Daily Current Affairs - 24-08-2026

Important Days

National Space Day and Space Start-ups

National Space Day is observed annually on August 23 to commemorate the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south polar region on August 23, 2023, making India the first country to land in the lunar south polar region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the CEOs of 20 space-sector start-ups as part of National Space Day activities. The Indian space sector has been opened to private participation, with start-ups contributing to areas such as rocket launches, space-based pharmaceutical production, space-debris management and applications of space technology in agriculture. Skyroot Aerospace, headed by CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana, is involved in private rocket-launch activities. Serendipity Space, led by CEO Antareesh Parichha, is developing plans for pharmaceutical manufacturing in space by utilising microgravity conditions.

National News

Delimitation and 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill

The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament in April 2026 to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and Union Territory Legislative Assemblies through delimitation. The proposal envisaged increasing the maximum number of Lok Sabha constituencies to 850. The bill required a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha but did not secure the required support. Southern states, except Andhra Pradesh, opposed the proposal, citing concerns over the political representation of states that had successfully controlled population growth. The 2026 Monsoon Session of Parliament was held from July 20 to August 13, and both Houses were adjourned sine die on August 13. Conventionally, the President formally prorogues a parliamentary session on the recommendation of the Union Government within a few days of sine die adjournment. The government is reportedly considering reintroducing the bill with amendments, including a possible proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats in all states by 50%. The 2029 Lok Sabha election is the proposed timeframe for implementing 33% women’s reservation.

Greater Male Connectivity Project Milestone

The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), also known as the Thilamale Bridge Project, is the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives. The project involves constructing a 6.74-km bridge and road network across the sea to connect Male with the islands of Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. It is being implemented with a $400 million loan from India and $100 million financial assistance from the United States. The project contract was signed in 2021 with Afcons Infrastructure, an Indian company. More than 75% of the project work has been completed, and the final segment of the bridge connecting Male and Villingili has been installed.

Chhattisgarh Becomes Naxal-Free State

Naxalism in Chhattisgarh began expanding in the 1980s after the Naxal movement originated in West Bengal in 1967. The Bastar region became a major centre of Maoist activities, particularly during 2004–2014, covering the districts of Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma, Narayanpur, Kanker and Kondagaon. Chhattisgarh shares borders with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. After 2014, the Central Government strengthened security measures, including the establishment of CRPF centres at intervals of about 5–10 km in Naxal-affected areas. Between 2024 and mid-2026, intensified security operations and measures to block the movement and supply of Naxals contributed to a large number of surrenders; 454 Naxalites surrendered in the Bastar region during 2024–25. By March 2026, Chhattisgarh was declared Naxal-free. Rehabilitation measures for surrendered Naxalites included financial assistance ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹45 lakh, along with support for agriculture, self-employment, education and vocational training. Following the decline of Naxal activities, infrastructure and public services such as roads, transport, electricity, drinking water, healthcare, telecommunications, banking, ration shops, tourism and education have expanded in the Bastar region.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Teej Festival Celebrated in Punjab

The traditional Teej festival was celebrated in Punjab to welcome the monsoon season. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, participated in the celebrations.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu’s Second Jewish Inscription Found at Anandur

amil Nadu’s second Jewish inscription was discovered at Anandur near Pochampalli in Krishnagiri district. The inscription belongs to the 13th century and was found near the Thanthondreeswarar Temple. It records the construction of a mandapam by four merchant guilds—Sudhagar, Mandala Vanigar, Thennilangai Valanjiyar and Ezhunootruvar. The term Sudhagar in the inscription refers to Jews. Earlier, a 13th-century Jewish inscription had been found at Valantharavai near Periyapattinam in Ramanathapuram district, referring to a donation to the Jewish school Ainootruvan Perumpalli. The Anandur inscription provides evidence of Jewish merchants participating in merchant guilds and conducting trade in the interior regions of Tamil Nadu. The discovery was documented through a joint effort involving the Krishnagiri District Government Museum, Historical Research and Documentation Society, and Tamil Nadu Institute of Ethno-Archaeological Studies.

Separate Welfare Department for Tribal People in Tamil Nadu

The 10th State Conference of the Tamil Nadu Tribal People Association was held at Paiyanur in Chengalpattu district. The conference passed resolutions seeking the establishment of a separate welfare department for tribal people in Tamil Nadu, provision of nutritional kits for tribal communities on the model of Karnataka, free bus travel for women in hilly areas, and implementation of basic infrastructure provisions under the Forest Rights Act without unnecessary denial of forest-land reclassification. It also sought reconsideration of restrictions on issuing land pattas in hilly areas and measures to facilitate the issue of caste certificates to tribal people. Social Justice Department Minister Vanni Arasu and CPI State Secretary M. Veerapandian participated in the conference.

Free Natural Wigs for Cancer Patients

Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) and the Cherian Foundation have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide free, high-quality wigs made from natural human hair to economically disadvantaged cancer patients across India. Under the partnership, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai will function as the coordinating agency for receiving, coordinating and distributing the wigs across the TMC group. Through its flagship initiative Gift Hair – Gift Confidence (GHGC), the Cherian Foundation will donate 500 natural human-hair wigs worth ₹1.5 crore to Tata Memorial Centre. The initiative aims to strengthen support services for cancer patients who experience hair loss during treatment.