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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Friday, 30 October 2026
35 items
Tamil Nadu
- TN Government to Establish Five Model Registration Hubs
— Citizens can register property documents and marriages at any hub irrespective of Sub-Registrar Office jurisdiction, in a major administrative convenience reform by the Vijay government. (GS: Governance, e-Governance initiatives) - DVAC Searches Premises Linked to Ex-Minister K.N. Nehru
— The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption conducted searches at the residence of former DMK minister K.N. Nehru, beginning around 7 a.m., as part of an anti-corruption probe. (GS: State governance, anti-corruption bodies) - CM Vijay Reviews Expanded Free Bus Scheme for Women
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay reviewed the expanded free bus travel scheme for women, signalling continuity and expansion of the welfare initiative. (GS: Social welfare schemes, TN governance) - Joyalukkas Emerges as Lowest Bidder for 'Thai Maaman' Gold Ring Scheme
— Joyalukkas India Limited quoted ₹0.01 and secured the L1 position among 11 participating jewellers; DMK raised objections to the tendering process. (GS: State schemes, procurement policy) - TN Government Mulls New Secretariat and Assembly Complex
— CM Vijay is expected to announce plans for a new Secretariat near the coast, reviving a long-standing debate that has spanned successive governments. (GS: TN polity, legislature) - Ennore Residents' Report Card Flags Pollution and Wetland Gaps
— A citizen report assessing 24 government bodies found five scored zero for failing to initiate commitments; it flagged fly-ash leaks, illegal emissions, and hot-water discharge into Ennore Creek. (GS: Environment, coastal regulation) - Madras HC Questions Liquor Sale Near Educational Institutions
— Justice N. Ramesh asked the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise about plans to restrict liquor sale near educational institutions after a 19-year-old student consumed alcohol at a hotel bar reportedly run by the college management. (GS: Judiciary, excise policy)
India — National
- Cyclone Arnab Weakens; 300 Villages Marooned in Ganjam
— Cyclone Arnab degraded into a depression after making landfall, but its remnant brought heavy rain to West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, with 300 villages marooned in Odisha's Ganjam district. (GS: Disaster management, Bay of Bengal cyclones) - BJP Booth Agents File Deletion Forms Against Muslim Voters in Mustafabad
— BJP BLAs submitted nearly 68% of Form 7s seeking voter deletions in Mustafabad, all targeting Muslim electors citing "absent/permanently shifted" or "death," raising electoral roll manipulation concerns. (GS: Election Commission, electoral rolls, Form 7) - Supreme Court Nudge: Deadline Extended for Final SIR Rolls in 6 States
— A day after the Supreme Court's intervention, the deadline for filing claims and objections in Special Intensive Revision electoral rolls was extended for six states. (GS: Election Commission, SC jurisdiction) - Railway Board Approves Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
— The Railway Board has approved a new Vande Bharat Sleeper service on the Bengaluru–Mumbai route, expanding the premium train network. (GS: Transport, Railway schemes) - Government Extends RELIEF Scheme for Low-Margin Exporters
— Amid the West Asia crisis, the government extended the RELIEF (Remission of Export Levies and Insurance for Freight) scheme to support low-margin exporters facing stress. (GS: Trade policy, export promotion) - CBIC Issues Eight Circulars on GST Process Reforms
— The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued eight circulars covering registration, notices, and other GST reforms to be implemented in phases, with draft returns going public from November 1. (GS: Taxation, GST) - Cheetah Shooting Probe: MP Officials Highlight Chambal Region's Gun Culture
— Wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh told The Hindu that the pervasive gun culture in the Chambal region has emerged as a "crucial segment" in the ongoing probe into the shooting of a cheetah. (GS: Wildlife conservation, Project Cheetah) - International Tourism Mart (14th Edition) Inaugurated in Tawang
— The government launched the 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, promoting Northeast India as a tourism destination. (GS: Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Northeast India)
Economy & Finance
- Coal India Profit Jumps 57% Amid Higher Offtake and Prices
— Coal India recorded a 57% rise in quarterly profit despite a 20% increase in input material costs, driven by higher offtake and improved realisation. (GS: PSU performance, energy sector) - India's Goods Trade Deficit Eases to $30 Billion; Exports Jump 23%
— Goods exports surged 23% while the trade deficit narrowed to $30 billion; however, services exports logged a rare dip. (GS: Balance of Payments, external trade) - U.S. Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady at 3.75–4.00%
— The 12-member FOMC voted 10–2 to keep rates unchanged, citing need for more inflation data; a stronger dollar outlook is expected to pressure emerging markets including India through capital outflows. (GS: Monetary policy, global economy) - Vedanta Group Targets $11 Billion Profit This Year; $20 Billion Over Two Years
— Chairman Anil Agarwal announced Vedanta is targeting $11 billion in profits in 2026 and $20 billion over the next two years, signalling aggressive expansion. (GS: Corporate, mining sector) - GST Draft Returns to be Made Public from November 1
— As part of phased GST reforms, the government will release draft return formats for public consultation beginning November 1, 2026. (GS: Indirect taxation, GST reforms)
Science & Technology
- Kerala Study Links Gut Bacteria to Parkinson's Disease
— Researchers from CUSAT and SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram, found significant differences in gut microbiome composition between Parkinson's patients and healthy individuals, advancing understanding of the gut-brain axis. (GS: Health, scientific research) - New Draft Rules on Animal Experiments Released for Public Comment
— The government's draft rules specify permissible animals, allowed experiments, and mandatory safeguards to minimise animal suffering in research; public comments are invited. (GS: Science policy, animal welfare) - Taxonomic 'Chauvinism' Found Rife in Ecological Research
— Two studies found that birds and mammals — less than 1% of animal biodiversity — dominate conservation and research efforts, creating a bias that neglects invertebrates and lesser-known species. (GS: Biodiversity, conservation)
Environment
- State of India's Environment 2026 Report Highlights Rising Climate Risks
— The report flags increasing climate risks, growing human–wildlife conflicts, and gaps in pollution monitoring infrastructure across India. (GS: Environment, climate change, annual reports) - Cyclone Arnab Marooms 300 Villages in Ganjam, Odisha
— Beyond the Bay of Bengal system, the storm's aftermath underscores recurring vulnerability of coastal Odisha and the importance of early warning systems. (GS: Disaster management, coastal ecology) - NHRC Flags Human Rights Concerns over Public Parading in Kolkata
— The National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of three persons being paraded in south Kolkata, observing that the incident raises serious human rights violation concerns. (GS: NHRC, fundamental rights, Article 21)
Sports
- Manisha Bhanwala Becomes Third Indian Woman to Reach World Wrestling Championships Final
— Manisha defeated World bronze medallist Laurence Beauregard of Canada by pin-fall in the second period, becoming only the third Indian woman to reach a World Wrestling Championship final. (GS: Sports achievements, wrestling) - Ajit Kotian Claims 11 Wickets to Set Up Mumbai's Ranji Win
— Kotian's 8/84 in the second innings (match haul 11 wickets vs Haryana) has strengthened his case for selection in India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad. (GS: Sports, domestic cricket) - India Beats China in ACT Hockey; Sukhjeet and Harmanpreet Score Braces
— India registered a hard-fought victory over China in the Asia Championship Trophy (ACT), with Sukhjeet Singh and skipper Harmanpreet Singh each scoring two goals. (GS: Sports, hockey)
Appointments & Awards
- Justice Fathima Beevi (Posthumous) Honoured with Padma Bhushan
— India's first woman Supreme Court judge, Justice M. Fathima Beevi, who passed away recently, has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan for her historic contributions to the Indian judiciary. (GS: Judiciary, first women in positions, Padma Awards) - K. Parasaran Receives Padma Vibhushan
— Senior advocate K. Parasaran, former Attorney General of India, has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour. (GS: Padma Awards, legal personalities) - Former CJI J.S. Khehar Receives Padma Award
— Padma awardee and former Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar is noted for landmark decisions that often contradicted the government's position, reflecting judicial independence. (GS: Judiciary, Padma Awards)
International
- India Votes for UNGA Resolution Calling End to US Embargo on Cuba
— The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on October 28; 130 countries voted in favour, 17 against, and 25 abstained — India supported the resolution, consistent with its longstanding position. (GS: India's foreign policy, UN, Cuba) - Foreign Secretary to Visit Kathmandu Ahead of Nepal PM's India Visit
— India's Foreign Secretary will travel to Kathmandu to prepare for Nepal PM Balendra Shah's first bilateral visit to Delhi, expected before year-end. (GS: India-Nepal relations, neighbourhood first policy) - Iran Reports Four Tankers on Fire After Hitting Mines in Strait of Hormuz
— Iran's IRGC navy reported four tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the Hormuz Strait, escalating tensions in a critical global oil shipping chokepoint. (GS: International relations, energy security, Strait of Hormuz)
- Quick Revision:
- 🏛️ Justice Fathima Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge — posthumously awarded Padma Bhushan; K. Parasaran (former Attorney General) awarded Padma Vibhushan
- 🤼 Manisha Bhanwala is the 3rd Indian woman to reach the World Wrestling Championships Final (pinned Canada's Laurence Beauregard)
- 💰 U.S. Fed held rates at 3.75–4.00% (FOMC vote: 10–2); India's goods exports jumped 23% with trade deficit easing to $30 billion