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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Monday, 29 June 2026
33 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay launches Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the Pulse Polio drive in Chennai, continuing the state's routine immunisation outreach; relevant for health governance and state-Centre cooperation under the Universal Immunisation Programme. - Tamil Nadu to continue free bus pass scheme for students
— The TVK-led state government confirmed continuation of the free bus pass scheme for students, a welfare measure originally introduced under the previous DMK administration. - KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to be moved to pension scheme; aid hiked to ₹1,500
— The state government announced that Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) recipients aged above 60 will be transitioned to the pension scheme with monthly assistance raised to ₹1,500, signalling fiscal expansion of women's welfare. - Tamil Nadu government confirms two-language policy; no change
— A state minister clarified that the TVK government will adhere to Tamil Nadu's long-standing two-language (Tamil + English) policy and will not implement the National Education Policy's three-language formula. - Vaiko urges CM Vijay to reject PM SHRI three-language scheme
— MDMK chief Vaiko publicly asked Chief Minister Vijay to refuse participation in the PM SHRI school scheme, citing concerns over Hindi imposition, amid ongoing debate over NEP implementation in Tamil Nadu. - MK Stalin accuses TVK government of inaction on power cuts and farmers' issues
— Former CM and DMK president M.K. Stalin alleged the ruling TVK government has failed to address frequent power cuts, agrarian distress, and deteriorating law and order, marking a sharpening of opposition politics in the state.
India — National
- Army to establish first Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) next month
— The Indian Army is set to operationalise its first IBGs in July 2026, a landmark structural reform aimed at creating faster, leaner, self-contained combat formations; key for GS Paper III (Defence reforms). - June 2026 set to be fifth driest since 1901; north India monsoon likely in early July
— India Meteorological Department data shows June 2026 as historically deficient; delayed monsoon advance over north India has implications for Kharif crop sowing and inflation. - Government flags priority intervention in 25 of 58 tiger reserves with low/absent tiger populations
— The Centre identified 25 tiger reserves needing urgent management action under Project Tiger; relevant for Environment GS and wildlife conservation policy. - Operation Toofan: 175 NDPS cases registered in two days
— A large-scale anti-narcotics operation registered 175 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act within 48 hours, signalling intensified enforcement under NDPS Act 1985. - Modi meets Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Seychelles
— PM Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Mauritius PM Ramgoolam on the sidelines of a Seychelles visit, boosting India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine in the Indian Ocean Region. - Railway bridge collapses in Assam amid heavy rain; flash floods in Arunachal
— Monsoon-related disasters disrupted rail connectivity in Northeast India, highlighting infrastructure vulnerability and the role of NDRF/SDRF in disaster response. - Indian humanitarian assistance reaches Venezuela under Operation Amistad
— External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed delivery of Indian aid to Venezuela, underlining India's role as a "first responder" in humanitarian diplomacy (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam).
Economy & Finance
- Goldman Sachs raises India's GDP growth forecast
— Goldman Sachs revised upward its GDP growth projection for India, citing resilient domestic demand; supports India's position as one of the fastest-growing major economies. - RBI Monthly Bulletin warns monsoon shortfall could weigh on growth and inflation
— The RBI flagged that the below-normal monsoon in June 2026 poses risks to food production, rural demand, and the inflation trajectory — critical for monetary policy watch. - Food prices rise in May; household inflation rises to 3.93%
— Retail food inflation pushed overall household inflation to 3.93% in May 2026, relevant for CPI basket analysis and RBI's inflation targeting (4% ± 2% band). - India's current account surplus narrows to $7.1 billion in Q4
— A higher gold import bill and foreign investor outflows narrowed India's Q4 current account surplus to $7.1 bn; important for Balance of Payments and external sector analysis. - New IIP series: April industrial production growth at 4.9% vs 3.2% in March
— Under the revised Index of Industrial Production series, April 2026 growth accelerated to 4.9%, indicating improving manufacturing momentum. - Government restores commercial LPG supply; withdraws sectoral mandates
— The Petroleum Ministry withdrew emergency supply regulation orders on LPG introduced during the West Asia crisis peak, signalling normalisation of energy supply chains.
Science & Technology
- MoU signed for indigenous chips in CCTV cameras — Mindgrove Technologies integration
— An MoU was signed to embed Indian-designed silicon chips (by Mindgrove Technologies) into CCTV cameras in what the company calls one of the largest commercial deployments of indigenous semiconductors; aligns with India Semiconductor Mission goals. - NASA rover detects potential signs of ancient life on Mars
— NASA's rover found organic matter evidence in the Neretva Vallis channel region, suggesting ancient life signs may be more widespread on Mars than previously believed; significant for space science GS. - CM Vijay launches Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign in Tamil Nadu
— (Also noted under TN; relevant here for Universal Immunisation Programme — a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Health Ministry.)
Environment
- Government flags urgent need in 25 of 58 tiger reserves with low/absent tiger populations
— The Centre's assessment under Project Tiger identified critical management gaps in nearly half of India's tiger reserves; relevant for biodiversity conservation, Wildlife Protection Act 1972. - June 2026 on course to be fifth driest since 1901
— Historically deficient June rainfall has implications for groundwater recharge, Kharif output, and India's climate vulnerability; relevant for Environment GS and Indian Meteorology.
Sports
- FIFA World Cup 2026 — Canada beats South Africa with 92nd-minute winner, advances to Round of 16
— Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage-time strike secured Canada's first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout stage victory; Canada co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. - Ben Stokes to retire from international cricket after New Zealand series finale
— England Test captain Ben Stokes, who played a pivotal role in England's 2019 50-over World Cup triumph, will retire after a 15-year international career; key for cricket GS. - Wimbledon 2026 — Emma Raducanu withdraws with leg injury
— Former US Open champion Raducanu pulled out on the eve of her first-round match at Wimbledon 2026 due to a leg injury. - Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon 2026
— Serena Williams, in a comeback after her 2022 Wimbledon appearance, is scheduled to play her first match on June 30 against Maya Joint at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi conferred Padma Bhushan
— Justice M. Fathima Beevi, India's first female Supreme Court judge, has been conferred the Padma Bhushan; key fact for GS — women firsts in Indian judiciary. - Justice K.T. Thomas recommended for Padma Vibhushan
— Retired Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas, known for his role in high-profile constitutional cases, is to receive the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour.
International
- US and Iran agree to 'stand down'; talks scheduled in Doha on June 30
— The United States and Iran reached an agreement to halt hostilities and hold diplomatic talks in Doha on June 30, 2026, with discussions centred on the Strait of Hormuz dispute; significant for India's energy security (over 20% of oil imports pass through the Strait). - Pakistan carries out ground operation and airstrikes along Afghan border; 29 militants killed
— Pakistani forces conducted "calibrated strikes" against militant hideouts in the Afghanistan border region, escalating Pakistan-Afghan tensions with implications for regional stability affecting India. - Israel destroys Hezbollah underground tunnel in southern Lebanon
— Israeli forces destroyed a 200-metre tunnel in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon, in a strike coordinated with advance US notification, indicating continued West Asia conflict escalation.
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 India's first Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) to be operationalised by the Indian Army in July 2026 — landmark defence structural reform.
- 🔹 Justice M. Fathima Beevi (India's first woman Supreme Court judge) awarded Padma Bhushan; Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan.
- 🔹 India's current account surplus narrowed to $7.1 billion in Q4; April 2026 IIP growth revised to 4.9% under the new IIP series.