The TVK government didn't engage much in the discussion with the Industries Minister Keerthana, assuring that the land seized for the now-dropped project would be used without affecting people or agriculture.

Thangam, meanwhile, went on to assert that the new airport site had not been selected in a single day.

"The Airports Authority of India (AAI) selected the proposed site because it would cause minimal displacement of people and would not disturb other industries or the existing Tambaram defence airbase, which can't be touched due to the nation's strategic needs," Thangam said.

Explaining why Parandur was selected, he said the eastern region had the Bay of Bengal, while the northern region had a large industrial base, including Manali and other areas.

"The only option was to select the site in the western region, around Parandur and Pannur. There was no personal intention to select the proposed airport at Parandur. If the government abandons the new airport project, it will affect the growth of industries in the State," he alleged.

Replying to him, Minister for Law and Energy R Nirmalkumar said the Chief Minister had taken the decision only after holding detailed discussions with various stakeholders.

He also assured that the Chief Minister would announce alternative schemes for Parandur.

Following him, Minister Keerthana said alternative industrial schemes would be implemented at Parandur without affecting people or agricultural lands. She also questioned why the DMK regime had commenced the expansion work at the existing airport.

"The Union government has approved Terminal 5 at Meenambakkam Airport, including the bypass road. The government is not against the new airport, but it should not affect agricultural lands and common people," Minister Keerthana said.

In a representation sent to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (August 25), the association said it learnt through media reports that the Vande Bharat Sleeper was proposed from Nagercoil to Bengaluru via Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Coimbatore and Salem.

The proposed route would take 13 to 14 hours from Nagercoil to Bengaluru and cost Rs 2,335 for a three-tier AC ticket, making it less useful for passengers from Kanniyakumari, said Edward Jeni, general secretary, Kanniyakumari District Railway Users Association.

On the contrary, if the train is operated through Tamil Nadu via Tirunelveli, Madurai, Namakkal, and onward to Bengaluru, the distance would come down to about 664 km and the fare would be around Rs 1,690, while the journey would take eight to nine hours, he said.

The proposed route would therefore entail an additional Rs 640 fare and about five extra hours travelling, Jeni said.

Hence, the train should be operated from Thiruvananthapuram Central, which it said was the primary passenger base for the service, and through Tamil Nadu, said the association.

It also sought better rail connectivity to Kanniyakumari by extending existing trains to Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, and Tirunelveli, and extending the Madurai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to Nagercoil via Tirunelveli.

To reduce terminal congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central, the association also sought the extension of the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Mangaluru Express to Nagercoil. It said the move would provide overnight passenger connectivity between Kanniyakumari district and northern Kerala while reducing congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central.

The association also sought the extension of the Thiruvananthapuram North–Nagercoil Passenger train to Tirunelveli or Thoothukudi, the Coimbatore–Nagercoil Superfast Express to Kanniyakumari, and the shifting of the originating station of the Nagercoil–Kollam Passenger to Kanniyakumari.

The ERPA further requested the Railways to extend the Madurai–Bengaluru Cantt. Vande Bharat Express to Nagercoil via Tirunelveli, using a shorter route that avoids Tiruchy.

The programme will help businesses improve their digital and commercial capabilities, access wider markets and progressively participate in global trade and exports

The partnership will provide Tamil Nadu MSMEs with free training, personalised mentorship, business tools and market-access opportunities, with pathways to domestic and international supply chains through Flipkart and Walmart Marketplace.

According to the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department's 2026-27 Policy Note, the programme will help businesses improve their digital and commercial capabilities, access wider markets and progressively participate in global trade and exports.

Guidance will facilitate the outreach and mobilisation of MSMEs through its existing schemes, District Industries Centres and other government bodies, while also creating awareness about Walmart Vriddhi’s programmes and opportunities.

The programme will include training, workshops and seminars covering finance, marketing, workforce management and environmental sustainability, with a focus on business readiness and digital transformation. For businesses looking to expand beyond India, Walmart Marketplace will provide a route to international e-commerce markets, while Flipkart will provide access to the domestic market.

“Through Walmart Marketplace, we want to help MSMEs strengthen their export capabilities, navigate cross-border trade and connect with customers in international markets,” said Ashin Mathew, India Head, Cross-Border Trade, Walmart Marketplace.

Avaneesh Gupta, senior VP, General Merchandising and Fashion Sourcing, Walmart, said the initiative would help entrepreneurs build the skills, digital capabilities and market access needed to develop resilient businesses.

The MoU was formalised during the Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave and forms part of Walmart Vriddhi’s goal of empowering 1.70 lakh MSMEs across India by 2028. The programme, launched in 2019, has so far trained more than 1.15 lakh MSMEs across the country, according to Walmart.

The AITUC-affiliated Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations Employees Federation general secretary R Arumugam said that the expansion of the fare-free travel scheme would reduce women’s financial burden and facilitate their access to education, employment and daily travel.

However, he said the government should compensate the corporations for the actual revenue loss, rather than merely allocating funds for the scheme.

The government has estimated the annual expenditure on the expanded scheme at around Rs 6,000 crore. However, the union said that the actual revenue loss could be substantially higher.

“With around 10,000 city buses and an estimated average loss of Rs 5,000 per bus per day, the loss could work out to nearly Rs 1,500 crore a month and Rs 18,000 crore annually,” he added.

“The government should also take into account the revenue shortfall arising from the fare-free travel of women and compensate the corporations accordingly. Under the earlier Vidiyal Payanam scheme, around Rs 3,200 crore was allocated for this in ordinary city buses, and even that was inadequate.”

Welcoming the announcement, the CITU-affiliated Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation general secretary K Arumuganainar said that strengthening free and subsidised public transport would help reduce traffic congestion, accidents and environmental pollution.

“The amount paid by the government for free travel of women and students should not be treated merely as a subsidy. It should meet the entire difference between the revenue and expenditure of the transport corporations,” he opined.

The AITUC federation cited the government’s white paper in June, which put the corporations’ debt burden at Rs 61,642 crore and accumulated losses at Rs 72,667 crore.

The unions urged the government to provide special financial assistance to reduce the debt and accumulated losses and ensure that the corporations remained financially viable while continuing to provide affordable public transport.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Arlekar at Lok Bhavan here, the AMMK general secretary claimed that MLAs switched their loyalty to the TVK, enticed by power and money, which was against the people’s mandate.

Also, he sought the disqualification of the Mannargudi MLA, S Kamaraj, whom he had expelled from the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam for expressing support to the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

He had already submitted a petition to Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar seeking appropriate action against Kamaraj under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, but no action was taken so far. “I have urged the Governor to initiate an inquiry as to why the police had not registered an FIR on horse-trading and political defections,” Dhinakaran said.

He said he submitted a formal memorandum to the Governor requesting an inquiry into all the incidents, specifically the events that have occurred since May 8, when Kamaraj was reportedly made to support the TVK.

Expressing frustration that officials have not taken necessary steps to stop the “politics of horse-trading”, Dhinakaran said, “I have appealed to the Governor to put an end to such activities.”

Even Speaker JCD Prabhakar later put an end to the discussion, saying that “all the members in the House have great respect for the media,” but the damage was already done, leading to a heated debate.

The minister said the government had attracted Rs 1 lakh crore in investments in three months, while one lakh youth were expected to get employment. But her remarks on ‘paid news’ drew strong objections from Opposition members, who said such comments were an insult to the media and democracy.

The exchange took place during the debate on grant demands, when DMK member Austin cited figures on industrial and economic growth under the previous DMK government. Referring to a recent investors’ conference, he questioned how many of the projects were new investments and how many involved expansion by existing investors.

Responding to the figures, Keerthana said Austin had made a serious allegation based on an incorrect report published by Projects Today, which she described as a private publication. She said Projects Today would write anything for money and that such a report should not be used to portray theState’s investment climate negatively.

DMK Whip EV Velu objected to the minister’s remarks, saying that stating that journalists would write anything for money was an insult to democracy. DMK member Thangam Thennarasu said the media acted as a “third eye” by scrutinising the government’s functioning and that ministers should not make generalised remarks about newspapers and media organisations. The Speaker then referred to earlier statements made in the Assembly on the use of media reports during debates. He said that information presented in the House should be supported by evidence and that not every report appearing outside the House could be treated as an official record.

The Speaker said the minister had described only the report cited by Austin as unsubstantiated and had provided official information in response. He said her remarks should not be construed as an attack on the entire media.

Participating in the debate on the demands for grants for the Industries, Natural Resources and Information Technology departments, Ganesh Kumar said TAMIN could help address the state’s economic and financial burden. He urged the government to use the state-owned company to commercially exploit Tamil Nadu’s natural resources.

Ganesh Kumar said the government had estimated revenue of Rs 4,100 crore from the minerals sector for 2025-26, while the budget had projected Rs 11,000 crore.

He said TAMIN had the potential to generate up to Rs 1.5 lakh crore if it took the initiative to extract and sell mineral resources directly. He said TAMIN was established in 1978 by then chief minister MGR.

Karuppasamy (21) had been running a bike repair workshop set up by his father, Marimuthu, near their house.

He had reportedly stopped working after suffering a fractured arm in a bike accident about four months ago and had since been frequently consuming alcohol, which became a frequent quarrel topic between them.

Police have arrested Marimuthu.

TNAIV will be able to provide computing services for a fee, take up AI-related projects through concessions or leases, and acquire stakes in project companies.

In effect, the company is being positioned as the vehicle through which the State can commercially operate AI infrastructure and invest in projects, hold equity stake rather than limiting its role to policy and programme implementation according to the Information Technology and Digital Services Department Policy Note 2026-27.

The land for such projects will remain with State land-holding agencies and can be made available to TNAIV on long-term lease. Concessions will be assessed under the State's public-private partnership framework and awarded through open competition. TNAIV will operate as a taxable company and will not receive CSR funds.

The proposed company will operate alongside a revamped Tamil Nadu AI Mission (TNAIM). The government plans to renew and incorporate TNAIM as a Section 8 not-for-profit company under the Companies Act.

It will handle the public-purpose side of the AI programme, including AI governance, the Tamil Large Language Model and Tamil-first datasets, Centres of Excellence, skilling and research partnerships.

TNAIM functions through the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA) and iTNT Foundation. It is envisaged as a project-management and execution agency, with responsibilities including innovation hubs, laboratories, test beds, high-performance computing infrastructure and communication networks, including a proposed quantum communication corridor.

It will also support startups and MSMEs and build partnerships with academia, industry, technology companies and international organisations.

Its mandate has been expanded beyond AI to cover quantum technologies, AVGC-XR, deep tech and other emerging technologies, with ELCOT and ICT Academy supporting it in areas such as infrastructure, technology solutions and skilling.

The episode that caught the attention of all happened during the debate over the Parandur airport project. Both TVK and DMK resorted to personal attacks and jibes like “G Square Mappillai” and “Lottery Marumagan”, referring to DMK president MK Stalin’s son-in-law V Sabareesan and Minister Aadhav Arjuna, who is the son-in-law of lottery baron Santiago Martin, respectively.

The clash was triggered by Law and Energy Minister R Nirmalkumar’s allegation that the DMK was raising the issue of “G Square Mappillai” and others who allegedly invested black money in real estate businesses in Parandur, which led to former minister Thangam Thennarasu commenting about “Lottery Marumagan”.

The matter did not end there, as Aadhav later alleged that DMK ministers and MLAs were using benami companies to plunder minerals and asked why the opposition MLAs were agitated when he referred to G Square or mountains.

While his cabinet colleagues KA Sengottaiyan, N Anand, and A Rajmohan defended him, DMK Whip EV Velu said the ruling party should produce evidence for its accusations and said the opposition could not remain silent when such remarks were made.

Intervening in the squabble, Speaker JCD Prabhakar said he was deeply distressed by members rushing towards one another and using words that should not be heard in the House. "I do not want to be forced into the painful act of sending anyone out of the House," he warned.

The scenes turned more dramatic when TVK MLA Madhar Badhurudeen criticised the DMK over its alleged past references to Muslims as “terrorists”. As tempers rose, DMK’s Poondi K Kalaivannan and Vasantham Karthikeyan moved towards the front row to exchange angry words with TVK members.

School Education Minister Rajmohan alleged that Karthikeyan used filthy language against the TVK and asked if their leaders taught them MLAs to behave in such a manner. Following this, Kalaivannan went directly to the Speaker's chair and explained why he had moved away from his seat.

At one point, Velu was seen physically restraining the DMK members, and finally, along with Govi Chezhiaan, he convinced the MLAs to remain calm.

That was not all, as the day also witnessed angry words between the AIADMK general secretary over the resignation of six AIADMK MLAs. It began as a clash between DMK’s Austin and Minister Aadhav. Soon, Sengottaiyan joined and alleged that the TVK candidate from Edappadi constituency withdrawing nomination papers was horse-trading.

Angered by this, Palaniswami countered that the candidate's nomination paper had been rejected. The scenes worsened when AIADMK members began arguing with the Speaker. Eventually, Prabhakar expunged key portions of the debate, saying the matter was pending before the court.

The DMK member raised objections over what he called abusive remarks by the Chairman, Felix Gerald, on air.

During the debate on the demands for grants for the Industries Department in the Assembly on Tuesday (August 25), DMK member Austin said Minority Commission Chairman Felix Gerald was participating in television debates on political issues.

"The Chairman's post is a statutory post. Under the Minority Commission Act, a person holding the post of Chairman should not make abusive remarks about others. Therefore, the incumbent Chairman should be barred from participating in debate shows," Austin said.

Law Minister R Nirmalkumar said participating in television debates was a matter of personal choice. He pointed out that during the DMK regime, Textbook Corporation Chairman I Leoni had continuously criticised Opposition parties.

Intervening in the issue, Speaker Prabhakar told the minister that there was a difference between a statutory post and a board chairman's post. He said the government could consider the point raised by the DMK member and decide on the issue.

He displayed photographs to highlight the extent of environmental degradation in the State. He alleged that successive governments had failed to prevent such large-scale destruction and said several ancient geological formations had been sacrificed for mining, particularly for M sand production.

According to the minister, Bheemarishi and Konaripalayam in Perambalur district, Sengunam Mountain, Siraiyur and Kondayampatti village hillocks in Madurai district, a 10 metre high rock hillock at Amburpettai in Tirupattur district, Ananthalai Mountain in Ranipet district, two mountains at Muthur in Coimbatore district and Konamalai Mountain in Tenkasi district had disappeared due to excessive mining.

"These mountains were around 3.2 billion years old. But they have now been destroyed," Prabhu said, stressing the geological and ecological significance of the formations.

The minister warned that the government would not spare anyone involved in sand or mineral mining beyond permitted limits, saying stringent action would be taken against those violating prescribed norms.

Replying to PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar during the debate, Prabhu said that discrepancies had emerged between the quantity of minerals reported for revenue purposes and the actual volume extracted. "TAMIN's profit has decreased, but it is not functioning well. During the previous regime, revenue was returned to the Treasury based on 60 lakh metric tonnes, whereas the actual quantity of natural resources mined was six crore metric tonnes," he said.

"Gravel and sand mining irregularities can be hidden once the rains come and fill the mined-out spaces. Still, efforts are under way to conceal the actual quantity mined in some stone quarries by using M-sand. The government will soon monitor everything, and none will be spared," he said.

Prabhu said the government would strengthen monitoring of mining operations and take action against those found violating norms.

He also said discussions were underway at the officials' level with the Centre following Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's demi-official letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.

The Bill, recently passed by Parliament, seeks to regulate State-level taxation and centralise oversight of mineral-bearing lands, he said.

Though the chargesheet was filed on June 18, the CB-CID shared a copy with Akash’s parents only nearly 66 days later, after the family submitted representations to district authorities and staged many protests demanding a copy.

His family and human rights activists now ask why the six policemen have not been arrested despite the incriminating chargesheet.

“The investigation conducted so far reveals that the accused, fully aware that the deceased Akash Delison belonged to the Hindu Devendrakula Velalar community, took him in a police vehicle on March 6, 2026, around 5.30 pm to a secluded, low-lying area full of eucalyptus trees, off the road to Maanambathi village. With the intention of causing his death, all the accused beat Akash below his right knee and above his ankle with an iron rod, inflicting severe fractures. This assault led to fat embolism, which directly caused his death,” the chargesheet states.

Fighting back her tears while sharing the chargesheet with the media in Sivaganga, Akash’s mother, Ananthi (45), said: “At least now, the government should direct the CB-CID to immediately arrest all the policemen involved in my son’s death. What happened to my son should not happen to another child. He must get justice.”

Breaking into sobs, Ananthi recalled her son’s last words: ‘Amma, they beat me. It hurts. I told them not to beat me, but they didn’t stop. They broke my leg, Amma.’

The chargesheet states that after the assault, the policemen concealed the iron rod used in the incident and created a false version of how Akash sustained the injuries.

The main accused, inspector Dhilipan (39), recorded in the case diary that Akash had sustained injuries after jumping from a bridge near Manamadurai, according to the chargesheet. Hence, the police booked him under Sections 103, 201 and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The other accused — sub-inspector K Guhan (35), grade-I constable S Kaleeshiwaran (37), driver constable P Mahendran (33), constable L Deivendran (38) and constable B Palaniyappan (40) — were booked under Sections 103 and 238 of the BNS, read with Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

‘There are more involved but CB-CID named only 6’

People Watch executive director Henry Tiphagne said Akash had clearly disclosed the alleged police atrocity in his dying declaration before a magistrate. “Had the police arrested the accused policemen immediately, the family would not have had to stage protests and refuse to receive his body,” he said.

“The CB-CID has not shared all the details of the chargesheet. We had complained against 16 people in connection with the murder. But only six have been named in the case. The police should take action against others too,” said M Lenin, coordinator of the Justice for Akash Delison Murder Campaign Group.

The CB-CID has stated in the chargesheet that a requisition letter has been sent to senior police officials seeking sanction for prosecution against the accused policemen.

During Zero Hour in the Assembly on Tuesday, DMK MLA Govi Chezhiaan asked the government when the Mettur dam would be opened for irrigation in the Delta region. "The farmers are expecting the government to announce the opening date of the Mettur," he said.

Following him, AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami also asked about the opening date of the Mettur dam.

Salem district Superintendent of Police Kuthala Lingam conducted a surprise inspection at the Mettur Dam on Monday.

Meanwhile, the water level in Mettur continued to rise gradually, raising hopes among farmers in the Delta region. The inflow, which stood at 13,538 cusecs on Sunday, fell to 12,231 cusecs on Monday and further declined to 10,807 cusecs by Tuesday morning. Officials said the fluctuation was not a cause for concern, as inflows tend to vary and water continues to be released from reservoirs in Karnataka.

Despite the decline in inflow, the steady flow of water into the reservoir pushed up the dam's water level. The level rose from 85.95 feet on Saturday to 86.83 feet on Sunday and 87.67 feet on Monday before reaching 88.43 feet on Tuesday.

“With the current trend in inflow, the water level could soon reach 90 feet, which is the benchmark for considering the release of water for irrigation. If the level crosses 90 feet and the inflow remains steady, a decision is likely to be taken on releasing water for irrigation in the delta region,” a Water Resources Department official said.

The Mettur dam missed its customary water release date on June 12 due to insufficient storage.

The Tamil Nadu Global Capability Centres Corridor and Development Programme, aimed at facilitating the large-scale development of GCCs in the State, is one of the 23 major announcements made by the minister.

The corridor will cover the Pallavaram Thoraipakkam radial road, Mount Poonamallee High Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR).

Under the programme, the government plans to improve common and shared infrastructure along the identified corridor. Efforts will also be made to provide enhanced Floor Space Index (FSI) for eligible campuses to facilitate the expansion of GCCs.

In another key announcement, the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) will establish a notebook manufacturing unit in Mayanur, Karur district, at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore.

The unit will have an annual production capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes.

The notebooks produced by TNPL will be supplied to students under the Tamil Nadu government's free notebook distribution scheme under the brand name "Vettri Notebook".

The notebooks will also be made available for commercial sale in the open market.

During her address, Minister Keerthana also said the government was planning to establish a green airport in Ramanathapuram, signalling its intent to expand aviation infrastructure and promote industrial and regional development in southern Tamil Nadu.

After declaring victory in its fight against armed Naxalism on March 31, the bigger challenge now is to restore normal life in areas that remained isolated for decades and provide tribal communities with access to education, healthcare, markets, and employment.

When Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 2000, the newly formed State had a government-run transport system. However, frequent attacks on buses by Naxalites, coupled with poor passenger patronage in remote areas, made operations increasingly difficult. The government eventually shut down the service in 2006.

The absence of a reliable public transport network had a disproportionate impact on tribal communities living in remote villages. While people in urban and semi-urban areas could rely on private vehicles, villagers in Naxal-affected regions often had limited options. For many, walking several kilometres remained the only way to reach schools, hospitals, markets or government offices.

The problem was particularly severe for children. According to data from the Chhattisgarh Tribal Research and Training Institute, the literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes in the State stands at only 59.1 per cent, highlighting the challenges in providing educational access to tribal communities.

It is against this backdrop that the State government introduced a new transport initiative, spearheaded by senior IAS officer S Prakash, a 2005-batch officer originally from Madurai, who is now the Transport Secretary, which seeks to reconnect villages that remained cut off from regular public transport.

Instead of creating an entirely new government-owned transport corporation, the State has partnered with private bus operators to run services to tribal villages. Now, buses operate twice a day, in the morning and evening, ferrying students to schools, small traders carrying tribal and agricultural products to nearby markets, people travelling to nearby towns for employment, and those requiring regular medical treatment at urban hospitals.

The ticket fare starts at Rs 8, which makes the service affordable for tribal families but forces most bus owners to operate at a loss. To ensure that this does not affect services, the government provides subsidies to operators.

After the initial phase, the service has now expanded, with 108 buses now being operated across 13 districts, including Bastar.

Speaking to DT Next, Prakash said the primary objective of the initiative was to give tribal communities access to education and essential services. "Reconnecting tribal communities with schools, making it easier for them to access higher education by travelling to urban areas, and ensuring better access to essential services are among the key objectives," he said.

"The response from tribal communities has been very encouraging. People are now travelling to urban areas more frequently, which is helping them economically and also providing better access to education and healthcare. Earlier, because of the Naxal threat, buses could not be operated frequently. Now, after the eradication of Naxalism, the transport system is functioning much better," Prakash said.

The impact is particularly significant for students. A bus can mean the difference between attending school regularly and dropping out. For families, it provides access to markets, hospitals, and government services without having to depend on costly private transport.

For a State emerging from more than 40 years of armed conflict, rebuilding that everyday connection could be one of the most important steps towards restoring normal life.

Eligibility: Open to children of commercial drivers, including LMV/HMV drivers, children of mechanics, and students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category

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Last Date to Apply: September 30

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Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in full- time B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA/PGDM, or Polytechnic diploma programs at recognised government or private institutions in India

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Last Date to Apply: August 31

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Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen. Open to students enrolled in the first year (academic year 2026-27) of their B.Tech or BE programme

Prizes & Rewards: Rs 1,00,000 per year for up to four years

Last Date to Apply: September 20

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Eligibility: For female students who are daughters of heavy vehicle drivers and are enrolled in general or professional undergraduate courses or diploma courses. Applicants must be residents of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka or Tamil Nadu

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 INR 15,000 to INR 20,00,000 per academic year will be awarded depending on the scholarship category

Last Date to Apply: September 4

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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.

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Last Date to Apply: August 31

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The two men were mauled in separate incidents in the O Valley area on August 8 and 21. Many protests have since taken place demanding the capture of the tiger.

The AIADMK held the protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Gudalur, urging the government to take concrete steps to prevent further human-wildlife conflicts and provide Rs 50 lakh compensation to the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, the Forest personnel have deployed drones and set up 11 cages at strategic locations for the capture.

Inaugurating the domestic cargo movement, Airport Director G Gopalakrishnan said that the first consignment weighing 1,192 kg was sent on Indigo flight (no 6E 2171) at 6.20 am on Tuesday. By the end of the day, a total of 2.46 MT goods were handled through the terminal, reflecting strong uptake from shippers and airlines.

Gopalakrishnan said the domestic cargo facility was a long-sought after one by the trade and business community from the region. Despite having international cargo operations, the airport lacked a dedicated domestic cargo handling. Based on a request for permit, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) recently conducted a scrutiny at the new terminal and gave the approval, Gopalakrishnan said.

Sounding optimistic about the new facility, which fulfills the demands of the trade community, the airport director said the volume of goods handling would grow steadily in the coming days.

Officials said that the new facility would help the trade community to move textiles and allied materials, and small machines and components to destinations within the country.

The Airport Authority of Indian (AAI) and AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services (AAICLAS) would continue working with all the stakeholders to scale up operations and facilitate trade in the upcoming days, officials added.

The Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam, which is held once in 12 years, has been scheduled on March 9, 2028. The 10-day event is expected to attract lakhs of devotees from across the country. As Kumbakonam railway station is located close to the Mahamaham tank, devotees are likely to prefer commuting by trains.

Taking note of this, the Railway administration has commenced works to facilitate devotee movement and regulate it along with the district administration.

On Tuesday, DRM Balak Ram Negi and Collector R Revathi visited the Kumbakonam station and inspected the renovation works at the station and the Mahamaham tank.

Collector Revathi said the works to ensure basic amenities are under way and assured that the district administration and Railways would provide required facilities at the Kumbakonam railway station.

DRM Negi said besides the ongoing renovation works, an additional platform would be established at the railway station. Also, the goods shed functioning in the station has been shifted to Thirunageswaram to facilitate the devotees’ movement, Negi added.

"Even after repeated demands from people like us, why was the report of the expert committee kept under wraps?" he asked. Shanmugam alleged that the DMK government had not maintained transparency on the issue. "Is the DMK ready to explain why it was necessary to hide the report?" he asked.

The DMK government had constituted the Machendranathan committee in February 2023 to examine various aspects of the proposed airport, including environmental, hydrogeological and rehabilitation issues. The report was not made public.

Meanwhile, CPM-affiliated Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangam state general secretary Sami Natarajan urged the state government to return the agricultural lands acquired for the Parandur airport project to the respective farmers.

Citing the 2013 land acquisition law, Natarajan said that land acquired for a specific purpose should be returned to the original landowners if it was not used for that purpose.

"Since the Parandur airport project has been dropped, the agricultural lands acquired for it should be handed back to the respective farmers. The TVK government should return the lands to the farmers in accordance with the 2013 land acquisition law," he said.

Separately, CPI-affiliated Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association welcomed Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's announcement in the Assembly on Monday that the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram district would be scrapped. It urged the state government to withdraw all police cases registered against farmers and residents who had protested against the project.

The association's general secretary BS Masilamani also welcomed the Chief Minister's announcement that a new site would be identified for the state's second airport. He urged the government not to select another location dominated by agricultural land and residential areas, thereby subjecting farmers to similar hardship.

This poses a severe health hazard to thousands of people living in the vicinity.

K Baskar, joint secretary of the Manavalanagar Residents Welfare Association, pointed out that the Tiruvallur railway station was a major suburban terminus on the western line, serving nearly 1.5 lakh passengers daily who commute to Chennai.

“Around 26 express trains and 180 suburban trains stop here. Diverting untreated wastewater through the Road 1 culvert near platform 6 is highly condemnable,” he added. “Previously, this sewage mixed into Putlur Lake near Putlur station.”

Echoing similar concerns, Anthan Krishnan, a resident of Manavalanagar, urged urgent intervention, saying, “To avert a health crisis, the railway administration must immediately liaise with municipal officials to restore a clean and healthy atmosphere around the station.”

Refuting the allegations, Tiruvallur Municipality Chairman P Udhayamalar Pandian stated, “The claims regarding untreated sewage discharge are false. Treated water is not being diverted near the railway tracks. It’s routed to the Putlur Check Dam 3 km away, from where it reaches the Cooum River. Any water near the tracks is merely natural run-off caused by the terrain.”

A senior municipal official stated that the construction of a new STP was underway adjacent to the existing facility.

"Nearly 80% of the work is complete, and the remaining works will be finished within a month. Once it becomes operational, fully treated water will be discharged directly into the Putlur check dam and into the Cooum,” he stated. “Previously, treated water was released into the Cooum River via the Putlur check dam. However, following public opposition, it was redirected to Putlur lake.”

The Forest Department frontline staff on routine patrol noticed the ailing elephant calf at Thekkampatti Odai Pallam on Monday. They immediately alerted senior officials, following which a team led by Mettupalayam Forest Range Officer SM Sasikumar and Forest Veterinary Officer S Vennila reached the spot and began treatment.

“The elephant was administered medicines and glucose in an attempt to revive it. However, it failed to respond to treatment and its condition deteriorated. Despite prolonged efforts, the elephant died later that night,” a Forest Department official said.

As it was already late, the post-mortem examination was conducted only on Tuesday. Preliminary findings indicated that the elephant had apparently swallowed a palmyra fruit without properly chewing it.

“The whole fruit appears to have become lodged between the respiratory tract and the food passage, causing severe breathing difficulty. The findings suggest that the elephant choked on the fruit, resulting in its sudden death,” the official said.

Forest officials said a detailed post-mortem report would help establish the exact cause of the elephant’s death. It comes close on the heels of three wild elephants losing their lives this month in the Masinagudi Forest Division in the Nilgiris.

The deceased was identified as Marimuthu of Chittatoor near Vengal. He worked as a driver.

Police have secured three persons in connection with the murder and have launched a search for other suspects.

According to the police, Marimuthu was an accused in a case for threatening an electricity board employee with a knife. As part of the bail condition, he was supposed to sign everyday at Vengal Police Station.

On Tuesday (August 25), he was riding his two-wheeler towards the police station when a car rammed into his bike. Marimuthu who fell off the bike, was rounded up by a gang wielding weapons. Before Marimuthu could escape, the gang rained blows on him and fled in the car.

As the car was being driven at high speed after the murder, the driver lost control and crashed into the compound wall of a house and stopped. Hearing the commotion, residents rushed to the spot. On seeing knives and weapons inside the car, the public caught three members of the gang and alerted police.

Upon information, police rushed to the scene on information and moved the grievously injured Marimuthu to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. The arrested persons were identified as Kalanidhi (24), Dheena (25) and Naresh (21). Police recovered knives from the car and are searching for two others who escaped.

Probe revealed that Marimuthu was allegedly in a relationship with Dheena’s sister. She had reportedly been living separately from her husband and later died by suicide last year.

Police said that Dheeena held Marimuthu responsible for her failed marriage and death and assembled a gang to kill him. Further investigations are underway.

The decision was taken at the 56th meeting of the CWMA held in Delhi under the chairmanship of S K Haldar. Officials from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala participated in the meeting.

Prashant M Wadnere, Secretary, Water Resources Department, Tamil Nadu, along with Thiru Subramanian, Chairman of the Cauvery Technical Cell, attended the meeting.

The meeting was held following the Supreme Court's direction to the Tamil Nadu government on Monday to raise before the CWMA its grievance over the release of its proportionate share of Cauvery water by Karnataka.

"According to the CWRC, 11.6 TMC of water has to be released over 15 days. We requested them to reduce it to 6,000 cusecs.

"Tamil Nadu argued for increasing the release to 28 TMC. After all discussions in the meeting, the CWMA reiterated the recommendation of the CWRC," Karnataka officer Gaurav Gupta said.

At its 141st meeting on Monday, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release water from its reservoirs and ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs at the Biligundulu border point. The flow has to be maintained continuously for 15 days, during which Tamil Nadu is expected to receive approximately 11.66 TMC of water.

The release is expected to benefit Kuruvai cultivation and meet Tamil Nadu's drinking water requirements.

Earlier, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12. The CWMA had subsequently upheld that decision.

The child, from an economically disadvantaged family near Villupuram, was initially taken to a local hospital after his parents noticed that he was unusually tired and unable to eat properly. Given his age, he could not communicate his discomfort or symptoms. He was later referred to RGGGH for advanced treatment.

Doctors diagnosed him with hydrocephalus, a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates abnormally in the brain's ventricles, increasing pressure on the brain. "The fluid had accumulated rapidly within a very short period. The child was in a critical condition when he reached the hospital. There was no improvement even after surgery," said Dr R Raghavendran, Director of the Institute of Neurosurgery at RGGGH.

The child was treated in the intensive care unit for six days under the supervision of specialists from several departments. Despite intensive treatment and surgery, his condition deteriorated, and he suffered irreversible brain damage. Following mandatory tests and procedures, doctors declared him brain dead.

Dr Raghavendran said the hydrocephalus was linked to a congenital abnormality and that symptoms in some cases may not appear immediately after birth but emerge later.

After the medical team counselled the parents on organ donation, they agreed to donate their son's organs. The mother saw him for the last time before he was taken to the operating theatre. Unable to bear the thought of seeing him again, she left with her husband without looking back after the theatre doors closed.

"My child could not make it. We have done this for other children," the father said.

With the assistance of an NGO, the child's body was later buried, the hospital said.

His two kidneys were donated to a woman in her 20s in Chennai, while his liver was given to a child in Chennai and his heart to another child in Coimbatore.

The donation surpassed RGGGH's previous record of a 20-month-old child who donated organs at the hospital about two years ago.

RGGGH dean Dr K Shantharam described the parents' decision as an extraordinary act of courage. "Organ donation is the highest form of donation. At such a deeply painful moment, they have taken a noble decision," he said.

He said organs from children can, depending on their size and compatibility, be used for transplantation in adults. Dr Raghavendran said kidney transplantation requires appropriate matching of the donor's and recipient's glomerular filtration rate (GFR). While one kidney is generally sufficient in adult-to-adult transplantation, both kidneys may be required when the donor is a very young child.

During the debate on the demands for grants for the Industries Department in the Assembly on Tuesday (August 25) , DMK member Austin said Minority Commission Chairman Felix Gerald was participating in television debates on political issues.

"The Chairman's post is a statutory post. As per the Minority Commission Act, a person holding the Chairman's post should not make abusive remarks against others. Therefore, the incumbent Chairman should be barred from participating in debate shows," Austin said.

Replying to him, Minister for Law and Energy R Nirmalkumar said participating in television debates was a matter of personal choice.

He pointed out that during the DMK regime, Textbook Corporation Chairman I Leoni had continuously criticised Opposition parties.

Intervening in the issue, Speaker Prabhakar told the Minister that there was a difference between a statutory post and a board chairman's post.

He said the government could consider the point raised by the DMK member and take a decision on the issue.

The largest parcel identified is 2,570.27 acres at Mudivaithanendal in Thoothukudi, followed by 1,293.87 acres at Sillanatham Phase-II and 1,058.74 acres at Umarikottai, both also in Thoothukudi. Nallur in Chengalpattu accounts for another 1,004.07 acres.

The lands have been identified across Chengalpattu, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Kallakurichi, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, Chennai, Thoothukudi, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Namakkal, Tirupattur, Tiruchy and Sivaganga, according to the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department’s 2026-27 Policy Note.

Other major parcels include Pallathur in Sivaganga (813.89 acres), Tirupulivanam in Kancheepuram (800.16 acres), Thuvakudi-Navalpattu in Tiruchy (696.17 acres), Cheppakkam in Cuddalore (599.09 acres) and Paiyanur in Chengalpattu (544.68 acres).

In addition, another 33,647.82 acres for which land acquisition is underway for 44 upcoming industrial parks across the State. SIPCOT has 54 industrial parks, including eight SEZs, across 27 districts, covering 50,059.75 acres. These parks house 3,596 industrial units, have attracted investments of Rs 2.47 lakh crore and generated 9.60 lakh jobs, according to the policy note.

Two electronics manufacturing clusters are being established at Manallur (474 acres) and Pillaipakkam (379 acres) at project costs of Rs 587.47 crore and Rs 440 crore. The clusters will have facilities including electronics testing and certification laboratories, a PCB design and rapid prototyping centre, and a testing laboratory for batteries and chargers.

SIPCOT is also moving towards plug-and-play industrial spaces, where basic infrastructure and factory facilities are provided in advance to enable companies to begin operations faster.

Such facilities are being developed under the PPP model at Vallam-Vadagal, Oragadam Medical Devices Park, Panapakkam, Gangaikondan, Shoolagiri and Manallur, at an estimated combined cost of Rs 1,657.46 crore.

LAND PARCELS IDENTIFIED

Chengalpattu, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Kallakurichi, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, Chennai, Thoothukudi, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Namakkal, Tirupattur, Tiruchy and Sivaganga

2,570.27 acres at Mudivaithanendal, Thoothukudi

1,293.87 acres at Sillanatham Phase-II, Thoothukudi

1,058.74 acres at Umarikottai, Thoothukudi

1,004.07 acres at Nallur, Chengalpattu

813.89 acres at Pallathur, Sivaganga

800.16 acres at Tirupulivanam, Kancheepuram

696.17 acres at Thuvakudi-Navalpattu, Tiruchy

599.09 acres at Cheppakkam, Cuddalore

544.68 acres at Paiyanur, Chengalpattu

WHAT SIPCOT GETS

33,647.82 acres for 44 industrial parks

SIPCOT already has 54 industrial parks, including eight SEZs in 27 districts, covering 50,059.75 acres

3,596 industrial units with investments of Rs 2.47 lakh crore

9.60 lakh jobs

ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CLUSTERS

Manallur – 474 acres for Rs 587.47 crore

Pillaipakkam – 379 acres for Rs 440 crore

Facilities expected

Electronics testing and certification labs, PCB design and rapid prototyping centre, and testing lab for batteries and chargers

The DMK sought to know the steps the Tamil Nadu government has taken to ensure justice for the affected families. Raising the issue in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin claimed that the post-mortem report of the deceased — Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter, and Kumar — indicated that they were "tortured and shot at very close range".

"The three had severe injuries, including broken bones. This was a brutal killing. I would like to know what action this government has taken to condemn this. At least, has the government sought an explanation from the Karnataka government?" Udhayanidhi asked.

He sought to know if Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay raised the issue at the Southern Zonal Council meeting or whether Tamil Nadu's condemnation was personally conveyed to his Karnataka counterpart DK Shivakumar.

Also, he called for measures to provide the necessary legal assistance to the three affected families and demanded a high-level enquiry into the incident.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar said that a State minister had already responded when the issue was raised by the Opposition parties in the Assembly on August 18. Nevertheless, a detailed reply would be provided by the Law Minister soon.

This was the second time the killing of three Tamils by the Karnataka Forest Department echoed in the Assembly in a week.

The plan proposed under the department’s 2026-27 Policy Note will seek to expand the global market for products made in Tamil Nadu by using MoUs with multinational companies and 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

The plan is building up of Tamil Nadu Export Promotion Strategy 2021 launched by the erstwhile DMK government. While textiles, leather and auto components were already part of the 2021 export strategy's priority sectors, fireworks and jewellery are new additions. At the same time, food processing, electronics and machinery, which were among the six sectors identified in 2021, does not have a place in the five sectors named for Enterprise TN.

The State ranks first or second nationally in eight major manufacturing categories, with a 33.64% share of India’s wearing-apparel output and 25.18% share of leather and related products, ranking first in both. It ranks second in textiles, with a 19% share, and computer, electronic and optical products, with a 28.84% share.

This is part of the State’s wider push to increase its global economic footprint as it works towards its USD 1.5 trillion economy target by 2036. The policy note says the State would focus on emerging sectors while also expanding global outreach through investor summits, roadshows and targeted sectoral engagement.

LED screen to watch the CM

Madurai North MLA Kallanai Vijay Anban, who has been a prominent functionary in Vijay’s fan club for several years and is said to be close to party general secretary N Anand, made an unusual request in the Assembly.

Speaking in the House, he said, “Our Chief Minister laughs heartily even when Opposition members crack jokes. But we cannot see his laughter from here. So, I request that an LED screen be installed so that we can see the Chief Minister’s reactions.”

Water bottles instead of glasses

DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth had, during the previous Assembly session, expressed concern over Assembly staff having to repeatedly bend down and walk over to members to serve water in glasses.

She had requested that water be served in glass bottles instead.

At the time, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had also joked that if bottles were kept on the tables, members might get angry and throw them, bringing the idea to an end.

Premalatha has once again raised the demand for glass water bottles during the ongoing session. However, her request is yet to be implemented.

Split-screen telecast in Assembly

Minister A Rajmohan reportedly asked the camera operators in the Assembly to use a split-screen whenever TVK ministers were speaking and DMK MLAs stood up shouting, so that both sides could be shown in the same frame.

Rajmohan is in charge not only of the School Education Department but also of Information and Publicity

‘One-day doctor’

Tiruvallur MLA Arun Kumar, who is a doctor, had a different request.

After speaking about his constituency’s issues and praising Chief Minister Vijay, he made a request to the government, he wanted permission to work as a doctor, or take up some other service, at the Thiruvallur Government Hospital for one day every month.

The request comes at a time when ministers and MLAs have reportedly been advised against making surprise visits to schools and hospitals and turning them into social media reels.

The car controversy

VCK MLA Jothimani had requested that cars be provided to MLAs, saying that many legislators were financially disadvantaged.

Chief Minister Vijay immediately announced under Rule 110 that cars would be provided to MLAs.

The announcement, however, drew considerable criticism on social media. Details showing that Jothimani already had a car were widely shared, while information from the affidavits of legislators was also circulated online. One such claim pointed out that former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami did not have a car, while Kavundampalayam MLA Kanimozhi had 26 cars.

Minister Aadhav Arjuna later clarified that TVK MLAs who already owned cars would not take government vehicles.

The resolution was moved by Minister for School Education and Tamil Development A Rajmohan, who said that insisting that teachers write the TET examination would affect their livelihood. The resolution, which was adopted by voice vote, said that, to exempt teachers from the TET examination, the Union government should make the necessary amendment to the Right to Education Act, 2009.

TET exemption for pre-2010 teachers sought

"The Tamil Nadu government stresses that the Union government should take necessary legal steps and issue a clear circular or official notification through the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The Tamil Nadu government also insists that, through these measures, teachers could continue their jobs without any hindrance, and also retain their job security and eligibility for promotions," the resolution said.

The TET examination is compulsory for secondary grade and graduate teachers who were appointed before August 23, 2010. During the review litigation process in the Supreme Court, it upheld the NCTE's decision making the TET examination compulsory for teachers appointed before that date.

DMK, AIADMK, PMK, CPI and Congress support TET resolution

The special resolution received support from various political parties in the Assembly. Members of the DMK, AIADMK, PMK, CPI, CPI(M) and Congress extended their support to the resolution moved by the School Education Minister.

There was no opposition to the resolution during the discussion in the House. The members supporting the resolution highlighted the need to address the concerns of teachers affected by the TET requirement and backed the State government's demand for an exemption for those appointed before August 23, 2010.

(With Online Desk inputs)

In his petition, Stalin submitted that after the election was over and results were declared, he had duly nominated senior advocate NR Elango as his authorised representative for checking and verification of the burnt memory/microcontroller in the Control Unit, Ballot Unit and VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) for 14 selected EVM sets pertaining to Kolathur constituency.

During checking and verification by Elango, grave and alarming irregularities came to light. Elango immediately wrote to the DEO informing him of these grave lapses. He said the impugned order has been passed mechanically without responding to any of the clarifications sought.

He also sought a direction to the authorities to conduct 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips relating to Kolathur constituency and the checking and verification of all 286 machines.

The farmers pointed out that the failure in the release of water from Mettur on its customary date resulted in the shrinking of kuruvai cultivation acreage to less than 2 lakh acres, and around 5 lakh MT paddy production would be less this time, as per analysis.

Since Kuruvai failed due to drought conditions due to failure of water release from Mettur and the impact of El Niño, the state government should immediately declare the delta as a drought-hit region and provide proper compensation.

Meanwhile, the samba season has already commenced with the support of groundwater for irrigation; the state government should immediately announce a special samba package and release the funds immediately.

“The farmers are receiving just Rs 4,000 per acre under both kuruvai and samba special packages since 2016 and this amount is inadequate due to the soaring prices of inputs and other fertilisers, and so, the state government should revise the amount to Rs 8,000 per acre, which would compensate the production cost,” said Swamimalai Sundara Vimalnathan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association.

He also sent a representation to the Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay, appealing to announce the special samba package during the current assembly session under 110 rule.

During Zero Hour on Monday, DMK MLAs once again raised the issue. In reply, the Speaker said that Question Hour would be taken up from Thursday.

In the Assembly, the first hour is allotted for Question Hour. During this period, members raise queries on issues concerning their constituencies.

Since the 17th Assembly was constituted, no Question Hour has been conducted due to reported delays in receiving replies from the respective departments.