16th JUNE 2026 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Chief Minister Vijay Orders Full Waiver of Crop Loans up to ₹75,000 for Farmers
- Last May, the government announced a full loan waiver for small and marginal farmers who had obtained crop loans of up to ₹50,000 from cooperative banks.
- Subsequently, the government reviewed requests received from across the state. A special review meeting was held at the Secretariat, chaired by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. Ministers and senior officials from the Departments of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Cooperation, Finance, and Planning and Development participated in the meeting and held detailed discussions.
- In a major relief measure for farmers who availed crop loans through cooperative banks, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to grant a 100% loan waiver to those with outstanding crop loans of up to ₹75,000.
- According to Reserve Bank of India guidelines, if a loan waiver is announced, the state government must reimburse the full amount to the banks within a specified timeframe. It is reported that the new scheme was formulated taking this requirement and the current financial position of the Tamil Nadu government into account.
- Prime Minister Modi was awarded Slovakia's highest national honour, the Order of the White Double Cross (First Class). Slovak President Peter Pellegrini presented the award during a ceremony held in the country's capital, Bratislava. This marks the 33rd international award conferred upon Prime Minister Modi.
- Prime Minister Modi is on a week-long official visit to the European nations of France and Slovakia. As the first leg of his journey, Prime Minister Modi visited the French city of Nice, where he met with President Emmanuel Macron for discussions.
- Subsequently, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Slovakia on Sunday night. With this visit, he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country since it gained independence in 1993.
- It is noteworthy that President Droupadi Murmu had previously visited Slovakia in April 2025, and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini had visited India last February to attend an AI technology conference in Delhi.
- In the capital, Bratislava, Prime Minister Modi met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Monday. During the meeting, 11 key agreements were signed to expand cooperation between the two nations in sectors such as migration, digital technology, defense, and higher education.
- To boost economic ties between India and Slovakia, both leaders agreed to work together on the early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
- They also agreed to expand cooperation in the energy sector to enhance energy security and to finalize a social security agreement that safeguards the interests and social security of Indian workers in Slovakia and Slovak workers in India.
