All daily digests
Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Saturday, 18 July 2026
37 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay inspects MC Raja and MBC students' hostels in Chennai
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay visited hostels for Mosto Backward Class and BC students in Chennai, listening to residents' grievances to identify welfare gaps. (Relevance: State welfare schemes, marginalized communities) - Census 2027 self-enumeration process begins in Chennai
— The pilot phase of the self-enumeration module for Census 2027 has been launched in Chennai, marking a significant step toward India's first digital census. (Relevance: Census process, GS Paper I) - Tamil Nadu government to extend Free Breakfast Scheme to middle school students
— The TVK government announced expansion of the existing free breakfast scheme (originally launched under the previous DMK administration) to middle school students, broadening its reach. (Relevance: State welfare, education schemes) - Delta Electronics team meets CM Vijay, proposes greenfield testing and validation facility
— A delegation from Delta Electronics met Chief Minister Vijay to propose establishing a greenfield electronics testing and validation facility in Tamil Nadu. (Relevance: Investment, Make in India, industrial policy) - TN government to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— The Vijay government announced that Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) beneficiaries aged above 60 will be transitioned to the pension scheme with monthly assistance hiked to ₹1,500. (Relevance: State social security schemes) - Madras HC refuses to quash FIRs against political commentator Ponraj for remarks against TVK women supporters
— Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan held that Ponraj, being a person of considerable public standing, ought to have exercised greater restraint in public statements. (Relevance: Freedom of speech, HC judgments) - Two-language policy unchanged — TVK government to follow long-held state policies: Minister
— A Tamil Nadu minister clarified that the Vijay government will continue the two-language (Tamil and English) policy and will not deviate from established state practice. (Relevance: Language policy, state autonomy)
India — National
- Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike enters Day 20; opposition support grows at Jantar Mantar
— Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk remains under 24-hour medical vigilance as his fast-unto-death over Ladakh statehood demands continues with growing opposition support. (Relevance: Article 3, Union Territory status, civil society) - Government lists Bill in Parliament to replace Ordinance exempting FIIs from capital gains tax
— The government has introduced a Bill to replace the June 2026 Ordinance that exempted Foreign Institutional Investors and the Bank for International Settlements from capital gains and interest tax. (Relevance: Parliament, taxation, FII policy) - CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Record voter turnouts evidence of public trust in poll process
— Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar cited record turnouts in recent elections as proof of growing public confidence in India's electoral system. (Relevance: Election Commission, democratic institutions) - India raises concerns with US over new visa rules affecting students and travellers: MEA
— The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India has formally raised issues regarding US visa restrictions impacting Indian students and travellers. (Relevance: India-US relations, MEA) - Government puts draft Bill on removal of 'tainted' ministers on backburner ahead of delimitation Bill
— The Centre has deprioritised the draft legislation seeking disqualification of ministers with criminal cases, focusing instead on the upcoming delimitation legislation. (Relevance: Parliament, constitutional governance) - Japan ex-minister claims 'recklessness' on bullet train project; India rejects charge
— India officially rejected claims by a former Japanese minister alleging recklessness in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project execution. (Relevance: India-Japan infrastructure, diplomatic relations) - Ram temple 'donation theft' probe widens: After 8 held, 30 more under lens
— Investigations into alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple complex have expanded, with 30 additional individuals under scrutiny after 8 arrests. (Relevance: Law, religious institutions, UP governance)
Economy & Finance
- India's retail inflation crosses 4% in June after 16 months; RBI flags no room for rate cut
— Retail inflation breached the 4% RBI target in June 2026 for the first time in 16 months, driven by fuel price hikes and weak monsoon, making further rate cuts unlikely. (Relevance: RBI monetary policy, CPI, MPC decisions) - Goldman Sachs hikes India's GDP growth forecast
— Goldman Sachs has revised upward its GDP growth projection for India, citing resilient domestic consumption and strong services exports. (Relevance: Economy, GDP forecasts) - RBI Governor flags West Asia crisis and uncertain monsoon as major risks to growth
— RBI Governor highlighted geopolitical tensions in West Asia and a potentially below-normal monsoon as the two principal downside risks to India's economic outlook. (Relevance: RBI, monetary policy, inflation) - Government working on FTA utilisation plan to maximise export benefits: Piyush Goyal
— Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has been meeting industry bodies and Export Promotion Councils to devise a strategy for better utilisation of existing Free Trade Agreements. (Relevance: Trade policy, exports, WTO) - US to impose 25% tariff on some Brazilian imports from July 22
— The United States announced 25% tariffs on select Brazilian goods citing unfair trade practices, with exemptions for goods not produced domestically — a development with implications for global trade flows affecting India. (Relevance: Global trade, tariff wars)
Science & Technology
- India's first private orbital rocket Vikram-1 set for lift-off on July 18
— Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, is scheduled to launch from Sriharikota's first launch pad at 11:30 a.m., with a 15.46-minute flight covering 14 phases. (Relevance: Private space sector, IN-SPACe, ISRO ecosystem) - Oceansat-3A likely to be launched by year-end: NRSC Director
— The National Remote Sensing Centre Director announced the upcoming launch of Oceansat-3A and inaugurated a coastal observation research laboratory at Andhra University's Centre for Studies on Bay of Bengal. (Relevance: ISRO, ocean observation, satellite programme) - SpaceX Starship's 13th test flight aborted on launch pad
— SpaceX scrubbed the 13th Starship test flight — the first since the company's record IPO of $135 billion in June 2026 — at the last moment; the rocket stands 407 feet tall with 33 main engines. (Relevance: Global space technology) - Power grids face slow-burn threat from solar storms: new research
— A 2015 geomagnetic storm over New Zealand was found to have ramped up induced electrical currents in power grids gradually over 90 minutes rather than spiking briefly, revealing a new category of space-weather threat. (Relevance: Science, disaster management)
Environment
- Budget 2026-27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%; pollution control also sees dip
— The Union Budget 2026-27 has reduced allocations for air quality management by 10% and also trimmed the pollution control budget, drawing criticism from environmentalists. (Relevance: Environment budget, air pollution policy) - J&K's Mansbal Lake starts hosting migratory birds again
— Mansbal Lake in Jammu & Kashmir has resumed attracting migratory birds, signalling improving ecological conditions in the wetland. (Relevance: Biodiversity, Ramsar wetlands) - New tool developed to help cities quantify greenhouse gas emissions from food waste
— Researchers have developed a new measurement tool enabling urban authorities to accurately estimate GHG emissions arising from food waste, aiding cities in climate action planning. (Relevance: Climate change, urban governance)
Sports
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Spain vs Argentina — summit clash set
— Spain and Argentina are confirmed as the two finalists for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Spain's Dani Olmo identified as the key orchestrator for the European side. (Relevance: FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted by USA/Canada/Mexico) - FIFA World Cup 2026: France vs England battle for third place in Miami
— France and England face off in the third-place play-off in Miami, with both nations unable to reach the final of the tournament. (Relevance: FIFA World Cup 2026) - India vs England Test at Lord's could be Rohit Sharma's final appearance
— Rohit Sharma faces questions about his future as opener with selectors reportedly considering Yashasvi Jaiswal as his long-term replacement, making the Lord's Test series decider potentially his last. (Relevance: Cricket, Test series) - Netherlands women's cricket team qualifies for T20 World Cup despite training in zero-degree indoor halls
— Netherlands women's team coach Neil MacRae described the extreme challenges overcome by the team to qualify for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. (Relevance: ICC, Women's cricket)
Appointments & Awards
- Padma Vibhushan announced for Justice K.T. Thomas
— Former Supreme Court Judge Justice K.T. Thomas has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan; he is notable for his judgment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and was among eight Malayalees to receive Padma awards this cycle. (Relevance: Padma awards, Supreme Court) - 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 the judiciary. (Relevance: First woman SC judge, Padma awards) - Rajasthan Sarpanch Neeru Yadav represents India at BRICS Ministerial Meeting
— Sarpanch Neeru Yadav of Rajasthan, known for championing girls' education, participated as a panelist at the BRICS Ministerial Meeting under India's BRICS presidency, representing grassroots women leadership. (Relevance: BRICS, panchayati raj, women empowerment)
International
- US airstrikes on Iran damage Chabahar port; India says its terminal unaffected
— American airstrikes targeting Iran have reportedly damaged parts of Chabahar port; India, which operates one of the port's two terminals, clarified that its terminal sustained no damage. (Relevance: India-Iran-US relations, Chabahar port, connectivity) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim attack on US base in Qatar as retaliation
— Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that its attack on a US military base in Qatar was intended to "punish the aggressor," escalating West Asia tensions. (Relevance: West Asia conflict, India's energy security) - Israel's Knesset dissolves; elections scheduled for October 27
— The Israeli Parliament dissolved itself, setting October 27 elections; in the final sessions, PM Netanyahu pushed through several controversial legislative measures. (Relevance: West Asia geopolitics, India-Israel relations) - China pitches AI governance model for Global South; Xi offers 5,000 opportunities
— At an international forum, China presented its AI governance framework as an alternative for Global South nations, with President Xi Jinping pledging "5,000 opportunities" to developing countries in the AI sector. (Relevance: AI governance, India-China tech competition, Global South)
- Quick Revision:
- 🚀 Vikram-1 by Skyroot Aerospace — India's first private orbital-class rocket — scheduled for launch on July 18, 2026 from Sriharikota; flight duration 15.46 minutes across 14 phases
- 📊 India's retail inflation crossed 4% in June 2026 for the first time in 16 months, driven by fuel hikes and weak monsoon — RBI rules out near-term rate cut
- 🏅 Justice M. Fathima Beevi (first woman SC judge) awarded Padma Bhushan; Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan — both from Kerala