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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Tuesday, 22 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 fivefold increase in health insurance coverage under the state's 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 Vijay government has announced extension of the free breakfast scheme (originally launched under the previous DMK government) to middle school students, expanding its beneficiary base. (GS: State schemes, nutrition policy) - VB-GRAMG controversy puts Vijay government in a spot
— The VB-GRAMG (Village-Based Gram Sabha initiative) has sparked a political storm, with the TVK government facing criticism over its governance approach. (GS: State politics, panchayati raj) - Tamil Nadu bypolls: TVK drops alliance party leaders from star campaigner list after DMK complaint to EC
— Following a DMK complaint to the Election Commission, TVK removed alliance party leaders from its star campaigner list for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls. (GS: Election Commission powers, model code) - Madras High Court grants four more weeks on bus fare revision
— The court extended the deadline for the Tamil Nadu government to decide on revising bus fares, last fixed at ₹0.58/km in 2018 when diesel was ₹67.50/litre vs. current ~₹100/litre. (GS: State transport policy, judiciary) - Tamil Nadu explains Cauvery backlog demand of 16 TMC ft to Cauvery Authority
— The state argued its demand is based on pro-rata share principles as recognised by the Cauvery Tribunal and Supreme Court, applicable during distress-flow years. (GS: Inter-state water disputes, Cauvery)
India — National
- BJP wins six of seven mayoral polls in Rajasthan
— BJP won in Alwar, Udaipur, Pali, Ajmer and ran unopposed in Bharatpur and Bhilwara; Congress retained only Bikaner. (GS: Local body elections, urban governance) - NCW takes suo motu cognizance of Jamui molestation-assault incident in Bihar
— The National Commission for Women intervened after a viral video showed a teenage girl and boy being assaulted; police arrested three persons and registered a suo motu FIR. (GS: NCW powers, women's safety legislation) - J&K House Committee finds irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission implementation, calls for probe
— An NC legislator noted that the overall objective of JJM remained unachieved in J&K despite some progress; the committee recommended a formal inquiry. (GS: Jal Jeevan Mission, Central schemes) - SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar claims UP will be divided after caste census, sparks political row
— Rajbhar cited PM's alleged assurance that state division would follow caste census completion, drawing sharp opposition reactions. (GS: State reorganisation, caste census) - MP High Court issues notice on plea seeking closure of Ladli Behna scheme
— A petitioner argued the ₹1,500/month scheme is financially unsustainable and lacks evidence of long-term women's empowerment impact. (GS: State welfare schemes, judicial review) - West Bengal inter-university teacher transfer Bill opposed by academicians
— The West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Amendment seeks to add Section 14A provisions allowing inter-university transfers, drawing resistance from faculty bodies. (GS: Education policy, state legislation) - Cabinet approves eight multitracking projects to decongest railway lines
— The Union Cabinet cleared multitracking railway infrastructure projects aimed at easing congestion on key corridors. (GS: Railway infrastructure, Ministry of Railways)
Economy & Finance
- India–New Zealand FTA ratified, to come into force on October 20
— New Zealand will remove tariffs on all goods from India; India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95% of NZ imports, while protecting dairy and sensitive agriculture. (GS: India's trade agreements, WTO, bilateral trade) - Inflation rises in August; focus shifts to RBI's October monetary policy meeting
— Rising retail inflation figures for August have increased market attention on whether RBI will hold or cut rates in October. (GS: Monetary policy, RBI, inflation targeting) - India's industrial production (IIP) rises 6.7% in July, signalling strong FY27 start
— The Index of Industrial Production growth reflects continued momentum in manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. (GS: Economic indicators, IIP) - Government appoints three new members to RBI Central Board
— The Centre expanded the RBI Central Board with three fresh appointments, reinforcing governance of the central bank. (GS: RBI structure, Ministry of Finance) - Non-eKYC LPG households to receive only smaller refills at market price from October 1
— Consumers who have not completed Biometric Authentication/eKYC (BAA) will lose access to subsidised full LPG refills after September 30. (GS: LPG subsidy, Direct Benefit Transfer)
Science & Technology
- NIT-Srinagar to open campus observatory with 14-inch telescope
— Developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the observatory will provide students hands-on astronomical observation facilities. (GS: Science institutions, J&K development) - New cat species identified in Bolivia — first new wild cat species in over a century
— Discovered using scat samples and camera traps, the species feeds on small rodents; no new wild cat species had been identified globally for over 100 years. (GS: Biodiversity, species discovery) - New GDP series uses double deflation in 28 of 30 manufacturing categories
— The updated national accounts methodology improves real-sector measurement accuracy, a significant statistical reform. (GS: GDP measurement, CSO methodology) - AI-generated mathematical proofs raise questions about the future of academic research
— A flurry of AI proofs has divided the mathematics community between cautious optimism and concern over commercial motives of AI firms. (GS: Emerging technology, AI policy)
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, climate vulnerability, and inadequate pollution tracking infrastructure across India. (GS: Environment reports, CSE, climate change) - BRICS condemns EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), calls for greater climate finance for developing nations
— BRICS nations collectively called the EU carbon tax discriminatory and urged a significant increase in international funding for developing-country climate adaptation. (GS: Climate finance, CBAM, BRICS) - Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve checklist records 3,261 flowering plant species
— A team from Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) published the comprehensive checklist, reinforcing the Western Ghats' status as a global biodiversity hotspot. (GS: Biosphere reserves, Western Ghats, biodiversity)
Sports
- Asian Games 2026: India's tally stands at six medals (4 Silver, 2 Bronze) after Day 3
— India awaits its first gold at the Asian Games being held in Japan; women's cricket team reached the final against Sri Lanka. (GS: Asian Games, sports achievements) - CSK names Zaheer Khan as head coach for IPL 2027
— The former Indian left-arm pacer replaces New Zealander Stephen Fleming, who coached Chennai Super Kings from 2009 to 2026. (GS: Sports appointments, IPL) - Yashbardhan scores another century as India U-19 clinches series
— The young Indian batter's back-to-back tons sealed the U-19 series, underlining India's pipeline of batting talent. (GS: Sports, youth cricket) - FIFA President Infantino proposes structured consultation with confederations on governance reforms
— Infantino suggested a time-limited formal consultation process with member associations to reform FIFA's decision-making structure. (GS: International sports governance)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan
— The former Supreme Court judge, known for his independent judgments including in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been awarded India's second-highest civilian honour. (GS: Padma Awards, Supreme Court) - Justice M. Fathima Beevi conferred Padma Bhushan
— India's first female Supreme Court judge receives the Padma Bhushan; her appointment to the SC in 1989 was a landmark in Indian judicial history. (GS: Padma Awards, women firsts in judiciary) - Justice J.S. Khehar receives Padma award
— The former Chief Justice of India, known for judgments that often contradicted the government's position, has been recognised with a Padma honour. (GS: Padma Awards, CJI) - Justice Manikumar appointed Chairman of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
— The appointment strengthens the quasi-judicial human rights oversight mechanism at the state level. (GS: SHRC, human rights institutions)
International
- India–New Zealand FTA to take effect October 20; India–Canada trade talks resume October 5
— India is rapidly expanding its FTA network; the fourth round of India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) talks concluded September 18 in New Delhi. (GS: India's trade diplomacy, FTAs) - Maldives unveils $20 billion UAE investment project
— The project is projected to create over 54,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Maldives, signalling deepening Gulf–Indian Ocean island nation ties relevant to India's neighbourhood policy. (GS: India's neighbourhood, Indian Ocean diplomacy) - U.S. media networks sue Trump administration over White House press access ban
— CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a First Amendment lawsuit after being excluded from White House coverage, coinciding with Trump's visit to the UN General Assembly. (GS: International affairs, UN, press freedom)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 India–New Zealand FTA comes into force October 20, 2026; NZ removes 100% tariffs on Indian goods; India reduces/eliminates tariffs on 95% of NZ imports
- 🔹 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first female Supreme Court judge (appointed 1989) — awarded Padma Bhushan in 2026
- 🔹 Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay raised state health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh; Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve now has a verified checklist of 3,261 flowering plant species