Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 Proposes Changes to 2019 Act, Triggering Objections from NCTP

Committee on Public Undertakings Proposes 70-75% Gram Sabha Consent, Diluting Forest Rights Act Protection

The Committee on Public Undertakings has suggested that only 70-75% of affected gram sabhas need to consent for projects, undermining the broad protection under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). This dilution could allow bypassing of tribal communities' rights, especially in infrastructure projects like Teesta-IV. The Tribal Affairs Ministry's refusal to claim jurisdiction creates a dangerous regulatory vacuum, threatening the constitutional rights of forest-dependent communities.

Govt to SC: Only Parliament Can Extend Creamy Layer to SC/ST; Cites Article 341, E V Chinnaiah Case

The government has told the Supreme Court that extending the creamy layer principle to SC/ST is a policy decision for Parliament alone. This reaffirms that reservation for SC/ST is based on historical social criteria, not just economic status, and the creamy layer concept currently applies only to OBCs.

Task Force Recommends Inflation-Adjusted Relief Hike, Counselling Under SC/ST Act

A government task force has recommended major changes to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, including inflation-indexed relief hikes, mandatory counselling, and 24-hour FIR reporting. Separately, the NCST has proposed legal safeguards to protect tribal livelihoods during land disputes and curb counter FIRs. These proposals are critical for aspirants as they touch upon the SC/ST Act, a high-yield topic for Prelims and Mains in Polity and Social Justice.

Delhi HC Directs Formulation of SOP for Arresting Transgender Persons; NHRC Advisory 2.0 Referred

The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre and Delhi Police to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the arrest, detention, search, and interrogation of transgender persons, citing a critical legal vacuum. The court relied on the NHRC's 'Advisory for Ensuring the Welfare of Transgender Persons, 2.0' issued in May 2026, and highlighted a specific incident of rights violation. This is a key development for Polity & Social Justice syllabus, focusing on fundamental rights (Article 21), the Transgender Persons Act, and the role of NHRC.

Delhi HC Quashes Railway Board Decision, Upholds UDID Card for 45% Locomotor Disability

The Delhi High Court has set aside the Railway Board's cancellation of a UPSC ESE candidate's candidature, ruling that a valid UDID card certifying 45% locomotor disability cannot be overruled by a medical board. This judgment reinforces the legal sanctity of disability certificates under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and is a landmark for PwD recruitment in government services.

Census 2027 Enumerates Only 9 of 21 RPwD Act Disabilities; Rights Groups Demand Full Inclusion

Census 2027 has proposed only 9 disability categories for enumeration, while the RPwD Act 2016 recognizes 21 distinct disabilities. Rights groups argue this will render many persons with disabilities invisible in official statistics, affecting policy and budget allocations. The government claims the 9 broader categories cover specific disabilities and allow multiple disabilities recording.

SC Rules on OBC Creamy Layer Income Test: Salaries Excluded, Centre Seeks Clarification on Retrospective Impact

The Supreme Court in March 2026 ruled that while determining OBC creamy layer status, income from salaries and agriculture must be excluded from the income/wealth test. The Centre now seeks clarification, arguing retrospective implementation from 2012 is 'extremely difficult' and would cause a cascading effect on recruitments and admissions.

SC Proposes Exempting Current Class 6 from Three-Language Policy; Centre Seeks More Time

The Supreme Court has proposed exempting the current Class 6 batch from the mandatory three-language policy, suggesting implementation from January 1, 2027. The Centre has sought more time to decide, while the court has asked for details on teacher availability and infrastructure.