daily current affairs 13/10/2026 english

1."Release Rs 5,110 crore in education funds" – CM Vijay urges Prime Minister

• Inauguration: Chennai Metro Rail service from Vadapalani to Poonamallee (part of Phase II, Corridor 4) was flagged off, alongside ₹13,000 crore worth of central government projects launched at the IIT Madras campus.
• 2026 Union Budget Reference: Announcement of two high-speed rail corridors connecting Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

Centre-State Relations

Sector

Key Demand in the Article

Static Link

Education

Release ₹5,110 crore under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) without conditions.

SSA (2018): Integrated scheme for school education (pre-school to Class 12) merging SSA, RMSA, and Teacher Education. Conditional funding relates to NEP 2020 / PM SHRI implementation disputes.

Polity & Judiciary

Make Tamil the official language of the Madras High Court.

Article 348(2): Allows the Governor of a State, with the previous consent of the President, to authorize the use of Hindi or the state's official language in High Court proceedings.

Metro Rail

Reconsider Coimbatore & Madurai Metro projects; approve interstate Metro from Hosur (TN) to Bommasandra (Karnataka).

Urbanization & Infrastructure Development in Tier-2 industrial hubs and interstate economic corridors.

Railways

Approve high-speed rail corridors from Chennai to Kanyakumari and Chennai to Coimbatore.

Transport Infrastructure & Tourism promotion in Tamil Nadu.

Highways

6-lane expansion of GST Road (Chengalpattu–Trichy), NH-81 (Trichy–Karur), Karur–Coimbatore stretch; elevated corridor on NH-87 (Madhavaram–Sholavaram).

National Highways network in Tamil Nadu and industrial connectivity.

Water Resources

Implement the Godavari–Cauvery River Linking Project as a National Project.

National Perspective Plan (NWDA): Inter-basin water transfer to address Tamil Nadu's water deficit; Interstate River Water Disputes (Article 262).

Quick Prelims facts

• Prelims Focus: Note the specific stretches mentioned (Vadapalani–Poonamallee Metro, Hosur–Bommasandra interstate link, NH-81), the Article 348(2) constitutional provision for High Court language, and the components of Samagra Shiksha.
• Useful as fodder points for answers on Cooperative Federalism, Fiscal Federalism (conditional grant releases under Centrally Sponsored Schemes), and Regional Infrastructure Disparity (expanding growth beyond Chennai).

2.“Tamil Nadu will continue to receive all assistance” – PM Modi assures Launches projects worth ₹13,000 crore

Major Infrastructure Projects Launched (Total: ₹13,000 Crore)

Sector

Project / Initiative

Key Details

Metro Rail

Chennai Metro Phase-II

Inauguration of the Poonamallee – Vadapalani corridor (built at a cost of ₹4,900 crore).

National Highways (₹3,700 Cr)

NH-744

Inauguration of 36 km, 4-lane Vadugapatti – South Venganallur stretch (Virudhunagar/Tenkasi region).

NH-744A

Inauguration of 30 km, 4-lane Madurai Ring Road.

NH-83

Foundation stone laid for the 4-lane Thiruvarur Bypass (Nagapattinam – Thanjavur section).

Railways (₹750 Cr)

Karaikal – Peralam Line

Inauguration of the new railway line connecting Karaikal port/region with Peralam (Tiruvarur district).

Amrit Bharat Stations

5 redeveloped stations inaugurated in TN: Palani, Vellore Cantonment, Ambasamudram, Paramakudi, and Namakkal.

Coimbatore Region

3 new Railway Overbridges (ROBs) inaugurated.

Science & Tech

IIT Madras

Inauguration of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (neuroscience and brain mapping research).

Petroleum & Energy

CPCL, Manali (Chennai)

Foundation stone laid for Group II & III Lube Oil Base Stocks (LOBS) project at the Manali refinery.

Maritime, Blue Economy & Welfare Highlights in Tamil Nadu

• V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port, Thoothukudi: Upgraded at a cost of ₹17,000 crore into a global-standard Mega Container Terminal and a Green Energy Hub (Green Hydrogen/Ammonia nodal port).
• Chennai Port: 4 new port infrastructure projects inaugurated.
• Fisheries & Blue Economy:
• Modernization of the Kasimedu Fishing Harbour (Chennai).
• Development of the Multipurpose Seaweed Park (planned in Ramanathapuram to boost coastal livelihoods).
• Extension of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishermen in Tamil Nadu to provide institutional credit and improve coastal livelihoods.

Quick Prelims facts

• Prelims Focus: Match-the-following questions on National Highway numbers (NH-744A = Madurai Ring Road; NH-83 = Nagapattinam–Thanjavur), location of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (IIT Madras), and the 5 Amrit Bharat railway stations opened in TN.
• Use these specific project names and outlay figures when writing answers on Port-led Development (Sagarmala), Green Energy Transition in TN (VOC Port), and Urban-Rural Connectivity.

3. Chief Minister Vijay congratulates Arlekar on his appointment as the Governor of Tamil Nadu!

• Tamil Nadu Governor Appointment: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed as the full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu (having previously served as Governor of Kerala and held additional charge of Tamil Nadu).
• Other Gubernatorial Appointments:
• Om Prakash Mathur appointed as Governor of Kerala (transferred from Sikkim).
• Dushyant Gautam (former Rajya Sabha MP) appointed as Governor of Sikkim.

Constitutional Aspect

Provision / Article

Key Exam Detail

Appointment

Article 155

The Governor is appointed by the President of India by warrant under his hand and seal (neither directly elected nor indirectly elected by an electoral college).

Dual/Additional Charge

Article 153 (Proviso)

Added by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956; allows the same person to be appointed as Governor for two or more states.

Term & Tenure

Article 156

Holds office during the pleasure of the President; normal term is 5 years.

Qualifications

Article 157

1. Citizen of India

2. Must have completed 35 years of age

Conditions of Office

Article 158

Shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or State Legislature; cannot hold any office of profit. Emoluments cannot be diminished during the term.

Oath of Office

Article 159

Administered by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court (Madras High Court for Tamil Nadu), or in their absence, the senior-most judge available.

Key Commissions & Recommendations on the Office of Governor

• Sarkaria Commission (1988) & Punchhi Commission (2010):
• The Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state and not intimately connected with local politics.
• The Chief Minister of the state should be consulted before appointing the Governor.
• Tenure should be secured (limiting arbitrary removal under the "doctrine of pleasure").

Prelims facts

• Prelims Focus: Memorize the constitutional articles (Art. 153–159), the 7th Amendment (1956) enabling a common Governor for multiple states, and who administers the oath (Chief Justice of the Madras High Court).
• Use this appointment context when discussing the Role of the Governor in Federal Structure, the principle of Cooperative Federalism, and disputes concerning state autonomy and gubernatorial discretion.

4. Thanjavur 'Niptem' professors have been ranked 3 in the list of world's leading scientists

• Global Recognition: Three faculty members from NIFTEM-T (Thanjavur) have been featured in the World's Top 2% Scientists List (2026) released jointly by Stanford University and Elsevier.
• The Three Scientists & Their Domains:

1. Dr. Jeyan Arthur Moses – Assistant Professor, Department of Food Process Engineering.
2. Dr. R. Mahendran – Professor & Head, Department of Food Process Technology.
3. Dr. C.K. Sunil – Associate Professor, Department of Food Process Engineering.

• Research Field: Food Science, Food Processing Technology, and Food Engineering.

About NIFTEM-Thanjavur

Feature

Key Exam Detail

Full Form

National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management – Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T)

Location

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Parent Ministry

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India

Former Names

Previously known as IIFPT (Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology) and earlier as IICPT (Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology); originally started as the Paddy Processing Research Centre (PPRC) in 1967.

Special Status

Conferred the status of Institute of National Importance (INI) under the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Act, 2021 (alongside NIFTEM-Kundli, Haryana).

Current Director

Dr. V. Palanimuthu

Quick Prelims facts

• Prelims Focus:
• Location of NIFTEM in Tamil Nadu (Thanjavur).
• Its administrative ministry (Ministry of Food Processing Industries, not Ministry of Agriculture).
• Its former name (IIFPT) and Institute of National Importance (2021) status.
• Science & Tech / Agriculture: Can be cited as an example of Tamil Nadu's excellence in Post-Harvest Management, Value Addition in Agriculture, and Food Processing R&D in the Cauvery Delta region.

5.Metro rail service between Vadapalani and Poonamallee: 70,000 people traveled in two days.

• First Operational Stretch of Phase-II: Vadapalani to Poonamallee (part of Corridor 4).
• Distance: 15 km elevated stretch.
• Active Stations: 11 Metro stations are currently operational on this stretch.
• Public Response: Over 70,000 passengers travelled within the first two days (25,474 commuters in the first 5 hours on Day 1; over 40,000 on Day 2).
• Next Upcoming Stretch (Target: Within 6 Months):
• Koyambedu to Chennai Trade Centre (Nandambakkam) elevated stretch (part of Corridor 5).
• Stations: Expected to include 12 Metro stations.

Chennai Metro Rail Project (CMRL) Phase-II Overview

• Executing Agency: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) – a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu.
• Total Phase-II Length: 118.9 km with 128 stations across 3 Corridors

Corridor

Route

Total Length

Key Highlight from the News

Corridor 3

Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri SIPCOT

45.8 km

Connects North Chennai with the IT Corridor (OMR).

Corridor 4

Lighthouse (Marina) to Poonamallee Bypass

26.1 km

First stretch opened: Vadapalani – Poonamallee (15 km, 11 stations).

Corridor 5

Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur

47.0 km

Next stretch planned: Koyambedu – Nandambakkam (Chennai Trade Centre) (12 stations).

3. Quick Prelims facts

• Prelims Focus:
• Which corridor of Chennai Metro Phase-II became operational first? (Corridor 4: Vadapalani – Poonamallee, 15 km).
• Match the 3 corridors of Phase-II with their terminal stations (Corridor 3: Madhavaram–Siruseri; Corridor 4: Lighthouse–Poonamallee; Corridor 5: Madhavaram–Sholinganallur).
• Urbanization & Environment: Use this data (70,000+ riders in 2 days) as empirical evidence when writing about Sustainable Urban Mobility, Decongesting Suburban Corridors (Western suburbs like Poonamallee & Porur), and Public Transport Adoption in Tamil Nadu