24 August 2026 Current Affairs PDF | English is now available for download. This daily current affairs English PDF is specially prepared for Banking, SSC, and TNPSC examinations, covering all exam-relevant national, international, economy, and banking updates in a clear and structured format. 24 August 2026 Current Affairs PDF includes important one-liners, key highlights, and concise explanations aligned with the latest exam patterns for both Prelims and Mains preparation.

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News in One Liner – 23-24-25-August-2026

PIB News

CCEA Clears Four-Laning of NH-22 Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa Stretch in Bihar

● The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved upgrading the eighty-two point five seven eight kilometre Muzaffarpur Sitamarhi Sonbarsa section of National Highway 22 in Bihar to four lanes on Hybrid Annuity Mode for three thousand five hundred ninety point seven three crore rupees.

Simplified News: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by PM Narendra Modi, approved upgrading the 82.578-km Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa stretch of NH-22 in Bihar to four lanes. The ₹3,590.73 crore project will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode and will connect the India-Nepal border at Sonbarsa to NH-27 at Muzaffarpur. It will include seven major bridges, three rail overbridges, and two flyovers, and link five PM GatiShakti economic nodes.

CCEA Approves Four Railway Multitracking Projects Across Four States

● The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved four multi-tracking railway projects covering four hundred ten kilometres across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of nine thousand four hundred fifty crore rupees.

Simplified News: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved four railway multitracking projects spanning 410 km across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, submitted by the Ministry of Railways. The ₹9,450 crore investment will add 76 MTPA of freight capacity and is targeted for completion by FY2030-31, connecting around 6,448 villages.

India Hosts 8th BRICS Youth Energy Summit 2026 Virtually

● India hosted the virtual Eighth BRICS Youth Energy Summit 2026 under its chairship on seventeen August 2026 focusing on the overarching energy track theme of Energy for All.

Simplified News: India hosted the virtual Eighth BRICS Youth Energy Summit 2026 under its BRICS chairship on 17 August 2026, bringing together more than 100 young energy professionals. Deliberations covered three priority verticals — energy security, energy access and equity, and technology and innovation — with over 20 youth panelists. India’s Energy Track theme was ‘Energy for All’.

CAQM Orders Phased Ban on Fossil-Fuel Light Goods Vehicles in Delhi-NCR

● The Commission for Air Quality Management approved Direction Number 102 to phase out fossil fuel Light Goods Vehicle registrations across Delhi and surrounding districts starting January 2027.

Simplified News: The Commission for Air Quality Management approved Direction 102, mandating a phased restriction on new registrations of petrol, diesel and CNG N1 light goods vehicles in Delhi from 1 January 2027, extending to high-density NCR districts by mid-2027 and the rest of NCR by 2028. It also levied ₹61.85 crore in environmental compensation on non-compliant thermal power plants and sanctioned funds for dust-control research.

Amit Shah to Chair 31st Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Mahabalipuram

● Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting on August 20, 2026, in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay serving as the Vice-Chairman.

Simplified News: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting on 20 August 2026 in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay as Vice-Chairman. The council covers five southern states and three Union Territories, and was set up under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

Industry News

CCI Extends Commitment Application Window to 60 Days Under New Antitrust Rules

● The Competition Commission of India notified the Commitment Amendment Regulations 2026, extending the window for companies to submit commitment applications in antitrust cases from 45 days to 60 days.

Simplified News: The Competition Commission of India notified the Commitment Amendment Regulations 2026, giving companies facing antitrust inquiries 60 days (up from 45) to file voluntary commitment applications. The preliminary review period was extended from 7 to 15 working days, and the total case resolution timeline from 130 to 180 days. The update affects pending cases involving Google and IndiGo.

MeitY Clears 31 Electronics Component Projects Worth ₹7,877 Crore

● The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology approved 31 manufacturing proposals worth 7,877 crore rupees under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme to boost domestic component production.

Simplified News: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology approved 31 new manufacturing proposals worth ₹7,877 crore under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme. This takes the scheme’s cumulative approvals to 106 projects worth ₹69,548 crore, well above its original ₹59,350 crore investment target, and is expected to create over 90,000 direct jobs.

Government Allows Duty-Free Import of 1 Million Tonnes of Sugar

● The Central Government allowed duty-free import of one million metric tonnes of raw sugar under a tariff rate quota until October 31 to stabilize record domestic prices ahead of the festival season.

Simplified News: The Central Government permitted duty-free import of one million metric tonnes of raw sugar under a Tariff Rate Quota valid until 31 October 2026, to ease record domestic prices ahead of the festival season. It is India’s first sugar import move in nearly a decade. Bulk consumers holding over 10 tonnes a month now face a 15-day stockholding limit to curb hoarding.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement Text Clears Legal Scrubbing

● Legal scrubbing of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement text has been completed, paving the way for internal member approvals and expected formal signing by the end of 2026.

Simplified News: Legal scrubbing of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement has been completed, clearing the way for internal EU translation and ratification procedures. The deal, whose negotiations were relaunched in 2022 and announced at the 16th India-EU Summit in January 2026, is expected to be formally signed by the end of 2026.

Financial News

RBI MPC Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% for Fourth Straight Time

● The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent for the fourth consecutive time while retaining a neutral stance.

Simplified News: The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee unanimously kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the fourth consecutive time, maintaining a neutral stance. It revised real GDP growth for FY2026-27 upward to 6.7% and projected CPI inflation at 5.0%, with a peak of 5.9% in Q3.

SEBI to Enforce AI Accountability Rules and Overhaul SME Listing Framework

● SEBI Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced upcoming overhauls to the SME listing framework alongside mandatory AI accountability guidelines including human-in-the-loop safeguards.

Simplified News: SEBI Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced upcoming AI and machine-learning accountability guidelines for capital markets, making regulated entities fully liable for outcomes of AI tools, and mandating ‘kill switches’ and human-in-the-loop safeguards. SEBI is also overhauling the SME listing framework to prevent platform misuse, and highlighted surveillance tools like Project Sudarsan and R(AI)DAR.

RBI Deputy Governor Urges Banks to Use AI for ‘Credit Invisibles’

● RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu cautioned that banking technology currently serves existing borrowers better than new ones, urging lenders to use AI and alternative data to onboard credit invisibles.

Simplified News: RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu said banking technology today serves existing borrowers better than new ones, noting the share of new businesses entering formal credit fell from 52% in 2022-23 to 42% in 2025-26. He urged banks to use AI and alternative data such as GST filings and utility payments to bring ‘credit invisibles’ into the formal system.

SEBI to Pilot Corporate Bond Tokenisation, Eases FPI Onboarding

● The Securities and Exchange Board of India announced plans to launch a pilot for corporate bond tokenisation using Distributed Ledger Technology while streamlining Foreign Portfolio Investor onboarding by allowing digitally signed Power of Attorney documents.

Simplified News: SEBI announced a pilot for corporate bond tokenisation using Distributed Ledger Technology, developed jointly with the RBI, to improve settlement and price discovery. Effective 20 August 2026, SEBI also simplified Foreign Portfolio Investor onboarding by allowing digitally signed Power of Attorney documents, removing the need for notarisation, apostillisation and consularisation.

National & State News

Dharmendra Pradhan Reviews National Free Online Coaching and AI Skilling Push

● Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed the operational execution of the nationwide free online competitive exam coaching and AI skilling initiatives announced during Independence Day 2026.

Simplified News: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed progress on the national free online coaching scheme for competitive exams and the AI skilling initiative, both announced by PM Modi during his 80th Independence Day address. The plan aims to train 1 crore (10 million) youth in AI skills over the next year, using platforms like SWAYAM and DIKSHA.

Jharkhand Cancels 44 Recruitment Exams After CID Probe Finds Irregularities

● The Jharkhand government cancelled 44 recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC and JSSC following CID investigation findings that revealed widespread process irregularities.

Simplified News: The Jharkhand government cancelled 44 recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC after a CID investigation uncovered widespread irregularities linked to outsourced vendor TDPL. A reform committee under senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal has two months to recommend fixes, and the state plans to seek a Fast Track Court for exam-misconduct trials.

Appointments and Resignation

Former ISRO Chief S. Somanath Appointed to RBI Central Board

● The Central Government appointed former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath as a part-time, non-official Director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India for a four-year term starting August 20, 2026.

Simplified News: The Central Government appointed former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath as a part-time, non-official Director on the RBI’s Central Board for a four-year term from 20 August 2026, under Section 8(1)(c) of the RBI Act, 1934. Somanath led ISRO from 2022 to 2025, overseeing missions including Chandrayaan-3. Anand Mahindra was simultaneously re-appointed to the same board.

Sports News

India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs as Manav Suthar Claims 10-Wicket Match Haul

● India defeated host Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test match at the Galle International Stadium, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar claiming a match-winning 6-wicket haul in the second innings and a 10-wicket match haul.

Simplified News: India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar taking 6 for 55 in the second innings for a 10-wicket match haul in only his second Test. Rishabh Pant became the first Indian batter to complete 100 sixes in Test cricket during his 66-run knock.

Awards & Honors

Boxer Narender Berwal Selected for the Arjuna Award

● International boxer Narender Berwal from Sorkhi village in Hansi, Haryana, who serves in the Indian Army, has been selected for the prestigious Arjuna Award for his sports achievements.

Simplified News: International super-heavyweight boxer Narender Berwal, from Sorkhi village in Hansi, Haryana, and a serving member of the Indian Army since 2013, has been selected for the Arjuna Award. He has won bronze medals at the Asian Games and Asian Boxing Championships in the +92kg category.

Defence News

India and Japan Sign Defense Pact to Boost Maritime Security Cooperation

● Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi signed a Memorandum of Agreement in New Delhi to deepen bilateral maritime security and defense equipment cooperation.

Simplified News: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi signed a Memorandum of Agreement in New Delhi to deepen maritime security and defense equipment cooperation. Ahead of the summit, Koizumi visited INS Chennai at the Western Naval Command in Mumbai. The pact leverages Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology for joint production.

Ranking and Reports

Core Industries Growth Moderates to 5.4% in July 2026

● India’s Index of Eight Core Industries recorded a year-on-year growth rate of 5.4 percent in July 2026, moderating slightly from the 6.0 percent expansion registered in June.

Simplified News: India’s Index of Eight Core Industries grew 5.4% year-on-year in July 2026, slowing from 6.0% in June. Iron ore led growth at 29.5%, followed by cement and electricity, while natural gas, crude oil and fertilizer output contracted. The eight core sectors together carry a 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production.

Tiruchi Junction, Chidambaram Named Among 103 Heritage Railway Stations

● The Railway Board has identified 103 railway stations across India, including Tiruchi Junction and Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, as heritage stations for conservation and structural preservation.

Simplified News: The Railway Board identified 103 railway stations across India, including Tiruchi Junction and Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, for heritage conservation. Special guidelines will protect their architectural facades and historical character while integrating modern amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Funds and Allocation

PM CARES Fund Corpus Hits Record ₹8,452 Crore in FY25

● Audited accounts of the PM CARES Fund for FY 2024-25 revealed that its closing corpus reached a record 8,452.06 crore rupees due to fixed deposit interest, even as fresh domestic donations fell by 30 percent.

Simplified News: Audited accounts show the PM CARES Fund’s closing corpus rose to a record ₹8,452.06 crore in FY2024-25, even as fresh domestic donations fell nearly 30% to ₹479.05 crore. The corpus grew mainly on the back of ₹469.38 crore in interest income from fixed deposits, while disbursements dropped sharply to ₹87.85 lakh.

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