Daily Current Affairs - 19-09-2026

Sports News

Hat-trick of Wins for Indian Men’s and Women’s Chess Teams

At the 46th Chess Olympiad, which began on September 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Indian men's and women's chess teams won their third-round matches to record their third consecutive victories. After three rounds, both teams have 6 points each and share the lead with other teams in their respective sections. In the Open section, the Indian men's team defeated Italy; D. Gukesh beat Sabino Brunello and Nihal Sarin beat Francesco Sonis, while Praggnanandhaa drew with Lorenzo Lodici and Arjun Erigaisi drew with Luca Moroni Jr. In the Women's section, the Indian team defeated Greece; Koneru Humpy beat Charitomeni Markantonaki, Vantika Agrawal beat Ekaterini Pavlidou, and Savitha Shri beat Antonia Christodoulaki, while Divya Deshmukh, the reigning Women's World Cup champion, drew with Anastasia Avramidou. The Chess Olympiad is held once every two years and is conducted in the Open and Women's sections.

Tamil Nadu News

Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme Extended to Classes 6-8

The Puratchi Thalaivar Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme has been extended to students of Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu. Through this extension, an additional 15.30 lakh students in 15,454 schools will benefit. A sum of ₹2,217.63 crore has been allocated for the scheme, of which ₹724 crore has been released so far. In the Greater Chennai Corporation area, the scheme is implemented in 447 government and government-aided schools through integrated kitchens under the administration of the Chennai Corporation. In 2,150 government-aided schools in other municipal corporations, municipalities and town panchayat areas, breakfast is provided through the integrated kitchens of the respective local bodies. In panchayat areas, breakfast is prepared and served at the schools themselves in 12,857 government and government-aided schools by women's self-help groups functioning under the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women. Chief Minister Vijay will launch the extended scheme in Chennai on September 22.

Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme to Launch on September 28

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay will launch the Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme, under which a 1-gram gold ring is presented to children born in government hospitals, on September 28. The Tamil Nadu Government issued a Government Order on June 23 regarding the scheme. Around 7.80 lakh children are born in Tamil Nadu every year, of which 4.20 lakh deliveries (53%) take place in government hospitals. Each gold ring will carry a unique serial number and will be provided with a tamper-proof protective case. In the first phase, 1,28,000 gold rings have been procured. From September 28, arrangements have been made to present the rings to children born in government hospitals between June 22 and September 28, at the rate of 100 children per day at 107 centres. The scheme will be launched on September 28 in all districts except Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts, which include the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies where byelections are being held. The implementation review meeting was attended by Health Minister Arunraj, Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Tarez Ahmed, National Health Mission Director Aneesh Sekhar, Director of Municipal Administration Madhusudhan Reddy, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project Director S. Uma, and Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran, among others.

Wildlife Trail Run at Vandalur on October 4

As part of Wildlife Week celebrations, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur near Chennai will conduct a Wildlife Trail Run on October 4, 2026. It is a 5-km running event. Participants must complete registration formalities by 5.30 a.m. on the day, and the run will begin at 7 a.m. Online registration on the website www.aazp.in/wildrun/2026 is mandatory. As only a maximum of 2,000 participants can take part, priority will be given to those who register first. Registration fees of ₹300 and ₹750 have been fixed according to the age categories specified by the organisers. Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 and certificates. All participants will be provided refreshments, breakfast, an e-certificate, and free entry to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park on the day of the event only.

Vizhithirai Kaappom Scheme Launched

Health Minister Arunraj launched the pre-release event of the Vizhithirai Kaappom (Protect the Retina) Scheme at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Egmore, Chennai. It is a pioneering scheme in the country. Under the scheme, persons above 30 years of age and those affected by conditions such as diabetes and hypertension will undergo an annual retina examination; this will enable early detection of diseases affecting the retina and vision and provide access to the required super-speciality treatment. The scheme will be implemented at 385 block government primary health centres, 37 district headquarters hospitals, 150 urban primary health centres, government general hospitals, district hospitals and medical college hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The Egmore Government Ophthalmic Hospital will function as the headquarters of the scheme. The event was attended by Director of Medical Education and Research (in charge) Loganayaki, Hospital Director Nayagamurthy, State Blindness Control Society Project Director Chandrakumar, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital Dean Santharaman, Government Stanley Hospital Dean Aravindan, Omandurar Government Hospital Dean Hariharan, and Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital Dean Kavitha, among others.

Tamil Nadu Private Universities Amendment Bill Referred to President

The Governor of Tamil Nadu has referred the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill for the consideration of the President of India. The Bill has been referred to the President because education is a subject on the Concurrent List, shared by the Central and State Governments. The amendment Bill proposes to reduce the minimum land requirement for establishing private universities from 100 acres to 12 acres, and the required endowment fund from ₹50 crore to ₹20 crore. The PMK and Left parties opposed the amendment Bill. Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan stated that the amendment would pave the way for universities of international standard to be established in Tamil Nadu.

Governor Assents to 12 of 13 Bills

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has given assent to 12 of the 13 Bills passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Among them, the Tamil Nadu Payment of Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill, relating to the provision of cars to MLAs, was passed by voice vote on September 7. On September 8, the concluding day of the Assembly session, the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Second Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Appropriation Bill, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Staff Selection Board Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Goods and Services Tax Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Goods and Services Tax Second Amendment Bill, the Tamil Nadu Valuation and Land Assessment Second Amendment Bill, and the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Amendment Bill were passed by voice vote. The 12 Bills assented to by the Governor have been published in the Government Gazette and notified as having come into force.

Seven New Government Nursing Colleges in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Health Department has issued a Government Order (GO) for establishing 7 new government nursing colleges in the State, following an announcement made under Rule 110 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. No new government nursing colleges had been established in Tamil Nadu after 2014. New government nursing colleges with 100 nursing seats each are being established at a cost of ₹270.26 crore in 6 districts — Namakkal, Tiruchi, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli; the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University will provide academic guidance to these colleges. College buildings and hostels are under construction. The 7th government nursing college is being started at the Coimbatore Government Medical College and Hospital with 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats. In total, 2,585 additional nursing seats are being created, comprising 1,290 DGNM seats, 440 B.Sc. Nursing seats, 75 M.Sc. Nursing seats and 120 Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing seats. In addition, 2,788 additional seats in 12 paramedical courses and 735 additional seats in medical and pharmacy courses are being created.

Walgreens Global Capability Centre at DLF Taramani

The Tamil Nadu Government and the US-headquartered Walgreens have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the company's first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Tamil Nadu at the DLF Downtown Taramani campus in Chennai. The campus is located on the newly announced OMR GCC Corridor. The MoU was signed at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister Vijay. The centre will focus on technology and business services and is expected to create 250 high-value jobs in its first year, with expansion planned in subsequent years. Walgreens operates globally in pharmacy services, healthcare, and consumer health products. The event was attended by Minister S. Keerthana, Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Industries Secretary S. Vijayakumar, Guidance Tamil Nadu Managing Director Deepak Jacob, Walgreens Global Capability Centre Head Umapathy Viswanathan, and Company Director Maruth Ahmed, among others.

Science and Technology News

Dengue Prevention, Symptoms and Safety Measures

Dengue is a viral disease spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant clean water. Children are generally most affected by dengue during the July-December period. As noted in the report, 12,543 dengue cases and 4 dengue deaths were recorded up to August 2026, with higher case counts reported in Chennai, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Erode, Tiruvallur and Tenkasi districts. Sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, bone, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and red spots and rashes on the skin are the main symptoms. During the period when fever subsides, generally 3-8 days after the onset of symptoms, a critical phase can occur; in this phase, plasma leakage, organ failure, internal bleeding and death may occur. Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in vomit or stools, extreme fatigue, restlessness or confusion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the body are warning signs. Paracetamol may be used for fever and body pain; NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided as they increase the risk of severe bleeding. As dengue is a viral disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises avoiding unnecessary antibiotics and steroids. Hydration and electrolyte balance can be maintained with ORS solution, soups and fruit juices; intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is required when fluids cannot be retained due to persistent vomiting. Platelet, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels should be monitored through blood tests under a doctor's guidance. A dengue patient sleeping inside a mosquito net helps prevent the disease from spreading to others. Aedes mosquitoes have white stripes on a black body, generally bite during the daytime, and spread dengue, chikungunya and Zika; Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes generally breed in dirty or stagnant water and are associated with diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and malaria. Covering water storage tanks and vessels, removing unused tyres and objects where water can stagnate, cleaning flower pots and refrigerator drip trays once a week, fitting mosquito screens on doors and windows, and wearing full-sleeved clothing during the day are key preventive measures. Dengue-related blood tests and complete treatment are available free of cost at all government hospitals.

Dr. Reddy’s to Market Qdenga, India’s First Dengue Vaccine

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has entered into an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to market and sell Qdenga, described as India's first dengue vaccine, in the Indian market. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorisation for the vaccine in July 2026; earlier, in April 2026, it was approved for use in persons aged 4 to 60 years. Under the agreement, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories will handle regulatory activities, the supply chain and distribution; Takeda Pharmaceuticals will manufacture the vaccine and supply it in bulk to Dr. Reddy's; and both companies will jointly undertake marketing and promotional activities. Qdenga is set to serve as an additional tool in India's overall dengue vaccination programme. Other companies are also expected to enter India's private vaccine market with dengue vaccines from the first quarter of 2027; the price of Qdenga has not yet been fixed.

Economy News

Moody’s Projects 7% GDP Growth for India in FY 2026-27

Global credit rating agency Moody's Ratings has projected that India's GDP growth will be 7% in the 2026-27 financial year, raising its earlier forecast of 6%. Moody's stated that India's real GDP growth in the first six months of 2026 was 8.2% year-on-year. Moody's also expects India's economic growth to be faster than that of other G20 countries. While the Indian economy has demonstrated resilience to global shocks, elevated crude oil prices and El Nino have been cited as risk factors for inflation. Diversification of crude oil import sources, substantial foreign exchange reserves and strong domestic demand are supportive factors for India's economic growth. India's GDP growth for the quarter ended June 2026 was recorded at 7.8%, higher than the 7% growth projected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Environment News

Coastal Zone Management Authority Approval Required for Vinayagar Idol Immersion

The Southern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered that prior permission from the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority is mandatory for immersing Vinayagar idols in the sea. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued guidelines to prevent the immersion of idols in unnotified water bodies, and the immersion of Plaster of Paris idols in freshwater bodies is also prohibited. Hari Hara Subramanian of Chennai filed a petition before the Southern Zone Bench of the NGT in 2023, seeking to prevent idol immersion in unnotified water bodies. During the hearing on September 17, the Tribunal noted that since sea-related activities fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), permission from the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority is required for immersing idols on ecologically significant beaches and sand stretches. The Tribunal also accepted the request to direct the Authority to formulate a district-wise procedure and permission system for idol immersion. It further directed the State Government to create artificial water bodies for idol immersion and to prevent immersion in natural water bodies. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 13.