19th AUGUST 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Chief Minister Stalin launched Muthalvarin Kakkum Karangal Thittam
- Chief Minister Stalin launched the Muthalvarin Kakkum Karangal Thittam in Chennai today (Aug. 19). For the welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, a new scheme called 'Muthalvarin Kakkum Karangal Thittam' will be launched. The Chief Minister had earlier announced that banks will provide loans of up to Rs. 1 crore to start a business.
- Under this scheme, ex-servicemen, unmarried widows of ex-servicemen, widows of servicemen who died during service, sons of eligible ex-servicemen and unmarried, widowed daughters can benefit from this scheme.
- 30 percent capital subsidy and 3 percent interest subsidy will be provided on the loan amount provided for businesses started through this scheme. Similarly, there is no minimum age for ex-servicemen under this scheme.
- Those who want to benefit from this scheme should not have already benefited from similar schemes offered by the Central and State governments.
- The industries related to agricultural activities and silkworm, goat, cow, poultry, fish and pig farming industries that were already removed in the government order have now been added.
- In Chennai, metro trains are being operated on two lines in the first phase. Construction work is underway on three lines in the second phase.
- In this situation, in the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II project, a feasibility study was conducted to extend the new line from Koyambedu - Avadi to Pattapiram. A detailed project report was prepared for this and submitted to the Tamil Nadu government.
- According to this report, this line, which starts from Koyambedu Metro Station, passes through Padi Pudhunagar, Mukapor, Ambattur, Thirumullaivayil, Avadi and ends at Pattapiram (outer ring road).
- The Chennai Koyambedu - Pattabiram metro line is estimated at Rs. 9,928 crore. It will be 21.7 km long. The project will have 19 metro stations and three flyovers.
- The Tamil Nadu government has given permission to start land acquisition work on the line, after the central government and the Tamil Nadu government had already approved it. For this, a government order has been issued with an allocation of Rs. 2,442 crore.
- US President Donald Trump had announced a 25% reciprocal duty on goods imported from India. Following this, Trump imposed an additional 25% import duty on Indian goods, taking the crude oil trade with Russia as the reason, for a total of 50% import duty.
- India's textile exports are being severely affected by this tax. In order to compensate for this, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had written to the Prime Minister seeking the abolition of the 11 percent duty on cotton imported into India.
- In this situation, the Central Government has announced that it will abolish the duty on cotton imported into India from August 19 to September 30.
- The peace talks with the US in the Russia-Ukraine war have made progress. As a result, the US is expected to waive the 25 percent additional duty imposed on India citing Russia.
- The Union Cabinet on August 19, 2025, aimed at regulating the growing online gaming industry in India, approved the Online Gaming Bill to make online betting punishable and impose penalties on advertisers and endorsers.
- The legislation seeks to address concerns about deceptive advertising related to drugs, financial fraud and betting applications. Since 2022, more than 1,400 illegal betting sites have been blocked.
- The bill, which emphasizes user safety and responsible gaming, proposes stricter accountability for celebrities and influencers who endorse such apps.
- The recently approved Online Gaming Bill introduces a broad legal framework for regulating online gaming platforms in India, with a strong focus on reducing illegal betting.
- The bill classifies online betting as a punishable offence, empowering authorities to take strict action against operators and users who engage in unauthorised gambling activities.
- In particular, it extends accountability to endorsers such as TV celebrities and social media influencers who promote betting apps, imposing fines on them to prevent misleading advertisements.
- Government sources said that this approach aims to strike a balance between fostering the growth of the gaming industry and protecting the interests of consumers from exploitation and addiction.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the proposal of the Airports Authority of India to construct a green airport at Kota-Pandi, Rajasthan at a cost of Rs. 1507 crore.
- Kota, located on the banks of the Chambal River, is the industrial capital of Rajasthan. It is also a hub for various educational training in India.
- The Rajasthan government has allotted 440.06 hectares of land to the Airports Authority of India for the development of a green airport to operate A-321 aircraft.
- The project also includes construction of a 20,000 sq m airport terminal building to handle 20 lakh passengers per annum and 1000 passengers during peak hours.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved construction of a six-laning of 110.87 km of the Rameswar to Thangi National Highway on the Bhubaneswar Bypass in Odisha. The total capital expenditure is Rs. 8307.74 crore.
- The six-laning will pass through the highly urbanised cities of Gorda, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. When completed, the project will significantly benefit Odisha and other eastern states.
- By diverting the heavy trade traffic, it will help in faster movement of goods and reduce the cost of transportation, thereby promoting socio-economic development in the region.
- When completed, the bypass will strengthen the transport connectivity between important religious places and will provide connectivity to economic hubs.
- New avenues will be opened for trade and industrial development. The project will directly generate 74.43 lakh man-days of employment and indirectly 93.04 lakh man-days of employment.
