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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Friday, 24 July 2026
32 items
Tamil Nadu
- TVK Government to establish Investor Promotion Commission
— Tamil Nadu Governor's address announced the Vijay-led TVK government will set up an Investor Promotion Commission to fast-track corporate approvals; key policy signal ahead of the state budget. (State governance, GS-II) - Free Breakfast Scheme extended to Middle School students
— The Vijay government announced extension of the existing free breakfast scheme (originally launched under the previous Stalin government) to middle school students, expanding its coverage. (Social welfare scheme, GS-II) - Special committee constituted to verify Palani temple properties
— HR&CE Minister announced a special committee to audit and verify properties belonging to the Palani Murugan temple. (State governance, religious endowments) - NEET ban protests gain momentum in Chennai
— Filmmaker Pa. Ranjith-led Neelam Students Movement staged protests at Rajarathinam Stadium demanding abolition of NEET and educational reforms, mirroring nationwide agitation. (Education policy, GS-II) - IIT-Madras students rally in support of Delhi anti-NEET protests
— Students were reportedly directed to remove social media posts related to the protest, sparking free-speech concerns. (Higher education, GS-II) - Tamil Nadu reaffirms two-language policy
— A state minister confirmed the TVK government will continue Tamil Nadu's long-standing two-language policy with no change, amid delimitation concerns raised by former judge Justice Hariparanthaman. (Language policy, GS-II; Women's reservation–delimitation linkage)
India — National
- Sonam Wangchuk breaks 26-day fast; government gives written assurance on student cases
— Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after two Union Ministers gave a written assurance that cases against non-violent students would be withdrawn; CJP founder Dipke vowed to continue protest until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. (Civil liberties, GS-II) - Parliament disrupted for fourth consecutive day over NEET paper leak
— Opposition MPs visited Gandhi Smriti to pay tribute to students who died by suicide; CBI stated it found no evidence directly linking key accused Sanjeev Mukhiya to the paper's theft or distribution. (Parliament functioning, education integrity, GS-II) - U.S. imposes 10% tariff on Indian goods under Section 301 over forced labour concerns
— USTR Jamieson Greer announced new levies on 60 countries effective July 24, citing forced labour issues; India among nations affected as earlier 10% additional tariffs were set to expire. (Trade policy, India-US relations, GS-II/III) - Assam floods: toll rises to 47, over 7 lakh affected
— CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the devastation to localised rainfall 436% above normal and cloudbursts upstream in Nagaland. (Disaster management, GS-III) - Urban Development Ministry split; Delhi gets dedicated department
— The central government bifurcated the Urban Development Ministry, creating a separate department for Delhi's administration. (Executive restructuring, GS-II) - DRDO successfully flight-tests 'Kusha' missile
— DRDO conducted a flight test of the Kusha air defence missile system, marking a key milestone in India's indigenous air defence capability development. (Defence, GS-III) - CAG flags ₹92,132.75 crore in outstanding Utilisation Certificates in Bihar
— The CAG report 2024-25 revealed 62,632 UCs worth ₹92,132.75 crore were pending with the Principal Accountant General, Bihar, as of March 31, 2025. (Audit accountability, GS-III)
Economy & Finance
- U.S. tariffs (10–12.5%) on 60 countries including India take effect July 24
— The new levies under Section 301 of the US Trade Act cover major economies including China, India and the EU, escalating global trade tensions. (International trade, GS-III) - Brent crude crosses $100/barrel after Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers
— Oil prices surged 6.2% to $99.94, briefly topping $100 for the first time in two months, stressing India's crude import routes via Red Sea/Bab el-Mandeb. (Energy security, inflation, GS-III) - India plans Phase-2 of Strategic Petroleum Reserves under PPP model at ₹14,527 crore
— Phase-I had built 5.33 MMT capacity at Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangaluru (1.5 MMT) and Padur (2.5 MMT); Phase-2 will expand under public-private partnership. (Energy security, GS-III) - Net FDI turns negative again in May 2026 with outflows exceeding inflows by $74 million
— RBI data showed inflows slowed more than outflows, snapping a three-month streak of positive net FDI. (Foreign investment, GS-III) - Goldman Sachs raises India GDP growth forecast; inflation crosses 4% after 16 months
— Fuel price hikes and weak monsoon contributed to June inflation crossing the 4% mark for the first time in 16 months, even as Goldman Sachs upgraded its India growth projection. (Macroeconomics, GS-III)
Science & Technology
- DRDO flight-tests 'Kusha' air defence missile system
— The indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile system, developed by DRDO, successfully completed its flight trial, advancing India's air defence self-reliance. (Defence technology, GS-III) - Rome Declaration calls for human ethics not to be outsourced to AI
— Nobel laureates, AI scientists and religious leaders signed the declaration in mid-July urging that AI must remain under ethical human oversight. (AI governance, GS-II/III) - Maglev train technology explained: speeds over 400 km/hr using magnetic levitation
— Maglev trains use magnetic fields to eliminate rolling friction, requiring dedicated guideways; relevant to India's future high-speed rail planning. (Transport technology, GS-III)
Environment
- Budget 2026-27 cuts air quality management outlay by 10%; pollution control also reduced
— The Union Budget reduced allocations for air quality management and pollution control, drawing concern from environmentalists amid worsening urban air quality. (Environment policy, GS-III) - Assam floods triggered by 436% above-normal rainfall and Nagaland cloudbursts
— The unprecedented scale underlines gaps in inter-state disaster early warning coordination. (Disaster management, climate, GS-III) - Telangana farmers in distress as El Niño delays rains and depletes groundwater
— Delayed southwest monsoon combined with El Niño impact is pushing thousands of Telangana farmers toward crop failure and debt. (Agriculture, climate, GS-III)
Sports
- Sai Sudharsan (Tamil Nadu) speaks on Test cricket priorities and fitness goals
— The 24-year-old India batter said Test cricket satisfaction is unparalleled and he is focused on improving his fitness and game against spin bowling. (Cricket, Indian players) - Rajpal realistic about India's medal chances at curtailed Commonwealth Games
— India's contingent expectations have been moderated given the reduced schedule of the upcoming CWG. (Sports policy, GS-II) - Delhi storm into Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 semifinals
— Delhi franchise advanced to the semis amid controversy over a disputed umpiring decision during a women's singles match between Chitale and Mukherjee. (Table tennis, domestic tournaments)
Appointments & Awards
- Veteran IPS officer K. Vijay Kumar to receive Padma Shri from President Murmu
— K. Vijay Kumar, known for leading the operation against Veerappan, is among the awardees of the Padma Shri honour. (Padma Awards, GS-II) - Retired Supreme Court Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan
— Justice Thomas, known for notable judgments including the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, is conferred India's second-highest civilian honour. (Padma Awards, Judiciary, GS-II)
International
- EAM Jaishankar at East Asia Summit: International waterways must remain safe and unimpeded
— Jaishankar condemned attacks on seafarers and civilian shipping, asserting freedom of navigation; MEA also rebutted Pakistan Deputy PM's comments on Kashmir. (India's foreign policy, maritime security, GS-II) - Russia warns U.S. against Ukraine arms sales at Lavrov-Rubio Manila meeting
— The first Lavrov-Rubio talks since September 2025, on the sidelines of an ASEAN-linked summit, reflected shifting U.S. focus from Ukraine mediation to Iran conflict. (Geopolitics, GS-II) - Philippines accuses China of harassment in disputed South China Sea waters
— Chinese and Philippine authorities traded blame over a confrontation in a disputed shoal, escalating South China Sea tensions relevant to India's Indo-Pacific policy. (Indo-Pacific, GS-II)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 DRDO's 'Kusha' is India's indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile system — flight-tested successfully on 24 July 2026.
- 🔹 India's Phase-2 Strategic Petroleum Reserve under PPP model is estimated at ₹14,527 crore; Phase-1 capacity was 5.33 MMT across Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur.
- 🔹 U.S. Section 301 tariffs of 10% imposed on India (effective 24 July 2026) over forced labour concerns — announced by USTR Jamieson Greer covering 60 countries.