Tamil Nadu

Archaeology, History & Culture

• Third Phase of Underwater Archaeological Exploration at Poompuhar:
  • Location: Off the coast of Poompuhar (ancient port city Kaveripoompattinam) in Mayiladuthurai district.
  • Sangam Literature Context: Ancient literary works including Pattinappaalai, Silappadikaram, and Manimekalai document Poompuhar’s settlements and flourishing maritime trade with Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and the West.

State Governance & Administration

• Proposal to Abolish State Planning Commission (SPC):
  • Historical Context: Formed 55 years ago in April 1971 under Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with E.P. Royappa as its first Vice-Chairman.
  • Evolution: Replaced by the State Development Policy Council (SDPC) in 2020, and rechristened back to SPC in 2021. By convention, the Chief Minister serves as the ex-officio Chairperson.
  • Current Proposal: The State government plans to abolish the standing body of experts, shifting toward directly engaging external domain experts for evidence-based policy inputs.

National

International Affairs

• Bhutan Eliminates Dog-Transmitted Rabies:
  • WHO Validation: Bhutan became the first country in the WHO South-East Asia region to eliminate dog-transmitted human rabies as a public health issue using a “One Health” approach.