Rameswaram Temple Backdrop Steals Spotlight at BRICS Summit

The renowned Ramanathaswamy Temple located in Rameswaram turned out to be an accidental eye-catcher at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi as PM Narendra Modi hosted leaders of the group. The Ramanathaswamy Temple background was used as the setting while welcoming the leaders at Bharat Mandapam, thus introducing a unique feature related to Indian culture in the international event.

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. This international event includes leaders of emerging economies along with other partners.

PM Narendra Modi Welcomes BRICS Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted some leaders among the visitors at Bharat Mandapam, which is also the place where the summit takes place. These include, for example, Chinese President Xi Jinping who also participated in bilateral talks with PM Modi.

It is worth saying that the choice of the setting during the welcoming procedure was rather unique as the Ramanathaswamy Temple is historically associated with the city of Rameswaram.

What Is the Ramanathaswamy Temple?

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a temple that worships Lord Shiva and one of the most famous temples that relate to the Shaivaite culture of India. It also falls under the list of 12 Jyotirlinga temples.

Situated on Rameswaram Island, the temple has huge corridors and architectural marvels. Being featured in the BRICS welcoming background helped to introduce an Indian cultural heritage icon in a diplomatic arena.

Leaders of BRICS Countries Discuss Global Governance

The cultural performance occurred ahead of the scheduled closed session called “Inclusive Global Governance and Multilateralism.”

This is one of the sessions that have been included in the India’s BRICS 2026 program to promote greater multilateral cooperation and inclusiveness within the global organizations.

The summit also provides India with the chance to conduct bilateral discussions with participating leaders in regard to cooperation in various sectors including trade, technology, energy, security and global governance.

18th BRICS Summit Hosted by India

The 18th BRICS Summit is taking place in New Delhi from September 12 and 13, 2026 under India’s Chairmanship.

To India, the summit represents a key diplomatic and cultural event as well. The background of the Ramanathaswamy Temple added another dimension to the summit.

Railway Station vs Junction vs Terminal: What Is the Difference?

Station, junction, terminal, and terminus are some terms which are commonly heard on India’s rail network, though these terms are used interchangeably, yet these do not mean the same. While station is a general term which means a place where trains halt at passenger or other rail operations, junction is a place where two rail routes join each other. Terminal or terminus is a point which marks the end of a railway line or a train journey. Knowing the difference between these terms will help us in understanding the rail maps easily.

What Is a Railway Station?

Railway station is a halt point from where people board and de-board from a train. It may also include facilities like ticket booking, parcels and cargo related operations.

A station may consist of one or more than one platform and can lie within the starting and ending points of a train journey.

Most importantly, not all stations are junction or terminus.

What Is a Railway Junction?

Railway junction is a railway station which connects two or more railway lines.

Since several railway lines connect at a junction, it allows the movement of trains in different directions from one location. Thus, junctions can have significant implications for railway operations and routing.

Junction is a railway station, and thus, trains can usually stop and start from it.

In other words, Junction = station connecting railway lines.

What Is a Railway Terminal/Terminus?

The term railway terminal or terminus usually refers to a railway station which marks the termination of a railway line or a train service.

This is the place from which trains may start and end their journeys. It depends on the railway configuration as to whether reversal of train or any other terminal activities are required prior to commencing another service.

In other words, Terminal/Terminus = station marking the end of a route/service.

Can a Railway Station be Both a Junction and Terminal?

Yes. The above names denote the different features of a railway station and hence, one railway station may have two distinct roles.

For instance, there might be a case where one railway station is connected to several railway lines but serves as the end point for certain trains.

The above discussion shows that the three names are not mutually exclusive.

Station vs Junction vs Terminal

Feature	Railway Station	Railway Junction	Railway Terminal
Main purpose	Train stop	Connects or branches railway routes	End point of a route/service
Passenger Passenger	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multiple railway routes required?	No	Yes	No
Train journey ends there?	Not necessarily	Not necessarily	Generally
Can also be a junction?	Some can	Yes	Some can
Can also be a terminal?	Some can	Some can	Yes

Russia Offers India Advanced Engine Upgrade for Su-30MKI

Russia has made another proposal to India on building an advanced fighter engine for upgrading the fleet of the Su-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force. This proposal came as part of President Vladimir Putin’s trip to New Delhi to participate in the BRICS summit. The Izdeliye 177S engine might be installed to replace the current engines AL-31F/FP on the fighter.

What Is the 177S Engine?

According to Russia’s proposal, the 177S engine will be capable of producing 14.5 tonnes of thrust with the dimensions and weight similar to those of the current engines AL-31F/FP.

This feature will allow installing the power plant in Su family aircraft without significant changes in their designs. Increased efficiency and durability are emphasized as main benefits of the engine.

According to Russian information, the engine can operate up to 6,000 hours and will help to reduce the consumption of fuel by about 7%.

Reasons for Russia Pitching the Engine to India

One reason why Russia could be pitching the engine to India is the fact that India uses a significant number of Su-30MKIs whose operational success will depend on the performance of the engine and maintenance considerations.

Moreover, the pitch of the engine is based on the previous collaboration of Russia and India in aerospace technology. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited currently produces and maintains AL-31FP engines.

The pitch by Russia to India will still have to be evaluated based on various technical and operational considerations before any decisions are made.

Considerations about Costs and Operational Issues

The pitch by Russia on the 177S is not an upgrade that India must undertake automatically.

India will have to look at the economic implications of using the new engine and the various requirements for integration and maintenance, amongst other considerations.

This consideration can determine how the pitch by Russia will be accepted or how it can be limited in some ways.

The pitch is made at a time when both nations are holding talks about the Su-57E which is the export version of the fighter aircraft of Russia.

Defence Ties between India and Russia

The engine deal is part of wider initiatives to reinforce the strategic ties between India and Russia. In the course of his visit to New Delhi, President Putin and PM Modi agreed to enhance defence and technological collaboration.

Also, there have been attempts to boost trade ties between India and Russia, aiming to take the annual trade volume to $100 billion by 2030.

India Crosses 80 Lakh HPV Vaccine Doses in Six Months

India is already at 80 lakh doses of the HPV vaccine within only six months of starting the vaccination drive against cervical cancer in the country. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have completed their vaccination drive with 100% coverage of their respective target groups. The programme provides a single dose of the HPV vaccine free of cost and voluntarily to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities after taking consent from their parents.

HPV Vaccination Drive Crosses Important Milestone

The programme was started in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2026. The programme seeks to vaccinate adolescent girls against HPV, the virus causing most cases of cervical cancer.

According to government estimates, around 1.2 crore girls attain the age of 14 years in India every year. This would be the target group for the programme each year.

Health experts have hailed the 80-lakh mark but emphasised that along with vaccination, there must be continuous awareness about and cervical cancer screening.

HPV Vaccination Status – Which States Are Ahead?

There are four states which have achieved 100% vaccination status among identified population,

Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Mizoram

Other states have also reported very good progress. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have surpassed the 90% mark, whereas Karnataka has surpassed 85% mark.

Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have surpassed 60% vaccination mark.

Number wise, it is Uttar Pradesh where more than 22 lakh adolescent girls have been vaccinated so far.

The success has been credited to the implementation of strategy, community mobilization and reaching out to districts by health workers.

Importance of HPV Vaccination

The issue of cervical cancer continues to be an important health problem in India. According to IARC, there were over 1.27 lakhs of new cases of cervical cancer in India in 2022.

Cervical cancer is preventable because almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by chronic infections with HPV. Therefore, vaccination against HPV before being exposed to the virus can help prevent cervical cancer.

But still, vaccination against HPV is not the only way to prevent cervical cancer. It is also necessary to conduct screenings for cervical cancer regularly after adulthood.

Opinion of Experts on the Milestone of 80 Lakh Doses

The oncologists have termed the number of vaccinations administered as significant, stressing continued awareness on the part of the general public.

HPV vaccination has also been mentioned as an intervention that not only helps in the prevention of cervical cancer but some vulvar, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers caused due to HPV infection.

The ideal age group for administering HPV vaccines is between 9-14 years while catch-up vaccination might be recommended in other age groups based on individual need.

Southern Railway Achieves 100% Electrification Across 5,068 Km

Southern Railway has electrified its entire 5,068 route kilometre broad gauge rail network and made it 100 per cent electrified. This is a historic event for Indian Railways. It happened following the statutory inspection of the 71 km Pattukkottai-Karaikkudi section of the rail network of Tamil Nadu, which was completed on September 9, 2026. With the electrification of the Pattukkottai-Karaikkudi section, all broad gauge sections of the railway can run on electric traction without needing to change diesel engines to electric engines.

Final Section Electrification – Pattukkottai-Karaikkudi

The electrification of Pattukkottai-Karaikkudi included the installation and commissioning of overhead electrical equipment (OHE).

Subsequently, statutory inspection was done by Shri Ganesh, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Southern Railway.

The statutory inspection signified the electrification of the entire broad gauge network of the zone using 25 kV AC traction.

The electrification effort signifies 95 years of Indian Railways’ history of electrification beginning in 1931 and ending in 2026.

Why Does Full Electrification Have Advantages?

Full electrification is predicted to increase the efficiency of operations for passengers and freight.

Constant traction: The trains will no longer change from diesel to electric locomotives at junctions, which might decrease delays.
Speeding up: There are chances to achieve higher speeds with the usage of electric traction because acceleration and deceleration processes become much more efficient.
Higher utilization of the locomotives: It allows improving the efficiency of using locomotives during passenger and freight services.
Emission decrease: Higher proportion of electric traction results in lower amount of carbon emission.

The History of Electrification of Southern Railway

Southern Railway started using electric traction about 100 years ago.

On May 11, 1931, the electricity became available in Madras; thus, it was the second Indian city which had electric railway lines, after Bombay. The next important date was 1968 when the Madras Beach-Tambaram line was electrified to 25 kV AC.

Electrification of the Pattukkottai-Karaikkudi route in September 2026 completes the broad gauge system in the zone.

Gujarat Passes 24×7 Shops Bill to Boost Ease of Doing Business

Gujarat Passes 24x7 Shops Bill to Boost Ease of Doing Business

The Gujarat Assembly has passed the Ease of Doing Business Bill 2026 which brings in a range of regulatory amendments that make business operation in the state more efficient. The bill amends 12 provisions in 5 state acts with an emphasis on ease of compliance, simplification of approvals and use of technology to provide better government services. Some of the key changes include provisions that allow eligible commercial establishments to work 24/7, self-declaration for new businesses, risk-based fire safety regulation, expanded MSME protection measures and quicker registration for doctors from other states.

What Changes Have Been Introduced in the Gujarat Ease of Doing Business Bill 2026?

Proposed by the Minister of State for Industries Dr Jayram Gamit, the law aims to ease regulatory challenges and streamline the process for businesses.

Key provisions in the law includes,

24/7 operation of eligible shops and commercial establishments
Self-declaration for the new business registrations
Risk-based fire safety regulation
Enhancement of the MSME facilitation mechanism
Automated appeal process for delayed public services
Quicker registration of doctors from other states

Operation of Shops and Businesses Round the Clock

A notable provision that has been introduced is that eligible shops and businesses may operate 24×7 without any interruption on any day of the week, given certain conditions are fulfilled.

This particular provision is nothing new, in fact, Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act had already allowed certain establishments to operate round the clock from 2019. It was however, affected due to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath such as night curfews and lockdowns.

Now, there is a revival of regulation in favor of operating businesses round the clock.

Risk Based Fire Safety & Self Declaration for Business Registration

The process of business registration will become easier as now a process of self-declaration will allow less verification initially.

It is noteworthy that the bill has amended the provision for fire safety in the Gujarat Fire Prevention Act.

Increased support for MSMEs

The Bill provides enhanced provisions to the Right to Business framework concerning MSMEs.

A total of eight more state acts have been covered in the MSME facilitation framework, such as electricity provision, GIDC Industrial Estates, co-operatives, and irrigation. The expanded framework is expected to facilitate the MSMEs in understanding the different regulatory requirements.

Automatic Appeals in Case of Delayed Public Services

The Bill provides automatic appeals under the Right of Citizens to Public Services Act.

In case any department is unable to provide resolution of the application or grievance in the prescribed period of time, the matter could be escalated automatically to a higher authority without the need to provide a fresh appeal.

Facilitation of Doctors Registration in Gujarat

Amendments to the Medical Council Act will also facilitate registration of doctors registered in other states of India.

The eligible medical practitioners can complete their registration in Gujarat by simply self-declaring.

India and US Strengthen Undersea Cable Security Cooperation

The technology collaboration between India and the US has been furthered to increase the resilience of global submarine cables, which act as an artery for the world’s digital communication systems. This move is part of the effort of both nations to secure key infrastructure that serves as the backbone for cloud computing, data centers, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. Through the US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technologies) Initiative, experts from the government and industry sectors recently attended an Undersea Cables Workshop. The US has designated India as a future major center of subsea digital infrastructure due to its robust digital economy and geographical position.

Cooperation between the US and India on Undersea Cables

The most recent form of cooperation revolves around enhancing the security, resilience, and diversity of global undersea cable systems. This was reported by the US Embassy in India, which revealed that both nations held a conference called the Undersea Cables Workshop in September.

Undersea cables plays the vital role in the contemporary connectivity, facilitating the international data transmissions which contributes to the development of the economies, cloud computing, and innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

Why India can be a Cable Hub Globally

There is an increasing significance of India as far as its digital economy is growing along with the demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure.

Its geographical location is an advantage that makes it connected to the key markets via subsea communications networks. The more India invests and collaborates internationally, the greater significance will play in the development of global subsea infrastructure.

The step is consistent with the strategy of India in relation to the digital infrastructure and advanced technologies.

TRUST Initiative Increases Tech Emphasis

The US-India TRUST Initiative is a program that was started during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington in February 2025. The initiative aims at increasing the cooperation among government, academia, and private sector organizations on critical and emerging technologies.

These technologies includes the,

Artificial Intelligence
Semiconductors
Quantum computing
Biotechnology
Energy
Space
Defence and the critical technologies

The initiative also emphasizes trusted technology suppliers and protection of sensitive technologies.

AI Infrastructure and Data Centers

The two nations had already pledged their commitment towards the development of a US-India Roadmap for Accelerating AI Infrastructure. This roadmap is aimed at identifying obstacles to funding, creating, powering, and connecting AI infrastructure that originated from the US in India.

Moreover, this roadmap promotes investment in next-generation data centers, accessibility to computing resources and processors, AI models, and applications, keeping in view the regulatory and security issues.

This undersea cable collaboration brings an additional layer of physical infrastructure to these plans by bridging secure connectivity with India’s AI plans.

India Forex Reserves Hit Record $785.7 Billion

In the last week India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves witnessed the high jump and it has been valued at the $740.803 billion. Foreign exchange reserves had come under pressure due to the fall in the value of the rupee due to the tensions that arose in the West Asia region. The RBI had interfered in the foreign exchange market by selling dollars. However, the situation improved when the central bank introduced the concessional forex swap policy in June which helped to increase foreign currency inflows in the market and increased its liquidity.

Foreign Currency Assets Make the Biggest Jump

Foreign currency assets, the biggest part of India’s reserves, have made the highest jump in this case.

As per the RBI, FCAs had increased by $47.498 billion during this period and reached the level of $648.168 billion.

FCAs are expressed in US dollars but can include the value change in other currencies like the euro, pound, and yen which are also part of India’s foreign exchange reserves.

Rise in Reserves through FCNR(B) Deposit Window

The increase in reserves is due to large scale inflow through the special measures announced by RBI for foreign currency deposits.

The Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposit window received deposits worth $127.226 billion till August 31. Including overseas foreign currency borrowings and external commercial borrowings, total inflow stood at $136.377 billion.

This window was opened on June 8 and was supposed to be kept open until September 30. However, RBI prematurely closed it on August 31 after mentioning that its purpose had been fulfilled before time.

India Gold Reserves Drop

Not all the components of India’s reserves saw growth last week.

The reserves of gold of India fell by $2.594 billion and reached $113.816 billion.

On the other hand, the reserves of SDRs of India with the IMF fell by $4 million and reached $18.806 billion.

Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 2026 Takes Effect From October 1

The Bankers Books Evidence Act, 2026 will come into force from October 1st, 2026, will replace of the Act of 1891. This new legislation will provide a contemporary legal framework which will allow the use of the banking books in court processes. President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Act on August 13, 2026, while the Central Government announced on September 10 that the new Act will come into effect from October 1. The Act acknowledges changes in the nature of banking records and brings technology-enabled banking records under a contemporary evidence framework.

Why is the 2026 Act Significant?

The older Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 had been made at a time when the banking records existed only in physical form.

The new Act takes a technology neutral approach and ensures that the legal framework accommodates banking records kept in various forms.

These include,

Physical records
Electronic records
Digital records
Virtual records
Cloud-based records
Contemporary banking records

How Will Banking Records Be Certified?

One of the important aspects is the standardization of the certification process of banking records that have been provided for use in legal processes.

The Act facilitates certification by means of manual, digital or electronic signatures.

The reason behind this provision is that the courts should be able to use the banking records for the purposes of their proceedings without resorting to paper-based certification processes alone.

What Changes When Bank Officials Are Summonsed?

Another change made by the new Act is the process of summoning of the bank officials where the bank is not a part of the legal proceedings.

Under the new Act, there should be a “special cause” mentioned in writing by the court prior to summoning these bank officials.

Can the Law Apply to Other Financial Institutions?

Under the law, the Central Government is authorised to apply the law’s provisions to certain financial institutions or classes of financial institutions.

This will ensure that the legal framework remains relevant to developments within the financial sector and the evolving technology and practices within banks and finance.

What is the Purpose of the New Law?

This law is part of the larger initiatives for updating the banking and financial laws in India.

The purpose of the law is to ensure that the legal framework becomes more relevant in view of modern banking through recognition of digital documents and certification.

International Day for South-South Cooperation 2026: Key Facts

International Day for South-South Cooperation will celebrated on September 11, 2026, as this day will help to demonstrate how countries can cooperate by exchanging knowledge, technologies, and other tangible ways. The reason why this day will be especially important this time is that, along with the celebration of the International Day for South-South Cooperation, this day will also serve as the launching point of the Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation which will help countries in finding solutions for their problems.

International Day for South-South Cooperation 2026 Theme

On September 11, International Day for South-South Cooperation 2026 to be celebrated under the theme of “Solidarity Rising: Global Alliance for Inclusive and Innovative Development.”

This theme indicates the need for collaboration in terms of sharing knowledge and innovations to promote inclusive development. This theme also emphasizes how other countries’ successful experiences can be adopted and does not require developing something new.

The year 2026 marks the launch of the Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, which is a voluntary alliance, facilitated by the United Nations, initiated by the UNOSSC.

Why Is South-South Cooperation Significant?

The South-South cooperation is an opportunity for the developing nations to share experiences and knowledge and cope with the problems that have no boundaries.

The major issues includes,

Knowledge exchange: The countries exchange their successful approaches, experience and development models.
Innovation and technology: Low-cost innovations developed locally may be applicable to other countries.
Development issues: Cooperation helps to deal with climate change, health care, food and energy problems.
Capacity building: It builds the capacities and knowledge of countries.
Economic cooperation: Increasing trade and investment relations between countries create economic cooperation.

Role of Triangular Cooperation

The triangular approach gives an added dimension through the coming together of developing nations with developed nations or organizations. Experience and ownership from the South come together with some additional support of a technical, financial or institutional nature.

The proposed Global Alliance is intended to link countries seeking solutions with others who are capable of providing technology, knowledge, resources, etc. It would help disseminate good practices among a larger population.