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09.09.2026DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Chola-Era Inscription at Therazhundur

Why in News

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently documented a Chola-period inscription at the Vedapureeswarar Temple, Therazhundur, Mayiladuthurai district. The inscription belongs to 1003 CE, during the 18th regnal year of Rajaraja Chola I.

Definition

An inscription is writing engraved on durable materials such as stone, metal or temple walls. Inscriptions are important epigraphical sources for understanding ancient and medieval political, social, religious and economic history.

Key Points

• The inscription is located at Vedapureeswarar Temple, Therazhundur in Mayiladuthurai district.
• It dates to 1003 CE.
• It belongs to the 18th regnal year of Rajaraja Chola I.
• It is written in Tamil on a stone pillar in the temple's ardhamandapa.
• It records a donation of 21 kalanju of gold by the Mahasabha of Tiruvazhundur.
• The income/interest from the donation was intended for purchasing paddy and providing daily food offerings to the deity.

Related Points

• Rajaraja Chola I: ruled approximately 985–1014 CE.
• He built the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, a UNESCO-listed Great Living Chola Temple.
• Brahmadeya – land granted to Brahmins, generally with tax privileges.
• Sabha/Mahasabha – assembly associated with Brahmadeya villages.
• Ur – assembly of an ordinary/non-Brahmadeya village.
• Nagaram – organisation/assembly associated particularly with merchants and towns.
• Kalanju was a traditional unit used for measuring gold.
• Chola inscriptions are major sources for studying local self-government, taxation, land grants and temple administration.

2. Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission

Why in News

The Tamil Nadu government is reportedly considering abolishing or substantially restructuring the State Planning Commission (SPC) and moving towards subject-specific expert bodies for policy advice. The Commission has existed for about 55 years.

Definition

The Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission is an advisory body that provides recommendations to the State Government on development planning, policies, programmes and socio-economic development.

Key Points

• The State Planning Commission was constituted on 25 May 1971.
• The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is its Chairperson.
• It advises the government on the State's development priorities and policies.
• It assists in planning, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes.
• It deals with sectors such as agriculture, industry, infrastructure, education, health, rural development and social welfare.
• The present discussion is about replacing a permanent planning structure with more specialised, subject-specific expert committees.

Related Exam Points

• Tamil Nadu SPC was established in 1971.
• It is an executive/advisory body, not a constitutional body.
• Chairperson – Chief Minister.
• At the Union level, the Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015.
• NITI Aayog stands for National Institution for Transforming India.
• Prime Minister is the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• NITI Aayog promotes cooperative and competitive federalism.
• State Planning Commissions/Boards are created by respective State governments; they are not mandated by the Constitution.

3. Decline in Tamil Nadu's Births

Why in News

Tamil Nadu recorded around 8.02 lakh births in 2025, compared with about 8.47 lakh in 2024, a decline of approximately 5.3% or 45,000 births. The trend has renewed discussion about low fertility and population ageing in the State.

Definition

Birth rate generally refers to the number of live births occurring in a population, commonly expressed per 1,000 population in a year.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years under prevailing fertility rates.

Key Points

• Registered births in Tamil Nadu in 2024: about 8.47 lakh.
• Registered births in 2025: about 8.02 lakh.
• Decline: approximately 5.3%.
• The absolute reduction was around 45,000 births.
• Tamil Nadu's TFR fell below the replacement level of about 2.1 nearly two decades ago.
• Continued low fertility could contribute to a higher elderly population and a smaller future working-age population.

Related Exam Points

• Replacement-level fertility: approximately 2.1 children per woman.
• TFR is different from Crude Birth Rate.
• Crude Birth Rate: live births per 1,000 population during a year.
• Crude Death Rate: deaths per 1,000 population during a year.
• Infant Mortality Rate: deaths of infants below age one per 1,000 live births.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio: maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
• Population momentum: population can continue growing even after fertility falls to replacement level because of the age structure of the population.
• Births and deaths are continuously registered under India's Civil Registration System (CRS).

4. 41 Elephant Corridors Identified in Tamil Nadu

Why in News

The Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court that a State-appointed committee had identified 41 potential elephant corridors. Detailed field studies are being conducted before all of them are formally notified.

Definition

An elephant corridor is a relatively narrow stretch of habitat that connects larger elephant habitats and enables elephants to move safely between forests for food, water, breeding and seasonal migration.

Key Points

• A State committee has identified 41 elephant corridors in Tamil Nadu.
• The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) had earlier identified 17 corridors in the State.
• The State is conducting field assessments to determine which identified areas should be formally notified.
• Three corridors were reported as notified in August 2026: Jawalagiri–Thaggatti, Jawalagiri–Anchetty and Bilikkal–Jawalagiri.
• Protecting corridors reduces habitat fragmentation and human–elephant conflict.
• Corridors are important for maintaining connectivity between elephant populations and preventing isolation of habitats.

Related Points

• Asian Elephant scientific name – Elephas maximus.
• IUCN Red List – Endangered.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Elephant receives the highest level of protection under the current schedules.
• Project Elephant was launched by the Government of India in 1992.
• Elephant is India's National Heritage Animal.
• Important elephant landscapes in Tamil Nadu include the Nilgiris, Anamalai and Eastern Ghats landscapes.
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve spans Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
• Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Anamalai Tiger Reserve are important elephant habitats in Tamil Nadu.
• Elephant corridors differ from protected areas: a corridor's main ecological purpose is habitat connectivity.

5. Olympic City – Chennai

Why in News

On 3 September 2026, the Tamil Nadu government announced plans to establish an Olympic City in Chennai with international-standard sports infrastructure. The announcement formed part of a package of major infrastructure projects for the State.

Definition

The proposed Olympic City is an integrated sports infrastructure hub intended to provide world-class competition, training and sports-support facilities and strengthen Tamil Nadu's capacity to host major sporting events.

Key Points

• The project is proposed to be established in Chennai.
• It aims to develop international-standard sports infrastructure.
• Plans include world-class sporting arenas and training facilities.
• High-performance training facilities are proposed as part of the project.
• Sports-medicine facilities and modern sports equipment/infrastructure are also envisaged.
• The objective is to strengthen Chennai/Tamil Nadu as a major national and international sports destination.

Related Points

• International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the governing authority of the Olympic Movement.
• IOC Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter ("Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together").
• The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.
• India hosted the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951 and 1982.
• Chennai hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad in 2022 at Mamallapuram near Chennai.
• Tamil Nadu has hosted major sporting events including international chess and hockey competitions.