Daily Current Affairs - 05-10-2026

Sports News

Vithya Ramraj Breaks P.T. Usha’s 42-Year-Old 400m Hurdles Record

Vithya Ramraj broke P.T. Usha’s 42-year-old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, clocking 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal. Mariam Kareem of the UAE won gold in a Games-record 54.31 seconds, while Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan won silver in 54.58 seconds. Vithya had equalled P.T. Usha’s 55.42-second record in 2023 and improved it by 0.67 seconds in 2026, becoming the first Indian woman to break the 55-second barrier in the 400m hurdles. Her performance placed her 187th in the all-time world ranking and 35th in the current world ranking, while she became the fastest Indian woman in the event. She also anchored India to gold in the women’s 4×400m relay and silver in the mixed 4×400m relay at the Asian Games. Her coach is Nepal Singh Rathore. Vithya’s 400m hurdles best improved from 59.70 seconds in 2018 to 54.75 seconds in 2026, while her flat 400m best improved from 54.48 seconds in 2018 to 51.96 seconds in 2026. The current 400m hurdles world record is 50.37 seconds. According to World Athletics data, Vithya is the only Indian to have broken the 55-second barrier in the event.

20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya, Japan): Medal Tally and Key Highlights

The 20th Asian Games concluded in Aichi-Nagoya Prefecture, Japan, where China topped the medal tally with 341 medals (169 gold, 89 silver, 83 bronze), followed by host Japan in 2nd place with 269 medals and South Korea in 3rd place with 150 medals. India finished 4th overall with a total of 85 medals, comprising 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze. Shooter Neeru Dhanda, who won 3 medals including 2 gold (women's trap and mixed trap with Kynan Chenai), served as the Indian flagbearer at the closing ceremony. Among key performances, Tamil Nadu athlete Vithya Ramraj secured 3 medals (1 gold in the women's 4x400m relay, 1 silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, and 1 bronze in the women's 400m hurdles). In archery, India won 9 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), sweeping medals across all 5 events in the recurve category. Additionally, golfer Pranavi Urs won the gold medal in the women's individual golf event, and the Indian Golf Union (IGU) announced a cash prize of ₹10 lakh for her achievement. The next edition of the Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, in 2030.

National News

Delhi High Court: Valid Visa Does Not Guarantee Entry into India

The Delhi High Court has held that possession of a valid visa does not give a foreign national an inherent or legally enforceable right to enter India. The ruling was delivered by Justice Amit Mahajan on September 30, 2026, in a case involving a Turkmenistan citizen who was denied entry at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, despite holding a valid business visa. The court held that visa issuance, entry refusal and immigration clearance are sovereign functions of the State, subject to considerations including national security, foreign policy and administrative discretion. The judgment relied on the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, under which Section 3 requires a foreigner entering India to possess a valid passport or travel document and a valid visa, while entry may be denied on grounds including threats to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, relations with a foreign State, or public health. Section 7 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 empowers the Central Government to regulate or restrict the entry, departure or presence of foreigners in India. The court also relied on the Supreme Court decisions in Hans Muller of Nurenburg v. Superintendent, Presidency Jail (1955) and Louis De Raedt v. Union of India (1991). The court dismissed the petition, holding that a valid visa does not create an absolute and unconditional right of admission into India.

Concerns Over Proposed Coal Mine Near Ramappa Temple and Lake

Heritage conservation activists, including the Kakatiya Heritage Trust (KHT), have opposed the proposed PVNR opencast coal mine at Venkatapur in Mulugu district, Telangana, citing its potential impact on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple (Ramappa Temple) and the adjacent Ramappa Lake. The proposed mine is located about 5 km downstream of the temple and lake and is expected to involve excavation to a depth of nearly 300 metres. A Geological Survey of India (GSI) report has indicated that lake water levels could influence groundwater movement towards the mine through geological lineaments and faults. Interconnected lineaments passing through the lake and temple area could potentially affect the sand-box foundation of the nearly 800-year-old Ramappa Temple through piping. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is preparing to proceed with the proposed mining project. A delegation of heritage activists also met Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy in Hyderabad regarding the project.

ECI and Legal Framework for Electoral Roll Revision

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, President and Vice-President under Article 324 of the Constitution. The Constituent Assembly discussed the Election Commission under Draft Article 289, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Drafting Committee, supported a centralised election machinery independent of executive control. The present legal framework for electoral-roll revision is provided by Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, while Rule 25 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 provides for intensive, summary, or partly intensive and partly summary revision. Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 also empowers the ECI to order a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part of a constituency, with reasons recorded. The article highlights that the law does not specifically mention a “Special Intensive Revision (SIR)” as a separate category. Article 326 of the Constitution provides for universal adult suffrage and registration of eligible citizens as voters, subject to legal disqualifications. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, under Section 16, provides protection from civil or criminal proceedings for acts done in the discharge of official duties. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) can be removed through a procedure similar to that applicable to a Judge of the Supreme Court, subject to the constitutional and legal requirements.

VBSA Bill 2025 and Higher Education Regulation

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, currently under legislative review, seeks to reform the regulatory framework for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) with emphasis on quality, accountability, minimum standards and prevention of malpractice. Major regulatory bodies in higher education include the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The UGC Regulations, 2018 prescribe a 40-hour working week for teachers along with five hours of physical presence on campus per day. Premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) function with greater institutional autonomy in areas such as curriculum design, recruitment and resource allocation.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Garba Dance Rehearsal Ahead of Navratri in Ahmedabad

Artists participated in rehearsals for traditional Garba dance performances to be held during the Navratri festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Tamil Nadu News

Naturopathy Festival Held in Chennai

Students of the Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, showcased various naturally prepared food items at the Naturopathy Festival held at Rajarathinam Stadium, Egmore, Chennai.

Vetri Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Government is implementing the Vetri Magalir Thozhilmunaivor Mempattu Thittam (Vetri Women Entrepreneurs Development Scheme) to support women entrepreneurs. Under the scheme, 10 women entrepreneurs from each Assembly constituency will be selected, with applications received through the respective MLAs and scrutinized and selected by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation (TIIC) based on eligibility. The scheme provides loan assistance from ₹10 lakh to ₹5 crore for purposes including purchase of land, construction of buildings, and purchase of new machinery and equipment. The current interest rate is 9.95% per annum. Special industrial training is provided to first-time entrepreneurs. The maximum loan repayment period is 9 years, including a moratorium period of up to 2 years, and repayment is made through monthly instalments. Applicants must have a CIBIL score above 600.

Tamil Nadu Liquor Policy and TASMAC Revenue

The Madras Abkari Acts of 1852 and 1864 regulated liquor sales and revenue collection during British rule. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937 was introduced in the Madras Province during the premiership of C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), initially enforcing prohibition in Salem district and later extending it to Chittoor and Cuddapah, with Sales Tax introduced to compensate for revenue loss. Prohibition continued during the chief ministerships of C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kamaraj during 1949–1967. In 1971, under M. Karunanidhi, prohibition was lifted and the sale of Toddy and Arrack was permitted; in 1974, these sales were stopped and prohibition was reintroduced. In 1981, under M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), Toddy and Arrack sales were reintroduced, and in 1983, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) was established to manage wholesale liquor distribution. In 1987, Toddy and Arrack sales were banned again, while Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) sales continued; in 1990, Arrack sales were permitted under M. Karunanidhi, followed by another ban in 1991 under J. Jayalalithaa. From November 2003, the Tamil Nadu Government, through TASMAC, took over the retail sale of liquor, replacing private retail vendors. TASMAC revenue increased from ₹3,639.93 crore in 2003–04 to ₹10,601.59 crore in 2008–09, ₹21,681.04 crore in 2012–13, ₹31,157.83 crore in 2018–19, ₹36,050.65 crore in 2020–21, ₹44,121.13 crore in 2021–22, ₹45,855.67 crore in 2022–23, ₹48,344 crore in 2023–24, and ₹50,845.84 crore in 2024–25, with ₹55,000 crore projected for 2025–26. In a ₹140 liquor bottle, the distillery net price is ₹20 (14.2%), bottling, glass bottle and cork costs account for ₹10 (7.1%), and the total tax component, including Excise Duty and VAT, is ₹110 (78.5%). Major illicit liquor tragedies in Tamil Nadu included 1995 in Pudukkottai and Chennai with more than 100 deaths, 2001 in Panruti, Cuddalore with 53 deaths, 2001 in Chennai with 30 deaths, 2003 in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur with 22 deaths, 2008 in Krishnagiri and the Karnataka border with 180 deaths, 2016 in Cuddalore with 12 deaths, 2023 in Marakkanam, Villupuram with 15 deaths, 2023 in Chengalpattu with 8 deaths, and 2024 in Kallakurichi with 67 deaths. Among neighbouring States, Kerala primarily uses the state corporation BEVCO for wholesale and retail distribution, Karnataka follows a government-wholesale and licensed private-retail model, Andhra Pradesh alternates between state-run and licensed private retail systems, Telangana uses auctions for private liquor retail licences, and Puducherry follows a private licensing system.

Economy News

Next-Generation GST and Tax Reforms

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduced in 2017, created a unified indirect tax system in India, and the Next-Generation GST has been introduced as its next stage, with the objectives of simplifying taxation and easing tax compliance. The tax changes came into effect on September 22, 2025, and further procedural reforms are to be placed before the GST Council on October 7, 2026, covering registration, returns, refunds, disputes and input tax credit. During April–September 2026, total GST revenue stood at ₹12.46 lakh crore, registering 11.6% growth over the previous year, while net revenue after refunds increased by 10.4%; revenue recorded nearly 15% growth during June–September 2026. Consumer goods sales increased by 26.7%. By the end of August 2026, GST registrations reached about 1.71 crore, an increase of 15% year-on-year, while timely monthly return filing during April–July 2026 increased by 12.6%. About ₹1.80 lakh crore was refunded during April–September 2026. Including State GST (SGST) and Integrated GST (IGST), States' revenue increased by about 16% during the same period.