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24Oct
Saturday · 2026 · Daily Digest

Daily Current Affairs 24 October 2026

Four exam-ready news topics of the day for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO and GD — written in the one-line fact format the General Awareness section actually asks for, each closing with an Important Facts for Exams slip, plus 8 practice MCQs at the end.

04Topics
8Practice MCQs
60+Exam Facts
6Min Read

Today at a glance

If you have two minutes, read only this. Every line below is a potential one-mark question.

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Defence Naval Exercise 24 October 2026

India and Russia Conclude INDRA 2026 Naval Exercise

  • INDRA 2026 was a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy.
  • INS Sahyadri departed Vladivostok, Russia, on 20 October after the exercise concluded.
  • Two phases made up the exercise: Harbour Phase and Sea Phase.
  • Harbour Phase included leaders’ interactions, cross-deck visits and exchanges between subject-matter experts.
  • Harbour activities also covered operational synchronisation, sports and cultural programmes.
  • Sea Phase featured coordinated manoeuvring and integrated communications between participating units.
  • Operational drills at sea included helicopter operations and medical evacuation.
  • Interoperability and stronger communication were key aims of the exercises conducted at sea.
  • Naval ties were reinforced through professional engagements and personnel-to-personnel interactions.
  • Maritime security and a peaceful maritime environment were highlighted as shared objectives of the two navies.

Exercise at a glance

FieldValue
Participating naviesIndian Navy and Russian Federation Navy
ExerciseINDRA 2026
Harbour phaseInteractions, exchanges and synchronisation activities
Sea phaseManoeuvring, communications and operational drills
Ship named in the reportINS Sahyadri
Port of departureVladivostok, Russia

Exam focus

  • Cross-deck visits and expert exchanges were among the Harbour Phase activities.
  • Medical evacuation was one of the operational drills in the Sea Phase.

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Which two navies conducted INDRA 2026? A: The Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy.
  • Q: What were the two phases of INDRA 2026? A: Harbour Phase and Sea Phase.
  • Q: Which Indian naval ship departed Vladivostok after the exercise? A: INS Sahyadri.
  • Q: Where did INS Sahyadri depart from? A: Vladivostok, Russia.
  • Q: Name one drill in the Sea Phase. A: Helicopter operations or medical evacuation drills.
  • Q: What operational outcome did the exercise seek to strengthen? A: Coordination and interoperability.

Source: News On AIR report

Economy & Banking Maritime Finance 24 October 2026

SMFCL Expands Maritime Financing for India’s Blue Economy

  • SMFCL stands for Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, India’s first dedicated maritime non-banking financial company (NBFC).
  • Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, inaugurated its corporate office in New Delhi.
  • Office venue was the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID).
  • As of 30 September 2026, SMFCL had approved ₹11,563 crore in financing and disbursed ₹5,107 crore.
  • Disbursement target is ₹60,205 crore cumulatively by the end of financial year 2031, subject to equity support and applicable RBI norms.
  • Maritime Development Fund (MDF) has two components: the Maritime Investment Fund (MIF) and the Interest Incentivisation Fund (IIF).
  • SBI Ventures Limited was appointed fund manager for the MIF; its first close of ₹5,000 crore is targeted for January 2027.
  • IIF support had covered loans worth ₹4,500 crore, with about ₹25 crore in interest relief issued to borrowers.
  • Government contribution of up to ₹9,800 crore to the Maritime Investment Fund is channelled through SMFCL.
  • Financing scope includes ports, connectivity, waterways, coastal infrastructure, shipbuilding and ship repair.

Key details

FieldValue
OrganisationSagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL)
MinistryMinistry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Corporate officeISID, New Delhi
MDF componentsMaritime Investment Fund (MIF) and Interest Incentivisation Fund (IIF)
MIF fund managerSBI Ventures Limited
MIF first-close target₹5,000 crore by January 2027

What SMFCL supports

  • IIF provides interest support for eligible shipyard borrowing; its online portal was reported as operational.
  • Shipbuilding Development Scheme includes centrally managed credit-risk cover for shipyards and lenders.

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: What is the full form of SMFCL? A: Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited.
  • Q: Which ministry oversees SMFCL? A: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  • Q: What is the full form of NBFC? A: Non-Banking Financial Company.
  • Q: Who was appointed fund manager for the MIF? A: SBI Ventures Limited.
  • Q: What are the two components of the Maritime Development Fund? A: MIF and IIF.
  • Q: Where was SMFCL’s corporate office inaugurated? A: ISID, New Delhi.

Source: PIB release

Environment & Ecology Tribal Culture 24 October 2026

President Murmu Addresses Bastar Dussehra Festival 2026

  • President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Bastar Dussehra Festival 2026 programme at Lalbag Maidan in Jagdalpur.
  • Chhattisgarh visit was a two-day visit by the President.
  • Naxalism was discussed in her address; she credited combined central and state government efforts with freeing Chhattisgarh from its menace.
  • Tribal youth were encouraged to participate in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.
  • Tribal entrepreneurs and efforts to improve their access to finance and markets were highlighted.
  • Natural resources were the focus of her appeal to communities to protect local forests and hills.
  • Muria Darbar, held at Sirhasar Bhavan, was described as a traditional forum reflecting democratic values and allowing people to raise concerns.
  • Community representatives at the Darbar included tribal leaders, priests, Manjhis and Chalkis.
  • Maa Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur was among the President’s visits during the programme.
  • Bastar Dussehra brings together tribal communities from across the region.

Visit details

FieldValue
PresidentDroupadi Murmu
Festival eventBastar Dussehra Festival 2026
Address venueLalbag Maidan, Jagdalpur
Muria Darbar venueSirhasar Bhavan
StateChhattisgarh

Cultural and community significance

  • Muria Darbar provides a traditional setting for people to present issues to community leaders.
  • Forest and hill protection was linked in the address to the essentials that nature provides for life.

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Who addressed the Bastar Dussehra Festival 2026 programme? A: President Droupadi Murmu.
  • Q: Where was the festival programme held? A: Lalbag Maidan, Jagdalpur.
  • Q: In which state is Jagdalpur? A: Chhattisgarh.
  • Q: Where was the Muria Darbar held? A: Sirhasar Bhavan.
  • Q: What did President Murmu describe the Muria Darbar as reflecting? A: Democratic values.
  • Q: Which temple did the President visit in Jagdalpur? A: Maa Danteshwari Temple.

Source: News On AIR report

Government Schemes Artisan Livelihoods 24 October 2026

Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 Showcases Traditional Crafts

  • Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 is being organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Venue is Farm Gate at Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam.
  • Duration is eight days, with the mela scheduled to run through 28 October 2026.
  • Opening hours for the public are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
  • Artisans are presenting around 40 varieties of handloom and handicraft products.
  • Direct sales and buyer contact give participating artisans opportunities to reach customers and explore wider markets.
  • Bharat-TULIP means Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment and Livelihood Programme; it supports marketing through physical outlets and e-commerce platforms.
  • Beneficiary groups include artisans associated with Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Safai Mitras and De-notified Tribes.
  • Three national corporations linked to the mela are NSFDC, NSKFDC and NBCFDC.
  • Earlier edition of the 2026 mela concluded in Mysuru on 19 October after a nine-day event at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds.

Mela details

FieldValue
Organising ministryMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Current venueFarm Gate, Khanapara, Guwahati
Runs until28 October 2026
Public hours11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Bharat-TULIPTraditional Artisans’ Upliftment and Livelihood Programme

Linked organisations

  • NSFDC is the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation.
  • NSKFDC is the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation; NBCFDC is the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation.

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Which ministry organises Shilp Samagam Mela? A: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Q: Where is the 2026 Guwahati mela being held? A: Farm Gate, Khanapara.
  • Q: What is the full form of Bharat-TULIP? A: Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment and Livelihood Programme.
  • Q: Through which two kinds of channels does Bharat-TULIP support marketing? A: Physical sales outlets and e-commerce platforms.
  • Q: Name one national corporation associated with the mela. A: NSFDC, NSKFDC or NBCFDC.
  • Q: Where did the earlier 2026 edition conclude? A: Mysuru, Karnataka.

Source: PIB release

Test Yourself

SSC Current Affairs Quiz — 24 October 2026

8 exam-style questions from today's news. Tap an option to check your answer instantly.

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About this page

Daily Current Affairs 24 October 2026 for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS and CPO

This page carries the complete current affairs of 24 October 2026, prepared specifically for candidates preparing for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC CPO, SSC GD Constable and other competitive examinations. Every topic on this page is compiled from All India Radio (News On AIR) reports and official Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases and written in the short, factual, one-line style that the General Awareness section of SSC papers actually tests — dates, full forms, ministries, venues, appointments and numbers — rather than long news reporting.

The topics covered today are the INDRA 2026 India–Russia naval exercise, SMFCL and the Maritime Development Fund, President Murmu at Bastar Dussehra 2026, and Shilp Samagam Mela 2026. Each topic ends with an Important Facts for Exams box, and the page closes with 8 practice MCQs with answers.

Why daily current affairs matter in the SSC exam

In SSC CGL Tier I, the General Awareness section carries 25 questions of 2 marks each, that is 50 marks out of 200, and it must be completed in a locked 15-minute sectional window under the 2026 pattern. Unlike Quantitative Aptitude or Reasoning, General Awareness rewards recall rather than calculation, so a well-prepared candidate can finish the whole section in seven or eight minutes and carry the saved time as a psychological cushion into the rest of the paper.

Within that section, current affairs typically account for a meaningful share of questions, and the questions are almost always factual one-liners — who launched a scheme, where a summit was held, which ministry implements a programme, what a scheme's full form is. That is exactly why this page is written as short bullet facts rather than paragraphs of analysis.

Topics covered on 24 October 2026 and the sections they belong to

TopicCategoryMost likely question
INDRA ExerciseDefenceINDRA phases and participating navies
SMFCL FinanceEconomy & BankingSMFCL, ministry and fund components
Bastar DussehraEnvironment & EcologyBastar Dussehra venue and Muria Darbar
Shilp SamagamGovernment SchemesBharat-TULIP and organising ministry

How to use this daily current affairs page effectively

  1. Read the “Today at a glance” box first. A handful of lines, under two minutes. If you are short on time on a busy day, this alone keeps you current.
  2. Then read each topic once, slowly. Do not try to memorise on the first pass — understanding what happened makes the facts stick far better than rote repetition.
  3. Revise only the Important Facts for Exams boxes. These are deliberately written in question–answer shape, so they double as a revision sheet in the last week before the exam.
  4. Attempt the practice MCQs the same day. Active recall on the day you read something is worth several passive re-readings later.
  5. Do a weekly sweep every Sunday. Open the last seven date pages from the archive and read only the fact boxes — that takes about fifteen minutes and covers a full week.
  6. Link every current affair to static GK. When you read about a summit, revise the organisation's headquarters and member capitals at the same time. SSC frequently mixes the two.

Standard categories SSC asks current affairs from

Over the last several exam cycles, current affairs questions in SSC papers have clustered into a predictable set of buckets. Reading with these buckets in mind makes your notes far easier to revise:

Related practice on TrickySSC

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the phases of INDRA 2026?
INDRA 2026 had a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase. The sea activities included coordinated manoeuvring, integrated communications, helicopter operations and medical evacuation drills.
What is SMFCL and which ministry oversees it?
SMFCL is Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, India’s first dedicated maritime NBFC. It is associated with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
What are the components of the Maritime Development Fund?
The two components are the Maritime Investment Fund and the Interest Incentivisation Fund. SBI Ventures Limited was appointed fund manager for the Maritime Investment Fund.
Where was the Bastar Dussehra 2026 programme held?
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the festival programme at Lalbag Maidan in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. She also attended the Muria Darbar at Sirhasar Bhavan.
What is Bharat-TULIP?
Bharat-TULIP is the Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment and Livelihood Programme. It aims to help market artisans’ products through physical sales outlets and e-commerce platforms.
Where and when is Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 taking place?
The Guwahati mela is at Farm Gate, Khanapara, and is scheduled to run through 28 October 2026. It is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Is current affairs enough to score well in SSC General Awareness?
No. Current affairs are important but static GK — History, Geography, Polity, Economics and Science — still carries the larger share of the General Awareness section. The most reliable approach is to read current affairs daily for about ten minutes and revise static GK chapter-wise alongside, using chapter-wise tests to check retention.
Are these daily current affairs pages free on TrickySSC?
Yes. All daily current affairs pages and the complete date-wise archive are free to read, with no login required. SSC CGL and SSC CHSL previous year papers are also free; the full 100-mock test series is available on the paid plan, with Mocks 1–4 free for everyone.

Last updated: 24 October 2026 · Published by TrickySSC · Compiled from All India Radio (News On AIR) reports and official Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases and presented for examination preparation purposes only.