Denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes (DNTs) are demanding a separate column in the caste enumeration planned for February 2027, the first since 1931, and constitutional recognition in a Schedule like SCs, STs and OBCs. The Social Justice Ministry has recommended their inclusion to the Registrar General of India.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister launched Bharat Taxi, the country's first cooperative-owned ride-hailing service. Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and set up on 6 June 2025, it gives drivers, called 'sarathis', ownership and a central role in operations instead of relying on aggregator models.
A UAV-based survey by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has estimated 270 dugongs in Tamil Nadu waters: 158 in Palk Bay and 112 in the Gulf of Mannar, now India's largest viable dugong population.
At the Mega Handicrafts Exhibition-cum-Conference in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister presented the Living Craft Treasure Award to veteran artisans. Instituted by the State government in 2013-14, the award recognises lifetime contribution to traditional handicrafts and is open to craftspersons aged 65 or above who have practised their craft for many years. Ten artisans are chosen every year.
The Tamil Nadu government told the Madras High Court that a Government Order dated 21 January 2026 has abolished the police orderly system. To enforce the ban, every district now has a monitoring committee chaired by the District Collector, with the District Revenue Officer, the Additional Superintendent of Police and other senior officials as members.
The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) secured the first prize at the 38th Kerala State Science Congress. In other State developments, the Chief Minister inaugurated Tamil Nadu's first glow garden at Mamallapuram, a tourism attraction featuring illuminated landscaping, and unveiled a statue of the late comedian-actor 'Kalaivanar' N.S.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the Poompuhar State Awards 2025-26 to ten artisans in Chennai for excellence in Tamil Nadu's traditional crafts. Every recipient gets Rs 50,000 in cash, a 4-gram gold medal, a Thamirapattiram and a certificate. This year's awardees are K. Venkatesh, C. Sangeetha, A. Babu, K. Reeta, M. Shabana, S. Murugan, A. Raj, A. Gavvabeevi, T.
More than 500 stone age implements have been recovered from Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Namakkal districts, pointing to human habitation during the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic periods. The finds, largely fashioned from quartz, include hand axes, cleavers, choppers, flakes and multi-directional discoidal cores. Sites yielding the tools include Kurumbappati, Kallikudi, Valkaradu, Veeramalai, Nadukattupatti, Mullipatti, Malampatti, Sarugumalai, Sitharmalai and Thalaimalai.
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