20 Aug 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Tamirabharani River

Indian Geography | Rivers | Tamil Nadu

WHY IN NEWS: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court declared the Tamirabharani (Porunai) River a deity and granted it legal personhood to strengthen action against pollution and environmental degradation.

IN ONE LINE: Tamirabharani is a perennial Tamil Nadu river rising in the Pothigai Hills of the Western Ghats and draining into the Gulf of Mannar.

Course and hydrology

• River type: perennial river flowing entirely within Tamil Nadu.

• Origin: Agastyarkoodam Peak in the Pothigai Hills of the Western Ghats.

• Course: initially flows northward, then turns eastward through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.

• Outfall: empties into the Gulf of Mannar.

• Perennial character: receives water from both the Southwest Monsoon and the Northeast Monsoon.

Tributaries

• Most tributaries arise in the forested Western Ghats.

• Major tributaries: Servalar, Manimuthar, Gadananathi, Pachaiyar, Chittar, Ramanathi and Koraiyar.

Waterfalls and reservoirs

• Paanatheertham Falls: about 40 metres high, near the Karaiyar Reservoir.

• Other waterfalls include Kalyanatheertham Falls and Agasthiar Falls near Papanasam.

• Reservoirs along the river system support irrigation and water supply.

Important dams

• Karaiyar Dam: major water-storage structure in the river system.

• Manimuthar Dam: supports irrigation and drinking-water needs.

• Gadananathi Dam: built on a key tributary.

• Ramanathi Dam: supports basin water management and agriculture.

MEMORY LOCK: Tamirabharani/Porunai | Tamil Nadu only | Agastyarkoodam-Pothigai Hills | Tirunelveli + Thoothukudi | Gulf of Mannar | SW + NE monsoons | Servalar-Manimuthar-Gadananathi-Pachaiyar-Chittar-Ramanathi-Koraiyar

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Where does the Tamirabharani originate and where does it drain?

2. Why does the river maintain perennial flow?

3. Name any four major tributaries.

National Anubhav Awards

Governance | Institutional memory | Public administration

WHY IN NEWS: The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions conferred the National Anubhav Awards 2026 on 15 selected awardees in New Delhi.

IN ONE LINE: The Anubhav initiative captures the work experiences and suggestions of retiring and retired public-sector employees to preserve institutional memory and improve governance.

Background and purpose

• Launched in March 2015 by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW).

• DoPPW functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

• The awards recognise and incentivise retiring and retired government employees who share valuable experiences and suggestions.

Who can participate?

• Employees of the Central Government, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and Public Sector Banks.

• Eligible participants may be due to retire within the next eight months or may have retired within the previous three years.

Why does the initiative matter?

• Knowledge repository: creates a database of useful work experiences and suggestions.

• Nation building: channels accumulated expertise towards public service and development.

• Administrative improvement: helps Ministries and Departments identify replicable ideas for better governance.

• Institutional memory: preserves good practices built over years of service.

Awards and recognition

• National Anubhav Award: medal, certificate and cash prize of ₹10,000.

• Jury Certificate: medal and certificate.

MEMORY LOCK: Anubhav | launched March 2015 | DoPPW | Central Govt + CPSE + PSB employees | retire in next 8 months / retired within 3 years | institutional memory | ₹10,000 National Award

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Which department launched the National Anubhav Awards?

2. What is the retirement-based eligibility window?

3. What does a National Anubhav Award winner receive?

AppCoMS 2.0

RTI | Digital governance | Central Information Commission

WHY IN NEWS: The Central Information Commission launched the upgraded Appeal and Complaint Management System (AppCoMS 2.0).

IN ONE LINE: AppCoMS is CIC’s digital portal for filing and processing Second Appeals and Complaints under the RTI framework.

What is AppCoMS?

• An online web application that enables citizens to file Second Appeals and Complaints digitally.

• Initially introduced by the Central Information Commission in September 2016.

• Supports end-to-end digital processing of RTI-related appeals and complaints.

• Covers registration, hearing schedules, notices, decisions, orders and related case-management processes.

What changes in AppCoMS 2.0?

• Enhanced security standards, improved functionality and streamlined workflows.

• Dedicated user accounts for applicants, Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and other stakeholders, linked to email IDs and mobile numbers.

• Direct online filing of Second Appeals and Complaints through user accounts.

• Case timelines, document access and online progress tracking.

• Downloadable hearing notices, decisions and orders.

• Digital Signature Certificate facility for signing and issuing notices and orders.

• Designed to improve transparency, accessibility and efficiency.

MEMORY LOCK: AppCoMS | CIC | launched Sep 2016 | Second Appeals + Complaints under RTI | 2.0 = user accounts + tracking + downloads + DSC + stronger security

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Which institution runs AppCoMS?

2. What kinds of RTI matters can citizens file through it?

3. Name three upgrades introduced in AppCoMS 2.0.

Lantana camara

Environment | Invasive alien species

WHY IN NEWS: A study highlighted that several ornamental plants sold online in India, including Lantana camara, are alien species with invasive potential.

IN ONE LINE: Lantana camara is a tropical American flowering shrub introduced into India as an ornamental plant that can form dense invasive growth and suppress native vegetation.

Basic identification

• Plant type: flowering shrub of the Verbenaceae or verbena family.

• Native range: tropical regions of the Americas.

• Introduced into India during the colonial period as a decorative garden plant.

Why does it spread so effectively?

• Tolerates diverse climatic conditions, including high temperature and humidity.

• Its adaptability enables rapid spread into new habitats.

• Forms dense growth on forest floors and can dominate large areas.

• Can also behave as a climber, covering trees and surrounding vegetation.

Ecological impact

• Recognised among the world’s most harmful invasive alien species.

• Suppresses native plants and hampers natural forest regeneration.

• The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is among the worst-affected Indian landscapes.

• Its invasion reduces biodiversity and complicates ecosystem conservation and forest management.

MEMORY LOCK: Lantana camara | Verbenaceae | tropical Americas | colonial ornamental introduction | climate-tolerant | dense invasive thickets | suppresses native flora | Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve badly affected

CHECK YOUR RECALL

1. Where is Lantana camara native to?

2. Why is it considered invasive?

3. Which Indian biosphere reserve is highlighted as severely affected?