Current Affairs - October 24, 2026 Current Affairs

Usha Mangeshkar, a renowned Indian playback singer, has been selected as the first recipient of the Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award instituted by the Assam Cabinet. The award honours the legacy of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the celebrated Assamese singer, composer, lyricist, and filmmaker known for combining music with social issues and humanitarian values. Usha Mangeshkar was chosen for her contributions to Indian music and her connection with Hazarika’s musical creations. The award is scheduled to be presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 29, 2026, during the closing ceremony of Hazarika’s birth centenary celebrations.

United Nations Day is observed every year on October 24 to commemorate the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945. The United Nations was established after the Second World War to promote international peace and security, strengthen friendly relations among nations, protect human rights, and encourage cooperation in addressing global challenges. The day has been celebrated annually since 1948 and was officially established by the UN General Assembly in 1947. In 2026, the United Nations marks its 81st anniversary. The organisation has six principal organs and plays an important role in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and international diplomacy.

Bodhana Sivanandan is a British chess player of Indian descent who reportedly became the youngest female International Master (IM) at the age of 11 years, seven months, and 16 days in October 2026. She achieved this milestone after securing her final IM norm by defeating Swedish International Master Viktoria Johansson in the seventh and final round of the European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro. Representing She Plays To Win Lionesses A, Bodhana scored 5.5 points in seven rounds with a performance rating of 2,465. She surpassed the record previously held by Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgar, who earned the International Master title at age 12 in 1988.

S Meghana, whose full name is Sabbhineni Meghana, is an Indian women’s cricketer from Andhra Pradesh who played as a top-order batter. She announced her retirement from all formats of cricket at the age of 30 on 23 October 2026. She represented India in 20 white-ball international matches and made her T20 International debut against the West Indies in November 2016. She also played in the Women’s Premier League for Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Meghana was part of the RCB squad that won the 2024 WPL title. Following her retirement, she expressed her intention to support and mentor future women cricketers.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was established on 24 October 1962 following the India-China war to strengthen border security and improve the frontier intelligence and security system along the Indo-Tibetan border. Initially, four battalions were sanctioned for the force. The ITBP operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is responsible for guarding the India-China border, which stretches approximately 3,488 kilometres across challenging Himalayan terrain. Its responsibilities also include high-altitude patrolling, disaster rescue, internal security, mountaineering, and skiing operations. The force plays a vital role in protecting India's Himalayan frontiers and assisting communities during emergencies.

World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness about poliomyelitis and promote efforts to eradicate the disease through vaccination. The day also highlights the importance of immunisation, disease surveillance, and international cooperation in preventing polio. The 2026 theme is “Together, We End Polio,” emphasising the collective responsibility of governments, healthcare professionals, international organisations, and communities. October 24 also marks the birthday of Jonas Salk, who led the team that developed the first injectable polio vaccine. Although wild poliovirus transmission has been eliminated in many countries, continued vaccination remains essential to prevent outbreaks and achieve global eradication.

Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won individual gold medals in the men’s and women’s sections, respectively, at the European Chess Club Cup 2026 held in Montenegro. Nihal Sarin represented Novy Bor Chess Club and secured five points from six games, earning gold on Board 2 in the men’s competition. Koneru Humpy represented Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo and scored 4.5 points from six games to win individual gold on Board 2 in the women’s section. Her club also won the women’s team championship. Other Indian players who earned individual medals included Pentala Harikrishna, who won silver, and Karthikeyan Murali, who claimed bronze in the open competition.

Ashoke Sen is a renowned Indian theoretical physicist who received the Oskar Klein Medal in 2026, becoming the first Indian physicist to receive this prestigious international honour. He is recognised for his pioneering contributions to string theory, particularly S-duality, black-hole entropy counting, and string field theory. Sen serves as the ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in Bengaluru. The Oskar Klein Medal is an annual physics award named after Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein. Established in 1988, it recognises outstanding contributions to physics and is associated with Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.