Current Affairs · 20 July 2026

TNPSC current affairs published on 20 July 2026.

NationalThe Hindu - National

Kerala Palakkad double murder case: death penalty, ₹20 lakh fine and rarest-of-rare ruling

A Palakkad court sentenced convict Chenthamara to death in the Pothundy twin murder case and imposed ₹20 lakh compensation for the victims’ orphaned daughters.

EnvironmentThe Hindu - Environment

Sundarbans border fencing plan: BSF’s 90-km proposal raises ecology and security questions

The BSF has explored a 90-km fencing proposal in the Sundarbans along the Indo-Bangladesh border, with concerns over mangroves, wildlife movement and land acquisition.

NationalThe Hindu - National

Parliament Monsoon Session 2026: five new Bills listed, delimitation legislation absent

The government’s Monsoon Session agenda listed five new Bills but did not mention delimitation legislation.

NationalThe Hindu - National

Monsoon Session 2026: Bill to protect Vande Mataram and other key legislative proposals listed

The government listed the 2026 Monsoon Session Bills, including a proposal to criminalise insult to Vande Mataram.

NationalThe Hindu - National

CIC asks IITs to form high-level committees on student suicides; RTI and privacy issues highlighted

The CIC directed IITs to set up high-level committees after noting recurring suicides and privacy-related RTI disputes.

Science TechnologyHindu Tamil Thisai

Vikram-1 launch on July 18 links India’s 1980 SLV-3 milestone with Abdul Kalam’s legacy

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 launch on July 18, 2026 was tied to India’s 1980 SLV-3 success and Abdul Kalam’s role in it.

Tamil NaduThe Hindu - Tamil Nadu

Vellalore excavation in Coimbatore: 1,000 artefacts and Tamil Nadu archaeology findings

Tamil Nadu archaeology has unearthed about 1,000 artefacts at Vellalore on the Noyyal riverbed, pointing to multiple historical periods and an ancient trade route.

Tamil NaduThe Hindu - Tamil Nadu

Pallikaranai marshland notification: why Chennai’s wetland matters for water security

PMK has urged the Tamil Nadu government to officially notify the Pallikaranai marshland and protect it from encroachment and dumping.

NationalThe Hindu - National

Ken-Betwa Link Project: India’s first river-linking project, displacement and water transfer facts

Tribals in Madhya Pradesh are protesting the ₹44,000 crore Ken-Betwa Link Project, India’s first river-linking project, over rehabilitation and compensation concerns.

NationalThe Hindu - Tamil Nadu

CIC order on IIT campus suicides: RTI, privacy and preventive committees

The CIC has asked IITs to form high-level committees to prevent student suicides while upholding privacy limits under RTI law.

Tamil NaduThe Hindu - Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu TLPS 2025: 71% classrooms lack teacher checking of written work

TLPS 2025 found that teachers did not check written work in 71% of Tamil Nadu classrooms sampled across 3 districts.

EconomyThe Hindu - Economy

Rupee at 96.42 against dollar: key forex and market facts for TNPSC

On July 20, 2026, the rupee fell to 96.42 per U.S. dollar amid higher crude prices, capital outflows and a stronger dollar demand.

Reports IndicesHindu Tamil Thisai

NITI Aayog 2026 investment-friendly states index: Gujarat 1st, Tamil Nadu 3rd

NITI Aayog’s 2026 index ranked Gujarat first, Maharashtra second and Tamil Nadu third among 17 major states.

NationalThe Hindu - National

West Bengal to use Bengali in official communication from 1 September 2026

West Bengal will prioritise Bengali in all official government work from 1 September 2026, with Bengali and Hindi used for Central Government communication.

NationalThe Hindu - National

Kerala’s CEMS 2026-27: 33 schemes from 8 departments for real-time monitoring

Kerala will subject 33 schemes from 8 departments to CEMS in 2026-27 for real-time evaluation and reporting.