Daily Current Affairs - 03-10-2026

Tamil Nadu News

‘Port Sethu’ Digital System Launched at Chennai Port

Chennai Port has launched ‘Port Sethu’, a digital system developed by the National Container Depot Association under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ ‘One Bharat, One Port’ scheme to monitor the movement of export containers from container depots in Chennai and its suburban areas to Chennai Port. The system facilitates container traffic monitoring, calculation of travel time from container depots to port entry, integration of customs document exchange technologies, reduction of vehicle waiting time, and digitalisation of document verification. Chennai Port Chairperson Sunil S. Kurve launched the system. The next phase includes digital seal verification of containers and conversion of port gate-entry procedures into a paperless system.

Nature Cure Fest – 2026 Held in Chennai

The inaugural Nature Cure Fest – 2026 was held at Egmore, Chennai, where Madras High Court Judge N. Anand Venkatesh released books related to naturopathy. The event was attended by Dr. N. Manavalan, Principal of the Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College, Mahaveer Bothra, President of the World Vegan Food Forum, Sudhakar, Secretary, and Sriram Duvuri, Rotary District Governor.

‘Vetri Payanam’ Free Bus Travel Scheme for Women Launched in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay launched the ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme at Koyambedu, Chennai, providing free travel for women in government buses across Tamil Nadu. The scheme was announced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on June 24, 2026, under Rule 110, and implemented from July 2, 2026. Under the scheme, women can travel free of charge in ordinary city buses, mofussil ordinary buses and other eligible government buses. The scheme initially covers 12,695 buses operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) and other state transport corporations, with provision for expansion to additional buses. The scheme is intended to cover women travelling for education, employment and healthcare, including students, rural women and women visiting hospitals. Due to by-elections in the Madurai and Dharapuram constituencies, implementation was temporarily affected in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts.

International News

Piyush Goyal Holds Trade Talks with France, Canada, South Korea and Saudi Arabia

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held bilateral trade discussions with France, Canada, South Korea and Saudi Arabia during the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on October 2, 2026. With France, Goyal discussed the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and India–France trade relations with Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness. With Saudi Arabia, he discussed the India–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement and bilateral trade opportunities with Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi. With South Korea, he discussed strengthening the India–Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and expanding trade in agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and marine products with Trade Minister Park Jung-sung. With Canada, he discussed increasing India–Canada bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030 and the India–Canada CEPA with Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu.

Sports News

Indian Women’s Hockey Team Wins Asian Games Gold and Qualifies for 2028 Olympics

The Indian women’s hockey team won the gold medal in the Asian Games women’s hockey final by defeating China 1–0, with Lalremsiami scoring the winning goal in the 10th minute through a reverse-stick shot. Goalkeeper Savita Punia saved a penalty stroke by China in the 24th minute, while Bichu Devi also made crucial saves. This was India’s first Asian Games women’s hockey gold medal since 1982, after winning silver medals in 1998 and 2018. With this gold-medal victory, India directly qualified for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. China won the silver medal, while Japan defeated South Korea 4–2 to win the bronze medal.

Lovlina Borgohain Wins Asian Games Boxing Gold

At the 20th Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, India’s Lovlina Borgohain won the gold medal in the women’s 75 kg boxing category by defeating China’s Li Baoxuan 5–0 in the final. The victory came on Lovlina Borgohain’s 29th birthday. She had previously won a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. With this victory, Lovlina became the second Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold medal in boxing, after Mary Kom, who won gold in the 51 kg category at the 2014 Asian Games.

National News

International Horticulture Centre and Indian School of Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh

The foundation stone was laid for an International Horticulture Centre and the Indian School of Agriculture at Madanapalle in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, near Tirupati, at an estimated total cost of ₹1 lakh crore. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stones for the projects. The initiative includes 201 horticulture centres across 5,860 villages and aims to increase fruit cultivation across 6 lakh acres. The project is proposed to be funded through ₹40,000 crore in central government assistance and ₹60,000 crore in private investment. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani were among those present at the event. The initiative also includes measures related to PM-KUSUM, fertiliser subsidies and Kisan Insurance for farmers.

Supreme Court Cancels Proposed Meeting with ‘One Nation, One Election’ Parliamentary Panel

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by BJP MP P. P. Chaudhary is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seek to provide for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies under the ‘One Nation, One Election’ framework. The committee had proposed an October 6, 2026 interaction with the Chief Justice of India and other Supreme Court judges, but the Supreme Court declined the proposed meeting, stating that the proposed constitutional amendment could become subject to judicial review in the future and that discussing the matter on the administrative side would therefore not be appropriate. The two Bills were referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee in December 2024, and the committee comprises 39 members.

Vande Bharat Express Crosses Chenab Bridge at 100 km/h

The Chenab Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir stands 359 metres above the Chenab River and is recognized as the world’s highest railway steel arch bridge. A Vande Bharat Express train achieved a speed of 100 km/h while crossing the Chenab Railway Bridge and Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, during a speed trial on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Banihal railway section under the Jammu Division of Northern Railway. Uchit Singhal, Senior Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, stated that the trial was conducted to increase the operating speed on the section. The achievement is expected to reduce the travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal.

Miscellaneous News

‘Liquor-Free Tamil Nadu’ Movement Launched

On 2 October 2026, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s 158th birth anniversary, Sowmiya Anbumani, PMK Legislative Party Leader and President of Pasumai Thaayagam, launched the ‘Liquor-Free Tamil Nadu’ (Madhu Illa Thamizhagam) movement in Chennai. The movement is described as a non-political campaign aimed at promoting liquor prohibition, with an awareness campaign planned from Gummidipoondi to Kanyakumari. PMK Treasurer Tilagabama delivered the welcome address, while women who had participated in anti-liquor protests conducted by PMK and Pasumai Thaayagam attended the event. At Thailapuram, PMK founder S. Ramadoss initiated the awareness movement by signing the first signature, followed by an anti-liquor awareness pledge by PMK members.