Staying updated with today's current affairs is essential for competitive exam aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PSCs, and Railway exams. The 24 July 2026 current affairs cover the appointment of Anurag Jain as NITI Aayog CEO, Indian Railways achieving 99.6% broad-gauge electrification, HAL-Safran's turbine ring forgings agreement, the ICMR's 'Let's Fix Our Food' policy document, Rajasthan's Mukhyamantri Yuva Suyog platform, Ministry of Tourism approving 117 projects worth ₹5,756 crore, Peacko unveiled as BWF World Championships mascot, Commonwealth Games 2026 updates with Lovlina Borgohain winning boxing gold, Bihar Urban Development Authority, and Income Tax Day - all of which frequently appear in the General Awareness section of government exams.
India – National Current Affairs
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- Anurag Jain (IAS, MP:1989) Appointed CEO of NITI Aayog for Two Years – The Centre on Wednesday appointed IAS officer Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog for two years. He replaces Nidhi Chibber, who held the additional charge of CEO NITI Aayog after BVR Subrahmanyam demitted office. According to an official order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment. Jain will assume charge with immediate effect. Exam importance: Born in Gwalior in 1965, Jain is an Electrical Engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur (1986) and holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, US. He brings nearly four decades of administrative experience across industrial policy, infrastructure development, logistics, finance, urban planning and state administration. Before his appointment, Jain was serving as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, a position he assumed in October 2024. He had earlier served as Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Jain has held some of the most significant economic policymaking assignments in the government, playing a key role in drafting and implementing the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Guarantee Act, pioneering legislation for time-bound delivery of public services. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Secretary to then CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan for nearly five-and-a-half years. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission (est. 1950); Chairperson: PM Narendra Modi; Vice Chairperson: Ashok Lahiri; NITI Aayog HQ: New Delhi; the CEO is the senior-most civil servant administrator of NITI Aayog; previous CEOs: Amitabh Kant (2016–2022), Parameswaran Iyer (2022–2023), B.V.R. Subrahmanyam (2023–2026), interim: Nidhi Chhibber (Jan–July 2026); NITI Aayog's key responsibilities include policy formulation, cooperative federalism, SDG monitoring, and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
- Indian Railways Achieves 99.6% Broad Gauge Electrification - World's 2nd Most Electrified Large Rail Network – Indian Railways reached 99.6% electrification of its broad gauge network as of 22 July 2026. This level placed it as the world's second-most electrified large railway system, after Switzerland's SBB which operates at near-100% electrification. Exam importance: Indian Railways has electrified approximately 65,000 route km of its total ~67,956 route km broad gauge network; electrification has accelerated dramatically under PM Modi - from approximately 1.42 km/day (2004-14) to nearly 22 km/day (2025-26); remaining 0.4% includes remote sections (some NE lines and branch lines); Indian Railways targets Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030; electric traction is approximately 70% more economical than diesel; Indian Railways is the world's 4th largest railway network by route length (67,956 route km total); Union Minister of Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw; approximately 65% of IR's traction power comes from renewable energy (solar + wind PPAs); India's Railway Electrification Mission was launched under Mission Electrification Policy 2022.
- HAL and Safran Aircraft Engines Sign Long-Term Agreement for Turbine Ring Forgings in Superalloys – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Aircraft Engines signed a long-term agreement on 22 July 2026 for the production and supply of turbine ring forgings in superalloys for LEAP and CFM56 aircraft engines, supporting the rapid growth of India's civil aviation sector and the global aerospace supply chain. Exam importance: Superalloys are high-performance metal alloys (nickel, cobalt, or iron-based) capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and pressures in jet engine hot sections; turbine ring forgings are critical aerospace components used in the turbine section of aircraft engines; Safran Aircraft Engines is the French aerospace manufacturer of the LEAP engine (used in Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX) and the M88 engine (powering the Rafale fighter jet); HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) is India's state-owned aerospace and defence manufacturer, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence; HAL CMD: C.B. Ananthakrishnan; HQ: Bengaluru; Safran already has 5 production sites in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Goa; this agreement aligns with India's Aerospace and Defence Export promotion policy and the "Make in India" initiative.
- ICMR Releases 'Let's Fix Our Food' Policy Document - India's First Comprehensive Food Systems Policy – The Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition-led Let's Fix Our Food Consortium released a policy document on 22 July 2026 in New Delhi. The document is India's first comprehensive food systems policy framework, addressing the dual burden of malnutrition (undernutrition + overnutrition/obesity) and advocating for a shift from calorie-centric to nutrient-dense food production systems. Exam importance: The consortium includes ICMR-NIN (National Institute of Nutrition), FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), ICAR, and global collaborators; NIN is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana; the policy document calls for: (1) front-of-pack nutrition labelling reform; (2) tax on ultra-processed foods (UPFs); (3) restriction of junk food advertising to children; (4) reformulation of school mid-day meals; (5) diversification from rice-wheat dependence to millets and protein-rich foods; India has 194 million undernourished people (FAO 2024) and 107 million diabetics - making food systems policy a critical health priority; ICMR DG: Dr. Rajiv Bahl; FSSAI CEO: G. Kamala Vardhana Rao.
- Rajasthan Launches 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Suyog' Platform for Youth Employment – Rajasthan launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Suyog platform in July 2026 from the state capital Jaipur, connecting skilled youth with employment opportunities in both private sector companies and government-supported enterprises across Rajasthan. Exam importance: The platform is a government-led digital job portal and employment exchange, part of Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma's (BJP) youth employment agenda; it integrates skills data from Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC) with industry demand databases, enabling skill-job mapping; this complements the central PM-SETU scheme (approved July 2026) for ITI upgradation and PM Vikas scheme for artisan skilling; Rajasthan CM: Bhajan Lal Sharma (BJP); Rajasthan Governor: Haribhau Bagde; the platform will initially focus on sectors including IT/ITeS, tourism, manufacturing, agro-processing, and mining.
- Ministry of Tourism Approves 117 Projects Worth ₹5,756 Crore Under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD – The Ministry of Tourism has approved 117 tourism infrastructure projects worth ₹5,756 crore under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes to strengthen India's tourism infrastructure at heritage, cultural, spiritual, and natural sites. Exam importance: Swadesh Darshan 2.0 was launched in 2022, replacing Swadesh Darshan 1.0 (launched 2015); it focuses on sustainable and responsible tourism development at thematic circuits; PRASHAD was launched in 2014-15 to develop infrastructure at important pilgrimage sites; Union Tourism Minister: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; India targets 100 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2047; India received approximately 19.6 million foreign tourists in 2025; 117 projects approved on 22 July 2026 span 28 states/UTs covering beach tourism, eco-tourism, tribal tourism, and pilgrimage circuits.
- Bihar Government Proposes Creation of Bihar Urban Development Authority (BUDA) – The Bihar government has proposed the creation of the Bihar Urban Development Authority (BUDA) to coordinate urban development, real estate regulation, and master planning across Bihar's rapidly growing urban centres, including Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur. Exam importance: BUDA will replace the fragmented functions currently handled by multiple urban development bodies; Bihar CM: Nitish Kumar (JD-U); Bihar Deputy CMs: Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP); Bihar is India's 3rd most populous state (approximately 12.7 crore as per 2011 Census, estimated 13.5 crore in 2026); Patna (capital) is one of India's fastest-growing cities; similar development authorities: HMDA (Hyderabad), BDA (Bengaluru), DDA (Delhi), MMRDA (Mumbai), CMDA (Chennai).
- 77 Lakh FASTag Annual Passes Issued Since Launch – The Centre has said that more than 77 lakh FASTag Annual Passes have been issued since the launch of the FASTag Annual Pass scheme in September 2025. Exam importance: The FASTag Annual Pass allows private vehicles (non-commercial) to pay a one-time annual fee for unlimited toll-free travel on all national highways - this reduces toll queues, improves journey time, and lowers fuel burn at toll plazas; the pass is available at ₹3,000 for private cars; NHAI collects over ₹60,000 crore in annual toll revenue; FASTag (based on RFID technology) became mandatory for all national highway toll plazas from February 2021; FASTag transactions: over 3.5 crore per day as of July 2026; NHAI implemented the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) system in partnership with NPCI.
Daily Current Affairs 24 July 2026: Download Free PDF Now
Economy & Banking
- SEBI Mandates Market Infrastructure Institutions to Implement Enterprise Risk Management Frameworks – The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 23 July 2026 mandated all Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) - including stock exchanges (NSE, BSE), clearing corporations, and depositories - to implement robust Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) frameworks with board-level risk committees and independent risk officers. Exam importance: MIIs are the foundational infrastructure of India's capital markets; NSE is India's largest stock exchange (by trading volume); BSE (established 1875) is Asia's oldest stock exchange; NSDL and CDSL are India's two depositories; SEBI Chairperson: Tuhin Kanta Pandey; SEBI was established in 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992; HQ: Mumbai; the ERM framework requirement aligns with global best practices (G20 financial stability recommendations) and follows market disruptions observed globally due to AI-driven high-frequency trading and cybersecurity risks.
- India's Banking Sector NPAs Fall to Record Low of 2.6% of Gross Advances in FY26 – India's banking sector Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPAs) fell to a record low of 2.6% of gross advances as of March 2026, according to the RBI Financial Stability Report (FSR) released in July 2026, reflecting sustained improvement in credit quality following resolution under the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) and SARFAESI mechanisms. Exam importance: India's GNPAs had peaked at 11.5% in March 2018, before a consistent decline to 2.6% in March 2026 - a historic low; Net NPAs also fell to 0.6% of net advances - the lowest since 2008; the improvement reflects: (1) IBC resolutions; (2) SARFAESI recoveries; (3) write-offs and settlements; (4) improved credit underwriting; (5) RBI's prompt corrective action (PCA) framework; the banking sector's Credit-to-Deposit (C-D) ratio stands at approximately 79.6%; PSBs (Public Sector Banks): 12; SCBs (Scheduled Commercial Banks): 135; RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra.
Science & Technology
- DRDO's DARE Lab Successfully Tests Indigenous EW System Samyukta-NG Against Advanced Threat Simulators – DRDO's Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bengaluru, successfully tested the Samyukta-NG (Next Generation) Electronic Warfare (EW) System against multiple advanced electronic threat simulators at an undisclosed test range, demonstrating its ability to detect, classify, jam, and deceive modern radars across a wide frequency spectrum. Exam importance: Samyukta is India's indigenous EW system, first developed in the 1990s; Samyukta-NG features software-defined radio (SDR) architecture, AI-based threat classification, and digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) for advanced jamming; EW systems are critical for the IAF's Tejas Mk2 and AMCA aircraft programmes; DARE (Defence Avionics Research Establishment) functions under DRDO; HQ: Bengaluru; DRDO Chairman: Dr. Samir V. Kamat; this aligns with India's DAC clearance (July 2026) for Fixed-Wing HAPS and AI-enabled Electronic Warfare systems.
International Affairs / Sports
- CWG 2026 Glasgow - India's Day 1 Highlights: Lovlina Borgohain Wins Boxing Gold – On Day 1 of the 23rd Commonwealth Games (23 July 2026), India's Olympic Boxing medallist Lovlina Borgohain won the gold medal in the Women's 75 kg Boxing event, defeating her opponent by unanimous decision in the final at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow. Exam importance: Lovlina Borgohain won the Bronze Medal in Women's 69 kg boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics; she was the first Indian woman to reach the World Boxing Championships final (2022); born in Golaghat district, Assam; at CWG Glasgow, she competed in the 75 kg category after the weight class reshuffle; she has been a key member of India's boxing squad since 2018 Asian Games; CWG Glasgow 2026 boxing events are held at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow; India has traditionally performed well in boxing, wrestling, and weightlifting at CWG; India's overall CWG 2026 medal tally on Day 1: 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze (12 medals total across 6 sports).
- Peacko Unveiled as Official Mascot for BWF World Championships 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia – The Badminton World Federation (BWF) unveiled 'Peacko' - a stylised peacock mascot drawing inspiration from the national birds of both India (Indian Peacock, Pavo cristatus) and Indonesia (Javan Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus) - as the official mascot for the BWF World Championships 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Peacko Unveiled As Official BWF World Championships Mascot Exam importance: The BWF World Championships 2026 will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in August 2026; India has won 2 BWF World Championships titles - both by P.V. Sindhu (2019 Women's Singles and 2022 Women's Singles); the peacock is India's National Bird (declared 1963) and was previously used as mascot for CWG 2010 Delhi (Shera was the tiger); BWF (Badminton World Federation) is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; BWF President: Poul-Erik Høyer (Denmark); India's top badminton players: P.V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen (Men's), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (Doubles).
Important Days
- 24 July - Income Tax Day 2026 (Aaykar Diwas - 166th Anniversary) – Income Tax Day (Aaykar Diwas) is observed on 24 July 2026 to mark the 166th anniversary of the introduction of income tax in India. Exam importance: Income tax was first introduced in India on 24 July 1860 by British India's Finance Member Sir James Wilson to cover the financial losses caused by the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny (First War of Independence); India's first Income Tax Act was enacted in 1860; the Income-tax Act, 1961 (India's principal direct tax legislation for 65 years) was replaced by the new Income-tax Act, 2025, effective from FY2025-26 (1 April 2025); the new Act simplifies language, eliminates redundancies, and incorporates modern provisions for digital economy taxation; Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the apex body for direct taxes in India; CBDT Chairman: Ravi Agrawal (tenure extended to 31 December 2026); net direct tax collections in FY26: approximately ₹22.07 lakh crore (highest ever); corporate tax rate: 22% (domestic companies); basic income tax exemption limit: ₹3 lakh (new tax regime); Income Tax Department is under the Ministry of Finance; the 24 July observance is organised by CBDT and regional Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax offices across India.
