Daily Current Affairs – 28-07-2026

National News

Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme and SAMARTH Portal Launched

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme and SAMARTH Panchayat Portal along with the Model Own Sources of Revenue (OSR) Rules for Panchayati Raj Institutions. These initiatives are aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and aim to create financially empowered, technologically advanced and self-reliant Panchayats. The Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme enables Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats to identify local assets and opportunities and convert them into bankable revenue-generating projects. The projects will receive support through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions, convergence with other schemes and bank loans, with NABARD and HUDCO as institutional partners. A total of 350 projects will be developed over four years, including 50 projects in the first year and 100 projects each in the following three years. The SAMARTH Panchayat Portal is a national digital platform designed for technology-based management of Own Sources of Revenue (OSR) of Gram Panchayats, covering taxpayer registration, demand generation, online payments, revenue collection and real-time monitoring. The Model OSR Rules prepared based on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission provide a framework for states to manage Panchayat revenues including property taxes, user charges, fees and other non-tax revenues.

Government Approves Ammonia Use in Agriculture to Reduce Urea Import Dependence

The Union Agriculture Ministry has permitted the use of anhydrous ammonia as a fertilizer to reduce dependence on urea imports. Anhydrous ammonia contains 82% nitrogen, compared to 46% nitrogen in urea. According to the notification issued on July 23, under Section 20A of the Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, manufacturing of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer with a minimum of 82% nitrogen content has been allowed for three years from the date of notification. If successful, India will become the fourth country after the USA, Canada and Australia to use ammonia directly in agriculture. The use of ammonia requires infrastructure for transportation and direct soil injection. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been involved in trials of anhydrous and aqueous ammonia supported by green ammonia during the Rabi 2025-26 season in 13 ICAR institutions. A green ammonia plant with a capacity of 1,200 tonnes per day requires an estimated investment of ₹13,000–₹15,000 crore.

AI Data Centres and India’s Future Power Demand

The Ministry of Power informed the Rajya Sabha that Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres are expected to consume an additional 26.3 GW of electricity by FY 2031–32, and this demand will be met primarily through renewable energy. According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which conducts the Electric Power Survey (EPS) every five years, the National Electricity Plan (NEP) projects India's installed power generation capacity to reach 874 GW by 2031–32. The NEP (2022–32) also envisages an investment of ₹9,16,142 crore for strengthening the power transmission system. Grid modernisation measures include Static Synchronous Compensators, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Synchronous Condensers. To ensure grid stability, the Government plans to increase coal and lignite-based thermal power capacity to 3,15,000 MW by FY 2035–36, compared to 2,11,855 MW installed as on 31 March 2023, with an additional 1,05,000 MW of thermal capacity planned. Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Yesso Naik provided this information in Parliament.

Government Approves ₹10 and ₹20 Polymer Banknotes

The Government of India has approved the introduction of ₹10 and ₹20 polymer (plastic) banknotes for field trials and subsequent regular issuance, based on a proposal submitted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with the recommendation of its Central Board. The proposal includes the introduction of 1 billion (100 crore) polymer banknotes each for the ₹10 and ₹20 denominations. The RBI-owned Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) issued a global Expression of Interest (EoI) on July 17 for the supply of polymer substrate required for printing these notes. According to the RBI, polymer banknotes have a longer lifespan than paper banknotes and will be issued alongside paper currency, not as a replacement. Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha that the proposal has been approved, while RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that the initiative is in its preliminary stage.

High-Level Committee for Examination Reforms

The Union Government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder and former first Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), to recommend reforms for competitive examinations and entrance examinations. The committee includes S. Somanath, former ISRO Chairman; Tapan Deka, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB); V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras; Anita Karwal, former Education Secretary; and Amrit Pal Meena, retired IAS officer and logistics expert. The committee has been formed to develop secure technological systems for computer-based examinations, prevent question paper leaks and impersonation, strengthen cybersecurity, improve examination administration, and recommend measures for the safe transportation of question papers. It has also been announced that the NEET undergraduate entrance examination will be conducted in computer-based mode from the next year.

Number of Indians Earning Above ₹100 Crore Increases

The Union Government informed Parliament that the number of individuals earning ₹100 crore and above increased to 576 in 2025–26, based on Income Tax Return (ITR) data. Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary stated that the number was 301 in 2022–23, 284 in 2023–24, 415 in 2024–25, and 576 in 2025–26. He also stated that there is no legal definition of the term “crorepati” under the Income Tax Act, 2025 or the Income Tax Act, 1961. Since the Wealth Tax Act, 1957 was repealed with effect from 1 April 2016, the Government does not maintain data on the total wealth of such individuals. According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, income inequality has declined in both rural and urban areas. The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined from 3.6% in 2022 to 3.1% in 2025, and NITI Aayog data indicates a significant reduction in poverty over the past decade.

Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 27, 2026 by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office. The Bill seeks to strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, notified in June 2024, by providing stricter punishment for examination malpractices such as question paper leaks, OMR sheet tampering, fake websites, fake admit cards, and 15 categories of examination-related offences. It prescribes a minimum punishment of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment with a fine of up to ₹50 lakh for exam malpractices, while organized offences attract a minimum of 7 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹10 crore. The Bill also mandates all States and Union Territories to establish fast-track courts or designate Sessions Courts as special fast-track courts to complete trials within 3 months of filing the charge sheet. Discussion on the Bill is scheduled in the Lok Sabha on July 28, 2026.

Science and Technology News

Discovery of Forming Blue Straggler Star

Indian astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), along with international researchers, discovered a rare Blue Straggler Star (BSS) in the process of formation. The discovery provides direct observational evidence for the formation mechanism of BSS stars. The study focused on the binary star system TIC 327546480 located in the old open star cluster Collinder 261, about 9,500 light-years away. The research used data from NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) mission and radial velocity measurements from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), Chile. The researchers found that the BSS star was gaining material from its companion star through a semidetached binary system involving mass transfer through the Roche lobe. The BSS star was found to have about 1.67 times the mass of the Sun, while its companion had about 0.32 solar mass. The system has an orbital period of 2.11 days, and the BSS star rotates at about 69.55 km/s. The findings were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters journal. The study involved researchers from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Gauhati University, IUCAA Pune, INAF Italy, LUX Observatoire de Paris, France and University of North Florida, USA.

States’ News

DWEEPTI Yojana – Women-Led Solar Policy in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh launched the DWEEPTI Yojana (Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion) to place rural women self-help groups at the centre of the solar energy sector. The scheme was developed by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Chhattisgarh in collaboration with Transform Rural India under the Green Economy Transition Mission. Chhattisgarh became the first state to adopt a women-led distributed renewable energy policy. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana of the Central Government, 13 Cluster Level Federations across 12 districts were registered as authorised solar vendors in partnership with Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL). The scheme provides flexible loans to Self Help Group (SHG) members for rooftop solar installations and supports skill-based livelihood opportunities. Kabirdham district became the initial implementation centre, where around 35 women received technical training with support from Tata and formed the first group of “Solar Didis”. The first rooftop solar system under the scheme was installed in Samnapur village, Kabirdham district. The state government plans to expand the DWEEPTI Yojana framework to other districts.

Important Days

World Hepatitis Day – Viral Hepatitis Awareness

World Hepatitis Day highlights the global efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis, one of the deadliest communicable diseases. Around 87 million people are living with viral hepatitis, and many remain unaware due to the absence of symptoms. Chronic Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are major causes of liver cancer worldwide, causing more than 1.3 million deaths annually. Nearly 2 million new cases are reported every year. Viral hepatitis can be prevented and treated through accurate testing, affordable treatment and the Hepatitis B vaccine. Lack of awareness, misinformation and social stigma remain major barriers to accessing hepatitis-related services.

Personalities, Awards and Events

2026 Fields Medal Winners in Mathematics

The Fields Medal 2026, one of the highest honours in mathematics, was awarded to Yu Deng, John Pardon, Jacob Tsimerman and Hong Wang. The Fields Medal is awarded every four years to recognise outstanding contributions by mathematicians below 40 years of age. Hong Wang became the third woman to receive the Fields Medal in its 90-year history, after Maryam Mirzakhani (2014) and Maryna Viazovska (2022). Hong Wang and Yu Deng became the first Chinese nationals to win the medal after Shing-Tung Yau (1982). Wang, a professor at the Courant Institute, was recognised for solving the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture with Joshua Zahl, with their 127-page solution published in 2025. Yu Deng, a mathematics professor at the University of Chicago, solved a part of a problem listed by German mathematician David Hilbert and contributed to research connecting mathematics and physics. John Pardon solved the MNOP conjecture related to curves in Calabi-Yau 3-folds and works in symplectic geometry. Jacob Tsimerman contributed to the fields of number theory and algebraic geometry, helped prove the André-Oort conjecture, won the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize (2015), and proved Griffiths’ conjecture using the mathematical tool o-minimality.

Japanese Author Keigo Higashino Dies

Keigo Higashino, a renowned Japanese mystery fiction writer, passed away at the age of 68 in Tokyo due to colon cancer on July 23. His first novel “After School” was published in 1985, and he wrote 106 books during his career. His works have been translated and published in more than 40 countries and territories and adapted into films and television series. His notable works include “The Devotion of Suspect X”, “Malice”, and the “Galileo” detective novel series. His novel “The Keeper of the Camphor Tree” was adapted into an animated film, while the Galileo series was adapted into a television series. Before becoming a full-time writer, Higashino worked as an engineer. His books have crossed 100 million copies in domestic circulation in Japan.

Tamil Nadu News

TN Ban on Transport of Mineral Stones

The Tamil Nadu Government has imposed a three-month ban on the transportation of rough stones and aggregates from Tamil Nadu to other states, except the Union Territory of Puducherry. The order was issued by T. Prabhushankar, Director of Geology and Mining. The ban aims to improve the availability of construction materials within the state amid increasing demand from infrastructure, housing and industrial projects. The government has directed district administrations and police departments to take action against violations. Mineral-rich areas in Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Theni, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Krishnagiri districts are located within the eco-sensitive zones of the Western Ghats, requiring sustainable resource utilisation. The order noted that large-scale transportation of construction materials to neighbouring states such as Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh has affected local availability and increased pressure on mining activities. It also highlighted that heavy vehicle movement, including multi-axle trucks, has caused road damage, traffic congestion and an increase in road accidents.

Madras High Court Cancels Compassionate Appointments in Karur Case

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court cancelled the government job appointment orders issued by the Tamil Nadu Government to 31 family members of those who died in the Karur stampede that occurred on September 27, 2025, during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) campaign at Veluchamypuram, Karur. In the incident, 41 people (including 10 children, 18 women, and 13 men) lost their lives and 110 people were injured. A CBI investigation is in progress, and the case is pending before the Supreme Court of India. The judgment was delivered by Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel, who held that the appointments were inconsistent with Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality before law and equal opportunity in public employment. The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to file an appeal against the judgment, as announced by Law Minister R. Nirmal Kumar.

Zero Malaria Status in 23 Districts of Tamil Nadu

A survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Health has confirmed Zero Malaria Status in 23 districts of Tamil Nadu. The Central Government and State Governments are implementing action plans to eliminate malaria in India by 2027. Across the country, more than 128 districts have been confirmed as malaria-free. In Tamil Nadu, 33 districts recorded zero malaria cases in the previous year. Over the last 10 years, malaria cases in the State declined by about 93%, from 5,587 cases in 2015 to 321 cases in the previous year. Of the 321 cases, 203 were reported among people from other States. Malaria cases were recorded only in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, and Salem districts, while surveys are continuing in the remaining districts for Central Government verification.

Tamil Nadu Revenue Augmentation Committee

The Government of Tamil Nadu has constituted a 6-member committee headed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, economist and former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, to recommend measures for increasing the State’s revenue. The committee was formed following the White Paper on the financial position of the Tamil Nadu Government released in June 2026. The members of the committee are K.P. Krishnan, Arbind Modi, Najib Shah, M.A. Siddique (Finance Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu), and M. Suresh Babu (Director, Madras Institute of Development Studies – MIDS). The committee will recommend measures to increase tax and non-tax revenues, identify new revenue sources, address tax evasion and administrative inefficiencies, and suggest reforms in liquor regulation and taxation policy. The committee has been directed to submit its report to the Tamil Nadu Government within three months.

Sports News

India’s Medals in Commonwealth Weightlifting

At the 23rd Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, India won two more medals in weightlifting. In the women’s 53 kg category, Gyaneshwari Yadav from Chhattisgarh won the silver medal by lifting a total of 199 kg (Snatch – 88 kg, Clean and Jerk – 111 kg). In the women’s 58 kg category, Bindyarani Devi from Manipur won the bronze medal with a total lift of 199 kg (Snatch – 87 kg, Clean and Jerk – 112 kg). This became India’s 5th medal in weightlifting in the ongoing Commonwealth Games. In athletics, Sreeshankar qualified for the men’s long jump final by recording a jump of 8.01 metres, while Gurindervir Singh finished second in his 100m heat with a timing of 10.39 seconds but failed to qualify for the semifinal. In boxing, Indian boxer Ankush won the men’s 80 kg category bout against Jalal Janne of Antigua with a score of 5-0, and Sachin Siwach defeated William Hewitt 4-1 in the men’s 60 kg category to enter the quarterfinals.

India Wins Gold and Bronze at World Cup Shooting

At the ISSF World Cup Shooting competition held in Hangzhou, China, Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event by scoring 40 points in the final, while Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker secured the bronze medal with 28 points. Yuyu Zhang of China won the silver medal with 37 points. In the qualification round, Manu Bhaker finished 5th with 586 points, and Esha Singh finished 7th with 585 points to qualify for the final. In the men’s trap event, Bhowneesh Mendiratta finished 6th in the final. In the medal standings, India is placed 3rd with 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal.

Raja Muthupandi Wins Commonwealth Games Silver

Raja Muthupandi from Tamil Nadu won the silver medal in the men’s 65 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland. He lifted 126 kg in the Snatch and 160 kg in the Clean & Jerk, recording a total of 286 kg to finish second. Aznil Bidin Muhammad of Malaysia won the gold medal with 299 kg, while Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea secured the bronze medal with 282 kg. This was Raja Muthupandi’s first appearance at the Commonwealth Games and his second international medal, following a silver medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships. A native of Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district, he represents the ICF team at the national level and qualified for the Games after winning gold at the Senior National Championship. The Tamil Nadu Government announced a ₹30 lakh cash prize for Raja Muthupandi, which was declared by Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay.

Reports and Indices

Road Accidents: Tamil Nadu Tops, Uttar Pradesh Leads in Fatalities

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in the Lok Sabha, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents in India in 2025, while Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of road accident fatalities. Tamil Nadu reported 71,387 road accidents and 18,505 deaths in 2025, whereas Uttar Pradesh recorded 49,671 accidents and 27,550 fatalities. The data showed that Tamil Nadu has comprehensive accident reporting systems, enabling data-based road safety measures. The top five states in road accidents in 2025 were Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Nationally, road accidents increased from 4.61 lakh in 2022 to 5.14 lakh in 2025, while road accident deaths increased from 1.68 lakh to 1.83 lakh during the same period. The Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS) established by MoRTH is headed by Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian of IIT Madras.

Vehicle Scrappage Policy: Uttar Pradesh Leads in Vehicle Disposal

Following the implementation of the Central Government’s Vehicle Scrappage Policy, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the leading state in vehicle scrapping, with more than 1.85 lakh private vehicles and around 10,000 government vehicles scrapped through authorised centres as of June 30. The state has 101 Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs), of which 50 are operational. The scrapping process is conducted online through the Vehicle-Scrap Portal and Vahan system under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Since the implementation of the policy in August 2022, around 4.2 lakh vehicles have been scrapped across India through authorised RVSFs. Vehicle owners receive a Certificate of Deposit after submitting vehicles at authorised scrapping centres, which provides road tax rebates of up to 10% for commercial vehicles and 15% for private vehicles while purchasing new vehicles. According to NITI Aayog, less than 3% of end-of-life vehicles targeted under the policy were processed through authorised channels between August 2022 and July 2025.