Current Affairs - August 24, 2026 Current Affairs

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won the bronze medal in women’s doubles at the 2026 BWF World Championships, ending India’s 15-year wait for a medal in the event. They became only the second Indian women’s doubles pair to achieve this feat after Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who won bronze in 2011. Treesa and Gayatri reached the semifinals by defeating China’s Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in the quarterfinals. They eventually lost to top-seeded Chinese pair Tan Ning and Liu Sheng Shu in the semifinal after a 70-minute contest.

Mitchell Starc became the leading wicket-taker in ICC World Test Championship history after reaching 234 wickets. The Australian left-arm fast bowler surpassed teammates Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who had 228 wickets each. Starc achieved the milestone during the second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay, where he produced a remarkable 10-wicket match haul. His performance also took his overall Test wicket tally to 445, allowing him to surpass South African great Dale Steyn and enter the top 10 wicket-takers in Test cricket history.

IIT Hyderabad will host the physical hub of the Jindal Steel Centre of Excellence (CoE), established through an MoU signed with Jindal Steel on August 21, 2026. The centre aims to promote advanced research and innovation in high-strength, value-added, and value-engineered steels. Its applications will cover infrastructure, defence, power plants, refineries, transportation, and heavy engineering. The collaboration will also provide opportunities for student internships, placements, academic modules, workshops, and technical demonstrations. The CoE is expected to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and support the wider adoption of advanced steel technologies in strategic and infrastructure sectors.

IDFC First Bank raised $500 million through its maiden overseas bond issuance on August 19, 2026, marking its entry into global debt markets. The bank issued three-year fixed-rate senior notes carrying a coupon rate of 5.625%, with the bonds scheduled to mature in 2029. The issuance was conducted through the bank’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) Banking Unit at GIFT City in Gandhinagar. S&P Global Ratings assigned the bonds a BBB- long-term issuer credit rating with a stable outlook. The funds are intended to diversify the bank’s funding base and support its long-term expansion plans.

Andhra Pradesh approved a major ₹31,387-crore green AI data centre project in Visakhapatnam. AM AI Factory (Vizag) Pvt Ltd will establish a 512 MW Green Integrated AI Data Centre Facility at Amanam village in Bheemunipatnam mandal. The facility is expected to be developed within two years and four months and could create employment opportunities for around 1,000 people. The state government has also approved several incentives, including support for power infrastructure and water supply, along with exemptions from stamp duty and electricity duty. The project is aimed at attracting large-scale technology investments to Andhra Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh approved a revised maternity leave provision allowing eligible female state government employees to avail themselves of 180 days, or six months, of maternity leave twice during their service period. A major change is the removal of the earlier mandatory two-year gap between two maternity leaves. The amendment concerns Rule 153(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Financial Handbook. The revised provision is intended to support working mothers by providing adequate time for pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, and childcare. The benefit has also been extended to adoptive mothers under the revised provisions.

India plans to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035, as announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan during the third National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad on August 23, 2026. The first module of the proposed space station has already been approved. The BAS is expected to support India’s long-term human spaceflight activities, building upon capabilities developed through the Gaganyaan programme. It will provide opportunities for scientific research, technology testing, and gaining experience in extended human missions in space, marking a significant advancement in India’s space exploration ambitions.

Uttar Pradesh is the state where India’s first fully indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’ rifle was manufactured and successfully test-fired. The rifle was produced at the Korwa factory of Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) in Amethi. The prototype uses 100% Indian components and raw materials, marking a major achievement in defence indigenisation under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. The AK-203 is a 7.62×39 mm gas-operated assault rifle based on the Kalashnikov platform. Indian Army trials for the indigenous rifle are planned for September 2026.

Oman Air partnered with Wizzmoni Financial Services Ltd to launch the Wizz Voyager, an AI-powered co-branded multi-currency travel card for international travellers. The card supports more than 35 global currencies and is issued in partnership with VISA for worldwide acceptance. It offers features such as real-time transaction tracking, smart financial controls, and milestone-based rewards, including Oman Air flight vouchers and cabin upgrades. The card is aimed at frequent international travelers, tourists, students, and professionals. Oman Air is a member of the oneworld Alliance and began international flight operations in 1993.

Pranesh M won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A title held in Nagykanizsa, Hungary. The 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster from Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, finished with 7 points from 9 rounds. He secured the championship on superior tiebreak scores after four players finished tied on 7 points. Pranesh sealed his victory by defeating German Grandmaster Vadim Petrovskiy with the white pieces in the ninth and final round. His success adds another notable international achievement to his growing chess career and highlights the strong representation of young Indian players in international chess tournaments.