Marungur archaeological excavation
▪ Marungur, a village in Panruti taluk, Cuddalore district, lies near the Chidambaram-Kumbakonam Highway.
▪ Site is part of the ancient Naduvil Nadu (Central Territorial Division), flanked by the Thenpennai and Vada Vellar rivers.
▪ Came into the archaeological spotlight in 2010 with discovery of Tamil Brahmi-inscribed potsherds during road work.
▪ One of eight sites where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) undertook
excavation in 2024–25.
▪ Techniques used: UAV mapping and LiDAR scanning.
▪ Site elevation: 100 metres above sea level.
▪ 8 trenches excavated; mound composed mostly of laterite soil.
▪ Discovery of:
o Two large terracotta storage containers (1.25m deep) with bone points and charcoal samples
(for radiocarbon dating).
o Iron knife, conch shell cores, graffiti-bearing potsherds, and various types of ceramic ware.
o 95 antiquities, including:
✓ Terracotta toys, stone hopscotch pieces
✓ Beads (glass, agate, carnelian, terracotta)
✓ Copper (antimony rods, bangle fragments, coin of Raja Raja Chola I)
✓ Iron implements and tools
▪ Two laterite stone circle structures identified.
▪ 10 urns excavated, placed within laterite bedrock cavities.
▪ Artefacts found:
o Iron swords, red jasper beads, grave goods (pots of red, black-red, and red-slipped ware)
▪ Indicates continuous cultural occupation from the Iron Age to Early Historic Period.
▪ Proximity to ancient port cities Arikamedu and Poompuhar boosts its maritime-historical importance.
▪ Future Excavation Sites (Proposed sites) (2025–26):
o Thelunganur, Adichanur, Manikkoltai, Nagapattinam
o Keeladi, Vellalur, Karivalamvanthanallur, Pattanamarudur
e-Sakshya App
▪ Tamil Nadu Police to launch a new mobile app called e-Sakshya.
▪ Developed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for use by investigation officers.
▪ To collect audio-visual evidence, photographs of crime scenes, and witness records.
▪ Helps maintain the chain of custody and improve admissibility in court.
▪ Blockchain technology ensures data integrity and authenticity.
▪ Officers trained to use the app as per Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Temples of Social Justice
▪ Recent political issues highlighting the 200-year-old legislative and social justice model on regulating secular aspects of religion, especially prevalent in South India.
▪ Legislative Evolution:
✓ 1817: The Religious Endowment and Escheats Regulation was introduced by the East India
Company to regulate religious endowments.
✓ 1858: Queen Victoria’s Proclamation promised minimal interference in religious affairs post-1857 Mutiny.
✓ Despite this, the British maintained control over secular aspects of temple affairs, especially in the Madras Presidency.
▪ Justice Party & 1925 Law:
✓ Justice Party (1920) introduced Bill No. 12 of 1922, leading to the Hindu Religious Endowments Act (1925).
✓ Allowed surplus temple funds to be used for secular purposes, like education.
▪ The 1959 Act & Present Legal Framework:
✓ Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 is the current law.
✓ Section 36: Permits use of surplus funds for welfare with approval.
✓ Section 66: Explicitly allows use for colleges/universities, with provision to teach Hindu religion or temple architecture.
▪ Temples, since Chola (970 AD) and Vijayanagara periods were centres for education and cultural activities.
▪ Inscriptions and mandapams show that temples were used for learning and public events.
▪ The Self-Respect Movement promoted temple access and reforms, including anti-caste measures.
▪ Government intervention enabled temple entry legislation (1936, 1947) and appointment of priests from backward classes.
▪ Tamil Nadu’s model is seen as a pioneer in religious reform and social equity.
“Ungaludan Stalin” Scheme Website- Operating Entirely in Tamil
▪ An exclusive website (https://ungaludanstalin.tn.gov.in) has been created to provide details about the “Ungaludan Stalin” scheme and information about camp locations. This website includes details about the services and schemes offered in both urban and rural areas under this initiative.
▪ Tamil Nadu Chief Minister launched the “Ungaludan Stalin” scheme, which brings government services to doorsteps, in Chidambaram Municipality, Cuddalore district.
▪ In urban areas, 43 services are provided through 13 departments, and in rural areas, 46 services are offered through 75 departments.
▪ Under this scheme, government departments must respond to applications within 45 days.
▪ If not satisfied, an appeal can be made. A total of 10,000 camps are planned until November, with 1,738 camps in urban areas and 6,232 camps in rural areas.
▪ The website has crossed 4.5 lakh views within one week of its launch.
▪ Websites of the Tamil Nadu government and its public sector undertakings typically have both English and Tamil versions.
▪ However, the “Ungaludan Stalin” scheme website has been designed entirely in the Tamil language with the aim of reaching all sections of people.
▪ There is no use of the English language anywhere on the site.
Tamil Nadu Government’s loan and cooperative initiatives
▪ ₹53,340 crore in crop loans disbursed to 66.24 lakh farmers in the last 4 years through cooperative societies.
▪ Chief Minister’s Pharmacies:
✓ 1,000 pharmacies launched across Tamil Nadu.
✓ Offer 25% discount on generic, branded, and traditional medicines.
✓ The initiative aims at providing medicines at prices lower than those offered at cooperative, Amma, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi pharmacies.
✓ Launched on February 24, 2025
▪ Tamil Nadu praised by Central Government as best-performing state in the cooperative sector for ensuring loans, fair prices, and support to farmers.
