Stone Age Tool Discovered in the Thenpennai River Near Panruti
- During a surface field survey conducted in the Thenpennai River near Kandaracottayam (near Panruti), archaeologist Immanuel and history enthusiast Pratap discovered a stone tool utilized by Paleolithic people.
- The Paleolithic tool recovered from the Thenpennai River at Kandaracottayam measures approximately 7.8 cm in length and 5.7 cm in width.
- The stone weapon found in the Thenpennai River at Kandaracottayam is an ancient lithic tool of the scraping variety, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period. Its age is estimated to be over 50,000 years.
- The annual inflation rate calculated based on the country's Wholesale Price Index (with the base year set at 2011-12) was recorded at 8.3 percent (provisional) in April 2026 (compared to April 2025).
- The primary reason for the positive inflation rate recorded in April 2026 is the rise in the prices of mineral oils, crude petroleum and natural gas, metals, other manufactured products, and non-food items.
- Compared to March 2026, the month-over-month change in the Wholesale Price Index for April 2026 was recorded at 3.86 percent. Primary Articles (Weight: 22.62%): The index for this category, which stood at 197.3 (provisional) in March 2026, rose by 2.58% in April 2026 to reach 202.4 (provisional).
- Compared to March 2026, prices in April 2026 increased for Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas (16.42%), Food Articles (1.41%), and Minerals (0.91%). Conversely, the price of Non-Food Articles declined by 0.94%.
- Fuel and Power (Weight: 13.15%): The index for this category, which was at 153.7 (provisional) in March 2026, surged by 18.22% in April 2026 to reach 181.7 (provisional). Compared to March 2026, the price of Mineral Oils rose by 29.37% in April. Meanwhile, the price of Electricity declined by 2.53%.
- Manufactured Products (Weight: 64.23%): The index for this category, which stood at 149.5 (provisional) in March, rose by 1.40% in April to reach 151.6 (provisional). Key groups that witnessed a month-over-month increase in prices include: Manufacture of Basic Metals, Chemicals and Chemical Products, Textiles, Food Products, and Machinery and Equipment.
- The Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships are currently underway in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad. In the women's 53 kg weight category, India's Gyaneshwari Yadav won both a silver and a bronze medal.
- Gyaneshwari secured the silver medal by lifting 88 kg in the Snatch category, and went on to win the bronze medal with a combined total lift of 194 kg across both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk disciplines.
- Chinese athlete Jinlan Zhao won the gold medal by lifting 216 kg, while Hoi Hua Nguyen from Vietnam secured the silver medal with a lift of 195 kg.
