Current Affairs — Tuesday, 26 May 2026

Tamil Nadu

- Tamil Nadu Rejects Three-Language Policy, Stalls PM-SHRI Funding The Union Government has withheld Rs 3,500 crore in PM-SHRI school funding for two years as Tamil Nadu firmly maintains its two-language (Tamil and English) policy, rejecting the National Education Policy's three-language formula.

- TN Education Minister Confirms No Change in Language Policy Minister Rajmohan stated there will be no compromise on the two-language policy, with the TVK government affirming it will follow long-held state policies despite central pressure.

- Tamil Nadu Tells Supreme Court: Navodaya Schools Incompatible with Two-Language Policy Tamil Nadu argued before the Supreme Court that Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, which follow a three-language formula, are incompatible with the state's established language policy.

- Tamil Nadu Launches First Urban Greening Policy The state government introduced its first-ever Urban Greening Policy aimed at boosting climate resilience in urban areas across Tamil Nadu.

- MRF to Invest Rs 3,500 Crore in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay launched multi-sector development projects across Tamil Nadu, with tyre major MRF announcing a Rs 3,500 crore investment in the state.

- Green School Scheme Can Offset 91% of Government Institution Power Demand A new study found that Tamil Nadu's Green School Scheme, if fully scaled, could offset 91% of total power demand from government educational institutions in the state.

India — National

- Union Cabinet Approves Increase in Supreme Court Judges from 33 to 38 The Union Cabinet has approved a plan to raise the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 38, aiming to address the massive pendency of cases in India's apex court.

- Modi Government Introduces Three Delimitation Bills in Parliament The Centre's three delimitation bills have raised concerns about the future composition of Parliament and political representation, particularly for southern states with better population control records.

- Supreme Court Censures Freebie Schemes on Tamil Nadu's Plea While hearing Tamil Nadu's plea against the Centre's 'sustainable' electricity rules, the Supreme Court observed that largesse and freebie schemes hamper economic growth.

- SC Collegium Recommends Judges for Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka High Courts The Supreme Court Collegium has forwarded recommendations for judicial appointments to the High Courts of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

- Tamil Nadu Moves Supreme Court Against Madras HC Order on Government Ads Tamil Nadu challenged a Madras High Court order that restrained the use of living persons' names and former Chief Ministers' photos in government scheme advertisements.

- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, First Woman Judge of Supreme Court, Passes Away Justice M. Fathima Beevi, a historic figure who became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, has passed away, marking the end of a pioneering legal legacy.

Economy & Finance

- Budget 2026–27: Air Quality Management Outlay Cut by 10% The Union Budget for 2026–27 has reduced allocation for air quality management by 10%, with pollution control spending also seeing a decline, raising environmental governance concerns.

- Meghalaya's GSDP Growth Nearly Double the National Average Meghalaya's Governor highlighted that the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth rate is nearly double the national average, reflecting strong regional economic performance.

- CM Vijay's Welfare Schemes: Liquor Shop Closures, Free Electricity, 8 Grams Gold for Women Tamil Nadu's new TVK government's ambitious welfare commitments — including closing liquor shops, providing free electricity, and gifting 8 grams of gold to women — are being analysed for their fiscal impact on the state exchequer.

Science & Technology

- India Targets Record Medal Haul at Asian Games with LA 2028 as Primary Goal India is ramping up preparations across multiple sports disciplines with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics identified as the primary performance target for the national contingent.

- India Notifies Environment Audit Rules, 2025 The Government of India has officially notified the Environment Audit Rules, 2025, aimed at strengthening environmental compliance and governance frameworks across industries.

Environment

- State of India's Environment 2026 Report Highlights Rising Climate Risks The annual report flagged increasing climate risks, growing human-wildlife conflicts, and significant gaps in pollution monitoring infrastructure across India.

- Tamil Nadu's Urban Greening Policy: First of Its Kind in State Tamil Nadu became the first state to launch a dedicated Urban Greening Policy, focusing on increasing green cover in cities to improve climate resilience and air quality.

- India Notifies Environment Audit Rules, 2025 for Stronger Compliance The new rules mandate periodic environmental audits of industries and establishments, bolstering the regulatory framework under the Environment Protection Act.

Sports

- Cricket at LA 2028 Olympics Scheduled to Kick Off on July 12 The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that cricket will make its Olympic return at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, with matches scheduled to begin on July 12.

- 2026 Winter Olympics Medal Tally: Norway Leads, Italy and USA Close Behind In the ongoing 2026 Winter Olympics, Norway tops the medal count with Italy and the United States positioned closely behind in the standings.

- India Eyes Multiple Podium Finishes at LA 2028 Olympics India is targeting medal prospects across hockey, wrestling, badminton, and athletics at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, building on recent performances at international competitions.

Appointments & Awards

- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, India's First Woman Supreme Court Judge, Passes Away A trailblazer in Indian judiciary, Justice Fathima Beevi's passing marks the loss of a historic figure who broke the glass ceiling for women in India's highest court.

- Bhagat Singh Koshyari Awarded Padma Bhushan Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has been conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours.

- Padma Vibhushan for Justice KT Thomas Retired Supreme Court Judge Justice KT Thomas has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the Indian judiciary.

- Former CJI JS Khehar Receives Padma Award Former Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, known for his independent judicial positions often contrary to government views, has been recognised with a Padma award.

- Justice Manikumar Appointed as New SHRC Chairman Justice Manikumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), as reported by The Times of India.

International

- India–Norway Bilateral Relationship Elevated to Green Strategic Partnership India and Norway have upgraded their bilateral ties to a "Green Strategic Partnership," reflecting deepened cooperation on climate change, clean energy, and sustainable development.

- 16th India–EU Summit Held in January 2026 The 16th India-EU Summit, attended by the President of the European Council and European Commission President, concluded with a joint statement strengthening trade, technology, and strategic ties between India and the European Union.

- India–Finland Joint Statement Signed During State Visit (March 2026) Finland's President undertook a state visit to India from March 4–7, 2026, resulting in a joint statement covering bilateral cooperation in technology, education, and clean energy sectors.