BJP Wins 207 Seats in 294-Member West Bengal Assembly, Forms First State Government Ending 15-Year TMC Rule

President Returns West Bengal Anti-Goonda Bill 2026 Over NDPS Overlap: Article 200 & 201 Explained

President Murmu has returned the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026 (anti-Goonda Bill) for reconsideration because its provisions overlap with the central PITNDPS Act, 1988. The Bill permits preventive detention for up to 12 months without trial. This event underscores the constitutional process under Articles 200, 201, and 22, and raises important issues of federalism for UPSC Mains.

West Bengal Inter-University Transfer Bill Sparks Debate on University Autonomy vs State Control

The West Bengal Assembly passed an Inter-University Transfer Bill allowing the Governor to transfer teachers unilaterally, raising serious constitutional and legal questions about university autonomy. This move exemplifies the 'control model' of higher education that the first University Education Commission (1949) warned against, and could be struck down for targeting specific individuals and violating contractual rights.

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.

J&K Assembly Debates Statehood Resolution; NC MLAs Move Amendments for Article 370, 35A

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved a resolution for restoring full statehood, referencing a 2000 autonomy resolution. Six NC MLAs and opposition parties have moved amendments demanding the inclusion of Article 370 and 35A restoration, making this a key test of the current assembly's stance on pre-2019 constitutional status.

Delhi Assembly Repeals B&B Law, Passes 3 Bills: Slum Cut-off Extended to 2026, Right to Services Act

Delhi Assembly has repealed the 2007 Bed & Breakfast law and passed three other bills including a new slum rehabilitation cut-off date and a right to time-bound services. The new B&B policy will allow deemed approval in 7 days via self-certification. This marks a shift towards ease of doing business and urban governance reforms.

Constitution 131st Amendment Bill: Lok Sabha Expansion to 850 Seats, Tamil Nadu Parties Divided

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which sought to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 and enable fresh delimitation before 2029, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority. Tamil Nadu's political parties remain divided, with the DMK demanding a freeze on seats based on the 1971 Census for 25 more years. This issue tests federal principles and the balance of political representation, making it critical for UPSC polity and governance preparation.

AP Assembly Passes 4 Higher Education Bills: Land Norm Reduced to 10 Acres, Skill Universities Allowed

Andhra Pradesh has passed four landmark higher education Bills that ease land requirements for private universities (from 50 to 10 acres in cities), restrict the regulatory commission to fee regulation, allow skill universities, and address 77% faculty vacancy in state universities with reservation safeguards. This is a major state-level governance reform with implications for education policy, federalism, and regulatory frameworks.

Special Intensive Revision: 43.7% Voters Untraceable in 25 Urban Maharashtra Seats

Maharashtra's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls after 24 years reveals that over 40% of voters in 25 urban constituencies could not be traced, threatening their inclusion in the draft roll. This highlights systemic issues in urban voter registration and the challenges of maintaining accurate electoral rolls in high-mobility areas.