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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Monday, 10 August 2026
37 items
Tamil Nadu
- TN CM Vijay signs 3 key welfare schemes
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay signed three welfare schemes on Day 1 of office, signalling policy priorities of the new TVK-led government. (State governance, GS Paper II) - TN to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— The Vijay government announced transfer of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) beneficiaries aged above 60 to the pension scheme with an enhanced monthly assistance of ₹1,500. (Social welfare scheme, GS Paper II) - TVK government confirms two-language policy; rejects three-language formula
— A Tamil Nadu minister stated there will be no change in the two-language policy, with the TVK government maintaining long-held state positions; MDMK's Vaiko also urged CM Vijay to reject the PM SHRI scheme's three-language provision. (Language policy, Centre-State relations) - TN CM Vijay takes a cue from DMK on National Education Policy
— The new TVK government is reported to be continuing the previous DMK government's stance of resisting NEP implementation in Tamil Nadu. (Education policy, federalism) - TN police arrest 837 cyber criminals in two days
— A targeted operation focused on suspects using mule bank accounts to move cybercrime proceeds led to 837 arrests across Tamil Nadu. (Law enforcement, cybercrime) - Salt manufacturers urge TN CM to renew licences
— Salt pan land licence renewal, including for Central government-owned salt pan lands under arbitration, flagged to CM Vijay by manufacturers. (Industry, Centre-State issue)
India — National
- Census 2027: Ladakh to lead Independent India's first caste enumeration
— The upcoming Census form is likely to contain 40 questions, with caste enumeration being conducted for the first time since Independence; defence structures to be recorded on paper. (Census, GS Paper I & II — landmark first) - Lok Sabha passes MSME Development Amendment Bill
— The Bill, passed without debate, aims to improve administrative structure and payment mechanisms for the MSME sector. (Parliament, GS Paper III — Economy) - Rahul Navin's tenure as ED Director extended by 1 year
— The Enforcement Directorate Director's term has been extended, continuing oversight of financial crime investigations. (Appointment, GS Paper II) - BSP president Mayawati opposes 'creamy layer' idea for SCs/STs
— Mayawati described RSS's position on applying the creamy layer concept to Scheduled Castes and Tribes as reflecting a "casteist mindset" that undermines constitutional objectives. (Social justice, Constitutional provisions — Articles 15, 16, 46) - UP prioritises early identification of zoonotic diseases under RISE GHS Project
— Uttar Pradesh's Animal Husbandry department is implementing the RISE Global Health Security Project to detect and report emerging zoonotic diseases early. (One Health approach, GS Paper II — Health) - Assam floods worsen in historically safer Sivasagar and Charaideo districts
— Districts previously considered flood-safe are now inundated, highlighting expanding climate vulnerability in Assam. (Disaster management, GS Paper I — Geography) - Independence Day 2026: Crafts from four states adorn President's 'At Home' invite
— The President's Independence Day reception invitation features handicrafts from four states, promoting cultural diversity. (Culture, GS Paper I)
Economy & Finance
- UPI to remain free for users; MDR, if introduced, applies only to select large merchant transactions
— The government clarified that any future Merchant Discount Rate would be nominal and limited to a defined threshold of merchant transactions, keeping UPI free for the vast majority. (Digital payments, GS Paper III) - Union Cabinet approves ₹23,371 crore GOBARdhan scheme for Compressed Biogas sector
— The scheme aims to increase domestic Compressed Biogas (CBG) production ten-fold and attract large-scale private investment in the waste-to-energy sector. (Cabinet decision, GS Paper III — Energy & Environment) - PM Surya Ghar scheme crosses 50 lakh beneficiaries; daily rooftop solar installations more than triple in 9 months
— MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi announced the milestone, underlining accelerated uptake of the rooftop solar scheme. (GS Paper III — Renewable energy, key figures) - Central government's capex surges 66% in June; subsidy bill also jumps
— Capital expenditure recorded a 66% year-on-year rise in June 2026, indicating stepped-up infrastructure spending even as subsidy outgo increased. (GS Paper III — Fiscal policy) - Inflation crossed 4% in June after 16 months on fuel price hikes and weak rains
— Consumer price inflation breached the 4% RBI target after a long gap, driven by fuel costs and monsoon-linked food price pressures. (GS Paper III — Monetary policy, RBI) - U.S. accounts for 67% of India's LPG imports: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri
— Before the West Asia conflict, ~60% of India's LPG was imported, with 90% transiting the Strait of Hormuz; the U.S. now dominates India's LPG import mix. (Energy security, GS Paper III)
Science & Technology
- India's first privately built Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine — a global milestone
— Only three commercial entities globally have developed high-thrust FFSC engines: SpaceX, Stoke Space (USA), and LandSpace (China); an Indian private firm has now joined this elite group. (Space technology, GS Paper III — first) - NASA astronaut Anil Menon completes first-ever spacewalk
— Indian-American NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Jessica Meir conducted the 281st spacewalk in support of the ISS on August 5, 2026 — Menon's first spacewalk. (Space, GS Paper III — notable first) - IIT Madras's AI4Bharat collects voices across India to teach AI Indian languages
— Researchers are building multilingual AI datasets covering India's diverse languages to make AI tools accessible in regional languages. (AI, GS Paper III — Education & Technology) - Maharashtra FDA to introduce end-to-end digital milk traceability to fight adulteration
— A digitisation initiative will link milk to milch animals to trace adulteration at source. (Food safety, GS Paper II)
Environment
- Budget 2026-27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%; pollution control spending also dips
— Reduced budgetary allocation for air quality management raises concerns about urban pollution control capacity. (Environment policy, GS Paper III) - Kerala witnessing decline in winter migratory birds
— Long-term surveys indicate falling numbers of migratory species visiting Kerala in winter, with climate change and habitat degradation identified as key drivers. (Biodiversity, GS Paper III — Environment) - Union Environment Minister inaugurates 18 Namo Oxygen Parks in Delhi
— Eighteen green spaces inaugurated on World Environment Day 2026 as part of joint Union-Delhi government green initiatives. (Urban environment, GS Paper III)
Sports
- India wins podium finishes at Glasgow Commonwealth Games; women boxers shine
— India's women boxers were highlighted as the standout performers at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. (CWG 2026, GS Paper I — Sports) - Rishabh Pant removed as India's Test vice-captain
— Pant has been relieved of the vice-captaincy role to allow him to focus on his primary batting and wicketkeeping responsibilities. (Cricket, current affairs) - Raul Fernandez wins British MotoGP; Jorge Martin extends championship lead
— Fernandez claimed his second MotoGP victory at the British Grand Prix; Martin extended his lead in the riders' championship standings. (International sports) - India badminton coach Park Tae-Sang recognised for developing next-generation players
— South Korean coach Park Tae-Sang credited for India's improved badminton results through systematic player development. (Sports administration)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — passes away; conferred Padma Bhushan
— Justice Fathima Beevi, who made history as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, has passed away and was posthumously/recently honoured with the Padma Bhushan. (Historic first, GS Paper II — Judiciary) - Former CJI Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan
— Justice K.T. Thomas, known for urging Sonia Gandhi to show magnanimity towards the Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts, has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan. (Awards, GS Paper I) - Former CJI Justice J.S. Khehar receives Padma award
— Justice Khehar, who had offered to mediate in the Ayodhya dispute, has been recognised with a Padma award. (Judiciary, GS Paper II) - Rahul Navin's tenure as ED Director extended by one year
— The extension continues his leadership of the country's premier financial crimes enforcement agency. (Appointments, GS Paper II)
International
- Iran ties Strait of Hormuz reopening to U.S. concessions; no direct talks underway
— Iran's Foreign Minister Aragchi stated Tehran will not engage in direct talks with Washington while the U.S. breaches a June interim deal, keeping the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz closure in place — directly impacting India's LPG imports. (India's energy security, GS Paper II — IR) - Dinesh Trivedi may call on Bangladesh PM amid Sheikh Hasina tensions; BRICS invite on agenda
— India's special envoy Dinesh Trivedi is likely to meet Bangladesh PM as India-Bangladesh relations remain strained over Sheikh Hasina's presence in India, with a BRICS invitation also on the table. (India-Bangladesh relations, GS Paper II — IR) - Russia captures two more villages in eastern Ukraine
— Russian forces seized Vasyutinske and Toretsk in eastern Ukraine, intensifying pressure near Kramatorsk; the conflict continues to affect global commodity and energy markets relevant to India. (Geopolitics, GS Paper II — IR)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔑 Census 2027 will be Independent India's first-ever caste enumeration; Ladakh to lead; form expected to have 40 questions
- 🔑 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — passed away; honoured with Padma Bhushan
- 🔑 PM Surya Ghar scheme has crossed 50 lakh beneficiaries; daily rooftop solar installations more than tripled in 9 months; GOBARdhan scheme approved at ₹23,371 crore to boost Compressed Biogas ten-fold