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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Saturday, 25 July 2026
35 items
Tamil Nadu
- TN Governor's Address — Investor Promotion Commission announced
— CM C. Joseph Vijay's TVK government announced the establishment of an Investor Promotion Commission to fast-track regulatory approvals for companies, signalling a pro-industry policy direction. (GS: State governance, economic policy) - Free Breakfast Scheme extended to Middle School students
— The Tamil Nadu government announced expansion of the free breakfast scheme (originally launched under the previous DMK government) to middle school students, broadening welfare coverage. (GS: Social welfare schemes, education policy) - Two-language policy unchanged
— A Tamil Nadu minister confirmed the TVK government will continue the state's long-held two-language policy (Tamil and English), ruling out any shift. (GS: Language policy, federalism) - VB-GRAMG controversy puts Vijay government in a spot
— The VB-GRAMG scheme has sparked a political storm, with opposition questioning governance decisions of the new TVK administration. (GS: State politics, accountability) - PDS rice seizure in Ranipet
— Civil Supplies officials seized one tonne of PDS rice in Ranipet; special teams formed to apprehend absconding suspects. (GS: Public distribution system, food security enforcement) - Tribal hamlets in Vellore to get bitumen road
— DRDA is pursuing a proposal to construct a bitumen road connecting tribal hamlets atop Alleri hillock to the plains, following a snakebite death due to delayed evacuation. (GS: Tribal welfare, rural infrastructure)
India — National
- Amarnath Yatra resumes after six-day halt
— Over 6,000 pilgrims departed from Jammu as the Yatra resumed following a weather-induced suspension; the Pahalgam route remained without convoy dispatch. (GS: J&K administration, disaster management) - Cabinet approves bill for stricter punishment in paper leak cases
— Union Cabinet cleared a draft bill prescribing up to 10 years' imprisonment and ₹10 crore fine for examination paper leaks, amid the ongoing NEET controversy. (GS: Education policy, legislation, NTA reform) - Sonam Wangchuk denies deal with government at Jantar Mantar
— Climate activist and Ladakh representative Wangchuk clarified he made no deal with the Centre, demanding Statehood for Ladakh and FIR withdrawal against students. (GS: Ladakh, Art. 3 Constitution, federalism) - Supreme Court to hear petitions on alleged police excesses at CJP march
— SC agreed to hear petitions alleging excessive police force against student protesters; CRPF verifying pellet injury reports from media. (GS: Fundamental rights, Art. 19, judicial oversight) - Farooq Abdullah demands Statehood bill in ongoing Parliament session
— NC leader Dr. Farooq Abdullah urged the Centre to introduce and pass a J&K Statehood bill in the current session, days after a Jantar Mantar protest by NC leaders. (GS: Art. 3, J&K reorganisation, Parliament) - Anantnag terror attack aftermath — DGP orders intensified operations
— J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat directed officers to intensify area domination and intelligence-led operations in urban and vulnerable areas following the attack. (GS: Internal security, J&K) - Delhi HC hears plea challenging internet shutdown near Jantar Mantar
— High Court took up a petition calling the internet suspension near the protest site unconstitutional and arbitrary. (GS: Art. 19, Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, digital rights) - Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram introduced in Parliament
— A bill seeking penal provisions for insulting the national song was introduced in the House. (GS: National symbols, legislation)
Economy & Finance
- U.S. imposes 10% 'forced labour' tariff on India as temporary tariffs expire
— The United States levied a new 10% tariff on Indian goods under its forced-labour import findings; separate investigations also ongoing. (GS: India-US trade, tariff policy) - Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers push Brent crude past $100/barrel
— Brent crude rose 6.2% to briefly cross $100/barrel — first time in two months — stressing India's crude import routes. (GS: Energy security, West Asia conflict impact on India) - India plans Phase-2 of Strategic Petroleum Reserves under PPP model at ₹14,527 crore
— Phase-1 SPR capacity of 5.33 MMT exists at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur; Phase-2 will expand capacity under public-private partnership. (GS: Energy security, SPR policy) - Goldman Sachs revises India's GDP growth forecast upward
— Goldman Sachs raised its GDP growth projection for India, citing strong domestic consumption trends flagged by FM Nirmala Sitharaman. (GS: Economic survey, growth indicators) - Inflation crossed 4% in June after 16 months
— Fuel price hikes and weak monsoon rains contributed to inflation breaching the 4% mark for the first time in 16 months. (GS: RBI MPC target, CPI inflation, monetary policy)
Science & Technology
- NTA overhaul underway — recruitment for senior leadership via UPSC Pratibha Setu
— The National Testing Agency advertised for top leadership positions and opened young professional recruitment through UPSC's Pratibha Setu portal amid controversy. (GS: Education institutions, governance reform) - Maglev trains explained: speeds over 400 km/hr using magnetic levitation
— Maglev technology eliminates rolling friction using powerful magnetic fields, enabling speeds exceeding 400 km/hr but requiring dedicated guideways — relevant to India's high-speed rail plans. (GS: Science & technology, transport) - Zoopharmacognosy: animals medicating themselves using plants
— Plant biologists study how animals self-medicate using medicinal plants, coining the term 'zoopharmacognosy' — a concept at the intersection of ecology and pharmacology. (GS: Science terminology, biodiversity) - Centre weighs curbs on AI autonomy and consent rules for deepfakes
— The government is considering provisions under new law to regulate AI autonomy and mandate consent frameworks for deepfake content. (GS: IT law, digital policy, data protection)
Environment
- Tigers to be introduced in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, on October 2
— West Bengal Forest Department is planning tiger reintroduction at Buxa TR on Gandhi Jayanti; officials prefer sourcing tigers from similar landscapes in Assam and Bihar rather than Sundarbans. (GS: Wildlife conservation, Project Tiger, tiger reserves) - Wildfires in France and Spain force evacuation of 1,66,000 people
— French President Macron mobilised the army and sought EU help to combat the worst wildfire in French history; impact on India's trade and EU climate diplomacy relevant. (GS: Climate change, environment disasters, international) - Budget 2026-27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%
— Union Budget reduced allocation for air quality management, with pollution control budgets also declining — a concern for India's environmental commitments. (GS: Environment policy, budget, air pollution)
Sports
- Judoka Tulika Maan suspended, withdrawn from CWG
— Tulika Maan, India's prominent judoka, was suspended by NADA for three whereabouts failures in 12 months and withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games squad. (GS: Sports governance, NADA, CWG 2026) - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi compared to Garry Sobers by Mark Butcher
— Former England cricketer Mark Butcher drew a comparison between young Indian opener Sooryavanshi and West Indian legend Garry Sobers in a discussion on Test cricket. (GS: Cricket, sports trivia) - Badminton duo Varshini and Nayana win title ahead of international assignments
— The pair described their recent triumph as a confidence booster ahead of upcoming international badminton events. (GS: Sports achievements)
Appointments & Awards
- Veteran IPS officer K. Vijay Kumar to receive Padma Shri from President Murmu
— K. Vijay Kumar, known for leading anti-Veerappan operations, is among those receiving Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu. (GS: Padma awards, IPS officers) - Justice K.T. Thomas to receive Padma Vibhushan
— Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas, known for his notable judgments including the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, is to be conferred Padma Vibhushan. (GS: Padma awards, judiciary) - India-Romania comprehensive partnership — President Murmu's state visit
— MEA confirmed India and Romania are building a comprehensive bilateral partnership during President Droupadi Murmu's ongoing state visit. (GS: India's foreign relations, bilateral diplomacy)
International
- Indian seafarer killed in Black Sea ship attack
— The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed an Indian crew member was killed when MV Omorfi was attacked in the Black Sea reportedly in Russian territorial waters; 10 crew members were aboard. (GS: India's diaspora protection, MEA, Black Sea conflict) - Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigns
— Long-time Sheikh Hasina ally President Shahabuddin resigned, defending his role in forming the interim government after Hasina's ouster on August 5, 2024. (GS: India's neighbourhood, Bangladesh politics) - Iran attacks U.S. bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait; Hormuz Strait at risk
— Iran's military claimed strikes on U.S. bases in three Gulf countries; the UN urged evacuation of 6,000 sailors stranded in the Hormuz Strait — a critical chokepoint for India's oil imports. (GS: West Asia, energy security, India's crude import routes)
- Quick Revision:
- 📌 Union Cabinet approved jail up to 10 years + ₹10 crore fine for exam paper leaks — significant legislative response to NEET controversy
- 📌 Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal) will receive tigers on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti); sourced from Assam/Bihar landscapes, not Sundarbans
- 📌 Tulika Maan (Judoka) suspended by NADA for 3 whereabouts failures in 12 months and withdrawn from Commonwealth Games squad