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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Monday, 5 October 2026
36 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay raises health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has quintupled the health insurance ceiling under the state's flagship health scheme, a major expansion of welfare coverage. (GS: State welfare schemes, health policy) - TN Government to extend Free Breakfast Scheme to Middle School students
— The scheme, previously limited to primary school students, will now cover middle school students, expanding its beneficiary base. (GS: Social welfare, education policy) - Tamil Nadu to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— Elderly beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam will be transferred to the pension scheme with enhanced monthly assistance. (GS: Social security, state schemes) - Bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram: campaigning ends
— Polling is set for October 6; the contests are five-cornered, involving TVK-led, DMK-led, and AIADMK-led alliances, marking a key test for CM Vijay's government. (GS: Indian polity, elections) - PM Modi to virtually inaugurate restored Vellore Cantonment railway station on October 11
— The British-era station's restoration cost approximately ₹8 crore; the inauguration highlights heritage railway conservation efforts. (GS: Heritage conservation, Railways) - Fisherfolk oppose proposed Secretariat at Foreshore Estate
— Protesters hoisted black flags demanding return of Srinivasapuram lands and new houses for 15,000 fishermen along Marina Loop Road. (GS: State governance, land rights) - Dengue cases surge in Chennai; over 4,500 recorded this year
— September alone saw 1,293 cases; the city deployed 3,703 mosquito eradication workers and conducted over 100 medical camps daily. (GS: Public health, vector-borne diseases)
India — National
- IIT-Gandhinagar demonstrates India's first free-space Quantum Key Distribution link at 5.56 km
— Scientists successfully transmitted a quantum-secure key through open air over 5.56 km, a landmark in India's quantum communication research. (GS: Science & Tech, quantum technology) - CBI arrests DGCA official and firm director in bribery case
— The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a Directorate General of Civil Aviation official in connection with an alleged bribery racket, raising aviation regulatory concerns. (GS: Governance, anti-corruption) - AI 'Plan Bee' alerts save 255 elephants from train collisions in northeast
— Indian Railways' AI-powered warning system has successfully prevented 255 elephant-train collision incidents across northeast India. (GS: Wildlife conservation, technology in governance) - Jaishankar: "We are in talks with both Russia and Ukraine"
— External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's balanced diplomatic engagement with both warring nations, underlining India's strategic autonomy. (GS: Foreign policy, IR) - Mokama rail bridge commissioned, boosting Bihar's north-south connectivity
— The newly commissioned rail bridge over the Ganga at Mokama strengthens train connectivity between north and south Bihar. (GS: Infrastructure, Railways) - Rajya Sabha polls: BJP fields Dinesh Arya from Uttarakhand, Koel Mallick from Bengal
— The BJP has announced candidates for upcoming Rajya Sabha by-elections in two states. (GS: Indian polity, Parliament) - Kerala High Court orders CBI probe into soldier's disappearance 14 years ago
— Subash Chandra Bose of the Tripura State Rifles went missing in April 2012; the HC directed the CBI to investigate after 14 years of no resolution. (GS: Judiciary, Armed Forces)
Economy & Finance
- Nayara Energy hikes petrol by ₹5, diesel by ₹3
— Nayara Energy, operating 7,108 fuel pumps nationwide, raised retail fuel prices effective October 3, signalling private-sector fuel pricing dynamics. (GS: Energy pricing, Economy) - National PNG Drive 3.0 targets 50 lakh new piped gas connections
— PNGRB's third phase aims to add 50 lakh new connections, convert 40 lakh unbilled connections into active users, and register 50 lakh more users by end of FY2027. (GS: Energy policy, PNGRB) - August IIP up 8% on manufacturing strength ahead of festive season
— Industrial output grew 8% in August, driven by manufacturing, with festive demand expected to sustain the momentum. (GS: Economy, Index of Industrial Production) - Coal India production rises 9.2% in September
— Coal India reported a sharp production increase as monsoon receded, with further ramp-up expected. (GS: Energy, PSU performance) - Commerce Minister Goyal defends India against U.S. forced labour tariff and excess capacity probe
— The U.S. Trade Representative has already levied a 10% 'forced labour' tariff on Indian imports; Goyal pushed back during bilateral trade talks. (GS: International trade, India-U.S. relations) - Shaktikanta Das: Domestic capacity and reforms key amid global uncertainty
— The former RBI Governor emphasised building domestic resilience as global trade tensions mount. (GS: Economy, monetary policy)
Science & Technology
- IIT-Gandhinagar achieves India's first free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over 5.56 km
— The milestone demonstrates secure quantum communication through open air rather than fibre optics, a step toward India's quantum internet goals. (GS: Quantum technology, Science policy) - Five Indian school students travel to CERN for subatomic physics programme
— Selected students participated in an intensive programme at CERN, Europe's particle physics laboratory, representing India's young scientific talent. (GS: Science, international exposure) - Railways' AI 'Plan Bee' system prevents 255 elephant-train collisions in northeast
— The AI alert system detects elephant presence on tracks and alerts loco pilots, protecting both wildlife and rail operations. (GS: Technology, wildlife conservation)
Environment
- State of India's Environment 2026 Report highlights rising climate risks, wildlife conflicts, and pollution monitoring gaps
— The CSE-DTE report flags escalating climate vulnerability, increasing human-wildlife conflicts, and inadequate air/water pollution monitoring infrastructure across India. (GS: Environment, climate change) - UN pre-COP climate summit kicks off in Fiji ahead of COP31 in Turkey
— Preparatory climate talks in Nadi and Tuvalu precede the main COP31 summit scheduled next month in Turkey, with focus on small island nations facing sea-level rise. (GS: International relations, climate diplomacy) - Tuvalu faces uninhabitability by end of century due to rising sea levels
— Scientists warn the Pacific archipelago of Tuvalu could become unliveable as sea levels rise, raising questions of climate refugees and sovereignty. (GS: Climate change, international law)
Sports
- Max Verstappen wins Bahrain Grand Prix, his 72nd career F1 victory
— The four-time World Champion ended a 2026 win drought with victory in Bahrain, his first win of the season. (GS: Sports current affairs) - Asian Games 2026: Karnataka athletes win 4 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze
— Karnataka's contingent improved on the 2022 Hangzhou performance (3 gold), contributing significantly to India's overall medal tally. (GS: Sports, Asian Games) - India vs West Indies ODI series: Batting excels but bowling remains a concern
— Despite the batting lineup's strong form, India's bowling attack—except Kuldeep Yadav in the first match—failed to control West Indian batters. (GS: Sports)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, passes away
— Justice Fathima Beevi, a trailblazer who became the first woman appointed to India's Supreme Court, has died; her appointment remains a landmark in judicial history. (GS: Judiciary, firsts in India) - Padma Vibhushan conferred on Justice K.T. Thomas
— Retired Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas, known for his notable judgments including opinions on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. (GS: Awards, Judiciary) - Padma award for Justice J.S. Khehar, former CJI who offered to mediate in Ayodhya dispute
— Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, whose decisions often differed from government positions, has been recognised with a Padma award. (GS: Judiciary, awards) - Justice Manikumar appointed as new State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairman
— Justice Manikumar has taken charge as Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission. (GS: Human rights institutions, appointments)
International
- Jaishankar reaffirms India's engagement with both Russia and Ukraine
— India continues its balancing act as mediator-adjacent actor in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, maintaining dialogue with both sides. (GS: Foreign policy, strategic autonomy) - Brazil presidential election: Flavio Bolsonaro and Lula advance to October 25 runoff
— Brazil's first-round results send the two leading candidates to a runoff, with implications for regional geopolitics and India-Brazil ties. (GS: International affairs) - U.S. Air Force withdraws all bombers from RAF Fairford base after suspected terror plot
— Bombers previously used to strike Iran have been relocated following a thwarted terror attack investigation at the UK base. (GS: International security)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔑 IIT-Gandhinagar demonstrated India's first free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link at a record distance of 5.56 km
- 🔑 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — passed away; her appointment is a perennial exam fact
- 🔑 National PNG Drive 3.0 targets 50 lakh new piped gas connections and 50 lakh new user registrations by end of FY2027, under the PNGRB