Daily Current Affairs - 26-08-2026

National News

Supreme Court to Constitute Special Bench on OBC Creamy Layer Issue

The Supreme Court of India has decided to constitute a special bench to hear the Central Government’s petition regarding the applicability of its March 11, 2026 judgment on OBC Creamy Layer eligibility to the 2025 Civil Services Examination. The Creamy Layer refers to the socially and economically advanced section of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and candidates falling under this category are not eligible for OBC reservation benefits in government education and public employment; the existing income limit mentioned in the case is ₹8 lakh per annum. In 2004, the Central Government issued guidelines stating that the Creamy Layer status of OBC candidates whose parents work in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), banks, universities or private organisations could be determined through an income test, including parental salary and non-agricultural income, with income exceeding the prescribed limit for more than three consecutive years being considered. Several OBC candidates who appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination challenged their exclusion from the OBC Non-Creamy Layer category before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the Madras, Delhi and Kerala High Courts, which delivered judgments in favour of the candidates. On March 11, 2026, the Supreme Court held that OBC Creamy Layer status cannot be determined solely on the basis of the parents’ salary and that factors including parental post, social status and income must be considered. The Central Government subsequently sought clarification that the judgment should not be applied retrospectively to the 2025 Civil Services Examination. The 2025 Civil Services Examination notification was issued on January 22, 2025, the Preliminary Examination was held on May 25, 2025, and 958 candidates were recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for services including IAS, IPS and IFS. On August 25, 2026, the petition was considered by a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna; the Supreme Court decided to constitute a special bench to hear the Central Government’s petition.

One Nation, One Election: Centre Examines 2029 Implementation

The Central Government is examining the possibility of implementing the first phase of ‘One Nation, One Election’ in 2029, alongside the Lok Sabha elections, covering the Legislative Assemblies of 22 States and Union Territories under the NDA. Among these, 17 are governed directly by the BJP, while 5 are governed by BJP-led alliance partners. Under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution of India, a State Legislative Assembly can be dissolved by the Governor on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. The 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill relating to ‘One Nation, One Election’ has been examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by BJP MP P. P. Chaudhary since December 19, 2023, and the committee has been permitted to submit its final report during the final week of the upcoming winter session of Parliament. The committee has conducted consultations in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat and Goa, and has decided to seek views in Uttar Pradesh next. The scheduled Assembly election years mentioned in the proposal are 2027 for Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh; 2028 for Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Telangana; 2029 for Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra; 2030 for Delhi and Bihar; and 2031 for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry. The concept of simultaneous elections was followed in India from 1951 to 1967, with the first simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections held in 1951–52, followed by 1957, 1962 and 1967; the cycle was disrupted after some State Assemblies were dissolved before completing their terms, particularly during 1968 and 1969.

Tamil Nadu News

Sivakasi Pyrotechnics Common Facility Centre to Strengthen Fireworks Industry Safety

Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) at a cost of ₹2 crore for establishing the Sivakasi Pyrotechnics Common Facility Centre to strengthen safety, sustainability, technology adoption and skill development in fireworks factories. A safe accommodation facility for more than 2,500 workers will be constructed at the Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Park in the second phase under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost of ₹130 crore. Existing SIPCOT industrial parks will be upgraded into eco-friendly industrial parks at a cost of ₹100 crore. A new industrial park will be established by SIPCOT over 2,570 acres in Mudaivaithanendal, Thoothukudi district, with an investment of ₹5,000 crore, creating 20,000 new jobs. Another SIPCOT industrial park will be established over 229 acres in Omandur, Villupuram district, attracting an investment of ₹1,000 crore and generating 3,200 new jobs. The Semiconductor 2.0 Scheme has been announced in Tamil Nadu, under which a special incentive scheme will be implemented according to the requirements of semiconductor companies. The family funeral relief assistance for salt pan workers will be increased from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000.

‘Vetri Tamil Nadu Super App’ to Provide 500 Government Services

Tamil Nadu will introduce the ‘Vetri Tamil Nadu Super App’ at a cost of ₹5 crore to provide 500 government services directly through mobile phones, including birth certificates, ration cards and driving licence renewals. A ‘Vetri Tamil Nadu Website’ will also be created at a cost of ₹1 crore to enable citizens to submit suggestions and recommendations and provide feedback on government schemes. To accelerate the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based products in Tamil Nadu, the ‘Free Artificial Intelligence Services for Tamil Nadu Entrepreneurs’ scheme will be implemented at a cost of ₹10 crore. ‘Vetri Tamil Nadu Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence’ will be established through the Tamil Nadu Electronics Corporation (ELCOT).

New AI and IT Initiatives Announced in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has announced several initiatives in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology and Digital Services. The Vetri Tamilagam Deep Tech Innovation Fund will be established with an allocation of ₹50 crore to support the creation of deep-tech companies and expand entrepreneurship opportunities. Vetri Tamil Nadu Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence will be established in Chennai and Coimbatore through private partnerships. The Vetri Tamil Nadu Super App will be developed at a cost of ₹5 crore to provide 500 government services through mobile phones, while the Vetri Tamil Nadu Website will be developed at a cost of ₹1 crore for citizens to submit suggestions and feedback. A scheme to provide free Artificial Intelligence services to entrepreneurs will be implemented with an allocation of ₹10 crore. The Tamil Nadu Design, Research & Development, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Engineering (T-DRIVE) Scheme will be implemented in Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari and Pudukkottai districts to support hardware design, manufacturing and research infrastructure. Phase II of the Tamil Nadu Cultural Digital Repository Project will be implemented at a cost of ₹60 lakh to digitally document cultural heritage for the public and researchers. Through the Tamil Virtual Academy, an AI-integrated Tamil website will be developed. An AI Advisory Committee will be constituted to oversee AI implementation, while AI tools for office use and specialised AI models for the health and agriculture sectors will be developed at a cost of ₹75 lakh.

Salt Pan Workers’ Monsoon Relief Increased to ₹7,000

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister S. Keerthana announced an increase in the annual monsoon relief assistance for salt pan workers’ families from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000. Safe accommodation for more than 2,500 workers at the Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Park, Tirunelveli will be established under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost of ₹130 crore, while existing SIPCOT industrial parks will be upgraded for environmental protection at ₹100 crore. Ready-made factory units will be established with private participation at Gangaikondan and Thoothukudi SIPCOT industrial parks at a cost of ₹224 crore, and SIPCOT land-bank details, including vacant plots, will be digitized for investors. An industrial park will be established at Mudaivaithanendal, Thoothukudi, across 2,570 acres, attracting ₹5,000 crore investment and generating 20,000 jobs. An Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing industrial park will be established at Sillanatham across 1,294 acres, attracting ₹7,000 crore investment and generating 10,000 jobs. New SIPCOT industrial parks will be established at Omandur, Villupuram across 229 acres, attracting ₹1,000 crore investment and generating 3,200 jobs, and at Lathuvadi, Namakkal across 245 acres, attracting ₹1,000 crore investment and generating 3,500 jobs. ₹1 crore will be allocated for research on quantum technology security in Tamil Nadu. TIDCO will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) at a cost of ₹2 crore for establishing the Sivakasi Pyrotechnics Common Facility Centre to improve safety, technology adoption and skill development in fireworks production. A special incentive scheme for semiconductor companies will be implemented, while an advisory committee will be formed to study emerging technologies and a Tamil Nadu Global Skill Hubs route map and development plan will be prepared. A state monitoring mechanism will be established for implementing industrial development projects in districts. Financial assistance of ₹600 crore will be provided to 500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to support public sector entities and local bodies. The Vetri Magalir Thozhilmunaivor Scheme will benefit more than 500 women entrepreneurs through training and development support, and the MSME digital credit scheme will be digitized. A factory to manufacture 5,000 metric tonnes of ‘Vetri Notebooks’ annually will be established at Mayanur, Karur, at a cost of ₹6 crore. Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation (TNSC) will market ‘Vetri Double Fortified Salt’, produced as double-fortified salt, through fair price shops and open markets.

Special e-KYC Camp at Tamil Nadu Ration Shops on August 29

Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, the Central Government has directed biometric e-KYC verification based on fingerprints for beneficiaries linked to digital ration cards to verify Aadhaar details of Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) family cards. In Tamil Nadu, fingerprint verification of family members has been carried out since October 2023, and 96.21% of the verification work for priority family cards has been completed. To achieve 100% verification, a special e-KYC registration camp will be conducted at all fair price shops across Tamil Nadu on August 29, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, for family cardholders whose fingerprint registration remains incomplete.

New SIPCOT Industrial Parks and Worker Accommodation Announced

The Tamil Nadu Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department will establish accommodation for more than 2,500 workers employed in industrial units at the Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Park under Phase II, at an estimated cost of ₹130 crore, through Tamil Nadu Industrial Housing Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle, with public and private participation. A new SIPCOT industrial park will be established at Mudaivaithanendal, Thoothukudi district, over 2,570 acres at an estimated cost of ₹1,390 crore, focusing on clean and renewable energy-based industries and expected to attract ₹5,000 crore in investment. A dedicated electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing industrial park will be established at Sillanatham, Thoothukudi, over 1,294 acres at an estimated cost of ₹774 crore, with an expected investment of ₹7,000 crore. SIPCOT industrial parks will also be established at Omandur, Villupuram, and Lathuvadi, Namakkal, while a mini-textile park with ready-built factory sheds will be established at Avudaiyarkoil, Pudukkottai, over 2.47 acres at a cost of ₹25 crore. A dedicated Sivakasi Pyrotechnics Common Facility Centre will be established for the fireworks industry in Sivakasi, which has more than 1,000 licensed fireworks units. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation (TIIC) Bill Finance Scheme will be extended to all State Public Sector Undertakings, government departments, boards and local bodies, enabling Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) supplying goods or services to these entities to obtain financial assistance. In alignment with the National Quantum Mission, a study will be undertaken to develop Tamil Nadu as a ‘Quantum Safe’ State and strengthen technological infrastructure for protecting digital data of financial institutions, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), aerospace, space and defence establishments against emerging quantum computing threats.

IIT Madras Launches Centre of Excellence for Biodegradable Packaging Materials

Center of Excellence for Biodegradable Packaging Materials at IIT Madras: On August 25, 2026, Tejavir Singh, Secretary, Union Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, inaugurated the Center of Excellence for Biodegradable Packaging Materials (Bio-Pac) at IIT Madras, Chennai. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has established 18 Centers of Excellence across various cities, including Chennai, for education and research in Chemistry and Polymer fields, with emphasis on environmental protection and industrial modernization. The DCPC also organized ‘ChemConnect 2026’, an industry-academia interaction programme at IIT Madras to promote the transfer of technologies and skills from academic institutions to industry. More than 200 representatives from industry, academia, research institutions, special centres and new-age enterprises participated. G. Venkatesh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, and Professor Shishir Sinha, Director General, Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), participated in the event, which was coordinated by Professor Ethayaraja Mani, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras.

7th High-Level Meeting of Indian and Vietnam Coast Guards Held in Chennai

The 7th High-Level Meeting between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) was held in Chennai. During the meeting, Major General Luong Dinh Hung, Vice-Commandant of the Vietnam Coast Guard, met Paramesh Sivamani, Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard. The meeting focused on strengthening professional cooperation, bilateral maritime engagement, and operational coordination between the two coast guards. Paramesh Sivamani also met Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at Fort St. George, Chennai, where matters relating to safety of life at sea, coastal security, and the welfare of Indian Coast Guard veterans were discussed.