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

Cabinet Approves Rs 23,731 Cr GOBARdhan Scheme; Rajya Sabha Clears Rs 54,067 Cr Appropriation Bill

The UPSC Key article covers multiple critical topics: the Rajya Sabha cleared the Appropriation Bill for Rs 54,067 Cr excess expenditure, the Cabinet approved the Rs 23,731 Cr GOBARdhan scheme to boost CBG production, and new high-resolution images of the Sun's surface were captured. Also includes data on road safety Good Samaritans, school consolidation, and ethanol policy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lok Sabha Passes MMDR Amendment Bill 2026: States Barred from Levying Additional Tax on Mineral Rights

The Lok Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 without debate, centralizing control over mineral taxation. States are now barred from levying additional taxes, cess, or levies on mineral rights, aiming to create a uniform fiscal regime and boost investor confidence under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

RDI Fund: Govt Defends Conflict Safeguards; 62% of ₹2,192 Cr Loans Went to Panel-Linked Firms

The RDI Fund, created to support deep tech companies, faces controversy as 62% of first-round soft loans (₹2,192 crore) went to firms linked to selection panel members. The government defends safeguards including super-majority voting and 10% stake disqualification, noting the second cohort has only 1 of 13 such companies. Congress seeks a parliamentary review on August 13.

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.