24 July 2026 leaned heavily towards administration, defence, and welfare — a NITI Aayog appointment, two indigenous defence platforms, a possible shift in how our currency notes are made, and a clutch of state and central schemes. It's a classic "one-liner rich" day, so here's the national roundup organised for quick revision.
National Days & Observances
Income Tax Day (Aaykar Diwas)
24 July is observed as Income Tax Day, marking the day income tax was first introduced in India in 1860 by Sir James Wilson to make good the losses suffered during the events of 1857. The day is used by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to acknowledge the role of taxpayers in nation-building and to spotlight the modernisation of India's tax administration, from faceless assessments to digital filing.
Appointments
Anurag Jain Named NITI Aayog CEO
Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain was appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog. The CEO is the administrative head of the government's premier policy think tank and steers its flagship work on cooperative federalism, the Aspirational Districts programme, and India's development strategy towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Appointments like this are reliable one-liners in banking and PSC papers, so pair the name with the post.
Defence & Security
DRDO's Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) — a homegrown, multi-layered air-defence system meant to detect and destroy hostile aircraft, drones, and missiles at long ranges. Kusha is central to India's plan to build an indigenous air-defence shield comparable in ambition to imported systems, and it feeds directly into the Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence narrative that examiners love.
Bhargavastra — Counter-Swarm Drone System
India's counter-drone capability got a boost with the Bhargavastra, an indigenous, vehicle-mounted, multi-layered counter-swarm drone system developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL) for the Indian Army, demonstrated in Nagpur. Swarm drones — many small drones attacking together — are one of the fastest-growing threats in modern warfare, and a mobile system that can neutralise them at low cost is a meaningful addition to India's toolkit.
Economy & Banking
RBI Trials Polymer Banknotes
The Reserve Bank of India initiated trials for polymer-based (plastic) currency notes as a possible replacement for existing cotton-paper notes. The appeal is practical: polymer notes are more durable — they typically last several times longer than paper notes — resist humidity and soiling, and can be harder to counterfeit, which over time reduces printing and replacement costs. Countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK have already made the switch. Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt Ltd (BRBNMPL) is associated with the production side. Treat this as a "trial/pilot" for now rather than a done deal.
Environment & Coal
Ministry of Coal Releases the 'AAROH' Report on Scientific Mine Closure
The Ministry of Coal released 'AAROH', described as India's first comprehensive report on scientific mine closure, prepared by the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO). The report documents the journey of dozens of scientifically closed coal mines and how post-mining land can be restored and repurposed — think ecological restoration, water management, and productive reuse of exhausted mines. It fits alongside India's other mine-reclamation efforts and reflects a real governance challenge, since the country has hundreds of legacy and abandoned mines that continue to carry environmental costs.
States & Schemes
Rajasthan State Water Plan 2047
Rajasthan launched the Rajasthan State Water Plan 2047, a long-horizon framework covering river-linking projects, groundwater conservation, and public participation — a serious agenda for a state that is among India's most water-stressed. The "2047" branding again ties state planning to the national Viksit Bharat timeline.
Saksham Anganwadi Upgradation
The Ministry of Women and Child Development approved the upgradation of around two lakh Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis — better-equipped centres focused on improved nutrition and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). This links to Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a recurring theme in social-justice and governance questions.
Culture & Health
Weaves of India Festival
The Weaves of India Festival began (running 24 July to 7 August 2026) in New Delhi, organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), celebrating India's handloom traditions ahead of the broader handloom calendar. It's a soft-power and heritage item worth a line.
International Type 1 Diabetes Summit in Jodhpur
India was announced as host of the International Type 1 Diabetes Summit 2026 in Jodhpur, bringing together clinicians, researchers, officials, and patient representatives — a useful health-and-diplomacy crossover point.
FAQs — 24 July 2026 Current Affairs
Q. Why is 24 July observed as Income Tax Day?
It marks the introduction of income tax in India in 1860 by Sir James Wilson. The CBDT uses the day to recognise taxpayers and highlight tax-administration reforms.
Q. What is the Kusha LR-SAM?
An indigenous Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile system tested by DRDO, designed to intercept aircraft, drones, and missiles at long range as part of India's homegrown air-defence shield.
Q. What is Bhargavastra?
A vehicle-mounted, multi-layered counter-swarm drone system developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL) for the Indian Army, demonstrated in Nagpur.
Q. Why is the RBI testing polymer notes?
Polymer (plastic) notes are more durable, resist humidity and soiling, are harder to counterfeit, and can lower long-term printing costs. The RBI has begun trials, not a full rollout.
Q. What is the AAROH report?
The Ministry of Coal's first comprehensive report on scientific mine closure, prepared by the Coal Controller Organisation, documenting restoration and repurposing of closed coal mines.
Written by
Koti Deva
Digital Marketing Specialist
Koti is a Digital Marketing Specialist with over 10 years of experience and the co-founder of MCQ Orbit — a free exam prep platform built for Indian competitive exam aspirants.
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