"Tamil Thai Vazhthu is an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture and stressed the need to uphold Tamil Nadu's cultural identity," Vijay said.

What does CM Vijay's resolution say on Tamil Thai Vazhthu?

The resolution noted that Tamil is an ancient classical language and that Tamil civilisation is one of the world's oldest cultural traditions.

"Tamil Thai Vazhthu, taken from Manonmaniam written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891, was being sung first at all government functions ever since a government order issued on November 23, 1970," Vijay added.

The song was officially recognised as the State song on December 12, 2021, following which it was mandated to be sung before the commencement of events at educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings, and other public organisations in Tamil Nadu.

Why has Tamil Nadu brought a fresh resolution on Tamil Thai Vazhthu?

Vijay said the Union Home Ministry had communicated its position on the singing of State songs in a letter dated July 1, 2026.

As per the order issued by the Centre, the National Song, Vande Mataram, should be sung first, followed by the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. In this sequence, Tamil Thai Vazhthu was pushed to the last, which did not go down well in the State.

“There is no truth in reports that companies were advised against attending the Andhra Pradesh government’s event. No department head or ministerial authority has issued any such direction. Companies are free to participate in investment promotion events organised by any State,” the officials added, citing precedents.

The Andhra Pradesh investor meet was a routine exercise to attract investments and should not be projected as a threat to Tamil Nadu, the officials said, accusing the Opposition of politicising the issue.

Such cross-State investment outreach is a normal practice, they said, pointing out that Andhra Pradesh had conducted roadshows in Chennai and other major cities in 2018 and held an investor meet in Chennai ahead of its Global Investors Summit in Visakhapatnam in 2023. Tamil Nadu, too, has organised similar programmes across India and overseas.

“Investors ultimately take decisions based on skilled manpower, infrastructure, transport and logistics, supply chains, market opportunities, policy stability and ease of doing business,” the officials said.

They said Tamil Nadu was also expanding industrial capacity around Chennai in response to demands for more land. The Ambattur Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Association (AIEMA) had sought about 1,000 acres within a 50-km radius of Chennai. The Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (TANSIDCO) has identified around 294 acres of government land, while allocating 20 per cent of SIPCOT land to TANSIDCO could potentially create more than 1,000 additional acres.

Several rice mills are functioning in Manachanallur, Ariyamangalam, Manikandam, Lalgudi and Kattur in Tiruchy district and traders who procure paddy from delta districts as well as from other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for hulling and supply them to the traders.

The fine rice varieties like Ponni were sold up to Rs 74 per kg last week, sold between Rs 78 and 80 this week, while the matta rice variety, which was sold at Rs 76 per kg last week, has been sold at Rs 84 this week.

Similarly, the premium variety seeraga samba, which was sold between Rs 120 and 150 per kg until last week, is sold between Rs 165 and 200 per kg this week.

Traders said that the short supply from the local market would be compensated with the arrival of paddy from the neighbouring states like Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana, but this time, these states had reduced the quantity to Tamil Nadu as the local demand was high this time.

The mill owners said that they failed to receive supply from the neighbouring states since November last year. “Probably the big farmers might have stocked paddy anticipating higher prices in the coming days,” K Vathilingam, a mill owner from Manachanallur, claimed.

Despite the CWMA approving the recommendations of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release water to Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka government refused to obey the order. Consequently, the Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, moved the Supreme Court on August 3. The state appealed for a direction to Karnataka to release 26.954 TMC of water owed for the period between June 1 and August 12. It also sought an instruction to the CWMA to monitor flows in Karnataka’s reservoirs every 10 days and ensure stipulated monthly releases at Biligundlu, the interstate point. The state government further highlighted that in the current 2026-2027 irrigation year, catchments upstream of KRS received 488 mm of rainfall, Kabini received 676 mm, and other catchment areas received 78 mm between June 1 and July 27.

“With proper legal grounding and concrete figures, the Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court this time. Karnataka, which usually releases water only to avoid flooding, will certainly be instructed to release the monthly dues. They cannot escape now, and we are confident that Delta farmers will get a reasonable share of water for irrigation,” said Sami Natarajan, general secretary of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam.

He added that inflow into Mettur must remain between 5,000 cusecs and 12,000 cusecs for farmers to decide on proceeding with Samba cultivation. “If water is released at least by August 30, we can take up single-crop samba cultivation, with the Northeast monsoon rains supplementing our water requirements later,” Natarajan noted.

Natarajan stated that if Karnataka releases the due share for June, July, and August following court orders, farmers can successfully cultivate samba even if they skip thalady. “However, the water level at Mettur must reach at least 100 feet before it is released for irrigation. Currently, the level stands at just 78 feet. We hope the Supreme Court issues strong directions and Karnataka releases our due share,” Sami Natarajan further said.

He also urged the state government to announce a special package for Samba cultivation along the lines of the Kuruvai package. “Having largely lost the Kuruvai crop, it is vital that the state government releases a special samba package to support farmers taking up the crop this season,” he added.

The student of CS Academy, Erode, will join the Ivy League university for the 2026-30 academic cycle, according to media reports.

What will Pranav study at Brown University?

Pranav will study Public Health and Applied Mathematics at Brown, combining mathematics, technology and data to explore solutions to complex problems. His long-term goal is to use technology and data to address public health challenges, particularly those affecting underserved communities.

How did Pranav prepare for his academic journey?

Pranav began preparing for an international academic journey at an early age.

At 13, he joined Dexterity Global's National Scholar Development Programme, where he received mentorship and training in leadership, problem-solving and other skills. He was also recognised among the Outstanding Cambridge Learners and received a World Topper distinction in IGCSE Mathematics.

What other international scholarship did Pranav receive?

Brown was not the only university to offer Pranav a major scholarship.

He also received a 100 per cent scholarship offer from The University of Hong Kong before choosing Brown University for his undergraduate studies.

What are Pranav's interests and future plans?

Pranav has developed interests in software, entrepreneurship, engineering, artificial intelligence and data science. He hopes to eventually build a public-health venture that uses data and technology to provide insights to governments and communities, particularly in underserved regions.

The scholarship attached to his Brown admission has been widely reported at around Rs 3.55 crore over four years.

However, media reports noted that a publicly visible post associated with CS Academy described the award as a 90% scholarship, and said the exact coverage should be treated with caution unless confirmed directly by Brown University or Pranav's family.

Making a statement under Rule 110 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the Chief Minister said the State government would provide an additional incentive of Rs 289 per quintal for fine-variety paddy and Rs 150 per quintal for common-variety paddy over and above the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

With the revised incentives, farmers will receive a total of Rs 2,750 per quintal for fine-variety paddy and Rs 2,600 per quintal for common-variety paddy, he said.

Vijay also announced an enhanced incentive for sugarcane farmers. While the Centre provides Rs 3,290.50 per tonne for sugarcane supplied to sugar mills, the State government will add an incentive of Rs 709.50 per tonne, taking the total procurement price to Rs 4,000 per tonne.

Describing the decision as a historic one, the Chief Minister said this was the first time that the incentive for common-variety paddy had been increased by Rs 150.

Vijay also said it was the first occasion on which the total procurement price for sugarcane had crossed Rs 4,000 per tonne.

He reiterated that the government would continue to stand by farmers and support their welfare.

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

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

The Joseph Vijay led-state government on August three approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of the share of Cauvery water.

The state government, in its plea, claimed that the quantum allocated to it by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) as well as that released by its neighbour Karnataka was far less.

A CWRC meeting held on July 28 directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs for 15 days starting July 29, an order which was upheld by the CWMA later.

However, the quantum of water released at Biligundlu ranged between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2, the state government said.

A press release issued by the Tamil Nadu government said that as of August 3, the combined total storage in the reservoirs in Karnataka -- KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy -- stood at 77.537 TMC and Karnataka would face no difficulty in releasing Tamil Nadu's due share proportionately.

Following rains in the catchment areas in the KRS and Kabini dams in Karnataka recently, the proportionate water to be realised at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC, it said.

"Accordingly, the Cauvery Water Management Authority order allocating 4.536 TMC is very less," the release added.

Karnataka has "failed" to share with Tamil Nadu its due share of water and the quantum was 26.954 TMC, the press release said.

Earlier, the DMK, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, had also moved the top court seeking directions to the Karnataka government for the immediate release of the due share of Cauvery water to the state.

The party has submitted that Karnataka must strictly follow the apex court's final 2018 verdict and comply with the directions issued by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

"Direct the State of Karnataka / Respondent No. 1 to forthwith and fully implement the direction of the CWRC dated July 28, 2026, as affirmed by the CWMA on July 30, 2026, by ensuring a flow of 3,500 cusecs per day at Biligundlu for the period of 15 days commencing from date of the order passed by this Hon'ble Court, and to make good the shortfall in compliance from July 29, 2026 onwards," the DMK said in its plea.

It also sought a direction to Karnataka to "make good the accumulated backlog of about 9.46 TMC due at Biligundlu as on July 26, 2026, computed on the pro-rata/ distress-sharing basis, by ensuring releases such that about 7,000 cusecs per day is realised at Biligundlu over a period of 15 days", it had said.

The plea has sought directions to the CWMA to monitor the water release from the reservoirs of Karnataka and the flows realised at Biligundlu on a day-to-day basis and to report compliance.

The CWMA has earlier upheld the CWRC's recommendation of releasing 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days.

In 2018, the Centre constituted the CWMA to address the dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

Besides the members of the riparian states, the board also has a nominee of the Centre.

Tamil Thai Vazhthu resolution gets unanimous support

The resolution was passed through a voice vote after members from the DMK, AIADMK, Congress, PMK, VCK, CPI, BJP and Indian Union Muslim League extended their support. Speaker J C D Prabhakar subsequently announced that the special resolution had been passed unanimously with the support of members from all parties.

The resolution seeks to ensure that Tamil Thai Vazhthu, the State song of Tamil Nadu, is given the first position at government functions and events conducted by educational institutions and other government-related organisations.

DMK, AIADMK back Tamil Thai Vazhthu resolution

Speaking on behalf of the DMK, MLA Govi Chezhian said the party supported the resolution and recalled that former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had issued a government order requiring Tamil Thai Vazhthu to be sung at official functions.

He also pointed out that Chief Minister M K Stalin had issued a government order on December 17, 2021, making the singing of Tamil Thai Vazhthu mandatory. He said the practice should be protected through legislation to prevent changes in its status.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami also extended his party's support to the resolution. He said Tamil Thai Vazhthu was not merely a song but a symbol of Tamil culture and stressed that love for Tamil and patriotism were not contradictory.

CM Vijay stresses Tamil identity

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Vijay said Tamil was an integral part of Tamil Nadu's identity and emotions, and that giving Tamil Thai Vazhthu the first position at official functions was a matter of the State's cultural rights. He noted that the song, taken from Manonmaniam by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, had been sung first at government functions since 1970 and was officially recognised as the State song in 2021.

Vijay also referred to the Union Home Ministry's July 1, 2026 communication on State songs and urged members to support the resolution by keeping political differences aside. He stressed that the issue should not become a subject of political debate.

With the Mettur level standing at 78.37 feet with a storage of 40.352 TMC on Sunday despite an inflow of 5,543 cusecs into the reservoir, agriculture experts said that this storage is inadequate. At least 40 TMC of water should be reserved for drinking purposes, and the outflow of 1,503 cusecs can only be utilised for drinking. Farmers who have already readied their fields for samba cultivation, which commences in the second week of August, must wait for the North-East monsoon rains since the South-West monsoon saw inadequate rainfall. Experts asked farmers to opt for a single samba crop and skip thalady, though they are hesitant to offer firm advice at this point.

Despite the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upholding the orders of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release water to Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka government has not yet relented. This has affected irrigation across the Cauvery Delta region, forcing farmers to turn to borewells to begin Samba cultivation. As groundwater depleted, farmers were forced to deepen borewells beyond sea level. "On average, the sea water level is 50 feet in the Delta region. Farmers, wanting water due to groundwater depletion, opted to deepen borewells beyond 50 feet, which resulted in high salinity. This water is not suitable for paddy cultivation," said P Kalaivanan, Senior Agricultural Technocrat. Kalaivanan said farmers should drop long-term samba cultivation as direct sowing is impossible at present due to the non-release of water from Mettur and depleting groundwater. "Given the El Nino situation, it is hard to predict even the North-East monsoon rains. With inadequate rainfall in the South-West monsoon, anticipating good North-East monsoon rains would be baseless. Farmers need to wait and opt for medium-term samba varieties; otherwise, they might face difficulty," Kalaivanan cautioned.

He pointed out that a similar situation prevailed at Tiruvidaimarudur three years ago, when borewells filled with seawater and affected the entire paddy crop in the region. "So, farmers should be very careful in irrigating groundwater for paddy at this moment. If they want to retain income, they may opt for cultivating oilseeds and pulses," he suggested.

A senior agriculture official, who pointed out that more than 12 lakh acres were under samba cultivation during the previous season, expressed optimism about achieving the usual target of 9.82 lakh acres. The official said the IMD has predicted good rainfall during the North-East monsoon, and since most farmers engage in rainfed samba cultivation, achieving the target would certainly be possible.

Meanwhile, agri experts said that at least 150 TMC of water is required to realise samba and thalady cultivation in the Delta region. But the current storage at Mettur is just around 40 TMC, which satisfies only drinking water requirements. As release for irrigation from Mettur is not possible, farmers should quit thalady and opt for a single samba crop.

According to the records tabled in the Parliament, nearly 3 lakh cases have been pending for more than five years and 1.8 lakh for over a decade.

And the numbers are only rising.

Across the country, more than 64 lakh cases are pending in High Courts, while the Supreme Court has nearly 96,000 cases pending as on end of July. The number of pending cases in subordinate and district courts across the country is around 4.99 crore.

According to data, 17,89,467 civil and criminal cases are pending before the subordinate courts in Tamil Nadu, 2,04,421 for over five years and 63,691 for more than 10 years. And the numbers are only rising.

The growing pendency is attributed to several factors, including increasing legal awareness among people, the introduction of new laws, judicial vacancies, shortage of court staff, inadequate infrastructure and repeated appeals.

Speaking to DT Next, advocate V Vasanthakumar said increasing awareness about legal rights was one of the major reasons for the rise in litigation. People are increasingly approaching courts to seek remedies, while the introduction of new laws has also resulted in more cases being filed.

He also pointed to the acute shortage of court staff, including stenographers, and inadequate infrastructure in district courts. District judges are also entrusted with administrative responsibilities in addition to their judicial duties, adding significantly to their overall workload.

Vasanthakumar said greater cooperation from lawyers could help reduce pendency, by presenting their arguments within the allotted time to avoid unnecessary delays. Also, he said, technology could help speed up judicial processes, though its use should not compromise the privacy of litigants, particularly in sensitive cases.

Offering another point of view, that haste cannot be the answer to chronic delays, Madras High Court Advocates Association president RC Paul Kanagaraj said every case requires proper examination and an opportunity for both sides to be heard, while adverse judgments may lead to appeals and further appeals, contributing to pendency.

“Cases should be disposed of as quickly as possible, but justice cannot be reduced to mere speed. Courts need adequate time to hear both sides and arrive at a reasoned decision,” he said, adding that lawyers too need sufficient time to prepare arguments and written submissions.

Raising another key aspect, that of access, retired Madras High Court judge Justice N Kirubakaran questioned how the Supreme Court could claim that “Justice is at the doorstep” while being headquartered in Delhi, and recommended that regional benches should be established across the country.

Similarly, the Madras High Court has only its principal seat in Chennai and circuit bench in Madurai, which, in his opinion, is not sufficient. Setting up more regional benches would help reduce the pendency of cases, he said.

One way of reducing case load is to take strict action against PILs that are filed in pursuit of individual interest rather than genuine public interest. Such petitions should be dismissed with a penalty ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, he said.

Alternative mechanisms such as Lok Adalats and mediation centres are being encouraged to settle suitable disputes without prolonged litigation.

Addressing these shortcomings, along with ensuring adequate judicial strength and timely hearings, can go a long way to reduce pendency of cases and ensure speedy delivery of justice, said legal experts.

The report argues that the State should move from a ‘human capital’ approach to child rights budgeting, covering survival, development, protection and participation.

A major concern is school education funding. The allocation rose from Rs 44,042.08 crore in 2024–25 to Rs 46,767 crore in 2025–26, which fell to Rs 44,527 crore in 2026–27 a decline of about 4.8% from the previous year.

The reduction comes despite proposed initiatives in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, entrepreneurship and digital learning.

TNCRW says teacher vacancies, inadequate counselling, the absence of school social workers and weak safeguarding systems remain largely unaddressed.

The report calls for one teacher for every class, permanent recruitment to fill vacancies, physical education teachers in every school, counselling services in secondary schools and trained school social workers.

It also recommends disability-friendly and climate-resilient infrastructure, Child Rights Clubs and mandatory Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies.

Social welfare spending, meanwhile, has increased substantially from Rs 7,830 crore in 2024–25 to Rs 8,597 crore in 2025–26 and Rs 9,818 crore in 2026–27.

However, TNCRW questions the composition of expenditure, arguing that significant resources directed towards gold and marriage-related assistance schemes could overshadow long-term investment in child protection and women’s empowerment.

The organisation estimates that child protection expenditure remains below 0.6% of the State budget and recommends progressively increasing it to 2-3%.

It also seeks stronger funding for TN’s 38 District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), proposing annual State-wide support of about Rs 30–35 crore.

The sharp exchange between TNCC president Manickam Tagore and former DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi NVN Somu on social media came amid the DMK’s increasingly nuanced stance on the proposed delimitation exercise and the Congress’ questions over the ally’s position.

Speaking at a blood donation drive in Chennai, Somu asserted that the DMK, under Chief Minister MK Stalin, had consistently fought at the national level to protect Tamil Nadu’s fair share of parliamentary representation. Responding to criticism of the DMK’s stance towards the BJP, Somu said that in politics, “nobody can be called a friend or an enemy” forever, stressing that the DMK would support whatever was in the best interests of Tamil Nadu.

She also hit back at the Congress, saying the grand old party should take responsibility and introspect on developments following the elections.

Her remarks drew a sharp response from Tagore, who said he had expected the DMK to change its stand on delimitation and that its position would be revealed after the Parliament’s delimitation Bill voting session. However, he said Somu’s remarks had now exposed the DMK’s “real stand” on the issue.

Tagore also questioned whether DMK leaders would now reveal who their “new friends” were.

Taking to X in response, Somu took a swipe at Tagore over what she described as his “lack of basic knowledge” about Parliament, including who is a member of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha and who would participate in the voting.

Somu ended her post by advising Tagore to “start reading the newspaper.”

The former leaders, who once stood firmly behind Palaniswami in earlier rounds of internal strife, blamed him for ignoring advice from veterans and even accused him of heresy, albeit indirectly, for advocating alliance with arch enemy, the DMK, to stop the TVK from coming to power.

In a letter to Palaniswami, they sought the re-induction of ousted leaders, VK Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran, and reinstatement of executive and general council members who were removed from the party after May 13.

Listing out Palaniswami’s mistakes, Velumani and Viswanathan said the party suffered because he refused to accept Union Home Minister Amit Shah's suggestion to include Dhinakaran in the alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, in which the AIADMK got drubbed.

Similarly, Palaniswami refused to take alliance parties like DMDK along, resulting in the loss in 2021 Assembly polls, and failed to form an alliance with the TVK ahead of the recent elections, they recalled.

Around the same time that the letter hit the news cycle, Velumani chaired a meeting of his loyalists in Coimbatore, where he questioned the leadership for the abortive bid to join hands with the DMK after the Assembly election.

Significantly, SM Velusamy, whom Palaniswami had appointed as the secretary of the newly created Coimbatore Central (rural) district, was seated beside Velumani at the meeting.

Recalling how they were branded as traitors for voting in favour of the TVK-led grouping during the trust vote, he said, “We voted in favour of TVK only because of our strong opposition to the DMK. If action is taken against us, then what action will be taken against those who wanted an alliance with the DMK?”

Velumani also sought to underline his past support for Palaniswami, saying that he and several other senior leaders, including CVe Shanmugam, Viswanathan, P Thangamani, KC Veeramani, and KP Anbalagan, had stood firmly behind EPS when he was seeking to become the party's general secretary and chief minister.

Recalling the AIADMK's political history under former party supremo and late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, he said the party had traditionally returned to power after spending a term in opposition.

“Until Jayalalithaa was alive, the AIADMK would generally return to power after five years in opposition. Our demand is that a general body meeting be convened to discuss why the party has not been able to return to power after being in opposition,” he said.

The deceased, identified as Balakrishnan, a resident of O’ Valley Town Panchayat, had gone out on Saturday evening to divert spring water to his house for domestic use by constructing small earthen barriers and laying a pipeline following rains.

When Balakrishnan failed to return home, his family members and relatives searched for him in the surrounding areas. After their efforts proved unsuccessful, they alerted the police and forest department.

Forest personnel, accompanied by residents, launched a search on Sunday morning. During the operation, they found Balakrishnan’s mauled body near the boundary of a forest area. Some parts of his body had been eaten by a carnivore.

The body was recovered and taken to the Gudalur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. The incident sparked anger among villagers, who blocked forest department and police vehicles and objected to the removal of the body. They alleged that officials had taken it away in haste without allowing residents to see it.

The protest was withdrawn around noon after Gudalur Revenue Divisional Officer SK Gunasekaran held talks with the villagers and assured them that appropriate action would be taken.

Meanwhile, the forest department launched an intensive operation to track the suspected tiger. A team led by Gudalur Forest Range Officer (in-charge) R Ravi conducted an aerial search using a drone. A sniffer dog was also deployed to assist the search, while camera traps were installed at strategic locations to monitor the movement of the animal.

The police said Rajkannan (54), Bojan (70), and Radhika (55), all hailing from Kundha, were bound to Coimbatore in a car through an alternative rugged ghat road, when the mishap happened.

As the hill road witnesses limited vehicular movement, the accident went unnoticed for some time.

While nearing Perumpallam, close to Mulli check post, Rajkannan, who was driving the vehicle, lost control and the car crashed into a barrier, before plunging into a deep gorge. In the impact of the fall, the car was severely mangled.

On receiving information, the Karamadai forest department and Pillur dam police rushed to the spot.

The rescue personnel went down the gorge using ropes and recovered the bodies trapped inside the wreckage.

The bodies were taken to Mettupalayam Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

A case has been registered and further investigation is on.

Addressing a public rally organised by the Congress, MP Praveen Chakravarty and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore claimed that the proposed delimitation would weaken the voice of southern states in Parliament.

Addressing the media, Manickam Tagore said there was no need to criticise the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, as its sole purpose was to safeguard the State's political rights and representation in Parliament.

He also pointed out that a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats would raise Tamil Nadu's and Puducherry's count from 40 to 60, while increasing Uttar Pradesh's representation from 80 to 120. This, he said, would widen the representation gap between the two states by 20 seats.

"Our position is clear: no delimitation and no increase in seats," Tagore said, advocating instead for reserving seats for women within the existing framework.

He termed political figures who endorsed or facilitated the Centre's proposal as "modern-day Ettappans" (traitors), alleging they were compromising the State's political authority.

The deceased, identified as Basavachetty of Kamaianpuram village, has been cultivating turmeric, potato and maize on his farmland.

A forest department official said the incident occurred around 2 am when Basavachetty heard a noise and came out of his house to check. Shocked at the sight of a wild elephant inside his farm, he attempted to drive it away by flashing a torch. “The elephant became aggressive and attacked him. He died on the spot,” the official said.

Upon receiving the information, Forest Department personnel from the Jeerahalli Forest Range reached the spot and inspected the scene. They subsequently attempted to recover the body to send it for a post-mortem examination.

However, villagers prevented the officials from removing the body and staged a protest, demanding a permanent solution to the recurring problem of wild elephants entering agricultural fields and threatening residents.

A team led by Jeerahalli Forest Range Officer M Sakthivel held talks with the protesters and assured them that steps would be taken to create a trench around the vulnerable area to prevent elephants from entering farms.

Following the assurance, the villagers withdrew their protest. The forest department also provided immediate relief of Rs 50,000 in cash and handed over a cheque for Rs 9.5 lakh as compensation to the deceased's family.

villages including Thummakundu and Meghamalai in Andipatti taluk had caused distress among the hill and indigenous communities who had been living there for generations.

He said the residents had been dependent on the forest and hill ecosystem for their livelihood for over a century, cultivating and collecting products including hill honey, cashew, pepper and cardamom.

According to him, their traditional way of life had remained largely in harmony with nature and had not caused ecological degradation. Seeman questioned the rationale behind evicting indigenous communities in the name of protecting forests and wildlife, while allowing commercial activities and infrastructure projects in forest and hill areas.

He alleged that factories, telecommunications towers, electricity infrastructure, research laboratories, roads, railway projects, and luxury resorts had contributed significantly to the destruction of forests, water bodies, and wildlife habitats.

Instead of displacing villagers, the government should take stringent action against illegal tree-cutting and smuggling, as well as encroachment on wildlife habitats and migration corridors, he said.

Nainar made the remarks after leading a Tiranga awareness rally in T Nagar here as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign ahead of Independence Day, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for the initiative.

The rally, which began on Thyagaraya Road in T Nagar and concluded at the BJP headquarters, Kamalalayam, saw more than 500 people carrying the national flag and raising patriotic slogans. Several BJP functionaries, including Karate R Thiagarajan, participated in the rally led by Nainar Nagenthran.

Addressing the gathering at Kamalalayam, Nainar Nagenthran said that patriotism should be more widely reflected through the flying of the national flag. Recalling that the Tricolour was once a common sight across the country, he said the campaign aimed to encourage people to display it more prominently.

"Not only BJP workers, even if we belong to the Opposition, when we carry the national flag, but there should also be one feeling and one thought: our nation, our country," he said.

Nainar also said the rally was intended to promote national pride and acknowledged the participation of people beyond the BJP.

He said he was particularly pleased that members of traders' associations, the public and women had joined the rally along with BJP workers and functionaries.

The provisional allotments include 6,914 students from government schools, while 2,647 government-school students have received tentative allotments.

Students with provisional allotment orders have been instructed to report directly to their allotted colleges. Those with tentative allotments must visit the TFC centres mentioned in their choice list.

They have to submit their original certificates and pay the prescribed tuition fees by August 13 to complete the admission process.

Students who fail to report to the college or submit the required documents by August 13 will forfeit their allotted seats. These seats will subsequently be offered to students awaiting upward movement.

Meanwhile, 28,979 students who received allotments in the special counselling and first round are already in the process of joining colleges. For supplementary counselling for BE, BTech and BArch courses, applications will be accepted from August 17 to 31.

The rank list will be published subsequently, and supplementary counselling will be held from September 3-7. Students can check their allotment details on the official TNEA website.

The police conducted a statewide drive on August 6 and 7, and arrested 837 persons who profited by renting out their accounts to fraudsters.

According to the State police headquarters, the operation targeted individuals linked to 9,804 National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) complaints involving fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs 545.27 crore.

The operation focused on identifying persons involved in opening, providing, operating, and facilitating the misuse of bank accounts for receiving and withdrawing proceeds of cyber fraud.

"Cyber criminals generally use mule bank accounts, opened in someone else's name, to move the money they defraud from public. The original account holder often ‘lends’ or ‘sells’ it to fraudsters for a commission. When a cybercriminal scams someone online, the victim's money is first transferred into a mule account.

From there it's quickly moved to multiple other accounts or withdrawn as cash. This makes it hard for police to trace back to the real offender," said an officer.

The large-scale operation was based on accused profiling through NCRP and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). The profiling was further strengthened through bank fund-trail linkages established by financial data analysis of cybercrime networks.

During the operation, police stations across Tamil Nadu, under the supervision of the respective SPs and Commissioners, arrested 837 cyber criminals involved in 601 cases. The police also registered 157 new FIRs, said the police HQ.

During the operation, the police seized 204 mobile phones, 185 SIM cards, four laptops/desktops, Rs 1 lakh in cash, 114 bank passbooks, 29 cheque books, 73 ATM/debit cards, and a credit card. In addition, 155 mobile numbers and 58 bank account details were identified for further investigation and analysis.

The police will now analyse the seized digital evidence and interrogate the arrested individuals to uncover further layers of the criminal network and identify their associates operating across India.

"These arrests mark a significant achievement in disrupting and dismantling the organised cybercrime network operating across the State. The operation stands as one of the largest coordinated drives of its kind in India, striking at a critical component of the cybercrime ecosystem-the use of mule accounts for the receipt, layering, and movement of illicit funds," said the State police.

ADVISORY TO PUBLIC:

Protect personal information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like passwords, OTPs, or bank information

Never lend your bank account for commission: Do not share your bank account details with others for commission-based activities

Watch out for investment and digital arrest scams: Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true or claims of urgent legal action

Do not share bank account details for monetary gain: Sharing or allowing the use of bank account details for monetary consideration, whether knowingly or unknowingly, may facilitate cybercrime and attract legal action

If you have fallen victim to cybercrimes, please dial 1930 for the toll-free assistance provided by Cyber Crime wing or register your complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.

In a statement, Anbumani said paddy bags were lying unprocured in several parts of the Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts, including Papanasam, Ammapettai, Thiruvaiyaru, Mannargudi, Kudavasal, Nannilam, and Valangaiman.

He alleged that the suspension of procurement was due to the failure to provide sufficient trucks to transport paddy already procured from the DPCs to warehouses. This has disrupted the entire chain of transporting paddy from procurement centres to warehouses and subsequently to rice mills, he said.

Anbumani condemned the government's alleged negligence and lack of planning, stating that farmers had harvested the crop after immense hard work but were now unable to sell their produce within the stipulated period.

With rain forecast in the Cauvery Delta districts over the coming days, he warned that the paddy stocks could be damaged and wasted if immediate action was not taken. He urged the government to arrange transportation on a war footing and clear the accumulated stocks at the procurement centres.

He further pointed out that kuruvai cultivation had already been severely affected by drought, resulting in a shortage of rice and an increase of Rs 10-15 per kg in its price.

In this situation, the government must ensure that farmers' harvested paddy does not go to waste, Anbumani said, urging the authorities to speed up the procurement process.

Admissions to MBBS and BDS courses are based on NEET-UG scores. Applications were invited for government and management quota seats in medical colleges across Tamil Nadu, with the deadline extended at the request of students.

A total of 72,627 candidates have applied for 16,199 MBBS and BDS seats in the State this year.

The committee has completed verification of certificates uploaded by candidates. Students who had not uploaded the required documents were given an additional opportunity to submit them. The process was completed on August 7.

Candidates can check their rank and other admission details at the website www.tnmedicalselection.net.

According to the counselling schedule, the first round of counselling will be held from August 13 to 22. Candidates allotted seats in the first round must report to their respective colleges and complete the admission process by August 28.

The second round of counselling is scheduled from August 31 to September 8, while the third round will be held from September 16 to 26.

The Bandra Terminus–Velankanni Special will leave Bandra Terminus at 9.30 pm on August 27 and September 1, and reach Velankanni at 10.05 am on the third day. In the return, it will leave Velankanni at 12.45 am on August 30 and September 4, and reach Bandra Terminus at 3 pm the next day.

The trains will stop at Borivali, Vasai Road, Panvel, Pune, Solapur, Wadi, Yadgir, Raichur, Guntakal, Gooty, Renigunta, Katpadi, Vellore Cantonment, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Mayiladuturai and Nagappattinam, among other stations.

Another special, the Valsad–Velankanni Special will leave Valsad at 7.40 pm on September 6 and reach Velankanni at 10.05 am on the third day. On its return, Velankanni–Dahanu Road will leave Velankanni at 3.10 pm on September 8 and reach Dahanu Road at 5.30 am on the third day. Reservations will open at 8 am on August 11.

The move comes against the backdrop of a controversy over the protocol for the sequence to render the State song, which was sung after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem at several functions, including even Vijay's swearing-in ceremony in May.

Recently, 21 MPs from Tamil Nadu urged Governor in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to restore the convention of rendering the State song at the beginning of official functions.

The resolution, listed as government business for Monday, recalls that a Government Order issued in 1970 stipulated that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung first at government functions. It was officially accorded the status of the State Song from December 12, 2021, and its rendition was made mandatory before programmes at educational and public institutions.

The proposed resolution also refers to observations made by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in its July 9 letter regarding the singing of the State song.

It states that Tamil Thai Vazhthu represents respect for Tamil language and culture and links its mandated precedence to the linguistic and cultural rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the preservation of Tamil Nadu's cultural identity.

The House will accordingly resolve that the State song shall be mandatorily sung first before programmes at the institutions covered by the resolution.

Speaking at a birthday celebration he hosted for his supporters at a private hotel in Egmore, Sarathkumar said the idea of the tattoo had occurred to him and those who had affection for him could get it done voluntarily.

“‘Nattamai family’ can be our family identity," he said in an obvious reference to the blockbuster movie Nattamalai that made him a top-tier star in the film industry. This was an idea that suddenly came to my mind. Those who are fond of me can get it tattooed if they wish. I am not compelling anyone,” he said.

Sarathkumar, who already has a national flag tattoo on his right shoulder, said he too planned to get the new tattoo but was unable to do so immediately due to his shooting commitments.

“If members of our family want to meet me, this tattoo can serve as a green card. If you have it on your hand, you can meet me directly,” he said.

Interacting with reporters later, Sarathkumar, who is among those in contention for the BJP’s state president’s post, said there was no change in his decision to remain with the party.

“There is no change in my decision. I am firm. The leadership has said a decision will be taken soon. I have never gone anywhere seeking a post,” he said.

He ruled out reviving the Samathuva Makkal Katchi, saying he had ensured responsibilities for those who remained with him, while he alone had no post.

Asked whether he would launch a separate movement if his patience ran out, as former BJP state president K Annamalai did, Sarathkumar said he did not know whether Annamalai had started one. “We too have a movement to serve the people,” he said.

He also urged people to avoid harmful habits, exercise moderation and exercise caution while consuming information circulated on social media.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the OGSSI Midyear Conference 2026 here, Arunraj said nearly 99 per cent of deliveries in Tamil Nadu were taking place in hospitals, with home deliveries being rare.

“Maternal mortality in Tamil Nadu is lower than in other states. Still, we are taking steps to reduce it further through various schemes, including the Thai Maman Thanga Mothiram (TMTM) Scheme,” he said.

“Deliveries in government hospitals have been declining every year. It was 65.8 per cent in 2017-19 and has now fallen to 51 per cent in 2025-26. Poor families struggle to afford deliveries at private hospitals due to the high cost. We have introduced the TMTM scheme to increase deliveries in government hospitals,” the Minister said.

Arunraj said the government would study the reasons behind the decline and promote government hospitals to encourage more women to choose them for childbirth.

He also flagged Tamil Nadu’s declining fertility rate. “The total fertility rate in Tamil Nadu is 1.3, whereas we need to maintain it at 2.1. Our society is ageing. In the future, we need to encourage people to have more children. Human resources are our best resources, and improving them is a major challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that the state's medical counselling schedule and merit list will be published on August 10.

Arunraj warned of strict action against private medical colleges that illegally collect fees beyond the stipulated period, saying a newly constituted committee was investigating complaints in this regard.

Responding to reports of pregnant women facing long queues at outpatient registration counters, the minister clarified that an Aadhaar card is not mandatory and no government hospital can deny treatment for its absence.

He cited a scheme that lets patients generate an outpatient receipt from home via smartphone.

On the renaming of 'Amma Kudineer' as the 'Payani' water bottle scheme, Arunraj said policy continuity was essential, and welfare schemes would continue irrespective of their names, with the government committed to ensuring that benefits reached people without leakages.

Responding to questions on MPs meeting, he said neither the government nor Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would succumb to pressure. He accused the DMK of compromising on its positions on State rights and social justice and falling into the BJP’s grip to protect the interests of certain family members.

Arunraj further questioned the DMK’s decision to boycott the all-party MPs’ meeting on delimitation. “How can they boycott an important meeting on delimitation merely because an all-party meeting was not convened on the Cauvery issue? They should have attended it,” he said.

At a simple function held on the HC premises, Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari administered the oath of office to the new judges.

With their appointment, the total number of judges in the High Court has gone up to 66, as against the sanctioned strength of 75.

The newly appointed permanent judges were Krishnaswamy Govindarajan, Rajnish Pathiyil, Natarajan Ramesh, GK Muthukumaar and Ramakrishnan Rajesh Vivekananthan.

Additional judges appointed for a period of two years from the Bar were Sankaranarayanan Raveekumar, Nagarajan Dilip Kumar and Ellappan Manoharan.

Judicial officers elevated as additional judges for a period of two years were P Murugan, MD Sumathi, S Alli, C Thirumagal Chandrasekar, Shanmugam Karthikeyan, Baluchamy Murugesan and N Gunasekaran.

In a letter to Palaniswami, the two leaders also sought the re-induction of former executive and general council members who were removed from the party after May 13, 2026, along with restoration of their previous organisational posts.

They said the AIADMK's electoral setbacks were linked to several political decisions and alleged that key decisions were being taken without adequate consultation with senior functionaries.

The leaders cited the party's decision not to accept Union Home Minister Amit Shah's suggestion to include TTV Dhinakaran in the alliance during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. They also referred to the AIADMK contesting the 2021 Assembly elections without parties such as the DMDK, its defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the failure to form an alliance with the TVK during the 2026 Assembly elections.

They further said any move to join hands with the DMK and form a government after the 2026 elections would be against the AIADMK's core ideology. They claimed the issue had contributed to a rift within the party, with 25 MLAs turning against the party leadership.

With local body elections expected within the next six months, Velumani and Viswanathan urged Palaniswami to take steps to strengthen the party.

The demand to bring back Sasikala and Dhinakaran, along with restoring expelled functionaries, is seen as a fresh attempt by the Velumani faction to influence the AIADMK's future course.

The EPS camp has removed several functionaries from organisational posts following the recent internal revolt, amid efforts to maintain control over the party's executive and general council meetings.

While 55% of the State's agricultural lands rely on river and canal irrigation, which heavily depend on water release from neighbouring states, the remaining 45 per cent depends entirely on groundwater, he noted.

"Over four lakh farmers are currently on the waiting list for free farm power connections to run pump sets," he claimed. The PMK leader alleged that under the tatkal scheme announced last December, 47,554 farmers applied by depositing amounts ranging from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh depending on the horsepower of their pump sets, totalling over Rs 1,250 crore.

"Additionally, 12,566 farmers who applied under the same scheme in 2023 deposited over Rs 250 crore and are still waiting," he added.

Despite the power utility (TNPDCL) mandate to supply connections within 15 to 90 days of application, not a single connection from the recent drive has been provided even after eight months, Anbumani said, noting that most of these farmers borrowed money at high interest rates to pay the advance fees. "Unable to cultivate during the Kuruvai season without power, they are now saddled with mounting debt and severe financial distress," he said.

The delay was a grave injustice to the farming community, the PMK chief said, and urged the State government to act immediately and expedite the issue of free power connections.

The facility, being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at an estimated cost of Rs 986 crore, will be fully managed by private firms, including operations related to rocket launches, according to a report by Daily Thanthi.

India’s second rocket launch site

India currently has a rocket launch centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, operated by ISRO. The Kulasekarapattinam facility will be the country’s second rocket launch site.

Kulasekarapattinam is located close to the equator, making it suitable for launching rockets with less fuel and placing them in Earth’s orbit. Initially, the facility is expected to be used to launch small rockets.

The government has acquired 2,233 acres of land for the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the launch facility in February 2024.

Construction work in full swing

Construction work at the site is progressing rapidly. Buildings for the ISRO office, rocket launch operations and rocket maintenance have been constructed. A large helipad capable of handling three helicopters at the same time has also been built.

Thousands of saplings are being planted in five layers along the coast by the Forest Department to help control wind speed in the area.

As the existing East Coast Road passes through the ISRO campus, a new alternative road has been constructed to divert traffic once the launch facility becomes operational. Work is also under way to build two high-level bridges across the Karumeni river at Amarapuram and Karangadu.

Officials said all works are being expedited to make the launch facility operational soon.

Private firms invited to manage facility

Against this backdrop, the Centre has begun steps to hand over the operation and maintenance of the Kulasekarapattinam launch facility to private companies.

The government has invited private firms to take up the complete management of the Rs 986-crore facility and carry out operations related to rocket launches.

The move is aimed at ensuring smooth operation and maintenance of the launch facility once it becomes operational.

Speaking to reporters at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, she said the DMK's proposal for fair delimitation had been accepted by the Congress and the present ruling party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), during the earlier all-party meeting.

She said there had been no official announcement from the Union government about introducing a fresh delimitation Bill during the ongoing Parliament session.

"There has also been no communication regarding any amendment to the existing law. When there is nothing before us, what is there to discuss?" she asked.

She said DMK's position remained that the Centre should assure that the freeze based on the 1971 Census would be extended by another 30 years from 2026 and make the necessary constitutional amendment. If the number of MPs was increased, the representation of Tamil Nadu and other southern states should be enhanced in the same proportion as their existing representation based on the 1971 population, she said.

The Centre should also ensure that Tamil Nadu's present 7.18% share of representation in Parliament was not reduced under any circumstances, she said.

“DMK is not against delimitation. But it should not become a punishment for Tamil Nadu for effectively implementing social and economic welfare schemes over the past five decades,” she said.

Kanimozhi pointed out that parties including the Congress, CPI, CPM, IUML and VCK had participated in the earlier all-party meeting and supported the proposal for fair delimitation. "Will these parties change their earlier stand simply by attending this meeting?" she asked.

She said the DMK would continue to oppose any delimitation exercise that affected Tamil Nadu's rights or reduced the State's representation in Parliament.

Questioning the priorities of the TVK-led government, Kanimozhi said it had failed to convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue despite demands from political parties, and instead convened a consultative meeting on delimitation, which, she claimed, had not been sought by any party.

Describing the move as an attempt to divert attention from the Cauvery issue, she asked whether the State government would send its representatives along with Tamil Nadu MPs to meet the Union Minister for Jal Shakti and hand over the Assembly resolution opposing the Mekedatu project.

"If the TVK-led government is genuinely concerned about the interests of Cauvery Delta farmers, will the Chief Minister send representatives of the State government to meet the Union Minister?" she asked.

Shah, who arrived in Tamil Nadu on a private visit to offer prayers at the Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, held a brief meeting with Palaniswami at the airport. The meeting, which lasted around 30 minutes, is understood to have focused on the political situation in Tamil Nadu and the recent formation of the TVK government headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Sources said Shah enquired about the all-party meeting convened by the State government on the delimitation issue and sought Palaniswami's assessment of the discussions.

Shah is also learnt to have briefed the AIADMK leader about the BJP-led Centre's plans to introduce a Delimitation Bill in Parliament in the coming weeks. He reportedly urged Palaniswami to ensure that the AIADMK and its alliance partners participate in the voting on the proposed legislation and extend their support.

The meeting assumes significance as political parties in Tamil Nadu have expressed concern that the proposed delimitation exercise could affect the state's representation in the Lok Sabha.

The view was expressed at a consultative meeting convened by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to discuss the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. The meeting was attended by 19 MPs from Congress, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK and IUML.

After the meeting, Energy and Law Minister R Nirmalkumar said none of the participating parties had sought delimitation. "Tamil Nadu wants no change in the existing number of Lok Sabha seats, either in the State or across the country. The Union government is doing injustice to Tamil Nadu through the proposed delimitation," he said.

VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, CPM MP Su Venkatesan and Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram said the participating parties had expressed a common view that there was no need for delimitation, even if the exercise was carried out fairly.

Thirumavalavan said a resolution opposing the exercise should be introduced in the Assembly and adopted unanimously.

Karti Chidambaram said there would be no benefit in increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from the existing 543 to 815 or 850. "Even now, MPs do not have sufficient time to speak in Parliament," he said.

Meanwhile, TNCC chief Manickam Tagore accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to revive the delimitation Bill, warning that the move could reduce the political representation of southern states and undermine the federal structure.

In a statement, Tagore said the INDIA bloc had defeated a delimitation Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 12, but alleged that the Centre was now planning to bring a fresh proposal offering a 50 per cent increase in the existing number of Lok Sabha seats.

He pointed out that under the proposed formula, Uttar Pradesh's representation could rise from 80 to 120 seats, while Tamil Nadu's could increase from 39 to 58. "The gap between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu would consequently widen from 41 to 62 seats," he said.

Tagore argued that representation in a federal democracy could not be determined solely through population-based numerical ratios. He cited the freezes on Lok Sabha seat expansion introduced through constitutional amendments during the Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.

He also said that delimitation before the completion of the caste census could affect the determination of reserved constituencies for SC, ST, and women.

As part of the campaign, district Congress committees have been instructed to conduct peaceful marches on August 9, carrying black balloons bearing the slogan "Cancel the Delimitation Bill". Awareness posters will be posted at locations frequented by students and along major traffic routes on August 12, while short videos and posters featuring the balloon theme will be released online.

Representatives of the DMK, AIADMK, MNM, DMDK and PMK did not attend the meeting. Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmalkumar and Rajmohan were also present.

The interview results were released on August 7, according to a statement issued by the academy on Saturday. The successful candidates include K Dixon Samuel from Kanniyakumari district, who secured 62nd rank at the all-India level, and MG Sanjay from Coimbatore district, who secured 75th rank.

The other successful candidates are N Prakash from Mayiladuthurai district (147th rank), V Srinivas from Ranipet district (198th), M Suriyaraj from Tirunelveli district (282nd) and M Thangapandi from Madurai district (326th).

The UPSC conducts the CAPF Assistant Commandant examination annually. The notification for the recruitment was issued for vacancies in the CRPF (204), BSF (24), ITBP (79), SSB (33) and CISF (92).

The Manidhanaeyam Free IAS Academy noted that all its students who appeared for the interview were provided free training classes, expert counselling sessions and mock interviews.

A total of 26 candidates who attended the interview after undergoing training at the academy were also given an incentive of Rs 15,000 each.

The foundation’s founder-president Saidai S Duraisamy congratulated all six successful candidates.

Dixon Samuel also met Duraisamy in person and received his wishes, according to the statement.

Of the 2,23,808 samples tested nationally, Tamil Nadu's count was higher than those of Uttar Pradesh (39,519), Rajasthan (17,325), Kerala (16,746) and West Bengal (14,737). Of the 44,603 samples tested in Tamil Nadu, 3,984 were found non-conforming, or not meeting prescribed food-safety standards or statutory requirements, accounting for about 10 per cent of the national non-conforming count.

Food safety testing saw a sharp rise, taking the number of samples analysed from 18,071 in 2024-25 to 44,603 in 2025-26, the highest among all states and union territories. Convictions too rose 74 per cent over the previous year to 857, while civil cases decided with penalty fell to 1,359, their lowest in the five-year period. Nationally, the corresponding figures were 8,86,712 samples tested, 1,78,692 non-conforming, 1,43,507 civil cases with penalty and 6,251 convictions. The reply also notes that Tamil Nadu has 68 vacant Food Safety Officer posts out of 394 sanctioned.

To the question of whether there is any specific regulatory framework for quick-commerce dark stores, the Union had said that dark stores are covered under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, which governs storage conditions, temperature control, hygiene, transportation, pest control and record-keeping for traceability.

Two other parts of the question also went unanswered: One, state-wise and year-wise deaths due to food adulteration over the last five years and two, reasons behind rising adulteration, contamination, counterfeiting and repeated violations, the Government had stated only that FSSAI lays down science-based standards while enforcement is a shared Centre-State responsibility, with roughly 98 per cent of Food Business Operators regulated by State and UT authorities.

While the decision taken during the meeting of MPs in Chennai is projected as an effort to protect the State's Lok Sabha representation, and the rights of Tamil Nadu and other southern States, the strategy behind the move is not lost on any, as it would force the principal opposition party to make its position clear on delimitation, an issue that the DMK had taken up as one of its key issues ahead of the Assembly polls, only to mellow down after losing power - and allies.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, attended by allies in power but boycotted by all others, including the DMK, AIADMK, and their partners, also resolved to urge all parties to oppose in Parliament any constitutional amendment or new Bill that could alter the existing strength of the Lok Sabha and the present allocation of seats among states.

The DMK, meanwhile, has sought fair delimitation based on the 1971 Census and a constitutional amendment to extend the freeze on the allocation of seats for another 30 years from 2026. It has also demanded that the Centre ensure that Tamil Nadu's present 7.18% share of representation in Parliament is not reduced under any circumstances.

The meeting called for the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha members and the present inter-State allocation of seats to be retained permanently through appropriate constitutional and legislative amendments. It also sought to retain the existing 2.2:1 ratio between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, warning that any change could seriously affect the representation of states.

They noted that the number of parliamentary seats allocated to southern states, which had successfully implemented population control measures, could decline after the 2026 Census. The proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by up to 50% was described as an "illusion to sweeten the pill", they said.

The MPs also argued that the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha members should be retained, pointing out that MPs already had limited time to present their views in Parliament. The proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by up to 50% was described as an "illusion to sweeten the pill".

The meeting also discussed the powers of the Delimitation Commission, with participants suggesting that Parliament should have the final authority on the issue.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay appealed to MPs from all parties to work together to protect Tamil Nadu's parliamentary representation and oppose any move to alter the existing strength of Parliament and the present delimitation arrangement.

Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmalkumar and Rajmohan, along with MPs including P Chidambaram, Manickam Tagore and Thol Thirumavalavan, participated in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by 19 MPs from Congress (11), VCK (2), CPI (2), CPM (2), IUML (1) and MDMK (1), while DMK, AIADMK, PMK, DMDK, and MNM skipped the meeting despite invitations being extended to all 57 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu.

The intensified testing followed recent media reports alleging the presence of moisture and chloride in E20 (20% ethanol blended petrol).

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) in a joint statement said, “The exercise covered the entire supply chain and the fuel quality has remained consistently well within prescribed limits. Contrary to certain assertions being made, there is no evidence of any alarm on account of fuel contamination validated by extensive and scientifically designed tests.”

The three OMCs said that the government has prescribed stringent chloride specifications for ethanol used in petrol blending and has put in place high-frequency monitoring at refineries, distilleries, depots, terminals and retail outlets to ensure compliance. They have also strengthened quality surveillance by conducting water-ingress and density tests 8-12 times a day at every retail outlet, said the companies, while deploying mobile fuel quality testing laboratories and independently validating results through fuel laboratories.

“More than 100 additional petrol samples collected from refineries showed chloride levels at or below 1 part per million (ppm), while ethanol samples from 80 distilleries tested over the past 10 days recorded chloride content below 3 ppm,” OMCs said. “More than 80 samples collected from depots and terminals across the country also showed chloride content below 3 ppm. At retail outlets, more than 160 E20 samples tested over the past few days recorded chloride levels in the 0-3 ppm range, contrary to the claims of several hundred ppm.”

The surveillance identified two isolated instances of elevated chloride levels, where supplies were immediately suspended pending root-cause analysis and corrective action before restoration. The companies said that around 90,000 retail outlets had begun mandatory inspections of underground storage tanks, with checks conducted 8-12 times daily. No water ingress had been detected so far.

Speaking at a CII event earlier on Friday, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri dismissed concerns over E20 fuel quality, saying, “Attempts are being made to create some controversy around the country’s ethanol blending programme. The ministry intensified testing around 2 weeks before a letter dated July 28 raised concerns over fuel quality.”

He pointed to the dedicated teams that conducted extensive checks across fuel retail outlets. “What did they find? They found 4 cases out of over 1 lakh petrol pumps. So obviously, someone out there is trying to place some things out of context,” Puri added. “These fuel outlets are serving an estimated 6-7 crore customers a day. Contamination, if it occurs, can affect any product and isolated cases should not be viewed as evidence of a systemic problem.”

OMCs said that tabulated results of the tests were available on the website of the Centre for High Technology (CHT) and would be updated as more results become available. “Consumers should continue to use E20 petrol with confidence, as the fuel supplied through the OMC network conforms to the prescribed quality specifications and is backed by robust quality assurance and monitoring systems designed to safeguard consumer interests at every stage of the supply chain,” the companies said.

Based on responses from 50 vehicle owners in Coimbatore, the study found that while 82% of consumers were aware of the E20 policy and 34% have accepted it, 66% expressed dissatisfaction with many viewing the fuel as a ‘hidden tax’ on the middle-class.

Lack of trust

The study’s most important finding is the breakdown of trust between policymakers and consumers. Only 12% of respondents said that they relied on official government channels for information about E20. And, a staggering 64% turn to local mechanics and social media for technical guidance.

Despite the government’s efforts to promote the environmental and economic benefits of ethanol blending, respondents of the study felt that they were navigating the transition with inadequate official support.

On a scale of 1 to 5, respondents rated their fear of long-term engine damage at 4.7 and possible mileage loss at 4.6. Many viewed E20 as a ‘hidden tax’ on the middle class with the study finding that consumers rated the economic burden at 4.5 on the same scale.

However, industry voices have pushed back against what they described as unnecessary panic. “What people don’t realise is that we’ve been using E19 fuel for the past five years and we’ve not encountered any issues. There are other countries that use E30 fuel and we export 80% of Bajaj vehicles to those countries. It is more of fear mongering and mental perception that E20 is causing damage to vehicles,” said S Rajavel, State chairperson, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association. “There are additives available in the market that would help prevent rust-related issues in vehicles. People should not leave cars unused with E20 fuel inside for several days to avoid fuel separation, which causes rusting.”

Legacy vehicles Vs New

E20 may not be the best solution for those who own traditional internal combustion engine cars built by established automobile manufacturers or those cars that run on older software and hardware architectures. The study’s most significant finding has serious implications for social equity with a statistical test confirming a strong correlation between vehicle age and dissatisfaction, with owners of legacy vehicles being disproportionately affected.

Vehicle owners with BS-III and BS-IV models, manufactured before 2022, reported a 5-6% drop in mileage and a 28% increase in mechanical failures such as gasket wear and engine stalling. These issues act as an “efficiency tax”, the study said, impacting lower and middle-income groups who cannot afford to upgrade to newer, E20-compliant models.

Speaking about the issue, Karthik Shiv, owner of Carage Car Care, said that in the past one year many legacy vehicles have had a significant drop in mileage. “After the introduction of E20 fuel in the market, there has been a 25-30% drop in mileage in cars and two-wheelers. While we also see issues related to rubber spares and rusting, the mileage drop has turned out to be a predominant concern,” he added. “Owners of legacy vehicles are being forced to bear the financial and technical burden of the transition.”

Most passenger vehicles launched in India from 2023 onwards have been certified by manufacturers as E20-compatible. These incorporate ethanol-resistant fuel lines, upgraded rubber seals, corrosion-resistant metal components and recalibrated engine management systems.

In such vehicles, experts believe there is little evidence to suggest that E20 will significantly shorten engine life when the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule is followed. “The engine control unit (ECU) automatically adjusts fuel injection and ignition timing to compensate for ethanol’s different combustion characteristics, ensuring smooth operation,” explained K Rajkumar, an automobile technician who owns a garage in Coimbatore dedicated to vehicle remodelling.

He added that automobile manufacturers conducted extensive durability tests before certifying a vehicle for E20 compatibility, including corrosion testing, cold-start performance, emissions compliance and long-term engine endurance evaluations. “Those who own the newer E20-compatible vehicles have nothing to worry about, as the fuel is unlikely to reduce engine life or cause similar issues like in legacy cars,” he pointed out.

Fuel system

While modern engines are largely capable of handling E20, older vehicles that were designed for lower ethanol blends may experience gradual wear in the fuel system over several years.

“Fuel hoses and rubber seals are among the most vulnerable components. Ethanol can cause older rubber compounds to swell, soften or crack over time. This deterioration may eventually result in fuel leaks or reduced fuel pressure,” explained Shiv. “While currently there is no cause for concern, O-rings and seals used around fuel injectors and fuel pumps may degrade if they are not made from ethanol-resistant materials in the future.”

Although these issues generally develop gradually rather than suddenly, they could increase maintenance costs for owners of older vehicles. “Currently, the main issue is water formation. One of ethanol’s unique characteristics is its ability to absorb moisture from the atmosphere. This becomes a huge problem for vehicles that remain unused for extended periods,” explained the car enthusiast. “In older vehicles with steel fuel tanks, moisture absorbed by ethanol can cause petrol and ethanol to separate, which can cause internal corrosion.”

Gains, Concerns

Beyond the technical debate, experts noted that E20 has significant economic implications as India imports more than 80% of its crude oil requirement.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, by replacing part of petrol consumption with domestically produced ethanol, the government expects to reduce foreign exchange outflow, strengthen energy security and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in global oil prices. The ministry has stated that ethanol blending has saved over Rs 1.44 lakh crore in foreign exchange and reduced CO2 emissions by about 73.6 million metric tonnes. The policy has also created new demand for agricultural commodities such as maize, sugarcane and damaged food grains, providing an additional source of income for farmers and sugar mills.

However, consumer organisations have argued that while motorists experienced a 3-5% reduction in mileage, retail fuel prices have not fallen proportionately. “The idea behind ethanol blending was to mitigate the damage caused by fluctuating global oil prices, then ideally the price of E20 fuel should also be reduced accordingly. As of now, we’re paying the same price as regular petrol for E20 fuel, and also bearing higher running costs while experiencing a significant drop in mileage. So as of now the only one who is having any economic benefit owing to E20 is the government,” said M Sabarinathan, a member of the public who says he has noticed a 15% mileage drop in his car in the past few months.

While the government is fighting to win the trust of the consumer on ethanol blending, a new nightmare is already working its way through in the form of adulterated fuel. Several car manufacturers are in a fix after consumers filing lawsuits against complaints in their cars owing to ethanol blending.

However, independent studies done by automobile companies have revealed many instances when consumers were saddled with adulterated fuel – a main reason for engine-related issues that are being mistaken for problems caused by E20 fuel. In a recent interview with Autocar magazine, Mercedes-Benz India noted that problems caused by substandard fuel were being mistaken for E20 related issues.

The auto giant said that fuel adulteration has increased under the guise of E20 implementation, which has led to a lot of anxiety among consumers related to drop in mileage and engine performance.

The National Picture

The discontent in Coimbatore is not an isolated incident and several surveys reflect a broader, nationwide discontent against the government’s aggressive ethanol push.

A recent nationwide C-Voter survey found that 55% of respondents oppose E20, and a staggering 53% of even NDA voters are against it, citing concerns over reduced mileage (52.8%) and vehicle damage (54.2%).

In the similar vein, a LocalCircles survey of over 44,000 owners of pre-2023 vehicles found that 66% said that they were experiencing a 10% drop in mileage and 55% reported higher wear and tear or increased repair requirements since the fuel’s rollout. 

These findings are in stark contrast to the government’s official line, which claims the fuel is safe and that the mileage drop is manageable at 1-6%. While the government points to economic benefits in foreign exchange and supporting farmers, consumers complained that a fuel that costs the same at the pump but delivers fewer kilometres.

The Coimbatore study cited several research papers that raised questions about the policy’s implementation. It may be noted that the Legal & Policy Research Division had called for an E20 Bill requiring fuel pumps to clearly display ethanol content and protect consumers from warranty and insurance claim denials.

The division’s research identifies major loopholes in the existing regulatory regime, noting that consumers were left at a disadvantage regarding engine failures and warranty clauses.

Recommendations

The study recommended that for the E20 mandate to succeed, it would require transparent labelling, technical assistance camps and possible price compensation to mitigate financial and technical risks for consumers. While owners of E20 compatible vehicles have no reason to fret, for owners of older vehicles, the picture was more complex.

“While E20 is unlikely to cause immediate engine failure, prolonged use may accelerate wear in fuel system components not designed to withstand higher ethanol content. Regular inspection of hoses, seals, fuel filters and pumps will become increasingly important,” opined Shiv.

The study concluded that the government must go beyond macro-economic rationales and address micro-level complaints of consumers. Apart from the concerns about E20 fuel, Mercedes-Benz India has called upon regulatory authorities and enforcement agencies to implement more rigorous quality inspections at the pump.

Such measures were essential to distinguish genuine instances of fuel contamination from misunderstandings that stem from ethanol blending. With the government considering even higher blends of ethanol to fuel in the future, it’s imperative to address these concerns at the grassroots level to put the anxieties of the end user to rest.

On a scale of 1 to 5, respondents rated their fear of long-term engine damage at 4.7 and possible mileage loss at 4.6. Many viewed E20 as a ‘hidden tax’ on the middle class

Vehicle owners with BS-III and BS-IV models, manufactured before 2022, reported a 5-6% drop in mileage and a 28% increase in mechanical failures such as gasket wear and engine stalling

A recent nationwide C-Voter survey found that 55% of respondents oppose E20, and 53% of even NDA voters are against it, citing concerns over reduced mileage (52.8%) and vehicle damage (54.2%)

Understanding E20: The technical reality

Unlike conventional petrol, ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel produced from renewable agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize and damaged food grains.

Explaining the way E20 works, V Balaji, who is a part of Team-BHP, a community built for automobile enthusiasts, said that E20 burns cleaner than petrol and has a higher-octane rating, which helps improve combustion efficiency in engines specifically designed for it. “However, ethanol also contains less energy than petrol, which means that vehicles generally consume slightly more fuel to travel the same distance. This indicates that cars not optimised for E20 may experience a minimum reduction in fuel efficiency at least,” he explained.

For motorists, this translates into more frequent refuelling, even though the retail price of E20 petrol remains largely similar to conventional petrol. Consumer organisations argue that while motorists experience reduced mileage, retail fuel prices have not fallen proportionately, leaving vehicle owners to bear higher running costs while broader economic benefits accrue at the national level.

Ethanol can cause older rubber compounds used in fuel hoses and seals to swell, soften or crack over time. This deterioration may eventually result in fuel leaks or reduced fuel pressure. While currently there is no cause for concern, O-rings and seals used around fuel injectors and fuel pumps may degrade if they are not made from ethanol-resistant materials in the future, says Karthik Shiv, owner, Carage Car Care, Coimbatore

As of now, we’re paying the same price as regular petrol for E20 fuel, and also bearing higher running costs while experiencing a significant drop in mileage. So as of now the only one who is having any economic benefit owing to E20 is the government, says M Sabarinathan, a concerned denizen, who has noticed a 15% mileage drop in his car in the past few months

Points to remember

1. Widespread dissatisfaction – 66% 0f owners dissatisfied with E20 policy; only 34% accepted it, though 82% were aware of it

2. Breakdown of trust – Only 12% trust official government sources for E20 info, while 64% depend on local mechanics, social media

3. High consumer anxiety – On a scale of 1-5, fear of long-term engine damage scored 4.7, fear of mileage loss was 4.6, and economic burden at 4.5

4. Disproportionate impact on legacy vehicles – Owners of BS-III and BS-IV vehicles reported a 5-6% drop in mileage, 28% increase in mechanical failures

5. Inequitable ‘efficiency tax’ – Strong statistical correlation between vehicle age and dissatisfaction, disproportionately affecting lower and middle-income groups unable to upgrade to newer models

6. Policy-reality gap – A significant disconnect between government’s macroeconomic rationales and on-ground consumer complaints

Talking after inaugurating a critical-care skill development training camp for nurses at a private hospital in Vadapalani here, he said nurses' skills were as important as doctors' in healthcare.

On delimitation, Arunraj said people expected all political parties to stand together on Tamil Nadu's rights. "Their (DMK's) absence gives people an opportunity to know about them," he said.

He said the Cauvery water dispute and delimitation were both important issues and described them as two eyes. Taking a swipe at the DMK, Arunraj alleged that the party had yielded to the Centre on several issues and claimed that the Congress' exit from the alliance could be viewed within the DMK as an opportunity to move closer to the BJP and escape corruption allegations.

Responding to whether the all-party meeting on delimitation was being convened in haste, he asked why the same concern was not raised when a meeting was held last year, which was attended by the TVK general secretary.

On Chennai's stormwater drain works, Arunraj questioned claims that the projects were 60, 70 or 90 per cent complete. He said the city had lacked proper planning for six decades and alleged that permission had been granted for construction in several waterbodies.

We are living where water bodies were once located, he said, adding that earlier projects were driven by party funding considerations, unlike the present government.

He further added that several announcements were being planned for the Health Department's demand for grants scheduled for August 17.