US-Iran Peace Deal, WPI Jumps to 9.7%, Kerala Budget: Weekly News Roundup

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

Today's top news covers the Lok Sabha's passage of the Tribunals Reforms Bill 2026 without debate, India's all-time high Russian oil imports at 48% in June 2026, multiple Supreme Court orders on Cauvery, Manipur, and Abhishek Banerjee, and a police lathi-charge on student protesters in Jharkhand. Key for Prelims: data points, bill names, SC orders.

SCO Bishkek Declaration, INS Nipun, Form 7 & Distinguished Jurist: UPSC Exam Focus

The UPSC Key article for September 2, 2026, covers the SCO Bishkek Declaration, Form 7 for electoral roll deletion, commissioning of INS Nipun, and the unused provision for appointing a distinguished jurist as SC judge, along with other exam-relevant topics like GDP growth, Indus Waters Treaty, and climate-health syndemic.

Anti-Dumping Duty on Chinese TiO2: DGTR Final Findings (Aug 3, 2026) - Centre Assures KMML, TTPL

The Centre has assured Kerala of imposing anti-dumping duty on Chinese titanium dioxide following DGTR's final findings. This protects PSUs like KMML and TTPL from low-cost imports. Key for Prelims: DGTR process, anti-dumping mechanism, and dates.

7th ESA Draft Notification Covers 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala; 131 Villages Included Across 12 Districts

The Union government's seventh draft notification for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats has designated 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala, affecting 131 villages across 12 districts. Farmers and residents fear restrictions on agriculture and habitation, demanding exclusion of populated areas before the final notification. This is a critical issue for environment and governance syllabus, highlighting the conflict between ecological conservation and livelihood rights.

CAG Flags ₹3,161 Cr Power Subsidy Lapse & ₹3,217 Cr E-Procurement Irregularities in Delhi

The CAG report for 2022-23 exposes major flaws in Delhi's power subsidy scheme and e-procurement system, including wasteful subsidies to zero-consumption consumers and suspected collusive bidding. This is crucial for understanding CAG's role, subsidy targeting, and public procurement issues.

₹743.43 Cr Revenue Detected in 6 Months: Andhra AI-GST Model Wins National Acclaim at 6th Coordination Meet

Andhra Pradesh’s AI & Machine Learning-based GST administration model has been nationally acclaimed at the 6th National Co-ordination Meeting. The system detected ₹743.43 crore in revenue in just six months—more than double the previous manual process—and has sparked interest from several states. For exam aspirants, this is a key case study on AI in governance, tax administration reform, and state-level innovation.

India-Japan Critical Minerals: Joint Africa Investment to Reduce China Dependence

India and Japan are exploring joint investments in Africa to secure critical mineral supplies, reducing dependence on China. FICCI President Anant Goenka highlighted this during a business delegation to Japan with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, focusing on sectors like AI, semiconductors, and shipbuilding. The initiative also aims to address the widening trade deficit with Japan since the 2011 economic partnership agreement.

Delhi Ease of Doing Business Bill 2026: Single-Window, Self-Declaration, No Inspection for 3 Years

The Delhi Cabinet has approved the Delhi Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026, introducing a single-window clearance system and self-declaration for low-risk businesses. This reduces bureaucratic hurdles and aims to make Delhi a more business-friendly capital. For UPSC/State PSC aspirants, this is a key example of governance reform and ease of doing business initiatives.