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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Friday, 17 July 2026
34 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay signs 3 key welfare schemes
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay signed three welfare schemes on Day 1 of assuming office, signalling the TVK government's policy priorities; specific schemes include liquor shop closures and free electricity provisions. (Governance; TVK manifesto implementation) - One-gram gold ring for babies born in TN government hospitals
— The Tamil Nadu government announced a scheme to give a one-gram gold ring to newborns in government hospitals, aimed at encouraging institutional deliveries. (State welfare scheme; Health Ministry angle) - Free Breakfast Scheme extended to Middle School students
— The TVK government announced expansion of the free breakfast scheme (originally introduced under the previous DMK government) to middle school students across Tamil Nadu. (Education welfare scheme; state budget implications) - TVK government to establish Investor Promotion Commission
— As stated in the Governor's address, the government will set up an Investor Promotion Commission to fast-track regulatory approvals for companies investing in Tamil Nadu. (Industrial policy; ease of doing business) - KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to be moved to pension scheme; aid hiked to ₹1,500
— Tamil Nadu will transition Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) beneficiaries aged above 60 to the state pension scheme and increase monthly assistance to ₹1,500. (Women's welfare; social security scheme) - No change in two-language policy, confirms TVK minister
— A Tamil Nadu minister confirmed the TVK government will continue the state's long-standing two-language policy (Tamil and English), dispelling concerns of any policy reversal. (Language policy; state governance)
India — National
- Cabinet approves ₹1.27 lakh crore for Semicon Mission 2.0
— The Union Cabinet cleared Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with an outlay of ₹1.27 lakh crore, along with approvals for mobile manufacturing, nine new gas-based urea plants, and two highway projects worth ₹25,400 crore in Varanasi. (GS3: Industry, Infrastructure; Ministry of Electronics) - Government lists Bill to replace FII tax-exemption Ordinance
— The government introduced a Bill in Parliament to replace the June 2026 Ordinance exempting foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and the Bank for International Settlements from capital gains and interest tax. (GS2: Parliament; GS3: Economy) - DGMA advises shipping companies to avoid deploying Indian sailors via Strait of Hormuz
— The Directorate General of Merchant Affairs issued the advisory following attacks on two vessels carrying 30 Indian seafarers among a 46-member combined crew, amid the escalating US-Iran conflict. (GS2: India's external interests; Maritime security) - Monsoon Session: Government likely to table 5 new Bills; delimitation package not on agenda
— The government is preparing to introduce five new Bills during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, while delimitation-related legislation has been deferred for now. (GS2: Parliament; Legislative process) - BIMSTEC security chiefs vow to jointly combat terror, streamline maritime law enforcement
— Security heads of BIMSTEC member nations committed to coordinated counter-terrorism and maritime security cooperation at a recent high-level meeting. (GS2: International organisations; India's neighbourhood policy) - BJP to protest against J&K government's job outsourcing policy on July 20
— The BJP announced statewide protests in Jammu & Kashmir over the Omar Abdullah-led NC government's alleged outsourcing of government jobs to coincide with NC's Jantar Mantar sit-in on statehood. (GS2: Centre-State relations; J&K governance) - Higher Education Bill may concentrate powers in single central regulator, warns House panel
— A joint parliamentary committee flagged concerns that the Higher Education Bill, introduced in December 2025, could over-centralise regulatory authority. (GS2: Parliament; Education policy)
Economy & Finance
- India's retail inflation crosses 4% in June after 16 months
— Fuel price hikes and weak monsoon rains pushed retail inflation above the RBI's 4% median target for the first time in 16 months, limiting scope for further rate cuts. (GS3: Monetary policy; RBI; Inflation) - RBI issues Data Governance Guidance Framework for banks
— The Reserve Bank of India released a framework to strengthen data quality, security, and accountability in banks, aimed at building operational resilience and protecting customer data. (GS3: Banking regulation; RBI) - Goldman Sachs raises India's GDP growth forecast
— Goldman Sachs revised upward its GDP growth projection for India, citing strong middle-class consumption growth, as noted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaking in France. (GS3: National income; Economic survey angle) - Government working on FTA utilisation plan; Piyush Goyal meets industry
— Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held consultations with industry bodies and export promotion councils to maximise benefits from existing Free Trade Agreements, while also criticising Fitch, Moody's, and S&P ratings as unfair to India. (GS3: International trade; FTAs) - RBI Monthly Bulletin warns monsoon shortfall could weigh on growth and inflation
— The RBI's July bulletin flagged that a below-normal monsoon could simultaneously pressure food inflation upward and dampen agricultural output growth. (GS3: Agriculture; Monetary Policy Committee considerations)
Science & Technology
- India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket Vikram-1 set for July 18 launch
— Skyroot Aerospace announced the launch of Vikram-1 from Sriharikota's first launch pad at 11:30 a.m. on July 18, 2026, marking a historic first for India's private space sector. (GS3: Space technology; IN-SPACe; Private space) - ISRO issues memo to halt resignations from Gaganyaan and key mission scientists
— ISRO directed that no voluntary retirement or resignation requests from Group A scientific/technical personnel associated with Gaganyaan or critical missions will be accepted until project completion. (GS3: Space; Human spaceflight) - ISRO successfully tests Gaganyaan crew module systems, including umbilical separation mechanism
— Key system tests were completed, including separation of the umbilical mechanism linking the crew module (astronaut habitat) and service module (propulsion). (GS3: ISRO; Gaganyaan mission) - SpaceX Starship's 13th flight aborted on launch pad
— The launch of the world's largest and most powerful rocket (407 feet, 33 engines) was aborted at the last moment, highlighting challenges in advanced reusable rocket development. (GS3: Global space technology; comparative context)
Environment
- Budget 2026-27 sees 10% cut in air quality management outlay; pollution control funding also dips
— Allocations for air quality management were reduced by 10% in the Union Budget 2026-27, raising concerns among environmentalists about India's commitment to tackling urban air pollution. (GS3: Environment policy; Budget) - IIT-M study assesses 25 abandoned quarries in Chennai to augment water supply
— Researchers including those from IIT Madras are evaluating the feasibility of linking nearly 25 quarries on Chennai's southern fringes to the city's water supply network. (GS1/GS3: Urban water management; Tamil Nadu) - Southern India populations among most affected by sleep loss due to climate change
— A new study identified that populations in southern India face disproportionately high levels of climate-change-induced sleep disruption, with implications for public health. (GS3: Climate change impacts; Health)
Sports
- England level ODI series vs India 1-0; Root scores unbeaten 99 in Cardiff
— Joe Root guided England to a series-levelling win in the 2nd ODI at Cardiff, with English pacers taking 9 wickets to restrict India to 233. (Cricket; England vs India series) - Selectors unlikely to pick Rohit Sharma after Lord's ODI
— Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar agree Virat Kohli remains an automatic selection based on form and fitness, but Rohit Sharma faces an uncertain future in the ODI squad. (Cricket; National selection) - FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on July 19; Trump to attend
— US President Donald Trump confirmed attendance at the FIFA World Cup final on July 19; the tournament features Argentina and Spain as finalists. (Sports; International event hosted in USA)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— Retired Supreme Court Justice K.T. Thomas, known for landmark judgments including in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. (GS2: Judiciary; Padma Awards) - Justice M. Fathima Beevi conferred Padma Bhushan
— Justice M. Fathima Beevi, India's first female Supreme Court judge, was conferred the Padma Bhushan, recognising her historic contribution to the Indian judiciary. (GS2: Judiciary; Women achievers; First in India) - Bangladeshi diplomat appointed head of UN mission in Afghanistan
— A Bangladeshi diplomat who served as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN (2019–2022) was appointed to lead the United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). (GS2: International organisations; UN)
International
- US launches new strikes on Iran; Strait of Hormuz at centre of conflict
— US forces conducted fresh strikes on Iran amid escalating West Asia tensions, with the Strait of Hormuz — critical to global oil and gas flows — emerging as the key flashpoint, directly impacting Indian seafarers and LPG supply. (GS2: India's energy security; West Asia) - PM Modi conveys condolences to Qatar's Amir on passing of Father Amir
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Amir of Qatar to offer condolences on the death of the Father Amir (former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani), reflecting India-Qatar diplomatic ties. (GS2: India's foreign policy; India-Gulf relations) - Kremlin rules out immediate prospect of resuming Russia-Ukraine peace talks
— Russia declared no immediate resumption of peace negotiations with Ukraine, as both sides continue striking cities and energy infrastructure nearly 4.5 years into the war. (GS2: International relations; Geopolitics)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔑 Cabinet approved ₹1.27 lakh crore for Semicon Mission 2.0 — India's biggest semiconductor and electronics manufacturing push to date, also including 9 new gas-based urea plants
- 🔑 Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 — India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, scheduled for launch on July 18, 2026 from Sriharikota
- 🔑 Justice M. Fathima Beevi (Padma Bhushan) — India's first woman Supreme Court judge; India's retail inflation crossed 4% in June 2026 for the first time in 16 months