Daily Current Affairs - 29-08-2026

National News

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana – 12 Years

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 28, 2014, with the objective of providing banking and financial services to unbanked and economically weaker sections. The scheme allows eligible beneficiaries to open zero-balance bank accounts without penalty or maintenance charges for not maintaining a minimum balance and provides a free RuPay debit card for ATM and online transactions. The scheme provides accident insurance cover up to ₹2 lakh and an overdraft facility up to ₹10,000. The number of Jan Dhan accounts increased from 14.5 crore in 2015 to over 59 crore in 2026, including 33 crore accounts held by women (56%) and 46 crore accounts in rural and semi-urban areas (78%). As of August 19, 2026, the total deposits in Jan Dhan accounts stood at ₹3.17 lakh crore, with an average balance of ₹5,356 per account, while 41.29 crore RuPay cards had been issued. During the 12 years since its launch, ₹53 lakh crore was directly transferred to beneficiaries under various Central Government welfare schemes, with a major share credited to Jan Dhan accounts.

Science and Technology News

Ebola Spreads Rapidly in Congo: Vaccination Drive Begins

Kinshasa, August 28: Vaccination of healthcare workers has officially begun in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a Central African country, to contain the rapidly spreading Ebola infection. In the initial phase, vaccines are being administered to healthcare workers directly involved in disease prevention activities and individuals who have been in contact with patients. Currently, there is no approved treatment or specific vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus spreading in Congo. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed hope that the Ervebo vaccine, used to treat Ebola, may also provide some level of protection against this virus strain. According to Congo government statistics, 5,794 people have been confirmed infected so far, while the death toll has increased to 2,786, with a fatality rate of 48%. The infection has spread to a total of 60 health zones, including two new areas in North Kivu Province.

Sports News

Praggnanandhaa Wins Grand Chess Tour Finals

Saint Louis, August 28: Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa defeated America’s Fabiano Caruana 15–13 in the final of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) Finals held in Saint Louis, USA, becoming the first Indian champion in the history of the GCT Finals. Earlier in 2026, Praggnanandhaa had also become the first Indian to win the Norway Chess tournament. His previous best performance in the Grand Chess Tour was 4th place in 2025. Other Indian players who have participated in the tournament include Viswanathan Anand, D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi and P. Harikrishna; Anand’s 5th place in 2018 was the highest position achieved by an Indian other than Praggnanandhaa. The GCT has been held since 2015, with tournaments involving Classical, Rapid and Blitz formats. In the 2026 GCT Finals, Praggnanandhaa, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So and Germany’s Vincent Keymer qualified after finishing among the top four in the circuit points standings. In the final, Praggnanandhaa recovered after losing the first Classical game and later won both Rapid games to take an 11–9 lead, followed by victories in the Blitz games, before securing the championship with a final score of 15–13. In the 3rd-place match, Wesley So defeated Vincent Keymer 18–12. Praggnanandhaa received a cash prize of ₹1.90 crore, Caruana ₹1.19 crore, Wesley So ₹71 lakh and Keymer ₹47 lakh. Praggnanandhaa, Caruana and Wesley So qualified for the next year’s Grand Chess Tour.

Tamil Nadu News

Indo-German MSME Conference Held in Chennai

The Indo-German Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Conference was held in Chennai on August 28, 2026, jointly organized by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC). More than 200 MSMEs, industry leaders, policymakers, investors and technology companies participated in the conference. Discussions focused on India-Germany cooperation in trade, investment, technology and skill development and opportunities arising from the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Michaela Küchler, Consul General of Germany in Chennai, Michael Hoesp, Deputy Consul General of Germany in Chennai, and Alex Paul Menon, Development Commissioner of Madras Export Processing Zone Special Economic Zone (MEPZ SEZ) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in the event.

Karai–Kolakkanattam Geo-Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu

The Karai–Kolakkanattam area in Perambalur district, part of the Cauvery basin, is a fossil-rich geological region covering parts of Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli and Cuddalore districts. During the Cretaceous Period (14.5–6.6 crore years ago), parts of the Cauvery basin were submerged under the sea, resulting in the formation and preservation of marine fossils. In 1862, British geologist Henry Francis Blanford studied the Cretaceous rocks of the Tiruchirappalli–Cauvery basin and classified them into the Uttattur Group, Trichinopoly Group and Ariyalur Group. In 2015, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the Karai–Kolakkanattam area as India’s 32nd Geo-Heritage Site. The approximately 4-km-long area is characterized by Badland Topography, formed mainly through long-term soil erosion and differential erosion. The site contains sedimentary rock layers including gypsum, mudstone, claystone, siltstone, limestone and red soil, along with fossils of ammonites, belemnites, gastropods and bivalves. It serves as an Open-Air Geological Laboratory for integrated studies in Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Palaeontology and Geomorphology, and around 100 acres of the area has been fenced and protected.

Breakfast Scheme Expansion to Be Launched in Virudhunagar on September 17

Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to launch the expansion of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme for government school students on September 17. In Tamil Nadu, the scheme was launched for students studying in Classes 1 to 5 in government schools by the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on September 15, 2021. Subsequently, the scheme was expanded to government-aided schools. Following the change of government in Tamil Nadu under the TVK, the scheme was renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, and the Tamil Nadu government announced its expansion up to Class 8. For this purpose, ₹268 crore was allocated in the current budget. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to launch the expansion on September 17, Periyar’s birth anniversary, at K.V.S. Middle School in Virudhunagar, where former Chief Minister Kamarajar studied. This will be Vijay’s first visit to a southern district after assuming office as Chief Minister.