Current Affairs for NDA CDS AFCAT 2026: Defence Current Affairs 26 September

 

Current Affairs for NDA CDS AFCAT 2026: Defence Current Affairs 26 September

Current Affairs for Defence Exams (NDA/CDS/AFCAT) 26 September 2026: Defence News, Military Exercises, MCQs & Quick Revision

Current Affairs for Defence Exams (NDA/CDS/AFCAT) 26 September 2026 covers the latest defence and national-security developments relevant to candidates preparing for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF and other defence-related competitive examinations. This article includes important military exercises, defence acquisitions, DRDO developments, indigenous weapons, defence technology, international military cooperation and key defence-related facts.

Latest Update: Recent defence developments include the India-France VARUNA maritime exercise, India-Mongolia NOMADIC ELEPHANT, India-Sri Lanka SLINEX-26, India-Japan VEER GUARDIAN-26, India-US YUDH ABHYAS-26, procurement of Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons for the IAF, T-72/T-90 Auxiliary Power Units, DRDO's quantum-technology project and continuing efforts towards indigenous defence production.

Defence Current Affairs 26 September 2026: Quick Highlights

Topic	Key Point
VARUNA 2026	24th edition of the India-France bilateral maritime exercise; INS Trishul reached Toulon, France.
SLINEX-26	13th India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise concluded at Visakhapatnam.
VEER GUARDIAN-26	India-Japan bilateral air exercise concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
NOMADIC ELEPHANT-26	18th India-Mongolia joint military exercise commenced at Pithoragarh.
YUDH ABHYAS-26	22nd India-US joint military exercise; conducted at Auli and Mahajan.
SAT-SAAW	MoD signed a ₹810.79 crore contract with BDL for 160 weapons for the IAF.
DRDO Quantum Technology	DRDO signed its first high-value TDF deep-tech agreement with a start-up for a 20 mK dilution refrigerator.

1. Exercise VARUNA 2026: India-France Maritime Exercise

Exercise VARUNA is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. In September 2026, INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, for the 24th edition of the exercise.

The exercise includes professional engagements during harbour and sea phases, including cross-deck visits, operational interactions and exchange of best practices. It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and professional cooperation between the two navies.

Exam Point: VARUNA = India + France + Naval/Maritime Exercise.

2. SLINEX-26: India-Sri Lanka Naval Exercise

The 13th edition of SLINEX-26, the India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise, concluded at Visakhapatnam on 21 September 2026. The exercise was conducted from 17 to 21 September 2026.

The sea phase included coordinated maritime manoeuvres, air operations, night replenishment at sea and Special Forces drills, including Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS).

The exercise contributes to maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy and is associated with India's maritime cooperation approach in the Indian Ocean Region.

Exam Point: SLINEX = India + Sri Lanka + Maritime Exercise.

3. Exercise VEER GUARDIAN 2026: India-Japan Air Exercise

Veer Guardian 2026 was a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The exercise concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September 2026.

The Indian Air Force participated with aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, Rafale and indigenous LCA Tejas, while the JASDF participated with the F-2A fighter aircraft.

The 14-day training programme included advanced flying missions, within-visual-range combat, coordinated multi-aircraft missions, mission planning and professional exchanges.

Exam Point: VEER GUARDIAN = India + Japan + Air Exercise.

4. NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2026: India-Mongolia Military Exercise

The 18th edition of Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, on 21 September 2026.

The annual platoon-level exercise between India and Mongolia is scheduled from 21 September to 3 October 2026. The Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are represented by 45 personnel each.

The exercise focuses on counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. Training areas include cordon and search operations, room intervention drills, special heliborne operations, cyber security and the use of drones and counter-drone systems.

Exam Point: NOMADIC ELEPHANT = India + Mongolia + Army Exercise.

5. YUDH ABHYAS 2026: India-US Joint Military Exercise

The 22nd edition of Exercise YUDH ABHYAS commenced in September 2026 with the opening ceremony at Auli, Uttarakhand. The exercise is being conducted simultaneously at Auli Foreign Training Node and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.

The participating contingents comprise 600 personnel from each side. The exercise focuses on integrated battle groups and operations in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain, with an emphasis on infantry-dominated operations.

Technology infusion is another focus area, including drones, autonomous systems for surveillance and reconnaissance and discussions on multi-domain warfare.

Exam Point: YUDH ABHYAS = India + United States + Army Exercise.

6. ₹810.79 Crore Contract for SAT-SAAW

On 23 September 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for procurement of 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force.

The contract is valued at ₹810.79 crore and falls under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.

SAT-SAAW is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb. According to the Ministry of Defence, it can be launched from platforms including Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI. The system has an indigenous content of 60 percent.

Exam Point: SAT-SAAW is associated with IAF, DRDO, precision-guided air-to-ground weapon and indigenous defence production.

7. T-72 and T-90 Tanks: Auxiliary Power Units

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹586 crore contract on 21 September 2026 for procurement of Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for India's T-72 and T-90 tanks.

An APU provides an alternative source of electrical power for systems such as the tank's fire-control system, firing circuit and gun stabilisation system, as well as other ancillary equipment.

The procurement is linked with indigenisation of critical subsystems of armoured platforms and the Make-II mechanism.

Exam Point: APU = Auxiliary Power Unit; relevant to T-72 and T-90 tanks in this procurement.

8. DRDO's Quantum Technology Project

On 24 September 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme with Zero mK India Private Limited.

The project involves indigenous development of a 20 millikelvin (mK) dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.

Dilution refrigerators are specialised cryogenic systems capable of achieving extremely low temperatures in the millikelvin range. Such systems are relevant to advanced quantum technologies and research.

Exam Point: TDF + DRDO + Start-up + 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator + Quantum Applications.

9. IAF Dronathon 2026

Indian Air Force Dronathon 2026 was organised at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer, from 14 to 16 September 2026.

The initiative brought together defence companies, start-ups, MSMEs, DPSUs and innovators to demonstrate unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies under realistic operational conditions.

The focus areas included surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies and electronic warfare.

Exam Point: Dronathon 2026 = IAF + Unmanned Systems + Pokhran + Drone/Counter-Drone Technologies.

10. CORE Programme 2026

The Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) Programme 2026 was conducted from 14 to 18 September 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

The programme was organised by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and conducted by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

Senior officers from the three Services and officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs participated in discussions on jointness, integration, contemporary conflicts, modern warfare, defence production and capability development.

Emerging technologies discussed included Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Quantum Computing, along with cognitive warfare, strategic communication and counter-disinformation operations.

11. Defence Acquisition Council: Major Procurement Approvals

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to various defence acquisition proposals estimated at approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore in September 2026.

The approved proposals covered requirements of the Indian Army, including CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, high-mobility vehicles, self-propelled mechanical mine layers, advanced light helicopters, trawl tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System.

Important Term: Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) represents in-principle administrative approval for a defence procurement proposal and is an important stage in the acquisition process.

12. Defence Production and Aatmanirbharta

Recent defence developments continue to highlight Aatmanirbhar Bharat and indigenous defence production. The Ministry of Defence has been focusing on domestic manufacturing, indigenous design and development, participation of Indian industry, start-ups and MSMEs, and greater integration of domestic suppliers into defence production.

In September 2026, the Ministry also highlighted measures to expand opportunities for MSMEs and deep-tech start-ups through the DRDO-industry ecosystem.

For NDA/CDS/AFCAT preparation, candidates should understand the difference between indigenisation, defence production, defence exports, technology development and defence procurement.

13. Important Defence Exercises: Quick Revision

Exercise	Countries	Service / Focus
VARUNA	India – France	Navy / Maritime
SLINEX	India – Sri Lanka	Navy / Maritime
VEER GUARDIAN	India – Japan	Air Force
NOMADIC ELEPHANT	India – Mongolia	Army
YUDH ABHYAS	India – USA	Army
SAMUDRA LAKSAMANA	India – Malaysia	Navy / Maritime

Defence Current Affairs One-Liners

• VARUNA 2026: India-France bilateral maritime exercise.
• VARUNA 2026 edition: 24th edition.
• SLINEX-26: India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise.
• SLINEX-26 edition: 13th edition.
• VEER GUARDIAN-26: India-Japan bilateral air exercise.
• NOMADIC ELEPHANT-26: India-Mongolia joint military exercise.
• NOMADIC ELEPHANT-26 edition: 18th.
• YUDH ABHYAS-26: India-US joint military exercise.
• YUDH ABHYAS-26 edition: 22nd.
• SAT-SAAW: Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon.
• SAT-SAAW procurement: 160 weapons for the IAF.
• SAT-SAAW contract value: ₹810.79 crore.
• SAT-SAAW manufacturer: Bharat Dynamics Limited under the contract.
• T-72 and T-90 update: ₹586 crore APU procurement contract.
• DRDO TDF project: 20 mK dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.
• IAF Dronathon-2026: Unmanned systems and counter-drone technology.
• CORE 2026: Jointness, integration, modern warfare and emerging technologies.
• DAC September 2026: AoN proposals worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore.

Defence Current Affairs MCQs

1. Exercise VARUNA is conducted between India and which country?

A. Japan

B. France

C. USA

D. Australia

Answer: B. France

2. Exercise SLINEX is associated with India and:

A. Sri Lanka

B. Singapore

C. Sweden

D. South Korea

Answer: A. Sri Lanka

3. VEER GUARDIAN is a bilateral exercise between India and:

A. France

B. Japan

C. Mongolia

D. Russia

Answer: B. Japan

4. NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2026 is being conducted between India and:

A. Mongolia

B. Nepal

C. Bhutan

D. Vietnam

Answer: A. Mongolia

5. The 22nd edition of YUDH ABHYAS 2026 is being conducted between India and:

A. UK

B. USA

C. France

D. Germany

Answer: B. USA

6. SAT-SAAW is primarily associated with which force?

A. Indian Army

B. Indian Navy

C. Indian Air Force

D. Indian Coast Guard

Answer: C. Indian Air Force

7. How many SAT-SAAW weapons are covered under the September 2026 contract?

A. 60

B. 100

C. 160

D. 260

Answer: C. 160

8. The DRDO's September 2026 TDF deep-tech project concerns a:

A. Quantum radar

B. 20 mK dilution refrigerator

C. New aircraft carrier

D. Combat drone

Answer: B. 20 mK dilution refrigerator

9. Exercise Dronathon-2026 focused primarily on:

A. Unmanned systems and related technologies

B. Naval submarines

C. Mountain rescue

D. Military medicine

Answer: A. Unmanned systems and related technologies

10. The September 2026 contract for T-72 and T-90 tank APUs was worth:

A. ₹286 crore

B. ₹486 crore

C. ₹586 crore

D. ₹686 crore

Answer: C. ₹586 crore

11. Which organisation conducted the CORE Programme 2026?

A. ISRO

B. CENJOWS

C. NITI Aayog

D. DRDO alone

Answer: B. CENJOWS

12. The September 2026 DAC proposals were estimated at approximately:

A. ₹10,000 crore

B. ₹50,000 crore

C. ₹1.10 lakh crore

D. ₹2.50 lakh crore

Answer: C. ₹1.10 lakh crore

Defence Quick Revision Table

Topic	Remember
VARUNA	India-France maritime exercise; 24th edition in 2026.
SLINEX	India-Sri Lanka maritime exercise; 13th edition in 2026.
VEER GUARDIAN	India-Japan air exercise; concluded at Jodhpur.
NOMADIC ELEPHANT	India-Mongolia army exercise; 18th edition.
YUDH ABHYAS	India-US army exercise; 22nd edition.
SAT-SAAW	160 weapons; ₹810.79 crore contract; IAF.
Tank APUs	₹586 crore contract for T-72 and T-90 tanks.
DRDO TDF	20 mK dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.

Important Defence Terms for NDA/CDS/AFCAT

• AoN: Acceptance of Necessity.
• DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• TDF: Technology Development Fund.
• IAF: Indian Air Force.
• JASDF: Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
• BDL: Bharat Dynamics Limited.
• APU: Auxiliary Power Unit.
• CBRN: Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear.
• UAS: Unmanned Aircraft System.
• CUAS: Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System.
• VBSS: Visit, Board, Search and Seizure.
• MDA: Maritime Domain Awareness.
• DPSU: Defence Public Sector Undertaking.
• MAHASAGAR: Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.

Why These Current Affairs Matter for Defence Exams

Defence examinations frequently require candidates to understand India's armed forces, military exercises, defence technology, international defence cooperation, weapons systems, national security developments and major defence acquisitions.

For NDA, CDS and AFCAT, current affairs should be studied alongside static defence knowledge. Candidates should connect a current event such as a military exercise with the participating countries, service branch, location and purpose of the exercise.

Similarly, defence procurement news should be linked with the weapon or platform, service concerned, manufacturer, indigenous content and relevant technology. This approach helps convert current news into useful examination notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which defence current affairs are important for NDA, CDS and AFCAT?

Answer: Important areas include military exercises, defence acquisitions, DRDO developments, indigenous weapons, defence technology, armed forces updates, international defence cooperation and major national-security developments.

Q2. Exercise VARUNA is conducted between which countries?

Answer: VARUNA is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and France.

Q3. What is SLINEX?

Answer: SLINEX is the bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka.

Q4. What is Exercise VEER GUARDIAN?

Answer: It is a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Q5. Which countries participate in NOMADIC ELEPHANT?

Answer: India and Mongolia participate in the annual joint military exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT.

Q6. What is SAT-SAAW?

Answer: SAT-SAAW stands for Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon. It is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb associated with the Indian Air Force.

Q7. What was the value of the September 2026 SAT-SAAW contract?

Answer: The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth ₹810.79 crore for 160 SAT-SAAW weapons and associated equipment.

Q8. What is the DRDO's 20 mK project about?

Answer: It concerns indigenous development of a 20 millikelvin dilution refrigerator for quantum applications under the Technology Development Fund scheme.

Q9. What is Dronathon-2026?

Answer: IAF Dronathon-2026 is an initiative focused on unmanned aircraft systems, counter-unmanned systems and emerging drone technologies.

Final Takeaway

Current Affairs for Defence Exams (NDA/CDS/AFCAT) 26 September 2026 covers the major defence developments that candidates should revise, including VARUNA, SLINEX, VEER GUARDIAN, NOMADIC ELEPHANT, YUDH ABHYAS, SAT-SAAW procurement, T-72/T-90 APUs, DRDO's quantum-technology project, Dronathon-2026 and the CORE Programme.

For effective preparation, revise each defence current affair with four basic questions: Who participated? Which service? Where was it conducted? What was its purpose? For defence technology and procurement, also remember the weapon/system, organisation, value where relevant and its broad operational role.

Important Note

Defence-related information can change as exercises, procurements, trials and military programmes progress. Candidates should verify the latest official Ministry of Defence, PIB, DRDO, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force updates before the final examination revision.

Disclaimer

This article is prepared for educational and examination-revision purposes. It is based on publicly available official information and is intended to support preparation for NDA, CDS, AFCAT and other defence-related examinations. It does not replace official examination notifications, syllabi or instructions issued by the respective examination authorities.