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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Sunday, 12 July 2026
35 items
Tamil Nadu
- TN Government to Move KMUT Beneficiaries Above 60 to Pension Scheme
— The Vijay government plans to transition eligible Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) beneficiaries aged above 60 into the pension scheme and hike monthly aid to ₹1,500; key welfare policy shift under CM C. Joseph Vijay. - State Seeks Central Assistance for ₹6,600-Crore MRTS Revamp
— Tamil Nadu has urged the Union government to classify the Chennai MRTS modernisation project as a 'Central sector' project; the plan aims to upgrade MRTS to metro standards by refurbishing stations and upgrading trains. - TN to Announce 'Innovation City' Policy
— Minister Aadhav Arjuna, speaking at Sathyabama Institute's 35th convocation, stated the state government will release a policy to establish an 'innovation city' to support student innovation and entrepreneurship. - Two-Language Policy Continues; PM SHRI Scheme Decision Pending
— The Vijay government has reaffirmed the two-language policy in Tamil Nadu; a final decision on joining the Centre's PM SHRI (three-language) scheme is yet to be taken, amid pressure from MDMK's Vaiko to reject it. - DVAC Arrests Seven Government Staff in One Week
— Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption arrested seven government employees between July 4–10 for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes, seizing over ₹22 lakh in surprise checks. - Poor Monsoon and No Cauvery Water Cause Distress in Delta Region
— Inadequate southwest monsoon and lack of Cauvery water inflow have severely impacted kuruvai cultivation in the Cauvery delta, threatening Tamil Nadu's famed 'Granary of South India.'
India — National
- US Justice Department Confirms It Will Seek Extradition of Lawrence Bishnoi
— The US DOJ confirmed extradition proceedings for Lawrence Bishnoi following charges against 37 individuals linked to alleged transnational crime syndicates, uncovered through FBI undercover operations and informants. - Election Commission Revises Form 6 for New Voters Under SIR
— The Election Commission has modified Form 6 (voter registration) to include a section asking new voters about their parents, as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise; UN Special Rapporteurs have flagged concerns about potential discrimination. - 'Satluj' OTT Controversy — Government Panel Raises UAPA Concerns
— A government panel raised national security concerns, invoking UAPA, over the OTT film 'Satluj,' raising legal questions about whether the government can legally order removal of OTT content and whether blocking orders can be kept confidential. - 15 Indians Die in Vietnam Boat Capsize
— At least 15 Indian nationals died when a boat capsized in Vietnam; the group was on a holiday organised by a cellphone company, raising consular and overseas Indian safety concerns. - Bihar Launches Doorstep Land Registration for Senior Citizens
— Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary inaugurated a doorstep land and property registration service for citizens above 75 years, administered by the Department of Prohibition, Excise, and Registration. - Omar Abdullah Slams Centre Over J&K Governance
— J&K CM Omar Abdullah criticised the Centre, questioning the purpose of holding elections if the Union Territory continues to be run from Raj Bhawan, highlighting ongoing tensions over J&K's governance autonomy. - Nine Women Die After Surgery in Rajasthan in One Week
— At least nine women died following surgery in two Rajasthan towns within a week, triggering concerns over public health infrastructure and medical negligence.
Economy & Finance
- India–New Zealand Sign "Historic" Free Trade Agreement
— The India-NZ FTA, one of the fastest negotiated by India (announced March 2025, concluded December 2025), was signed during PM Modi's New Zealand visit and is set to be implemented later in 2026. - India Lays Out Tariff and Quota Terms for UK Vehicles Under Trade Deal
— As per DGFT notification, 20,000 completely built unit (CBU) petrol and diesel passenger vehicles from the UK will be allowed at concessional tariffs under the India-UK trade deal. - Goldman Sachs Hikes India's GDP Growth Forecast
— Goldman Sachs has revised upward its GDP growth forecast for India for FY27, citing resilient domestic consumption; RBI's Monthly Bulletin, however, warns that monsoon shortfall could weigh on growth and inflation. - RBI Launches Three Key Surveys for Monetary Policy Input
— The Reserve Bank of India launched three surveys including the July 2026 round of the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey to gather data ahead of upcoming monetary policy decisions. - AustralianSuper Invests AUD 500 Million in India's Infrastructure Fund
— Australia's largest pension fund, AustralianSuper, committed AUD 500 million to India's infrastructure fund, adding to its earlier AUD 240 million commitment, signalling sustained foreign institutional interest in Indian infrastructure. - Food Prices Rise in May; Household Inflation at 3.93%
— Rising food prices pushed household inflation to 3.93% in May 2026; HDFC Bank MD warned that El Niño and below-normal monsoon pose risks to India's growth and inflation outlook in FY27.
Science & Technology
- Madurai Student's Bacteria-Powered Energy Project Selected by NASA
— A student from Madurai was selected by NASA for a bacteria-powered energy project, marking a significant recognition of Indian student innovation in space and clean energy research. - China Successfully Tests Sea-Based Rocket Booster Recovery System
— China's Long March 10B rocket marked the country's first successful controlled recovery of a carrier rocket booster at sea, advancing its reusable launch vehicle capabilities in competition with SpaceX. - India Added 52.5 MTPA Regasification Capacity in 2025
— According to the IGU World LNG Report, India added 52.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of regasification capacity in 2025, driven by demand from fertiliser, city gas, and utility sectors. - Three New Species of Rare Jumping Spiders Discovered
— Researchers discovered three new species of jumping spiders (family Salticidae), adding to India's biodiversity cataloguing relevant to environment and zoology GS topics.
Environment
- Dolphin Death in Kerala Reveals India's Marine Plastic Pollution Crisis
— A necropsy of an endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin that washed ashore at Kozhikode beach confirmed fatal plastic fishing net ingestion, highlighting the severity of marine plastic pollution along India's coasts. - China's Temporary Helium Export Ban Impacts Global Supply
— China, which imports over 80% of its helium needs but produces only ~1.6% of global supply, imposed a temporary helium export ban; the move follows Russia's earlier export restrictions and has global scientific and industrial implications. - Rajasthan Signs MoUs with 32 Institutions to Promote Natural and Organic Farming
— The Rajasthan government signed MoUs with 32 institutions aimed at promoting natural and organic farming, aligning with national goals on sustainable agriculture and soil health.
Sports
- Argentina Beat Switzerland in FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal
— Alexis Mac Allister scored from a Lionel Messi corner to give Argentina a 1–0 victory over Switzerland, advancing to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. - England Defeat Norway in Extra Time to Reach FIFA World Cup Semifinals
— Jude Bellingham scored twice, including in extra time, as England defeated Norway in the quarterfinals; England's last World Cup semifinal appearance was in 2018. - FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Race — Messi, Mbappé, Haaland in Contention
— Kylian Mbappé won the 2022 Golden Boot with 8 goals; in the ongoing 2026 edition, Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland are the top contenders, a frequently asked exam fact.
Appointments & Awards
- Justice K.T. Thomas Conferred Padma Vibhushan
— Retired Supreme Court Justice K.T. Thomas has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan; he is known for his landmark judgments and had urged then-Congress president Sonia Gandhi to show magnanimity towards Rajiv Gandhi's assassins. - Justice M. Fathima Beevi Conferred Padma Bhushan
— Justice M. Fathima Beevi, the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India, has been conferred the Padma Bhushan, recognising her historic contribution to India's judiciary. - T.M. Krishna–PARI Award 2026 Recognises Seven Young Photojournalists
— The T.M. Krishna–People's Archive of Rural India (PARI) Award 2026 was conferred on seven young photojournalists for documenting grassroots and rural India.
International
- India–New Zealand Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership; PM Modi Visits Auckland
— During PM Modi's visit, India and New Zealand elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and signed a joint action plan on sports covering high-performance athletics, sports science, and medicine; Congress recalled New Zealand's historic role in establishing AIIMS and developing India's dairy sector. - NATO Moving Toward Greater European Role Amid Trump Scepticism
— European NATO members are preparing to shoulder greater defence responsibilities as the US under President Trump signals reduced commitment; significant for India's strategic autonomy and multilateral GS topics. - 88 Terrorists Killed in Pakistan's Balochistan Anti-Terror Operation
— Pakistani military, Rangers, and Frontier Corps conducted ground and air offensives in Balochistan, killing at least 88 militants in an ongoing anti-terror operation relevant to India's security environment.
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 India–New Zealand FTA is one of India's fastest-negotiated trade agreements — negotiations announced March 2025, concluded December 2025, signed July 2026 during PM Modi's visit; ties elevated to Strategic Partnership.
- 🔹 Justice M. Fathima Beevi (first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India) awarded Padma Bhushan; Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan.
- 🔹 Alexis Mac Allister scored for Argentina vs Switzerland in FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals; Jude Bellingham (double) guided England past Norway into the semifinals — England's first semifinal since 2018.