support and attacked positions around Mount Carmel. The combined Indian cavalry operation resulted in the capture of the city.

Role of the Mysore Lancers

The Mysore Lancers were the cavalry force of the erstwhile princely State of Mysore.

They were established in 1892 under Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and later participated in India’s military contribution to World War I.

During the Battle of Haifa, Mysore Lancers:

  • Attacked Ottoman positions around Mount Carmel
  • Provided supporting fire to the Jodhpur Lancers
  • Captured artillery and machine guns
  • Entered Haifa along with the attacking forces.

Their role is particularly relevant to Karnataka’s military history.

ImSignificance of the Battle

The Battle of Haifa is remembered as one of the notable Indian cavalry actions of World War I.

The Indian forces captured a large number of prisoners and military equipment. The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of Indian cavalry even against strongly defended positions.

The victory also contributed to the wider Allied advance against the Ottoman Empire in West Asia.

Haifa Day

23 September is commemorated as Haifa Day in recognition of the Indian soldiers who participated in the battle.

The 61st Cavalry, based in Jaipur, carries forward the traditions of several former princely-state cavalry units, including Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad. It continues to commemorate the Battle of Haifa.

Connection with Karnataka

The Battle of Haifa has particular relevance for Karnataka because of the contribution of the Mysore Lancers.

The recent reporting also highlights concerns over the deteriorating Basra War Memorial in Iraq, which commemorates Commonwealth personnel who died during the Mesopotamian campaign. Many Indian soldiers, including personnel associated with the Mysore Lancers, were among those who served in the wider West Asian theatre of World War I.

Prelims Focus

Fact

Remember

Battle of Haifa

23 September 1918

World War

First World War

Location

Haifa, present-day Israel

Opposing force

Ottoman forces

Indian units

Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers

Mysore Lancers

Cavalry force of erstwhile Mysore State

Strategic importance of Haifa

Port + railway/communication centre

Commemoration

Haifa Day – 23 September

Present-day successor formation

61st Cavalry

Water Wealth: Groundwater Exploitation in Punjab

Why in News?

A recent The editorial highlights the serious problem of groundwater over-exploitation in Punjab. According to the 2025–26 Dynamic Groundwater Assessment, Punjab’s groundwater extraction rate has reached 152%, while 72% of its 153 assessment blocks are classified as being in the red zone.

What is the issue?

Punjab is one of India’s major agricultural States and has historically relied heavily on groundwater irrigation.

However, groundwater extraction has exceeded the rate at which groundwater is naturally replenished.

  • Groundwater extraction rate: 152%
  • 72% of 153 groundwater assessment blocks: Red zone
  • Groundwater is primarily used for agriculture
  • The dominant rice–wheat cropping system places enormous pressure on groundwater.

What does 152% extraction mean?

An extraction rate above 100% means that the quantity of groundwater being extracted is greater than the annually replenishable groundwater available for extraction.

152% → extraction is substantially higher than sustainable recharge.

This makes groundwater depletion a long-term ecological and agricultural challenge.

Why is Punjab facing groundwater depletion?

Rice–wheat cropping pattern

Punjab’s agricultural system is strongly concentrated around:

Paddy → Wheat

Paddy requires large quantities of water, particularly when cultivated in areas where rainfall is not sufficient.

The rice–wheat system is estimated to consume nearly 25 billion cubic metres of water annually.

Assured procurement

Government procurement mechanisms, particularly for rice and wheat, provide farmers with relatively assured markets.

This creates an economic incentive to continue the existing cropping pattern.

Subsidised electricity

Subsidised/free electricity for agricultural pumps reduces the immediate cost of extracting groundwater.

Therefore:

Cheap electricity → increased pumping → groundwater depletion

Agricultural intensification

The Green Revolution transformed Punjab into one of India’s major food-grain-producing regions.

However, intensive agriculture also resulted in:

    • Greater irrigation demand
    • Increased groundwater extraction
    • Monocropping tendencies
    • Soil and water stress

Impact on Small Farmers

Groundwater depletion has an important social and economic dimension.

As the groundwater table falls, farmers need deeper tube wells and more powerful pumps.

Large farmers are generally better positioned to make these investments.

Smaller farmers may therefore become dependent on larger landowners for access to groundwater.

Thus, groundwater depletion can increase rural inequality in addition to creating an environmental problem.

Why groundwater is important for India

Groundwater is crucial for:

  • Agriculture
  • Drinking water
  • Rural livelihoods
  • Industrial activities
  • Drought resilience

India is one of the world’s largest users of groundwater.

The latest national assessment estimates India’s annual groundwater extraction at 247.22 BCM, against an annual extractable groundwater resource of 407.75 BCM.

However, groundwater conditions vary significantly between States and regions.

Dynamic Groundwater Resources Assessment

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State/UT groundwater agencies conduct groundwater assessments.

Assessment units are classified into categories such as:

  • Safe
  • Semi-Critical
  • Critical
  • Over-Exploited
  • Saline

The assessment considers factors such as:

Groundwater recharge → extractable resource → groundwater extraction → stage of extraction

The assessment has been conducted annually since 2022.



What needs to be done?

Crop diversification

Punjab needs to gradually shift from water-intensive crops towards less water-intensive crops suitable to local agro-climatic conditions.

Better electricity pricing and groundwater regulation

Electricity and groundwater policies need to create incentives for efficient water use without disproportionately affecting small farmers.

Micro-irrigation

Methods such as:

  • Drip irrigation
  • Sprinkler irrigation
  • Precision irrigation

can improve water-use efficiency.

Groundwater recharge

Promote:

  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Recharge structures
  • Restoration of ponds and wetlands
  • Managed aquifer recharge

Change procurement incentives

Long-term groundwater conservation requires agricultural policies, procurement systems and electricity subsidies to work together rather than encouraging water-intensive cropping.

Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026: India–Mongolia Joint Military Exercise

Why in News?

The 18th edition of Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT, the annual joint military exercise between India and Mongolia, commenced on 21 September 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise will continue until 3 October 2026.

What is Exercise Nomadic Elephant?

Nomadic Elephant is an annual bilateral military exercise between:

  • Indian Army
  • Mongolian Armed Forces

It is conducted alternately in India and Mongolia.

The 2026 edition is the 18th edition and is being hosted by India at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The previous edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May–June 2025.

Important facts

 

Feature

Details

Exercise

Nomadic Elephant

Countries

India & Mongolia

Edition

18th

2026 Venue

Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand

Duration

21 Sept – 3 Oct 2026

Nature

Annual, bilateral, platoon-level

Personnel

45 from each side

Previous edition

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – 2025

 

Main Objective

The primary objective is to enhance the ability of the two armies to conduct Counter-Insurgency (CI) Operations in:

  • Semi-urban terrain
  • Mountainous terrain

The operations are conducted in the context of a United Nations mandate.

The exercise also aims to improve interoperability, meaning the ability of the two forces to coordinate and operate effectively together.

Major Training Activities

The 2026 exercise includes several modern military drills:

Cordon and Search Operations

Troops practise securing an area and systematically searching it for suspected insurgents or weapons.

Room Intervention Drills

Training for operations inside buildings and confined urban environments.

Special Heliborne Operations

Use of helicopters to rapidly deploy troops in difficult or inaccessible terrain.

Drone and Counter-Drone Operations

Training in the use of drones as well as systems designed to detect and neutralise hostile drones.

Cyber Security Training

Reflects the growing importance of the cyber domain in modern warfare.

These activities combine conventional field training with emerging technologies.

Significance for India–Mongolia Relations

Defence cooperation

The exercise strengthens India’s defence partnership with Mongolia through regular military-to-military engagement.

Interoperability

Joint exercises allow both forces to understand each other’s:

  • Operational procedures
  • Tactical methods
  • Communication systems
  • Best practices

Mountain warfare experience

The mountainous terrain around Pithoragarh provides a useful environment for training in difficult terrain.

UN peacekeeping

Since the exercise includes operations under a UN mandate, it contributes to the preparedness of troops for international peacekeeping and security operations.

India–Mongolia Strategic Significance

Mongolia is a landlocked country situated between Russia and China.

India and Mongolia share historical and cultural links, including strong Buddhist connections.

For India, engagement with Mongolia is also part of its broader outreach to Central and East Asia.

Military exercises such as Nomadic Elephant provide a platform for strengthening bilateral defence relations and maintaining regular strategic engagement.

Open Market Operations (OMO): RBI Uses Bond Sales to Absorb Excess Liquidity

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is using Open Market Operations (OMOs) to absorb surplus liquidity from the banking system. In September 2026, the RBI announced ₹1 lakh crore of OMO sales in three tranches. The first ₹50,000-crore sale was conducted on September 17, followed by ₹25,000 crore on September 21 and another ₹25,000 crore scheduled for September 28.

The move comes after surplus liquidity in the banking system rose sharply, partly due to large FCNR(B) inflows and related RBI forex swaps.

What are Open Market Operations?

Open Market Operations (OMOs) are operations conducted by the RBI through the purchase or sale of Government Securities (G-Secs) in the market to manage durable liquidity in the banking system.

Simple mechanism:

RBI buys G-Secs → Money flows to banks/market → Liquidity increases

RBI sells G-Secs → Money flows from banks/market to RBI → Liquidity decreases

The RBI itself defines OMOs as the purchase or sale of government securities to adjust rupee liquidity conditions on a durable basis.

Why is RBI conducting OMO sales now?

The banking system had accumulated a large surplus of liquidity.

The surplus was associated with factors including:

  • Large FCNR(B) deposits
  • Forex operations and swaps by the RBI
  • Government expenditure
  • Other systemic liquidity conditions

Banking-system liquidity had reached more than ₹11 trillion in early September before falling as RBI measures and government-related outflows absorbed some of the surplus.

Therefore, the RBI is using OMO sales to durably absorb excess liquidity.

How does an OMO sale work?

Suppose the RBI sells ₹10,000 crore of G-Secs to banks and other market participants.

The buyers pay ₹10,000 crore to the RBI.

Therefore:

Banks/market participants → ₹10,000 crore → RBI

This reduces the amount of rupee liquidity available in the financial system.

Result:

OMO sale → ↓ Liquidity → ↑ Money-market rates → Better alignment with monetary-policy rate

Recent OMO Operation

The RBI’s first September 2026 OMO sale involved ₹50,000 crore of Government Securities.

It accepted securities maturing between 2029 and 2032. The second auction of ₹25,000 crore was conducted on September 21.

The RBI’s overall September plan:

Tranche

Amount

September 17

₹50,000 crore

September 21

₹25,000 crore

September 28

₹25,000 crore

Total

₹1 lakh crore

 

OMO Purchase vs OMO Sale

OMO Purchase

OMO Sale

RBI buys G-Secs

RBI sells G-Secs

Injects liquidity

Absorbs liquidity

Money flows from RBI to market

Money flows from market to RBI

Used during liquidity shortage

Used during excess liquidity

Can put downward pressure on bond yields

Can put upward pressure on bond yields

Prelims shortcut:
Purchase = Pump liquidity
Sale = Suck liquidity

 

Impact on Government Securities (G-Sec) Yields

OMO sales can affect the bond market.

When RBI sells additional government securities:

Supply of G-Secs in market ↑ → Bond prices ↓ → Bond yields ↑

Therefore, OMO sales can put upward pressure on G-Sec yields, although the actual impact depends on market conditions and demand.

The 10-year benchmark G-Sec yield had crossed 7% amid the recent liquidity-management measures.

OMO and Inflation

Excess liquidity can contribute to stronger credit and demand conditions.

Therefore:

Excess liquidity → Greater availability of money → Potential demand pressures → Inflationary risks

By absorbing surplus liquidity, the RBI can help maintain monetary conditions consistent with its inflation objective.

However, OMO is primarily a liquidity-management instrument, not an instrument used exclusively to control inflation.

OMO and Monetary Policy Transmission

The RBI’s operating target is the Weighted Average Call Rate (WACR).

When there is excessive liquidity:

Excess liquidity → Overnight rates remain low → WACR may move away from the repo rate → Monetary-policy transmission weakens

OMO sales help reduce surplus liquidity and can bring money-market rates closer to the desired operating conditions.

Recent OMO sales helped push the WACR closer to the RBI’s policy rate.

 

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