1.Social welfare students' hostel in Kodambakkam to open in November: Minister Vanniarasu's announcement
- TAHDCO Infrastructure Initiative: A new college girls' hostel funded by the state government and built via TAHDCO (Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation) is opening in Kodambakkam, Chennai. It was built at a cost of ₹30.83 crore and will accommodate 580 students.
- Valamigu Velanmai Thittam (Prosperous Agriculture Scheme): Under this scheme, the government is providing fast-track electricity connections to 1,000 Adi Dravidar farmers to improve their irrigation facilities and economic status.
- Special Education Scholarship Scheme: A newly introduced scheme for Tribal students entirely funded by the State Government. It is designed to cover additional educational expenses to ensure tribal students can pursue higher education, specifically in fields like Medicine and Engineering.
- Minister for Social Justice: Vanniyarasu
- Chief Minister: Vijay
- Department/Agency Heads: Subbaiyan (Secretary, Social Justice), Senthilraj (Managing Director, TAHDCO), Annadurai (Director, Tribal Welfare)
2.Appointment of Principal District and Sessions Judges for Chennai, Perambalur, and Ramanathapuram districts
Judicial appointments and transfers in Tamil Nadu announced by the Madras High Court Principal Registrar Deepthi Arivunidhi:
Major Judicial Appointments:
- Chennai: M.N. Senthilkumar has been appointed as the new Chennai Metropolitan Principal Sessions Judge. (He replaces P. Karthikeyan, who was recently elevated as a Madras High Court Judge).
- Perambalur: V. Pandiyaraj has been appointed as the Principal District Sessions Judge.
- Ramanathapuram: C. Vijayakumar has been appointed as the Principal District Sessions Judge.
- Tiruvarur: M. Rajalakshmi (formerly a POCSO court judge in Chengalpattu) is the new District Sessions Judge.
- Chengalpattu: P. Selvamuthukumari has been appointed as the Judge of the District Permanent Lok Adalat.
3. Tamil Nadu government fixes weaving wages for new Pongal dhotis and sarees
- Scheme: Free Dhoti and Saree Distribution Scheme for Pongal 2027.
- Dual Objective: Providing free clothing to poor and vulnerable beneficiaries across the state while simultaneously generating steady employment and livelihood support for the powerloom/handloom weaving sector.
- Target Production Volume: 1.77 crore dhotis and 1.77 crore sarees.
- Nodal Department: Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department.
- Budget Allocation: ₹13.66 crore allocated in the 2026–27 Budget to absorb the additional expenditure.
Economic & Administrative Details
Component
Metric / Rate Fixed
Weaving Wage per Saree
₹45.76
Weaving Wage per Dhoti
₹19.04
Pick Rate (Fabric Insertion)
13 paise (sarees), 14 paise (dhotis)
Key Industrial Hub
Erode (major powerloom manufacturing belt of Tamil Nadu)
4. Children cannot be barred from using the internet: Supreme Court ruling
Supreme Court verdict is a crucial update for Fundamental Rights & Judiciary specifically concerning child rights and cyber laws in India.
Core Verdict: The Supreme Court of India ruled that access to the internet is a Fundamental Right for minors, rejecting a petition that sought to restrict or mandate parental supervision for social media usage by children under 18.
- Constitutional Basis: The Court reaffirmed that the Right to Internet falls under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Indian Constitution, and this right extends equally to minors.
- The Bench: The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinoth Chandran.
- The Petitioner: A Delhi-based NGO, "Just Rights for Children Alliance," filed the plea citing the online dangers minors face.
- Government Directives: While upholding the right to internet access, the SC directed the Union Government to take stringent action to remove Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) from the internet and impose severe penalties on offenders.
This is a landmark case related to the expansion of Article 21. It highlights the judiciary's stance on balancing a citizen's civil liberties (even for minors) with state responsibility. The state cannot impose blanket bans on internet access citing safety concerns; instead, the government and social media platforms are responsible for ensuring a safe digital environment while upholding fundamental rights.
5. Deduction of additional amounts under the New Pension Scheme put on hold: New announcement from the Tamil Nadu government
The Tamil Nadu Government has ordered the immediate stoppage of deductions made to recover excess interim pension amounts paid to retired government employees under the Assured Pension Scheme (TOPS).
Key Details of the TOPS Scheme
- Beneficiaries: Government employees who retired from January 1, 2026, and families of employees who died while in service.
- Eligibility: Must have completed a minimum of 10 years of service.
- Interim Pension Calculation: Retirees receive 30% of their last drawn basic pay OR ₹10,000 per month (whichever is higher).
- Allowances: Along with this, a 60% Dearness Relief (DR) is provided.
Administrative Context:
- The directive was issued by Arun Roy, Tamil Nadu Finance Secretary (Expenditure), to the Director of Treasuries and Accounts.
- Previously, any excess amount paid as interim pension compared to the finalized pension was being recovered in equal installments. This recovery has now been halted.
- Any differences will be adjusted in future settlements, but immediate deductions from the pensioners' monthly payouts have been stopped to protect their current financial stability.
Memorize the numerical facts associated with the TOPS interim pension (Jan 1, 2026 cutoff, 10 years service, 30% basic pay, ₹10,000 minimum, and 60% DR).
