Daily Current Affairs - 27-09-2026

Tamil Nadu News

Thaaimaman Gold Ring Scheme – Launch

The Tamil Nadu government’s Thaaimaman Gold Ring Scheme is scheduled to be launched in Madurai on September 28, 2026. The scheme will provide gold rings to babies born in government hospitals and primary health centres across Tamil Nadu from June 22, 2026 onwards. The launch will be held at Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital at 12 noon, where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay will inaugurate the scheme by presenting gold rings to 30 infants in the first phase. Subsequently, the Chief Minister will inaugurate the renovated Madurai Gandhi Memorial Museum, renovated at a cost of ₹10.25 crore, and view the blood-stained clothes and other belongings of Mahatma Gandhi preserved there.

Anna University–Boeing India MoU

Anna University’s MIT Campus Department of Aerospace Engineering has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing India to establish a laboratory for research and training on flammability in space. The MoU was signed by C. Senthilkumar, Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, MIT Campus, and M. Amirtha Ganesan, Manager, Boeing India, in the presence of V. Kumaresan, Registrar, Anna University, and Dr. M. Santhakumar. The laboratory will conduct learning and training in space flammability, flammability science, testing methods and fire safety. It is planned as a dedicated academic laboratory for developing knowledge and practical skills related to fire safety and material flammability in the aerospace sector and for supporting research on space safety.

Tamil Nadu Tops FDI Inflows

Tamil Nadu ranked first in India by attracting ₹55,900 crore ($5.95 billion) in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the April–June quarter of 2026–27. The data was released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Maharashtra ranked second with ₹39,800 crore, while Delhi ranked third with ₹25,203 crore. Among sectors, the services sector received the highest investment of $7.04 billion, followed by the computer software and hardware sector with $2.84 billion, the trading sector with $1.92 billion, and the non-conventional energy sector with $1.24 billion. Among investing countries, Japan ranked first with $5.71 billion, followed by Singapore with $5.22 billion, Mauritius with $2.31 billion, and the United States with $1.34 billion. Total FDI in India during the first quarter of 2026–27 stood at $30.65 billion.

National News

IIT Madras–Unicorn India Startup Fund

IIT Madras Research Park and Unicorn India Ventures have launched a fund for deep-tech startups. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the fund-raising initiative at the IIT Madras Alumni Association annual conference in Bengaluru on September 26, 2026, with a target to mobilise ₹600 crore to ₹1,000 crore. The first phase of the startup venture capital fund has a maximum allocation of ₹1,000 crore, and IIT Madras alumni have invested more than ₹150 crore in the initiative. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, released the list of startups selected for financial support. Natarajan Manuppillai, CEO of IIT Madras Research Park, stated that the fund would support the capital requirements of 24–30 companies.

Four Mega Ports Declared

The Central Government has declared Deendayal Port in Gujarat, Mundra Port of the Adani Group, Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra and Paradip Port in Odisha as Mega Ports. Under Section 73(1) of the Indian Ports Act, 2025, the Central Government notified the eligibility criteria for classifying a port as a Mega Port. According to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Deendayal Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Paradip Port and Mundra Port have fulfilled the prescribed criteria. India currently has 12 major ports: Deendayal, Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Kolkata (including Haldia), and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Sports News

Asian Games: Shooting and Squash

At the Asian Games in Nagoya, India won a silver medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event, with Tilottama, Vidarsha Vinoth and Ashi Chouksey scoring 1763.90 points. In squash, India’s Anahat defeated Satomi in the women’s singles semi-final with scores of 9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 11-6 and 11-3 to qualify for the final. In the men’s singles semi-final, India’s Abhay Singh defeated Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan by 11-3, 12-10 and 11-6 to enter the final.

Joshna Chinappa–Velavan Senthilkumar Win Bronze

In the Asian Games squash mixed doubles semi-final, India’s Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar lost to Hong Kong’s Tang Ming-Hong and Lee Ka Yi by 10-11, 11-2, 10-11 and secured the bronze medal. Both Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar are from Tamil Nadu. For 40-year-old Joshna Chinappa, this was her 6th Asian Games medal; she had previously won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals at the Asian Games.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor Wins Silver in Shot Put

In the Asian Games men’s shot put final, India’s Tajinderpal Singh Toor threw 20.64 metres to secure 2nd place and win the silver medal. This was his 3rd Asian Games medal. He had previously won gold medals in the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games. Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebi won gold with 20.81 metres, while Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Tolo won bronze with 20.48 metres.

Sawan Barwal Wins Silver in Asian Games Marathon

In the Asian Games men’s marathon (42.195 km), India’s Sawan Barwal finished second with a timing of 2 hours 11 minutes 37 seconds and won the silver medal. The 28-year-old Sawan Barwal, an Indian Army soldier from Himachal Pradesh, became the 4th Indian athlete to win a medal in the Asian Games marathon. This was the first silver medal for India in the history of the Asian Games marathon. Earlier, at the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi, India’s Hosur Kookappa Seetharam had won a bronze medal. At the inaugural Asian Games held in Delhi in 1951, Indian athletes Chhota Singh and Surat Singh Mathur had won gold and bronze medals, respectively. Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita won gold with a timing of 2:10:49, while China’s Pei Youfeng won bronze with 2:12:13.

Prachi Choudhary Wins Bronze in 400m

In the Asian Games women’s 400-metre race, India’s Prachi Choudhary completed the event in 53.21 seconds to finish third and win the bronze medal. Bahrain’s Salwa Naser won the gold medal with a timing of 49.20 seconds, while Iran’s Zahra Zarei Manoojan won the silver medal with a timing of 52.38 seconds.

India Wins Double Gold in Kabaddi

At the 20th Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, India won gold medals in both men’s and women’s kabaddi. In the women’s final, the defending champion India defeated Iran 37-34 to retain the title and won its 4th Asian Games gold medal in women’s kabaddi. Women’s kabaddi was introduced at the Asian Games in 2010 at Guangzhou; India won gold in 2010 and 2014, lost the title to Iran at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, and regained gold at the 2022 Asian Games. In the men’s final, defending champion India defeated Iran 40-34 to win gold for the 9th time in Asian Games kabaddi. India missed the medal only at the 2018 Asian Games. Indian raiders Arjun Deshwal and Devank played key roles in the men’s final.

George Russell Wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix

At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell of Mercedes won the Formula One race after starting from pole position, defeating Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.196 seconds. Isack Hadjar finished third, while Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes finished fifth and retained the drivers’ championship lead with 302 points. Russell moved to second with 236 points. In the constructors’ standings, Mercedes led with 538 points, followed by Ferrari with 378 and McLaren with 306. Russell recorded his first Chelem in Formula One by starting from pole position, leading every lap, setting the fastest lap and winning the Grand Prix. Mercedes also equalled Ferrari as the most successful engine manufacturer with 251 victories, while Lewis Hamilton became the first driver to complete 500 laps at the Baku City Circuit.

International News

US–China AI Dialogue Group

The United States and China have agreed to establish a bilateral group to discuss the risks and benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and to create a dedicated communication channel for handling AI-related emergencies. The next meeting is scheduled for November 2026. The two countries have also agreed to strengthen emergency communication between their armed forces and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for crisis communication. A bilateral trade board has become operational to address trade-related issues, and both countries have agreed to extend the trade truce by two months. A dedicated investment board has also been established to examine mutual investment opportunities and commercial issues. The two leaders agreed that Iran should honour its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and that no country should impose charges on international maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet again at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in November and later at the G20 summit in Florida, USA.

Bangladesh–US Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement was signed in New York City by Rehran Azad, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Science and Technology, and Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. Bangladesh is working to meet its long-term energy requirements and diversify its electricity generation sources. The country’s first nuclear power plant is being constructed at Rooppur, and the agreement aims to expand international cooperation in nuclear science and technology. Both countries agreed to implement nuclear cooperation in accordance with the safety guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Earlier, in May, the two countries had reached an agreement on broader cooperation in the energy sector.

Important Days

World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day is observed every year on 27 September to highlight the importance of tourism and its contribution to economic, social and cultural development. The day was established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), now known as UN Tourism, and has been observed since 1980. 27 September was selected as the date because it marks the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes in 1970.