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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Sunday, 11 October 2026
34 items
Tamil Nadu
- PM Modi inaugurates Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 (Poonamallee–Vadapalani line)
— PM Modi launched the new corridor alongside CM C. Joseph Vijay; 15 trains will operate initially with a 10-minute frequency during peak hours. (Infra/Urban Transport — key for TNPSC/SSC GS) - CM Vijay extends Free Breakfast Scheme to Middle School students
— The TVK government has announced expansion of the flagship free breakfast programme (originally launched under the previous DMK government) to cover middle school students across Tamil Nadu. (Welfare scheme — TNPSC Paper II) - Tamil Nadu to maintain Two-Language Policy; CM Vijay yet to decide on PM SHRI scheme
— The state government has reaffirmed its two-language policy and is yet to accept or reject the Centre's PM SHRI three-language school scheme; MDMK's Vaiko urged CM Vijay to reject it as "Hindi imposition." (Education/Language policy — TNPSC) - Madras HC rules no private institution or employer in TN can mandatorily collect caste details
— The High Court order bars compulsory caste-data collection by private educational institutions and employers, reinforcing privacy and equality norms. (Constitutional law — Art. 15/21 angle) - TVK wins both Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls; TN political duopoly debate
— CM Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won both recent byeletion constituencies, raising questions about whether Tamil Nadu is shifting to a BJP-TVK bipolar landscape. (Polity/State elections — TNPSC) - Northeast monsoon likely to set in around October 17–18: RMC Chennai
— The Regional Meteorological Centre expects temperatures to fall after October 16 as moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal increases. (Geography/Climate — TNPSC)
India — National
- Anti-CEC protests over alleged electoral roll irregularities rock Delhi; 45 metro stations shut for 25 hours
— Large-scale demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise led to mass detentions; Delhi Metro reopened 45 stations after a prolonged closure. (Polity — Election Commission, Art. 324) - UNHRC expresses concern over mass detentions at Delhi protests; India rejects it as "unwarranted interference"
— The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights flagged "mass detentions," which the Indian government firmly rejected as interference in internal affairs. (IR/Constitutional rights — Art. 19) - 9 killed, houses set ablaze in fresh Manipur violence; PM Modi assures help
— A fresh bout of ethnic violence in Manipur resulted in 9 deaths and arson of homes; PM Modi assured efforts to restore peace. (Internal security — Northeast India) - Rahul Gandhi visits Chennai for 'Voice of Students' event, meets CM Vijay
— The Congress leader addressed agitating students in Chennai, alleging that PM Modi is cracking down on dissenting voices. (National politics) - NIA to probe "larger conspiracy" in mid-air attack on pilot Smit Machchhar
— The National Investigation Agency has been tasked with investigating a wider conspiracy angle in the aerial attack on the pilot. (Internal security/NIA jurisdiction) - 2010-batch IAS officer appointed Deputy Election Commissioner
— A 2010-batch IAS officer has been appointed to the Election Commission of India as Deputy Election Commissioner amid ongoing controversy over the ECI. (Polity — Election Commission) - 2 Canadian Ministers to visit India with 300-member trade mission; PM Carney may be Republic Day guest
— The high-level Canadian delegation signals thawing of India-Canada bilateral ties; PM Mark Carney is being considered as a chief guest for Republic Day 2027. (IR/Diplomacy)
Economy & Finance
- GST Council unveils major process reforms; FM Sitharaman says 99% of rate/process issues addressed
— The Council announced reforms to ease refunds, simplify registration, and reduce litigation; all changes are expected to come into effect from April (next fiscal year); 5 large states opposed ending taxmen's arrest powers. (Economy — GST, indirect tax) - India's share of global greenfield investments more than doubles China's in 2020–25: UNCTAD
— A UNCTAD report confirmed India is the fastest-growing major economy for greenfield FDI, with investments increasingly concentrated in strategic sectors. (Economy — FDI, UNCTAD) - August industrial output grows 8% YoY, driven by manufacturing
— The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 8% in August 2026, with manufacturing as the primary driver ahead of the festive season. (Economy — IIP data) - Gold and silver imports by banks/nominated agencies to attract 3% IGST
— The move aims to ensure tax parity with gold imports through other routes, including bullion; announced alongside GST Council reforms. (Economy — GST, precious metals) - Coal supplies to power plants rise 36% from September lows; rail loading hits 465 rakes/day
— The Coal Ministry reported a significant recovery in coal supply and rail logistics, with demand expected to moderate from mid-October. (Economy — Energy security)
Science & Technology
- Scientists report world's first working nuclear clock
— Unlike atomic clocks that count electron transitions, the nuclear clock counts oscillations within an atomic nucleus, potentially offering unprecedented precision for timekeeping and fundamental physics research. (Science — landmark first) - ISRO employees' JAC seeks meeting with Chairperson over privatisation concerns
— The Joint Action Committee of ISRO employees has unresolved concerns about the pace and scope of space-sector privatisation, despite a prior video-conference interaction with the ISRO chief. (S&T policy — Space sector privatisation) - AI data-centre boom strains India's power grid, drives up upgrade costs
— Rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is reshaping electricity transmission dynamics across India, forcing grid upgrades and adding to power costs. (Technology/Energy policy) - Margaret Hamilton, NASA Apollo software pioneer, dies at 90
— Hamilton, whose software engineering work was critical to the success of the Apollo moon missions, passed away; NASA chief Jared Isaacmen paid tribute calling her work foundational. (Science history — notable for general awareness)
Environment
- Tamil Nadu may experience El Niño differently from rest of India
— Scientists note that during strong El Niño years, pressure differences between the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea can drive moist air into coastal Tamil Nadu, potentially increasing rainfall unlike the rest of the country. (Environment/Geography — TNPSC/UPSC) - State of India's Environment 2026 Report highlights rising climate risks, wildlife conflicts, and pollution monitoring gaps
— The annual report flags increasing climate-related vulnerabilities, human-wildlife conflict incidents, and inadequate environmental monitoring infrastructure across India. (Environment — policy/GS Paper III) - Food waste identified as a major contributor to climate change
— Scientific reporting emphasises that food loss and waste significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, linking food systems to climate action goals. (Environment/Sustainability)
Sports
- Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's cricket team captain
— The veteran batter has relinquished the captaincy but will continue to play for the national team; she is credited with significantly popularising women's cricket in India. (Sports — cricket) - Riyan Parag (Badoni) eyes greater consistency in red-ball cricket
— Middle-order batter Aryan Badoni averages 54 in first-class cricket with 4 hundreds and 10 half-centuries in 38 innings, but is being advised to be more ruthless. (Sports — domestic cricket)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, passes away
— Justice Fathima Beevi, a pioneering jurist who was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of India, has died; she was also a former Governor of Tamil Nadu. (Judiciary — landmark first; important for all exams) - Navi Pillay awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2026
— The South African jurist and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong commitment to justice for the oppressed. (Awards — Nobel 2026) - Justice Manikumar appointed new Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
— Justice Manikumar has been named the new Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission. (Appointments — TNPSC) - Padma Vibhushan announced for Justice K.T. Thomas; Padma award for Justice J.S. Khehar
— Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas is to receive the Padma Vibhushan, while former CJI J.S. Khehar (known for judgements that often contradicted government positions) is also among Padma awardees. (Awards — Padma)
International
- Missile strikes passenger terminal at Riyadh airport; 12 killed, over 300 wounded
— A missile attack, attributed to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, struck Riyadh's airport; US President Donald Trump said he was evaluating whether the US should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. (International — West Asia conflict) - Pakistan has "robust" nuclear security regime: IAEA
— The International Atomic Energy Agency commended Pakistan's nuclear security framework and its contribution to training the global nuclear security workforce. (IR/Nuclear — important for UPSC/SSC) - Taiwan's leader announces increased defence spending to "deter war"
— Taiwan's president stated the island would raise defence expenditure, amid continuing cross-strait tensions with China. (International — Indo-Pacific geopolitics)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏆 Nobel Peace Prize 2026 awarded to South African jurist Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- 🚇 Chennai Metro Phase 2 (Poonamallee–Vadapalani) inaugurated by PM Modi alongside CM C. Joseph Vijay; 15 trains, 10-minute peak frequency
- ⚖️ Justice M. Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — has passed away; also served as Governor of Tamil Nadu