NDA Rajya Sabha Strength Rises to 141/245, Constitutional Amendment Threshold of 164 Remains Unmet

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 Mining Amendment Act 2026: States Barred from Taxing Mineral Rights; Odisha, Jharkhand Oppose

The Rajya Sabha has passed a key amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which prohibits states from levying any tax or cess on mineral-bearing lands and operations. This move, aimed at ensuring uniform pricing, has sparked a major federal clash with mineral-rich states like Odisha and Jharkhand, who see it as an infringement on their fiscal autonomy and a threat to their revenue-dependent welfare schemes.

Delimitation Row: Tamil Nadu Seeks Freeze on 543 Lok Sabha Seats; 131st Amendment Bill to Raise to 850 Defeated

Delimitation after the 2026 census threatens to redraw Lok Sabha representation, triggering a federal vs democratic conflict. Tamil Nadu's resolution to freeze seats at 543 and the defeated 131st Amendment Bill (proposing 850 seats) highlight the core tension between population-based representation and protecting states that controlled population growth. This is a high-stakes polity issue for UPSC Mains and Prelims.

SC (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill 2026 Passed as Money Bill; Strength to Rise from 34 to 38

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 as a Money Bill, increasing the sanctioned strength of judges from 34 to 38. This route is constitutionally contentious and is pending adjudication before a 7-judge Supreme Court bench, making this a critical Polity topic for Prelims and Mains.

Parliament Passes Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026; JMFC for Delays Over 2 Years

Rajya Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by voice vote, making a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) order mandatory for birth and death registrations delayed beyond two years. This reform targets misuse like ghost voters and unauthorised registration of children born elsewhere. Aspirants must remember the two-year threshold and the shift from executive to judicial authorisation.

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.

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.

FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 Sent to 31-Member JPC; Report Due by Winter Session 2026

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has been referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) amid strong opposition protests. The bill proposes tighter government oversight over foreign funding of NGOs and a designated authority to manage assets of defunct organisations. The government denies it targets minorities, while the JPC must submit its report by the first week of the 2026 Winter Session.