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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Tuesday, 6 October 2026
35 items
Tamil Nadu
- DVAC probe into alleged sand mining scam during DMK government
— The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption launched a detailed inquiry based on an ED complaint alleging serious irregularities in river sand mining across Tamil Nadu during the previous administration. (Exam angle: State anti-corruption mechanism; ED-DVAC coordination) - TN allocates ₹812 crore for Annan Seer scheme
— The scheme, covering marriages from the date of the government order onwards, is a key welfare initiative of the current TVK government. (Exam angle: State welfare scheme; fiscal allocation) - CM Vijay writes to Centre over arrest of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lanka
— The Chief Minister also called for revival of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries, highlighting the recurring bilateral issue. (Exam angle: Centre-State relations; India-Sri Lanka fisheries dispute) - Tamil Nadu to extend free breakfast scheme to middle school students
— The current government expanded the popular breakfast scheme beyond primary schools, increasing its coverage and fiscal scope. (Exam angle: State welfare scheme; education-nutrition link) - Bypolls held in Madurantakam and Dharapuram
— Over 2.13 lakh voters in Madurantakam and 2.23 lakh in Dharapuram voted; TN government declared a public holiday in both constituencies on polling day. (Exam angle: State legislature; Election Commission process) - Two-language policy to continue in Tamil Nadu; Vijay government yet to decide on PM SHRI scheme
— The state maintained its two-language formula while deferring a decision on the Centre's PM SHRI school scheme amid MDMK's opposition to alleged Hindi imposition. (Exam angle: Language policy; Centre-State education relations; Article 29-30)
India — National
- First international cargo vessel leaves eastern Assam since 1947
— A cargo vessel departed from Dibrugarh, reviving the once-busy river port for international trade for the first time since Independence. (Exam angle: Inland waterways; Act East Policy; NE connectivity) - Bypolls underway in three States and one UT
— Voting held in Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency (BJP vs Congress vs AIUDF), along with Tamil Nadu and other states. (Exam angle: Election Commission; byelection process) - CEC Gyanesh Kumar faces calls for removal; Rahul Gandhi alleges illegal change of Form 6 during SIR
— Former bureaucrats and activists served a "public impeachment notice" while the Congress alleged the CEC acted at the behest of the PM and Home Minister. (Exam angle: Election Commission independence; Article 324; Special Intensive Revision) - Supreme Court refuses to stay proceedings against Nicobar development project
— Petitions in Calcutta HC allege diversion of 130+ sq. km of tropical forest violated the Forest Rights Act and threatened Shompen and Nicobarese communities. (Exam angle: Forest Rights Act 2006; tribal rights; Environment vs development) - Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into wild in Rajasthan
— Union Minister Bhupender Yadav called it the result of nearly a decade of conservation work for the critically endangered species. (Exam angle: Species conservation; critically endangered species; Ministry of Environment) - Shinde meets PM Modi over Maharashtra drought
— The hour-long meeting covered water availability, agricultural distress, and fodder availability for livestock amid ongoing drought conditions. (Exam angle: Centre-State disaster management; PM-CM interface) - 19,000 West Bengal voters to miss bypolls as tribunal appeals remain pending
— Only 16 of 19 Appellate Tribunals set up by EC in March remain functional due to retirement of three judges. (Exam angle: Electoral rolls; Election Commission mechanism)
Economy & Finance
- India-U.S. trade deal talks have plateaued; Finance Minister flags tariff weaponisation
— FM stated the U.S. is using tariffs to address trade imbalance rather than negotiations; India's Russian oil imports were stated to not have played a determinative role in EU talks. (Exam angle: WTO; bilateral trade; tariff policy) - August industrial output grows 8% on manufacturing surge
— Manufacturing-driven IIP growth of 8% in August signals festive-season demand buildup. (Exam angle: IIP; manufacturing sector; economic indicators) - Nayara Energy hikes petrol by ₹5, diesel by ₹3
— The private fuel retailer, which operates 7,108 petrol pumps, raised prices effective October 3, partly passing on higher fuel costs. (Exam angle: Fuel pricing; private sector oil marketing) - National PNG Drive 3.0 targets 50 lakh new piped gas connections
— PNGRB's new drive also aims to convert 40 lakh unbilled connections to active users and register 50 lakh more by end of FY2027. (Exam angle: PNGRB; energy access; piped natural gas) - No GST on MDR for UPI transactions, says C. Rangarajan
— Former RBI Governor argued against levying GST on Merchant Discount Rate for UPI, supporting digital payment promotion. (Exam angle: GST; digital payments; UPI policy)
Science & Technology
- Nobel-winning science of optogenetics explained
— Optogenetics uses light to control neurons and has fundamentally transformed understanding of the human brain and its functions. (Exam angle: Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine context; neuroscience) - Protein biosensors can shrink timelines for medical emergencies
— Aptamers — developed over two decades for hundreds of disease-relevant proteins — enable rapid point-of-care diagnostics. (Exam angle: Biotechnology; medical diagnostics innovation) - Urban spiders found building soundproof webs to reduce noise
— A new study found spiders in noisy urban environments adapt their web structures, raising concerns about long-term ecological impacts of noise pollution. (Exam angle: Urban ecology; noise pollution impacts)
Environment
- Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into wild in Rajasthan
— The milestone, announced by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, follows nearly a decade of conservation work; the GIB is critically endangered with fewer than 150 individuals remaining. (Exam angle: Species Recovery Programme; critically endangered; Rajasthan) - Supreme Court refuses to stay Nicobar project proceedings
— The project proposes to divert over 130 sq. km of pristine tropical forest, with petitioners citing violations of the Forest Rights Act and threats to Shompen tribe. (Exam angle: Forest Rights Act; tribal rights; Andaman & Nicobar Islands) - State of India's Environment 2026 Report highlights rising climate risks
— The report flagged increasing wildlife conflicts, pollution monitoring gaps, and escalating climate vulnerability across Indian states. (Exam angle: Annual environment report; climate policy)
Sports
- Lionel Messi set for emotional Argentina farewell vs Benin
— The 39-year-old will play his final international match for Argentina at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. (Exam angle: International football; notable sporting farewell) - India football team faces Uruguay in international friendly
— The Blue Tigers look to bounce back after a previous result; the match tests India's FIFA ranking momentum. (Exam angle: Indian football; Blue Tigers; FIFA) - India at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 — performance review
— Editorial notes India's performance as good but insufficient, arguing sports standards must improve before India bids to host the Olympics. (Exam angle: Asian Games 2026; India's sports policy) - Mhatre appointed Mumbai Ranji team vice-captain; Suryakumar sidelined
— The appointment signals a shift in Mumbai's domestic cricket leadership ahead of the Ranji Trophy season. (Exam angle: Domestic cricket; BCCI)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, passes away
— Justice Beevi was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989, becoming a pioneering figure in Indian judicial history. (Exam angle: Supreme Court history; women in judiciary — frequently asked) - Justice Manikumar appointed new SHRC Chairman
— Justice Manikumar takes charge as the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission. (Exam angle: Human Rights Commission appointments) - Padma Vibhushan announced for Justice K.T. Thomas
— The former Supreme Court judge, known for his independent rulings, has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan. (Exam angle: Padma Awards 2026; SC judiciary) - Former CJI J.S. Khehar announced as Padma awardee
— Justice Khehar, whose decisions frequently contradicted government positions, has been recognised with a Padma award. (Exam angle: Padma Awards; former Chief Justice of India)
International
- PM Modi: India backs all meaningful peace efforts — Ukraine or West Asia
— At an international forum, PM Modi reiterated India's strategic autonomy and support for dialogue-based conflict resolution. (Exam angle: India's foreign policy; strategic autonomy; Non-Alignment 2.0) - India and Switzerland to strengthen ties in defence and nuclear energy
— The two countries agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in defence technology and civil nuclear energy sectors. (Exam angle: India's bilateral relations; civil nuclear cooperation) - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey agree on rapid military deployment to Saudi Arabia
— The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Mecca Defence Alliance in Riyadh, reflecting shifting West Asian security dynamics. (Exam angle: Regional security; India's neighbourhood; West Asia geopolitics)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 Justice M. Fathima Beevi — First woman judge of the Supreme Court of India (appointed 1989), passed away; a top exam-probable fact on "firsts in Indian judiciary"
- 🔹 National PNG Drive 3.0 — PNGRB targets 50 lakh new piped gas connections, 40 lakh unbilled-to-active conversions, and 50 lakh new registrations by end of FY2027
- 🔹 Great Indian Bustard — Two captive-bred individuals released into the wild in Rajasthan; critically endangered species with fewer than 150 left; conservation effort spans nearly a decade