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Current Affairs — Friday, 10 July 2026
33 items
Tamil Nadu
- TVK Government renames free bus travel scheme for women
— CM Vijay's government has renamed the 'Mahalir Vidiyal Payanam' scheme (launched under the previous DMK government) as 'Magalir Payanam'; opposition parties allege it is an attempt to erase political identities. (State welfare scheme; important for TNPSC GS) - Tamil Nadu announces cooperative crop loan waiver up to ₹50,000
— The Vijay government announced a waiver on cooperative crop loans up to ₹50,000, a major agricultural relief measure benefiting farmers across the state. (State agriculture policy; TNPSC Paper II) - TN to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— Beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) aged above 60 will be transitioned to the pension scheme with enhanced financial assistance. (Social welfare; TNPSC) - Panel to study liquor retail models of five states
— Tamil Nadu's Minister for Prohibition and Excise announced a committee will study excise operations in Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to reform the state's liquor retail policy. (State governance; TNPSC) - CM Vijay takes position on National Education Policy
— The TVK government signalled it will follow the state's long-held two-language policy and not implement NEP's three-language formula, maintaining continuity with previous state stance. (Education policy; Article 350A; TNPSC/UPSC) - Death of 14 Juang tribal girls in Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak
— Fourteen girls from the Juang community (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group from Odisha) died at a seafood processing plant in Tiruvallur, highlighting migrant tribal labour vulnerabilities. (PVTGs; labour rights; UPSC GS Paper I & II)
India — National
- India–Australia sign defence pacts, fast-track trade deal
— India and Australia inked key defence cooperation agreements and agreed to accelerate negotiations on a comprehensive trade deal, deepening the bilateral strategic partnership. (India's foreign policy; UPSC GS Paper II) - Supreme Court questions civic bodies on unauthorised buildings
— A bench cited recent fires in Delhi and Lucknow and warned that "slackness" by civic authorities against unauthorised constructions will not be tolerated. (Urban governance; SC jurisdiction; UPSC) - Supreme Court considers reference on furnishing reasons during arrest
— The top court cited conflicting rulings on whether arrest grounds must be given in writing, hearing Meghalaya's appeal in the Sonam Raghuvanshi bail case. (Article 22; CrPC Section 50; UPSC GS Paper II) - Three 11th–12th century Tamil Nadu antiquities to return from Australian museums
— Two Australian museums have agreed to repatriate three ancient artefacts from Tamil Nadu, continuing India's ongoing antiquity repatriation push. (Cultural heritage; TNPSC/UPSC) - US charges Lawrence Bishnoi for attacks on Salman Khan, Gippy Grewal, and Sidhu Moosewala
— Along with the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case, the US has now formally charged Lawrence Bishnoi gang members, marking a significant India–US law enforcement development. (Internal security; UPSC GS Paper III) - CISF seizes over 428 tonnes of illegal coal in Jharkhand and Bengal
— In an intensified crackdown on illegal mining, CISF registered 4 FIRs and seized vehicles and equipment; highlights enforcement under mining laws. (Mineral resources; internal security; UPSC GS Paper III) - Himachal Pradesh bans all mining activities till September amid heavy rainfall
— The state government imposed a blanket ban on mining as incessant rains continue to cause landslides and floods across Himachal Pradesh. (Disaster management; environment policy)
Economy & Finance
- RBI launches three key surveys for monetary policy input
— The RBI announced the July 2026 round of the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey and two additional surveys to inform upcoming monetary policy decisions. (RBI; monetary policy; Bank PO/UPSC) - Goldman Sachs raises India's GDP growth forecast
— Goldman Sachs upgraded its GDP growth projection for India, citing strong middle-class consumption as a key driver, aligned with FM Sitharaman's remarks at a panel in France. (GDP; economic survey angle; UPSC/Bank PO) - Russia's share in Indian oil imports crosses 40% in May 2026
— Russia accounted for over 40% of India's crude oil imports in May 2026; India also resumed oil imports from Iran and Venezuela in April–May 2026. (Energy security; UPSC GS Paper III) - India added 52.5 mtpa regasification capacity in 2025: IGU World LNG Report
— India significantly expanded its LNG regasification infrastructure, driven by demand from fertilizers, city gas distribution, and the government's target to raise LNG's share in the energy mix. (Energy sector; IGU; UPSC/SSC) - Rupee declines 20 paise to ₹95.16 against US dollar
— The rupee fell amid renewed US–Iran tensions and a spike in global crude oil prices, with markets also declining in early trade. (Forex; economy; Bank PO/UPSC) - Food prices rise in May, push household inflation to 3.93%
— A rise in food prices propelled overall household inflation to 3.93% in May 2026, with the RBI noting a potential monsoon shortfall risk to the inflation outlook. (CPI inflation; RBI bulletin; Bank PO/UPSC)
Science & Technology
- Indian lab achieves Quantum Advantage over classical computers
— Scientists from BITS Pilani, working with IBM Quantum, simulated subatomic particle behaviour on 120 qubits of an IBM processor — the first Indian lab result validated by the Quantum Advantage Tracker. (Quantum computing; ISRO/DRDO adjacent; UPSC/SSC) - Deadly bird virus PaBV-4 (Parrot Bornavirus 4) identified for first time in India
— The virus, found circulating among captive birds, raises concerns for aviculture and conservation of threatened parrot species in India. (Animal health; biodiversity; UPSC GS Paper III) - IIT Guwahati team finds blue-green algae can remove lead from water
— Researchers developed a sustainable, bio-based method using cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to tackle lead contamination in drinking water. (Water purification; biotechnology; UPSC/SSC)
Environment
- Budget 2026–27 cuts air quality management outlay by 10%
— Allocations for air quality management and pollution control have been reduced in the Union Budget 2026–27, drawing criticism from environmental experts. (Environment budget; UPSC GS Paper III) - Union Environment Minister inaugurates 18 Namo Oxygen Parks in Delhi
— The Union and Delhi governments jointly launched major green initiatives including 18 Namo Oxygen Parks on World Environment Day 2026. (Urban environment; green initiatives; UPSC/SSC) - Rainfall in eastern river basins down 20% since 1951: Indus river study
— A study on water availability in the Indus river system found a 20% decline in rainfall in eastern river basins over seven decades, signalling long-term hydrological stress. (Climate change; water security; UPSC GS Paper I)
Sports
- India win five medals (including gold) on Day 1 of Asian U-23 Athletics Championships
— India's U-23 athletes claimed 1 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals on the opening day of the Asian U-23 Athletics Championships 2026. (Athletics; UPSC/SSC sports GK) - India assured of eight medals at Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships
— Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari (51kg) and Joyshree Devi (54kg) both secured 5-0 victories in the U-19 women's category, guaranteeing India at least 8 medals. (Boxing; sports achievements; SSC/Railway) - France beat Morocco to reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals
— Mbappé and Dembélé scored as France defeated Morocco to advance to the semifinals; Morocco was the last African team remaining in the tournament. (FIFA World Cup 2026; sports GK)
Appointments & Awards
- Former SC Judge K.T. Thomas to receive Padma Vibhushan
— Retired Supreme Court Justice K.T. Thomas, known for his notable judgments including in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been named for the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour. (Padma Awards; judiciary; UPSC/TNPSC) - Bhagat Singh Koshyari to receive Padma Bhushan from President Murmu
— Former Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari is being conferred the Padma Bhushan by President Droupadi Murmu. (Padma Awards; constitutional positions; UPSC/SSC)
International
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei laid to rest in Mashhad
— Khamenei, who was killed during the Iran war, was buried at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad; the event signals a major geopolitical transition in West Asia. (West Asia geopolitics; UPSC GS Paper II) - India tells US that forced labour tariff approach is inconsistent; 1,600 items exempted
— India contested the USTR's Section 301 investigations covering 60 economies on forced labour and excess industrial capacity concerns, securing exemptions for 1,600 critical items. (India–US trade; WTO; UPSC GS Paper II) - At least 28 dead in China factory fire
— Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue and investigation; the incident drew global attention to industrial safety standards in China. (International affairs; GS Paper II)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏆 BITS Pilani + IBM Quantum: First Indian lab to achieve Quantum Advantage, validated by the Quantum Advantage Tracker — simulation on 120 qubits
- 📛 Tamil Nadu's free bus scheme for women renamed from 'Mahalir Vidiyal Payanam' → 'Magalir Payanam' by CM Vijay's TVK government
- 🛢️ Russia's share in India's crude oil imports crossed 40% in May 2026; India also resumed imports from Iran and Venezuela