The direction was passed at a meeting of the CWRC chaired by Chairperson Vineet Gupta.

A meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) is scheduled to be held later in the day.

The CWMA had directed Karnataka earlier as well to ensure the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The CWRC had, at its meeting on July 28, directed that Karnataka ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from July 29.

The CWMA subsequently upheld the order and directed Karnataka to comply with it.

However, Tamil Nadu has alleged that Karnataka has failed to release the stipulated quantity of water.

According to the Tamil Nadu government, the flow recorded at Biligundlu ranged between 158 cusecs and 550 cusecs between July 29 and August 2.

The latest development comes amid Tamil Nadu's legal challenge over the issue.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on August 13 a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government seeking directions to Karnataka for the immediate release of its share of Cauvery water.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions made by the counsel representing Tamil Nadu that the state is not receiving its due share of Cauvery water in a rain-deficient year.

"We will list it for hearing on Thursday," the CJI said.

The C Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court on August 3, seeking directions to Karnataka for an immediate release of its allocated share of Cauvery water.

In its plea, Tamil Nadu has claimed that the quantum recommended by the CWRC as well as the actual quantity released by Karnataka is far less than what is required.

The poster, put up in the name of the Madurai District Trisha Welfare Association, carries the message, “Strong condemnation of former Minister RB Udhayakumar's speech.”

It says that making remarks with the intention of demeaning the relationship between Vijay and Trisha was highly condemnable.

The development came after Udhayakumar, while addressing an AIADMK Jayalalithaa Peravai meeting in Thoothukudi on 8th August, took a dig at Vijay and referred to Trisha while speaking about the TVK.

Udhayakumar said, “Vijay, a trouser-clad boy who was born only yesterday, is trying to usurp and destroy the AIADMK. AIADMK cadres have risen in anger. If anyone tries to destroy the AIADMK, their entire lineage will be ruined.”

He also said that when the issue of Cauvery water was raised, party cadres (TVK) would retort, “Cauvery? What water? Who was it that spoke about our sister-in-law Trisha?”

Following his remarks, Arun Kumar, treasurer of the Thoothukudi suburban district unit of the TVK, filed a petition with Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police Sivaprasad on 10th August, seeking action against Udhayakumar for allegedly making derogatory and insulting remarks about the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Against this backdrop, the Trisha Welfare Association has put up the latest posters. “We cannot tolerate anyone speaking wrongly about her. If you cross the line, we will be forced to stage massive protests across the State,” the poster says. It ends with the slogan, “Women are the eyes of our country.”

The poster features a picture of Trisha holding a microphone and raising her left hand. It is the second poster to have appeared in Madurai this month in the name of the Trisha Welfare Association.

An earlier poster, put up on August 3, claimed that the temple city was “the soil where every political party has its roots” and described the Trisha Welfare Association as “the first one recognised by the Tamil Nadu Government.”

The earlier poster bears registration number 53/2026, but does not mention the names or designations of the association's office-bearers. The latest poster bears registration number TNVL-TV 50-22-00090, but also does not identify any office-bearers.

So far, there has been no official confirmation as to whether the association was formed with the actor's consent.

School Education Minister Rajmohan introduced the resolution in the House and it said that the provisions of the FCRA Amendment Bill may adversely affect the autonomy of charitable organisations and in particular the functioning of educational and social welfare institutions run by minorities.

Any amendment must ensure natural justice, proportionality, protection of property rights, legitimate expectation and federalism.

"While ensuring transparency and accountability in foreign contributions, it must also protect the rights of lawfully functioning charitable, educational, medical, religious, cultural and social welfare organisations," according to the resolution tabled in the House.

MLAs have been invited by Speaker JCD Prabhakar to speak on the resolution.

Premalatha Vijayakanth, chief of DMDK, spoke supporting the resolution.

The annual festival began at midnight, drawing more than 10,000 male devotees from surrounding villages, including Natham, Kuttupatti, Pathasirukudi, Kumarapatti, Pudur, Kuttur and Mambatti.

Tradition followed at Ponnar Shankar Swamy temple

As part of the tradition, devotees donated 101 goats as offerings to the deity. Following the midnight rituals, young men gathered to skin and clean the goats, after which the meat was cooked in large vessels as part of the community feast.

The festival is traditionally attended exclusively by men, who participate in the rituals and feast as part of their religious observance and to fulfil their vows.

Rice balls and mutton curry

After the customary rituals, rice balls were prepared and offered to Ponnar Shankar Swamy. In a unique practice associated with the temple, the lights inside the sanctum sanctorum were switched off following the offering.

The rice balls were then tossed upwards towards the sky as part of the unusual ritual.

Following the ceremony, the food prepared for the occasion was served to the participating devotees. Men who had gathered for the festival were served rice balls and mutton curry on banana leaves.

The annual gathering, marked by its distinctive rituals and community feast, continues to draw thousands of devotees from villages in and around Natham.

The Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel issued the direction when the Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Post Graduate Teachers Association, Chennai, sought an interim order restraining the authorities from allotting census duties to PG teachers in August 2026 and February 2027, particularly those handling Classes X and XII in government and government-aided schools in southern and central districts.

Though the association acknowledged that census duty was of vital national importance, it contended that deploying PG teachers for such duties during the ongoing academic session would seriously affect classroom teaching, completion of the prescribed syllabus and revision sessions aimed at preparing students for public examinations.

The association also contended that PG teachers teaching students from poorer sections in government and government-aided schools were being assigned census duties. In contrast, teachers in private schools continued to teach full-time. Students in private schools were comparatively from affluent economic backgrounds, it said.

The association pointed out that there were about 59 government departments in the State with numerous employees whose assistance could be sought for census work. It also said the government could consider involving NGO members in the exercise.

The petition further stated that some PG teachers in the association were aged over 55 and suffering from various health ailments. It sought their exemption from census duties on health grounds.

After hearing the submissions, the court directed the Director of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu, the Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, and others to file their responses and posted the matter for further hearing on August 20, 2026.

The protesters, who refused to receive the boy’s body, staged the blockade on the Theni-Madurai highway in front of the government medical college hospital. The protest briefly affected traffic in the area.

Police from K Vilakku station held talks with the protesters and persuaded them to withdraw the agitation. The family members and lawyers later went to the district Collectorate and submitted their demands.

They sought stringent action against the doctors who allegedly provided wrong treatment to the boy, compensation for his family and a government job for one of his family members.

The deceased was identified as Nivas Kumar (14), son of Sudha of Saruthupatti near Periyakulam in Theni district.

According to the family, Nivas Kumar was admitted to the Periyakulam Government Hospital on June 2 after he developed severe cold and fever. Doctors who examined him reportedly said that he had a growth in his nose and advised an endoscopy procedure to remove it.

The family alleged that during the procedure, a tube that was supposed to be inserted through the airway was instead inserted through the food pipe. They claimed that the boy’s condition deteriorated following the procedure.

He was subsequently shifted to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment and admitted to the intensive care unit. He remained unconscious and in a coma for more than 60 days, according to the report.

Nivas Kumar died on Monday after his condition failed to improve, the report said.

Following his death, the family submitted a petition to the Theni district Superintendent of Police seeking action in connection with the incident.

Sahu shared a photographs of an elephant making its way across a steep hillside in the Nilgiris and noted that Asian elephants are often imagined as animals of the plains, but are remarkably sure-footed.

Sahu said, "Researchers have documented wild elephants in Arunachal Pradesh at an elevation of 3,266 metres above sea level, describing it as the highest elevation ever recorded for Asian elephants."

Sahu shared the post ahead of World Elephant Day 2026, which is observed on August 12.

Pottery fragments, burial urns, beads, conch bangles and evidence of conch-cutting activity are among the archaeological remains found during a recent field survey in an area known as ‘Odai’, between Tharuvaikulam and Vellappatti.

Archaeologist A Michael Dinesh Joel, who conducted the survey with K Karuppasamy, believes the findings warrant a detailed excavation to understand the history of the region.

The survey was undertaken while looking for the cultural continuity of Pattanamarudur, where the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department is currently conducting excavations. Pattanamarudur, around 6 km from the ‘Odai’ site, was an important centre for conch-cutting and making ornaments during the medieval period.

But the evidence from the ‘Odai’ area appears to tell a longer story.

Tracing a link to Korkai

The northern part of the site has yielded evidence from the medieval period, while Sangam-era remains have been found in the southern portion.

Spread across more than 300 acres, the site has yielded black-and-red ware pottery, pottery with graffiti marks, burial urns, carnelian beads, decorated conch bangles and pieces left over from conch-cutting.

Iron slag and foreign pottery have also been found, along with medieval-period red ware, glass beads, conch and glass bangles, copper coins, terracotta figurines and pipes.

Among the more striking finds are Chinese celadon and Barcelona pottery sherds, which Joel says point to international maritime trade.

“Over the past two years, I have been conducting field surveys and documenting various archaeological sites in Thoothukudi district. While looking for the cultural continuity of the Pattanamarudur excavation, we surveyed the ‘Odai’ area,” Joel said.

“We found rare evidence dating from the Sangam period to the medieval period, along with indications of international maritime trade.”

The presence of conch-cutting waste and decorated conch bangles has also drawn attention. According to Joel, the evidence suggests that a workshop producing ornaments from conch may have operated here during the Sangam period, much like the activity associated with Korkai.

An archaeological site waiting to be explored

Korkai, an ancient port associated with the Pandya region, is well known for its links to maritime trade and conch-related industries. The findings at Vellappatti have led Joel to suggest that the area could have played a comparable role as a trading centre during the Sangam period.

The burial urns, graffiti-marked pottery and industrial remains form part of the evidence behind this possibility.

Joel has called for excavation of the Vellappatti area, saying a systematic archaeological study could help establish a clearer picture of its Sangam-era culture and maritime connections.

For now, the artefacts scattered across the site offer clues rather than definitive answers. A detailed excavation, Joel believes, could reveal whether Vellappatti was indeed part of the ancient network of settlements and trading centres that connected the southern Tamil region to the wider maritime world.

Gupta, who participated in the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting, said Karnataka expected its appeal against the order to be considered by the Supreme Court along with a pending Cauvery-related matter scheduled for hearing on August 13.

“The direction given by the CWMA is to reiterate the decision taken by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. The committee had decided to release 12,000 cusecs for a period of 15 days, to be realised at Biligundlu,” Gupta told reporters in New Delhi.

Gupta said the state would comprehensively examine the various aspects of the order before deciding its legal course.

“There are different dimensions to this issue. There are different aspects to the problem. We will examine all of them comprehensively and then take appropriate action regarding the legal remedy available to us, what measures we can take from a legal perspective and how we can secure justice for the state,” he said.

Asked whether Karnataka had been treated unfairly by the CWMA, Gupta said the situation was “very dynamic” and cautioned that managing the water situation ahead could be difficult.

“What has happened now is that this is a very dynamic situation. Although prima facie we said that we had been treated unfairly, subsequently, when there was more rainfall in the Cauvery basin, we were able to manage the situation,” he said.

Gupta said Karnataka had presented its case before the CWMA and indicated that the state would pursue the matter legally if necessary.

The deceased was identified as Yogesh (11), a resident of Bhavani, Erode. He was studying at the government high school in the area.

What happened at the Erode school?

Yogesh was playing on the school premises during the lunch break when he accidentally stepped on a high-voltage electric wire that had fallen inside the campus.

He suffered a severe electric shock and died on the spot.

Police and officials who were informed about the incident recovered the boy's body and sent it to the hospital for post-mortem examination.

Further investigation is underway.

Eligibility: Open to SC, ST and Muslim students from any Indian state or union territory who have passed Class 12 with the required marks and have annual parental income up to Rs 5,00,000, seeking UG admission at the Chennai campus.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship covering up to 100 per cent of tuition fee, hostel accommodation, food and examination fee.

Last Date to Apply: August 12

Application mode: Online applications only

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Moving the resolution, Health and Medical Education Minister KG Arunraj said medical education should be accessible not only to economically stronger sections but also to students with merit and dedication.

The resolution stated that NEET had led to the proliferation of coaching centres charging exorbitant fees and had diverted students' attention from the school curriculum towards NEET-oriented coaching.

Arunraj said that before the introduction of NEET, students from rural, poor and socially disadvantaged backgrounds were able to secure medical education opportunities. The introduction of NEET, he alleged, had adversely affected socio-economic equality in medical admissions.

"NEET gravely undermines the medical education opportunities of rural and socio-economically disadvantaged students, including students whose medium of instruction is Tamil," the resolution stated.

The Assembly also urged the Union government to make necessary amendments to laws governing medical admissions, including the National Medical Commission Act, citing repeated irregularities in the conduct of NEET.

The Minister said the Union government should respect the unanimous voice of the Assembly, asserting that respecting the rights of States was an essential component of the federal structure.

He also reiterated the demand that education be brought back from the Concurrent List to the State List, arguing that this was the only way to permanently resolve the NEET issue.

The resolution received support from the DMK, Congress, AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M), PMK and Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi.

However, the BJP opposed the resolution and staged a walkout from the Assembly.

He administered a pledge on the occasion, focusing on personal responsibility, family protection, rehabilitation support, and state growth.

The pledge commits individuals to avoid drug use, guide others away from addiction, support rehabilitation efforts, and actively aid the government in eliminating illegal substances in Tamil Nadu.

A large number of people undertook e-pledge through the Drug-Free Tamil Nadu portal, an official said.

It may be noted that the state government had established a specialised Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) wing with district-level branches.

Also, the government had introduced "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu App" allowing both students and teachers to anonymously report illicit drug activities in the vicinity.

Youth volunteer groups have been trained to secure school environments and run localised peer-to-peer anti-drug campaigns.

Water release from Karnataka fluctuates

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the southwest monsoon has intensified in Karnataka over the past few days, increasing inflows into several reservoirs in the Cauvery basin. As the reservoirs filled up, water was released from the Kabini dam into the Cauvery for Tamil Nadu from August 1.

The quantum of water released from Kabini has been increased or reduced depending on the inflow into the reservoir. At its peak, the release was increased to 27,000 cusecs. The Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam also released around 1,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

However, rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas subsequently reduced, resulting in a fall in inflows into the reservoirs in Karnataka. Consequently, the amount of water released to Tamil Nadu was also gradually reduced.

Inflow rises at Mettur

Despite the reduction in releases, the water released from Karnataka continues to reach Hogenakkal in Tamil Nadu.

As per the latest readings on Tuesday morning, the inflow at Hogenakkal increased from 5,760 cusecs to 7,151 cusecs. Around 1,500 cusecs of water is currently being released from Mettur dam to meet drinking water requirements.

Initiating a discussion, Panneerselvam (who had joined the DMK before the Assembly polls) alleged that the TVK government had failed to honour its key electoral promises, particularly the enhanced monthly financial grant for women and the distribution of six free LPG cylinders annually.

"The public voted for a change, but they have been left greatly disappointed. These poll manifesto promises ought to have been announced as flagship schemes, but the government has failed to do so," Panneerselvam, formerly AIADMK leader, remarked, asserting that public sentiment had turned against the administration.

Refuting the charges, Leader of the House K A Sengottaiyan reminded that the government had a five-year mandate to fulfil its commitments.

The debate quickly turned personal as members traded barbs over changing political allegiances.

"As you yourself once noted, it is impossible to create history in just three months. If you managed to accomplish such a feat during your tenure, please enlighten us," Sengottaiyan countered. He added that it was strange to label the budget "a disappointment" when the general public was actively appreciating the government’s performance.

Taking a swipe at the Opposition party leader’s recent political realignment, Sengottaiyan remarked, "Just because you have shifted alliance, it does not mean you should sing paeans for your new leader."

Responding to the jibe, Panneerselvam pointed out that Sengottaiyan himself had switched political camp (from the AIADMK to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK) in the past.

The sharp verbal duel soon turned to "photos and loyalties" when School Education Minister A Rajmohan drew the House's attention to sartorial choices, noting, "Look at Minister Sengottaiyan - he still carries the photograph of (late Chief Minister) J Jayalalithaa in his shirt pocket. But look at Panneerselvam; he has not only changed his place, but also the photo closest to his heart."

Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna echoed the sentiment, praising Sengottaiyan for retaining the late leader's image despite changing parties.

Hitting back, Panneerselvam stated that leaders like Periyar, Anna, M Karunanidhi, M G Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa remained in his heart.

"We do not believe in putting on a show to mislead the public," he retorted, defending his current stance, and emphasised his allegiance to the Dravidian movement and his association with former Chief Minister M K Stalin’s steadfast struggle for state rights over the past five years.

"I carry his photo to express my gratitude to him," the former chief minister explained.

Taking exception to the remarks, Sengottaiyan clarified that he was not questioning personal photographs he displayed, but found the opposition leader's remarks about the budget degrading.

"He served as chief minister three times under Amma's (Jayalalithaa) leadership. The public is watching closely how he speaks today."

As heated exchanges continued, the Speaker intervened to expunge certain remarks from the official record and appealed to both sides to bring the debate back to order.

The Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel issued the direction on a PIL filed by Rama Ravikumar of Madurai district, who alleged that the statue was installed by the Dravidar Kazhagam around 1990 without permission from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

He further alleged that the statue was installed within five feet of the temple premises and that the DK flag was also installed near the statue on land belonging to the temple.

The petitioner also stated that information he received under the Right to Information Act on June 2, 2026, revealed that the EV Ramasamy statue had been installed on temple land without obtaining permission from the HR&CE dept.

Subsequently, he submitted a representation to authorities seeking its removal.

The court directed the Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, the HR&CE Commissioner, Collector, among others, to file the status report and posted next hearing for September.

In Chennai, protests were held at Guindy, Anna Salai, Tiruvottiyur, Ambattur, Tambaram and other locations, with police detaining protesters. In North Chennai, more than 500 people were arrested after CITU, AITUC, and the several unions staged a road blockade in Madhavaram as part of the Jail Bharo agitation.

The protesters raised a 20-point charter of demands, including withdrawal of the four labour codes, the Electricity Amendment Bill and the new hit-and-run provisions, besides demanding a minimum monthly wage of Rs 42,000 for workers. They also sought restoration of a job guarantee scheme providing 200 days of work at a daily wage of Rs 700, an integrated debt waiver for farmers and poor people, implementation of the Land Acquisition Act, and withdrawal of trade agreements that they said were against the interests of the country.

The unions further demanded an end to public-sector privatisation, stake sales and outsourcing, filling of vacant posts, creation of new jobs and universal social security for workers and street vendors. Restoration of the old pension scheme, increased allocations for public education and healthcare, and measures to control price rise were among the other demands.

Speaking to reporters, CITU state secretary V Kuppusamy accused the Union government of pursuing policies favouring private and foreign corporations at the expense of workers for more than 12 years. “The government is gradually replacing permanent employment with fixed-term jobs and is now dismantling labour protections won through decades of workers’ struggles,” he added. “The labour welfare laws are now reduced to four anti-worker labour codes. These were passed in Parliament despite opposition from trade unions and without any discussion.”

Similar protests were held in Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, where trade unions and farmers’ organisations sought to lay siege to Union government offices.

It is said that P Praveen Kumar (31), a resident of Kabisthalam Agraharam, and also Papanasam North Union Joint Secretary of TVK, was running an eatery in the locality. It is said that the river sand theft had been taking place in and around Kabisthalam, and so Praveen Kumar had lodged a complaint with the police.

The police seized a bullock cart and sand owned by Venkatesh (37) from Kabisthalam, who was involved in smuggling sand along with his friends Mariappan (24) and Asai Thambi Praveen (19). The police also registered a case against the three.

In such a scenario, the trio, Venkatesh, Mariappan and Praveen, went to the eatery of Praveen Kumar on Sunday night and attacked him and his friend Vasanth (19) and escaped.

The injured Praveen Kumar and Vasanth were rushed to Kumbakonam GH, where they have been undergoing treatment. On Monday, the police arrested Mariappan, and a search is on for Venkatesh and Praveen.

A delegation comprising Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) national VP and former MP Subhashini Ali, AIDWA national VP Vasuki, DSMM national VP Samuel Raj, TNUEF general secretary Sugandhi and others met the commission at its office in Egmore and submitted a set of recommendations.

The organisations sought a broad definition of caste honour crimes to cover physical, emotional, psychological, social and economic violence. They also wanted the right to choose a partner to be protected irrespective of caste, religion, gotra, community, class or economic status.

They called for specific offences to be included in the proposed law, including attempts to separate couples, threats, assault, abduction, murder, abetment of suicide, wrongful confinement, economic and social boycott, village ostracism, illegal fines, decisions of unlawful caste panchayats, public humiliation, destruction or seizure of property, eviction, sexual violence and offences under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. “Protection should extend to the couples’ parents, relatives, friends, witnesses and those assisting them,” they stated.

The organisations also stressed that caste-based honour crimes were often collective and socially sanctioned and should not be treated merely as offences committed by individuals. The proposed law should cover caste mobilisation, social pressure, illegal panchayats, threats, psychological violence, collective attacks, denial of civic rights and property damage.

They sought safe houses, confidential protection, a 24x7 crisis response mechanism and a system to prevent relatives from taking protected couples into custody without judicial authorisation. They also called for Zero FIR facilities, special police cells, designated investigation and protection officers, preventive measures and identification of areas vulnerable to caste violence.

Other recommendations included special courts and prosecutors, victim and witness protection, property attachment of offenders, enhanced compensation, medical and mental health support, and financial assistance for affected students.

The organisations also sought incentives for inter-caste and inter-religious marriages, including educational assistance, employment and skill-development opportunities, and preferential access to government schemes.

They urged the commission to recommend adequate budgetary allocation and a government policy declaration against caste discrimination and honour crimes.

The visit was designed by Thozhamai Trust to motivate students to see college education as an achievable goal and to help them develop aspirations for their future.

The programme brought 39 children from six villages in Chengalpattu, giving many of them an opportunity to experience a collegiate environment and learn about the educational opportunities available after completing school.

They visited college campuses, interacted with faculty members and students, and learned about various undergraduate courses, admission pathways, campus facilities and career opportunities. They were also introduced to the importance of continuing their education beyond school and the possibilities that a college degree can create.

A member of Thozhamai Trust said that such exposure was particularly important for children from tribal and socially disadvantaged communities, where limited access to information and role models can affect participation in higher education.

“The initiative sought to broaden their horizons, build confidence and encourage them to complete school and eventually enrol in colleges and pursue higher education,” added Prabhakaran, project coordinator, Thozhamai Trust.

Participating in the debate on the Revised Budget 2026-27 in the Assembly, Kamaraj recalled the measures taken by former AIADMK chief ministers J Jayalalithaa and Edappadi K Palaniswami to secure the State's share of Cauvery water.

"Jayalalithaa staged an 80-hour hunger strike in 1993. Palaniswami's MPs blocked Parliament for 22 days over the Cauvery issue, safeguarding our rights and ensuring the release of water from Karnataka," he said.

"I urge the present TVK government to immediately convene an all-party meeting and exert pressure on Karnataka and the Central government," Kamaraj said.

"There is no 'Aram' in the Budget as the government has not fulfilled its promises. There is no 'Porul' as the Budget lacks funds, and therefore, there is no 'Inbam' for the people," he said.

He also flagged the sharp rise in rice prices and urged the government to take steps to increase paddy production and contain the price rise.

Questioning the constitution of the Montek Singh Ahluwalia committee, Kamaraj sought clarity on its purpose. "Was the committee formed to say that the government can continue borrowing, or to identify an action plan to reduce the existing debt?" he asked.

Taking aim at the government's maiden budget, he said it lacked both vision and a clear action plan.

Kamaraj also urged the government to declare the Delta region drought-hit and provide Rs 25,000 per acre as relief to farmers.

The ANTF will be headed by a ADGP (Additional Director General of Police) rank officer, assisted by an Inspector General of Police (IGP) and three Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers and will comprise 65 Inspectors, 130 Sub Inspectors and 325 Police Personnel.

Additionally, a headquarters with 10 specialised divisions and 454 sanctioned posts will oversee intelligence gathering, cyber investigations, legal support, special operations, crime records, field intelligence, training, administration, information technology and a round-the-clock control room. The ANTF will focus on collecting intelligence on the movement of narcotics, conducting cyber-surveillance operations and financial investigations against criminals involved in drug related crimes among others, and also registering cases against them.

“The jurisdiction of ANTF police stations will be notified separately,” a GO noted. A dedicated cyber lab will be set up as part of ANTF, which shall strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve investigation quality, and enhance conviction rates, making it a critical investment in building a future-ready anti-narcotics enforcement system, the GO noted.

A 24×7 Control Room will manage information received through the toll-free number (10581), WhatsApp (9498410581) and Drug Free Tamil Nadu App, support emergency responses and operational deployments.

Participating in the debate on the Revised Budget and Agriculture Budget, Praveen said Bullet Raja, which had earlier created problems in the Nilgiris, had been brought to Kanniyakumari and was now causing serious trouble for residents, particularly those in his Vilavancode constituency.

"Bullet Raja, which was a problem in the Nilgiris, was brought to Kanniyakumari and left here. It is causing a lot of trouble. It should be taken somewhere else," he said.

Praveen also sought pattas for eligible residents, particularly tribal communities, in Vilavancode. He said water scarcity remained a major issue in Tamil Nadu and that Kanniyakumari had faced the problem for several years. Referring to the inter-State water dispute, he said the issue dated back to the period before the 1956 linguistic reorganisation of States and subsequent discussions between the two governments.

Intervening, Forest Minister RV Ranjithkumar said people should not disturb the movement and habitat of wild animals, particularly elephants, and said the government would take appropriate steps to address the challenges.

Water Resources Minister N Anand said the government would hold discussions and take appropriate action to resolve the inter-state water issue.

Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan assured the Assembly that eligible beneficiaries across the State would be issued pattas within the next year.

The Health and Family Welfare Department issued the Tamil Nadu Advance Medical Directive Guidelines, 2026, through a GO dated July 31, 2026, following the Supreme Court’s directions on advance medical directives and passive euthanasia.

Under the guidelines, any adult of sound mind can voluntarily execute an AMD for a treatment they wish to refuse or withdraw if they subsequently become incapable of making or communicating informed decisions. The directive can include refusal of mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or artificial nutrition and hydration when these would only prolong the process of dying.

The AMD has to be signed in the presence of two witnesses and attested by a Notary or Gazetted Officer. The person can nominate guardians or close relatives, in order of preference, to act on their behalf if they lose decision-making capacity.

A copy has to be handed over to the nominated persons and the family physician, if any, and deposited with the Joint Director of Health Services, who will act as its custodian. The directive can also be incorporated into digital health records and can be withdrawn or altered by the person at any time while they retain decision-making capacity. The guidelines also prescribed procedures to be followed by the treating institution on how to act on the AMD.

The new guidelines also prescribe a separate process for patients who have not executed an AMD. Where such a patient is terminally ill, undergoing prolonged treatment for an incurable condition with no hope of recovery, the treating institution will constitute a Primary Medical Board. It will discuss the case with the family physician, if any, and the patient’s next of kin, next friend or guardian, and record the proceedings.

If the Primary Medical Board recommends withdrawal or refusal of further treatment, a Secondary Medical Board will review the case. In case of disagreement, the concerned family member, nominee, treating physician or hospital staff can approach the High Court for permission to withdraw life support.

The guidelines provide for a High Court Division Bench to decide such cases expeditiously. The court can also constitute an independent panel of three doctors from specified specialities, including General Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology, Psychiatry and Oncology, with at least 20 years’ professional experience.

An AMD will not be acted upon if circumstances arise that the person had not anticipated when executing it and which could have affected their decision. An unclear or ambiguous directive will also not be given effect.

The government has prescribed separate formats for executing an AMD and recording the recommendations of the Primary and Secondary Medical Boards. The guidelines will remain in force until Parliament enacts legislation on the subject.

According to the guidelines, the government has allocated Rs 828.36 crore for the implementation of the scheme. Each MLA constituency will receive Rs 3 crore for taking up development works.

In addition, the government has allocated Rs 54 lakh per constituency towards the 18 percent GST component. The funds are to be utilised only for development works identified under the MLACDS.

The guidelines provide for using the funds for various public infrastructure works, including the construction and renovation of public buildings and school infrastructure. The scheme is aimed at enabling MLAs to recommend essential development works in their respective constituencies and address local infrastructure requirements.

Participating in the debate on the Revised Budget 2026-27, Ansari said the government should enact a law during the ongoing Assembly session to provide certificates to eligible new converts to fight against the High Court's order nullifying it.

He also urged the government to consider constructing a new Assembly building with modern facilities in a circular design near the legislators' hostel, while respecting the heritage of the existing structure.

On NEET, Ansari questioned the denial of permission for a Dravidar Kazhagam campaign despite widespread opposition to the examination and criticised the deployment of police near Periyar Thidal. He said four students were on hunger strike in Chennai and urged the government to consider their demand for another Assembly resolution seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu.

Ansari also sought Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils or permission for them to return to countries of their choice, citing their prolonged stay in refugee camps.

He called for reconsideration of the Rasimanal dam project proposed during the Kamarajar regime as an alternative to the Mekedatu dispute and opposed offshore hydrocarbon projects.

He also sought measures to address salary, pension, and regularisation issues for Annamalai University employees, including the legal utilisation of part of its land to raise funds.

Ansari sought release of eligible life convicts who had completed 14 years, irrespective of caste or religion, and an Assembly resolution against amendments to foreign funding laws affecting educational, medical and social service institutions.

The Finance Minister, delivering his reply in the slang of north Tamil Nadu, said that was his way of speaking and that he wouldn't change it to suit others.

Participating in the debate on the Revised Budget, Kadayanallur MDMK MLA T M Rajendran appreciated the Finance Minister for his command of English, while urging him to give greater prominence to Tamil and use Tamil expressions effectively.

Responding, Wilson said language-based criticism had become frequent in the House, along with remarks concerning caste and women. "I have been in the education sector over 30 years, and most of my communication has been in English," he said, defending his language choice.

The minister went on to train his guns on fellow first-time MLA Rajendran. "My Christian faith has taught me the language of love, peace and compassion. Some people may not know that language, however much Tamil they learn, " Wilson said.

Rejecting the criticism, he said, "Am I being mocked or ridiculed because of my language? I can speak only this way. This is my style. Accept it. I cannot change myself for everyone."

Speaker Prabhakar intervened and urged both sides to take the issue lightly and end the exchange. He also pointed out that Rajendran himself had repeatedly used the word "Budget", instead of the Tamil term "Nidhinilai Arikkai".

School Education Minister Rajmohan said every region had its own distinctive Tamil, from Nellai and Madurai to Kumari and Chennai, and stressed that promoting pure Tamil should not mean dismissing regional speech. He said Tamil's richness lay in embracing all its regional forms. DMK leader and former minister EV Velu also intervened, saying it wasn't wrong to be bilingual in Tamil Nadu, and seconded the view that slang in Tamil is an accepted form of expression. Velu tried to put things in context on the appeal made by the MDMK legislator, an orator hailing from the Tirunelveli region, considered the cradle of the Tamil language.

As part of his talk, Marie Wilson also highlighted government reforms, saying the Chief Minister had held several departmental review meetings over the past 60 days.

Claiming that nearly Rs 15,000 crore had reached the State exchequer in 65 days, he said the progress was the result of the collective effort of the entire Cabinet.

Representatives of the Kovalam-Pasuvandharai-Thanpaadu Small-Scale Salt Producers’ Association submitted a petition to the District Collector on Monday, stating that they had been producing salt on government-leased land in Mullakkadu for more than 93 years.

They urged the Collector to intervene and protect their livelihood. They also alleged that a case had been registered against five members of the salt-producing community for allegedly preventing a government employee from discharging his duty.

The salt producers have intensified their efforts against the proposed acquisition. A delegation of salt producers recently met DMDK general secretary and MLA Premallatha Vijayakant at the party headquarters in Chennai and sought her support for their agitation.

According to a statement issued by the salt producers, Premalatha, who had earlier visited the salt pans in Thoothukudi, received their petition and assured them that she would support and stand by their agitation.

The salt producers have decided to intensify their agitation by meeting with political party leaders and seeking their support. They have already met Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman and leaders of the Communist parties as part of their campaign.

According to the data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday by the Union Finance Ministry in response to an unstarred question by Ramanathapuram MP K Navaskani, private sector banks accounted for the overwhelming share of the outstanding credit card receivables.

Their receivables rose to Rs 2.81 lakh crore in March 2026 from Rs 1.46 lakh crore in March 2022. Public sector banks, meanwhile, saw their outstanding credit card receivables increase to Rs 5,667 crore from Rs 1,123 crore during the same period.

Among individual banks, HDFC Bank reported the highest outstanding credit card receivables at Rs 1.12 lakh crore in March 2026, up from Rs 71,928 crore in March 2022. ICICI Bank followed with Rs 54,865 crore, while Axis Bank had Rs 49,702 crore outstanding.

IDFC First Bank recorded one of the sharpest increases, with its outstanding credit card receivables rising from Rs 2,007 crore in March 2022 to Rs 9,165 crore in March 2026. RBL Bank had Rs 16,430 crore outstanding, followed by Kotak Mahindra Bank at Rs 12,852 crore, and IndusInd Bank at Rs 9,962 crore. Yes Bank's receivables increased from Rs 2,159 crore to Rs 8,827 crore during the five-year period.

The Centre, however, said the Reserve Bank of India does not maintain State-wise information on credit card issuance and usage. The figures provided by the government relate to bank-wise advances outstanding towards credit card receivables.

In its response, the Finance Ministry said RBI's 2025 directions on credit and debit cards require explicit customer consent for card issuance, activation, enhancement of credit limits, and over-limit facilities. Banks are also required to provide clear disclosures on interest rates, fees, charges and customer obligations through Key Fact Statements and Most Important Terms and Conditions.

The government said various initiatives were being implemented to promote financial literacy, responsible borrowing, credit discipline, and cyber fraud prevention. Tamil Nadu has 128 Centres for Financial Literacy and 75 Financial Literacy Centres.

During 2025-26, the CFLs conducted 92,096 awareness camps, while FLCs conducted 10,419 camps covering responsible borrowing, credit discipline, digital financial literacy, cyber fraud prevention and sound financial management.

In Ramanathapuram district, three CFLs and two FLCs conducted 2,160 and 809 awareness camps respectively during 2025-26. Focused camps were also held for small entrepreneurs, youth and women on responsible borrowing, credit discipline, digital financial literacy, cyber fraud prevention and informed financial decision-making.

Highlights

Total bank credit card receivables

March 2022 - Rs 1.47 lakh crore

March 2026 - Rs 2.86 lakh crore

Private sector banks

March 2022 - Rs 1.46 lakh crore

March 2026 - Rs 2.81 lakh crore

Public sector banks

March 2022 - Rs 1,123 crore

March 2026 - Rs 5,667 crore

Highest as on March 2026

HDFC Bank: Rs 1.12 lakh crore

ICICI Bank: Rs 54,865 crore

Axis Bank: Rs 49,702 crore

Financial literacy camps held in TN (2025-26)

1,02,515

Sources said, A Veda alias Vedaselvam (52), Thanjavur North District BJP Secretary against whom several cases were registered across Kumbakonam and investigations are under way.

Against such a backdrop, on Sunday late hours, Vedaselvam was returning to Kumbakonam after attending the birthday celebration of BJP State General Secretary Kappu Muruganandam at Muthupettai in Tiruvarur.

While Vedaselvam was nearing Kumbakonam town, the police who were conducting vehicle inspection, searched the car of Vedaselvam and found lethal weapons in the vehicle. Soon the police seized them and conducted an investigation and seized the vehicle also. Later, he was arrested and was produced before the court and was lodged in the Pudukkottai prison.

While residents welcomed the opening of the new terminus as their long wait for a new bus terminus had come to an end, due to the relocation of the terminus, traffic snarls were witnessed on Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Tiruvallur.

Residents have been waiting for nearly 30 years to get a new terminus at the district headquarters. Despite the inauguration, a few concerns were raised regarding the operation of services from Theradi to the new terminus.

P Raj Kumar, a long-time resident of Tiruvallur, said, “I’ve been living in Tiruvallur for more than 45 years. Even 10 buses cannot be parked at the old terminus. But the new terminus is more spacious. Increase the drinking water facility for passengers. Install a divider between urinal sinks at the men’s toilets in the new terminus.”

He also pointed out that since the new terminus was located away from the town, free mini buses must be operated from Theradi. “As of now, there are only two buses between the new terminus and the railway station. This should be increased, as it would benefit thousands of students and office goers who have to reach the city daily. Also, start bus services to nearby districts,” he opined.

Speaking to DT Next, Tiruvallur district collector TS Kavitha said that free buses cannot be operated from Theradi to the new terminus. “Regular buses can be operated after consulting with officials of the transport department. Adequate water supply and other queries will be resolved by informing the municipality.”

S Barnabas, a resident of Murugancherry, said, “I did not know when buses from the old terminus were shifted. I come to Tiruvallur once a month. After finishing my work at the bazaar, I went to the old bus terminus to reach Poonamallee; it looked deserted. An auto man asked for Rs 100 to drop me at the new terminus.”

A conductor on the Tiruvallur–Sriperumbudur route said, “We usually charge Rs 31 to reach Sriperumbudur bus terminus. Since two new stages have been added, we’re now charging passengers Rs 33 to reach the new terminus. A few members of the public were relieved, as they spent just Rs 2 more to reach the Collector’s office. Earlier, they had to board another bus or spend Rs 20 to reach there.”

Thamizh Thendral Thiru Vi Ka Bus Terminus was constructed at Rs 35 crore across 5.5 acres along Uthukottai Road near Vengadanallur, which accommodates 56 buses simultaneously. It features 101 shops, modern toilets, and parking for 500 two-wheelers and 100 cars.

Tiruvallur Municipality is seeking multiple ways to utilise the old bus terminus space for the best for public use.

“The CB-CID filed the charge sheet before the court nearly 65 days ago, but has not shared a copy with us so far,” the family members told reporters after submitting a petition to Sivaganga District Collector P Akash and Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, seeking their immediate intervention in the matter.

The police took Aakash Delishan of Krishnarajapuram near Manamadurai for questioning on March 8 in connection with a case relating to a clash that took place on the night of March 5. He allegedly died following torture in police custody.

Following the intervention of the court, the case was altered to include murder charges, and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was also invoked. The case was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID for investigation.

The family claimed that the charge sheet was filed before the court in Madurai and that the case was transferred to the Sivaganga PCR court on July 19. Aakash’s body was cremated on July 17 following an order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

However, the family alleged that they had not been provided with a copy of the charge sheet despite the police filing it in the Court. “When we approached the Manamadurai PCR court seeking the document, the court officials informed us that case records had been sent back to the CB-CID for e-filing. The CB-CID, on the other hand, claims they can share the copy only after the case is numbered in the court,” the family said.

Advocate Prathiban, who represents the family in the case, said that under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the police were required to provide the charge sheet to the victim’s family and their advocate immediately after filing it before the court.

“It appears that the delay is deliberate and is intended to help the accused in the case obtain bail,” the advocate said.

The peer reviewed study, published in the international journal, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, found that nutrient accumulation in sediments, severe oxygen depletion and organic pollution were posing growing ecological risks to inland wetlands across the State, highlighting the need for urgent restoration and improved pollution management.

Titled ‘Integrated Physico chemical and ecological risk assessment of inland wetlands in Tamil Nadu, India, reveals nutrient driven ecological stress’, the study was carried out by Anna University researchers Praveen Arjunan, Saranya Kuppusamy and S Kanmani. The team analysed water, sediment and surrounding soil samples collected from 10 major inland wetlands in Tamil Nadu.

The researchers reported critically low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranging from 0.1 mg/L to 4.0 mg/L, well below the 4-5 mg/L generally required to sustain healthy aquatic life. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) ranged between 0.17 mg/L and 4.5 mg/L, while Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reached as high as 420.2 mg/L, indicating significant organic pollution entering wetland ecosystems. Although nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in surface water were largely within Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) limits, the study found that sediments had accumulated substantial nutrient loads over time.

Total nitrogen concentrations in sediments reached 5,387 mg/kg, while total phosphorus levels were recorded at up to 32.5 mg/kg. According to researchers, these sediments now function as ‘legacy nutrient reservoirs’, continuously releasing nutrients back into the water through internal nutrient cycling and worsening ecological degradation.

The overall ecological risk across the wetlands was moderate. However, researchers cautioned that several localised pollution hotspots require immediate intervention.

The study recommends moving beyond routine surface water monitoring and adopting sediment-focused restoration measures such as targeted dredging and internal nutrient control. It also calls for preventing untreated municipal sewage and agricultural run-off from entering wetlands through nature-based wastewater treatment systems, including constructed wetlands, and implementing site-specific ecological restoration plans.

Environmental expert and former Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) professor S Janakarajan said that Pallikaranai marsh, one of Chennai’s last remaining wetlands, has been facing severe ecological degradation, and urged the State government to take immediate restoration measures. “We’ve been polluting the Pallikaranai wetland for more than 40 years. Solid waste dumping and sewage inflow have contaminated the soil, and heavy metals can now be traced in the groundwater in areas surrounding the marsh,” he opined. “Groundwater contamination has affected localities including Velachery, Guindy and several other areas located 40-50 sqkm area around the wetland.”

He pointed out that Pallikaranai marsh once spread across more than 50 sq km, but only about 5-6 sq km now remain. “The wetland has shrunk drastically over the years due to encroachments and developmental activities. Even after Pallikaranai was declared a Ramsar site, there is still no clearly demarcated boundary for the wetland. The remaining area must be protected without further delay,” he said.

Calling for immediate conservation measures, Janakarajan urged the State government to implement measures to prevent garbage dumping within and around the marsh and undertake large scale planting of indigenous tree species along its boundaries in the width of 50 metres. “If native trees are planted in a 40-metre wide buffer around the wetland and further dumping of waste is prevented, nature has the ability to heal itself over time. Protecting the remaining wetland has to be made a priority,” he added.

10 inland wetlands

1. Ponneri Tank area, Pulicat wetland complex in Tiruvallur

2. Barur Lake, Kaveripattinam in Krishnagiri-Dharmapuri

3. Wallajah Lake area, Uthiramerur in Ranipet-Chengalpattu

4. Singanallur Lake, Sulur Wetland in Coimbatore

5. Vagaikulam wetland, Tenkasi-Tirunelveli

6. Koonthankulam wetland complex, Tirunelveli

7. Kadamba Tank, Eral wetland,in Thoothukudi

8. Nainar kulam, Thamirabarani Basin Tank, Tirunelveli

9. Perungulam, Kasba wetland in Thoothukudi

10. Madakulam Lake, Vandiyur Lake in Madurai

In a statement, Anbumani said the state government had increased its incentive for ordinary variety paddy procurement price to Rs 2,600, while the price for fine variety had been increased to Rs 2,750. He said more than 95 per cent of the paddy procured by the government belonged to the ordinary variety and therefore the incentive for it should have been increased substantially.

He said the Centre had fixed the minimum support price at Rs 2,441 per quintal for the ordinary variety and Rs 2,461 per quintal for the fine variety for the current season. During the previous DMK regime, Tamil Nadu provided incentives of Rs 131 and Rs 156 per quintal for the two varieties, respectively.

According to Anbumani, the present government had increased the incentive to Rs 159 for the ordinary variety and Rs 289 for the fine variety. He argued that the higher incentive for fine variety would benefit only a small section of farmers, while the majority cultivating ordinary paddy would receive only a marginal increase.

Comparing Tamil Nadu with other states, Anbumani said Odisha had provided an incentive of Rs 800 per quintal last year, while Kerala had offered Rs 650 per quintal. He said Tamil Nadu's incentive was inadequate compared with those of these states.

Anbumani said the production cost of one quintal of paddy in Tamil Nadu ranged between Rs 2,300 and Rs 2,400. Fixing the procurement price by adding only around Rs 200 to the production cost was not justified, he said.

He demanded that the state government increase the incentive for ordinary paddy to Rs 559 per quintal so that farmers would receive Rs 3,000 per quintal this year. He also urged the government to fulfil its electoral promise and increase the procurement price to Rs 3,500 per quintal next year.

On sugarcane, Anbumani said the Centre had fixed the procurement price at Rs 3,290.50 per tonne for the 2025-26 crushing season, while the Tamil Nadu government had announced an incentive of Rs 709.50, taking the effective price to Rs 4,000 per tonne.

For the 2026-27 crushing season, beginning in October, the Centre has fixed the procurement price at Rs 3,383 per tonne. Anbumani said that if the state continued the previous year's incentive, farmers would receive Rs 4,092 per tonne.

He demanded that the state government increase its sugarcane incentive by Rs 408 and provide a total state incentive of Rs 1,117 per tonne, taking the procurement price to Rs 4,500. He urged the government to announce the revised incentive immediately.

Participating in the debate on the General Budget and Agriculture Budget, former Minister and DMK MLA MRK Panneerselvam questioned the government's decision not to waive crop loans for farmers as assured during polls.

He said the TVK had announced during the election campaign that all farmers' crop loans would be waived. "Based on this announcement, the government would have to waive loans worth around Rs 21,000 crore, but it has allocated only Rs 6,000 crore. Since crop loans have not been waived, farmers are unable to obtain fresh loans," Panneerselvam alleged.

Responding to Panneerselvam's allegation that private traders were procuring paddy from farmers at higher prices than the government, Food Minister P Venkataramanan said the government had procured around 65 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers over the past three months.

He said procurement had been increased to ensure adequate stocks and avoid shortages during natural calamities.

"During the DMK regime, Direct Procurement Centres were operated by DMK functionaries. The situation has changed now," the minister alleged.

Former Food Minister and DMK MLA R Chakrapani rejected the charge, saying that during the DMK regime, Direct Procurement Centres were operated under committees headed by the respective District Collectors.

Defending the DMK's position on crop loan waiver, former Minister and DMK MLA EV Velu explained why the previous DMK government had not promised a complete crop loan waiver.

He said the then Finance Secretary had not given consent to the proposal, citing difficulties in distinguishing between small, marginal and large farmers.

"The Finance Secretary told us that the government could not differentiate between small, marginal and large farmers. If the scheme had been implemented, the government would have had to spend around Rs 19,000 crore. Due to financial constraints, we did not include the proposal in the DMK's election manifesto," Velu said.

The debate subsequently shifted to paddy procurement.

Swamimalai Sundara Vimalnathan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, said the Rs 709.50-per-tonne hike in the sugarcane incentive was a decent increase and would take the price to Rs 4,000 per tonne. However, the Chief Minister had assured farmers during the election campaign that sugarcane would fetch Rs 4,500 per tonne.

“Though the present price of Rs 4,000 per ton is a comfortable hike, it is applicable to the crushing period that commences from October 2026 to September 30, 2027 and only one lakh sugarcane farmers alone can benefit,” he said.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane from the next crushing period. “The State government has proposed to increase Rs 5,000 crore more through the Tasmac sales, and sugarcane is one of the major raw materials, so the State government should encourage the sugarcane farmers who would support income generation to the State,” he said.

Meanwhile, farmers’ associations affiliated to the CPM and CPI also welcomed the increase in incentives for paddy and sugarcane, but sought a higher incentive for common-variety paddy and the implementation of the promised farm loan waivers.

Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association general secretary Sami Natarajan said the government’s decision to increase the incentive for fine variety paddy from Rs 156 to Rs 289 per quintal would take the procurement price to Rs 2,750, while common variety paddy would fetch Rs 2,600. He said the Centre had increased its paddy price by only Rs 69 over last year.

Natarajan also welcomed the additional Rs 709.50-per-tonne incentive for sugarcane, taking the price to Rs 4,000 per tonne for the 2025-26 crushing season. The Centre has fixed the price at Rs 3,290.50 for sugarcane with 9.5% recovery.

He said the higher incentives came at a time when fertiliser prices had risen sharply and diesel prices had been increased four times in a month, pushing up agricultural production costs. The announcement showed that the TVK government had recognised the difficulties faced by farmers and renewed their confidence that it would fulfil its election promise of providing higher prices for paddy and sugarcane, he said.

CPI-led association general secretary B S Masilamani also welcomed the paddy and sugarcane price increases. He said the association had urged the government during a meeting with eight ministers at the Secretariat on August 7 to announce the higher prices for the current season.

Masilamani also sought immediate implementation of the election promise on farm loan waivers, saying farmers were under pressure from banks to repay loans. With many farmers already facing financial difficulties, the pressure to repay loans was affecting their ability to prepare for the next cultivation season, he said.

Participating in the debate on the Revised Budget and Agriculture Budget, Bhojarajan said three schools in the Nilgiris had been closed and sought immediate intervention to reverse the trend. "People have no confidence in government schools. Officials should identify the reasons for declining student strength and take steps to change the situation," he said.

School Education Minister Rajmohan, however, said no government school had been closed due to poor enrolment. "We are sending teachers to find out why student strength is declining and address the shortcomings. I will personally examine the schools mentioned by the member," he said. The government was committed to keeping every school open, he added.

Bhojarajan also sought a complete waiver of crop loans and greater support for farmers, particularly in the Delta and 12 other districts. He demanded subsidies for tea growers, citing similar assistance during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee and J Jayalalithaa regimes.

He urged the government to explore diverting water from the Sarabanga river to the Bhavanisagar reservoir, saying the Nilgiris was the water tower of the Kongu region. He also sought measures to protect forests, increase tree planting and facilitate patta transfers for residents of small villages in the Nilgiris.

Bhojarajan highlighted Rs 14 lakh crore in central assistance to Tamil Nadu over 12 years, including Rs 7,011 crore for railways and 11 medical colleges.

Bhojarajan also praised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for wearing traditional attire during the Budget session and urged other legislators to follow suit. Responding to him, Minister Rajmohan said even Mahakavi Bharathiar, who worked for Tamil, wore western attire.

Health Minister K Arunraj, who released the state rank list for MBBS and BDS admissions for the 2026-27 academic year on Monday, said that online counselling would begin on August 13. Special category students will attend offline counselling at Omandurar Government Medical College on the same day.

Villupuram’s Venkatapathy Velayutham topped the rank list with 705 marks in NEET, followed by Srinika B of Pudukkottai with 700 marks and Sudar of Virudhunagar with 696 marks.

The cut-off for MBBS seats in private medical colleges under the government quota is also expected to rise by up to 23 marks under the 7.% reservation. For students seeking admission to private medical colleges under the 7.5% quota, the increase is expected to be up to 50 marks.

A total of 9,999 MBBS seats will be filled through state counselling this year, including 5,600 seats in government medical colleges and 4,005 in private medical colleges. The State has added around 850 MBBS seats compared to last year, despite the loss of seats following three medical colleges being granted deemed university status. Around 2,000 BDS seats will be filled through counselling, about 200 fewer than last year.

Under the 7.5% reservation for government school students, 537 MBBS and 104 BDS seats (641 total) will be available. M Dinesh of Nagapattinam topped the category with 599 NEET marks, followed by Dharanish BS of Salem and Rajesh R of Pudukkottai, both with 595 marks.

The government has begun a review of the 7.5% reservation scheme as part of the mandatory five-year review to assess its effectiveness and decide whether it should be continued, extended or modified.

Five candidates were disqualified this year for submitting fake NEET scorecards, compared to 25 such cases detected last year. In one case, a candidate who had actually scored 170 marks allegedly submitted documents showing a score of 552.

Reiterating the government’s opposition to NEET, Arunraj said, “The State will continue its legal and political efforts seeking a permanent solution and abolition of the examination.”

It is said that on Monday, Nagaraj, a former panchayat president of Kongudipatti near Iluppur in Pudukkottai, went to drop his wife, a teacher, to the school in Iluppur. After dropping her in the school, Nagaraj was returning home.

When he was nearing Pakkudi-Periya Kudumbam Patti road, he was stopped by an unidentified gang and was attacked with lethal weapons, in which Nagaraj sustained severe injuries and fell dead.

The gang, after ensuring Nagaraj died, severed his head and escaped. On information, Illuppur police rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it to the GH. The police registered a case and commenced an investigation.

The police said that there was a land dispute between Nagaraj and his neighbour, Muthu Lakshmi, who recently lodged a complaint with the police after an altercation, and the police also had registered a case, and the investigation was under way.

In such a scenario, Nagaraj was brutally murdered. The police are investigating from various angles.

The Speaker intervened after MJK MLA M Thamimun Ansari alleged that Vijay had left the House when he began speaking.

Responding to the charge, Prabhakar said officials had informed him that several files were pending for the Chief Minister's approval. "Officials have informed me that a lot of files are pending for the Chief Minister. So, he left the House and is in his chamber, continuing to watch the Assembly proceedings on television. He listens to everything. The member need not worry, " he said.

Prabhakar added that Vijay clears more than 100 files every day.