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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Friday, 19 June 2026
32 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay signs 3 key welfare schemes on Day 1
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay signed three welfare scheme orders on his first day in office, signalling continuity and new policy direction for the TVK government. (Exam angle: State government schemes, CM powers) - Tamil Nadu to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— The state government announced transfer of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) beneficiaries aged above 60 to the pension scheme with an increased monthly assistance of ₹1,500. (Exam angle: Women welfare, social security schemes, TN government) - CM Vijay announces 2% hike in Dearness Allowance
— The Tamil Nadu government announced a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance for state government teachers and employees. (Exam angle: DA revision, state employees, pay commission) - Two-language policy to continue; PM SHRI scheme decision pending
— Tamil Nadu minister confirmed the state will retain its two-language (Tamil and English) policy; the government is yet to decide on joining the Centre's PM SHRI schools scheme that mandates three-language instruction. (Exam angle: NEP 2020, language policy, Centre-state relations) - Environmental clearance for Brigade housing project in Pallikaranai revoked
— The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority cancelled clearance after finding construction had commenced without mandatory permission from the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority. (Exam angle: EIA process, wetland protection, SEIAA) - Tamil Nadu to explore new airport site instead of Parandur
— The TVK government announced it will look for an alternative site for Chennai's second airport, rejecting Parandur due to concerns over destruction of waterbodies and cultivable land. (Exam angle: Infrastructure, airport policy, environment vs development)
India — National
- PM Modi concludes two-nation visit to France and Slovakia
— Prime Minister Modi met leading French CEOs to discuss cooperation in shipping, logistics, railways, construction and AI; told Indian diaspora that India is emerging as a "trusted global partner." (Exam angle: India's foreign policy, bilateral relations, diaspora engagement) - Centre flags Telegram as 'new dark web'
— Citing an I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) assessment, the government stated Telegram's architecture and privacy features have made it a preferred platform for cybercriminals, fraud networks, and terror groups. (Exam angle: Cybersecurity, MHA, I4C, IT Act) - NEP aims to create job-givers, not job-seekers: Governor Arlekar
— The Governor emphasised the National Education Policy 2020's focus on entrepreneurship and skill development over traditional employment-seeking education. (Exam angle: NEP 2020, education policy) - NHAI deploys in-house AI system for highway project monitoring
— The National Highways Authority of India has deployed an AI-based in-house system to flag faults in highway project reports and track road defects in real time. (Exam angle: Digital governance, NHAI, infrastructure technology) - Maharashtra mandates Marathi for taxi/auto drivers by August 15
— Maharashtra's Transport Minister made it compulsory for all taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers in the state to learn Marathi or face licence cancellation, with RTOs tasked with implementation. (Exam angle: Language policy, state powers, Article 345) - Government orders oil companies to build 30-day LPG reserves
— Amid Hormuz Strait supply risks linked to U.S.-Iran tensions, the Centre directed oil marketing companies to maintain a 30-day strategic LPG reserve. (Exam angle: Energy security, petroleum ministry, Hormuz) - Indian money in Swiss banks declines despite 50% jump in customer deposits
— The apparent paradox reflects reclassification methodology; actual Indian-held funds show a declining trend as compliance frameworks tighten. (Exam angle: FATF, black money, DTAA, Swiss banking norms)
Economy & Finance
- RBI allows banks to offer higher interest rates on NRE/NRO deposits
— The Reserve Bank of India permitted banks to mobilise forex by offering competitive interest rates on Non-Resident External and Non-Resident Ordinary deposits, subject to a cap at domestic rupee term deposit rates. (Exam angle: RBI monetary tools, forex management, FEMA) - RBI's record ₹2.87 lakh crore surplus transferred to Centre
— The RBI's unprecedented dividend transfer highlights its growing fiscal role, with earnings from reserve management and foreign assets significantly supporting government finances. (Exam angle: RBI surplus, fiscal policy, Section 47 of RBI Act) - India's current account surplus narrows to $7.1 billion in Q4
— The narrowing reflects a rising gold import bill and foreign investor outflows, even as the surplus position was maintained. (Exam angle: Balance of payments, current account, RBI data) - New IIP series: April industrial growth rises to 4.9%
— Revised Index of Industrial Production data under the new series shows April 2026 industrial growth at 4.9%, up from 3.2% in March, indicating manufacturing recovery. (Exam angle: IIP, MOSPI, industrial output) - India-UK revised social security pact could save $500 million
— A revised Social Security Agreement between India and the UK is expected to save Indian firms and workers approximately $500 million; India also satisfied with UK's steel tariff stance under the bilateral FTA framework. (Exam angle: India-UK FTA, social security, bilateral trade)
Science & Technology
- IIT-Delhi study finds human activity drives India's extreme weather
— Researchers concluded that historical rainfall statistics alone cannot reliably guide future flood/drought risk assessment in a warming climate, as anthropogenic factors increasingly distort natural patterns. (Exam angle: Climate change, IPCC, extreme weather, IIT research) - Drug-resistant malaria poses growing challenge in India
— Mutations to artemisinin-based therapies detected in India threaten the country's malaria elimination target; experts call for surveillance and new treatment protocols. (Exam angle: National Malaria Elimination Programme, WHO, public health) - 'Super El Niño' risk flagged for India's monsoon
— Analysis of IMD data since 1950 shows roughly 15 of ~24 El Niño years produced below-normal monsoon rainfall in India, with about 10 tipping into outright drought. (Exam angle: El Niño-Southern Oscillation, IMD, monsoon forecasting) - TN students develop AI solutions under Naan Mudhalvan programme
— A hackathon under the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation's Naan Mudhalvan scheme saw students build AI tools for document retrieval, healthcare diagnostics, and traffic management. (Exam angle: Skill India, state skill missions, AI in governance)
Environment
- State of India's Environment (SoE) 2026 Report released
— CSE and Down To Earth launched the SoE in Figures 2026 report, highlighting rising climate risks, increasing human-wildlife conflicts, and critical gaps in pollution monitoring infrastructure across India. (Exam angle: CSE, environment report, biodiversity, pollution policy) - Pallikaranai wetland protection enforced via EC revocation
— Tamil Nadu's SEIAA revoked a housing project's environmental clearance for violation of wetland authority permissions, reinforcing the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules. (Exam angle: Wetland Rules 2017, EIA notification, coastal/wetland regulation)
Sports
- FIFA World Cup 2026: Canada crushes Qatar 6–0
— Alphonso Davies's Canada recorded their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals victory, defeating Qatar 6–0 in Group B; Canada next face Switzerland on June 24 in Vancouver. (Exam angle: FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted jointly by USA-Canada-Mexico) - FIFA World Cup 2026: Switzerland rout Bosnia and Herzegovina
— Switzerland scored four goals after the 70th minute to win convincingly; Bosnia's substitute Ermin Mahmic scored a consolation goal. (Exam angle: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group stage) - Women's T20 World Cup: Prema Rawat replaces injured Shreyanka Patil
— India made a squad change ahead of their June 21 match against South Africa at Old Trafford, Manchester, as Shreyanka Patil sustained an injury. (Exam angle: ICC Women's T20 WC, BCCI, Indian cricket)
Appointments & Awards
- Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously
— The veteran Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren was conferred the Padma Bhushan posthumously in recognition of his contributions to tribal welfare and political leadership. (Exam angle: Padma Awards, JMM, tribal rights) - Padma Vibhushan for Justice K.T. Thomas
— Retired Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas was conferred the Padma Vibhushan; he is notable for his independent judicial positions including remarks on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. (Exam angle: Padma Vibhushan, Supreme Court judges, judiciary)
International
- U.S.–Iran 60-day negotiating period begins June 18; IAEA ready to assist
— Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed a 60-day negotiating window started June 18; the U.S. allowed at least 12 ships through the blockade, and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi offered to help define "concrete steps" for implementation. (Exam angle: Nuclear non-proliferation, IAEA, Strait of Hormuz, India's oil imports) - Pete Hegseth threatens NATO force review, links U.S. dues to spending targets
— U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth stated Washington's ~$790 million NATO organisational contribution would be "contingent" on allies meeting spending targets, escalating transatlantic tensions. (Exam angle: NATO, U.S. foreign policy, collective security) - Iran-U.S. MoU raises stakes over Strait of Hormuz transit
— The MoU opens the possibility of Iran asserting a formal role in managing and potentially charging fees for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries ~20% of global oil trade — directly relevant to India's energy imports. (Exam angle: Strait of Hormuz, India's energy security, geopolitics)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 RBI transferred a record ₹2.87 lakh crore as surplus/dividend to the Central Government in 2025-26 — highest ever.
- 🔹 Canada's 6–0 win over Qatar was their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals victory; the 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico.
- 🔹 Tamil Nadu's KMUT beneficiaries above age 60 will be shifted to a pension scheme with monthly aid hiked to ₹1,500 under the new CM Vijay government.