Tamil Nadu

Assembly Resolution on Caste Census 2027 (BC/MBC/DNC Enumeration):
- Resolution: The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union Government to pre-load lists of Backward Classes (BCs), Most Backward Classes (MBCs), and Denotified Communities (DNCs) on the Census portal/application.
- Objective: Ensure caste details are collected in the second phase of Census 2027 based on official government lists, urging the Centre to drop the ambiguous “Open-Column Method” (where respondents self-declare caste) for BCs, MBCs, and DNCs.

Public Health Initiatives

Statewide Mission to Reduce Salt Intake:
- Public Health Context: Non-communicable diseases cause nearly 50% of certified deaths in Tamil Nadu, with ~1.8 crore citizens living with hypertension. TN per capita salt consumption ranges between 7 to 8 grams/day, exceeding the WHO recommended limit of less than 5 grams/day.
- Mission Strategy: The State Health Department announced a multi-pronged mission featuring:
  1. A statewide urine-sample survey to scientifically record baseline dietary salt intake.
  2. Salt reduction standards for government-run kitchens (Nutritious Meal Programme, ICDS, hospitals, and hostels).
  3. Pilot testing the feasibility of low-sodium salt substitutes (replacing sodium with potassium).

New Secretariat Department for HR&CE:
- The State government created a separate Department for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) at the Secretariat to streamline the administration and oversight of temple properties.
Commission of Inquiry Report on Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy:
- The Justice B. Gokuldas Commission of Inquiry report tabled in the Assembly held officials from the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW), local police, Excise, and revenue departments accountable for negligence in monitoring methanol storage and transport.

Indo-French Space Collaboration (TRISHNA Mission):
- French space agency CNES reaffirmed its partnership with ISRO for the upcoming launch of the TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) satellite aboard India’s PSLV.

UN “Correct the Map” Resolution & Cartographic Stance:
- India addressed cartographic “anomalies” in UN Geospatial maps regarding Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, clarifying that while India voted for the UN resolution’s underlying principle of equal-area map projection, its official sovereign territory (including Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) must strictly reflect India’s official national map.