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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Sunday, 2 August 2026
35 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay expands Thayumanavar Scheme
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced expansion of the Thayumanavar scheme to additionally benefit the elderly and persons with disabilities across Tamil Nadu. (State welfare scheme — relevant for TNPSC GS Paper II) - CM Vijay signs 3 key welfare schemes
— On an early governance push, CM Vijay signed three significant welfare schemes, including free electricity provisions and gold assistance of 8 gm to women, signalling major fiscal commitments. (TNPSC — State schemes, fiscal policy) - Free Breakfast Scheme extended to Middle School students
— The Tamil Nadu government announced extension of the already-running free breakfast scheme (launched under previous administration) to middle school students, widening its beneficiary base. (State education/nutrition scheme) - Two-language policy unchanged
— A Tamil Nadu minister confirmed that the TVK government will continue the long-held two-language policy (Tamil and English), dispelling speculation of any policy shift. (TNPSC — Language policy, State governance) - Prashant M. Wadnere posted as Water Resources Secretary
— The Tamil Nadu government appointed Prashant M. Wadnere as the new Secretary of the Water Resources Department. (Key bureaucratic appointment — TNPSC) - NHAI opens ₹21-crore underpass on Chennai–Bengaluru Highway in Vellore
— The National Highways Authority of India inaugurated a new vehicular underpass (5.5 m height, 20 m wide) below the elevated corridor on NH-48. (Infrastructure — NHAI, connectivity)
India — National
- Bhogapuram International Airport inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh
— GMR Group completed the new Bhogapuram airport six months ahead of its December 2026 deadline; Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu called it a "historic chapter for Uttarandhra." (Infrastructure — Civil Aviation Ministry, PPP model) - Kashmir terror attack kills 2; TRF link probed
— A terror attack in the Kashmir Valley claimed two lives with investigators probing links to The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba. (Internal security — J&K, counter-terrorism) - J&K speeds up Forest Rights Act implementation
— The J&K government directed the Forest Department to halt eviction notices and accelerate FRA implementation, months after conflict over evictions in Sunjwan and other Jammu areas. (Forest Rights Act 2006 — tribal rights, GS Paper II) - Rajasthan launches first digital medical emergency referral system
— Rajasthan became the first state in India to implement an online medical referral model where a patient's history reaches the control room before they arrive at the hospital. (Health governance — digital health, first-in-India) - NEET (PG) 2026 reforms announced
— The Union Health Ministry announced key changes including more test centre choices; 2,73,183 candidates have registered for NEET (PG) 2026. (Health Ministry — medical education) - Manhunt after Kashmir terror attack; Railway line through tiger corridor gets in-principle nod
— A proposed railway line passing through a key tiger corridor received in-principle approval from the government, subject to environmental safeguards. (Wildlife/infrastructure conflict — MoEFCC, Project Tiger) - CBI files FIR against Anil Ambani, Reliance Capital in EPFO case
— The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case against Anil Ambani and Reliance Capital in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving EPFO funds. (Financial crime — CBI, EPFO)
Economy & Finance
- Gross GST collections rise 15.4% to ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026
— Tax collection from domestic transactions grew 10.1% to ₹1.44 lakh crore, while import-based revenues surged 29% to ₹66,511 crore — the highest monthly GST collection on record. (GST — Ministry of Finance, macroeconomics) - Centre releases ₹1.09 lakh crore additional tax devolution to States
— The Union government released an additional instalment of tax devolution; currently 41% of central taxes are devolved in 14 instalments annually under the Finance Commission formula. (Fiscal federalism — Finance Commission, Article 280) - Union Cabinet approves ₹84,084 crore Samudra Manthan scheme
— The Cabinet cleared the offshore deepwater hydrocarbon exploration scheme with ₹43,200 crore allocated for drilling 60 deepwater wells, aimed at boosting energy security. (Energy — MoPNG, deepwater exploration) - PM-Kisan extended for four more years with ₹3.15 lakh crore allocation
— The government extended the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme; over ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred across 23 instalments since its February 2019 launch. (Agriculture — DBT, farmer welfare) - Central government capex surges 66% in June
— Capital expenditure by the Centre jumped 66% year-on-year in June 2026, even as the subsidy bill also rose, reflecting an expansionary fiscal stance. (Union Budget — fiscal policy, infrastructure push)
Science & Technology
- IN-SPACe releases re-entry guidelines for space objects
— India's space regulator IN-SPACe issued guidelines for planned re-entry of spacecraft, specifying procedures for controlled atmospheric descent — a step toward regulating commercial space operations. (Space policy — IN-SPACe, ISRO ecosystem) - Floating solar energy explored as India's next renewable frontier
— With land scarcity intensifying, India is evaluating floating solar panels on reservoirs; the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is studying large-scale deployment potential. (Renewable energy — solar, MNRE) - IRCTC beta website boosts Tatkal ticket bookings by 5% in first 3 minutes
— The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation reported that its revamped beta website improved Tatkal ticket availability access by 5% within the first three minutes of opening. (Railway tech — IRCTC, digital governance) - Centre weighs AI autonomy curbs and consent rules for deepfakes under new law
— The government is considering regulations to limit autonomous AI decision-making and mandate consent for deepfake creation under the forthcoming Digital India Act. (Tech regulation — IT Ministry, AI governance)
Environment
- Railway line through key tiger corridor gets in-principle approval
— A proposed railway line through a significant tiger corridor received conditional government approval, raising concerns among wildlife conservationists about habitat fragmentation. (Wildlife — Project Tiger, MoEFCC, linear infrastructure) - 6 dead as heavy rain batters Kerala; IMD warns fishers
— Six people died as intense rainfall hit Kerala; IMD advised fishers against venturing into the sea off Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep due to gusty winds. (Disaster management — IMD, Southwest Monsoon 2026) - Europe deploys 'firefighter donkeys' to prevent wildfires
— European nations are using herds of donkeys to graze dry vegetation and reduce wildfire fuel load, as an eco-friendly preventive measure amid rising wildfire frequency. (Environment — climate adaptation, global)
Sports
- Gulveer Singh wins bronze in 5000m at Commonwealth Games — first Indian to win two CWG athletics medals
— Gulveer Singh clocked behind Kenya's Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang (gold, 13:23.61) and Australia's Ky Robinson (silver, 13:24.70), scripting history as the first Indian to win two athletics medals at CWG. (CWG 2026 — athletics, first-in-India) - India wins 7 gold medals in boxing at Commonwealth Games
— Preeti, Jaismine, Sakshi, Priya, Arundhati, Sachin, and Ankush claimed gold; Lovlina Borgohain, Jadumani, and Narender finished with silver. (CWG 2026 — boxing, Indian achievement) - India drawn with Maldives and Pakistan in SAFF Championship 2026
— India will face Maldives on November 5 and Pakistan on November 11 as they chase a record-extending 10th SAFF Championship title. (Football — SAFF Championship, South Asian sports) - Rajat Patidar to captain Central Zone in Duleep Trophy
— Rajat Patidar was named captain of Central Zone with Rinku Singh as vice-captain; off-spinner Saransh Jain included but likely to miss early matches due to India Test squad duty. (Cricket — domestic, Duleep Trophy)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi conferred Padma Bhushan
— Justice M. Fathima Beevi, the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India, was awarded the Padma Bhushan — recognising her landmark judicial career. (Awards — Padma, first woman SC judge) - Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan
— Retired Supreme Court Justice K.T. Thomas, known for his judgments in high-profile cases, was conferred the Padma Vibhushan. (Awards — Padma, judiciary) - Justice Manikumar appointed Chairman of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
— Justice Manikumar was named as the new Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission. (Appointment — SHRC, human rights body)
International
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard strikes two tankers in Strait of Hormuz
— Iran's IRGC struck two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz (July 31); U.S. embassies in West Asia urged citizens to "consider departing" amid escalating regional tensions. (India's energy security — Strait of Hormuz, West Asia conflict) - Colombia truck bombing wounds 14 ahead of presidential inauguration
— The ELN (National Liberation Army) was blamed for an early-morning truck bomb blast in Cucuta, northern Colombia, days before the presidential inauguration. (International security — Latin America) - Tourist plane crashes at Nazca Lines, Peru, killing 13
— A sightseeing aircraft operated by Aerodiana crashed near the UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines; the plane had departed from Ica city. (International — UNESCO site, aviation safety)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏆 Gulveer Singh became the first Indian to win two athletics medals at the Commonwealth Games, winning bronze in the 5000m at CWG 2026
- 💰 GST collections in July 2026 hit over ₹2.11 lakh crore (15.4% growth); PM-Kisan extended 4 more years with ₹3.15 lakh crore allocation; Samudra Manthan scheme approved at ₹84,084 crore for deepwater oil exploration
- 🏛️ Justice M. Fathima Beevi (India's first woman Supreme Court judge) awarded Padma Bhushan; Rajasthan became first state to implement a digital medical emergency referral system