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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Thursday, 8 October 2026
36 items
Tamil Nadu
- TN Government to Extend Free Breakfast Scheme to Middle School Students
— CM C. Joseph Vijay's government plans to expand the existing breakfast scheme (launched under the previous Stalin administration) to middle school students, widening welfare coverage for school-going children. (State welfare scheme; relevant to TNPSC GS) - CM Vijay Signs 3 Key Welfare Schemes
— On a single day, CM Vijay signed off on three significant welfare announcements, including measures on free electricity and gold for women, signalling the new government's policy direction. (TNPSC; state governance) - Tamil Nadu Maintains Two-Language Policy; PM SHRI Scheme Decision Pending
— The Vijay government has confirmed continuation of the two-language (Tamil + English) policy; MDMK's Vaiko urged CM to reject the Centre's PM SHRI three-language scheme citing Hindi imposition concerns. (Language policy; Centre-State relations) - Tamil Nadu Records Lowest Cauvery Water Realisation in 14 Years
— Paddy coverage in the Cauvery delta has fallen by nearly one lakh acres compared to the previous year due to severely reduced inflows, raising agricultural distress concerns. (Cauvery water dispute; TNPSC Agriculture) - Paperless Registration Mandatory for Certain Family Arrangement Deeds from November 2
— The Tamil Nadu government will make digital/paperless registration compulsory for select family arrangement deeds starting November 2, 2026. (e-Governance; TNPSC) - ECI Special Drive Till October 9 to Enrol Young Voters in Tamil Nadu
— Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik announced special camps across districts to enrol first-time eligible young voters before the deadline. (Election Commission; Article 326; TNPSC)
India — National
- Madras HC (Madurai Bench): FCRA Registration Denied to Organisations Engaged in Religious Conversion
— The court held that only organisations whose activities do not affect India's secular fabric are eligible for foreign funding under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. (FCRA; Secularism — Article 25-28; Judiciary) - Supreme Court to Hear Centre's Plea Against Jharkhand DGP Appointments
— A bench led by CJI Surya Kant will hear the Centre's contempt plea regarding DGP appointments in Jharkhand; Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre. (SC; Federal relations; Police reforms) - Karnataka HC Orders Use of 'Parenting Time' Instead of 'Visitation' in Child Custody Cases
— The High Court directed that the term "parenting time" replace "visitation" in all child custody orders, recognising that parents are not visitors in their children's lives. (Judiciary; Child rights; POCSO-adjacent) - Visakhapatnam Spying Case: Pakistani Women Operatives Blackmailed Naval Personnel
— Probe findings reveal Pakistani women operatives used honey-trapping and blackmail to extract information from Indian Navy personnel, raising national security concerns. (Defence; Internal Security; UPSC GS-III) - Opposition Protests Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar for Second Consecutive Day; Detentions
— Opposition parties continued protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with detentions reported on the second day. (Election Commission; Constitutional bodies; Article 324) - Pakistan's References to Kashmir Called Propaganda: Harivansh Singh at IPU Meet
— Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh rejected Pakistan's Kashmir references at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting as unwarranted propaganda. (India-Pakistan; Parliamentary diplomacy) - Abe Memorial Corridor Inaugurated in Varanasi, Honouring India-Japan Ties
— A corridor commemorating former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was inaugurated in Varanasi, symbolising the deep India-Japan strategic partnership. (India-Japan relations; Bilateral diplomacy)
Economy & Finance
- RBI Raises Repo Rate by 25 Basis Points to 5.50%; Stance Shifts to 'Calibrated Tightening'
— The Monetary Policy Committee hiked the benchmark repo rate for the first time in nearly three and a half years, changing its stance from 'neutral' to 'calibrated tightening' to address inflation. (RBI MPC; Monetary Policy; Key rates — exam-critical) - GST Council Meets in New Delhi; States Oppose Removal of Arrest Powers for Tax Officials
— Five major states, cutting across political lines, opposed ending tax officials' arrest powers; experts called for reforms beyond rate changes to processes and compliance. (GST Council; Indirect Tax; UPSC/SSC) - RBI Governor Malhotra: MDR on UPI Will Not Significantly Hurt Transaction Volumes
— Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that a small Merchant Discount Rate fee on UPI will not cause a major drop in volumes, as no decline has been observed post-introduction. (UPI; Digital payments; RBI policy) - RBI Clarifies Individuals Exempt from New FEMA Reporting Requirements
— The RBI clarified that individuals making cross-border payments for personal or small-scale professional purposes are not covered under the new Foreign Exchange Management Act reporting norms. (FEMA; RBI regulation; Banking) - August Industrial Output Rises 8% YoY, Led by Manufacturing
— Strong manufacturing activity drove industrial production growth of 8% in August 2026, with the festive season expected to sustain momentum. (IIP; Economy; UPSC GS-III)
Science & Technology
- Chemistry Nobel Prize 2026 Awarded for Discovery of Non-Linear Effects and Autocatalysis in Asymmetric Organic Synthesis
— The Nobel duo were recognised for foundational work on "mirrored molecules" (chiral chemistry), with applications in pharmaceuticals and materials science. (Nobel Prize 2026; Science GK — exam-critical) - G. Madhavan Nair Calls for Cooperative Environment Between ISRO and Space-Tech Start-ups
— The former ISRO Chairperson urged the government to leverage private space start-up capabilities for major national space missions rather than fostering competition. (Space policy; IN-SPACe; UPSC Science) - Gradiant Secures Five Water-Treatment Contracts in India Including Semiconductor Fabs
— US-based water-treatment firm Gradiant, appointing Hari Prasad as India MD, won contracts across semiconductor, PCB, and solar manufacturing sectors in India. (Semiconductor; Water technology; Make in India) - Tamil Nadu May Experience El Niño Differently from Rest of India
— Climate scientists note that in strong El Niño years, pressure differences between the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea can drive moisture into coastal Tamil Nadu, potentially mitigating drought impacts. (El Niño; Climate science; TNPSC Environment)
Environment
- WWF Report: Average 73% Decline in Wildlife Population Sizes Between 1970 and 2022
— The World Wildlife Fund's latest report recorded a dramatic 73% average reduction in monitored wildlife populations globally over five decades, signalling a biodiversity crisis. (WWF; Biodiversity loss; Environment GS) - State of India's Environment 2026 Report Highlights Rising Climate Risks, Wildlife Conflicts, and Pollution Monitoring Gaps
— The annual report flags increasing human-wildlife conflict, climate vulnerability, and inadequate pollution monitoring infrastructure across Indian states. (Environmental governance; UPSC GS-III) - Up to 30% of Cotton Area Under 'Illegal' GM Hybrids: Study
— A new study finds that nearly 30% of India's cotton cultivation area uses unauthorised genetically modified hybrid seeds, raising regulatory and biosafety concerns. (GM crops; GEAC; Agriculture policy)
Sports
- Smriti Mandhana Named India Women's Cricket Captain
— The 30-year-old left-handed batter, who has led RCB to two WPL titles and is the most experienced player after Harmanpreet, has been appointed captain with the immediate goal of strengthening the team in T20 cricket. (Cricket; Women's sports — exam-relevant name) - Rohan Bopanna Returns to Competitive Tennis via Tennis Premier League
— Veteran doubles player Bopanna will represent Gurgaon Grand Slammers in the TPL; Argentina's Roman Burruchaga (World No. 60) is the highest-ranked singles player in the league. (Tennis; TPL) - Vithya Ramraj (National Record Holder) Eyes Sub-54 Second Run at Beijing World Athletics Championships
— The 28-year-old, who won three medals at the Asian Games, aims for a sub-54 second timing in the 400m hurdles at the upcoming World Championships. (Athletics; Indian sports achievers; TNPSC) - Archery Premier League Season 2 All Set to Begin
— The second season of the Archery Premier League is set to launch, promoting the sport at a professional league level in India. (Sports; Archery)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Manikumar Appointed Chairman of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
— Retired judge Justice Manikumar has been appointed as the new chairman of the State Human Rights Commission. (SHRC; Human rights bodies; TNPSC) - Former UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar Appointed Chairman, Board of Governors — IIM Calcutta
— The former University Grants Commission chief has been named to head the Board of Governors of IIM Calcutta, one of India's premier management institutions. (IIM; Education appointments; UPSC) - Padma Vibhushan Announced for Justice K.T. Thomas
— Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas, known for landmark judgments, has been announced as a Padma Vibhushan awardee. (Padma Awards; Judiciary) - Padma Award for Justice J.S. Khehar
— Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, whose decisions often went against the government's position, has been named a Padma awardee. (CJI; Padma Awards — exam-critical)
International
- EAM Jaishankar Discusses Bilateral Ties with Côte d'Ivoire on Three-Nation Africa Tour
— External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Côte d'Ivoire (from Ghana) as part of a three-nation African tour also including Ethiopia, strengthening India-Africa diplomatic ties. (India-Africa relations; Foreign policy; UPSC GS-II) - IMF Reaches Staff-Level Deal with Pakistan; $1.2 Billion Potentially Unlocked
— The agreement could release approximately $1 billion under the Extended Fund Facility and $210 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, subject to IMF Board approval. (IMF; Pakistan economy; International organisations) - India Seeks Update from Russia on Indians Serving with Russian Military
— New Delhi reiterated its demand that Moscow account for and release Indian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. (India-Russia relations; Diaspora safety; UPSC GS-II)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔑 RBI hiked repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50%, shifting stance to 'calibrated tightening' — first hike in ~3.5 years
- 🔑 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 awarded for discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis (chiral/mirrored molecules)
- 🔑 WWF Living Planet Report: 73% average decline in global wildlife population sizes between 1970 and 2022