Daily Current Affairs – 04-04-2025
Tamil Nadu
Survey for
Excavation in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
® The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department has initiated a survey to assess the feasibility of excavations in Nagapattinam, an ancient port town with significant Buddhist heritage. ® The objective is to trace the remains of the historic Chudamani Vihara, a prominent Buddhist monastery believed to have been constructed during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE). ® Nagapattinam was historically a Buddhist centre in South India, with maritime links to Southeast Asia. ® The State has also planned deep-sea excavations between Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam) and Nagapattinam, aiming to uncover submerged cultural and trade linkages of the early Chola period.
Tamil Nadu’s Annual
Credit Plan for 2025-26
® Tamil Nadu has set an Annual Credit Plan (ACP) target of ₹ 9,00,181 crore under Priority Sector Lending for the fiscal year 2025-26, marking a growth of 21.12% over 2024-25. ® The State boasts a credit-deposit ratio of 126%, among the highest in India, reflecting strong credit flow relative to deposits. ® Priority sector advances rose from ₹ 6,63,993.27 crore (March 2024) to ₹ 7,43,194.33 crore (March 2025), indicating increased lending to agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and other priority areas.
Tamil Nadu’s
Revenue Performance in 2024–25
® Tamil Nadu’s Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) grew by 7.6%, reaching ₹ 1,80,225.53 crore in FY 2024–25, up from ₹ 1,67,105.18 crore in FY 2023–24. ® SOTR constituted 75.3% of the State’s total revenue receipts, indicating strong fiscal autonomy. ® The State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) rose by 14.4%, from ₹ 61,960.29 crore to ₹ 70,886.65 crore. ® Stamps and Registration Fees revenue grew by around 15%, reaching ₹ 21,878.27 crore. ® Revenue from Sales, Trade, etc., including VAT on fuel and liquor, rose to ₹ 62,335.08 crore, while State Excise Duties increased to ₹ 11,055.41 crore. ® Land revenue increased modestly to ₹ 277.72 crore, while revenue from other taxes and duties declined to ₹ 13,792.40 crore. ® The Share in Central Taxes stood at ₹ 52,491.88 crore, in line with the revised estimates. ® Grants-in-aid from the Centre decreased to ₹ 16,509.38 crore, from ₹ 20,538.40 crore in the revised estimates. ® Non-Tax Revenue increased to ₹ 31,388.70 crore, from ₹ 28,124 crore. ® As per CAG preliminary figures, Tamil Nadu’s total revenue receipts stood at ₹ 2,80,615.49 crore for 2024–25, while revised estimates pegged it at ₹ 2,93,906.41 crore.
Tamil Nadu’s
Achievements in Agriculture, Dairy, and Fisheries (2021–2024)
® Tamil Nadu recorded a significant increase in agricultural growth, achieving an average of 5.66% between 2021 and 2024, compared to 1.36% during 2012–13 to 2020–21. ® The net irrigated area expanded from 36.07 lakh hectares (2020–21) to 38.33 lakh hectares (2023–24), indicating improvements in irrigation infrastructure. ® The state ranked first in India in the productivity of finger millet (ragi) and guava, and second in productivity of maize, sugarcane, tamarind, tapioca, jasmine, and oilseeds. ® Under the Kalaignar All Village Integrated Agricultural Development Scheme, 47,286 acres of fallow land were reclaimed for cultivation across 10,187 village panchayats. ® Through the Agricultural Mechanisation Scheme, ₹ 499.45 crore worth of farm machinery was provided to 62,820 farmers as subsidy support. ® 1,652 new farm machineries were introduced, and the e-vaadagai (mobile e-hiring) platform enabled over 69,000 farmers to access mechanised services affordably. ® Over 900 irrigation tanks were renovated in 27 districts at an investment of ₹ 1,212 crore, alongside the renovation of 814 minor irrigation tanks and the construction of 88 check dams in 24 districts to strengthen water resource management. ® In the dairy sector, milk production increased from 8,362 metric tonnes (2018–19) to 10,808 metric tonnes (2023–24). ® The value of annual egg production rose from ₹ 1,884.22 crore to ₹ 2,233.25 crore during the same period. ® In the fisheries sector, 72 new fish landing centres were established with an investment of ₹ 1,428 crore, aimed at boosting coastal and inland fishery infrastructure.