Lok Sabha Passes Tribunals Reforms Bill 2026; India's Russian Oil Imports Hit All-Time High of 48%

Lok Sabha Passes Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026; State Renamed 'Keralam' via Article 3

The Lok Sabha has passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to change the state's name from 'Kerala' to 'Keralam' in the Constitution. The Bill follows two unanimous state assembly resolutions and must now be passed by Rajya Sabha and receive President's assent. This is a key example of Article 3 procedure for state name change.

Parliament Passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Act 2026 Overriding SC Ruling, Extinguishes Rs 2 Lakh Cr Dues

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 restricts states from imposing specified levies on mineral rights and extinguishes ~Rs 2 lakh crore in unpaid dues. Mineral-rich states like Odisha and Jharkhand oppose it as a blow to federal fiscal autonomy, potentially losing thousands of crores annually. This reverses the financial impact of a landmark 2024 Supreme Court ruling that had empowered states to tax mineral-bearing lands.

Lok Sabha Passes Tribunal Reforms Bill 2026: NTC Creation but Autonomy Concerns Remain

Parliament has passed the Tribunal Reforms Bill 2026, which creates a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to oversee tribunals, following a Supreme Court directive. However, the Bill retains significant executive control over the NTC's appointments and finances, raising concerns about its independence and compliance with the Court's judgment.

Rajya Sabha Passes Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill 2026, Raising Judge Strength to 38

The Rajya Sabha has cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the apex court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The Bill replaces a May ordinance, but Opposition MPs questioned the ordinance route and highlighted the persistent diversity deficit in judicial appointments. This is a high-yield Polity topic for Prelims and Mains, with concrete data on SC/ST/OBC/minority/women representation and judiciary infrastructure.

Rajya Sabha Passes Appropriation Bill 2026 for ₹54,067 Cr Excess Expenditure (FY2022-23)

Rajya Sabha has cleared the Appropriation Bill, 2026, authorising ₹54,067.44 crore in excess expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India for FY 2022-23. Two demands covered: ₹53,871 crore for debt repayment and ₹196.44 crore per a Railway Ministry court order. This is a key procedural event in parliamentary financial control every student of Indian polity must understand.

PM CARES Fund: Donations Fall to ₹479.96 Cr, Balance Hits Record ₹8,452 Cr; No Questions in Lok Sabha

PM CARES Fund, a public charitable trust set up in 2020 for COVID-19 relief, saw donations plunge to ₹479.96 crore in FY2024-25 while its closing balance hit a record ₹8,452.06 crore. Spending fell to a five-year low of ₹87.85 lakh. The PMO has informed Lok Sabha that questions on PM CARES, PMNRF, and NDF are not admissible under parliamentary rules as they are funded by voluntary contributions, not from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Lok Sabha Passes Tribunals Reforms Bill 2026 to Establish National Tribunals Commission for Appointments

The Lok Sabha has passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, to establish a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) for appointing chairpersons and members of tribunals. This follows the Supreme Court's directive to ensure independence and transparency. The Bill replaces the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.

Lok Sabha Passes Tribunals Reforms Bill 2026 to Establish National Tribunals Commission for Selection of Members

Lok Sabha has passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a National Tribunals Commission to select chairpersons and members of key tribunals. This move follows the Supreme Court striking down parts of the earlier 2021 Act, aiming to strengthen tribunals as specialized complementary institutions to the judiciary.