Wearing Chennai Super Kings' iconic yellow is a dream for every young cricketer but what happens behind the boundary? We go inside the Super Kings Academy (SKA) to uncover their grassroots blueprint.

From Thoraipakkam to global hubs in the US and Australia, Global Head Coach Sriram Krishnamurthy and Director of Cricket Louis Mariano reveal why talent alone isn’t enough.

Discover how SKA uses high-pressure match simulations, floodlit drills, and character building to turn raw prospects into state players, U19 World Cup & Asian Games winners like Kamalini, and resilient human beings ready for life beyond cricket.

Reported by: AAKASH SIVASUBRAMANIAM

JUSTIN GEORGE

The police said Shanthakumar and his son Vigneshwaran (29), who ran VSP Enterprises on MH Road, Perambur, floated three Diwali fund schemes, promising 2 grams of 916 gold, 30 grams of silver, silk sarees, firecracker boxes and other gifts if subscribers paid monthly instalments of Rs 1,100, Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,600 for 12 months. They also offered another scheme of Rs 1000 per month for a year, which would yield Rs 15,000 at maturity.

According to the complainants, the father-son duo collected money from them and other residents in Perambur, Sembium and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar areas and absconded without paying maturity benefits.

Two cases were registered and Shanthakumar was arrested earlier. Later, cases were transferred to the Central Crime Branch, and a special team arrested Vigneshwaran. He was remanded in judicial custody.

While they were nearing Valayapettai near Kumbakonam, Sivaraj, who was riding the auto, dozed off, thereby losing control and hitting the retaining wall along the road. Malathi fell down in the impact, suffered serious head injuries and died on the spot. On information, Kumbakonam Taluk police retrieved the body and registered a case.

Similarly, Ugal Kishore (28), from Tiruppur, studying post-graduation in physiotherapy in a private college in Tiruchy, was proceeding to his home town by his two-wheeler. When he was nearing Kulathupalayam on the Karur-Coimbatore National Highway, a truck hit him, and Ugal Kishore died on the spot. K-Paramathi police retrieved the body and sent it to Karur Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, S Selvarani (47), a fish vendor from Thottiyam in Tiruchy, was busy selling fish on Wednesday when a load auto hit her. She was rushed to the Thottiyam GH but did not survive. Thottiyam police retrieved the body and registered a case.

Spread across 5,300 sq ft, the facility has an operation theatre, laboratory, pharmacy, pet treatment room, kennels to accommodate 150 dogs, 100 rooms, a kitchen, doctors’ room and toilets. It also has facilities to perform sterilisation surgeries on 35 stray dogs a day. 

Stray dogs caught in Ambattur and Anna Nagar zones will be brought to the centre for sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination. The facility is the 14th centre operated by the Greater Chennai Corporation. 

Later, the Minister inspected SWD and desilting works going on at Ambattur, Anna Nagar and Teynampet zones. At the Ambattur Telephone Exchange junction, he inspected the SWD work carried out by the Water Resources Department from Cuckson Road to Cooum River for 5.10 km. He also reviewed SWD works going on with Asian Development Bank funding in Padi. 

In Anna Nagar, he inspected the 500-metre retaining wall strengthening work along the Otteri Nalla near Tirumangalam Road. In Teynampet, he inspected desilting works at the point where the Virugambakkam and Trustpuram canals join the Cooum at West Namachivayapuram. 

The Minister instructed officials to expedite the works before the monsoon and ensure regular removal of silt from the drains.

In a statement, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the proposed rate was shocking and alleged that the government was allowing private companies to benefit at the expense of public money by exploiting the power shortage.

Though the state was facing a power shortage, the government and the electricity board had denied reports of power cuts for weeks despite complaints from the public, political parties and various organisations, he said. The government should have anticipated the shortfall and taken timely measures instead of resorting to costly purchases, he added.

Shanmugam also called for a long-term plan to make Tamil Nadu self-sufficient in power generation.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian, in a separate statement, said the government's proposal to purchase 4,500 MW of electricity from the open market at up to Rs 37 per unit raised questions about the financial implications, particularly given the state's existing debt burden. He urged the government to ensure that electricity was procured at lower rates through a transparent process.

Veerapandian also opposed the implementation of the smart meter scheme and alleged moves to privatise electricity transmission lines, arguing that these measures could lead to further increases in electricity tariffs and eventually pave the way for the privatisation of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

The CPI urged the state government to increase power generation through public sector undertakings and ensure that consumers received electricity at affordable rates.

DMK legal wing joint secretary I Paranthamen told reporters at Anna Arivalayam that the TVK-led government had presented rising prices of essential commodities as a gift to the common people.

Comparing the prices of commodities under the present government with those during the DMK regime, Paranthamen said the price of a 26-kg bag of rice had increased from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,800.

He alleged that the prices of essential kitchen commodities, including urad dal, toor dal, sugar and cooking oil, had also risen sharply.

"During the DMK regime, when a similar situation arose, the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi implemented the Special Public Distribution System, " Paranthamen said.

Taking exception to Food Minister P Venkataramanan's statement that there had been no price rise in rice and related commodities, Paranthaman challenged the Minister to accompany him on a grocery purchase to verify the prevailing prices.

Appealing to Chief Minister Vijay, Paranthamen urged him to wake up from what he described as a sleep mode and take immediate measures to control the price rise and ease the daily hardships faced by the people.

The platform has been clinically validated in collaboration with eight premier medical institutions, special schools and care organisations.
The launch builds on Rewin Health’s landmark statewide study, Mapping the Gap: Differently Abled Care in Tamil Nadu 2026, based on 2,027 respondents and 27 government interviews.

The study reveals significant care gaps: 61% of families wait over a year for diagnosis, 74% face severe cost pressures, 72% lack access to structured therapy, and 83% report that therapy gains do not translate into everyday life.

Designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and other learning differences, JADHU bridges the gap between traditional clinic-based care (B2B) and accessible, home-based support through a scalable B2C model.

To directly address these gaps, Rewin Health announced a landmark initiative: 500 differently-abled families across TN will receive free access to JADHU, support and therapy sessions, representing a total community investment of Rs 3 crore, funded by the company.

 Vijay Karunakaran, founder-CEO, Rewin Health, said “Our own study found 83% of parents say what their child learns in therapy does not carry into daily life, and that 72% of families are not in structured therapy at all. That is not a failure of therapists; it is a failure to give families a structured way to practise. JADHU does not replace clinical diagnosis or professional therapy — it makes both go further.”

Chennai-based advocate C Rajashekaran filed the PIL, submitting that the investigation had substantially widened in recent weeks, with the identity and statements of the minor girl allegedly seen in the original video and the other survivors being recorded before a Judicial Magistrate.

He alleged that the press and media linked various political parties and persons holding high constitutional posts to the case, creating confusion among the public and affecting the investigation. He further submitted that images of the accused with leaders of various political parties were being circulated to portray that parties have links with the accused and to prejudice public opinion.

The petitioner submitted that the accused attended social events in July 2026 with two sitting Ministers, but this did not amount to a clean chit or establish that the investigation had been compromised.

He also pointed out that images of the survivors had recently been widely circulated online, allegedly in violation of Section 23 (2) of the Pocso Act.

Citing the gravity of the allegations, the emergence of additional survivors and evidence, the circumstances surrounding the initial investigation and concerns over the conduct of the officers involved, the petitioner sought an independent investigation by the CBI or an SIT to preserve public confidence.

After hearing, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan permitted the withdrawal and dismissed the petition.

The revised report follows a review of the survey numbers and land parcels included in the proposed zone, taking into account hydrological connectivity, drainage pathways, satellite wetlands, existing infrastructure, land use and the wetland urban interface. The authority also examined historical satellite imagery available through Google Earth to assess changes in water spread, low lying areas, drainage channels, open lands and built up areas.

The status report, filed by Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority, stated that the revision was undertaken following the court's directions and representations received from stakeholders.

The authority said it had received 23 representations from landowners, developers and others in and around the Pallikaranai Ramsar site. Their key demands included excluding privately owned patta lands from the proposed Zone of Influence or wetland-related regulatory area, reconsidering the inclusion of specific survey fields, recognising existing developments and permissions, and distinguishing between the wetland boundary, the Zone of Influence and developed private lands.

The revised proposal covers several survey numbers in Karapakkam, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Pallikaranai, Perungudi and Sholinganallur in Chennai district, besides parcels in Perumbakkam in Chengalpattu district.

In a significant clarification, the authority stated that construction activity need not necessarily be prohibited entirely throughout the proposed Zone of Influence and could instead be regulated based on site specific scientific and hydrological characteristics.

The report safeguards include prohibiting the blocking or diversion of natural drains and established inlet and outlet channels, preventing the dumping of solid waste and construction debris in drainage pathways, and restricting the discharge of untreated sewage and effluents into watercourses connected to the wetland. Permanent alteration of established hydrological connections and the establishment of Red Category industries with high pollution potential would also not be permitted.

Construction within the proposed zone would require a No Objection Certificate from the District Level Wetlands Management Committee under the proposed regulatory mechanism.

The authority said the regulatory framework was intended to protect the wetland's drainage network and ecological connectivity while balancing conservation requirements with development needs.

However, the revised Zone of Influence is only an interim arrangement and does not constitute the final delineation of the area, the report clarified. The final boundary will be determined after scientific and cadastral studies and ground truthing in accordance with the Wetlands Rules, 2017, and the relevant guidelines.

To meet the daily drinking water demand of Chennai's 91 lakh residents, 1,260 MLD of water is supplied through 143 distribution stations. This water is sourced from five reservoirs, along with the water received from the Krishna river and Kannankottai Thervaikandigai. Processing is handled by five water treatment plants and three seawater desalination plants, one in Minjur and two in Nemmeli.

Currently, main pipelines transport drinking water directly from specific treatment plants to designated zones across the city. Consequently, if a supply disruption occurs at a specific source, no alternative infrastructure exists to reroute water to affected areas.

The Ring Main Project addresses this vulnerability. It will integrate nine facilities, including five existing treatment plants, three operational desalination plants, and a 400 MLD seawater desalination plant currently under construction in Perur. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and expected to be completed by 2031.

The project scope includes laying 91.20 km of ring pipelines, 64.20 km of transmission mains, 2.65 km of pumping mains, along with associated civil structures. This grid setup will guarantee an uninterrupted, year-round drinking water supply across all city distribution stations.

Additionally, modern Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems alongside real-time pressure, flow rate, and water quality sensors will be installed throughout the network. Managed continuously from a modern control room at the Chennai Water Board's headquarters, these SCADA devices will automatically regulate and maintain steady water supply levels citywide.

According to proceedings issued by TNPGCL on October 12, the board has approved the capacity revision from the earlier plan of two 660 MW units each in Stage II and Stage III to two 800 MW units in each stage.

The projects will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, with tenders to be floated accordingly. With this announcement, the ongoing Ennore SEZ and Udangudi Stage I would be the last power projects executed by the utility itself. The government has already announced execution of the stalled 2X800 MW Uppur and 660 MW Ennore Expansion project through the PPP model.

The expansion comes as the first unit of the 2x660 MW Udangudi Stage I thermal power project commenced commercial operation in the first week of September. The second unit is expected to begin trial operations by the end of this year.

The corporation will seek administrative approval from the state government for the capacity revision. The board has also approved the appointment of a consultant through TN Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) for preparatory and implementation-related works.

The consultancy will prepare the Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) and Detailed Project Report (DPR), conduct surveys and investigations, obtain statutory clearances, prepare tender specifications, invite bids, analyse bids and facilitate contract awards and post-award activities. Its scope will cover the expansion of the existing Udangudi Stage I project with an additional 800 MW unit as well as the 1,600 MW planned under each of Stages II and III through the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route.

Defending the additional expenditure on power procurement, the minister explained, “The government has decided to meet electricity demand rather than impose power cuts. Outages lasting even a few hours could cause substantial losses to industries, commercial establishments and other consumers. The government is spending an additional Rs 5-7 crore a day on power purchases to avoid potentially much larger economic losses caused by outages.”

On demands from industries to procure electricity directly through open access, Nirmalkumar said that several cases involving open access and wheeling charges were pending before courts, including the Supreme Court. “The government cannot grant commercial permission until the legal and tariff-related issues are resolved,” he said. “Consultations have been held with industry representatives, and further action will follow after the pending issues are settled.”

The northeast monsoon appears to have arrived in time as the farmers were in a dilemma with storage levels in Mettur going below 60ft. The rains on Wednesday have come to the rescue of farmers in the districts where samba has been cultivated mainly using water from bore wells.

Water from Mettur was released on September 1 by the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for Delta irrigation with the available storage of water on condition for a period of 45 days. 

As the 45-day period ends on Thursday, the water level in Mettur stood at 59 feet on Wednesday evening, with the storage of just 24.046 TMC, and the inflow was just 696 cusecs while the outflow was 12,003 cusecs. 

Since the Mettur level has almost reached the death level of storage and the period is complete, it is advisable to close the reservoir. The farmers complained that the 45-day release of water failed to reach many branch rivers and failed to reach the tail-end regions, and so the already cultivated samba crops have started withering.

Against this scenario, the IMD predicted the northeast monsoon from October 15, which would benefit water sources in the Delta region. 

As per the prediction, the districts like Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur received widespread rainfall from Wednesday morning.

According to the meteorological department data, Mayiladuthurai received an average rainfall of 40.77 mm from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm, with Tharangambadi receiving the maximum rainfall of 89.40 mm.

Sirkazhi received 62.20 mm, and Sembanarkoil received 60.60 mm rainfall, while the average rainfall for Nagapattinam was 40 mm, with Kodiyakarai receiving the maximum rainfall of 50.40 mm, Thirupoondi 36 mm and Thalainayar 16.70 mm. 

Similarly, Tiruvarur district received moderate rainfall with an average of 9.58 mm, with the maximum rainfall in Nannilam at 24 mm while Tiruthuraipoondi received 15.60 mm rainfall till Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, the farmers from the region said that the poor water storage in the region resulted in the withering away of sprouted crops, and they expect the rainfall to continue for a few more days as per the IMD prediction so that the groundwater level might be recharged and it would be beneficial to save the standing samba to some extent. 

With the tagline ‘Ithu Namma Vibe’, Sony Vizha aims to bring together international entertainment formats and locally relevant storytelling to Tamil audiences. Its initial line-up includes Celebrity MasterChef Tamil, Tamil Idol, Notebook 90’s and Madam Police. The channel has also roped in music composer AR Rahman and actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu for its flagship programming.

Rajaraman Sundaram, Chief Content Officer – South Regional, Sony Pictures Networks India, says the channel comes at a time when audience expectations and habits are changing rapidly. “Every 15 to 20 years, there is a generational shift in aspirations and needs. The generation that grew up with technology has different expectations from entertainment. Tamil Nadu has developed economically, and younger audiences are today exposed to global content while remaining deeply connected to their cultural roots. They understand the scale of global productions, the pace of storytelling and new ways of presenting stories, but television has not kept up sufficiently,” he opines.

Sony Vizha bets on fresh formats for Tamil audiences

According to Sundaram, repetitive fiction programming and limited innovation in non-fiction have contributed to a sense of sameness on television. Sony Vizha hopes to address this by introducing new formats and exploring genres beyond conventional family dramas, including crime, thrillers and slice-of-life stories.

The channel’s programming will be guided by the belief that entertainment should reflect the way people live today. Sundaram points to changing attitudes towards relationships, marriage, careers and social responsibility, arguing that television needs to acknowledge these shifts rather than continue to portray familiar situations. “People’s lives have changed, particularly after the pandemic. They look for content that offers comfort and brings them together. At the same time, television and digital entertainment have become increasingly divided in their approach to audiences. We want to offer content that families can watch together and discuss,” he says.

Local flavours meet global formats

Localisation will be central to the channel’s approach, says Sundaram, citing Celebrity MasterChef Tamil, which will feature challenges involving regional ingredients and dishes associated with memories of home. “Food is deeply connected to our memories and identity. A dish that reminds someone of their mother’s cooking can connect with viewers across generations,” he says.

Music is another important part of the channel’s vision. With Tamil Idol featuring AR Rahman, Sony Vizha hopes to discover new talent and tap into growing interest in live music.

Beyond television, a wider digital presence

To adapt to an era where audiences increasingly turn to OTT platforms for on-demand viewing, Sony Vizha plans to extend its content strategy across SonyLIV, YouTube and social media, offering binge-watching, behind-the-scenes content, voting and audience participation. “Our larger ambition is to bring families together rather than have everyone retreat into separate screens,” he says.

"We want to be a voice for the contemporary Tamil family — one that respects its roots but is also confident, curious and evolving. We are entering the market with humility, but Sony is here for the long haul,” Sundaram adds, as he signs off.

In a statement, State minister and TVK's General Secretary to Election Management Aadhav Arjuna alleged that the DMK deployed around seven lakh party functionaries and supporters, including Booth Level Agents, during the SIR exercise.

He claimed that the DMK had access to voter data and alleged that the exercise disproportionately affected young voters and women considered likely to support the TVK. He also accused the DMK of using the exercise to protect its own electoral interests.

Aadhav said the party had opposed the SIR process from the time it was first announced in Bihar and had challenged the exercise legally. He alleged that nearly 97 lakh voters were initially removed from Tamil Nadu's electoral rolls, with around 27 lakh subsequently restored, leaving approximately 74 lakh voters deleted from the final list.

He claimed that, without the SIR exercise, it could have won 160 constituencies instead of the 108 it secured. He also cited Stalin's February 21 speech at a DMK booth-level function, in which he reportedly credited party-level agents with helping prevent voter deletions in Tamil Nadu.

Accusing the DMK of hypocrisy over electoral reforms, he said it would release evidence of alleged irregularities at an appropriate time.

Galatasaray defender Mario Lemina had a similar opinion, jokingly or not, asking reporters, ‘Who is Lamine Yamal?’ Minutes into the encounter, Lemina went toe-to-toe against Lamine, and even pushed at him, almost wanting a response in return.

That’s where every opposition player gets it wrong.

For the first 28 minutes of the clash, Galatasaray did enough to hold off Barcelona's push. A minute later, it seemed like they had earned themselves three points at home against the best team in world football at the moment, and someone had finally figured out a way to stop the teenager.

For 45 minutes, the familiar Lamine magic was missing.

And, for the next 45, there weren’t too many moments without it.

Every touch was a highlight reel; every move seemed to make him grow more and more in confidence. Minutes after the restart, Lamine curled a pass from the outside of his boot, straight into the path of Anthony Gordon, who misjudged the angle. A few minutes later, it was all too familiar: the weighted pass, Fermin Lopez’s run, and the anguish of the Turkish supporters.

The real magic, however, didn’t arrive until the 53rd minute.

Most highlight packages miss it, but it was the moment before the pass that was the real magic. A little fake run past the defence set off alarms for the Galatasaray fans and forced the defender to cover Lamine. Moments later, he switched the angle, driving away from the goal with his weaker foot. Anything beyond a corner kick seemed impossible.

But that only applies to normal people. Not Lamine. Not in this form. The 19-year-old faked a rabona (both with his feet and his hand) before a sublime move to take Eren Elmali out of the game with close control on the edge of the line before toe-poking an assist straight into the path of Gordon for Barcelona’s third goal.

It even left Thierry Henry perplexed, forcing him to ask the teenager about the move.

"I've noticed recently that defenders tend to throw themselves to the ground whenever I reach the byline, which made me think about using a different trick to overcome that defensive approach,” Lamine said, signalling how it was all planned.

“When you see Lamine at our training sessions, some of the stuff he does is just the same as you saw here tonight. It is amazing, and I am so happy to have a player like him in the team,” Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick praised the youngster.

Moments like this don’t come often to footballers, but somehow for Lamine, it is just another day in the office. Lamine has (almost) achieved it all: La Liga, Euros, World Cup, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, with the exception of the Champions League. He might also end up with the biggest individual prize -- the Ballon D'Or.

Yet his biggest achievements won’t be the trophies; it will be the magic that he leaves on the field that will stay forever lingering in one’s mind.

The notice, sent by AIADMK MP and advocate Inba Durai on behalf of party whip Agri SS Krishnamurthy, accused the minister of making allegations about Palaniswami’s control over the party and its assets.

According to the notice, Nirmal Kumar alleged that Palaniswami had brought the AIADMK under his personal control, was working with political opponents towards that end and had reduced the party to a paper organisation.

The notice claimed that the remarks had damaged the reputation of both Palaniswami and the AIADMK. It also demanded that the minister produce evidence to substantiate his allegations.

The AIADMK has asked Nirmal Kumar to withdraw the remarks within seven days, issue a public clarification, apologise publicly and refrain from repeating the allegations without evidence.

The notice further demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation for the alleged damage to the reputation of Palaniswami and the party. It warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would lead to legal proceedings, including criminal action.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan orally remarked that the government was treating citizens as enemies by denying permission for protests and that the RSS was being denied permission for its marches irrespective of the government in power.

RSS North Tamil Nadu State Secretary VG Jagadeesan has approached the Madras High Court seeking permission to conduct route marches followed by public meetings across Tamil Nadu on October 18, October 25 and November 1, 2026.

In his petition, he stated that he had submitted a representation to the Director General of Police (DGP) on October 3, seeking directions to all Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to grant permission for the marches. However, the DGP had not issued any directions.

During the hearing, Senior Counsel NL Rajah, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the organisation was being denied permission every year and forced to approach the court. He said the RSS wanted to celebrate its founding day, which coincides with Vijayadashmi, by conducting a route march, but the police denied permission citing law and order concerns.

Advocate General Vijaya Narayan, appearing for the state, told the court that the permission had been denied because the organisation sought permission for a route march and public meeting at venues not notified for such gatherings.

After hearing, the court observed that the state government was denying permission for all processions, including those organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam and the RSS, forcing them to approach the court and engage in unnecessary litigation.

Directing five representatives of the petitioner to meet State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan to plan arrangements for conducting a rally and public meeting peacefully, the court adjourned the hearing to October 15, 2026.

The court noted that the prosecution proposed to examine 70 witnesses and had collected 37 documents, making it unlikely that the trial would be completed soon.

“Therefore, considering the gravity of the offence, the overt act alleged against this appellant (Jeyapaul), the time taken for the completion of trial, and the quashing of charges in respect of co-accused, this Court is inclined to extend bail to him subject to stringent conditions,” Justice S Karthikeyan said.

The judge observed that the allegations against Jeyapaul pertained only to intimidation and aiding in the screening of evidence after the occurrence, and that he had been in custody since his arrest on August 13, 2025.

On September 29, 2026, the High Court had quashed the CB-CID charge sheet against the second and third accused, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, parents of Surjith, the prime accused. Counsel for Jeyapaul informed the court of this, but the court declined to quash the case against Jeyapaul.

The court directed Jeyapaul not to enter the village where the crime occurred or contact the complainant, directly or electronically. He must report before the trial court at 10.30 am and 5.30 pm daily until further orders. If he fails to follow this condition, the police can move an application for cancellation of his bail.

Kavin, a Scheduled Caste hailing from Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district, was in a relationship with S Subhashini, a Siddha doctor from Tirunelveli. Her younger brother Surjith was arrested by the Tirunelveli police for Kavin’s murder on July 27, 2025. The police subsequently arraigned Surjith’s cousin Jeyapaul and Surjith’s parents as co-accused.

The II Additional District Court (PCR), Tirunelveli, declined bail to Jeyapaul, following which he appealed before the Madurai Bench.

The prosecution and the victim’s father, the complainant, strongly opposed bail. They stated that Jeyapaul had actively participated in the conspiracy and later helped Surjith destroy evidence at Jeyapaul’s quarry at Pappankulam. The Call Detail Records (CDR) of Jeyapaul and Surjith also revealed that Jeyapaul had spoken to Kavin twice on January 25, 2025, the prosecution said.

The victim’s father, Tamilselvan, through his counsel, also contended that Jeyapaul would threaten witnesses if released, alleging that Saravanan, the released second accused, had already done so. A case in this connection has been registered by the Dharapuram police station.

Tentative results for Classes 12 and 11 are likely to be announced on May 7 and Class 10 on May 20.

School Education Minister A Rajmohan released the timetable at an event organised by the DGE in Chennai on Wednesday.

According to the schedule, the Class 12 public exams will begin with the Tamil and other language papers on March 3, followed by English on March 8. T

will commence with Tamil and other language papers on March 17, while the Class 11 arrear examinations will begin with the same papers on March 5.

The government said the exam arrangements were being made for the 2026–27 academic year. The press release stated that around 7.90 lakh students would appear for the Class 10 exams and 8.70 lakh students for the Class 12. The nominal rolls containing candidates' details were being prepared through the online system.

Class 12 examination timetable

The Class 12 public examinations will be conducted from 10 am to 1.15 pm. Candidates will be given ten minutes, from 10 am to 10.10 am, to read the question paper, followed by five minutes, from 10.10 am to 10.15 am, to verify their particulars. The examination will begin at 10.15 am and conclude at 1.15 pm.

The detailed timetable is as follows:

March 3, Wednesday: Tamil and other language papers

March 8, Monday: English

March 12, Friday: Chemistry, Accountancy, Geography, Communicative English, Ethics and Indian Culture, Computer Science, Computer Applications and Bio-Chemistry

March 15, Monday: Advanced Language (Tamil), Home Science, Political Science, Statistics, Nursing (Vocational), Basic Electrical Engineering, Biology, Botany, History, Business Mathematics and Statistics, and Basic Electronics Engineering

March 19, Friday: Basic Civil Engineering, Basic Automobile Engineering, Basic Mechanical Engineering, Textile Technology, Office Management and Secretaryship, and Physics

March 23, Tuesday: Economics, Employability Skills, Mathematics, Zoology, Commerce and Microbiology

March 29, Monday: Nutrition and Dietetics, Textile and Dress Designing, Food Service Management, Agricultural Science and Nursing (General)

The practical examinations for Class 12 students will be held from February 8 to 18, 2027.

Class 10 examination timetable

The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams will be conducted from March 17 to April 12.

The subject-wise schedule is as follows:

March 17, Wednesday: Tamil and other language papers

March 25, Thursday: English

March 31, Wednesday: Mathematics

April 5, Monday: Science

April 9, Friday: Social Science

April 12, Monday: Optional Language

The practical examinations for Class 10 students are scheduled from February 19 to 26, 2027.

Class 11 arrear examination timetable

The Class 11 public examinations will be conducted exclusively for arrear candidates from the 2018 to 2025 batches. The exams will take place from March 5 to April 1.

The subject-wise schedule is as follows:

March 5, Friday: Tamil and other language papers

March 16, Tuesday: English

March 18, Thursday: Accountancy, Geography, Mathematics, Zoology, Commerce and Microbiology

March 22, Monday: Nutrition and Dietetics, Textile and Dress Designing, Food Service Management, Agricultural Science, Nursing (General) and Physics

March 24, Wednesday: Economics, Employability Skills, Communicative English, Ethics and Indian Culture, Computer Science, Computer Applications and Bio-Chemistry

March 30, Tuesday: Advanced Language (Tamil), Home Science, Political Science, Statistics, Nursing (Vocational), Basic Electrical Engineering, Biology, Botany, History, Business Mathematics and Statistics, and Basic Electronics Engineering

April 1, Thursday: Basic Civil Engineering, Basic Automobile Engineering, Basic Mechanical Engineering, Textile Technology, and Office Management and Secretaryship

The Directorate of Government Examinations has issued the timetable for all three exam categories, enabling students, schools and teachers to plan their preparations ahead of the March–April examination period.

Chennai's Madras Christian College is set to introduce an indigenous AI ‘Voice Chat Scribe’ software, developed in-house with the help of the MCC-MRF Innovation park, to help visually challenged students independently write examinations. DT Next looks at how the AI scribe will enable students to go through questions, repeat audio prompts and check word counts through voice commands or keyboard shortcuts.

Reported by: DIPTI JAIN

JUSTIN GEORGE

Read the full article here: Empowering tool: MCC’s AI voice scribe to write exams for blind students