Daily Current Affairs – 08-02-2026

Reports and Indices

Tamil Nadu and Losses of State Public Sector Enterprises

Tamil Nadu has been identified as one of the top three States in India incurring heavy losses from State Public Sector Enterprises (SPSEs) during 2022–23, as per Volume 1 of the main report of the 16th Finance Commission. The three States with the highest SPSE losses were Uttar Pradesh (₹32,430 crore), Rajasthan (₹18,814 crore) and Tamil Nadu (₹16,048 crore), all classified under non-northeastern and hilly (non-NEH) States. A significant portion of the losses in Tamil Nadu was concentrated in the power sector, where the now-defunct Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) recorded a loss of about ₹9,192 crore. For 2024–25, the Power Finance Corporation-published Annual Integrated Rating of Distribution Companies reported a profit after tax of ₹2,073 crore for Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL), achieved through tariff subsidy of ₹15,772 crore and State takeover of losses amounting to ₹16,107 crore. Following the unbundling of TANGEDCO, the accumulated deficit reduced from ₹1,66,944 crore in 2023–24 to ₹1,19,153 crore in 2024–25. The Finance Commission noted that SPSE losses impose a burden on State budgets through subsidies, grants, equity investments, loans and guarantees, and recorded that during 2022–23, State governments provided ₹2.5 lakh crore as budgetary support to SPSEs, while the Tamil Nadu government’s budgetary outgo stood at ₹26,867 crore and outstanding guarantees amounted to ₹89,768 crore. The Commission did not classify Tamil Nadu among States with a high proportion of loss-making enterprises.

Delhi Ranked Second Most Polluted After Diwali

According to the January report released by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Delhi was identified as the second most polluted city after China following Diwali last year. The report stated that particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Delhi reached 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, which was reported as three times the national average air quality standard. It further noted that in January, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated further, with PM2.5 levels rising to 184 micrograms per cubic meter.

National News

Chennai High Court Warning on Micro-Plastic Pollution

The Chennai High Court urged the Tamil Nadu State Government to take immediate action to address micro-plastic and plastic waste pollution in water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and ponds. The Court observed that micro-plastics present in water bodies pose a serious threat to aquatic life and human health and directed that such waste should be removed without delay. It was recorded that three cases related to micro-plastic pollution are pending before the High Court, while six similar cases are pending in other courts. The Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit a report on the measures taken to control micro-plastic pollution in water bodies.

National Waterways Authority Established in Ahmedabad

The National Waterways Authority has been established for the first time in the country at Ahmedabad, according to the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shripad Naik. The authority has been set up under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will function under the direct supervision of the Ministry. The National Waterways Authority has identified 50 important rivers, out of which 133 waterways have been identified for development as national waterways, intended for passenger and cargo transport as well as waterway-based tourism, with the objective of developing new waterways and improving existing inland water transport infrastructure.

Reliance Consumer Acquires Australia’s Goodness Group

Reliance Consumer Products has acquired a majority stake in Goodness Group Global Pty Ltd of Australia, marking the company’s entry into the Australian market. The acquisition strengthens RCPL’s presence in the “better-for-you” beverages segment and adds the Australian brands Nexba and PACE to its portfolio. The development was announced from Mumbai. T. Krishnakumar, Director of RCPL, and Troy Douglas, Founder of Goodness Group, were associated with the announcement of the acquisition.

Poola Anthony Elected President of CBCI

Poola Anthony, the first Dalit Cardinal of India and Archbishop of Hyderabad, was elected as the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) during its 37th General Body Meeting, held on February 7 at Hyderabad. At the age of 64, he became the first Dalit prelate to head India’s Catholic community of nearly 2 crore members. He succeeded Andrews Thazhath, the former President of CBCI. Poola Anthony was born on November 15, 1961, at Poluru, and was ordained as a priest on February 20, 1992. He was appointed Bishop of Kurnool on February 8, 2008, consecrated on April 19, 2008, and later appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad on November 19, 2020, by Pope Francis. He was proclaimed Cardinal during the Consistory held on August 27, 2022, and assigned the titular church of Ss. Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica.

Irrigation Project Approved Inside Durgavati Tiger Reserve

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) approved the diversion of about 272 hectares of forest land for the Kopra Medium Irrigation Project inside the core area of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh during its meeting held on January 19. The tiger reserve, notified in 2023, covers 2,339.12 sq km and was created from the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary to compensate for the loss of over 100 sq km of tiger habitat due to the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project, which was recommended in August 2016. The project involves construction of irrigation reservoirs along the Byarma River and Kopra River, a tributary of the Sonar River, to provide irrigation for domestic use and 9,900 hectares of Rabi crops in Sagar district, resulting in the submergence of 13 villages. In exchange for the forest diversion, 310 hectares of revenue land within the reserve has been earmarked for compensatory afforestation. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) noted that tiger movement may be affected, and the total area to be submerged by the reservoirs is 1,044.52 hectares, including 716.62 hectares of private land, 59.90 hectares of government land, and 272 hectares of forest land.

Meghalaya Rat-Hole Mine Blast and Administrative Action

In Meghalaya, the death toll from a blast at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Thangso rose to 27 as of February 7, following the recovery of additional bodies by rescue teams. The explosion occurred on Thursday in the East Jaintia Hills district, where 24 miners were recovered from the mine site and three workers later died while undergoing medical treatment. In response, the East Jaintia Hills district administration ordered a crackdown on illegal mining activities and directed magistrates to inspect sites, seize vehicles and equipment, and identify those involved in illegal mining. The administration also invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prohibit the assembly of more than five persons near illegal mining areas. The Meghalaya High Court took cognizance of the incident, and Justice B.P. Katakey, appointed as a one-man committee in 2022 to monitor illegal coal mining following a suo motu PIL, highlighted repeated instances of illegal mining in the district. The High Court summoned the District Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police on February 9 to report on actions taken.

International News

Dubai Gold Souk Declared World’s First Gold-Oriented Zone

The Dubai Gold Souk area, which has more than 1,000 gold jewellery stores, has been declared the world’s first gold-oriented zone by the Dubai government. Dubai’s gold sales are expected to reach ₹1.24 lakh crore during the current year, and the adjoining Bur Dubai area is also noted for high volumes of gold trade. For the financial year 2024–25, the State’s annual gold production is estimated at 53.41 million tonnes (5.4 million tonnes and 84 thousand tonnes), which is expected to further support the gold trade. The government has projected revenue of ₹1.24 lakh crore from gold sales by 2024, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a major global centre for gold trade.

PM Modi Visit to Malaysia and Tamil Heritage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community in Kuala Lumpur during his official visit to Malaysia, highlighting the global presence of Tamil, which is widely spoken among the Indian-origin population in Malaysia and is recognised by the Malaysian government as a minority language. The visit marked an effort to strengthen India–Malaysia bilateral relations, and Modi was received by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim upon arrival. The engagement focused on expanding cooperation in strategic, economic, cultural, defence, trade, innovation, and emerging technology sectors. India and Malaysia elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024, and delegation-level talks were scheduled during the visit to expand cooperation in key areas. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the visit carried a broad agenda aimed at strengthening the people-to-people connect and overall bilateral partnership.

Tamil Nadu News

Karl Marx Statue Unveiled in Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled a statue of Karl Marx at the Egmore Museum, Chennai, highlighting Marx’s documented engagement with the socio-economic history of Tamil Nadu during the British Raj. Though Karl Marx did not visit Tamil Nadu, his writings from nearly 170 years ago show a detailed examination of conditions in the region. In 1857, writing for the New-York Tribune, Marx referred to the Madras Torture Commission Report, which was presented to the British House of Commons during 1856–57, to document systemic exploitation under British rule. He cited incidents from the Madras Presidency, including forced unpaid labour related to the Kollidam (Colercon) Bridge works, and administrative oppression involving local revenue officials. Marx made over 1,000 references to Indian history, including 38 references to the Madras Presidency, and mentioned the Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms, the languages of the Deccan region, the Ramayana, and the functioning of the ryotwari land revenue system introduced by Sir Thomas Munro, establishing his scholarly engagement with Tamil Nadu’s historical and economic conditions.

Sports News

Meghana Sajjanar Wins Medals at Asian Championship

Meghana Sajjanar, a rifle shooter from Bengaluru, won an individual bronze medal and a team gold medal at the Asian Shooting Championship held in New Delhi, while being eight months pregnant. The achievement was recorded during the women’s 10m air rifle event, where Elavenil Valarivan secured the top position. Meghana has been representing India since 2017 and had earlier won her first individual World Cup bronze medal at Ningbo, China, during her pregnancy. She has been trained by her personal coach Rakesh Manpat, who has worked with her since 2009–10.