Daily Current Affairs 23 September 2026 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 23 September 2026 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

National Single Window System (NSWS)

Source: PIB
GS II: Governance, E-Governance, GS III: Economy- Ease of Doing Business, Investment and Regulatory Reforms

Why in the News?

The National Single Window System (NSWS) has completed five years since its launch on 22 September 2021.

News in Brief

• The NSWS is implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• The digital platform is being used to simplify business approvals by bringing Central Ministries, State Governments and regulatory authorities onto a common interface.
• As of 21 September 2026, NSWS had onboarded more than 5.69 lakh business entities and provided access to over 327 Central approvals and 3,452 State approvals across 34 States and Union Territories.

What is the National Single Window System ?

• The National Single Window System (NSWS) is a digital governance platform designed to provide investors with a unified mechanism for obtaining various business and regulatory approvals.
• It allows investors to determine which approvals are required for their proposed business activities and subsequently apply for them through a common interface.
• The system seeks to reduce duplication, compliance burden and approval timelines, while improving transparency and coordination among government authorities.

Key Features of NSWS

Know Your Approvals (KYA)

• The KYA module identifies the approvals applicable to a business based on its proposed activities.
• It helps investors understand the regulatory requirements before submitting applications.
• The guidance provided through KYA is advisory in nature and does not constitute legal advice.

Common Registration Form

• Common Registration Form, captures information through a single interface and enables reuse of information across applications.
• It reduces repetitive submission of the same information.

State Registration Form

• NSWS provides access to State Single Window Systems through a dedicated State Registration Form, linking the national platform with State-level approval mechanisms.

Applicant Dashboard

• The platform includes an Applicant Dashboard for submitting applications, monitoring their status, and responding to departmental queries.
• The portal also allows investors to renew applicable approvals easily and track the status of the application in real-time.

Centralized Document Repository

• A centralized Document Repository enables one-time upload and reuse of documents across multiple approvals, reducing duplication of submissions.

E-Communication Module

• The E-Communication Module facilitates online exchange of queries and clarifications between applicants and the concerned Ministries and State Governments.

How does NSWS work?

The approval process broadly follows these steps,

• An investor registers using an email ID and mobile number.
• Required approvals can be identified through the KYA module or searched from the list of approvals.
• Applications are submitted for relevant Central and State approvals.
• NSWS electronically forwards applications to the concerned Ministry, Department or State Government.
• Applicants can monitor their applications through the dashboard.
• Queries can be addressed through the E-Communication Module.
• Registration on NSWS is free, but applicants have to pay statutory fees prescribed by the respective authorities.

Digital Integration under NSWS

NSWS has expanded beyond a basic approval portal and is increasingly being integrated with other government systems.

• PAN is used as the Single Business ID.
• Authorized representatives can be authenticated through Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
• DigiLocker is used for authentication in the case of sole proprietors.
• The Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIF Portal) has been integrated with NSWS for FDI applications requiring government approval.
• Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) processes were fully migrated to NSWS in October 2025.
• Industrial License (IL) processes were fully migrated in March 2026.
• These digitalized processes enable database-based auto-population, reduce manual approval requirements and provide instant acknowledgements.

Other Integration

• The Production Investment Business Registration module, launched in November 2025, facilitates Indian companies in generating sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals under the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa).
• The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) has integrated all 74 licensing modules with NSWS, making it the first department to achieve complete transaction-level integration.

Coverage and Performance

• As of September 2026, the NSWS has expanded its reach considerably, with more than five lakh business entities onboarded and a growing number of applications and approvals being handled through the platform.
• It provides access to a wide range of Central and State-level approvals across 34 States and Union Territories.
• The platform caters to different types of businesses, including sole proprietorships, companies, LLPs and foreign entities.
• Among the States, Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Manipur have integrated a particularly large number of approvals on the platform.
• This expanding coverage reflects the government’s effort to create a more integrated, transparent and technology-driven regulatory environment for businesses.

Approvals and Schemes Covered

• NSWS facilitates important regulatory approvals relating to company incorporation, industrial licenses, startup recignition, FDI approvals, Registration under the Contract Labour Act.
• It also acts as a common gateway for approvals under initiatives such as,
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission
  • Ethanol Policy
  • Vehicle Scrapping Policy
  • Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme.

Significance for Ease of Doing Business

• NSWS contributes to Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) by:
• • Reducing duplication of information and documents.
  • Reducing compliance and approval timelines.
  • Enabling real-time tracking.
  • Improving transparency in regulatory processes.
  • Improving coordination between government agencies.
  • Making approval procedures more predictable.
  • Facilitating investment through a more integrated regulatory ecosystem.
• These reforms strengthen the Ease of Doing Business, and supports the broader principle of ” Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” by using digital technology to simplify interaction between businesses and government.

Conclusion

The National Single Window System marks a shift towards a simpler, integrated and technology-driven regulatory framework.

By bringing different authorities onto a common platform and reducing procedural duplication, it can make business approvals more transparent and efficient. Continued integration of States, Ministries and regulatory bodies will be important for building a seamless and investor-friendly business ecosystem in India.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding the National Single Window System (NSWS):

1. It is implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
2. The Know Your Approvals module identifies approvals applicable to a business based on its proposed activities.
3. Registration on NSWS requires payment of a registration fee to the government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) How can digital governance reforms contribute to improving the ease of doing business and strengthening regulatory efficiency in India? Discuss. (250 words)

Uniform Civil Code In India

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Constitution, Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Secularism and issues related to Personal Laws.

Why in the News?

An Indian Express article revisits the Constituent Assembly’s debate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the contrasting arguments presented by members on personal laws, religious freedom, secularism, minority rights and gender equality.

News in Brief

• The Constituent Assembly debated the provision extensively on 23 November 1948, when it was part of the draft Constitution as Draft Article 35.
• Supporters viewed a common civil law as a means to promote national integration, equality and uniformity, while opponents feared interference with religious practices and minority rights.
• The debate also raised an important constitutional question: to what extent can personal laws be protected as part of religious freedom under Article 19 and other fundamental rights?
• B.R. Ambedkar, while defending the provision, clarified that adopting a UCC did not necessarily mean immediately imposing a single law on every community.

Background: Article 44 and UCC

• Article 44 falls under the Directive Principles of StatePolicy.
• It states,

” The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.

• The provision is non-justiciable, meaning courts cannot directly enforce it.
• However, it provides a constitutional direction to the State.
• The Constituent Assembly placed the UCC provision in the Constitution after a prolonged debate concerning the relationship between:
  • Personal laws and religious freedom
  • Minority rights and national integration
  • Secularism and state intervention
  • Gender equality and personal law
  • Uniformity and cultural diversity

Constituent Assembly Debate on UCC

Arguments Against the UCC

• Fear of State interference in personal laws
  • Mohammad Ismail Khan, a member from the Muslim League, argued that it was unnecessary to compel people to abandon their personal laws merely to achieve uniformity.
  • He described such an approach as potentially resulting in “tyranny” in the name of securing harmony.
  • His argument was essentially that personal laws were closely connected with the social and religious identity communities.
• Protection of religious freedom
  • B. Pocker, a member from Madras representing the Muslim League, argued that people had historically enjoyed the liberty to follow their personal laws.
  • He referred to the period of British rule and suggested that the State should not suddenly acquire sweeping powers over personal laws in the name of uniformity.
• Conflict with freedom of religion
  • Naziruddin Ahmad, a member from West Bengal representing the Muslim League, argued that interference with personal laws could conflict with the constitutional protection of:
    • Freedom of conscience
    • Freedom to profess religion
    • Freedom to practise religion
  • He referred to Article 19 of the Draft Constitution, which protected freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.
  • He also cited the example of the British administration, arguing that even during long colonial rule, the government had generally avoided interfering with certain fundamental aspects of personal laws.
• Personal Laws and Muslim Society
  • Mahboob Ali Baig, representing Madras, argued that the term “Civil Code” should not automatically be understood as covering the strictly personal laws of citizens.
  • He particularly referred to Muslim personal law relating to succession, inheritance, marriage and divorce.
  • His argument was that these matters were deeply connected with religious and community practices.
• Secularism does not necessarily mean uniformity
  • Syed Hussain Imam, a member from Bihar, argued that a secular State should not automatically be equated with a State that imposes uniformity in personal matters.
  • He distinguished between secular, non-religious, non-religious interference in prsonal matters.
  • He suggested that India should first reach a stage where illiteracy had declined, social conditions had improved and people were capable of accepting common laws.

Arguments in Favour of the UCC

• UCC and National Integration
  • K.M. Munshi, a Congress member from Bombay, strongly questioned the argument that a common civil code would necessarily become tyrannical towards minorities.
  • He pointed out that many advanced Muslim countries had recognized the personal laws of minorities as sufficiently important, but this did not mean that a common civil framework was inherently oppressive.
  • He argued that a Uniform Civil Code could contribute to national integration.
• Personal Law vs Religious Practice
  • Munshi raised an important constitutional distinction.
  • According to him, a religious practice should not automatically receive protection merely because it is associated with religion.
  • If a practice concerns a secular activity, particularly matters such as social welfare, inheritance, property relations and civil rights, the State could potentially regulate it through legislation.
  • This raised the broader constitutional principle that religious freedom does not necessarily place every social or civil practice beyond legislative regulation.

The “Tyranny of the Majority” Argument

• A major concern during the debate was whether the majority community could use a UCC to impose its social practices upon minorities.
• Munshi questioned this concern and argued that the adoption of a Civil Code should not be viewed as an automatic exercise of majority domination.
• The underlying constitutional issue was:
  • Can a democratic majority legislate on civil matters while still protecting the legitimate religious and cultural interests of minorities?
• This tension remains central to discussions on the UCC.

Secularism and UCC

• The Constituent Assembly debate showed that secularism was understood in more than one way.
• One view was that, ‘A secular State should avoid unnecessary interference in religious and personal matters’.
• Another view was that, ‘Secularism allows the State to regulate secular aspects associated with religion, particularly where issues of social reform and civil rights are involved’.
• Thus, the debate was not simply “religion versus secularism”.
• It involved determining the constitutional boundary between religious freedom and State-led social reform.

Article 19 and Personal Laws

• The debate also touched upon the relationship between personal laws and fundamental rights.
• Naziruddin Ahmad argued that interference with personal laws could affect the freedom of conscience and religious practice protected under the Constitution.
• Munshi, however, sought to clarify that where a religious practice concerns a secular activity, legislation could regulate it without necessarily violating fundamental religious freedoms.
• This distinction highlighted the constitutional relationship that while religious beliefs and practices are protected, the State can regulate secular activities associated with religion through law.

Ambedkar’s Position on UCC

• Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Drafting Committee, responded to the concerns raised during the debate.
• He stated that India already had a substantial degree of uniformity in civil laws covering many aspects of human relationships.
• He referred to areas such as contracts, property, criminal laws and other civil matters.
• However, personal laws continued to govern several areas particularly, marriage, succession, inheritance, and family relations.
• Ambedkar’s response indicated that the existence of Article 44 did not necessarily mean that a UCC would be imposed immediately and uniformly on every community.

Ambedkar on Voluntary Adoption

• Ambedkar also pointed towards the possibility that future legislation could initially allow people to voluntarily come under a common civil code.
• This was important because it showed that the Assembly’s decision to place UCC under the Directive Principles was not necessarily intended as an immediate compulsory transformation of all personal laws.

Women’s Rights and UCC

• The debate also had a significant gender dimension.
• Munshi argued that a common civil framework could help address inequalities affecting women.
• He linked the issue to the need for women’s upliftment and equality, suggesting that a common legal framework could provide a basis for addressing discriminatory practices.
• Thus, the UCC debate was connected not only with national integration, secularism, and minority rights, but also with gender justice, equality before law and reform of personal laws.

Conclusion

The Constituent Assembly debate on the UCC reflected the need to balance national integration and social reform with religious freedom and cultural diversity.

Article 44 therefore places the UCC among the Directive  Principles, leaving its evolution to a gradual and constitutionally balanced approach.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Uniform Civil Code:

1. Article 44 of the Constitution provides for a Uniform Civil Code throughout India.
2. Article 44 is a Fundamental Right enforceable by courts.
3. The UCC provision was debated in the Constituent Assembly as Draft Article 35.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1,2 and 3

Answer: 1 and 3 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) Discuss the significance of the Uniform Civil Code in the context of the Indian Constitution. Examine the major issues involved in its implementation. (250 words)

Why AI Is Driving A Semiconductor Supercycle

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Developments in Science and Technology and their applications and effects in everyday life; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Why in the News?

The Semiconductor industry is witnessing exceptionally high demand due to the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), data centres and AI computing infrastrucutre.

News in Brief

• The trend was highlighted at SEMICON India, organised under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The semiconductor industry is witnessing what analysts describe as a “supercycle”—a prolonged phase of investment and demand driven by structural changes in technology.
• Similar semiconductor-led demand shifts were witnessed during the rise of personal computers in the 1990s and smartphones in the 2010s.

Key Highlights

• The AI boom is creating strong demand for AI chips, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), advances packaging and data-centre infrastructure.
• Major technology companies are committing large amounts of capital to AI infrastructure, while chipmakers are increasingly entering long-term supply agreements.
• India is building semiconductor manufacturing and packaging capacity, but it remains dependent on imports for advanced chips and several critical components.
• India is also developing capabilities in chip design, chiplets and AI processors, creating opportunities to participate in higher-value segments of the semiconductor ecosystem.

What is driving the Chip Boom?

Expansion of AI Data Centres

• AI data centres require specialised infrastructure to store, process and transmit enormous volumes of digital data.
• Unlike conventional data centres, AI facilities require high-performance computing systems capable of running complex AI models.
• A key component is the AI accelerator, which performs the large-scale calculations required for AI workloads.

High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM)

• AI processors need data to reach them extremely quickly.
• Conventional memory architectures can create bottlenecks because of the distance between the processor and memory.
• HBM addresses this challenge by stacking multiple layers of memory close to the processor.
• This enables large volumes of data to move rapidly between memory and processors.
• Advanced semiconductor packaging technologies are increasingly being used to integrate processors and memory stacks.
• The HBM market currently has major players such as SK Hynix and Samsung of South Korea and Micron of the US.

How is Demand Being Secured?

• The AI boom is changing the traditional semiconductor business model.
• Model manufacturers historically depended heavily on consumer electronics markets.
• AI infrastructures is increasingly shifting demand towards business-to-business customers, particularly large technology companies and data-centre operators.
• Microsoft, Amazon , Google and Meta together planned to spend nearly $635 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, including data centres.
• Chipmakers are also entering long-term “take-or-pay” agreements.
• Under such contracts, customers commit to purchasing an agreed quantity of chips irrespective of whether their actual demand changes, or compensate suppliers through penalties.

Significance

• Such contracts can make semiconductor demand more predictable and support large investments in manufacturing capacity.
• However, AI infrastructure spending remains concentrated among a relatively small number of companies.
• Therefore, the long-term sustainability of the semiconductor boom will also depend on whether AI services generate sufficient revenues to justify these investments.

Where does India fit in the Semiconductor value chain?

• India has been expanding its semiconductor ecosystem under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
• Under ISM 1.0, the government approved 12 semiconductor projects, and some semiconductor and packaging facilities have started production.
• India’s present focus is particularly on:
  • Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP)
  • Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT)
  • Semiconductor packaging
  • Chip design
  • Research and development
  • Development of specialised processors
• India does not yet manufacture advanced chips at scale.
• Instead, it is building capabilities in assembly, testing and packaging.
• For example, Micron’s Sanand facility in Gujarat is expected to process imported wafers for chip packaging.

Challenges for India

• India continues to depend on global semiconductor supply chains for advance chips and other critical unputs.
• Growing demand for AI servers and data centres has also placed pressure on memory supplies and prices.
• Some foreign portfolio investment withdrawals from Indian markets in 2026 have been associated with investor interest in semiconductor-heavy markets such as Taiwan and South Korea.

ISM 2.0 and Semiconductor Ecosystem

• Launched in February, ISM 2.0 seeks to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem built under the first phase.
• Its focus includes:
  • Supporting semiconductor manufacturing.
  • Promoting advanced packaging.
  • Providing financial support for chip-related projects.
  • Supporting R&D in chiplet technologies.

What are Chiplets?

• Traditionally, chips are manufactured as relatively large integrated pieces of silicon.
• Chiplets divide a larger chip into smaller, specialised components that can be integrated together.
• This approach can potentially help reduce costs, manufacturing waste and design complexity, while allowing specialised functions to be combined.

India’s Opportunity in chip design

• Chip design represents another potential entry point for India.
• Nearly one-fifth of the global chip workforce is based in India, giving the country an important human-resource base in semiconductor design.
• Under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, Indian startups are being supported in developing semiconductor designs and processors.
• One example is Netrasemi, which is developing edge-AI processors for applications such as cameras and drones.
• These processors can perform AI computations directly on the device rather than continuously sending data to cloud servers.
• This can:
  • Reduce response time or latency.
  • Reduce dependence on cloud computing.
  • Lower data transmission requirements.
  • Support applications requiring faster local processing.
• The acquisition of Bengaluru-based fabless chip company C2i by Germany’s Infineon also illustrates India’s emerging role in the global semiconductor design and value chain.

India and the Global Semiconductor value chain

• India’s semiconductor strategy covers the entire value chain, from chip design and wafer fabrication to assembly, testing, packaging and end-use applications.
• India has comparatively strong capabilities in chip design and semiconductor talent, while efforts are underway to expand manufacturing, assembly, testing and packaging.
• This is important because semiconductor security depends not merely on producing chips domestically but on developing a resilient and diversified value chain.

Conclusion

AI-driven semiconductor demand offers India an opportunity to strengthen domestic manufacturing, chip design and advanced packaging, while reducing import dependence and building a resilient technology ecosystem.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

With reference to the semiconductor industry and the growing demand for AI chips, consider the following statements:

1. High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) enables faster data transfer between memory and processors and is particularly useful for AI and high-performance computing applications.
2. Chiplets involve integrating smaller specialised semiconductor components within a single package.
3. Fabless semiconductor companies necessarily own and operate their own semiconductor fabrication plants.
4. India’s semiconductor strategy includes promoting chip design, assembly, testing and advanced packaging capabilities.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A. 1, 2 and 4 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) The AI revolution is transforming the global semiconductor industry and creating new opportunities as well as vulnerabilities for India. Discuss the opportunities and challenges for India in building a resilient semiconductor ecosystem. (250 words)

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