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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Sunday, 26 July 2026
34 items
Tamil Nadu
- TVK Government to Establish Investor Promotion Commission
— Tamil Nadu Governor's address revealed CM Vijay's government will set up an Investor Promotion Commission to fast-track regulatory approvals for companies, signalling the new government's industrial policy direction. - Free Breakfast Scheme Extended to Middle School Students
— The TVK government announced expansion of the free breakfast scheme (originally launched under the previous DMK administration) to middle school students, broadening coverage beyond primary level. - KMUT Beneficiaries Above 60 to Be Moved to Pension Scheme; Aid Hiked to ₹1,500
— Tamil Nadu government will transition Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (KMUT) scheme beneficiaries aged above 60 to the pension scheme and increase monthly assistance to ₹1,500. - Two-Language Policy Unchanged Under TVK Government
— A Tamil Nadu minister confirmed the state will continue its long-held two-language (Tamil and English) policy with no change, reaffirming Tamil Nadu's stance against the three-language formula. - Keeladi 11th Phase Excavation Yields More Brick Structures
— Continuous brick structures were uncovered across all nine quadrants during the ongoing 11th phase of excavation at Keeladi archaeological site, which began on March 18, 2026. - PMK Founder S. Ramadoss to Retire from Active Politics
— Veteran politician and PMK founder S. Ramadoss announced his retirement from active politics, stating his son and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss will lead party affairs henceforth.
India — National
- Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Education Minister; Pralhad Joshi to Take Charge
— President accepted Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation following sustained protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar over NEET irregularities and student grievances; Pralhad Joshi named successor. (Ministry of Education; significant political development) - Rajnath Singh Visits Ladakh on Kargil Vijay Diwas (July 26)
— Defence Minister paid tributes to soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1999 Kargil War, stating "enemy's intentions unchanged, proxy war still a challenge," underscoring ongoing security concerns in the region. - Sarnath Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site After 28 Years on Tentative List
— Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh — the site where Buddha delivered his first sermon — has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status after being on the tentative list for 28 years. (Culture/History — high exam probability) - West Bengal Assembly Passes Bill Depriving Panchayat Pradhans of Financial Powers
— Bill passed 169–13 (32 abstained) in the West Bengal Assembly, significantly curtailing financial autonomy of panchayat heads. (Article 243 — Panchayati Raj; GS Paper II) - NIA Court Summons Pakistan-Based Terror Handler in Katra-Narwal Blasts Case
— A Pakistan-based terror handler has been ordered to appear before an NIA court in connection with the blasts that killed 13 persons; highlights cross-border terrorism investigations. - Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Advocates Lowering Contesting Age for MLA/MP to 21
— Citing Rajiv Gandhi's 61st Constitutional Amendment (1988) that reduced voting age from 21 to 18, CM Revanth Reddy called for lowering the minimum age for contesting legislative elections. (Constitutional amendment; GS Paper II) - U.S. Senator Introduces Bill Seeking 3-Year Pause on H-1B Visas
— The proposed legislation also seeks to codify a $1,00,000 fee per H-1B petition, directly impacting Indian IT professionals and tech workforce migration to the United States.
Economy & Finance
- U.S. Imposes 10% 'Forced Labour' Tariffs on India as Temporary Tariffs Expire
— The U.S. unveiled new 10–12.5% tariffs on 60 trade partners effective July 24; India's Commerce Ministry clarified that 45% of Indian exports to the U.S. will be exempt, while 55% will attract the new levy. (Trade policy; GS Paper III) - Brent Crude Briefly Crosses $100/Barrel After Houthi Attack on Saudi Tankers
— Brent crude climbed 6.2% to $99.94 per barrel — first time in two months — as Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers disrupted supply routes, stressing India's crude import economics. - India Plans Phase-2 of Strategic Petroleum Reserves Under PPP Model at ₹14,527 Crore
— Phase-1 SPR capacity stands at 5.33 MMT across Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangaluru (1.5 MMT), and Padur (2.5 MMT); Phase-2 to expand under public-private partnership. (Energy security; GS Paper III) - Goldman Sachs Hikes India's GDP Growth Forecast
— Goldman Sachs revised upward India's GDP growth projection, reflecting resilient domestic consumption; Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman credited middle-class consumption as the primary growth driver. - Inflation Crosses 4% in June After 16-Month Gap
— Retail inflation breached the RBI's 4% median target in June 2026, driven by fuel price hikes and weak monsoon impact on food prices, raising concerns about monetary policy trajectory.
Science & Technology
- SpaceX Launches Starship on New Test Flight Carrying Most Advanced Starlinks
— SpaceX conducted another Starship test flight, this time deploying the most advanced generation of Starlink satellites, marking a milestone in reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle development. - New Genomic Study Reveals Lost Himalayan People from Ladakh Cave
— A study on genome-wide data from 10 individuals found in a Kargil district cave showed ancestry split equally between Tibetan and North Indian lineages, revealing a previously undocumented mixed Himalayan population. - HPCL and IOCL Launch 5 kg and 10 kg LPG Cylinders in Chennai
— Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited introduced smaller-format LPG cylinders in Chennai, aimed at improving affordability and accessibility for urban households. (PSU policy; Ministry of Petroleum) - AI Autonomy and Deepfake Consent Rules Under Consideration by Centre
— The Government of India is weighing restrictions on AI autonomy and mandatory consent frameworks for deepfake content under a proposed new digital law. (IT governance; GS Paper II/III)
Environment
- Budget 2026–27: Air Quality Management Outlay Cut by 10%; Pollution Control Sees Dip
— The Union Budget reduced allocations for air quality management and pollution control programmes, drawing criticism from environment experts amid persistent urban air pollution concerns. (Environment policy; GS Paper III) - 18 Namo Oxygen Parks Inaugurated in Delhi by Union Environment Minister
— The Union and Delhi Governments jointly launched major green initiatives including 18 Namo Oxygen Parks on World Environment Day 2026, as part of urban greening and air quality improvement efforts.
Sports
- Anahat Singh First Indian to Reach World Junior Squash Championship Final Since 2005
— Teenage squash prodigy Anahat Singh achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian player in 21 years to reach the final of the World Junior Squash Championship. - Spain Wins Second Football World Cup
— Spain's national football team (La Roja) claimed their second FIFA World Cup title, combining their traditional possession-based philosophy with a more direct and adaptable playing style led by a young squad. - Para Powerlifter Jhandu Wins Bronze for India
— Bihar's para powerlifter Jhandu won a bronze medal in the heavyweight category, opening India's tally at the competition; head coach J.P. Singh appealed to Central and State governments to provide him employment. - India's Women's Team at Chess Olympiad — Strong Lineup Announced
— India's women's team featuring Koneru Humpy, R. Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and B. Savitha Shri will compete at the Chess Olympiad, described as one of the strongest squads fielded by the country.
Appointments & Awards
- Veteran IPS Officer K. Vijay Kumar to Receive Padma Shri from President Murmu
— Senior IPS officer K. Vijay Kumar, known for leading operations against Veerappan, is set to receive the Padma Shri award from President Droupadi Murmu. - Retired SC Judge K.T. Thomas Conferred Padma Vibhushan
— Justice K.T. Thomas, former Supreme Court judge known for his landmark judgments, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour. - Pralhad Joshi Named New Union Education Minister
— Following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Pralhad Joshi has been appointed to head the Ministry of Education, marking a significant cabinet reshuffle. (Central Government; Ministry of Education)
International
- Iran's IRGC Stops Four Ships at Strait of Hormuz; U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate
— Iran's Revolutionary Guards intercepted four ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Iran tensions over nuclear talks intensify; Brent crude briefly crossed $100/barrel impacting India's import costs. (India's energy security; West Asia geopolitics) - India-U.K. CETA — Unresolved Issues on Investment Protection and Carbon Taxes
— While the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between India and the UK eases trade barriers, key issues including investment protection, patent rules, and carbon border adjustment mechanisms remain for future negotiations. - Houthi Missile and Drone Attacks on Saudi Arabia Disrupt Regional Stability
— Houthi forces fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for strikes on Yemeni cities, escalating West Asia conflict and threatening key crude oil shipping lanes critical to India's energy imports.
- Quick Revision:
- 🏛️ Sarnath (UP) granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status after 28 years on the tentative list — first major heritage inscription of 2026
- 📚 Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister; Pralhad Joshi named successor following Jantar Mantar student protests over NEET
- 🎾 Anahat Singh became the first Indian since 2005 to reach the World Junior Squash Championship final