Karnataka & Group C Current Affairs – July 23rd, 2026

Appointments

Rahul Himalian Appointed IRCTC CMD 

Rahul Himalian (a 1999-batch IRTS officer) has been appointed to take additional charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of IRCTC by the Ministry of Railways, succeeding Sanjay Kumar Jain. Effective July 20, 2026, he will head the Schedule ‘A’ Navratna CPSE responsible for national railway ticketing and hospitality, while concurrently retaining his existing role as IRCTC’s Director of Tourism & Marketing.

Awards

NSA Ajit Doval Receives Lokmanya Tilak National Award

Context: An Indian official and the country’s longest-serving National Security Adviser has been globally and nationally recognized for his monumental contributions to the country’s strategic defense and security framework.

Key Highlights:

• Award: Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 (includes a memento, citation, and a ₹1 lakh cash prize).
• Awardee: Ajit Doval (National Security Adviser of India).
• Issuing Authority: Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust.
• Presenter & Venue: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Pune, Maharashtra (August 1, 2026).
• Key Achievement: Honored for his exceptional contribution to national security, counter-terrorism operations, and border security, including his pivotal roles in Operation Black Thunder, the Doklam diplomatic negotiations, the 2016 Surgical Strikes, and the 2019 Balakot air strike.

About the Award:

• Instituted in 1983 and presented annually on August 1 to commemorate the death anniversary of freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• Recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the nation’s progress and development.
• The inaugural honor was presented to veteran socialist SM Joshi.

Important Days

Income Tax Day (Aaykar Diwas)

• Observed Date: July 24
• Observing Organisation: Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) / Ministry of Finance
• Objective: To commemorate the introduction of income tax in India by Sir James Wilson on July 24, 1860 (initially levied to compensate for British financial losses during the 1857 Revolt). The day was first officially observed in 2010 to mark 150 years of taxation in India.

Sports

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Youngest to Score a T20I Fifty

Why in News: Indian teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has scripted history by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in both T20 Internationals (T20I) and overall Men’s International Cricket.

Salient Features & Key Exam Facts:

• The Milestone: He reached his maiden international fifty at the age of 15 years and 118 days.
• Match Context: The feat was achieved during India’s 1st T20I match against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on July 23, 2026. He scored a blisteringly fast 19-ball 50 (reaching the milestone in just 18 deliveries at a strike rate of 263.15) featuring 4 fours and 4 sixes.