A total of 72,633 applications were received for MBBS and BDS admissions. Of these, 4,860 applications were under the 7.5% reservation for government school students, 468 under the sports quota, 524 from children of ex-servicemen and 212 from persons with disabilities.

After scrutiny, 3,625 applications under the 7.5% government school reservation were accepted.

As part of Thursday's counselling, call letters were issued to candidates under the government school quota based on their rank and NEET scores. In the general category, candidates who scored between 599 and 469 marks and those who scored between 468 and 433 marks were called for counselling.

Candidates belonging to the SC, SCA and ST categories under the government school quota were also called based on their respective ranks.

The special category counselling is being conducted offline, with candidates required to attend the venue according to the schedule mentioned in their call letters.

Meanwhile, general online counselling for MBBS and BDS courses began at noon on Thursday. Eligible candidates can register, pay the counselling fee and fill in their preferred colleges and courses until 5 pm on August 19.

The incident took place at a Government Higher Secondary School in V K Pudur near Surandai in Tenkasi district on July 20.

According to police, the accused, identified as Thenmaria Suganthi, was conducting a Class 11 session when she became enraged by noise emanating from an adjacent Class 10 room. She subsequently entered the classroom and severely caned the students.

Around 10 students sustained severe injuries to their hands and required immediate medical attention.

The injured students were treated at the V K Pudur Government Hospital and local private facilities. Pavithra, one of the students was transferred to the Tenkasi Government Hospital, where she remained an inpatient for three days, officials said.

Due to persistent swelling in their hands, the injured students were unable to attend school or appear for their exams. Following this, Pavithra's mother, Rajathi, submitted a formal complaint to the District Collector.

Based on the complaint, the Veerakeralampudur police registered a case against the teacher under Section 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for voluntarily causing hurt, along with relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Speaking to reporters at the Thoothukudi Airport, he stated that talks regarding the Tamil Nadu fishermen's issue are ongoing and that he has discussed the matter with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He further added, "Next week, we will go to Delhi and meet the Union Minister of External Affairs and the Union Minister of Fisheries to discuss measures to prevent the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen. A positive outcome will be reached soon."

The Minister also mentioned that various beneficial schemes for fishermen will be included in the demand for grants for the Fisheries Department. He stated that several schemes aimed at benefiting fishermen have been evaluated, and discussions have been held with the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister regarding them. "Many good schemes will be included in the demand for grants to fully benefit fishermen in a suitable manner," Minister Srinath said.

On the demand of Thoothukudi mechanized boat fishermen to grant permission for deep-sea fishing, the Minister responded that this request too has been included in the Fisheries Department's demand for grants, and an announcement regarding it will be made during the session. Regarding the water scarcity issue in Thoothukudi, the Minister assured, "The drinking water issue in Thoothukudi will be completely resolved within a couple of days," adding that repair works are underway for damaged water pipelines in certain areas, and regular water supply has already resumed in several locations.

This comes after the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested nine fishermen from Rameswaram and seized their boat for allegedly fishing across the border near Katchatheevu. According to the Coastal Security Group police, the group was part of a larger contingent of 297 fishing boats that had set out from the Rameswaram Port on August 12 after being issued formal fishing permits.

The seized vessel, registered as IND TN 10 MM 329, is owned by P Wellington, a resident of Thangachimadam Raja Nagar. The nine arrested fishermen have been identified as J Janathan (45), A Anthony Pichai (38), K Vellaichamy (51), M Prabhu (43), Arogya Jeniston (25), P Stevin (30), M Donbosco (55), V Arogya Devin (31), and Subbaiah (52). Following the arrest, the fishermen were taken to the Thalaimannar Naval Camp by the Sri Lankan Navy for further questioning.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the rise in the Mettur Dam level is attributed to increased water flow into the Cauvery following intensified southwest monsoon activity in Karnataka.

Inflows rise in Cauvery basin

The southwest monsoon has intensified in the Karnataka region of the Cauvery basin over the past few days, resulting in increased inflows into reservoirs in the region. With water levels rising in the dams, additional water has been released downstream into the Cauvery. Water has been released from the Kabini Dam towards Tamil Nadu since August 1. The quantity released from the reservoir has been adjusted periodically based on the inflow. At one stage, the discharge from the Kabini Dam reached 27,000 cusecs. Water has also been released from the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam towards Tamil Nadu. The discharge from the reservoir was maintained at around 1,000 cusecs.

Mettur inflow touches 7,833 cusecs

The increased flow in the Cauvery has now begun reflecting in the water level of Mettur Dam. After remaining below the 80-foot mark for around three months, the reservoir crossed the level on Thursday. The water level stood at 80.31 feet, while the inflow into the reservoir increased to 7,833 cusecs. At present, around 1,500 cusecs of water is being released from the dam to meet drinking water requirements.

The increase in inflow has raised hopes among farmers who depend on the Mettur Dam and the Cauvery for irrigation. The reservoir is an important source of water for several districts in Tamil Nadu, particularly during the agricultural season.

Farmers welcome rise

The crossing of the 80-foot mark has brought cheer among farmers and the general public who depend on the reservoir. The rise in water level is particularly significant as the southwest monsoon continues to strengthen in the Cauvery basin.

Officials are closely monitoring the inflow and the water levels in the reservoir, with the quantity of water released from Mettur being regulated based on requirements. The continued rise in inflow could further improve the storage position of Mettur Dam if the monsoon remains active in the Cauvery basin. For now, the crossing of the 80-foot mark after three months has provided relief to farmers and residents awaiting improved water availability.

After it blew into a controversy and drew the ire of scores of people, including netizens, it was temporarily reinstalled at its earlier location.

Incidentally, the episode played out merely days ahead of Jeevanandham's 119th birth anniversary that is falling on August 21.

Jeevanandham was an orator, writer, journalist, literary critic, poet, and social reformer, and was among the prominent leaders of pre-Independence era. During the formative years, he was part of Congress and then a supporter of Dravidian icon Periyar EV Ramasamy, before emerging as one of the key figures who helped develop the communist movement in Tamil Nadu.

The bust of the late leader had stood in Aatrumeedu for more than 40 years before it was removed for flyover construction. It was kept in a nearby compound amid garbage. After its photo went viral,

Various groups had earlier condemned the statue's condition and demanded that it be restored with due respect.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) functionaries cleaned the bus and reinstalled it at the same location, which was welcomed by members of the public and those associated with the communist movement.

Residents said the reinstallation would help preserve his memory in the Aatrumeedu area.

The blast occurred at a licensed fireworks unit operating in Namaskarithanpatti near Sivakasi while the workers were engaged in work. Two workers died on the spot.

After the explosion, a massive fire engulfed the factory, according to PTI.

Fire and Rescue Service personnel are currently engaged in dousing the flames.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case in connection with the incident.

Palaniswami had announced that the AIADMK would hold protests at all district headquarters on Thursday against the Karnataka government’s attempt to construct a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu and the Tamil Nadu government’s failure to fully waive farmers’ crop loans.

As part of the protest plan, Palaniswami had assigned senior leaders to lead demonstrations outside their home districts. Velumani, who is from Coimbatore, was asked to lead the protest in Theni, while Viswanathan, who is from Dindigul, was assigned Ramanathapuram. Former minister KP Anbazhagan was asked to lead the protest in Ranipet and former minister Thangamani to lead the demonstration in Salem.

Palaniswami had also said senior leaders who were not upset with the party leadership would lead protests in other districts.

In their letter to Palaniswami, Velumani and Viswanathan said the decision to specifically announce the participation of senior leaders in protests outside their respective districts was deliberate. They reiterated their earlier demand that the dissenting leaders be restored to the positions they held before the change in party leadership.

They said Palaniswami had earlier assured them that the dissenting leaders would be restored to their previous posts, but the assurance had not been fulfilled. In these circumstances, they said they would not be able to participate in the protests announced by him.

The latest development comes days after Velumani, Viswanathan and other dissenting leaders wrote to Palaniswami questioning his leadership. Their decision to stay away from the protests announced by him indicates that the differences within the AIADMK leadership remain unresolved.

Police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel rescued the workers and admitted them to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

(This is a breaking news alert)

At the Vetri Tamil Nadu Investors' Conclave held in Chennai on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, 97 MoUs were signed involving investments of Rs 67,452 crore and employment for 1,06,998 people.

The government said that, including the MoUs signed prior to Thursday's conclave, the total investment commitments during the first 100 days stood at Rs 1,02,514 crore. The projects are expected to create 1,21,788 jobs.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for eight projects involving Rs 4,476 crore investment and 5,074 jobs, and inaugurated five projects involving Rs 2,676 crore investment and 1,550 jobs.

He also inaugurated completed projects and 13 new buildings worth Rs 777.74 crore under SIPCOT, TIDCO, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited and Tamil Nadu Industrial Housing Development.

Among the major investment proposals, Skyroot Aerospace will invest Rs 250 crore in Thoothukudi to establish a private orbital launch vehicle manufacturing facility, creating 500 jobs. Agnikul Cosmos will invest Rs 400 crore for a reusable liquid-propulsion launch vehicle facility, generating 1,500 jobs.

Ultraviolette will establish an electric two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Krishnagiri with an investment of Rs 779 crore and create 4,000 jobs. US-based Super Micro will invest Rs 477 crore in Chennai for a server manufacturing and integration centre.

Japan's YKK will establish a zipper and fastening products manufacturing facility in Tiruvallur with an investment of Rs 1,651 crore and employment for 4,316 people. JK Tyre will invest Rs 5,143 crore in expanding its tyre manufacturing facility in Kancheepuram, creating 3,510 jobs.

German automobile major Daimler will invest Rs 4,000 crore to expand its manufacturing and R&D centre at Oragadam, while Australian-based Avid Group has proposed investments of Rs 7,000 crore over five years in urban infrastructure, tourism, healthcare and mining equipment manufacturing.

The government also signed seven institutional MoUs with organisations from Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Russia covering trade, investment, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and semiconductor skill development.

Among the completed projects inaugurated was a Rs 350-crore tissue paper commercial production facility of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited at Mondipatti in Tiruchirappalli. A Rs 250-crore aerospace hub developed by TIDCO at Vallam Vadagal in Kancheepuram was also inaugurated. The Chief Minister also distributed appointment orders to 20 persons selected for various positions in nine industrial companies.

The GO directs that the state song should be rendered first at all public, educational, and government functions, and the directive enforces standing when the anthem is being rendered while exempting the differently-abled persons.

The GO issued by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar on August 12 follows a unanimous resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 10. It applies to all educational institutions, universities, government offices and public sector undertakings.

It recalled the resolution piloted by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, stating that the "Assembly proudly records that Tamil is the ancient classical language of the world and Tamil civilisation is one of the oldest cultural traditions in the world."

The song taken from the play 'Manonmaniam', written in 1891 by Manonmaniam Sundaranar, has been made the first song to be sung at government functions since November 23, 1970. It has been mandated that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu will be sung before the start of the event, as it has been officially recognised as the state song since December 17, 2021.

This resolution followed the Union Home Ministry's communication dated July 9, 2026, about the singing of the state anthem.

Supporting the resolution while reiterating the DMK’s position that if delimitation was undertaken to implement women’s reservation, Udhayanidhi said it should be based on the 1971 Census. “If there is any change in Tamil Nadu’s proportion of MPs, its representation should not fall below 7.18 per cent,” he said. He also accused the TVK and its allies of changing their stand from supporting fair delimitation to opposing the exercise.

Eventually, even as all parties supported women’s reservation but differed on the means and methods to implement it, the Assembly adopted the resolution by voice vote, with the DMK, CPM, CPI, Congress, VCK and IUML supporting it, while the AIADMK, BJP, PMK, and DMDK opposed it.

Moving the resolution, Vijay said legislation providing for onethird reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies had already been enacted, but its implementation had been delayed.

“Delaying women’s reservation by linking it with the census and delimitation amounts to denying women their political rights. Women’s reservation should not be postponed or merged with the census and delimitation exercise,” he said.

Referring to the consultative meeting that he chaired on August 8, Vijay said parties had supported retaining the existing 543 seats and implementing women’s reservation in the ensuing election.

During the debate, AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP’s M Bhojarajan and A Ganeshkumar of the PMK opposed the resolution, arguing there was no urgency, as the Union government had not introduced a delimitation Bill. DMDK leader Premallatha Vijayakanth said she neither supported nor opposed delimitation, and questioned the rationale behind the Assembly adopting a resolution over a Bill that was not yet introduced. She also favoured increasing the number of LS seats by 50%.

Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna cited the possible impact of delimitation on Tamil Nadu’s representation as the rationale for bringing the resolution.

Special police teams are searching for seven more students whose identities have been established, while efforts are under way to identify others involved in the attack. The arrested students were identified as B Aaramudhan (20), from Cuddalore; M Aravind (21), from Sivaganga; S Siva Rohith (20), from Tiruvarur; V Mani Balu (20), from Perambalur; and a 17-year-old boy.

The deceased, Amudhan, was a third-year engineering student at the college. The incident was reportedly linked to an earlier confrontation over an assault and mobile phone theft. A police officer dismissed reports that the murder was linked to Amudhan informing the Chettipalayam police about drug peddling on the college campus. Amudhan’s parents had also made similar allegations. “Amudhan did not lodge any complaint with the police regarding drugs. An inquiry is under way into the claims made by his family members,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyannavar said a detailed inquiry would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the student’s murder.

J Jaya, principal of Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, said that Amudhan and another student had earlier been suspended for assualting a cook on July 21.

“Their parents were informed about the disciplinary action and were asked to take them home as they were under suspension. However, Amudhan did not return to hometown but stayed outside the college campus,” she said.

She also ruled out any link between the disciplinary action and allegations concerning drugs. Police said the investigation was continuing.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by the present Palani Sub-Registrar, Easwari. Police booked Justin Manikandan (44), Mani (64) of Komarapalayam in Coimbatore district and Kandasamy (87) of TKN Pudur in Palani.

The complaint alleged that the property was registered on July 7 despite the alleged non-submission of proper documents. Police have commenced an investigation.

Meanwhile, doctors at GRH on Wednesday conducted an angiography on Justin Manikandan to assess his heart condition and kept him under close observation in the ICU of the Cardiology Department.

“He is already a cardiac patient and a stent has been placed in his heart. He also suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure,” a GRH doctor said.

Based on the recommendation of doctors at the Dindigul hospital, CB-CID personnel brought him to GRH in an ambulance equipped with ICU facilities. “We are closely monitoring him. If necessary, we will place another stent in his heart,” doctors said.

Judicial Magistrate-I, Dindigul, Bhakyaraj, had visited the hospital, verified that Manikandan was undergoing treatment and formally remanded him in judicial custody till August 21. He will continue treatment at the hospital while remaining in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, the Dindigul JM-I court dismissed the regular bail petitions filed by Manikandan and document writer-cum-broker Jayaprakash.

The duo had approached the court after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed their anticipatory bail petitions on August 5, observing that granting anticipatory bail could hamper the investigation and accepting the prosecution's submissions. They filed regular bail petitions before the JM-I court on August 8, with Manikandan citing his health condition.

Petitions seeking transfer of the investigation into the alleged Palani land registration fraud to the CBI also came up for hearing on Wednesday. Counsel for the petitioners raised suspicions over the death of advocate S Anwardeen, another accused in the case, while in judicial custody, and sought transfer of the investigation to the CBI.

The Government Pleader opposed the plea, urging the court not to politicise the issue and submitting that the investigation was being conducted on the basis of documents and evidence. The court said it needed to examine the CB-CID's report in detail and adjourned the hearing to August 24.

Anwardeen (65) died hours after being brought back to Madurai Central Prison following three days of CB-CID interrogation on August 7. He was suffering from paralysis affecting the right side of his body, diabetes and high blood pressure. He developed chest pain in prison that night and died while prison officials were taking him to GRH for treatment.

Senior Counsels G Masilamani and Srinath Sridevan, appearing for Chief Minister Vijay, told Justice V Lakshminarayanan that they would file applications seeking rejection of the three election petitions challenging his victory in Perambur.

Accepting the submission, the judge posted the petitions for hearing on August 25.

The court also adjourned to August 25 another election petition filed by defeated DMK candidate S Inigo Irudayaraj challenging Vijay’s election from the Tiruchirappalli (East) Assembly constituency.

In the May 2026 Assembly election in Perambur, Vijay secured 1,20,365 votes against 66,650 votes polled by RD Shekar, winning by a margin of 53,715 votes. Shekar has filed an election petition challenging Vijay’s election. Voters S Dinesh and TN Lakshmi Narasimhan have also filed separate petitions challenging his election from the constituency.

In his petition against CM Vijay's election to Tiruchy East, DMK candidate Irudayaraj alleged that Vijay had suppressed material information relating to pending cases, failed to disclose election expenses and engaged children in his election campaign.

The petition seeks to declare Vijay’s election void, declare Irudayaraj the returned candidate and stay any by-election pending disposal of the election petition.

Vizhunthamavadi, the coastal hamlet near Kilvelur in Nagapattinam, has around 1,500 residents whose main livelihood is fishing. At a recent routine meeting, the functionaries of the fishermen panchayat and the village elders raised concerns about the growing nuisance caused by drunk men, particularly the youth.

They arrived at a bold decision of total prohibition, banning their unmarried young men from consuming alcohol in the village and penalising those who broke the rule.

A banner announcing the rules of consumption was soon erected at a public place, with a tagline ‘Mathuvai Oilippom, Makkalai Kaappom’ (ban alcohol and save people). The banner also said the effort was initiated for the safety and well-being of the youth.

The restriction has been relaxed for married men, who are allowed to drink but cannot create nuisance inside or outside their homes. “In case of complaints against them, they would also be imposed a fine of Rs 5,000. At the same time, those who promptly inform the village committee about ‘illegal’ alcohol consumption and/or nuisance, would be rewarded an incentive of Rs 2,000,” the banner reads.

“Around 10 days have passed since the public announcement, and we are already experiencing peace and calm,” says Rajendran, a panchayat member.

Women claim that life at home has become peaceful, as the men now focus more on work, fearing complaints by the womenfolk.

Following the incident, Madurai District Chief Educational Officer Dayalan visited the school and conducted an inquiry with the headmaster. A preliminary inquiry found that the attack was reportedly linked to an earlier dispute involving another student.

The parents of the student who allegedly carried out the attack met the school authorities and expressed regret over the incident. The teachers arranged counselling for the student who was attacked.

It had invited applications from eligible persons on June 14 under Section 46 (iii), with July 22 fixed as the original deadline. The deadline was later extended to August 12. Following requests from devotees, the application window was further extended.

Interested applicants can submit the prescribed forms online, in person or by post to the office of the Regional Joint Commissioner concerned.

The elephant habitats in the Western and Eastern Ghats are connected to forest landscapes in Karnataka and Kerala, forming one of the largest contiguous habitats for Asian elephants.

On World Elephant Day on Wednesday, Forest Minister RV Ranjithkumar noted how habitat fragmentation, expansion of settlements along forest boundaries, changing land-use patterns and developmental and linear infrastructure projects have increased human-elephant conflict.

The government has earmarked Rs 20 crore this year for integrated measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, focussing on reducing encounters between elephants and people, he said.

The measures are two-fold. On the one hand, the Forest Department is strengthening existing elephant-proof trenches and solar-powered fences in vulnerable areas, and will create additional barriers wherever necessary. More personnel will also be deployed to patrol vulnerable areas and safely drive elephants back into forests when they enter human habitations and agricultural fields, the minister said.

The department will also expand the use of AI-based monitoring and early warning systems to track elephant movements and alert local residents and officials.

On the other hand, measures are also being taken to improve elephant habitats through the restoration of degraded forests, increasing grass and fodder availability, augmenting water resources, controlling invasive alien species, and undertaking soil and moisture conservation works. The government was also prioritising the identification and protection of traditional elephant corridors.

The minister stressed the need to prevent elephant deaths caused by electrocution. The Forest Department, in coordination with other departments, is identifying low-hanging and sagging power lines and other electrical infrastructure. Farmers and landowners have been urged not to illegally electrify fences around agricultural fields.

He said elephants played an important role in maintaining forest ecosystems by dispersing seeds, facilitating vegetation regeneration, and influencing forest structure, making their conservation crucial for protecting forests and biodiversity.

Ranjithkumar said elephant conservation required the cooperation of local communities, farmers and youth. He urged people to immediately alert the department whenever elephants enter human habitations or agricultural fields.

ADGP Vidya Jayant Kulkarni, on compulsory wait was posted as ADGP, Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

The government also transferred M Ramamurthy, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) - Intelligence, Greater Chennai Police and posted him as Superintendent of Police (SP), Q Branch CID, replacing BK Arvind. SP Arvind who has been transferred and posted as SP, Special Branch CID replacing A Myilvaganan. Arpita Rajput serving as SP, North Zone, CB-CID has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Anna Nagar, replacing I Eswaran who has been transferred and posted as SP, TN Commando Force.

SR Senthil Kumar, serving as DCP, Central Crime Branch, Avadi has been transferred and posted as SP, Coastal Security Group, Nagapattinam. V Saravana Kumar, serving as SP, North Zone, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption has been transferred and posted as SP, Anti Terrorism Squad, Chennai replacing D Ramesh Babu who has been posted as DCP (headquarters), Tirunelveli City.

Former AIADMK Minister and party whip Agri SS Krishnamurthy has moved the Madras High Court challenging the Speaker's decision to accept the resignations of S Jayakumar, P Sathyabama, Maragatham Kumaravel and Esakki Subaya.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate V Giri, appearing for party whip Agri SS Krishnamurthi, argued that the court could not accept the counter affidavit filed by the Assembly Secretary on behalf of the Speaker unless the Speaker submitted himself to the court's jurisdiction. He said the questions raised in the petitions had to be answered by the Speaker himself.

He further argued that under Article 190 (3) of the Constitution, the Speaker was required to enquire whether a member's resignation was voluntary and genuine. In the present case, there was nothing to show that such an inquiry had been conducted. He also pointed out that the members were admitted into the ruling party within a few hours of resigning, making the acceptance of their resignations questionable.

After hearing the matter, the court posted the case for further hearing on August 17, 2026.

According to the police, the arrested person is R Santhosh Kumar (41), a resident of Yagasalai Street in Kumbakonam and a Corporation Council member (Ward No 12) belonging to the DMK. After receiving information that the council member had been hoarding lethal weapons, the Kumbakonam Taluk police conducted an elaborate search operation. The police also initiated a vehicle inspection.

Subsequently, the police found that Santhosh Kumar had hoarded weapons in his house and in his vehicle. Soon, the police seized the weapons and arrested him. Later, he was lodged in Kumbakonam prison.

He said the number of Parliamentary constituencies should not be reduced and should remain in the present proportion of 7.18 per cent for Tamil Nadu, and urged the ruling benches to believe the assurances given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Palaniswami said the AIADMK had supported only one part of the resolution — the 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha seats.

Recalling Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assurance on the delimitation issue, Palaniswami said Tamil Nadu's proportionate representation in Parliament would be safeguarded. He said this assurance was also included in the AIADMK's election manifesto.

Replying to Palaniswami, Health and Family Welfare Minister KG Arunraj said the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had assured that Hindi would not be imposed, but people knew what was happening in the country.

"In this situation, when we could not fulfil Nehru's promise, we do not know how Amit Shah's promise can be implemented," Arunraj said.

Responding to Arunraj, Palaniswami said that Amit Shah was the Union Home Minister and that his words must be trusted.

He said Tamil Nadu could produce a Prime Minister in the future and pointed out that representation from the southern States was lower than that of the northern States.

"This resolution is more important than the NEET issue, as the NEET Bill is also being brought before Parliament," Arjuna said.

Emphasising the importance of the resolution, Arjuna said that even if Tamil Nadu secures 39 Lok Sabha seats, laws enacted by the Union government would still go against the State.

Thanking DMK president MK Stalin, who was the first to raise his voice against delimitation, Arjuna said that if all parties raised their voices together, Bills such as the NEET legislation could not be passed.

Cautioning against the proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by 50 per cent, the minister said that even if the Union government implemented it, the Hindi-speaking states would dominate Parliament, which would be unjust to the southern States.

"Tamil Nadu needs only a freeze on delimitation, not fair delimitation. The 543 constituencies in India should continue. No one is seeking an increase in the number of Parliament constituencies. We should not fall into the trap of the Hindi-speaking States," Aadhav said.

Observing that the case concerned “the educational prospectus of a bright student”, Justice L Victoria Gowri directed the MCC to unlock the portal and permit the petitioner to upload the relevant documents to claim the OCI category on the website.

The Court further directed the NRI Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise the documents uploaded by the petitioner and, if they were found to be in order, directed the MCC to facilitate the further process forthwith.

Prajit, a British citizen holding a valid OCI card, had appeared for the NEET UG-2026 examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and became eligible to participate in the All India UG counselling conducted by the MCC. However, while submitting his online registration for counselling, Prajit inadvertently selected the category “Foreign National (Other than OCI)” instead of “OCI”.

It was only during document verification that the MCC raised a discrepancy, stating that the uploaded document was not valid and that the petitioner ought to have applied under the OCI category.

During the hearing, Prajit's counsel submitted that he immediately attempted to rectify the mistake through the MCC portal; however, the "Remove Discrepancy" page did not provide any option for uploading an OCI document. The mistake was purely accidental, and there was absolutely no intention to suppress any facts or derive any undue advantage, the counsel submitted.

The counsel appearing for the MCC submitted that the Committee does not change any candidate category. As candidates enter details by themself, both at the time of registration for the examination and during registration for counselling conducted by the MCC, the respondents could take positive action to change the candidate’s category only if permitted by the Court, the counsel submitted.

With the above direction, the Court allowed the writ petition with no order as to costs and closed the connected miscellaneous petition.

The TNPSC, which released the notification for the examinations on Tuesday, announced 821 vacancies. Last year, only 640 vacancies were notified.

The Group 2 and Group 2A examinations are conducted to recruit candidates for various posts, including Sub-Registrar, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Local Fund Auditor, Revenue Inspector, Cooperative Inspector and Assistant posts in various departments.

The vacancy figures announced over the years show a sharp decline in the number of posts in the last two recruitment cycles. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the TNPSC had announced 3,000 vacancies in 2020. The number increased to 6,500 in 2022 before declining to 2,540 in 2024. It fell sharply to 640 in 2025 and has increased only marginally this year.

Aspirants said that the latest vacancy figure was particularly disappointing as more than 2,500 Group 2 and Group 2A posts were reportedly lying vacant in various government departments. K Priya, an aspirant preparing for the exams, said, “Those of us who have been preparing for government jobs for several years are deeply disappointed by the reduction in vacancies. Many aspirants have been preparing for these exams for years to secure a government job. The low number of vacancies has killed our hopes. The government should take steps to increase the number of vacancies to more than 1,000.”

S Natraj, who runs a TNPSC coaching centre, said the reduction in vacancies had added to the frustration among aspirants, particularly after the previous Group 2 examination was cancelled. “The change in government and the expectations among young voters for a change, including hopes for more employment opportunities for youngsters, had disappointed the youth, especially with the TVK in power,” he said.

Natraj added that aspirants were prepared to stage protests if the government did not take immediate steps to increase the number of vacancies.

Aspirants have urged the government and the TNPSC to review the vacancy position in various departments and include additional posts in the current recruitment process.

Vacancies in 14 years

• 6,241 in 2011

• 3,842 in 2012

• 1,086 in 2013

• 3,215 in 2014

• 1,947 in 2015

• 1,208 in 2016

• 1,943 in 2017

• 1,348 in 2018

• 1,100 in 2019

• 3,000 in 2020

• 6,500 in 2022

• 2,540 in 2024

• 640 in 2025

• 821 in 2026

Replying to the debate on the Revised Agriculture Budget in the Assembly, Vinoth said the Chief Minister had directed administrations in all districts to closely monitor crop area. A preliminary assessment, covering areas where crop losses of 33 per cent and above were reported, showed that 23,309 hectares had been affected, he said.

Of the affected area, oilseeds accounted for the largest share at 8,700 hectares, followed by millets at 5,970 hectares and paddy at 5,463 hectares. Pulses were affected across 2,245 hectares, while sugarcane, cotton and horticultural crops were affected across 753,17 and 161 hectares respectively. "The assessment is continuing, and the government will take appropriate steps to provide relief from the State Disaster Response Fund," Vinoth told the House.

The minister said districts had received uneven rainfall following the El Niño event, affecting crops under cultivation. The government would take further action if drought conditions persisted in accordance with prescribed norms.

Minister Vinoth also referred to measures taken to safeguard farmers' livelihoods following the delayed opening of the Mettur dam. The government had allocated Rs 134.83 crore for the kuruvai package covering Delta and non-Delta districts, under which 8.41 lakh acres had so far been brought under Kuruvai paddy cultivation against the normal area of 10.60 lakh acres.

Under the crop insurance scheme, cases of prevented sowing and failed sowing had been reported in Delta districts. Farmers unable to raise crops, as well as those whose crops were damaged within 30 days of sowing, would receive an average compensation of Rs 23,465 per hectare, subject to scheme norms.

The minister said 3.98 lakh acres of paddy had been insured by 1.34 lakh farmers this season, compared with 2.77 lakh acres insured by 1.05 lakh farmers during the previous kuruvai season.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG), on November 25, 2024, apprehended a Myanmarese fishing boat 'Soe Wai Yan Htoo', carrying over 5,500 kg of methamphetamine, which is the biggest ever haul in the history of the ICG. Six Myanmarese nationals onboard the vessel were apprehended.

NIA registered a case to investigate the wider network allegedly involved in trafficking the massive consignment, and on Wednesday NIA teams conducted searches at eight locations in Tamil Nadu. Sources said that searches were also conducted in Mizoram.

In Chennai, searches were held at Washermenpet, Tirumulliavoyal and Porur. In Madurai, NIA officials searched a residence in Jai Bharat City in Avaniyapuram, Madurai.

A team led by NIA Inspector Akash searched the house of Balamurugan, a native of Perungudi, who is reportedly running a business in Manipur. The search, which lasted for more than an hour, was conducted when Balamurugan was not at home. His wife, Murugeswari, was questioned.

According to NIA officials, no documents were seized during the search.

The deceased was identified as Yasiriyan, a Class 2 student at a private school in Dharmapuri, while his father, Muniyappan (34), of Paisuhalli village near Dharmapuri, works for a firm involved in replenishing cash at ATMs.

According to the Railway Police, Muniyappan and his son had gone to the station to see off his wife, Suganya (28), and other family members, who were travelling to Kerala. They had boarded the Bengaluru–Ernakulam Express at Dharmapuri.

As the train began to move from the platform, Muniyappan attempted to alight while carrying his son. However, he lost his balance, and both fell into the gap between the train and the platform. Passengers and others at the station raised an alarm, following which the train was brought to a halt.

Railway Police recovered the boy’s body and sent it to Dharmapuri GH for a postmortem. Muniyappan was admitted to the same hospital with severe injuries and was later shifted to a private hospital in Coimbatore for further treatment. The Dharmapuri Railway Police have registered a case, and investigations are on.

In a letter to Modi, Anbumani said an open-ended system could create confusion as several communities have sub-castes, denominations and locally used names that may not appear separately in official caste lists. This, he said, could result in duplication, inconsistencies and difficulties in classifying the data.

Anbumani pointed to the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census, where respondents were allowed to enter their caste names freely. He said the exercise reportedly generated around 46.70 lakh caste entries, compared to 4,147 castes recorded in the 1931 caste census, making the data difficult to standardise and use for social justice policies.

He said the Centre and State governments already maintain official lists of recognised castes and communities and suggested integrating these lists into the census application. Enumerators could then select the appropriate caste from a dropdown menu, with the corresponding caste code recorded.

Anbumani cited the caste surveys conducted in Bihar in 2023 and Telangana in 2024, where structured caste lists were used, as examples of the system being feasible.

He urged the Prime Minister to direct the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to adopt the system before caste enumeration begins from September 1 in hill States and February 1 next year in other States.

Calling the issue urgent, Anbumani said accurate and standardised caste data was essential for evidence-based social justice policies.

The deceased, E Yogesh, a Class six student at the school in Kuppichipalayam, suffered an electric shock after he stepped into a pool of stagnant water, in which a snapped power cable had fallen. Police said Yogesh, barefoot, had gone to wash his lunch box in the water tank when he suffered a shock and died.

This incident triggered protests by parents and villagers. On Wednesday, the boy's family petitioned Erode Collector S Kandasamy seeking action. Meanwhile, the education department suspended Nirmala, the HM of the school, for 90 days. Further action is likely to be taken against electricity board staff for allegedly failing to rectify the damaged power cable.

Around 2.4 lakh flower saplings are being planted across the park as part of efforts to create vibrant floral displays and attract visitors during the upcoming season. Following an enthusiastic peak tourist season in May, the department has begun sprucing up horticulture parks across the district in preparation for the second season, which typically begins in September and extends into October and November.

Planting works at the popular Sims Park in Coonoor commenced a few days ago, and the department has now taken up the work at Kattery Park. This year, the department plans to introduce several new varieties of flowering plants to enhance the visual appeal.

“More than 30 varieties of flowering saplings, including dahlias, salvias, phlox, zinnias, pansies, begonias, delphiniums, geraniums, petunias, sweet williams and primulas, have been sourced from France, Africa and the Netherlands, as well as from Kolkata and Kashmir,” a horticulture department official said.

The planting work at Kattery Park is expected to be completed in a few more days. With favourable weather conditions, the plants are expected to begin flowering from next month, transforming the park with colourful blooms ahead of the arrival of the second season. In addition to planting saplings, flowering seeds will also be sown across suitable areas of the park, the official added.

According to Srirangam temple official sources, the divine gifts from Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple used to be sent every year ahead of the ‘Aadi Pooram’ festival, and the car festival would be held simultaneously.

The gifts containing ‘pattu vastram’, garlands, fruits, turmeric, kumkum, sandal and dry fruits that were scheduled to be sent to the Srivilliputhur temple were displayed at Renga Vilas Mandapam for the devotees. Later, the gifts were taken in a procession around all the veedhis in the temple premises.

The gifts from Srirangam temple would reach Srivilliputhur by Thursday afternoon, and the delegates, headed by Srirangam temple Joint Commissioner (HR and CE) Siva Ramkumar, would present them to the temple.

As per tradition, Andal in Srivilliputhur would be wearing the vasthram presented by the Srirangam temple when the goddess goes in a procession on Friday (August 14) in view of the Aadi Pooram car festival.

The order, issued by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar, follows the unanimous resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly through a voice vote. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and subsequently accepted by the government.

According to the order, Tamil Thai Vazhthu must be sung before the commencement of programmes organised by all educational institutions, government departments, offices, and public sector undertakings.

The government said the move was aimed at upholding the cultural identity of Tamil Nadu and ensuring due recognition to Tamil Thai Vazhthu at official and institutional programmes.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution asserting that the State Song, 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu', must be sung first before the commencement of programmes conducted by all educational institutions, government offices, and public sector undertakings.

Recalling the Government Orders dated on November 23, 1970, and December 12, 2021, that mandated its rendition as invocation song at all functions organised by the government, educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings, and other public institutions in the State, the resolution said it was not merely a song but an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture.

The resolution, which was welcomed by members cutting across party lines, said Tamil Thai Vazhthu shall be mandatorily sung first before the commencement of programmes.

Describing the move as unnecessary at this stage, he said, "Change is permanent, and we have to move according to population growth."

Referring to the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency, which comprises parts of four districts, Bhojarajan said that smaller boundaries would help serve people better. Hitting out at Minister Vanni Arasu, he said that attempts to view people through a north-south divide were unwarranted. He flayed the VCK member for his remarks that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister would change their positions on the issue between what they say inside Parliament and what they say outside. "Such statements are not acceptable," he said.

Bhojarajan stressed the need for political unity, saying that a united Tamil Nadu and South India could produce a leader capable of becoming Chief Minister, in a veiled dig at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, after PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna's claim that a new Prime Minister would evolve from Tamil Nadu.

BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran took up the issue and opposed the TVK-led coalition government's resolution against delimitation, calling it detrimental to Tamil Nadu's interests and urging Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to reconsider the decision.

Nainar said delimitation was necessary to ensure equitable representation in Parliament in line with population growth and maintained that "one vote, one value" was the foundation of democracy. Redrawing constituencies, he said, was not merely a question of boundaries but a means of ensuring that every citizen's voice received equal weight in Parliament.

He said the Union government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had assured that decisions would not adversely affect any state, particularly those in the south. "Instead of blindly opposing such reforms, the Chief Minister should reconsider the government's decision, " he said in a statement.

Replying to the debate on the General Budget in the Assembly, Wilson said the TVK-led government would enhance various existing schemes and fulfil its election promises.

The Minister said the government had projected moderate growth in State Own Tax Revenue (SOTR), while alleging that the previous government's Interim Budget had projected a 19 per cent growth in SOTR, which was too high considering the prevailing business environment.

The government expects to mobilise additional revenue through various tax reform measures, including the liquor cess, and aims to generate around Rs 15,000 crore through these initiatives, he said.

Assuring that the poll promises would be fulfilled, Wilson said the government would implement all the schemes announced during the election once adequate revenue sources were generated.

Comparing the present government with the previous DMK regime, he said the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme was implemented in 2023, around 28 months after the DMK government assumed office. "The government has commenced work to augment revenue through various committees. The government has not stopped any schemes and will continue to strengthen the existing schemes," Wilson said.

The Minister said the Finance Department had commenced a review of the tender irregularities in the previous DMK government's administration.

From the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus, Kilambakkam, special buses will be operated to Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tirupur. A total of 505 buses will be operated on August 14 and 570 buses on August 15.

From the CMBT, Koyambedu, special buses will be operated to Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru. 110 buses each will be operated on August 14 and 15. In addition, 200 special buses will be operated from Bengaluru, Tirupur, Erode and Coimbatore to various destinations.

From the Madhavaram Bus Terminus, special buses will be operated to Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur and Puducherry. 80 special buses each will be operated August 14 and 15. To facilitate passengers returning to Chennai and Bengaluru from their hometowns, 465 special buses will also be operated from various parts of the State on August 16.

So far, 21,231 passengers have booked tickets for August 14, 4,369 passengers for August 15, and 18,437 passengers for August 16 (total advance bookings 44,037). The number is expected to increase further in the coming days. Additional officials have been deployed at major bus terminals to monitor the operation of the special services.

Passengers can book tickets via the TNSTC mobile app or on www.tnstc.in

A team led by NIA Inspector Akash searched the house of Balamurugan, a native of Perungudi in Madurai district, who is reportedly running a business in Manipur. The search, which lasted for more than an hour, was conducted when Balamurugan was not at home. The central agency officials also questioned Balamurugan's wife, Murugeswari.

According to NIA officials, no documents were seized during the search.

Besides Madurai, the NIA officials conducted searches at several locations in Chennai and Coimbatore as part of the investigation into the drug smuggling case.

Meanwhile, Dindigul Judicial Magistrate-I Bhakyaraj dismissed the regular bail petitions filed by Justin Manikandan and document writer-cum-broker Jayaprakash.

The duo had approached the Dindigul JM-I court for regular bail after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed their anticipatory bail petitions on August 5, observing that granting anticipatory bail could hamper the investigation.

Both accused had filed their regular bail petitions on August 8. Manikandan cited his health condition while seeking bail.

The CB-CID arrested Manikandan from a house in the Kodaikanal hills on August 6. During interrogation at the CB-CID office in Dindigul, he complained of dizziness and was taken to the Dindigul Government Medical College Hospital that night. Doctors found that he had high blood pressure and advised hospitalisation. The following morning, he was shifted to the cardiology department's ICU for further treatment.

Judicial Magistrate-I Bhakyaraj later visited the hospital, verified that Manikandan was undergoing treatment and remanded him in judicial custody till August 21. He will continue to receive treatment at the hospital while remaining in judicial custody until his condition improves.

Jayaprakash, meanwhile, surrendered before the Dindigul CB-CID police on August 7 while the police were searching for him. He was subsequently remanded in judicial custody till August 21 and lodged in Madurai Central Prison.

The latest hospitalisation of Manikandan comes days after advocate S Anwardeen, 65, another accused in the case, died shortly after being brought back to Madurai Central Prison following three days of CB-CID interrogation on August 7.

Anwardeen, who was suffering from paralysis affecting the right side of his body, diabetes and high blood pressure, developed chest pain in prison and died while being taken to GRH for treatment.

He said the government would decide its future course of action based on the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, asserting that it would ensure that no injustice was done to the state.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, which met in New Delhi on Tuesday, directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority subsequently upheld the decision.

"I have held discussions with the Chief Minister (D K Shivakumar) and officials. The CM spoke to our Advocate General and advocates in Delhi. Tamil Nadu's petition is coming up before the Supreme Court tomorrow; it has been listed. We will have an opportunity there, and our advocates will file our objections. Let's see what the Supreme Court says. Thereafter, we will have further options," Reddy said.

Speaking to reporters here, the State Water Resources Minister said the government's future course of action would depend on the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing.

"Tamil Nadu has filed a petition, and we have been served a notice. We will have an opportunity to present our case there. Based on the outcome, we will decide whether further legal action is required. This is based on the suggestions given by the advocates," he added.

The Tamil Nadu government earlier this month moved the Supreme Court over the Cauvery dispute with Karnataka, contending that the quantum of water directed by the CWRC, as well as the water released by Karnataka, was insufficient.

Earlier, on July 28, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

Citing poor storage levels in its reservoirs, Karnataka had initially maintained that it was unable to release water to the neighbouring state. However, following heavy rainfall in Karnataka's Cauvery catchment areas, the state began releasing water under the earlier 3,500-cusec direction.

Noting that Karnataka had complied with the earlier direction to release 3,500 cusecs a day and had, in fact, released more water to Tamil Nadu, Reddy said, "When the Kabini dam filled due to rains in the catchment area, the water flowed downstream as there was no scope to store it further. About 10 TMC of water has flown."

He said Karnataka had about 76 TMC of water in its reservoirs, of which 36 TMC would be required annually for drinking water, apart from water lost to evaporation and the requirement for rivers and crops.

"We have about 76 TMC of water (in our dams), out of which we will need 36 TMC a year for drinking water. There will also be evaporation, and we will have to release water to rivers and for crops. Asking Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs for 15 days is inappropriate," he said.

Reddy said the earlier direction to release 3,500 cusecs a day was somewhat acceptable, but the latest order to release 12,000 cusecs daily for 15 days, amounting to about 16 TMC, was "too costly" for Karnataka.

He said the state would not have faced difficulty in releasing water if it had been asked to release a smaller quantity, considering its water availability.

"This is too high a quantity," he said.

Noting that the monsoon had not been satisfactory in Karnataka's old Mysuru region, the minister claimed that Tamil Nadu had sufficient water in its reservoirs.

He claimed that Tamil Nadu receives most of its rainfall during the northeast monsoon between October and December and has a better water table than Karnataka.

"Our water table is too low here. Even if we go 800-1,000 feet, we don't get water, while they get water at much higher levels. Despite our Additional Chief Secretary, advocates, and experts effectively putting forward our case with all these facts, the order has come. It will be difficult for us to release 16 TMC of water in 15 days. We have discussed it. We will decide what to do," he said.

"The CM has spoken to advocates in New Delhi and experts. We will ensure that no injustice happens to the state," he added.

Farmers have staged sporadic protests in Cauvery basin districts, including Mandya and Mysuru, against the water release order.

Some pro-Kannada organisations have called for a Karnataka bandh on Thursday to protest the directive, while others have opposed the bandh call.

Major holy sites like Rameswaram and Kanyakumari, besides Chennai coastal areas and the Cauvery and Thamirabarani river banks saw huge crowds performing the rituals.

Astrologers clarified that a solar eclipse occurred on Wednesday at late night Indian Standard Time (IST) and was not visible in India especially in Tamil Nadu, posing no ritual restrictions for locals.

Tourism department sources said that at the "Agni Theertham" beach in Rameswaram, thousands of pilgrims from various districts and neighboring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka arrived at dawn.

Devotees offered sesame and rice balls (pinda tharpanam) to their ancestors before taking a holy dip at "Agni Theertham" sea and bathing in the 22 sacred "Theerthams" within the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple.

Over 500 police personnel were deployed to manage the crowds, while coastal security police conducted intensive patrols offshore to prevent accidents.

At "Triveni Sangamam" in Kanyakumari, the confluence of the three seas, devotees including those from Kerala gathered as early as 4 am. Large crowds continued to visit the beach well past mid-morning, with police making arrangements to ensure smooth movement.

In Tirunelveli district, thousands assembled along the banks of the Thamirabarani river from dawn and locations including the Kurukkuthurai Subramaniya Swamy Temple steps, Esakki Amman Temple steps, and the holy ghats in front of the Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam in the district saw heavy footfall over the ancestral rituals.

To ensure orderly observances, police implemented one-way traffic systems and local civic bodies and volunteers were also deployed to collect plastic bags from devotees, replacing them with eco-friendly paper bags.

In Chennai, large crowds converged along the Marina Beach, as well as the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple tank, starting from the early hours of the morning.

According to customs, the Ammavasai (new moon) days falling in the Tamil month Aadi, Thai, and Purattasi are considered sacred for ancestral rituals. As per the Tamil calendar, Aadi is currently on.