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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Tuesday, 11 August 2026
34 items
Tamil Nadu
- TN Assured Pension Scheme on hold pending Centre's nod
— Finance Minister Marie Wilson stated the scheme will be implemented once the Union government sanctions a ₹11,000 crore borrowing; interim payouts will be given to those retiring on or after January 1, 2026. (GS: State Finance, Pension Policy) - CM Vijay mandates private schools to display approved fee structures
— Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay issued a strict directive requiring private schools to publicly display government-approved fee structures to curb hidden charges and unauthorised hikes. (GS: Education Policy, Right to Education) - TN's proposed four-year undergraduate programme faces resistance
— Students and faculty allege the move contradicts the TVK government's stated opposition to NEP 2020, calling it a duality in policy stance. (GS: NEP 2020, Higher Education) - TN to shift KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme; aid hiked to ₹1,500
— The Vijay government announced KMUT (Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam) beneficiaries aged above 60 will be moved to the pension scheme with enhanced monthly assistance. (GS: Social Welfare Schemes, Women Empowerment) - Committee constituted to shortlist candidates for non-hereditary trustee posts in temples
— The Tamil Nadu government formed a committee to identify candidates for temple trustee positions, a move with significant HR and HR Hindutva policy implications. (GS: HR & CE Act, State Religion Policy) - TVK government reaffirms two-language policy
— A state minister confirmed there will be no change to Tamil Nadu's long-standing two-language policy (Tamil and English), distancing the Vijay government from NEP's three-language formula. (GS: Language Policy, State Autonomy)
India — National
- Supreme Court to examine pellet gun use; confirms it is part of graded police response
— The apex court said use of pellet guns in "exceptional circumstances" is part of graded response but will scrutinise incidents of indiscriminate or arbitrary use, including those at Jantar Mantar on July 20. (GS: Fundamental Rights, Art. 21, Policing) - Delhi Police authorised pellet gun use on July 20 against protesters: RAF diary entry
— A general diary entry at Parliament Street police station confirmed the Rapid Action Force was authorised to use pellet guns; RAF later withdrew pump-action guns following The Hindu's report. (GS: Public Order, Police Powers) - Jharkhand JSSC-CGL protest: 5 injured in clashes; former JPSC Chairman arrested
— Students and job aspirants marched to the Jharkhand Assembly demanding CBI probe into JSSC-CGL exam irregularities; the march came a day after clashes at Jantar Mantar. (GS: Recruitment Irregularities, Federalism) - Lok Sabha passes MSME Development Amendment Bill
— The Bill, passed without debate, aims to improve administrative structure and payment mechanisms for MSMEs; addresses long-standing credit and delayed-payment challenges. (GS: Parliament, MSME Policy, Economy) - Lok Sabha passes Bill to set up panel for selecting tribunal chiefs and members
— Amid opposition din, the Bill establishing a selection committee for tribunal appointments was passed; significant for judicial independence debate. (GS: Tribunals, Art. 50, Separation of Powers) - Amit Shah to make statement on Delhi protest crackdown
— Government asked the Opposition not to disrupt Parliament as Home Minister Amit Shah prepared to make a statement on police action against Sansad march protesters. (GS: Parliament Functioning, Civil Liberties) - Dinesh Trivedi meets Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman in Dhaka; R&AW chief holds security talks
— India's diplomatic outreach to Bangladesh's new government included a senior political envoy and intelligence chief visits, signalling efforts to stabilise bilateral relations. (GS: India-Bangladesh Relations, Foreign Policy)
Economy & Finance
- Lok Sabha passes MSME Development Amendment Bill
— Targets administrative overhaul and improved payment mechanisms for the sector; MSME sector contributes ~30% to GDP. (GS: Legislative Updates, Economy) - PM Surya Ghar scheme crosses 50 lakh beneficiaries; daily solar installations more than triple
— MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi stated rooftop solar installations tripled in 9 months under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. (GS: Renewable Energy, Central Schemes) - UPI to remain free for users; MDR, if introduced, only for select high-value merchant transactions
— Government clarified any future Merchant Discount Rate would apply to a limited set of transactions above a threshold at nominal rates, protecting small merchants. (GS: Digital Payments, FinTech Policy) - Under-recovery on domestic LPG narrows to ₹188/cylinder in August; accumulated loss ₹59,000 crore
— MoS Petroleum Suresh Gopi revealed the cumulative under-recovery has reached ₹59,000 crore as of July-end despite narrowing monthly shortfall. (GS: Petroleum Pricing, Subsidies) - Central government capex surges 66% in June; inflation crossed 4% after 16 months
— Capital expenditure growth signals renewed infrastructure push; inflation crossing 4% after 16 months raises monetary policy concerns. (GS: Fiscal Policy, Inflation)
Science & Technology
- India's first privately built Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine — significance explained
— Only SpaceX, Stoke Space (USA), and Land Space (China) have previously achieved high-thrust FFSC engines commercially; India joining this list marks a major private space milestone. (GS: Space Technology, Private Space Sector) - ICTS Professor Deepak Dhar awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal
— Dhar, from the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (Bangalore), received one of physics' most prestigious honours; known for foundational work in statistical physics. (GS: Science Awards, India's Academic Achievements) - Scientists explore using sharks as mobile ocean-data observers for hurricane prediction
— Researchers are testing sharks fitted with sensors as real-time data collectors to improve hurricane forecasting models. (GS: Science & Technology, Climate Adaptation) - IRDAI directs insurers to submit premium, claims, and investment data for Index of Service Production (ISP)
— Data will support MoSPI in compiling the ISP, improving GDP measurement of the services sector. (GS: Insurance Regulation, Statistics)
Environment
- Budget 2026–27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%; pollution control also reduced
— Allocations for air quality management and pollution control have been trimmed in the Union Budget, raising concerns among environmentalists amid persistent AQI crises in major cities. (GS: Environment Policy, Budget) - 18 Namo Oxygen Parks inaugurated in Delhi on World Environment Day 2026
— Union Environment Minister inaugurated the parks jointly with the Delhi government as part of major green initiatives, aimed at increasing urban green cover. (GS: Urban Environment, Green India) - Hidden water cost of AI data centres a growing concern
— Despite enormous water consumption, several water-stressed Indian states have announced large data centre projects, highlighting a policy conflict between digital growth and water security. (GS: Environment-Technology Interface, Water Policy)
Sports
- India wins 17 medals at U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship
— Team India secured 4 gold, 4 silver, and 9 bronze medals on the opening day of the championship; strong showing for Indian fencing at junior level. (GS: Sports Achievements) - Praggnanandhaa to face Samuel Sevian in first round of Sinquefield Cup
— R. Praggnanandhaa represents India at the prestigious Sinquefield Cup after Alireza Firouzja's withdrawal created a surprise entry for Sevian. (GS: Chess, Indian Sports) - Harry Kane set to receive Golden Shoe award for second time
— The England and Bayern Munich striker joins the elite list of two-time Golden Shoe winners, a distinction shared with very few legends in football history. (GS: Sports GK)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — passes away; conferred Padma Bhushan posthumously
— Justice Fathima Beevi, appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989, was a historic trailblazer for women in the Indian judiciary. (GS: Judiciary, Women Firsts in India) - Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— The former Supreme Court judge, known for landmark judgments including on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, received India's second-highest civilian honour. (GS: Padma Awards, Judiciary) - Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Bharti repatriated; appointed Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
— The senior IAS officer's reassignment from the Election Commission marks a notable administrative reshuffle. (GS: Appointments, ECI, A&N Administration)
International
- India demands accountability from Slovenia after embassy premises defaced in Ljubljana
— The MEA issued a strong statement after the Indian Embassy in Slovenia's capital was vandalised, raising it with Slovenian authorities both in New Delhi and Ljubljana. (GS: Diplomatic Protocol, MEA) - Colombia earthquake kills at least 111; President declares emergency
— A major quake hit the coastal Choco region; at least 87 injured and rescue operations launched — President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency. (GS: International Disasters, Geography) - Iran ties Strait of Hormuz reopening to U.S. concessions; Trump demands war compensation from Iran
— With 90% of India's LPG imports transiting through Hormuz (as per Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri), the West Asia conflict has direct implications for India's energy security. (GS: Energy Security, Geopolitics, India's Import Dependency)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏅 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge (appointed 1989) — passed away; conferred Padma Bhushan
- 🚀 India's first privately built FFSC rocket engine — India joins only SpaceX, Stoke Space (USA), and Land Space (China) in this elite group
- ☀️ PM Surya Ghar scheme crossed 50 lakh beneficiaries; daily rooftop solar installations more than tripled in 9 months (MNRE Minister: Pralhad Joshi)