Telangana Cabinet Sub-Committee Opposes Centre's MGNREGA Replacement Bill, Eyes SC Challenge

AP Pedestrian Safety Policy 2026: SC Recognises Right to Walk, 36,526 Pedestrian Deaths in 2024, Section 198A Fine

The Supreme Court recognized the right to walk on footpaths as a fundamental right. Andhra Pradesh became the first state to notify a pedestrian safety policy, mandating audits, removal of encroachments, and a Rs 1 lakh fine under Section 198A MV Act for infrastructure failure causing death. With 1 in 5 road deaths being pedestrians (36,526 in 2024), this policy is a landmark for urban governance and social justice.

Centre Constitutes Pankaj Kumar Singh-led Committee for Gorkha Permanent Political Solution

After decades of demand for Gorkhaland statehood, the Union Home Ministry has set up a committee chaired by former Deputy NSA Pankaj Kumar Singh to finalise a 'permanent political solution' for the Darjeeling hills. The decision, announced at a meeting on August 22, 2026, comes when both Centre and West Bengal are under BJP rule, making it a politically opportune moment. The solution may involve creation of a separate state or Union Territory, with significant implications for West Bengal's integrity and India's strategic interests in the Siliguri Corridor.

SC Upholds HC: Kodagu Homestay Owner's Arrest Illegal, Rs 5 Lakh Compensation Despite US Embassy Pressure

The Supreme Court has upheld the Karnataka High Court ruling that the arrest of a Kodagu homestay owner in an alleged sexual assault case was illegal, rejecting the state's appeal. The judgment reinforces that arrest is not a 'ritualistic exercise' and that fundamental rights cannot be bartered away under pressure from foreign embassies. It also makes the state liable for Rs 5 lakh compensation.

SC Directs Centre on NTA Reform: Radhakrishnan & Nilekani Committee Recommendations

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to file an affidavit on implementing recommendations of the K Radhakrishnan and Nandan Nilekani committees to reform the NTA, aiming to make it a vibrant, foolproof institution like the UPSC. The court stressed institutionalisation with proper infrastructure, manpower, and technology to prevent exam leaks and ensure integrity.

MahaRERA Strikes Down Builder's Unilateral Cancellation Clause, Orders Interest from Oct 2023 Under RERA Act

MahaRERA has declared illegal a contractual clause that allowed a builder to unilaterally cancel a flat allotment via Power of Attorney, reinforcing statutory safeguards under the RERA Act. The developer was ordered to pay interest for delayed possession from October 1, 2023. This ruling is a key example of regulatory protection for homebuyers and a must-know for exams covering RERA, consumer rights, and state-level governance.

Bombay HC Rules Community Health Volunteers Entitled to Minimum Wage Under 1948 Act

The Bombay High Court has ruled that community health volunteers working for the BMC are entitled to minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, rejecting the argument that their honorarium exempts them. This judgment strengthens labour rights for contractual and volunteer workers, an important topic for UPSC labour jurisprudence and social security.

SC Stays UGC Equity Regulations 2026 as 'Vague', Centre Reconsiders Framework

The Centre informed the Supreme Court that the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 — aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination on campuses — is under reconsideration. The SC had earlier stayed the regulations, calling them 'prima facie vague' and potentially divisive. The 2012 regulations remain in force.

WB CM Reports 23,000 CAA Certificates Issued; MHA Transfers Processing to District Collectors

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced 23,000 CAA certificates distributed out of 2.3 lakh applications. MHA has shifted processing from Empowered Committees to District Collectors in 8 states/UTs to fast-track citizenship grants, fulfilling a key election promise by PM Modi.