1) 🇮🇳 National

• The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit continues in New Delhi, with India holding the BRICS Chairship for 2026.

• The New Delhi Declaration 2026 was adopted by consensus at the summit, covering cooperation in areas including global governance, trade, technology, energy, health, climate and sustainable development.

• BRICS leaders strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.

• India proposed a BRICS Working Group on Sports Technology to promote cooperation in sports innovation, research and technology.

• A BRICS Sports Goods Manufacturing Conclave has also been proposed, with the event planned for November 2026 in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

• A network of BRICS Centres of Excellence for Mental Health has been proposed, with NIMHANS, Bengaluru, designated as the coordinating institution.

2) 🌍 International

• The New Delhi Declaration called for maximum restraint and dialogue amid escalating conflicts in West Asia.

• BRICS countries expressed concern over unilateral sanctions and measures that affect international trade and developing economies.

• The grouping called for greater representation of developing countries in major multilateral institutions, including the UN, IMF and World Bank.

• BRICS leaders reiterated support for peaceful exploration and use of outer space and greater cooperation on space-debris mitigation.

• The BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation, involving satellites from member countries including India, China and Russia, received further attention for cooperation in space applications.

3) 💰 Economy

• India’s foreign-exchange reserves reached a record US$785.706 billion for the week ended September 4, 2026.

• The reserves increased by a record US$44.903 billion in one week, the largest weekly rise recorded so far.

• India has overtaken Russia to become the fourth-largest holder of foreign-exchange reserves globally, after China, Japan and Switzerland.

• Foreign Currency Assets increased by approximately US$47.498 billion during the week.

• The RBI has announced an Open Market Sale of government securities worth ₹1 lakh crore, beginning September 16, to absorb excess liquidity.

• BRICS leaders backed greater use of local currencies in trade and investment and encouraged stronger interoperability between national payment systems.

4) 🗓 Date’s importance

International Chocolate Day – September 13

• September 13 is observed as International Chocolate Day.

• The date is associated with the birth anniversary of Milton S. Hershey, the American chocolatier and founder of the Hershey chocolate company.

• Chocolate is produced primarily from the seeds of the cacao tree.

World Sepsis Day – September 13

• Observed annually to raise awareness about sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body's extreme response to infection.

• The day highlights the importance of early recognition, prevention and timely treatment of sepsis.

5) 👱‍♂👩‍🦳 Person of the day

Milton S. Hershey

• Born: September 13, 1857.

• American chocolatier, businessman and philanthropist.

• Founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company.

• Established the Hershey Industrial School, later known as Milton Hershey School, for orphaned boys.

• His innovations helped make milk chocolate affordable and accessible to a mass market.

• September 13 is associated with his birth anniversary and is observed as International Chocolate Day.

6) 🏅 Sports

• The India–Afghanistan three-match T20I series begins today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.

• Afghanistan is the designated host, while all three matches are being played in Delhi.

• The remaining matches are scheduled for September 15 and September 17.

• Shreyas Iyer is leading India, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain.

• The series is being played ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, which begin in Japan on September 19.

• India last played a bilateral T20I series against Afghanistan in January 2024, winning the series 3–0.

7) 🏆 Awards

• The New Delhi Declaration 2026 has given importance to sports as a tool for social development, people-to-people exchanges and healthy societies.

• BRICS has backed the proposal for a Sports Technology Working Group, aimed at encouraging innovation and research in sports.

• The proposed BRICS Sports Goods Manufacturing Conclave is expected to strengthen cooperation in sports manufacturing and technology among member countries.

8) ⭐️ Other important significance

• BRICS 2026: India’s chairmanship theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

• New Delhi Declaration: Adopted by consensus and covering major issues such as terrorism, global conflicts, trade, energy, AI, health and institutional reform.

• Sports Technology: India’s proposal for a dedicated BRICS Working Group marks a new focus on the role of technology in athlete performance, welfare and sports governance.

• Mental Health: NIMHANS, Bengaluru will coordinate the proposed BRICS network of Centres of Excellence for Mental Health.

• Foreign-Exchange Reserves: India’s record US$785.706 billion reserve level has moved the country to the 4th position globally.

• Asian Games 2026: The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

📚 Word of the day

Consensus — general agreement among a group of people or countries.

Example: BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration by consensus.