Welcome to today’s TNPSC Daily Current Affairs for August 29, 2026.
This comprehensive compilation covers all important events across national politics,
international relations, science & technology, economy, sports, and more.
Sourced from The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, and other reputed media.
Perfect for TNPSC Group 1, Group 2, Group 2A, and Group 4 exam preparation.

📌 Read in Tamil: தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கே கிளிக் செய்யவும்

🏛️ National Politics & Government

1. PM Jan Dhan Yojana Completes 12 Years of Transforming India’s Financial Inclusion

On 28 August 2026, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completed 12 years, emerging as the world’s largest financial inclusion initiative and transforming access to formal banking services across India.

Key points:

• About Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Launch: The PMJDY was launched on 28 August 2014 as National Mission for Financial Inclusion by the Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi.
• Nodal Ministry: The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF) is the nodal department for the implementation of PMJDY.
• Slogan: The slogan of PMJDY is “Mera Khata – Bhagya Vidhata” (My Account – My Fortune).
• Account Coverage: As of 19 August 2026, a total of 59.09 crore (Cr) PMJDY accounts had been opened, with total deposits of Rs 3.17 lakh Cr.
• Women hold 55.7% of PMJDY accounts, amounting to around 32.92 Cr accounts, highlighting the scheme’s role in improving women’s access to formal banking services.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

2. PM SVANidhi Completes One Year of Restructuring: Expanding Credit, Digital Inclusion

On 27 August 2026, the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) completed one year of its restructured phase, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the livelihoods and expanding financial inclusion for street vendors across India.

Key points:

• The revamped scheme, launched on 27 August 2025, has expanded beyond credit delivery to include formal financial access, digital payments, social security, capacity building, and entrepreneurship, and has been extended until 31 March 2030.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

3. PM SVANidhi in Detail

Initial Launch: PM SVANidhi is a central sector scheme launched on 1 June 2020 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India (GoI).

Key points:

• Purpose: The Scheme’s objective was to provide affordable, collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors who were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Interest Subsidy: On timely/ early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy at 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on quarterly basis.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

4. Banas Bio-CNG Model Plant Inaugurated in Banaskantha, Gujarat

In August 2026, the Banas Bio-CNG Model Plant, a joint initiative of Banas Dairy, Suzuki Motor Corporation and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), was inaugurated at Vinchhivadi in Dhanera taluka, Banaskantha district, Gujarat, to promote clean energy, circular economy and additional income opportunities for livestock farmers.

Key points:

• Highlights of Bio-CNG Initiative: Process: The plant processes 100 Metric Tonnes Per Day (MTPD) of cattle dung through anaerobic digestion to produce clean fuel and organic fertiliser.
• Network: The initiative has expanded to four plants with a combined capacity of 340 MTPD.
• Vinchhivadi is Suzuki’s 3rd operational biogas plant in India, after Agthala (December 2025) and Bhukhala (January 2026).
• Overall, nine plants are planned in Gujarat.
• Gramin Bharat Taxi: Nine taxis were also flagged off under the country’s first rural-level cooperative-model “Gramin Bharat Taxi” service, under which drivers own their vehicles.
• About NDDB: Established in 1965, the NDDB is headquartered in Anand, Gujarat, and plays a key role in dairy development in India.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

5. Hindalco Commissions India’s First PPT ATH Plant in Karnataka

In August 2026, Hindalco Industries Limited commissioned India’s first Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) manufacturing plant in Belagavi, Karnataka.

Key points:

• About India’s First PPT ATH Plant: Overview: The plant in Belagavi, Karnataka, has a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum, expandable to 60,000 tonnes, and runs entirely on renewable energy.
• Product: PPT ATH is a Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant (HFFR) material used in cables, insulation, and polymers to suppress flames, reduce smoke, and prevent toxic gas emission.
• Technology: The facility produces Hindalco’s InnoSafe Superfine PPT ATH, developed through in-house Research and Development (R&D), featuring automated process controls and an integrated system to ensure consistent quality and feedstock efficiency.
• About Hindalco Industries: Established in 1958 and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is led by Managing Director(MD) Satish Pai.
• The greenfield facility marks the first domestic production of this high-value specialty alumina product, strengthening India’s capability in fire-safety materials and supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

6. Japan’s Yuko Keicho Appointed as Vice President & Auditor General of World Bank Group

In August 2026, World Bank (WB) Group appointed Yuko Keicho, a Japanese national, as Vice President (VP) and Auditor General, strengthening its governance and internal audit framework.

Key points:

• About Yuko Keicho: Experience: She has over 30 years of experience across multilateral institutions and the private sector.
• Key Role: She previously served as Auditor General at the Asian Development Bank(ADB) and held senior roles at the World Bank Group, including Director for Strategy and Operations in Internal Audit.
• New Role: She will report directly to Ajay Banga while maintaining functional reporting to the Audit Committee, ensuring independent and effective internal oversight.
• About WB Group: Established in 1944 and is headquartered in Washington, D.
• C., United States of America(USA), is led by President Ajay Banga.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

7. Meghalaya Launches CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Programme to Improve Foundational Literacy

In August 2026, the Government of Meghalaya launched the CM-IMPACT (Chief Minister’s Initiative for Maximising Pass Achievement and Classroom Triumph) Read & Rise Meghalaya Programme to enhance foundational reading skills among schoolchildren and address learning gaps, especially in rural and remote areas.

Key points:

• Highlights of Read & Rise Programme: Goal: The programme aims to ensure every child can read and write confidently by age 7, while setting an immediate target for every child above 7 years to achieve reading ability within three months.
• Framework: The programme, under the Meghalaya Universal Reading Readiness Mission, adopts a scientific method to build grade-level reading skills.
• Focus: It emphasises improving foundational literacy, particularly in rural and remote areas with limited access to learning resources.
• Teacher Training Guide: The government released the “Teacher Training Guide for Universal Reading Readiness Across Meghalaya,” published by GREENAMMO and sponsored by the Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, to provide structured pedagogical support to teachers for improving children’s reading readiness.
• The programme was launched by Meghalaya Chief Minister(CM) Conrad K. Sangma at the Assembly Annexe Hall, Shillong, in the presence of State Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

8. AP Approves India’s First Dedicated Quantum and AI University Campus in Amaravati

In August 2026, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh (AP) approved the establishment of India’s first dedicated Quantum and Artificial Intelligence (AI) University Campus in Amaravati, AP.

Key points:

• About NIELIT Quantum & AI University Campus: Institution: The campus will be developed by National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Funding: The campus will be developed on 8.5 acres with an investment of Rs.
• 730.70 crore over five years, fully funded through a Government of India(GoI) grant-in-aid from the MeitY.
• Courses & Subjects: The university will offer Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Diploma, and Executive programmes, with key focus areas including Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), and Semiconductor Fabrication.
• Quantum Facility: The Amaravati Quantum Valley facility, built with German technology, is set for completion by December 2026 and operations from January 2027, featuring the Quantum Research, Innovation & Incubation Block (QRIIB).

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Polity & Governance (GS Paper 2). Government policies and administration.

🔬 Science & Technology

9. L&T Delivers ‘Samarthak’, Indian Navy’s First Indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel

In August 2026, Indian Navy (IN) received its first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), Samarthak, built by Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

Key points:

• (L&T) under the Samarthak-class MPV project at its Kattupalli Shipbuilding Facility, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• About MPV Samarthak: Contract Details: On 25 March 2022, the Ministry of Defence(MoD) signed a Rs.
• 887 crore contract with L&T for the construction of two MPVs.
• Naming: Samarthak, meaning The Proponent, represents the vessel’s role as a reliable multi-role platform designed to support a wide range of maritime missions and activities.
• Indigenous Content: The vessel has been developed with over 75% indigenous content in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and is designed as a versatile trial and evaluation platform for testing indigenous naval weapons and sensors.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Science & Technology (GS Paper 3). Achievements of Indians in S&T.

💰 Economy & Banking

10. RBI Relaxes Weekly Access Rule for FCNR(B) Swap Facility for Transactions Above USD 100 Million

In August 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed access norms for its dollar-rupee swap facility under Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank), FCNR(B) deposits, allowing banks to undertake swaps above USD 100 million outside weekly windows across India, to strengthen foreign exchange (forex) reserves and support rupee stability.

Key points:

• About FCNR(B) Swap Facility Relaxation:.
• Background: Earlier, RBI allowed banks to access the swap window only once a week on designated days, leading to delays in transferring foreign currency inflows and increasing overnight swap market pressures.
• Features: Banks can now access the swap facility on any day for inflows exceeding USD 100 million, while smaller transactions remain on weekly schedules, improving liquidity management, reducing hedging costs, easing short-term swap pressures, and enabling efficient handling of surplus dollar liquidity.
• Data: The facility attracted USD 72.85 billion in inflows, with FCNR(B) deposits contributing USD 65.40 billion, followed by overseas borrowings of USD 4.86 billion and External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) of USD 2.59 billion.
• The move improves flexibility in handling large inflows, enhances liquidity and fund transfer efficiency, and helps reduce dollar.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Economy (GS Paper 3). Banking, monetary policy, fiscal developments.

11. Bajaj General Launches ‘My Family Complete’ Covering Pets

In August 2026, Bajaj General Insurance Limited, formerly Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, launched ‘My Family Complete’, India’s first health insurance policy that includes pet dogs and cats as insured family members under a single integrated plan.

Key points:

• About My Family Complete Policy Eligibility: The policy covers adults (18+ years), children (3 months–30 years), and pets (from 3 months with no upper age limit), ensuring comprehensive family and pet protection.
• Coverage: Covers hospitalisation, room rent, pre/post expenses, domiciliary care, modern treatments, AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) (humans), organ donor expenses, family visits, and ambulance services including pet ambulance.
• Benefits: Offers unlimited reinstatement, up to 100% cumulative bonus, cataract and convalescence benefits, along with pet-specific covers like lost pet support, emergency accommodation, and third-party liability.
• Flexibility: Provides add-ons like air ambulance, global cover, multipliers, and custom riders, with sum insured ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 5 crore and tenure up to 5 years, integrating human and pet healthcare under one plan.
• About Bajaj General Insurance: It was incorporated on 19 September 2000 and commenced general insurance operations in India on 2 May 2001.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Economy (GS Paper 3). Banking, monetary policy, fiscal developments.

12. NABARD & NaBFID Signs MoU to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure Financing

In August 2026, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance financing support for rural infrastructure projects and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects by providing long-term and competitively priced finance.

Key points:

• About NABARD–NaBFID MoU:.
• Objective: The partnership aims to enhance the availability of long-term finance for rural infrastructure and allied value chains, support commercially viable projects, improve connectivity and market access, and boost rural incomes.
• Implementation Framework: The collaboration includes project identification, appraisal, credit structuring, debt syndication, joint monitoring, and capacity-building, while also covering commercially viable and bankable projects in food processing and storage.
• Focus Areas: Key focus areas include water and sanitation, irrigation, post-harvest storage and cold-chain infrastructure, terminal markets, rural roads and bridges, warehousing, and compressed biogas projects.
• About NaBFID: Established in 2021 under the NaBFID Act, 2021, it is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra and functions as India’s Development Finance Institution (DFI) for infrastructure financing.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Economy (GS Paper 3). Banking, monetary policy, fiscal developments.

🏏 Sports

13. Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa Becomes 1st Indian to Win Grand Chess Tour 2026

Indian Chess Grandmaster (GM) Rameshbabu (R) Praggnanandhaa won the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) 2026 Finals, becoming the first Indian champion by defeating United States of America (USA) GM Fabiano Caruana 15–13 in the finals held at Saint Louis Chess Club in St.

Key points:

• Louis, Missouri, United States of America (USA) from 22 to 27 August 2026.
• About Grand Chess Tour (GCT) 2026: Duration: The overall 2026 Grand Chess Tour was held from May 5 to August 27, 2026.
• Format: The tour consisted of five regular-season tournaments held across Europe and the USA, culminating in the newly introduced GCT Finals.
• Events: GCT is an elite circuit spanning Classical, Rapid, and Blitz events, including Super Rapid & Blitz Poland, Super Chess Classic Romania, Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, the Sinquefield Cup, and the GCT Finals.
• Earnings: Praggnanandhaa secured the biggest title of his career, earning USD 200,000 as the winner’s prize, and emerged as the top earner of the GCT with a total prize money of USD 404,354.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Sports Current Affairs. Awards and achievements of sportspersons.

🌿 Environment & Geography

14. CSIR-IHBT Researchers Discover New Sunflower Species ‘Doronicum Sanctum’ in AR

In August 2026, the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), discovered a new sunflower family species ‘Doronicum sanctum’ in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh (AR), at ~4,000 metre (m) altitude, highlighting Himalayan biodiversity through botanical survey and laboratory analysis.

Key points:

• About Doronicum Sanctum: Record: This marks the first documentation of the Doronicum genus in Northeast India, as earlier records in India were limited to the western Himalayan region.
• Nomenclature: The species, commonly known as Leopard’s bane, was named sanctum as its type locality lies near the Chumi Gyatse Holy Waterfalls, a site of deep spiritual significance to the local community.
• Characteristics: The species has hairy seeds (pubescent ray cypselae), a short-lived feathery pappus, dilated flower stalks, flat lance-shaped bracts, and bright yellow flowers with heart-shaped leaves, indicating a rare plant.
• The findings were published in an international peer-reviewed journal by Springer Nature.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: Environment & Ecology (GS Paper 3). Conservation and geography.

📘 General Knowledge & Miscellaneous

15. VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Ghanshyam Tiwari’s Book ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi Ka Modi Yug’

In August 2026, Vice President (VP) of India C. P.

Key points:

• Radhakrishnan released the book ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi Ka Modi Yug’ authored by Ghanshyam Tiwari, Member of Parliament (MP), Rajya Sabha, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• About the Book: Sankalp Se Siddhi Ka Modi Yug Overview: The book presents India’s transformation journey over the last 12 years, highlighting administrative achievements, governance reforms, ideological renaissance, and the nation’s development vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 Theme: The book highlights key themes, including the Rashtra Pratham (Nation First) approach, Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manavvad), Antyodaya (upliftment of the last person), national integrity, social and economic justice, women-led development, a self-reliant Bharat, and transparent governance.
• Ideology: The book connects contemporary governance with the ideas and ideals of prominent national thinkers, including Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Veer Savarkar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The author portrays Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi as ‘Setu Purush ‘, a bridge linking national thinkers’ visions with their implementation in contemporary India.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: General Knowledge. Important for TNPSC prelims.

16. World Sanskrit Day 2026 – August 28

World Sanskrit Day, also known as Sanskrit Diwas / Vishva Samskrita Dinam, is observed annually across the world on Shravana Purnima (full moon day of Shravana month) to promote Sanskrit, one of India’s oldest languages.

Key points:

• Background: Origin: In 1969, the Ministry of Education (MoE) initiated the observance of Sanskrit Diwas at central and state levels.
• Panini’s Contribution: The day commemorates Panini, the ancient Sanskrit grammarian and author of Ashtadhyayi, a foundational text on Sanskrit grammar.
• Sanskrit WeeK: Sanskrit Week 2026 is observed from 24 to 30 August 2026 to promote awareness and learning of Sanskrit.
• World Sanskrit Day 2026 was observed on 28 August 2026.

📌 Why it matters for TNPSC: General Knowledge. Important for TNPSC prelims.