Tamil Nadu

State Industrial Policy & Investment Conclave

Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2026:
- The Tamil Nadu government signed 97 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) totaling ₹67,542 crore in investments across 20 districts to support the State’s target of achieving a $1.5-trillion economy by 2036.
- Key Project Allocations:
  - Ramanathapuram Footwear Park: Phoenix Kothari Footwear Ltd. committed ₹1,000 crore to set up a dedicated footwear and component manufacturing park in Ramanathapuram.
  - Hinduja Group: Committed ₹2,500 crore across renewable energy (including a 200-MW solar, wind, and battery hybrid plant via Hinduja Renewables), EV infrastructure, and digital mobility.
  - Space Sector Clusters (Thoothukudi): Agnikul Cosmos is investing ₹400 crore for launch vehicle integration/assembly, while Skyroot Aerospace is investing ₹250 crore for storage, testing, and integration facilities.

Regulatory Probe into Exotic Species Possession:
- TN Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (TNWCCB) expanded investigations into an Erode farm possessing exotic species (African servals, cottontop tamarins, marmosets) without proper import documentation.
- Under the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024 and the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, possession of Schedule IV exotic species requires mandatory registration and CITES export/import permits.

Rajasthan UCC & Tree Protection Bills:
- The Rajasthan Cabinet approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill (becoming the 5th State to initiate UCC legislation) alongside the Trees (Protection) Bill, which grants statutory protection to 29 tree species, including Khejri (the State tree).

Gautam Rangarajan: Appointed as an expert adviser on Structure and Process to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He is the son of the late Indian diplomat L.N. Rangarajan, known for his English translation of Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
Kuril Islands Territorial Dispute:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first official visit to Iturup island in the Kuril archipelago (claimed by Japan as the Northern Territories / Etorofu), drawing a formal diplomatic protest from Tokyo.