The 17th Kathakali Festival was inaugurated at the Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. The festival is organised by the Kalakshetra Foundation under the Ministry of Culture. The three-day festival is held from 18–20 September 2026 with the theme “Kadha Rasa Sangama – Confluence of Essence of Stories.” Three prominent Kathakali institutions—Sadanam Academy, Kerala Kalamandalam and Margi Theatre—are presenting different productions. The festival opened with “Mandodari”, presented by Sadanam Academy and based on the Ramayana.

Gender Snapshot 2026 report was released by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in September 2026. The report states that no target under SDG 5 (Gender Equality) is currently on track to be achieved by 2030. Around one in four gender-equality institutions experienced operating-budget cuts over the past two years, while nearly one in ten lost control over their budgets. Women held 27.4% of seats in national parliaments in 2026, compared with 22.3% in 2015. Women’s representation in local governments remained at around 35.6% since 2023. Around 2.9 billion women and girls live in countries highly or very highly exposed to climate change and geophysical hazards. The report estimates that, at the current pace of progress, gender equality could remain 171 years away.

Karnataka approved Tulu as its second additional administrative language for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in September 2026. The decision followed several years of demands and consultations, including a committee report submitted in 2023 under educationist M. Mohan Alva. Tulu is primarily spoken in the coastal region known as Tulu Nadu, covering Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Tulu is also spoken in parts of Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan and Kodagu districts. The government has allocated ₹82 lakh for translation, training and other activities related to the use of Tulu.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently began receiving the HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, which has been officially named ‘Ankur’. It is developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The HTT-40 is designed to meet the basic pilot training requirements of the IAF. The handover of the first three aircraft marks the commencement of deliveries under a contract for 70 such trainers. This indigenous platform is equipped with modern avionics, a pressurized cabin, and advanced safety features, replacing older training assets and boosting self-reliance in military pilot training.

Delhi received the highest foreign contribution under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) among States and Union Territories in FY 2024–25, amounting to ₹5,834 crore. Karnataka ranked second with ₹3,164 crore, followed by Maharashtra with ₹2,385 crore. Tamil Nadu had the highest number of active FCRA-registered associations, with 2,102 organisations. The United States was the largest source of foreign contributions to India, contributing ₹12,113 crore. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 came into force on 22 June 2026. The 2026 rules introduced greater specificity in Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration regarding geographical areas of operation, activities funded and key organisational functionaries.