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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Monday, 21 September 2026
36 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay raises health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced a five-fold increase in health insurance coverage under the state's flagship scheme, a major welfare expansion by the TVK government. (GS: State welfare schemes, health policy) - Tamil Nadu to extend Free Breakfast Scheme to middle school students
— The current TVK government is expanding the free breakfast programme (originally launched under the previous DMK administration) to cover middle school students, broadening its reach. (GS: Social welfare, education schemes) - TVK government's two-Adviser system draws mixed bureaucratic response
— CM Vijay's experiment of appointing two Advisers alongside the Chief Secretary is creating ambiguity in Tamil Nadu's administrative hierarchy, according to sources. (GS: State administration, executive structure) - Two-language policy to continue; PM SHRI three-language scheme under review
— Tamil Nadu's TVK government has reaffirmed its two-language policy, and has yet to take a formal decision on joining the Centre's PM SHRI scheme; MDMK's Vaiko urged CM Vijay to reject it citing Hindi imposition concerns. (GS: Language policy, Centre-State relations) - Dengue cases in Tamil Nadu decline for third consecutive year
— The state recorded 17,049 cases and nine deaths in 2026 up to September 19, reflecting continued improvement in vector control. (GS: Public health, disease surveillance) - NHAI and Forest Department efforts add 25 hectares of mangroves to Pichavaram
— The plantation was undertaken to compensate for 15 sq metres of mangroves destroyed during road widening at Marakkanam, boosting one of India's largest mangrove forests. (GS: Environment, coastal ecology)
India — National
- Jaishankar to attend UNGA High Level Session; Russia sanctions Bill on agenda
— External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to the United States for the UN General Assembly session, where proposed US sanctions on Russia and their implications for India are expected to be discussed. (GS: Foreign policy, international organisations) - Army to set up 6 high-tech labs to screen drones and CCTV cameras for foreign bugs
— The Indian Army is establishing six laboratories to detect and eliminate foreign surveillance vulnerabilities in drones and CCTV equipment, addressing supply-chain security concerns. (GS: Defence, cybersecurity) - Botswana cheetah released at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh
— As part of India's cheetah reintroduction programme's second phase, a cheetah from Botswana has been released at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in MP, aiming for a "second baby boom." (GS: Wildlife conservation, Project Cheetah) - BJD demands special assembly session over MMDR Amendment Act
— Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik wrote to CM Mohan Majhi alleging the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment effectively stripped Odisha of its constitutional right to levy mineral taxes. (GS: Centre-State fiscal relations, Article 246, mining policy) - SIR (Special Intensive Revision): Only 6.66 lakh Form-6 applications filed against 80.62 lakh shifted/absent names
— With the September 23 deadline approaching, millions of voters risk being removed from electoral rolls as awareness of the revision process remains low. (GS: Election Commission, electoral rolls, democratic process) - Heavy rains and squally winds forecast for West Bengal from September 22
— A low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression, bringing significant rainfall; relevant for disaster preparedness. (GS: Meteorology, Bay of Bengal weather systems) - R&AW marks anniversary: How its first chief built India's spy agency
— India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, is commemorating its founding anniversary with focus on its institutional history. (GS: Internal security, intelligence agencies)
Economy & Finance
- India's exports to core BRICS markets surge 34% in April–August; China leads
— The share of core BRICS nations in India's total exports rose from 8.1% to 9.2% in the first five months of FY27, with China being the largest contributor to the growth. (GS: International trade, BRICS) - Industrial production rises 6.7% in July, signalling strong FY27 start
— India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 6.7% in July, indicating robust economic momentum at the start of the current fiscal year. (GS: Economy, IIP, macroeconomic indicators) - Inflation rises in August; focus shifts to RBI's October monetary policy meeting
— Retail inflation increased in August, heightening expectations around the Reserve Bank of India's rate-setting decision at its October MPC meeting. (GS: Monetary policy, inflation, RBI) - Cabinet approves eight multitracking railway projects to decongest lines
— The Union Cabinet has cleared eight multitracking infrastructure projects to ease congestion on key railway corridors, boosting freight and passenger capacity. (GS: Infrastructure, railway policy) - EPFO wage ceiling revised: Social security net to widen
— The revision to the EPFO wage ceiling will bring more workers under the Employees' Provident Fund's social security coverage, with debates ongoing over minimum PF pension levels and employer concerns. (GS: Labour laws, social security, EPFO) - RBI forex swap window draws $72.85 billion inflows till August 21
— The Reserve Bank of India's forex swap facility attracted significant inflows, reflecting liquidity management operations and confidence in the rupee. (GS: RBI, foreign exchange, monetary tools)
Science & Technology
- NASA scan discovers new 'once in a century' Moon crater dubbed 'McGetchin'
— The crater measures 730 feet (222 metres) wide and is believed to have formed in spring 2024 from a comet or asteroid impact, detected by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. (GS: Space science, planetary bodies) - US deploys 'space control' weapons; raises questions about Outer Space Treaty
— The United States has deployed weapons described as 'space control' assets in orbit, renewing debate over the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the militarisation of space. (GS: Space policy, international law, treaties) - Fungus evolving resistance to human drug mycophenolic acid, raising alarm
— Scientists found that Pneumocystis fungi causing pneumocystis pneumonia are developing resistance to mycophenolic acid—a drug not designed for antifungal use—highlighting drug-resistance risks. (GS: Public health, antimicrobial resistance) - Ecologists urge preparation for imminent 'Super' El Niño
— Scientists warn that India's natural systems—agriculture, rainfall patterns, coastal ecology—face potentially devastating impacts from a predicted super El Niño event. (GS: Climate change, agriculture, disaster management)
Environment
- State of India's Environment 2026 Report highlights rising climate risks, wildlife conflicts, and pollution monitoring gaps
— The CSE-DTE report flags increasing human-wildlife conflict, inadequate pollution monitoring infrastructure, and growing climate vulnerability across Indian states. (GS: Environment, biodiversity, pollution policy) - Pichavaram mangroves gain 25 additional hectares through NHAI-Forest Department effort
— Compensatory mangrove plantation at Marakkanam, Tamil Nadu, adds 25 hectares to Pichavaram, one of Asia's largest mangrove ecosystems. (GS: Coastal ecology, conservation, NHAI)
Sports
- Asian Games 2026: Vidarsa Vinod becomes first woman shooter from Kerala to win a medal
— Vidarsa Vinod's achievement at the Asian Games 2026 marks a historic first for Kerala in women's shooting at the continental games. (GS: Sports, Asian Games, India's firsts) - Asian Games 2026: Elavenil Valarivan wins silver in shooting on Day 1
— Elavenil Valarivan clinched her first individual Asian Games medal (silver), having competed in the 2018 Jakarta and 2022 Hangzhou editions without reaching the podium. (GS: Sports, shooting, Asian Games) - Asian Games 2026: India beat Kazakhstan in women's badminton, face Japan in quarterfinals
— India's women's badminton team, led by P.V. Sindhu, set up a quarterfinal clash with Japan after blanking Kazakhstan in the group stage. (GS: Sports, badminton, Asian Games)
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 female judge of the Supreme Court of India, has passed away and was posthumously (or recently) conferred the Padma Bhushan. (GS: Judiciary, women's firsts, constitutional history) - Former CJI J.S. Khehar conferred Padma award
— Justice J.S. Khehar, former Chief Justice of India known for judgments that often diverged from the government's position, has been conferred a Padma award. (GS: Judiciary, Padma awards) - Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— Retired Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas, known for landmark criminal law judgments, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour. (GS: Awards, judiciary) - Justice Manikumar appointed as new Chairman of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
— Justice Manikumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the SHRC, reinforcing institutional human rights oversight at the state level. (GS: Human rights institutions, appointments) - Government appoints three new members to RBI Central Board
— The Union Government has expanded the RBI's Central Board with three new appointments, impacting the central bank's governance structure. (GS: RBI, banking governance)
International
- Russia's parliamentary elections: United Russia leads with ~58% of vote; mass cyberattacks reported
— With 58% of precincts counted, the Kremlin's United Russia party leads Russia's Duma elections; the Central Election Commission reported AI-assisted cyberattacks targeting the electoral process. (GS: International affairs, election processes, cybersecurity) - India yielded to US pressure on oil imports from Russia, Venezuela, Iran — data
— Trade data show India curtailed oil imports from Russia, Venezuela, and Iran following US pressure, despite official statements citing "national interest" as the sole criterion for energy sourcing decisions. (GS: India-US relations, energy security, sanctions) - Iran shuts French embassy-linked language centre in Tehran
— Iranian authorities closed a language instruction centre linked to the French embassy in Tehran, citing illegal operation — further straining Iran-France diplomatic relations. (GS: International relations, diplomacy)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 CM C. Joseph Vijay (TVK) raised Tamil Nadu's state health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh — a five-fold increase.
- 🔹 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India — passed away; conferred Padma Bhushan. Justice K.T. Thomas received Padma Vibhushan.
- 🔹 Elavenil Valarivan won silver in shooting at Asian Games 2026 — her first individual Asian Games medal after competing at 2018 and 2022 editions without a podium finish; Vidarsa Vinod became the first woman shooter from Kerala to win an Asian Games medal.