Daily Current Affairs - 22-09-2026

Science and Technology News

Parachute Deployment System in Gaganyaan’s Crew Module

Atmospheric Re-entry and Deceleration: Any spacecraft entering the Earth’s atmosphere relies primarily on atmospheric drag to reduce its velocity. To achieve a gentle touchdown on land or in the sea, additional decelerating systems such as parachutes are required. The parachute systems used in crewed space vehicles demand multi-staging, redundancy, high-performance materials, and high-pressure packing to reduce storage space.

Types and Deployment Mechanism: The parachute system consists of three types of parachutes: Pilot Chute, a mini-parachute deployed to pull out the wider drogue or main parachutes; Drogue Chute, deployed early during descent to stabilise the module and reduce initial velocity; and Main Chute, which features a wider canopy and is used in the final phase to reduce velocity sufficiently to ensure soft-landing conditions. Due to the crew module’s blunt shape, a turbulent wake is created behind it. The ejection mechanism must impart sufficient energy to push the parachute through this wake in the shortest time and deploy it in the far-wake region. Parachutes are generally deployed when the module’s speed drops below the speed of sound.

Need for Multi-Staging: As the Gaganyaan crew module descends, it moves at around 170 m/s in the lower atmosphere. Deploying a full-sized main parachute straightaway would create a high opening shock, risking fabric damage or exposing astronauts to dangerous deceleration forces. Multi-staging progressively increases the chute diameter, maintaining dynamic pressure within acceptable limits. Additionally, a cord wound around the canopy restricts immediate full opening; after a timed delay, a cutter severs the cord to allow full inflation.

Post-Landing Release: After splashdown or land touchdown, wind acting on an undetached canopy could drag or capsize the module, risking astronaut injury. Therefore, the parachutes are released using pyro cutters or mechanical quick-release devices.

Parachute Testing Facilities: Parachutes are tested using various platforms. The Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) is a ground facility where a sled is accelerated along rails using small solid motors. The Terminal Ballistic Research Lab (TBRL), Chandigarh, possesses a state-of-the-art RTRS facility. Other methods include dropping test articles from helicopters/aircraft or using small rocket-powered test vehicles.

Materials Used in Aerospace Parachutes: Kevlar is used in high-load suspension lines, risers, and structural reinforcement tapes for its high tensile strength and heat resistance. Nomex is used in heat-exposed areas to withstand hot mortar gas discharge and aerothermal heating. Nylon is widely used for canopy broadcloths due to its elasticity, which helps absorb initial dynamic shock loads, and high compressibility for compact packing.

Parachutes in Gaganyaan Crew Module: The Gaganyaan crew module uses two drogue chutes, deployed by mortars, and three main chutes, deployed by mortar-ejected pilot chutes. If one main parachute fails, the remaining two independent parachutes can ensure a safe touchdown. The Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, a laboratory under DRDO, is the developing agency.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Maharashtra’s Methanol Rules

On September 18, the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra government rules requiring methanol to be denatured with a colourant and bitterant before sale to non-drug manufacturers. A Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran allowed writ petitions filed by methanol-based product manufacturers against amendments to the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972. Methanol (methyl alcohol) is a toxic substance widely used as an industrial raw material in products such as formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, paints, resins, and other chemicals. The Maharashtra government introduced stricter controls following a 1991 hooch tragedy in Mumbai, where around 93 people died after consuming spurious liquor containing methanol. A committee led by then Additional Director General of Police P.R. Parthasarthy was constituted to examine the causes of the tragedy. In 2011, Maharashtra amended its Poisons Rules to introduce Rules 18A and 18B. Rule 18A mandated addition of bitterant and colourant to methanol before sale to non-drug manufacturers and required verification of a purchaser’s Form A licence. Rule 18B provided for confiscation of methanol possessed without a Form A licence.

Petitioners' Arguments & State's Defense: Companies argued that colour contamination made products unacceptable to the paint and pharmaceutical industries and could affect catalysts, laboratory testing, and pharmaceutical applications. The State argued the rules were necessary because methanol could be mixed with liquor to cause fatal poisoning, and identifiable additives would help prevent misuse.

Court's Ruling & Constitutional Findings: The court examined whether Rules 18A and 18B violated Articles 14 (fairness in action and non-arbitrariness) and 19(1)(g) (right to carry on trade or business) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court held Rules 18A and 18B of the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972 unconstitutional. Rule 18A(1): Merely verifying a Form A licence did not establish how the purchaser would use methanol, imposing a disproportionate restriction on legitimate users. Rule 18A(2): Requiring additives lacked a reasonable and proximate nexus with preventing misuse in illicit liquor, as the State failed to demonstrate additives would prevent diversion or manufacture of spurious liquor. Rule 18B: Confiscation of methanol without a Form A licence conflicted with lawful possession under a Form B permit, rendering that permit redundant. Applying the proportionality test from K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), the court held that while preventing loss of life from hooch is a legitimate aim, the restrictions were neither suitable nor necessary, and imposed continuing burdens on legitimate industries.

Supreme Court Guidelines to Prevent Hooch Tragedies: Inter-departmental Coordination: Prohibition, excise, police, transport, industries, and health departments, alongside NGOs, must work together to check State borders, stop illegal transport, identify locations of illicit liquor, and monitor industrial units. Strengthening Methanol Rules: Licences should be granted only after proper verification and regular reviews should be conducted; industrial users should return unused or excess methanol and maintain proper stock and consumption records; licence suspension or cancellation should be enforced for violations; and methanol should be transported in dedicated tankers under excise supervision, sealed to prevent theft, diversion, or tampering. Rehabilitation & Support: More de-addiction centres should be established, affected families should be supported, and local counselling centres should be provided.

No Need to Delay AI Technology: Union IT Ministry Clarifies

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has stated that there is no need to delay artificial intelligence (AI) technology-related initiatives in India, as AI-based applications are simplifying public service delivery. In recent days, varying opinions have emerged globally regarding AI development. Concerns have been raised that as AI becomes highly capable, it could potentially pose risks to humanity, prompting calls to moderate its rapid advancement. Addressing this, officials from the Union IT Ministry stated on Monday that India does not need to pause its AI-related efforts. Most AI development work undertaken in the country is focused on creating applications aligned directly with public needs. Globally, demands have been made to regulate or impose a temporary pause on AI progress, particularly cautioning against the creation of highly advanced models known as frontier models. However, India's approach differs from this stance. At the same time, the government remains concerned about AI safety issues. Mandates are already in place requiring developers to report any errors in AI models to appropriate authorities. While researchers and safety experts from leading AI organizations such as OpenAI and Anthropic have recently issued warnings regarding risks from highly powerful frontier AI models, India's position holds significant importance. Some experts warn that AI risks could lead to major catastrophes for humanity, but U.S. President Trump has rejected calls for a temporary pause on AI growth. The Trump administration contends that slowing down AI development would impair America's leading edge and allow China to take the lead. The rapid growth of AI has sparked worldwide debates on harnessing its economic and social benefits while mitigating potential risks, such as misinformation spread, fraud, copyright violations, misuse of powerful AI systems, and AI acting beyond human authorization.

Sports News

Rudrankksh — Indian Shooting’s ‘Chosen One’

Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, the 22-year-old Indian shooter, clinched bronze in the 10m air rifle event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Three years ago, he was spoken of as a possible successor to Abhinav Bindra. His performances then, at age 19, evoked admiration and hope in the shooting fraternity, but it all came crashing when he stumbled, finishing fourth in the 10m air rifle at the 2022 Asian Games. This cost him a quota for the Paris Olympics, and he had to wait two more years to become the first Indian shooter to be held to that Games threshold.

Since then, his nervous energy has been replaced by a quiet, confident belief in himself. He represents India in both 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3-Positions, the latter an addition after Paris 2024.

Getting Inspired: He credits his nutritionist and psychologist for teaching him to manage multiple events. He also cited Michael Phelps as an inspiration for participating in and winning medals across multiple events. This is the first Asian Games where he is participating in two events; it is his fourth international competition doing so. He spoke about this during an exclusive interaction with The Hindu during the preparatory camp in Bhopal.

Content With Third Place: The bronze he won came after leading for almost 70% of the competition on Monday, before a disappointment at another time might have seen a medal move away. He said he was happy with the bronze given that a lot of things could have gone wrong.

Tough Times: The aftermath of missing out on an Olympic berth was tough for people close to him, as he had finished third in 10m air rifle behind Arjun Babuta and Sandeep Singh in the trials. He said the initial thought was that he had competed for 13 years and it wasn't a big deal to lose one match, though it was hard on his parents and support staff.

External Support: TOPS CEO Cmdr. P.K. Garg was supportive and sanctioned his trip to Serbia to train with Olympic medallist Milenko Sebic. The national coaches guided him on equipment and ammunition suppliers, and helped with everything through his last six months.

Finishing the Job: He is aware there is still a long way to go. He referred to Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, who beat him in the shoot-off for the 10m bronze in Hangzhou, and also watched footage of Bindra's shooting at the 2016 Olympics.

Showing Maturity: He has learnt to stop worrying about things not in his control, calling it fate or luck. He himself jokes about being the "chosen one" for many unexpected setbacks that have happened to him, not all of his making — such as his gun auto-firing during the final at the Peru World Cup. This year, he was able to overcome such issues.

He knows he will make mistakes and will keep learning from them — like on Monday, when he admitted his drop from World No.1 to No.3 was largely his own doing, and a poor 9.7 shot dashed his golden hopes.

From being crowned World champion in 10m air rifle in his maiden senior international outing in 2022, to winning his first National title earlier this year, Rudrankksh's journey has been eventful. He said: "I won the World Championship, World Cup Final, World Cups, got the World No.1 title, World Record. This year, I won the Asian Championship for the first time after finishing near the top for the past seven to eight years. This year, I was able to play with both." His only regret was that despite these achievements, he has not yet been considered for an Arjuna Award, and he hopes to "complete the set" with the Olympics.

Suchika Tariyal Wins Bronze in Asian Games Traditional Mixed Martial Arts

Indian athlete Suchika Tariyal secured a bronze medal in the women’s Traditional Mixed Martial Arts 60kg event at Nagoya. This marks India’s maiden medal in this discipline, which made its debut at the 20th edition of the Asian Games.

Semifinal Match Outcome: Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo was awarded the semifinal win after a gruelling bout between the two fighters ended in a draw. The bout was initially ruled in Teo’s favor, but following an Indian challenge, the result was officially declared a draw. As per the rules, the winner was subsequently determined by comparing the fighters' morning weights.

The Decision Margin: According to MMA Sports Federation President Nikhil Kunde, the Singaporean fighter was lighter than Suchika by approximately 700 grams. Owing to this weight difference, Teo advanced to the final while Suchika settled for the bronze medal.

Himanshu Comes of Age as Marksmen Get Going

India's wait for its first gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games continued on the second day, even as the shooters added three more medals to the tally, including a double podium finish in the 10m air rifle, on Monday.

Himanshu Dhillon proved he was ready for the big stage, winning his maiden international individual medal at the senior level, pipping Rudrankksh Patil to silver in a nail-biting, dramatic final that saw defending champion Sheng Lihao retain his title. The two, together with Parth Mane, also won silver as a team. India had won gold in the team event the last time around, with Rudrankksh the only constant. Himanshu, a week away from his 21st birthday, played a steady hand all throughout, staying in the top-three at all times with no signs of being a debutant in the spotlight, even as senior pro Rudrankksh and Sheng kept exchanging the lead at the top.

Till the 15th shot, in fact, Rudrankksh was comfortably in the lead before Sheng crawled back even as Himanshu consolidated his spot. By the 17th shot, the potential medallists had been clearly identified with only the colour of the metal to be decided. A 9.9 on the 18th by Himanshu sent the sizeable Indian presence in the stands into a tense silence before the youngster fought back with a couple of 10.5s.

It was on the 21st shot that the equations turned. Himanshu managed an impressive 10.6 while Rudrankksh, in second position, could only manage a 9.7. It was the lowest score he had shot the whole day and it came at the worst possible time. It helped Himanshu leapfrog into second spot and even though the former found a 10.6 on his final shot, he fell agonisingly short by 0.1 points to finish third.

It was clear at that point that Sheng would walk away with the gold — he had built a two-point difference with two shots to go over Himanshu. But to the youngster's credit, he didn't give up. His final two shots were 10.8 and 10.9, as close to perfection as possible, but Sheng matched up for a new Games and Asian record of 254.2 points, bettering his own previously set mark of 253.3.

Earlier in the qualification, the Indian trio combined for 1,890.1 points while Sheng, along with Ma Sihan and Zhang Changhog, totalled 1,899 for China for a new World record, shadowing India's 1,893 three years earlier.

Economy News

UPI Moves Towards a Code-Less Era a Decade After Launch

A decade after the launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), payment companies are moving towards making digital transactions faster by doing away with One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and QR codes. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor launched a ‘tap and pay’ facility for UPI transactions in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The facility was unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. It enables payments through RuPay credit cards without requiring OTPs or QR codes.

The facility utilizes the Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminal’s internet connectivity, allowing a transaction to be completed even when the customer’s mobile device lacks internet access. According to NPCI, the facility is currently available for transactions of up to ₹5,000. For higher-value transactions, customers are required to enter their PIN.

UPI has emerged as India’s dominant electronic payment system, accounting for about 85% of transactions. Introduced in the aftermath of demonetisation, its adoption was driven by the convenience of making retail and utility payments without cash. To address growing fraud concerns related to theft or sharing of OTPs, the RBI mandated two-factor authentication for UPI transactions from April 1, 2026.

Visa and Mastercard introduced passkeys as an additional authentication mechanism. Mastercard showcased its Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method (CDCVM), enabling authentication via device biometrics such as fingerprint or facial recognition. Mastercard partnered with Google Pay to offer this service. Amazon Pay, which accounts for less than 1% of UPI transactions, introduced a tap-and-pay facility for its partner merchants to expand its market presence.

The Arithmetic of Tamil Nadu’s Growth Ambition

1. Growth Goal: At the NITI Aayog meeting on June 11, 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced the goal of transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2035-36.

2. Baseline and Target GSDP: Tamil Nadu's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was ₹35.29 lakh crore in 2025-26. To achieve the target of $1.5 trillion in 10 years, its economy needs to expand to ₹172.56 lakh crore by 2035-36, representing a 4.9-fold increase.

3. Required Growth Rates: Achieving this target requires a nominal growth rate of 17.2% per annum. Assuming an annual inflation rate of 5%, this translates to a required real growth rate of 12.2% continuously for 10 years.

4. Per Capita Income Projection: At a 17.2% nominal growth rate, Tamil Nadu's per capita income will rise from $4,808 in 2025-26 to $19,157 in 2035-36, exceeding the estimated developed country norm of $16,383. Under this scenario, Tamil Nadu would reach developed status with a per capita income of $16,672 by 2034-35.

5. Alternative Scenario (15% Nominal Growth Rate): Under a 15% nominal growth rate (10% real growth assuming 5% inflation), the $1.5 trillion economy target would be achieved in 2037-38. Per capita income would reach $15,850 in 2035-36 and $17,850 in 2036-37, crossing the developed country threshold ($16,565) in 2036-37.

6. Historical Growth Performance: Tamil Nadu recorded a real growth rate of 10.3% per annum from 2004-05 to 2011-12. Its growth rate was 6.98% from 2012-13 to 2018-19, and improved to 9.1% between 2021-22 and 2025-26.

7. $1 Trillion Target Timeline: The earlier target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030 would be achieved in 2033-34 under the 12.2% real growth rate scenario, or in 2034-35 under 10% and 9.1% growth scenarios.

8. Investment & Policy Requirements: Sustaining a 10% real growth rate requires an investment rate of 40% of GSDP, assuming an Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR) of 4. It also demands maintaining fiscal deficit below 3% to stabilize the debt-to-GSDP ratio around 23%. With a nominal growth rate of 14% per annum, Tamil Nadu would reach a $1.5 trillion economy by 2038-39.

India-New Zealand FTA to Take Effect on October 20

Elaborating on the potential avenues for investment, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that there are many areas where New Zealand has cutting-edge technology and innovation, with agriculture being one of its strengths in certain products. He pointed to kiwi farming and apiculture as prime examples. Wellington has committed $20 billion worth of foreign direct investment into India as part of the deal. The Commerce Minister said that global investors are interested in setting up manufacturing in India not only for access to the large Indian market but also to help “seamlessly export” to about two-thirds of the global economy where India has preferential market access. Asked about India's response to recent United States legislation imposing sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, Mr. Goyal said that the fine print of the law was being studied. Responding to a query from The Hindu about progress on India's trade deal with Chile, Mr. Goyal said that, following productive talks, “in the coming months, we will hear some good news.” About the trade deal with Canada, the Union Minister noted that both sides have resolved to fast-track discussions. Indian negotiators are slated to visit Canada for the fifth round of talks on October 5.

States’ News

Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats Causing Fear Among Farmers: D.K. Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that the proposed implementation of the Kasturirangan Committee report could threaten the livelihoods of people in 10 districts, even as he reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to protecting the livelihoods of farmers and residents of the Western Ghats. During the debate on the report, Mr. Shivakumar said its recommendations had created “an atmosphere of fear” among farmers. He said that more than six rivers originate and flow through the Western Ghats and that the proposal of unscientific measures had caused widespread anxiety regarding people’s livelihoods. Before attending the session, Mr. Shivakumar had toured the coastal and Malnad regions, which would be affected by the report, and had held meetings with people. According to the Kasturirangan report, 20,668 sq. km. of Karnataka’s Western Ghats region has been identified as ecologically sensitive, covering 1,449 villages. Mr. Shivakumar said people and farmers had made several suggestions during his consultations. Farmers sought rejection of the report and demanded that a new committee be constituted. They also urged that the Ecologically Sensitive Zone classification be scrapped and the Keralam model adopted. The Centre has asked Karnataka to convey its decision on the report by September 27.

International News

India to Attend Session on UN-Based Multilateralism

India will join a number of countries committed to supporting United Nations (UN)-based multilateralism, away from “superpower” politics, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was set to attend the “Partners for Multilateralism” (P4M) meeting at the United Nations. Mr. Jaishankar landed in New York on Monday at the start of the UN General Assembly’s “High-Level debate” session. He is due to hold a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings there, and will address the UNGA on September 26. The P4M initiative, founded by leaders of the European Union, Brazil, Kenya and Canada, is expected to make a pitch for the grouping this week. In a joint editorial, leaders of the four founders said the grouping will support the UN but push for it to be more representative and prepared for global challenges, including AI (artificial intelligence), climate change, health security and digital transformation. P4M will support the reform of the UN and other multilateral institutions to make them more representative, legitimate, effective and trusted, the leaders, including European Council President Antonio Costa, Brazil President Lula da Silva, Kenyan President William Ruto and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, wrote in an editorial published in the U.K.-based Financial Times. Mr. Carney had delivered a speech on “Middle powers” coming together at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, which signalled growing dissatisfaction not just with Russia and China for unilateral moves and conflicts, but with the United States over trade and tariffs, expansionist moves, and the conflict in Iran that have been undertaken during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. It is unclear whether India was asked to join the joint statement. India is already part of a number of groups like the Non-Aligned Movement, BRICS, G20, and G-4 that have similar objectives. The editorial on Monday pointed to comments by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in which he had said that “superpowers are discovering their limits”, adding that the P4M grouping believes that the “international community must rediscover the extraordinary potential of collective action”. Mr. Guterres, who demits office later this year, spoke to The Hindu amongst five global outlets in the U.S., U.K., South Africa, the Gulf region and India. Mr. Guterres had specifically pointed to Russia, which was still embroiled in the war in Ukraine four years later, while the U.S. is facing “difficulties” with its war in Iran. He said that it was time for superpowers to understand the limits of their power, which would help the world become more peaceful. The editorial also said that the “Partners for Multilateralism” would not create another exclusive bloc or international bureaucracy. Its purpose is to create a flexible, open framework for countries from different regions and political traditions that are willing to work across divides, build coalitions for reform and translate shared principles into practical action. The co-authors pointed out that 2025 saw the highest recorded number of state-based armed conflicts since 1946, in 35 countries, and the highest recorded military spending of nearly $3 trillion.

Tamil Nadu News

Private Hospital Launches First Responder Bike Ambulances in Chennai

Kauvery Hospital on Monday launched “Kauvery First Responders”, a network of bike ambulances across Chennai. According to a press release, 10 bike ambulances have been deployed across the hospital's Chennai network, covering Alwarpet, Vadapalani, Radial Road, and Maa Kauvery locations, in the first phase. Each first responder bike is equipped with essential emergency response equipment, including an Automated External Defibrillator, oxygen support, and an emergency medical kit. P. Pakalavan, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic - South), Chennai, flagged off the vehicles. Manivannan Selvaraj, founder and managing director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said that the “Kauvery First Responders” was designed to put trained medical responders and essential emergency equipment on the road, enabling appropriate care to begin at the scene while ambulance and hospital teams coordinate the next stage.

Rooftop Solar Power to be Provided to One Lakh Houses by March 2027

In Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister's Free Rooftop Solar Power Scheme is being implemented in every house. By March 2027, rooftop solar power connections will be provided to one lakh houses, and the government has issued orders regarding the implementation and subsidy structure of the scheme. Minister for Electricity Thangamani gave details. For a 1-kilowatt scheme, Rs. 35,000; for 2 kilowatts, Rs. 70,000; and for up to 3 kilowatts, a subsidy of up to Rs. 1 lakh will be provided. From August 5 onwards, applications are being received. In addition to the central government subsidy, the Tamil Nadu state government provides an additional subsidy for this scheme through TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Electricity Board). At the Tamil Nadu government's rooftop solar power scheme review meeting held at the Chennai Secretariat, chaired by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, along with the Minister for Electricity, Senior Officials of the Electricity Department, and others, the details of the scheme's progress were discussed. So far, 1,13,714 people across Tamil Nadu have applied for rooftop solar power connections. Out of these, 97,732 connections have already been sanctioned. Ministers Nirmalkumar and Sekar Babu, along with senior officials, inspected the rooftop solar power installations at a residence in Chennai and reviewed the scheme's implementation with the household beneficiaries. The total investment under the scheme has been recorded at Rs. 1,859.27 crore. Under this scheme, applications, connection process, complaint redressal, and monitoring have been streamlined through a unified digital platform. State-level and district-level monitoring committees have been formed and are functioning. The Tamil Nadu Government aims to expand solar power connections to more households across districts in a phased manner, and the Energy Department Secretary along with senior officials have been directed to ensure the timely and effective execution of the scheme.

Expansion of Breakfast Scheme for Students of Classes 6 to 8: Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to Launch Today

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is set to launch the expanded ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme’ for students studying in Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools in Tamil Nadu, at a government school in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, on Tuesday (Sep 22). To improve the nutrition, health, attendance, and learning of students studying in government schools in Tamil Nadu, former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin first launched the ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’ on 15.9.2022 at a government school in Madurai. Following this, the scheme was expanded to government-aided schools as well. The TVK government announced that this scheme will be expanded under the name ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme’ to benefit students studying in Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools. Through this expansion, approximately 15.30 lakh additional male and female students studying in 15,454 government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu will benefit. For this purpose, an additional fund of ₹217.63 crore has been allocated in the current financial year (2026–2027). The total financial allocation for the scheme stands at ₹724 crore. In schools under the Greater Chennai Corporation, breakfast will be prepared and supplied through integrated kitchens for government and government-aided schools. In other suburban and rural areas, arrangements have been made to prepare and serve food through integrated kitchens and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) suitable for those respective areas. At an event scheduled for Tuesday at 8 AM at the Chennai Middle School located in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Chief Minister Joseph Vijay will participate, launch the scheme by serving breakfast to the students, and sit down to have breakfast with them. Excluding Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts, where model code of conduct rules are in place due to by-elections, breakfast will be provided to students studying in Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools operating in all other districts. Under the currently operational breakfast scheme, items such as Rava Upma, Khichdi, Vermicelli Upma, Vermicelli Vegetable Khichdi, Vegetable Rice Khichdi, Wheat Rava Khichdi, Vegetable Sambar Rice, Sweet Pongal, and Vermicelli Kesari are being provided. On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu, a committee has been constituted to introduce new menu items under the expanded breakfast scheme.

Starbucks to Set Up First Global Capability Centre in India in Chennai

Starbucks Coffee Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Chennai. The agreement was signed in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. This will be Starbucks’ first Global Capability Centre in India, and the centre is expected to create employment opportunities for 800 technology professionals. The MoU was signed between Starbucks Coffee and the State government’s nodal agency, Guidance, under the Industries Department, at the Secretariat. Anand Varadarajan, Chief Technology Officer of Starbucks Coffee, stated that Chennai has a large pool of skilled technology professionals, relatively low attrition, strong infrastructure and incentives offered by the Tamil Nadu government, which would help the company develop new solutions and expand its business. Following the signing, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay stated that Starbucks’ confidence in Tamil Nadu was a recognition of the capabilities of the State’s youth and that the investment would demonstrate Tamil Nadu’s attractiveness as a destination for high-quality companies. Industries Minister S. Keerthana, Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department S. Vijayakumar, Guidance Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Deepak Jacob, other senior government officials and Starbucks representatives participated in the event.

Extension of Free Bus Travel Scheme for Women: Chief Minister Vijay to Launch on October 2

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will launch the expanded ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme on October 2, enabling women to travel free of charge in Express, LSS, Deluxe and Suburban Ordinary buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas. Chief Minister Vijay had previously announced in the Assembly under Rule 110 that the ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme would be implemented from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. A review meeting regarding the preparations for implementing the scheme was held on Monday at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. Currently, women travel free of charge in town ordinary buses of seven State Transport Corporations and ordinary hilly-region buses up to 40 km. Through the ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme, this service is being expanded to Express, LSS and Deluxe State buses operating in urban areas, Suburban Ordinary buses, and ordinary hilly-region buses covering distances beyond 40 km. A total of 12,692 buses will be brought under the scheme. Of the total 18,413 scheduled buses operated by the seven State Transport Corporations, 12,692 buses (69%) and 1,65,312 trips (85%) out of 1,94,649 trips will operate under the scheme. Approximately 84.32 lakh women will benefit daily. The integration of ‘Vetri Payanam’ buses with Electronic Ticket Machines (ETMs) has been completed. Testing and verification will be completed by September 25, and trial runs will take place on September 27. Chief Minister Vijay will launch the scheme on October 2. Through the scheme, female students can travel free of charge to distant colleges, while women can travel to their workplaces, healthcare centres and for essential services. As the Model Code of Conduct is in force following the announcement of by-elections for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, the scheme will be implemented in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts after the Model Code of Conduct is lifted. Transport Minister Aaviji Tamilan Parthiban, Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Finance Department Additional Chief Secretary M.A. Siddique, Transport Department Secretary I.S. Nirmalraj, and Metropolitan Transport Corporation Managing Director V.P. Jeyaseelan, among others, participated in the meeting.

National News

Plan to Monetise Rs. 5,000 Crore Worth of Unused Government Assets

New Delhi, Sept. 21: Under the Union government's asset monetisation programme, the National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) has given key recommendations to monetise government assets worth around Rs. 5,000 crore that have been lying unused/idle over the past year. This was decided at the 21st meeting of the NLMC's Board of Directors held last Friday (September 18). It is estimated that the value realised from monetising these idle assets could be 2.5 to 3 times their current value. Many government lands have been classified as either "Industrial Group" or "Public Use" category. The central government has issued instructions in this regard. There are lands under more than 40 central government departments and organisations, including Railways, Department of Telecommunications, and public sector undertakings, that have remained unused. The NLMC will identify such lands and, in coordination with these organisations, facilitate their monetisation. The National Land Monetisation Corporation, with an authorised capital of Rs. 5,000 crore, is tasked with this responsibility. The challenges before the government include resolving legal and policy hurdles, addressing market conditions, settling issues relating to title deeds and other clearances, and ensuring state cooperation, since land is a state subject.