Current Affairs 24 April 2026

Tuti Island in Sudan

Tuti Island, located at the confluence of the White Nile and Blue Nile, has emerged as a powerful symbol of civilian resilience during the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The island witnessed a prolonged siege from June 2023 to March 2025 during the war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Impact of the Conflict

• This island was under siege by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from June 2023 to March 2025.
• The RSF put severe restrictions on movement of people, supply of food, medicine, and fuel.
• Residents had to pay money to bring essential goods and to exit the island safely.

Humanitarian Situation

• Population dropped drastically from ~30,000 to a handful of families.
• Many residents were forced to flee, detained or lost lives.
• After the Sudanese army regained control, residents have now started returning to their homes.

Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal

The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) has given a last opportunity to the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to resolve the long-pending Mahanadi river water-sharing dispute. The tribunal has asked both states to submit a mutual settlement formula by May 2, 2026, failing which it will proceed to deliver judgment based on merits.

Reason for Dispute

• The Mahanadi River originates in Chhattisgarh and flows into Odisha.
• Chhattisgarh has constructed over 500 anicuts and around 30 barrages. Odisha alleges reduced downstream water flow due to upstream usage.
• Odisha approached the Supreme Court of India in 2018 over water sharing.
• Subsequently, the tribunal was constituted to resolve the dispute, headed by Justics Bela M Trivedi and two other members Justice Ravi Ranjan, Justice Indermeet Kaur.

About Mahanadi River

The Mahanadi river originates at  Amarkantak Hills/Sihawa Hills in Chattisgarh with a total length of 851 km. Before drain into the Bay of Bengal it flows 494km in Odisha state.

Former Andhra Pradesh CM Nadendla Bhaskara Rao Passes Away

Former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, passed away at the age of 90. He is remembered for his brief but politically significant 31-day tenure in 1984.

Historic Political Episode (1984)

• Bhaskara Rao led an internal revolt and briefly unseated NTR while he was abroad for medical treatment.
• The event is considered one of the earliest “coup-like political takeovers” in Indian state politics.
• Triggered widespread protests and debates on political stability.

Constitutional Impact

• The political crisis directly contributed to the enactment of the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1985).
• Introduced the Anti-Defection Law to prevent elected representatives from switching parties for personal or political gain.

₹4,200 Crore Solar Manufacturing Unit in Anakapalli

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone for a major solar ingot and wafer manufacturing facility by ReNew Energy Global PLC in Anakapalli.

Additional Investment

• 100 MW Hybrid Renewable Energy Captive Plant with an investment of ₹1,200 crore (total project investment is ₹5,400 crore

Significance

• First plant in India to manufacture solar ingots and wafers (key upstream components).
• Promotes backward integration in solar PV manufacturing.
• Strengthens India’s renewable energy supply chain.

Related Developments

• MoU signed during CII Summit 2025 (Visakhapatnam).
• This is a part of ReNew’s larger ₹82,000 crore investment commitment in Andhra Pradesh.

IAF Activates Emergency Landing Facility on Purvanchal Expressway

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully activated an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district on 22 April 2026.

The activation was carried out both during day and night, demonstrating enhanced operational readiness and flexibility.

Significance of Emergency Landing Facility

• Enables aircraft to land on highways during emergencies
• Useful when regular airbases are unavailable or damaged
• It enhances defence preparedness, operational flexibility and disaster response capability.

Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs) in India

National Panchayati Raj Day – 24 April

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will celebrate National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) on April 24, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan. The event marks 33 years of the historic constitutional reform that empowered grassroots democracy in India.

Background of National Panchayati Raj Day

• Observed annually on April 24
• Commemorates the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act
• Came into force in 1993
• This act gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

Key Features of 73rd Constitutional Amendment

• Established three-tier Panchayati Raj system:
  • Gram Panchayat (Village level)
  • Panchayat Samiti (Block level)
  • Zila Parishad (District level)
• Introduced:
  • Regular elections every 5 years
  • Reservation for SCs/STs and women
  • State Finance Commission
  • Gram Sabha as a key decision-making body

Highlights of National Panchayat Raj Day 2026

• Gram Sabha meetings to be held nationwide
• Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)-2.0
• Books under ‘Meri Panchayat Meri Dharohar’ Initiative