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

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.

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.

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.

The Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration (CRA), Chennai, issued the suspension order on August 10 through email communication to the Madurai revenue administration. The order was served on Anbalagan through prison officials at Madurai Central Jail on Tuesday, an official source said.

Since prison authorities had taken Anbalagan to Rajaji Government Hospital for a medical examination on Tuesday morning, the suspension notice was served on him in the evening. The same was communicated to the CRA through email, the source added.

Alleged illegal patta transfer

According to the police, Anbalagan, while serving as the Madurai North Tehsildar, allegedly removed the temple's ownership details from the revenue records and transferred the patta in favour of Ramaayi Ayyar and eight others on June 24, 2016.

He was arrested on August 4 following an FIR registered by the Madurai City Central Crime Branch (CCB) on July 25, based on a complaint lodged by Chellathurai, Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. The complaint alleged that 19 persons had conspired to illegally transfer the trust property through fraudulent patta mutation, document registration and mortgage.

Trust property restored to temple

According to the police, a will registered in 1930 at the Saidapet Sub-Registrar's Office states that the Ashoka Vilas Bungalow and its adjoining garden on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai belong to a trust established to render services to the temples. As per the conditions of the will, the property could only be leased out and could not be sold, mortgaged or transferred.

Following the alleged illegal patta transfer in 2016, the temple administration immediately approached the district administration. Former Village Administrative Officer Arasan was placed under suspension, while departmental action and an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption were recommended against Anbalagan.

Subsequently, the Revenue Divisional Officer cancelled the Tehsildar's order, ruled that the property belonged to the trust attached to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil, and directed that the patta be restored in the temple's name.

The CCB has arrested four people in connection with the case over the past 10 days.

Seeman said the minister had struggled to pronounce Tamil words clearly while reading the Budget and had also made errors while reading out figures. He said that when MLA Rajendran pointed out the mistakes during the discussion on the demands for grants and urged the minister to correct them, Wilson's response and body language reflected “arrogance”.

Seeman said accepting a mistake and taking steps to correct it was a sign of political maturity. He criticised the minister for refusing to correct himself and instead responding with what he described as the “arrogance of power”.

Questioning Wilson's remarks that he was born a Christian and that his faith had taught him love, which indirectly portrayed Tamil in a bad light, Seeman said the minister had every right to speak about his religious beliefs but had no right to speak in a manner that wrongly conveyed that Tamil did not teach love.

Seeman also pointed to the contributions of Christian missionaries and Tamil scholars such as GU Pope and Veeramamunivar to Tamil language and literature. He said their contributions demonstrated that Christianity and Tamil were not contradictory and that several Christian scholars had devoted themselves to the Tamil language.

Seeman accused the Minister of unnecessarily bringing religion into the issue and said a person's mother tongue and linguistic identity should not be confused with their religion.

“The Tamil language is the mother of boundless love and the very embodiment of compassion. Portraying Tamil as a language that does not teach love is an insult to Tamil and the Tamil national identity,” Seeman said.

Speaking during the discussion on the resolution in the Assembly, Palaniswami said there was nothing wrong with delimitation for administrative convenience, but maintained that Tamil Nadu's representation should not decrease because the State had successfully controlled its population growth. He added that the AIADMK supported only the resolution concerning women's reservation, said a Daily Thanthi report.

EPS opposes delimitation resolution

Palaniswami said the AIADMK had urged the Union government to ensure that Tamil Nadu's existing representation ratio was not affected by the delimitation exercise. He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured the party that the number of representatives from Tamil Nadu would not decrease.

He added that protecting the existing representation ratio could instead pave the way for an increase in the number of MPs from the State. According to Palaniswami, delimitation could potentially increase Tamil Nadu's Lok Sabha representation from 39 to 59 seats.

If the exercise is carried out without causing any disadvantage to Tamil Nadu, there was nothing wrong with redrawing Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies with large voter populations for administrative convenience, Palaniswami said.

He alleged that the TVK-led government had introduced the special resolution against delimitation for political reasons and to create a sensation. He said the AIADMK opposed the resolution, as the actual impact of the proposed delimitation exercise was not yet known. "We support only the resolution concerning women's reservation," Palaniswami said.

BJP questions urgency behind resolution

Meanwhile, BJP MLA M Bhojarajan questioned the urgency behind bringing the special resolution against delimitation while the proposed Bill was still under consideration. Speaking during the debate in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Bhojarajan said changes should be made based on the needs of the people and that society must be prepared to accept change.

He said the new Parliament building had been constructed keeping future generations in mind and argued that the country must move forward while ensuring that Tamil Nadu was not adversely affected by the delimitation exercise. Bhojarajan said constituency delimitation was currently under consideration and was being proposed with the future generation in mind. He also said the BJP was a party that prioritised women.

However, he made it clear that the BJP opposed the special resolution moved by Chief Minister Vijay against constituency delimitation.

The remarks came as the Assembly continued its debate on the special resolution, with members from different political parties expressing their views on the proposed delimitation exercise and its possible impact on Tamil Nadu.

In a representation submitted on Wednesday, CPM’s Thiruvottiyur North area committee secretary S Kathirvelu said excessive ammonia gas had leaked from the plant around 11.30 pm on December 26, 2023, affecting residents of 18 villages, including Periya Kuppam, Chinna Kuppam and Thazhankuppam. Several residents suffered breathing difficulties and dizziness, while more than 60 people were admitted to hospitals for treatment. Fish were also found dead in the sea, he said.

He said residents had been facing pollution-related problems allegedly caused by the plant for several years and had repeatedly staged protests whenever ammonia emissions occurred. Following the December 2023 incident, residents continued their protest outside the plant for nearly three months.

The representation said residents and volunteer groups had also approached the National Green Tribunal, which subsequently permitted the plant to operate subject to certain restrictions on handling ammonia. The case is still pending.

The CPM said criminal cases registered against its functionaries and office-bearers of residents' welfare associations who participated in the protests were causing difficulties in obtaining passports and employment. It also expressed concern that the pending cases could be used for arrest.

According to the representation, CPM Thiruvottiyur North area committee member Parthasarathi was named as the first accused along with 28 others in cases registered by M5 Ennore police under Crime Nos. 1030/23, 1031/23 and 1033/23 on December 27 and 28, 2023.

The CPM urged the chief minister to intervene and facilitate withdrawal of the cases registered in connection with the protests conducted in the interest of public safety.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana had earlier said the Tamil Nadu government's plea will be taken up for hearing on Thursday, August 13.

On Wednesday, senior advocate P Wilson, appearing for some farmers, mentioned a separate plea for urgent listing.

“This was to come up tomorrow before Justice Vikram Nath (led bench). But he is not well,” the CJI said.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had said the state was not getting its due share of Cauvery water in a rain deficient year.

The Joseph Vijay led-state government on August 3 approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of the 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. 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.

The festival will feature more than 30 professional kite fliers from countries including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India.

Giant kites take centre stage

More than 200 giant kites will be flown during the festival, including spectacular show kites and creative designs. Visitors can also witness award-winning kites flown by Tamil Nadu’s professional kite-flying team, Skyuters.

The festival will be held from 2 pm until sunset. LED kite shows will be organised after sunset, subject to favourable weather conditions.

The event will also feature traditional cultural performances, including Poikkal Kuthirai and Thanjavur dancing dolls.

A special attraction will be an F1 static model by Red Bull, which will be displayed exclusively on August 16.

A photo contest will also be held as part of the festival.

The event is expected to attract tourists and families to Mamallapuram and further promote the coastal town as a major tourism destination.

Venue: TTDC Ocean View, ECR, Mamallapuram

Dates: August 14–16, 2026

Timings: 2 pm to sunset; LED kite show after sunset

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, was adopted by voice vote after a debate in which the DMK supported the government, while the AIADMK, BJP, PMK and DMDK opposed the resolution on different grounds.

The Chief Minister said that although legislation providing for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies had already been enacted, 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," Vijay said.

Referring to the consultative meeting held by the State government on August 8, he said the participating parties had supported retaining the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats and implementing women's reservation in the ensuing election.

During the debate, AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP MLA M Bhojarajan and PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar opposed the resolution, arguing that there was no urgency since the Union government had not introduced a delimitation Bill. However, they supported the implementation of 33 percent reservation for women.

DMDK member Premalatha Vijayakanth took a different position, saying she neither supported nor opposed delimitation. She questioned the rationale behind the State Assembly adopting a resolution when the Union government had not introduced a delimitation Bill. She also favoured increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats by 50 percent and supported women's reservation.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi supported the resolution with a condition, saying that if delimitation was undertaken for implementing women's reservation, 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 percent," he said.

Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna explained the government's rationale for bringing the resolution and highlighted the possible impact of delimitation on Tamil Nadu's representation. Following the DMK's support, the resolution was adopted by voice vote.

The blaze erupted in two flats on the 11th floor of Shanta Bhavan building at around 10 pm on Tuesday.

The fire spread to electrical wiring and installations, an AC unit and other household articles in an area of around 4,000 square feet in the two houses, the officials said.

Eight persons, including two fire personnel, were injured and rushed to two hospitals.

A two-and-a-half-year-old child, identified as Abir, and a woman, Ankita (23), were declared brought dead at the Nanavati Hospital, a civic official said.

Four other injured persons were also treated at the hospital, and two were later discharged. The condition of two others was reported to be stable.

The two injured fire personnel -- Manoj Sonavane (30) and Shivam Dwivedi (29) -- were rushed to the nearby Cooper Hospital for treatment and were later discharged, officials said.

Firefighters rushed to the spot after the incident, and the blaze was extinguished by 1 am on Wednesday, they said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, they added.

The certificates will also reflect the final results of candidates who had applied for re-totalling and revaluation. According to DGE, students can collect their original mark certificates from the schools they studied, while private candidates can get it from their respective exam centres. Direct private candidates can also collect the original TCs submitted while applying for the exam from their respective exam centres. For details, visit www.dge.tn.gov.in

The allocation comprises Rs 7,586 crore as the Centre's 60 per cent share and Rs 5,057 crore as the State's 40 per cent contribution. The scheme, implemented from 2026, provides up to 125 days of guaranteed employment, replacing the earlier 100-day provision, Anand said.

"The continued need for the scheme in rural Tamil Nadu, particularly among SC, ST and differently abled workers, has been taken into consideration," he said. Anand said the government would implement the Vetri 150 Days Scheme at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Under the new arrangement, employment under the rural job scheme will be suspended for up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons to ensure adequate labour for farm operations. The scheme will also focus on creating durable and productive community assets.

DMK MLA Senthil Kumar urged the government to reconsider the 60-day suspension and ensure uninterrupted employment for rural workers. He also sought the immediate release of pending instalments under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme, stating that payments were delayed despite several houses completing construction stages.

Anand assured the House that he would discuss both issues with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and take appropriate action.

The three-day conference, organised by the World Tamils Economic Foundation and Madras Development Society, will be held at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation Auditorium.

Representatives from more than 20 countries are expected to participate in the summit.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will inaugurate the conference and deliver the keynote address, while President Dharambeer Gokhool will deliver the valedictory address and present special awards to Tamil contributors in the fields of economics and business.

India's High Commissioner to Mauritius, Anurag Srivastava, will attend as the Chief Guest. Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat have also been invited to the event.

The summit will focus on positioning Mauritius as an investment destination and a gateway to African markets, while highlighting business and industrial opportunities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The organisers said the conference would provide a platform for international trade, investment and long-term strategic economic partnerships.

A special portrait unveiling ceremony of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar will be held on September 11. A Perarignar Anna Memorial Lecture by VIT University Chancellor Dr G Viswanathan is scheduled to be held on September 14 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.

Conference coordinator Dr VRS Sampath said the summit aims to strengthen economic cooperation among the global Tamil business community and create opportunities for international trade and investment.

“Private bus owners met me and sought permission to increase fares due to higher diesel prices. I told them that the matter would be taken up with the Chief Minister and officials,” he said.

Parthiban said he instructed officials to take stringent action against private buses that raised fares without approval.

Earlier, during a debate on the Revised Budget 2026-27 in the Assembly, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami urged the government to procure more buses.

Palaniswami said 16,500 new buses were purchased by State transport undertakings between 2011 and 2021 and stressed the need to replace ageing vehicles.

Responding to Palaniswami, Parthiban said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had instructed the department to procure AC buses to improve passenger comfort.

Palaniswami, however, said old buses were still being operated and claimed their lifespan had increased from three years under the AIADMK government to seven years under the DMK regime.

With around 20,000 buses operating daily, converting them into AC buses was not practical, he said.

“AC buses are not necessary. People will be happy if ordinary buses are replaced and maintained properly,” Palaniswami said.

Parthiban replied that converting buses into AC vehicles was feasible and assured the House that steps would be taken accordingly.

In a video post, Udhayakumar alleged that producers and technicians who had worked with Vijay in his films were being appointed to key government positions.

He cited the appointments of GOAT producer Archana Kalpathi to the temple trustees appointment committee, Jana Nayagan producer Venkat Narayana as the State government’s Special Representative in Delhi, Leo co-producer Jagadish Palanisamy as Vijay’s private secretary, and Beast cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa as chairman of the State film training institute.

“Similarly, Tamil Nadu is waiting with shock and anticipation to see when an announcement will be made appointing Trisha Madam as Deputy Chief Minister,” he said.

The AIADMK leader alleged that there was a complete contradiction between the TVK government’s slogan of “born for all, life for all” and its appointments to government positions.

“Can the TVK government’s practice of making such distinctions and appointing people to government positions be accepted in a democracy? Is this democracy? If producing a film with Chief Minister Vijay is the qualification for getting a government post in Tamil Nadu, how can this be accepted as democracy?” he asked.

Replying to AIADMK general secretary and Edappadi MLA K Palaniswami, Anand said a project report was being prepared to implement the initiative in two phases over 136 km across 12 districts.

The detailed project report for the first phase has been prepared and forwarded to the Environment Department for technical approval, he said.

The National River Conservation Directorate has approved Rs 934 crore for the project, with the Centre and State contributing 60:40. The Centre's share is Rs 560.58 crore, while the State's is Rs 373.72 crore.

The State will also bear Rs 377.98 crore towards operation and maintenance for 15 years, taking the overall estimated cost to Rs 1,312.28 crore.

"The proposal is under the government's consideration. The DPR for the second phase is also being prepared," Anand said.

He added that the government would consult officials from the relevant departments and technical experts before making a final decision on whether to implement the project.

The Basic Science Promotion Programme, introduced under a GO in June 2025 from the Higher Education Department, provides intensive academic training and continuous free mentorship to undergraduate and postgraduate students in mathematics, physics and chemistry.

In the first batch, 180 students were selected for structured training and regular academic guidance to prepare for national-level entrance examinations. Of them, 17 students qualified in GATE and IIT-JAM exams, while seven students secured admission to premier institutions. They gained admission to institutions including IIT Madras, IIT Tirupati, NIT Puducherry and NIT Calicut.

Following the success of the first batch, TANSCHE has continued to provide mentorship to the selected students throughout their programmes. The council has also proposed that the government meet the academic expenses of students who secured admission to premier institutions through the programme.

The second batch is proposed to be conducted during the current academic year. A total of 180 students will be selected through a screening test. The intake will include 30 third-year UG students each from mathematics, physics and chemistry, and 30 second-year PG students from each of the three subjects.

Selected students will undergo a 10-day offline training programme, followed by online mentoring and continuous academic guidance to prepare for exams like GATE, CSIR-NET, JEST, CUET, TIFR GS and IIT-JAM.

The last date for registration is August 20.

The issue surfaced when Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan of the Congress began his speech after welcoming the government's resolution. Soon after he commenced his address, DMK legislator K Karthikeyan interrupted and raised objections, prompting the Speaker to issue a stern warning.

Viswanathan subsequently alleged that the DMK did not want the Congress to remain part of the TVK-led Cabinet.

"NEET is against social justice, poor students and the federal structure. Education mafias are benefiting from the examination, and the State government should not allow this cruel system to continue," Viswanathan said. He reiterated that NEET was unnecessary for Tamil Nadu and should be abolished.

Even as he was vociferously making his objection to the national-level examination, Karthikeyan again interrupted and raised his voice against the Minister. The Speaker once again warned the DMK MLA through Opposition Whip and senior DMK leader EV Velu.

Responding to Viswanathan's remarks, Velu said the NEET-related legislation was introduced during the Congress-led government at the Centre by the then Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, and not by D Gandhiselvan, the DMK representative in the Union Cabinet who was the then Union Minister of State for Health.

Earlier, during the debate, Minister for Public Works Aadhav Arjuna had said that the Bill was moved by then Union Minister Gandhiselvan.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin rejected the charge, stating that the then DMK government in Tamil Nadu, headed by late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, had not implemented NEET in Tamil Nadu and had obtained an exemption for the State through the Union government.

Eligibility: Students studying in Classes 9 to 12 from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tripura, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are eligible to apply

Prizes & Rewards: Selected students will receive scholarship of up to Rs 12,000 (based on actual expenses) and mentorship support (session on Road Safety)

Last Date to Apply: August 20

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/MKSP3

Eligibility: Open to students across India who have secured admission to BE or B.Tech. programs at any Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for the academic year 2026-27

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship of Rs 70,250 per year

Last Date to Apply: August 20

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/RCSP7

Eligibility: Open to students in Classes 1 to 12, diploma, ITI, polytechnic, undergraduate (general and professional), and postgraduate (general and professional) courses. Open to Indian nationals only

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship up to Rs 75,000 based on education level.

Last Date to Apply: August 31

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/HDFC63

Eligibility: Open to first-year students in 3 to 5-year undergraduate or integrated master's courses in BBA, B.Com, B.Tech, BE (all streams), BSc (Engineering), BCA, B.Arch, MBBS, BDS, BPT, B.Sc. (Nursing), B.Sc. (Allied and Healthcare)

Prizes & Rewards: 100% annual course fee coverage for the entire course duration, with additional support for hostel, accommodation, and meals as per programme guidelines

Last Date to Apply: August 31

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/SAT3

Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen. Must be currently pursuing a professional photography-related course with a minimum duration of three months

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship up to Rs 1,00,000 based on the actual course fee

Last Date to Apply: August 24

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/NIKON14

Eligibility: For female students who are daughters of heavy vehicle drivers and are enrolled in general or professional undergraduate courses or diploma courses.

Prizes & Rewards: Selected students will receive scholarships up to Rs 25,000.

Last Date to Apply: September 10

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/JKTS4

Eligibility: Open to Indian nationals studying in Classes 9 to 12, undergraduate, postgraduate, MBBS, IIT or IIM programmes. Overseas Studies is open only to SC/ST Indian nationals.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarships ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,00,000 per academic year will be awarded depending on the scholarship category

Last Date to Apply: September 4

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/SBISF20

In a statement, Rajendran said the State government had provided a special incentive of Rs 192.50 per tonne during the 2020-21 crushing season, Rs 195 per tonne in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Rs 215 per tonne in 2023-24, and Rs 349 per tonne in 2024-25.

He termed the reports completely incorrect, saying that the special incentive had been increased by only Rs 156 over the past five years and that providing more than Rs 134 per tonne in a single year was unprecedented.

According to Rajendran, Rs 1,094.27 crore had been credited as special incentives to the bank accounts of 5,77,755 sugarcane farmers between 2021 and 2026.

He said the government had also provided Rs 937.20 crore in working capital loans to cooperative and public-sector sugar mills over the past five years to ensure that farmers received their sugarcane dues without delay.

Thus, a total of Rs 2,031.47 crore had been provided towards special incentives and timely payment of sugarcane dues during the five-year period, besides several other measures for the welfare of sugarcane farmers, he said.

In a statement, Anbumani alleged that the Karnataka government was proceeding with preparatory works for the project despite strong opposition from Tamil Nadu. He also criticised the Karnataka government for allegedly encouraging protests against Tamil Nadu over the issue, saying such activities could affect relations between the two states.

Anbumani said Karnataka's claim that the Mekedatu project was required to meet Bengaluru's drinking water needs was not justified. He pointed out that the Thippagondanahalli reservoir, located around 35 km from Bengaluru, currently has 2.2 TMC of water storage and a maximum capacity of 3.4 TMC, with pipeline infrastructure already in place to transport water to the city.

He claimed the Mekedatu project, if implemented, would allow Karnataka to store 184.57 TMC of water, including the capacity of existing reservoirs, and could adversely affect water availability to Tamil Nadu's Cauvery delta districts.

The PMK leader also raised environmental concerns, stating that around 12,500 acres of forest land could be submerged and that wildlife habitats would be affected.

Urging the Tamil Nadu government to intensify its legal and political opposition, Anbumani called upon PMK cadres to participate in the August 15 gram sabhas and seek resolutions demanding that the Centre reject Karnataka's revised detailed project report and withdraw the permission granted to prepare the DPR.

Liphin Ponnusamy Leela of Vilavancode in Kanniyakumari district filed the petition, contending that the blanket ban imposed by the State government on transporting minerals across Tamil Nadu’s borders had brought his lawful business to a standstill, causing immense financial distress and resulting in a breach of existing commercial contracts. At the previous hearing, the court had directed the State and central governments to file their responses.

When the case came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and S Sakthivel, counsel appearing for the government informed the court that a similar case had recently been heard by the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and was pending there.

However, the Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the present petition was already pending before the Madurai Bench and urged the court to hear the matter and pass orders.

After hearing their arguments, the court directed the Registrar to transfer the petition pending before the Madurai Bench to the Madras High Court, so that the Chief Justice could consider where the matter should be heard.

Finance and Development Minister N Marie Wilson said in the Assembly that the SOTR had registered a 19% increase during the DMK regime and was estimated at Rs 2.29 lakh crore in the Interim Budget.

However, the actual SOTR stood at around Rs 1.92 lakh crore, the minister said.

For the current financial year, the TVK-led government has projected Rs 2.14 lakh crore under the SOTR category, indicating a relatively moderate revenue projection compared to the earlier estimate.

Minister Marie Wilson will reply on Wednesday to the debates on the General Budget, which were held over the past three days in the Assembly.

The Commission has announced September 9 as the last date to apply online. The common preliminary examination will be held on November 1 from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, while the dates for the main examinations will be announced later.

The recruitment includes posts such as Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II and Assistant Inspector under Group II, and Senior Inspector, Assistant, Accountant, Executive Officer Grade-II and Audit Inspector under Group IIA.

Candidates will have to clear a common preliminary examination followed by separate main examinations for Group II and Group IIA. Final ranking will be based on marks secured in Paper II of the respective main examination.

The preliminary examination fee is Rs 100. Candidates have to apply online after completing One Time Registration.