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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Wednesday, 12 August 2026
30 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay likely to move resolution seeking freeze on Lok Sabha seats at 543
— Following an August 8 meeting with Tamil Nadu MPs at Kalaivanar Arangam, CM Vijay is expected to table an Assembly resolution opposing delimitation that could reduce southern states' parliamentary representation. (Polity — Article 81, Delimitation Commission) - TN govt allocates ₹828.36 crore for MLACDS
— The MLA Constituency Development Scheme funds will cover all 234 Assembly segments, with each segment receiving ₹3.54 crore for local infrastructure works. (State Finance — constituency schemes) - CM Vijay mandates private schools to publicly display government-approved fee structures
— The order aims to curb hidden charges and unauthorised fee hikes, providing relief to parents across Tamil Nadu. (Education policy — fee regulation) - TN to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— Beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam aged above 60 will be transitioned to the pension scheme under the TVK government's revised welfare framework. (State welfare schemes) - Former AIADMK IT wing secretary Singai G. Ramachandran joins TVK
— Son of former AIADMK Singanallur MLA Singai Govindarajan, his defection signals continued political realignment toward CM Vijay's party. (TN politics) - TN minister reaffirms two-language policy; CM Vijay takes stance on NEP
— The TVK government confirmed no change to Tamil Nadu's long-held two-language policy, with CM Vijay signalling opposition to the National Education Policy consistent with the state's historical position. (Education policy — language policy)
India — National
- President Murmu gives assent to Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram
— The legislation amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, extending protection to the national song alongside existing provisions for the national anthem. (Polity — National symbols, legislative process) - Parliament passes Tribunals Reforms Bill amid Opposition walkout
— Lok Sabha also cleared the NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation) Bill and the Kerala State name alteration Bill by voice vote, marking a busy legislative session. (Polity — Parliament, cooperative sector) - Centre set to refer FCRA (Amendment) Bill to Joint Parliamentary Committee
— Following backlash from civil society, Tamil Nadu Assembly, and Mizoram Christians, the Centre will move a resolution in Lok Sabha on Wednesday to send the Bill to a JPC. (Polity — FCRA, NGO regulation, JPC) - Security stepped up, anti-terror operations launched ahead of Independence Day in J&K
— An anti-militancy operation was initiated in Poonch's Mendhar Sector after suspected militant movement was spotted near an under-construction Pir Panjal tunnel. (Internal security — J&K) - Calcutta High Court rules custodial interrogation of Abhishek Banerjee not required
— The court clarified that the ruling applies to FIRs registered against the TMC leader after May 4, as no earlier FIR was confirmed by the Additional Solicitor General. (Judiciary — High Court jurisdiction) - Maharashtra CM Fadnavis orders cancellation of tribal residential school's licence after snakebite deaths
— The CM also directed suspension of the inspector who had submitted a clearance report for the school. (Governance — tribal welfare, administrative accountability) - MEA asserts peace in border areas of 'utmost importance' amid reports of Chinese incursions
— India also rejected China's criticism of New Delhi renaming 27 places in Arunachal Pradesh with standardised names. (International relations — India-China, border disputes)
Economy & Finance
- Net direct tax collection grows 23% to ₹8.11 lakh crore
— Growth was driven by higher non-corporate taxes, though refund issuances grew only 3.8% YoY to ₹1.43 lakh crore. (Economy — fiscal policy, direct taxation) - Government approves introduction of one billion polymer banknotes of ₹10 and ₹20
— The RBI has initiated the procurement process; polymer notes are more durable and harder to counterfeit than paper currency. (Economy — RBI, currency management) - Fitch retains India's BBB- rating citing robust growth, flags fiscal risks from youth protests
— India's sovereign rating has remained at BBB- (lowest investment grade) since 2006; Fitch flagged rising youth unemployment pressures. (Economy — sovereign credit rating) - Central government's capex surges 66% in June; inflation crossed 4% after 16 months
— Weak monsoon and fuel price hikes contributed to inflation breaching the RBI's 4% target; the capex surge reflects government's infrastructure push. (Economy — fiscal policy, inflation) - UPI MDR proposal: Centre weighs allowing 0.25–0.5% charge on transactions above ₹2,000
— The move reverses a decade-long zero-MDR policy and could weaken incentives for banks and fintechs to invest in the payment ecosystem. (Economy — digital payments, fintech policy)
Science & Technology
- NASA officially invites ISRO to join its Moon Base programme
— The invitation was announced at the ninth meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space dialogue, marking a major milestone in bilateral space cooperation. (Science — ISRO, India-US relations, lunar exploration) - India's first privately built Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine explained
— Only three commercial entities globally — SpaceX, Stoke Space (USA), and Land Space (China) — had previously developed high-thrust FFSC engines; India's achievement is a space-tech first. (Science — private space sector, FFSC technology) - ICTS professor Deepak Dhar awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal
— The Dirac Medal recognises outstanding contributions to theoretical physics by scientists who have not yet received the Nobel Prize; Dhar is based at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences. (Science — awards, theoretical physics)
Environment
- Budget 2026–27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%; pollution control also sees dip
— The reduction in allocation for air quality and pollution control programmes raises concerns about India's commitments under national clean air targets. (Environment — budget, pollution policy)
Sports
- Indian fencers win seven medals on Day 2 of U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship
— India added one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals across women's Sabre, women's Épée, and men's Foil events. (Sports — fencing, Commonwealth) - Afghanistan seal 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup berth; West Indies to enter qualifiers
— Afghanistan's win in Belfast confirmed their place alongside Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and Bangladesh. (Sports — cricket, World Cup qualification) - 16th Junior Women's National Hockey Championship to be held in Pune with 30 teams
— The tournament features Division A, B, and C categories, providing a structured pathway for national talent development. (Sports — hockey, national championship)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, India's first woman Supreme Court judge, passes away
— She had been conferred the Padma Bhushan posthumously; she was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989 and was also the first Muslim woman to hold that position. (Polity — Judiciary, firsts in India) - Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— The former Supreme Court judge, known for landmark judgments including the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, received India's second-highest civilian honour. (Awards — Padma honours)
International
- Trump and Modi expected to resolve Russia sanctions issue: U.S. official
— White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro's comments came after the U.S. Senate passed a Bill authorising 100% tariffs on top five buyers of Russian oil, with India being a major purchaser. (International — India-US-Russia relations, sanctions) - Turkey's parliament votes to grant conditional pardon to PKK members
— The legislation aims to advance a peace process between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long insurgency. (International — geopolitics) - Colombia earthquake death toll crosses 200
— Rescue operations are ongoing in the hardest-hit cities as teams use heavy machinery and manual effort to find survivors. (International — disaster)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme at the 9th India-U.S. Civil Space dialogue meeting (2026)
- 🔹 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge (appointed 1989) and first Muslim woman SC judge — passed away; conferred Padma Bhushan
- 🔹 TN MLACDS allocation: ₹828.36 crore for all 234 Assembly segments (₹3.54 crore per segment); Net direct tax collection: ₹8.11 lakh crore (23% growth)