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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Monday, 14 September 2026
36 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay raises health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay enhanced the state health insurance coverage fivefold, significantly expanding the Dravidian Model welfare framework inherited from the previous government. (State welfare scheme; GS Paper II — Health governance) - TN government to extend Free Breakfast Scheme to middle school students
— The TVK government announced expansion of the flagship free breakfast programme beyond primary schools to middle school level; BJP has opposed the related circular. (State scheme; GS Paper II — Education/Welfare) - TN CM Vijay's Day-1 welfare decisions: liquor shops closed, free electricity, 8 gm gold for women
— CM Vijay signed three key welfare schemes on assuming office, including liquor shop closures and gold benefit for women, with analysts questioning fiscal implications. (State governance; GS Paper II — Social welfare) - 'No change in two-language policy': TN minister rejects PM SHRI three-language scheme
— A Tamil Nadu minister confirmed that the TVK government will retain the two-language policy and will not accept the Centre's PM SHRI scheme that implies Hindi imposition, as urged by MDMK's Vaiko. (GS Paper II — Centre-State relations; Language policy) - Left parties to contest TN bypolls: CPI in Dharapuram, CPI(M) in Madurantakam
— Both Left parties announced candidates for the upcoming bypolls; candidates to be officially declared on September 15. (TN electoral politics; GS Paper II — Party system) - Cab pick-up plaza at Chennai airport inaugurated after two-year delay
— Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu virtually inaugurated the facility, which can accommodate 28 vehicles simultaneously to reduce congestion. (Infrastructure; GS Paper III — Civil aviation)
India — National
- BRICS Summit 2026: PM Modi meets leaders of Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa; stresses peace with China
— PM Modi highlighted three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest — while engaging with multiple bilateral meetings on trade, defence, and technology. (GS Paper II — Foreign policy; International organisations) - India's forex reserves jump by record $44.903 billion
— The surge brought total reserves to an all-time high of $740.803 billion in the previous reporting week, underscoring strong external sector resilience. (GS Paper III — Economy; RBI/External sector) - Western Dedicated Freight Corridor fully operational at 2,843 km
— The Western DFC now forms India's longest freight corridor backbone, serving as a template for the next phase of the national logistics overhaul. (GS Paper III — Infrastructure; Transport) - Cabinet approves eight railway multitracking projects
— The Union Cabinet cleared multitracking projects to decongest busy rail lines, enhancing freight and passenger capacity across key corridors. (GS Paper III — Infrastructure) - Centre's 7th ESA draft notification for Western Ghats faces opposition
— People in Kerala's Kottayam high ranges mobilised against the proposed Ecologically Sensitive Area tag, which is estimated to affect around 70,000 people. (GS Paper III — Environment; Centre-State relations) - Bangladesh seeks to 'reset' ties with India through bilateral discussions
— State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh needs to move beyond "excessive preoccupation" with India and approach ties in a balanced manner. (GS Paper II — India's neighbourhood policy) - SC raps RBI Governor's presence in Income Tax appellate tribunal
— The Supreme Court observed that the RBI Governor's presence in the I-T appellate tribunal "fortifies aspersions of bias," raising concerns about institutional independence. (GS Paper II — Judiciary; Constitutional bodies)
Economy & Finance
- India's industrial production rises 6.7% in July
— The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth signals the economy maintaining a strong start to FY2026–27, driven by manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. (GS Paper III — Economy; IIP data) - RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra: MPC to reassess growth-inflation dynamics at next meeting
— The Governor noted that rising crude oil prices will impact inflation depending on the degree of pass-through, signalling cautious monetary policy ahead. (GS Paper III — RBI; Monetary policy) - Government appoints three more members to RBI Central Board
— The appointments expand the Central Board's composition, reinforcing regulatory oversight of India's banking system. (GS Paper III — RBI governance) - BRICS treads carefully on de-dollarisation; finance track focuses on payments, not a common currency
— Statements by Iranian and Russian presidents at the BRICS Business Forum highlight that de-dollarisation remains central to BRICS debate but a common currency is off the table for now. (GS Paper II — International organisations; Global economy) - FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets bankers: Banking for Gen Z and deposit mobilisation in focus
— The Finance Minister discussed strategies to attract younger depositors and improve retail banking penetration at the meeting. (GS Paper III — Banking sector)
Science & Technology
- New legless amphibian species discovered from Maharashtra's Western Ghats
— The species Gegeneophis chandgadi was discovered by a multi-institutional team from the Chandgad region of Kolhapur, northern Western Ghats. (GS Paper III — Biodiversity; Species discovery) - Gaganyaan life support system explained: Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)
— Episode 6 of ISRO's Gaganyaan series details how three astronauts will survive in a sealed spacecraft without Earth's natural environment. (GS Paper III — ISRO; Space technology) - India's biotech sector grows with over 1,100 new startups in last year
— Veteran biologist K. VijayRaghavan highlighted steady growth in biotechnology, citing improved regulatory frameworks and economic factors driving the sector. (GS Paper III — Biotechnology; Startup ecosystem) - Ancient spice trade routes may have shaped Malabari goat's genetic heritage
— Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University researchers published the first complete mitochondrial genome of the Malabari goat, providing molecular evidence linking its lineage to historic spice route animal movements. (GS Paper III — Animal genomics; Biodiversity)
Environment
- Western Ghats ESA 7th draft notification estimated to affect 70,000 people in Kerala
— Communities in Kottayam's high ranges are mobilising against the Centre's proposed Ecologically Sensitive Area classification, raising Centre-State tensions over land use. (GS Paper III — Environment policy; Western Ghats) - State of India's Environment 2026 Report highlights rising climate risks, wildlife conflicts, and pollution monitoring gaps
— The CSE-DTE report flags accelerating climate vulnerabilities and inadequate pollution monitoring infrastructure across states. (GS Paper III — Environment; Climate policy) - NLCIL donates four electric vehicles to Auroville under CSR initiative
— NLC India Limited handed over the EVs under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, supporting sustainable mobility in Auroville. (GS Paper IV — CSR; Green mobility)
Sports
- Indian women's cricket team wins record-extending 8th Asia Cup title
— Harmanpreet Kaur-led India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs; Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were standout performers with a three-pronged spin attack proving decisive. (GS Paper I — Sports achievement) - India's players refuse to accept Asia Cup trophy from ACC head Mohsin Naqvi
— In a notable diplomatic moment, Indian players did not appear for the post-tournament presentation ceremony involving Pakistan's ACC chairman. (Sports diplomacy; India-Pakistan context) - Alexander Zverev wins US Open men's singles title
— Germany's Zverev defeated American Ben Shelton in the final, denying the USA a home men's Grand Slam title for the 23rd consecutive year. (GS Paper I — International sports) - World Athletics maintains ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes
— World Athletics president Sebastian Coe confirmed the ban imposed in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine remains unchanged. (GS Paper II — International sports governance)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi conferred Padma Bhushan
— The first female judge of the Supreme Court of India was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, recognising her landmark contribution to Indian judiciary. (GS Paper II — Judiciary; Padma Awards) - Justice J.S. Khehar awarded Padma honour; known for decisions contradicting government views
— Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar received a Padma award; his tenure was noted for judicial independence. (GS Paper II — Judiciary) - Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— The former Supreme Court judge who had urged Sonia Gandhi to show magnanimity towards Rajiv Gandhi's killers received India's second-highest civilian award. (GS Paper II — Awards; Judiciary) - New Vellore Corporation Commissioner assumes charge
— A new commissioner took charge of the Vellore Municipal Corporation, a routine but exam-relevant administrative appointment in Tamil Nadu. (TN administration)
International
- PM Modi at BRICS Business Forum: Highlights trade barriers and sea route disruptions
— Modi called for global cooperation to address supply chain vulnerabilities, while Russia's Putin spoke of global economic power shifts and Iran's Pezeshkian pushed for de-dollarised trade. (GS Paper II — Foreign policy; BRICS) - Iran-UAE ceasefire: 100-hour talks brokered with nudges from China and Russia
— Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said both nations agreed to "put the past behind" after intensive high-level negotiations, marking a significant Gulf diplomatic development. (GS Paper II — International relations; Middle East) - 1 Indian seafarer missing after attack on Panama-flagged tanker off Oman
— The incident highlights ongoing maritime security risks in the Arabian Sea, relevant to India's Blue Economy and seafarer welfare. (GS Paper III — Maritime security)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏏 India women won their 8th Asia Cup cricket title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs — the most titles by any team in the tournament's history
- 💰 India's forex reserves hit an all-time high of ₹740.803 billion, with a record single-week jump of $44.903 billion
- ⚖️ Justice M. Fathima Beevi (first woman SC judge) awarded Padma Bhushan; Justice K.T. Thomas awarded Padma Vibhushan in the latest Padma honours