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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Saturday, 1 August 2026
34 items
Tamil Nadu
- Cauvery water row: Karnataka CM asks TN CM Vijay to defer Bengaluru visit
— Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar cited an unfavourable atmosphere, adding tension to the inter-state Cauvery water dispute ahead of Vijay's scheduled visit. (River water dispute — CWRC, Inter-State Water Disputes Act) - TN Government to extend Free Breakfast Scheme to Middle School students
— The Vijay government plans to expand the existing free breakfast scheme beyond primary schools to cover middle school students, building on the previous administration's flagship welfare initiative. (State welfare scheme — School education) - TN to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— Elderly beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam above 60 years will be shifted to the pension scheme with an enhanced monthly aid of ₹1,500. (Women welfare/social security scheme) - Madras High Court extends stay on by-election to five constituencies till August 24
— Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan extended the stay as pleadings in the case are yet to be completed. (Election law — Representation of the People Act) - TN government orders English version of Union-State Relations report to be made public
— The Vijay government directed that Part I of the Union-State Relations report be placed in the public domain, signalling transparency on centre-state fiscal federalism. (Federalism — Sarkaria/Punchhi Commission relevance) - DVAC arrests two suspects in suspected TASMAC scam
— The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption arrested two persons in connection with alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu state-owned liquor corporation. (Anti-corruption mechanism — State vigilance body)
India — National
- Varsha Ashok Aglawe becomes first woman Director General of GSI in 176-year history
— She is the first woman to head the Geological Survey of India since its establishment in 1851, marking a historic milestone for the 176-year-old institution. (First woman — PSU/Government body appointment) - Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana
— The scheme targets 5,000 MW of floating solar installations on water bodies by 2030–31, promoting dual use of reservoirs for power generation and water conservation. (Renewable energy — Ministry of New & Renewable Energy) - Centre extends PM-KISAN scheme for four to five more years, allocates ₹3.15 lakh crore
— The government has disbursed over ₹4.47 lakh crore through 23 instalments since the scheme's launch in February 2019, providing ₹6,000 per year to farmers. (Farmer welfare — Direct Benefit Transfer) - Supreme Court asks Centre to facilitate DNA testing of Indians killed in Russia-Ukraine war
— The apex court directed the Ministry of External Affairs to help identify mortal remains of Indians and ensure families receive legal aid for compensation claims. (SC jurisdiction — Article 32; MEA consular role) - NSA invoked against Assam activist Pranab Doley a day after bail
— The National Security Act was used against the activist just one day after he received bail, raising questions about executive use of preventive detention laws. (NSA 1980 — Preventive detention; civil liberties) - Migrant worker killed in terror attack in J&K's Kulgam
— Suspected terrorists fired on non-local workers after sundown; security forces launched a search operation in the area. (J&K security situation — Article 370 aftermath) - SIR: Haryana records 3rd-highest voter deletion rate at 16.3% in draft stage
— The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls shows Haryana has the third-highest deletion rate among states, raising concerns about electoral roll accuracy. (Election Commission — Electoral roll revision)
Economy & Finance
- India's R&D spending crosses 0.8% of GDP for the first time since 2010
— Private industry now accounts for 51.8% of national R&D spending in 2023–24 — the first time business sector contribution exceeded 50%, signalling a structural shift. (Science policy — National R&D investment) - Central government's capex surges 66% in June; subsidy bill also jumps
— The sharp rise in capital expenditure indicates a policy push for infrastructure investment, even as the subsidy outgo increased simultaneously. (Fiscal policy — Union Budget implementation) - FinMin launches Protection & Indemnity Insurance product under Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool
— Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Lohia handed the first P&I policy to Shipping Corporation of India Ltd, boosting domestic maritime insurance capacity. (Financial services — Shipping/insurance sector) - High gold prices dent demand; volume falls 6%, value rises 50% in April–June 2026
— Total jewellery demand fell 15% to 75.1 tonnes year-on-year per World Gold Council data, reflecting price sensitivity of Indian consumers. (Commodity market — WGC report) - Inflation crossed 4% in June after 16 months; fuel price hikes, weak rains cited
— The break in the sub-4% trend is significant as it approaches RBI's medium-term inflation target midpoint, affecting future monetary policy decisions. (RBI MPC — CPI inflation targeting)
Science & Technology
- IN-SPACe releases re-entry guidelines for space objects
— The guidelines define planned and unplanned re-entry protocols, requiring operators to use controlled manoeuvres to determine how and where space objects descend. (Space regulation — IN-SPACe; Space Activities Bill context) - Bengaluru start-up sends world's first lab-grown diamond jewel to space aboard Skyroot's Vikram-1
— A lotus-shaped gold jewel set with 16.9 carats of lab-grown diamonds was sent to space, marking a commercial and technological first for India's private space sector. (Private space — Skyroot Aerospace; Vikram-1 rocket) - Centre weighs curbs on AI autonomy and consent rules for deepfakes under new law
— The government is considering regulatory provisions under upcoming digital legislation to address AI-generated content and deepfakes. (IT/AI regulation — Digital India governance)
Environment
- Budget 2026–27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%; pollution control also sees dip
— The reduction in funding for air quality management and pollution control comes despite persistent poor air quality in major Indian cities. (Environment budget — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) - Cabinet-approved floating solar scheme to use water bodies as dual-use assets
— The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana will reduce water evaporation while generating 5,000 MW of clean energy by 2030–31, integrating environment and energy goals. (Renewable energy + water conservation)
Sports
- Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh become India's first-ever gold medallists in judo at Commonwealth Games
— Asmita won the women's 48 kg final against Canada's Quach, while Harsh defeated Australia's Katz in the men's 60 kg bout — a historic double for Indian judo. (Commonwealth Games — first gold in judo) - Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin at Commonwealth Games; Yash Vir takes bronze
— Chopra produced a season-best throw of 85.83 m in his second attempt; the Tokyo Olympics champion continues his medal-winning streak at major multi-sport events. (Athletics — Commonwealth Games 2026) - Tejaswin Shankar clinches historic bronze in decathlon at Commonwealth Games
— The all-rounder achieved personal bests in long jump, discus throw, and javelin to secure India's first Commonwealth Games decathlon medal. (Athletics — Commonwealth Games 2026) - FIFA President Infantino drops plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity
— Gianni Infantino reversed the proposal after opposition from AFC, UEFA, CONCACAF and his senior adviser's resignation from a White House panel. (FIFA governance — World Cup commercialisation)
Appointments & Awards
- Varsha Ashok Aglawe appointed first woman Director General of Geological Survey of India
— Her appointment is a first in the 176-year history of GSI, one of the oldest geological survey organisations in the world, established in 1851. (Historic first — PSU appointment) - Justice M. Fathima Beevi conferred Padma Bhushan
— India's first woman Supreme Court judge is being honoured with the Padma Bhushan, recognising her landmark contribution to the judiciary. (Padma Awards — Judiciary) - Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— The former Supreme Court judge, known for landmark judgments, is awarded India's second-highest civilian honour. (Padma Awards — Judiciary) - Justice Manikumar appointed new Chairman of State Human Rights Commission
— The appointment fills the top post at the SHRC, which plays a key role in addressing human rights grievances at the state level. (Human Rights — SHRC; Protection of Human Rights Act 1993)
International
- PM Modi and UK PM Andy Burnham discuss trade, technology, and Hormuz Strait
— The phone call covered bilateral trade ties, technology cooperation, and freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait, signalling deepening India-UK strategic engagement. (India-UK relations — FTA negotiations context) - India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh meets U.S. Ambassador to India in Dhaka — a first
— The unprecedented meeting in a third country was not commented upon by MEA, but signals active diplomatic engagement over the Bangladesh political situation. (India-Bangladesh-US trilateral diplomacy) - EAM Jaishankar tells Iran's Araghchi: Do not attack merchant vessels under any circumstances
— India conveyed a firm message to Iran prioritising the safety of commercial shipping, critical given India's energy imports through the Persian Gulf. (India-Iran relations — Strait of Hormuz; energy security)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 Varsha Ashok Aglawe — First woman Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its 176-year history (est. 1851)
- 🔹 Asmita Dey (W-48kg) & Harsh Singh (M-60kg) — India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo (2026 CWG)
- 🔹 Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana — Cabinet-approved floating solar scheme targeting 5,000 MW on water bodies by 2030–31