Kallakurichi hooch tragedy ▪ Around 50 people died and many are admitted at the hospital after consuming spurious liquor. ▪ Tamil Nadu Government has constituted a one-man commission headed by former High Court Judge B.Gokuldas to inquire into the tragedy. ▪ Methanol has been cited as the cause of death ▪ The Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 stipulate the maximum permissible quantity of methanol in different liquors. ▪ The distribution of methanol is restricted by the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act 1937. Caste Census ▪ The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, urging the Union government to conduct a caste-based census along with the general population census. Note ▪ The State could conduct a caste-based census under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, the Census Act could override it. ▪ Section 3 of the Census Act states that only the Union government could conduct a census. ▪ Census is covered under Entry 69 in the Union List. ▪ Kulasekaran Commission on December 7, 2020 to collect caste based data.
