Current Affairs for 18 September 2026

TRAI Anti-Spam Rules: AI Detection, Automated Calls and Consumer Protection

Why in News?

• According to the supplied report, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) strengthened its framework against Unsolicited Commercial Communications on 18 September 2026.
• The reported changes introduce AI-based identification of suspected spam, greater information sharing among telecom operators, disclosure requirements for automated calls, and a mechanism to challenge the incorrect classification of legitimate calls.

Background

• Unwanted commercial calls and messages interrupt consumers, undermine trust in telecom services and can create opportunities for deceptive communication.
• India regulates commercial communication through the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations and related amendments. This framework seeks to balance legitimate business communication with consumers’ consent and communication preferences.
• However, automated calling systems allow senders to reach large numbers of people quickly. Addressing such activity requires coordinated detection and enforcement across telecom networks.

What Are Unsolicited Commercial Communications?

Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) broadly refer to unwanted commercial calls or messages received contrary to the applicable consent and customer-preference requirements.

What Are Application-to-Person Calls?

Application-to-Person calls are calls initiated by an application, software system or automated platform without direct human dialling.

The supplied report includes the following within this category:

Automated calls can serve legitimate purposes, including reminders and service notifications. Their regulatory treatment depends on compliance with the applicable requirements.

Scale of the Spam Challenge

The supplied report provides the following figures:

These figures measure different things. Flagged calls, complaints and enforcement notices are not interchangeable, and suspected-spam flags do not establish that every call violated the rules.

Significance

• Proactive detection: AI tools can help identify suspicious activity before every affected recipient files a complaint.
• Greater accountability: Declaring automated systems and associated numbers can improve the traceability of commercial callers.
• Coordinated enforcement: Information sharing can help operators recognise activity spread across networks.
• Consumer protection: Better screening can reduce unwanted interruptions and strengthen confidence in telecom services.
• Procedural fairness: An appeal mechanism can help correct errors affecting legitimate communication.

Relevance for India

• India’s digital economy relies heavily on mobile communication for banking, commerce, customer support and public-service delivery.
• Persistent spam can make consumers distrust unfamiliar numbers, potentially causing them to ignore genuine calls. Effective regulation must therefore reduce unwanted communication while preserving access to lawful and useful services.
• The issue also illustrates a broader governance challenge: how to use AI for enforcement while ensuring transparency, accountability and opportunities for human review.

Major Challenges

• Incorrect Spam Identification: Legitimate businesses may make large volumes of calls. If automated systems rely too heavily on call volume, genuine communication could be wrongly flagged.
• Evasion by Repeat Offenders: Senders may change numbers, use different networks or modify calling patterns to avoid detection.
• Privacy and Data Security: Sharing information across operators requires safeguards governing access, permitted use, retention and security.
• Compliance Burden: Smaller businesses may face difficulties understanding disclosure requirements and resolving incorrect classifications.
• Effective Appeals: A grievance mechanism will be useful only if affected parties can access it easily and receive timely, reasoned decisions.

Way Forward

• Establish clear criteria for identifying suspicious activity and initiating enforcement.
• Regularly assess AI systems for detection accuracy and incorrect classifications.
• Provide timely human review before or after consequential restrictions, as appropriate.
• Standardise information sharing among operators with privacy safeguards.
• Simplify compliance guidance for businesses using automated calls.
• Improve public awareness of communication preferences and complaint channels.
• Measure success through reductions in unwanted communication and repeat violations, alongside the accuracy of enforcement.

FAQs

Madurai Meenakshi Temple Celebrates Kumbabhishekam After 17 Years

Why in news?

Thousands of devotees gathered at the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on Thursday to witness the Kumbabhishekam (consecration) ceremony, held after a gap of 17 years. The previous Kumbabhishekam was conducted in April 2009.

Kumbabhishekam Ceremony

• The main consecration ceremony was performed at around 7:40 a.m. amid the chanting of hymns in Tamil and Sanskrit. During the ceremony, theertham (holy water) was poured over the kalasams placed on top of the temple’s gopurams and vimanams.
• The gopurams were decorated with flowers, while the entire temple complex was illuminated with lights. During the deeparadhana, devotees offered prayers with folded hands.
• Theertham was also sprayed on devotees using drones and hose pipes. Many devotees collected the sacred water in bottles.

Rituals Begin on September 6

• The preparations and religious rituals for the Kumbabhishekam began on September 6. The Yagasala pujas were conducted at the temple from September 11.
• On September 16, Lord Subramaniya Swamy and Goddess Deivanai were brought from the Thirupparankundram temple to the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple as part of the consecration ceremonies.
• Following the main Kumbabhishekam, devotees were allowed to enter the temple for darshan.

Temple Renovation Before Kumbabhishekam

• Several renovation and improvement works were completed ahead of the ceremony.
• The temple undertook 86 projects costing ₹15.40 crore, while donors supported 100 projects worth ₹16.89 crore. The total expenditure on the works was ₹32.29 crore.
• The renovated Veera Vasantharayar Mandapam was inaugurated on August 30.

Arrangements for Devotees

• Large numbers of devotees arrived at the temple and surrounding streets from the early hours of Thursday. Pass holders were provided space on the temple mandapams to watch the ceremony.
• Giant LED screens were installed at important locations so that devotees could view the Kumbabhishekam from outside the temple.
• The administration also made arrangements for:
  • Drinking water
  • Mobile toilets
  • Ambulances and medical teams
  • Fire tenders
  • Additional police personnel
  • Crowd and traffic management

The arrangements were made to ensure the safety of devotees and the smooth conduct of the ceremony.

Why Is Kumbabhishekam Important?

• Kumbabhishekam, also known as temple consecration, is an important Hindu religious ceremony associated with the renovation and purification of a temple. During the ceremony, sacred water is ceremonially poured over the kalasams on the temple towers.
• The ceremony at the Madurai Meenakshi Temple was significant as it took place 17 years after the previous consecration in 2009.

FAQs

Drugs Rules 1945 Amendment: CCTV Proposed for Medical Stores Selling Schedule H, H1 and X Drugs

Why in News?

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945 to strengthen regulatory oversight over prescription medicines.
• The proposal has been issued through Draft Gazette Notification G.S.R. 791(E), dated 8 September 2026. It proposes mandatory Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance at licensed premises where prescription drugs are supplied.

Background

• The sale and distribution of medicines in India are regulated through the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs Rules, 1945.
• Under the existing rules, medicines falling under Schedule H, Schedule H1 and Schedule X cannot generally be sold at retail except on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.
• However, concerns have continued regarding the sale of prescription medicines without valid prescriptions, misuse of habit-forming drugs and weak monitoring at the retail level.
• To address these concerns, the proposal was first discussed by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC). It was subsequently circulated among members of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), which recommended its approval.

Key Provisions of the Proposed Amendment

1. Mandatory CCTV Surveillance: The draft proposes inserting a new sub-rule (2A) under Rule 65 of the Drugs Rules, 1945. Supply of prescription medicines, other than wholesale transactions, would have to take place under a CCTV surveillance system installed and maintained at the licensed premises.
2. CCTV Recording Retention: The CCTV recordings would have to be preserved for a minimum period of three months. This could allow drug inspectors and other regulatory authorities to verify suspected violations relating to prescription-drug sales.
3. Licensed Premises Covered: The provision concerns licensed premises involved in supplying medicines against prescriptions, including retail medical stores and pharmacies covered by the relevant provisions of the Drugs Rules.
4. Wholesale Transactions Excluded: The proposed CCTV provision specifically excludes supply conducted by way of wholesale dealing.

What are Schedule H, H1 and X Drugs?

Schedule H: Schedule H broadly covers prescription-only medicines that cannot be sold at retail without a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner. Their labels carry the Rx symbol and prescribed statutory warnings.

Schedule H1: Schedule H1 was introduced to impose stricter controls on certain medicines, including several antibiotics, anti-tuberculosis medicines and some habit-forming drugs.

• Apart from prescription requirements, pharmacists have to maintain records containing details such as the prescriber, patient, medicine and quantity supplied. Such records are required to be preserved for three years.
• Schedule H1 is particularly important from the perspective of preventing irrational use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Schedule X: Schedule X medicines are subject to comparatively stringent controls. Under the Drugs Rules, Schedule X medicines sold at retail require a prescription, and the prescription is required in duplicate, with one copy retained by the licensee for two years. Schedule X medicines kept at retail premises are also subject to special storage requirements, including storage under lock and key or in a restricted area.

Significance of the Proposed Amendment

• Better Monitoring of Prescription Medicines: CCTV footage can provide an additional mechanism for checking whether regulated medicines are being dispensed in accordance with prescription requirements.
• Prevention of Drug Misuse: Stronger surveillance could reduce unauthorised access to medicines that have potential for misuse, dependence or inappropriate consumption.
• Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: Stronger enforcement relating to Schedule H1 medicines may help discourage the indiscriminate sale and consumption of antibiotics. India faces a significant public-health challenge from antimicrobial resistance, making rational use of antibiotics an important policy priority.
• Greater Accountability: CCTV surveillance could improve accountability among pharmacy owners, pharmacists and other persons involved in the dispensing of regulated medicines.
• Better Regulatory Enforcement: Drug inspectors could potentially use CCTV records as an additional source of evidence while investigating suspected violations.
• Strengthening the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: The measure complements other regulatory initiatives aimed at improving traceability, transparency and safety in India's pharmaceutical sector.

India Relevance

India has one of the world's largest pharmaceutical markets and a very large network of retail pharmacies. Easy access to medicines is important for healthcare delivery, but unrestricted availability of prescription drugs can contribute to:

• Self-medication.
• Antibiotic misuse.
• Antimicrobial resistance.
• Drug dependence and abuse.
• Adverse drug reactions.
• Irrational consumption of medicines.

Therefore, the proposed CCTV mechanism represents an attempt to balance access to medicines with stronger regulatory compliance and patient safety.

Challenges

• Compliance Cost for Small Pharmacies: Installation, maintenance, storage systems and servicing of CCTV equipment may create additional costs, particularly for small medical stores.
• Privacy Concerns: CCTV systems may capture patients, prescriptions and other sensitive information. Appropriate safeguards would therefore be necessary to protect privacy and prevent misuse of recordings.
• Data Security: Stored CCTV footage could become vulnerable to unauthorised access or cyber incidents if adequate security standards are not followed.
• Enforcement Capacity: Merely installing cameras may not be sufficient unless State Drug Control Departments have adequate manpower and systems to inspect premises and act on violations.
• Rural and Remote Areas: Small pharmacies in remote regions may face infrastructure, electricity, internet or storage-related constraints.
• Need for Clear Operational Guidelines: Detailed standards may be required regarding camera positioning, storage, access to recordings, inspections, data protection and responsibility for system failures.

Way Forward

• The government should develop clear and uniform CCTV compliance standards for pharmacies across States and Union Territories.
• Financial and technical support may be considered for smaller pharmacies to ease the transition.
• Access to CCTV recordings should be clearly defined and restricted to authorised persons and regulatory authorities.
• The surveillance system should be integrated with broader reforms such as digital prescriptions, electronic pharmacy records, QR-based medicine traceability and stronger pharmacist supervision.
• At the same time, public awareness campaigns should discourage self-medication and highlight the dangers of consuming prescription medicines without medical advice.

Conclusion

• The proposed amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945 represents a shift towards stronger technology-based monitoring of prescription-drug sales in India.
• Mandatory CCTV surveillance and preservation of recordings for at least three months could help regulators detect unauthorised sale of medicines, strengthen prescription compliance and improve accountability.
• However, effective implementation will require appropriate safeguards relating to privacy, data security, compliance costs and enforcement capacity.
• If combined with digital prescriptions, QR-based traceability, better pharmacy records and stronger awareness against self-medication, the reform could contribute significantly to safer and more responsible use of medicines in India.

FAQs

NHAI Launches OneTag: Switch FASTag Banks Without Changing Your Tag

Why in news?

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched OneTag, a new FASTag portability service on the Rajmargyatra mobile application.
• The service allows FASTag users to change their issuer bank without replacing the physical FASTag attached to their vehicle. OneTag became available on 17 September 2026.

What Is OneTag?

• OneTag is a FASTag portability facility that allows users to switch from one FASTag issuer bank to another while continuing to use the same physical tag.
• The facility works on a model similar to Mobile Number Portability (MNP), where users can change their service provider without changing their mobile number.

How Does OneTag Work?

• Users can complete the FASTag portability process through the Rajmargyatra app.
• The process involves:
  • Entering the vehicle registration number to check eligibility.
  • Selecting a new FASTag issuer after authorisation.
  • Completing customer verification.
  • Completing the required wallet onboarding process.
  • Continuing to use the existing physical FASTag after successful portability.
• The FASTag identification number linked to the vehicle registration remains unchanged. Therefore, users do not need to remove or replace the FASTag sticker.

What Happens to the Old FASTag Wallet?

• After the portability process is completed, the previous issuer bank closes the existing FASTag wallet.
• The available balance is refunded to the user after making applicable adjustments.
• However, a FASTag that has been ported cannot be ported again immediately. There is a six-month cooling period before another portability request can be made.

FASTag in India

• FASTag has become an important part of India's electronic toll collection system. NHAI states that FASTag has around 13 crore users, with penetration exceeding 98%.
• It enables automatic toll payments and reduces the need for cash transactions at toll plazas.

Rajmargyatra App Services

The OneTag facility adds to the existing services available through the Rajmargyatra platform.

These include:

• FASTag Annual Pass
• FASTag Local Pass
• Emergency Helpline 1033
• Other highway and FASTag-related services

Benefits of OneTag

The OneTag facility is expected to make FASTag management easier for vehicle owners.

Its key benefits include:

• Users can change their FASTag issuer bank without getting a new tag.
• The existing physical FASTag can continue to be used.
• It gives users greater choice among FASTag issuer banks.
• It can reduce repeated production and replacement of FASTags.
• It can lower dispatch and reissuance costs.
• It can improve FASTag lifecycle management.

Why Is OneTag Important?

• Earlier, changing the FASTag issuer could require users to obtain a new physical tag. OneTag separates the physical FASTag from the issuer bank, allowing users to switch the issuer while retaining the same tag.
• The initiative is therefore aimed at making the FASTag ecosystem more convenient, interoperable and efficient while supporting India's broader digital toll collection system.

Conclusion

NHAI's OneTag is a new FASTag portability facility that allows users to change their issuer bank without replacing the FASTag attached to their vehicle. By simplifying the issuer-switching process, the initiative aims to improve customer convenience and reduce unnecessary FASTag replacement.

FAQs

Global Gender Gap Report 2026: Key Facts, Dimensions, India’s 131st rank, Reasons, Importance and Challenges for India

Why in news?

India has retained the 131st position out of 145 economies in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on September 16, 2026.

Key Facts 

What is the Global Gender Gap Index?

• The Global Gender Gap Index is published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to measure gender-based disparities across countries. 
• The index was first introduced in 2006, making the 2026 report its 20th edition. The 2026 edition covers 145 economies.

Four Dimensions of the Global Gender Gap Index

• Economic Participation and Opportunity: It measures gender gaps in areas such as labour-force participation, wage equality for similar work, estimated earned income, representation in senior and managerial positions and professional-technical employment. 
• Educational Attainment: It evaluates gender parity in literacy, primary education, secondary education and tertiary education. 
• Health and Survival: It assesses sex ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy. 
• Political Empowerment: It measures representation of women and men in parliament, ministerial positions and head-of-state positions over a rolling 50-year period. 

India's Performance in Global Gender Gap Index 2026

• India retained its 131st rank, while its overall gender parity score improved slightly to 64.5%.
• India recorded a gender parity score of 41.2% in Economic Participation and Opportunity. This represents an improvement of 0.5 percentage points over the previous edition. However, it remains 3.5 percentage points below India's best result of 44.6% recorded in 2013. 
• Gender parity among professional and technical workers increased from 26.6% in 2006 to 49.9% in 2026. However, parity in labour-force participation stands at only 44.1%, indicating that women's participation in economic activity remains an important area of concern. 
• Representation among legislators, senior officials and managers has improved over the past two decades but remains comparatively low, with parity at 13.1%.
• India recorded a 96.6% gender parity score in Educational Attainment. India has achieved full parity in secondary and tertiary enrolment and remains close to parity in primary education. 
• Adult literacy parity declined slightly to 82.5% in 2026. Despite this decline, the long-term trend remains positive: adult literacy parity has increased substantially from 65.2% in 2006.

Global Gender Gap Index 2026

• Iceland continues to lead the world, ranking first with 93% gender parity. It has held the top position since the 2009 edition and remains the only economy in the index to have closed more than 90% of its gender gap.
• The leading economies are Iceland (93.0%), Finland (87.2%), Norway (85.7%), Namibia (84.5%) and United Kingdom (84.2%). At the other end of the index are Chad (145th), Iran (144th) and Pakistan (143rd). 

Why Does India Continue to Rank Low?

• India's relatively low overall ranking reflects an uneven pattern of progress: High Educational Parity and Lower Economic Conversion. 
• India has achieved near parity in education, but educational gains have not translated proportionately into economic participation and leadership positions.

Labour-Force Participation Gap

• Limited Representation in Leadership: Women remain underrepresented among legislators, senior officials, managers and ministers.
• Political Representation: Although Political Empowerment is India's highest-ranked subindex, women's representation in Parliament and ministerial positions remains far from parity.
• Persistent Health and Demographic Challenges: India has achieved high overall parity in Health and Survival, but the sex-ratio-at-birth indicator continues to require attention.

Why Gender Parity Matters for India

• Improving gender parity is not merely a social objective; it has important implications for India's economic and developmental trajectory.
• Greater participation of women in the workforce can expand the productive labour pool, increase household incomes and support economic growth.
• Similarly, greater representation of women in political and corporate decision-making can broaden participation in governance and leadership.

Key Challenges for India

• Low economic participation and employment opportunities for women
• Gender disparities in wages and income
• Unequal burden of unpaid care and domestic work
• Gaps in political representation
• Differences in literacy outcomes
• Persistent concerns related to sex ratio at birth

FAQs

GIFT City Jumps 9 Places to 37th in Global Financial Centres Ranking

Why in News?

• Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) has improved its position by nine places to rank 37th globally in the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 40).
• It has also entered the top 15 financial centres in the Asia-Pacific region, becoming the only Indian financial centre in this group.

Important points 

• GIFT City ranked 37th globally in GFCI 40, compared with 46th in GFCI 39.
• It is now among the top 15 financial centres in the Asia-Pacific region.
• GIFT City ranked 26th globally in FinTech, improving from 29th in the previous edition.
• It was also included among the 15 financial centres expected to become more significant over the next two to three years.
• The latest GFCI assessed 115 financial centres worldwide.

What is the Global Financial Centres Index?

The Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) is a global ranking that assesses the competitiveness of financial centres.

The index considers several factors, including:

• FinTech capabilities
• Access to finance
• Availability of skilled talent
• Regulatory environment
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure

The latest edition is based on 144 instrumental factors, 39,531 assessments and responses from 6,147 participants.

GIFT City and FinTech

• GIFT City has improved its global position in FinTech from 29th to 26th.
• The improvement reflects the expansion of its financial services ecosystem and the growing integration of finance, technology and innovation.
• GIFT City is focusing on strengthening its capabilities for cross-border financial activities, increasing international connectivity and encouraging greater participation in financial markets.

GIFT City's Future Plans

GIFT City plans to focus on:

• Bringing more financial businesses and investors to the city
• Improving connections with international financial markets
• Supporting international money and investment transactions
• Developing services for more advanced financial activities

Future Priorities for Financial Centres

The GFCI report highlighted several areas that are expected to become increasingly important for financial centres over the next five years.

These include:

• Digital infrastructure such as cloud services and data connectivity
• Cybersecurity and digital resilience
• FinTech and digital asset businesses
• Stronger anti-money laundering frameworks
• Prevention of financial crime
• Deepening of capital markets

What is GIFT City?

• Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• It is India's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and is being developed as a financial and technology hub for both domestic and international businesses.
• Its major sectors include:
  • Banking and financial services
  • Insurance
  • FinTech
  • Information Technology and Information Technology-enabled Services (IT/ITeS)
  • Capital markets
  • Other financial and professional services

Why is GIFT City's Rise Important for India?

The improvement in GIFT City's global ranking shows the growing role of India's financial services sector.

A stronger GIFT City can help India:

• Attract international financial companies
• Bring more investment into the country
• Create skilled jobs
• Promote financial technology
• Support international financial transactions from India

Significance for India

• The rise of GIFT City in the global financial centres ranking reflects India's efforts to develop a globally competitive financial services ecosystem.
• A stronger GIFT City can help India attract international financial institutions, investment, FinTech companies and skilled professionals while supporting cross-border financial activities from an Indian financial hub.

Conclusion

The improvement in GIFT City's GFCI ranking highlights the growing role of India's International Financial Services Centre in the global financial ecosystem. Its future development will depend on stronger digital infrastructure, financial innovation, international connectivity and a robust regulatory framework.

FAQs