CorePrelimsPolityMPSC 9/10
Maharashtra Drafts ₹50 Lakh Fine, Dummy School Ban Bill to Regulate Coaching Centres Post NEET Leak
After the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak exposed deep flaws in the coaching industry, Maharashtra has released a draft Bill that is among the strictest in India. It bans dummy schools, basement classes, caps teaching hours, and imposes fines up to ₹50 lakh. The law will apply to any centre with over 25 students — the lowest threshold nationwide. This is a must-know for state governance and education policy questions.
- ▸Target this Data: 25 students (lowest threshold for coaching centre regulation in India)
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department (drafted the Bill)
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2026
CorePrelimsMainsEconomyMPSC 9/10
Telangana, Maharashtra, Haryana Hive Off Agri-DISCOMs: ₹6.77 Lakh Crore Losses, Farm Subsidy Burden
States like Telangana, Maharashtra, and Haryana are segregating agricultural consumers into separate DISCOMs to isolate mounting debt and subsidy burdens, enabling balance sheet cleanup of existing utilities. This raises concerns about financial viability of agri-DISCOMs and potential privatisation of profitable segments, with total DISCOM accumulated losses at ₹6.77 lakh crore.
- ▸Target this Data: Accumulated losses of public sector DISCOMs = ₹6.77 lakh crore; borrowings = ₹7.11 lakh crore.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Telangana Rythu Power Distribution Company Ltd (new agri-DISCOM in Telangana).
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Hiving off agricultural load under state electricity regulatory commissions' purview.
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
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.
- ▸Target this Data: Rajya Sabha passed the Mining Amendment Act on August 12, 2026.
- ▸Target this Data: 41.4% of states' non-tax revenue comes from mineral and petroleum receipts (CAG report).
- ▸Target this Legal Point: The amendment prohibits states from levying tax or cess on mineral rights, mineral-bearing lands, and operations under the MMDR Act, 1957.
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
SC Landmark Judgments: From Basic Structure to Privacy - 80 Years of Rights & Freedoms
A compilation of landmark Supreme Court judgments from 1973 to 2019 that shaped fundamental rights, gender equality, privacy, and democracy in India. Essential for understanding constitutional evolution and judicial activism.
- ▸Target this Data: Kesavananda Bharati (1973) - basic structure doctrine; Puttaswamy (2017) - privacy as fundamental right under Article 21.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court of India (judicial review and interpretation of fundamental rights).
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Article 19(1)(a) - freedom of speech (Shreya Singhal); Section 66A IT Act; Section 377 IPC; Article 14 (equality); Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty).
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
Bombay HC: Private Forest Vesting Under 1975 Act Not Automatic, State Must Follow Procedure
The Bombay High Court ruled that the Maharashtra government cannot automatically declare private lands as 'private forests' under the 1975 Act without following due procedure, overriding the presumption that any forest land vested in the State on August 30, 1975. This judgment, based on Supreme Court precedents, affects hundreds of landholders and clarifies a recurring legal dispute between property rights and forest conservation.
- ▸Target this Data: Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975; Section 2(f)(iii)
- ▸Target this Institution: Bombay High Court Division Bench (Justices Dangre & Deshpande)
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Articles 141 and 144 of the Constitution
CorePrelimsPolityMPSC 9/10
Bombay HC Upholds SC Order: Scheduled Caste Status Only for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists
The Bombay High Court rejected a Muslim man's plea to be declared a Scheduled Caste, upholding the 1950 Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order which restricts SC status to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists. The Court ruled it is bound by existing Supreme Court precedent under Article 141, even while a constitutional challenge is pending in the apex court. This decision reinforces the legal position that religious conversion can lead to loss of SC status.
- ▸Target this Data: Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 restricts SC status to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) - Justices Urmila Joshi Phalke and Nivedita P Mehta.
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Article 141 - binding nature of Supreme Court judgments on all courts.
CorePrelimsMainsInfrastructureMPSC 9/10
Ken-Betwa Link Project: ₹44,605 Cr First Inter-Basin River Link Faces Rehabilitation Hurdles
Ken-Betwa Link Project, India's first inter-basin river link, costing ₹44,605 crore, has entered a decisive phase. The project aims to irrigate 9.04 lakh hectares and generate 103 MW hydropower, but faces protests over rehabilitation of 1,913 families. Essential for understanding water management, displacement, and infrastructure challenges in exam context.
- ▸Target this Data: ₹44,605 crore cost, 1,913 families, 9.04 lakh hectares irrigation, 2,853 MCM dam capacity
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under Ministry of Jal Shakti
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Environmental Clearance stipulation by MoEFCC that rehabilitation must be completed before commissioning
21 Jul 2026· 10 min read
Read →CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
Shiv Sena (UBT) Challenges Speaker's Merger Recognition in Supreme Court Under 10th Schedule
Shiv Sena (UBT) has moved the Supreme Court challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's decision to recognize the merger of six of its MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The petition argues the Speaker's July 18 circular is unconstitutional and violates the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law), as the MPs acted without the merger of the original political party.
- ▸Target this Data: Circular date: July 18, 2026; Number of MPs: 6
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Lok Sabha Speaker (quasi-judicial role under Tenth Schedule)
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) - conditions for merger vs defection
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
MP Cabinet Approves UCC Draft Bill: STs Exempted, Polygamy & Nikah Halala Banned
Madhya Pradesh has become the latest state to push for a Uniform Civil Code. The Cabinet-approved draft bill bans polygamy, triple talaq, and nikah halala, makes live-in relationship registration mandatory, but exempts Scheduled Tribes to protect their cultural rights. This is a high-stakes legislative move with direct implications for UPSC Polity, Social Justice, and Federalism.
- ▸Target this Data: July 19, 2026 (Cabinet approval), July 20, 2026 (Assembly tabling)
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Madhya Pradesh Cabinet (state-level executive)
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Articles 342, 366(25), Part XXI (ST exemptions)
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
Bombay HC Denies Rural Quota Admission: Transitional Area Not Rural, Upbringing Key for Policy Makers
The Bombay High Court denied a 10-year-old girl admission under the rural quota to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, ruling that a 'transitional area' (nagar panchayat) is no longer rural. The judgment emphasizes that students with rural upbringing become better policymakers, linking education policy with governance empathy.
- ▸Target this Court: Bombay High Court (Justices Anil S Kilor & Raj D Wakode)
- ▸Target this Scheme: Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) – National Policy of Education, 1986
- ▸Target this Data: 75% rural reservation in JNVs; transitional area cannot revert to rural
CorePrelimsMainsSocial IssuesMPSC 9/10
Maharashtra Enacts Women Farmers Empowerment Act 2026: WFC De-links Land Ownership
Maharashtra has become the first state to enact a law for women farmers, the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026. This landmark law introduces a Woman Farmer Certificate (WFC) that delinks farmer recognition from land ownership, enabling women to access credit, insurance, and government schemes.
- ▸Target this Data: 82% of rural female workforce in Maharashtra in agriculture (PLFS 2025); all-India figure 73%
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (Maharashtra)
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026; Woman Farmer Certificate (WFC)
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
SC Declines Status Quo in Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Dispute: MP HC Judgment Challenged
The Supreme Court has declined to restore status quo at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Dhar, MP, while ordering alternative space for Muslim Friday prayers. The core issue is a legal challenge to the MP High Court's May judgment that declared the site's religious character as a temple, raising critical questions about the scope of writ jurisdiction, the Places of Worship Act 1991, and the interpretation of the Ancient Monuments Act.
- ▸Target this Data: Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh; 2003 ASI order allowed Hindu worship on Tuesdays and Muslim prayers on Fridays
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI); Ministry of Culture
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Places of Worship Act 1991 (Section 4(3)(a) exemption for protected monuments); Ancient Monuments Act 1958 (Section 16); Article 226 (writ jurisdiction of HC)
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
Karnataka Governor Suspends KPSC Chairperson Under Article 317(1) Over Daughter's Selection Fraud
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot suspended KPSC Chairperson Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar under Article 317(1) for facilitating illegal selection of his daughters via false income certificates. This rare invocation of constitutional provision highlights conflict of interest and creamy layer violations in PSC recruitment. Crucial for prelims (Article 317, suspension procedure) and mains (accountability of constitutional bodies, ethics in public administration).
- ▸Target this Article: Article 317(1) – removal/suspension of PSC members with SC inquiry
- ▸Target this Body: Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)
- ▸Target this Data: Monthly salary ₹2.25 lakh; false income claimed ₹40,000; FIR on July 10, 2026
CorePrelimsPolityMPSC 9/10
CAG Flags ₹3,541 Crore Excess Spend in Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Scheme, Highlights Budgetary Lapses
CAG report reveals ₹3,541 crore unauthorized excess spend in Maharashtra's flagship Ladki Bahin scheme, with ₹15,586 crore parked in Virtual Personal Deposit Accounts without immediate need. Flags serious budgetary discipline and financial propriety concerns. Critical for understanding fiscal governance, DBT schemes, and state-level financial management.
- ▸Target this Data: Excess expenditure of ₹3,541.16 crore; ₹15,586 crore parked in VPDAs from Jan-Mar 2025
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Women and Child Development Department, Maharashtra Government
- ▸Target this Report: CAG State Finances Audit Report 2024-25 (tabled on July 13, 2026)
CorePrelimsMainsEconomyMPSC 9/10
6th Maharashtra Finance Commission: Tax Share Hiked to 27.3%, Profession Tax Return Recommended for Local Bodies
The Sixth Maharashtra Finance Commission has proposed increasing the state tax share to local bodies from 26.3% to 27.3% for 2026-31, recommending profession tax powers return to panchayats after 50 years. This directly impacts fiscal federalism, local body financing, and Maharashtra's urban-rural governance — a high-yield topic for UPSC/MPSC exams.
- ▸Target this Data: Tax share increase from 26.3% to 27.3%; Annual funding gap ₹8,217 crore; Profession tax Act 1975; Municipal bond deadline March 2030.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Sixth Maharashtra Finance Commission (Chairperson: Nitin Kareer).
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Articles 243-I and 243-Y (State Finance Commission); Article 276 (Profession Tax); Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1975.
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
Maharashtra BNSS Amendments: 30-Day Preventive Custody, Digital Seizure, ACP Powers – Constitutional Test
Maharashtra Legislative Council passed amendments to BNSS allowing preventive custody up to 30 days, inclusion of digital records under seizure provisions, and lowering rank of authorized officers from SP to ACP. These amendments test the limits of state power under the Concurrent List. Opposition warns of misuse against political opponents. Must know for federalism and criminal procedure reforms.
- ▸Target this Data: 30 days maximum preventive custody under amended BNSS Section 170.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Maharashtra Legislative Council (passed July 8, 2026).
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Concurrent List (List III, Seventh Schedule) – states can amend central laws on criminal procedure but must not conflict.
CorePrelimsMainsPolityMPSC 9/10
Maharashtra Forms 7-Member Panel Under Justice Ranjana Desai for UCC Draft in 6 Months
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a seven-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to draft a Uniform Civil Code. The panel is expected to submit its report in six months, with a possible bill in the winter session. This is a major step by a state toward implementing a politically sensitive reform linked to Article 44 of the Constitution.
- ▸Target this Data: Committee size – 7 members; Chairperson – Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Desai; Report deadline – 6 months; Target session – Winter session 2026 (Nagpur).
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Maharashtra Government (State Legislature) – not central government.
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Article 44 of the Constitution (Directive Principles) – not a Fundamental Right.
CorePrelimsPolityMPSC 9/10
Bombay HC Quashes Externment Order, Rules Protests Against Govt Decisions Not Grounds: Articles 19, 21
The Bombay High Court has quashed an externment order against an SDPI leader, ruling that merely organizing protests and raising slogans against government decisions cannot be grounds for externment under the Maharashtra Police Act. This judgment reinforces the fundamental rights to free speech (Article 19) and dignified life (Article 21), and is crucial for understanding the legal limits of police powers.
- ▸Target this Data: Externment orders dated December 3, 2025 and March 27, 2026; period one year; five FIRs.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Bombay High Court (Justice Madhav Jamdar); Mumbai Police; Divisional Commissioner, Konkan Division.
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution; Maharashtra Police Act (externment provisions).
CorePrelimsSocial IssuesMPSC 9/10
Maharashtra Passes First-of-its-Kind Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill: Recognises Women in Agriculture & Allied Activities
In a landmark move, the Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed a Bill to formally recognise women farmers, enabling them to access welfare schemes, subsidies, and credit irrespective of land ownership. This is India's first such legislation, addressing the historic systemic exclusion of women in agriculture. For UPSC/MPSC aspirants, this is a key case study in gender-responsive governance and social justice.
- ▸Target this Data: July 2, 2026 - date of unanimous passage of the Bill in Maharashtra Assembly
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: Maharashtra State Women Farmers’ Empowerment Council (ex-officio members: CM, Deputy CMs, Agriculture Minister)
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill - first of its kind in India to recognise women farmers without land ownership
CorePrelimsPolityMPSC 9/10
Part XVIII (Articles 352-360) Explained: National, President's Rule, Financial Emergency - UPSC Polity Essentials
NCERT has included the 1975-77 Emergency in Class 9 Social Science textbook, framing it as a major challenge to Indian democracy. This makes it crucial for UPSC aspirants to master the constitutional emergency provisions (Part XVIII, Articles 352-360) and their historical application.
- ▸Target this Data: Three emergencies imposed on Oct 26, 1962; Dec 3, 1971; June 25, 1975.
- ▸Target this Nodal Body: President (on advice of Cabinet headed by PM) as per Article 352.
- ▸Target this Legal Point: Article 352 (National Emergency), Article 356 (President's Rule), Article 360 (Financial Emergency).
