Government Updates for UPSC Preparation – 24 July 2026 Current Affairs Notes

📌 Note: Below notes are prepared topic-wise from official government media/ministry updates useful for UPSC preparation. Each topic includes Why in News, What is it, Key Highlights, Importance, Prelims Facts and MCQ.

1. Lovlina Borgohain Secures India’s First Medal at Commonwealth Games 2026

🔹 Why in News?

• Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain confirmed India’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
• She received direct entry into the women’s 75 kg boxing semifinals, ensuring at least a bronze medal.

🔹 What is it?

• Lovlina Borgohain is an Indian boxer from Assam.
• She is known for winning a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in boxing.

🔹 Key Highlights

• Event: Commonwealth Games 2026.
• Sport: Boxing.
• Category: Women’s 75 kg.
• Achievement: First confirmed medal for Team India at CWG 2026.
• Boxing semifinalists are assured of at least a bronze medal.

🔹 Why Important?

• Important for Sports Current Affairs.
• Useful for Prelims questions on Indian medal winners and sports personalities.
• Highlights India’s growing performance in women’s boxing.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

2. 167th National Income Tax Day – 24 July 2026

🔹 Why in News?

• India observed the 167th National Income Tax Day on 24 July 2026.
• The theme highlighted responsible taxpayers’ role in building a stronger India.

🔹 What is it?

• Income Tax Day is observed every year on 24 July.
• It commemorates the introduction of income tax in India by Sir James Wilson on 24 July 1860.

🔹 Key Highlights

• Income tax is a major source of direct tax revenue for the Government of India.
• Tax revenue supports public infrastructure, healthcare, education, welfare schemes and national development.
• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) administers direct taxes in India.
• CBDT functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Article 265 of the Constitution: No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.

🔹 Why Important?

• Important for GS-III: Indian Economy – Taxation.
• Useful for Prelims facts on CBDT, direct taxes and constitutional provisions.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

3. 23rd Commonwealth Games 2026 Begin in Glasgow, Scotland

🔹 Why in News?

• The 23rd Commonwealth Games began in Glasgow, Scotland with a colourful opening ceremony.
• King Charles III declared the Games open in the presence of Queen Camilla at the OVO Hydro Arena.

🔹 What is it?

• The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event involving athletes from Commonwealth nations and territories.
• It is held generally once every four years.

🔹 Key Highlights

• Edition: 23rd Commonwealth Games.
• Host City: Glasgow.
• Host Country: Scotland, United Kingdom.
• Teams from 74 nations/territories are participating as per the update.
• Event duration: 10 days.

🔹 Why Important?

• Important for Sports Current Affairs.
• Useful for Prelims facts on host cities, editions and international sports events.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

4. Delhi High Court Constitutes Fast Track Court for Public Examination Offences

🔹 Why in News?

• The Delhi High Court constituted a new Fast Track Court to hear cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
• The court of officer Anu Grover Baliga at Rouse Avenue Court will function as a specially designated Fast Track Court.

🔹 What is it?

• A Fast Track Court is a court set up to ensure speedy disposal of specific categories of cases.
• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 aims to prevent unfair means, paper leaks and organised cheating in public examinations.

🔹 Key Highlights

• Designated court: Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi.
• Purpose: Speedy hearing of cases under the Public Examinations Act, 2024 and connected offences.
• The Act covers malpractices such as paper leaks, tampering with answer sheets, fake websites, impersonation and organised cheating.
• It applies to public examinations conducted by notified public examination authorities such as UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Boards, IBPS, NTA etc.
• Organised cheating offences under the Act can attract strict punishment including imprisonment and heavy fines.

🔹 Why Important?

• Relevant for GS-II: Governance, Transparency and Accountability.
• Important for exam integrity, youth trust and anti-corruption measures.
• Useful for Prelims questions on Public Examinations Act, 2024.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

5. India’s First Indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine in 350 kg Thrust Class

🔹 Why in News?

• DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) successfully developed India’s first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine in the 350 kg thrust class.
• The engine was manufactured and assembled by industry partner Azad Engineering.

🔹 What is it?

• A turbojet engine is a gas turbine engine used to produce thrust for aircraft, missiles and unmanned systems.
• An expendable engine is designed for one-time use, generally in systems like missiles, target drones and certain UAVs.

🔹 Key Highlights

• Developed by: GTRE, DRDO.
• Thrust class: 350 kg.
• Industry partner: Azad Engineering.
• Marks a major step in India’s indigenous jet engine technology.
• Strengthens India’s defence industrial ecosystem and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

🔹 Why Important?

• Relevant for GS-III: Science & Technology, Defence Technology.
• Reduces dependence on imported propulsion systems.
• Supports indigenous development of missiles, UAVs and high-speed aerial systems.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

6. Jew’s Harp – Bamboo Voice of the Kutia Kandha of Odisha

🔹 Why in News?

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs highlighted the Jew’s Harp, a bamboo musical instrument of the Kutia Kandha community of Odisha.

🔹 What is it?

• The Jew’s Harp is a traditional musical instrument carved from a single strip of bamboo.
• It is associated with the Kutia Kandha / Kutia Kondh tribal community of Odisha.

🔹 Key Highlights

• The instrument has no separate resonating chamber.
• The player’s mouth acts as the amplifier, making the performance unique and personal.
• It produces rhythmic and echoing melodies that reflect the forest life and cultural traditions of Odisha’s tribes.
• The Kutia Kandha are among Odisha’s tribal communities and are often associated with rich indigenous knowledge and sustainable traditions.

🔹 Why Important?

• Relevant for GS-I: Indian Culture and GS-II: Tribal Communities.
• Useful for Prelims questions on tribal instruments, folk music and intangible cultural heritage.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

7. Bharat 6G Alliance Expands to 90 Members

🔹 Why in News?

• The Bharat 6G Alliance has expanded to 90 members, strengthening India’s collaboration in next-generation telecom innovation.

🔹 What is it?

• Bharat 6G Alliance is an industry-academia-research platform created to support India’s 6G vision.
• It brings together telecom companies, startups, research institutions and academia.
• It supports India’s goal of becoming a global leader in future telecom technologies.

🔹 Key Highlights

• Membership expanded to 90 members.
• Alliance has formed seven working groups for:
  • 6G technologies
  • Spectrum
  • Applications
  • Devices
  • Sustainability
  • Business models
  • Global standard-setting participation
• Spectrum Roadmap for 6G submitted by the Alliance.
• Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released India’s national 6G Spectrum Roadmap.
• 6G Terahertz Testbed established under TTDF.
• India backed “ubiquitous connectivity” under the ITU’s IMT-2030 framework.

🔹 What is 6G?

• 6G refers to the sixth generation of wireless communication technology.
• It is expected to enable ultra-low latency, AI-native networks, terahertz communication, integrated sensing, massive IoT and immersive digital applications.
• Globally, 6G is linked with the IMT-2030 framework of the International Telecommunication Union.

🔹 Why Important?

• Relevant for GS-III: Science & Technology, Digital Infrastructure.
• Supports India’s technological self-reliance and global telecom standard-setting role.
• Boosts innovation, intellectual property and startup participation in telecom.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

8. Centre Blocks 50 OTT Platforms over Obscene Content

🔹 Why in News?

• The Union IT Minister informed Parliament that the Centre blocked 50 OTT platforms over the past two years for hosting obscene content.
• The update also highlighted stronger measures for child safety, online accountability and digital safeguards.

🔹 What is it?

• OTT platforms are internet-based streaming platforms that provide audio-visual content directly to users.
• The government can take action against unlawful digital content under legal provisions such as the IT Act and related laws.

🔹 Key Highlights

• 50 OTT platforms blocked over the past two years for obscene content.
• Action taken under:
  • Information Technology Act
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
  • Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act
• Platforms must remove unlawful content within 3 hours of a government or court order, as highlighted in the update.
• Intermediaries are required to prevent harmful and illegal content involving children.
• Stricter due diligence is required under the IT Rules, 2021.

🔹 Child Protection Measures

• Parental consent is mandatory for processing children’s personal data.
• Tracking, behavioural monitoring and targeted ads for minors are prohibited.
• Safeguards strengthened under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

🔹 Tackling Digital Addiction

• Online Gaming Act, 2025 targets digital addiction and financial harm.
• Economic Survey highlighted rising mental health concerns among youth.
• Over 6,650 cyber awareness workshops conducted, reaching 11.37 lakh participants.

🔹 Why Important?

• Relevant for GS-II: Governance, Regulation, Child Protection.
• Relevant for GS-III: Cyber Security, Digital Economy.
• Important for debates on free speech vs content regulation.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ

9. Modified UDAN Scheme – Expanding India’s Regional Aviation Network

🔹 Why in News?

• The government highlighted the Modified UDAN Scheme to expand regional air connectivity across India.
• The modified scheme aims to connect more regions and make air travel affordable, accessible and inclusive.

🔹 What is it?

• UDAN stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik.
• It is a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• It aims to make air travel affordable and improve connectivity to underserved and unserved regions.

🔹 Key Highlights of Modified UDAN

• Modified UDAN will run from FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36.
• Total outlay: ₹28,840 crore.
• Aims to develop 100 new airports across India.
• 200 modern helipads will strengthen last-mile connectivity.
• Airlines will receive Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for up to five years.
• Indigenous HAL Dhruv helicopters and Dornier aircraft will support regional routes.

🔹 UDAN’s Impact So Far

• 679 regional routes have been operationalised.
• 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes are now connected.
• Over 3.58 lakh flights have operated under the scheme.
• More than 1.68 crore passengers have benefited.
• India now has 165 operational airports, up from 74 in 2014.

🔹 Why Important?

• Relevant for GS-III: Infrastructure, Transport and Economy.
• Promotes regional development, tourism, trade and employment.
• Improves connectivity in remote, hilly and underserved areas.

🔹 UPSC Prelims Facts

🔹 Practice MCQ