Parliament Passes Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act 2019, Mandates Graded Punishment

2026 Amendment Penalises Disruption of Vande Mataram Singing (Up to 3 Years Jail); Bijoe Emmanuel Case Protects Silent Dissent

The 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act gives Vande Mataram the same criminal protection as the national anthem, but it does not compel singing. The Supreme Court's Bijoe Emmanuel ruling protects the right to remain silent if participation conflicts with conscience. This has implications for freedom of religion (Articles 25-26) and freedom of speech (Article 19(1)(a)).

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.

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.

Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026: Judicial Magistrate Mandated for Delays Over 2 Years

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026, passed in Lok Sabha, tightens verification norms: delays beyond two years now require a judicial magistrate's order instead of an executive magistrate. This amendment aims to curb fraudulent birth certificates, which have become near-conclusive proof for Aadhaar, passports, voter IDs, and school admissions. The bill raises concerns over accessibility for legitimate citizens, especially in remote areas.

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.

Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Passed in Lok Sabha Without Debate; SC Issues Notice on Polygamy Ban

Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 without debate amid opposition protests over police crackdown. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea to ban polygamy, sentenced Tahir Hussain to life imprisonment for murder of an IB officer, and stayed arrest of former TN minister Senthilbalaji. Multiple other judicial and state-level developments occurred.

MSME Development Amendment Bill 2026 Passed: 50% Interim Payment, Faster Dispute Resolution

Lok Sabha passed the MSME Development Amendment Bill, 2026 without debate, tackling delayed payments with faster dispute resolution and empowering courts to order 50% interim payment to suppliers. MSMEs contribute 31% to GDP, 36% to manufacturing, and 41% to exports. The Bill is now cleared by Parliament.

Parliament Passes MMDR Amendment 2026 Restricting States' Levy Powers on Mineral Rights

Parliament has passed the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Bill, 2026, limiting states' power to impose taxes on mineral rights, overriding a Supreme Court judgment that upheld such state powers. This move aims to boost investment certainty but has sparked concerns over fiscal federalism and state revenues, especially for mineral-rich states like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.