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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Friday, 21 August 2026
33 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay raises health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh
— Tamil Nadu government has quintupled the coverage limit under the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme, significantly expanding financial protection for beneficiaries. (State welfare scheme; key exam fact: 5× increase) - TN to extend Free Breakfast Scheme to Middle School students
— The CM Vijay government announced the expansion of the free breakfast programme beyond primary schools to middle school students, building on the scheme introduced during the previous government. (State social welfare; education nutrition policy) - CM Vijay proposes government cars for all 234 MLAs with ₹1 lakh monthly support
— The proposal under Rule 110 includes fuel, maintenance and an assistant allowance, raising public expenditure concerns. (Legislative affairs; Tamil Nadu Assembly; 234 total MLAs) - CM Vijay raises key demands at 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting, Mamallapuram
— At the meeting presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Vijay sought fair and equitable treatment for southern states, particularly on fiscal devolution. (Southern Zonal Council; Inter-State Council mechanism; presided by Home Minister) - Kerala's V.D. Satheesan pledges all Mullaperiyar water to Tamil Nadu
— At the Southern Zonal Council meeting, Kerala opposition leader Satheesan said Kerala is ready to release all water from a new Mullaperiyar dam to Tamil Nadu, and urged annulment of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Act, 2026. (Mullaperiyar dam dispute; Centre–State water relations) - Pallikaranai marshland: TNSWA tells Madras High Court construction can be regulated, not banned
— Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority submitted a proposed interim 'Zone of Influence' prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. (Environment law; wetland conservation; Madras HC)
India — National
- Supreme Court overturns landmark 1978 'industry' definition precedent
— The SC ruled that 'industry' under the new Industrial Relations Code will be interpreted in its own text and context, ending the broader worker-friendly interpretation established in 1978 that covered a wide range of occupations. (Labour law; IR Code; GS Paper II — judiciary) - Sajjan Kumar, former Congress MP convicted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, dies in prison
— Convicted in the Delhi riots case, he spent his final years incarcerated after decades of legal battles and multiple committee probes. (1984 anti-Sikh riots; criminal justice history) - Amit Shah slams Congress Working Committee's two-stanza Vande Mataram resolution
— The Home Minister called the CWC decision "anti-national and vote-bank politics" at a public event. (National song — Vande Mataram; constitutional status) - Government allows duty-free import of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar until October 31
— To control domestic sugar prices, the Centre also imposed stockholding limits on bulk consumers using more than 10 tonnes per month. (Food price management; import duty policy; Ministry of Food) - PMAY-G: Over 11.18 lakh permanent houses to be built in Bihar
— Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presided over 'Grih Pravesh' for 2.35 lakh units in 2026-27; keys and sanction letters distributed to beneficiaries. (PMAY-Gramin; rural housing; Ministry of Rural Development) - Manipur shuts schools and colleges amid NRC protests
— Educational institutions were closed as protests over the National Register of Citizens process intensified in the state. (NRC; Manipur conflict; law and order) - U.S. envoy Sergio Gor calls J&K 'an important part of India'
— The remarks drew mixed political reactions, underlining the diplomatic sensitivity around Jammu & Kashmir's status post-Article 370 abrogation. (India–US relations; J&K; foreign policy)
Economy & Finance
- India's core sector growth slows to 5.4% in July 2026
— The Index of Core Industries (eight key sectors) data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry showed July's growth was still the second-fastest in seven months. (Core industries index; key economic indicator for exams) - India's economic growth projected to slow to 6.8% in FY27
— West Asia crisis and El Niño impact cited; RBI had earlier revised its projection upward from 6.6% to 6.7%. (GDP growth; macroeconomic policy; RBI projections) - India's crude import bill surges 41% in July amid West Asia crisis
— Crude import volumes also rose 13%, with Brent crude prices remaining volatile due to geopolitical tensions. (Energy security; balance of payments; West Asia impact on India) - SEBI fines Copthall Mauritius Investment and Mansi Share & Stock Broking ₹3.7 crore
— The regulator found both firms guilty of manipulating the newly introduced Closing Auction Session (CAS) in the stock market. (SEBI; market regulation; CAS mechanism) - FM Sitharaman meets bankers; Gen Z banking and deposit mobilisation in focus
— The Finance Minister held a review meeting with bank heads to discuss digital banking outreach for younger customers and strategies to boost deposit growth. (Banking sector; FM–banker engagement)
Science & Technology
- PM-KUSUM installs over 25 lakh solar pumps in five years
— India's agricultural solar programme has made solar irrigation affordable for smallholder farmers through subsidies, though concerns about groundwater over-extraction persist. (PM-KUSUM; renewable energy in agriculture; Ministry of New & Renewable Energy) - South Asian genomic data gap threatens AI-driven healthcare equity
— Researchers highlight that South Asians are severely underrepresented in global health databases, hampering AI-based disease prediction and personalised medicine for the region. (Genomics; public health; science policy) - New study links natural sugars and starches — not meat — to human brain development
— Researchers posit that glucose from carbohydrates powered the metabolically expensive human brain, revising earlier protein-centric theories. (Anthropology-science interface; human evolution)
Environment
- Monsoon shortfall in Nilgiris exposes acute water stress in Coonoor
— Conservationists have called for capacity studies, noting that the Ralliah Dam — Coonoor's primary water source — was designed for a fraction of the town's current population. (Water security; Western Ghats; climate-induced stress) - Pallikaranai marshland: construction regulation framework proposed to Madras HC
— TNSWA's submission of a 'Zone of Influence' map marks a regulatory milestone for one of South India's last surviving urban wetlands. (Wetland protection; Tamil Nadu environment; Ramsar-adjacent policy)
Sports
- Praggnanandhaa finishes second at Sinquefield Cup after tie-break loss to Wesley So
— Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa lost the tie-break to American GM Wesley So, claiming the runner-up spot at the prestigious St. Louis tournament. (Chess; Indian achievement; Sinquefield Cup) - Team India wins Test in Galle, Sri Lanka
— India secured a Test victory at Galle but must address key team flaws ahead of tougher fixtures in the series. (Cricket; Test series) - Badminton World Championships: India's doubles pairs carry hopes after Sindhu and Ayush exit
— PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty have exited the tournament, shifting India's medal focus to the doubles events. (BWF World Championships; Indian badminton) - Rybakina retires hurt against Swiatek at Cincinnati Open
— Elena Rybakina withdrew mid-match, sending Iga Swiatek into the semi-finals against third-seed Jessica Pegula, 10 days before the US Open. (WTA; Cincinnati Masters; US Open lead-up)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — passes away
— Justice Fathima Beevi, who had been conferred the Padma Bhushan, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989, breaking the gender barrier in India's apex judiciary. (Historic first; Supreme Court; Padma Bhushan — exam-critical fact) - Padma Vibhushan announced for Justice K.T. Thomas
— The former Supreme Court judge, known for landmark judgments, has been awarded India's second-highest civilian honour. (Padma awards; judiciary) - Padma awardee Justice J.S. Khehar profiled for judicial independence
— Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar was noted for decisions that frequently contradicted the government's position. (CJI history; Padma awards)
International
- Five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan: economy weak, women's rights suppressed
— On the fifth anniversary of the Taliban takeover (August 2021), reports highlight poverty, international isolation, and escalating tensions with Pakistan. (Afghanistan; India's neighbourhood; UPSC GS II) - U.S. imposes new sanctions on Iran; Treasury Secretary Bessent says sanctions will 'collapse the regime'
— Iran called the sanctions "economic terrorism"; the U.S. is pressing allies and China to support economic pressure on Tehran as the West Asia conflict continues. (Iran sanctions; West Asia crisis; India's energy security implications) - Imran Khan shifted from Adiala Jail to hospital on Pakistan Supreme Court order
— Pakistan's former PM was moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, as confirmed by PTI. (Pakistan politics; India's neighbourhood)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏥 Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme coverage raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh under CM C. Joseph Vijay (2026)
- ⚖️ Justice M. Fathima Beevi, India's first woman Supreme Court judge (appointed 1989), passed away; she had been conferred Padma Bhushan
- 📊 India's Core Sector growth slowed to 5.4% in July 2026 (second-fastest in 7 months); GDP growth projected at 6.8% for FY27 amid West Asia crisis and El Niño