Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Law and Justice informed Parliament that eight Constitution Amendment Acts were enacted between 2014 and 2023. The amendments cover: the 99th Amendment (2014) establishing the National Judicial Appointments Commission to replace the collegium system; the 100th Amendment (2015) concerning the India‑Bangladesh land boundary agreement; the 101st Amendment (2016) introducing the Goods and Services Tax; the 102nd Amendment (2018) granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes; the 103rd Amendment (2019) providing reservation for Economically Weaker Sections; the 104th Amendment (2019) extending SC/ST reservation in legislatures to 2030; the 105th Amendment (2021) amending article 342A and related articles; and the 106th Amendment (2023) reserving seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The details were supplied by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The eCourts Mission Mode Project Phase‑III, overseen by the e‑Committee of the Supreme Court and implemented by High Courts, is being regularly monitored through review meetings and progress reports. All district courts in Punjab have adopted e‑Filing 3.0, and the Ministry of Law and Justice has supplied extensive digital infrastructure—including VC cameras, multi‑function printers, document visualisers, UPS units, scanners, display boards, computers, laptops, servers, external HDDs and virtual‑court equipment—to each district court as detailed in Annexure‑I. The distribution of these items varies by district, with larger allocations in districts such as Ludhiana and Patiala. The information was provided by Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal in response to a Lok Sabha question.

The Ministry of Law and Justice clarified that under Article 222 of the Constitution the President may transfer a High Court judge after consulting the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) requires the CJI, in consultation with the four senior‑most puisne judges of the Supreme Court, to initiate transfer proposals, taking into account the views of the chief justices of the concerned High Courts and personal factors of the judge. All transfers are to be made in public interest, and no specific timeline is prescribed. For appointments, Articles 124, 217 and 224 govern the process, with the CJI initiating Supreme Court appointments and the respective High Court chief justice initiating High Court appointments, consulting senior judges and state governments, and forwarding recommendations to the Supreme Court Collegium for advice.

The Union Government has postponed the Karnataka Government’s request to place the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 2022 in the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule. The Act, passed by the Karnataka Legislature, earmarks 56 % reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Since the Act is currently under challenge before the Karnataka High Court and is sub‑judice, the Ministry of Law and Justice, through Union Minister Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal’s written reply to the Lok Sabha, deemed inclusion in the Ninth Schedule inappropriate at present.

The Ministry of Law and Justice reports that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (all enacted in 2023) came into force nationwide on 1 July 2024. State and Union Territory governments have issued notifications, adopted digital applications and undertaken capacity‑building measures. The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) has trained 83,740 officers and stakeholders across the five pillars of the criminal‑justice system since 2024, with detailed state‑wise training data provided in Annexure‑I and Annexure‑II. The High Court of Madhya Pradesh notes judicial orientation, amendments to the Case Information System and e‑Courts software, and ongoing monitoring to ensure smooth transition. The 2024 ‘Crime in India’ report lists organised‑crime and terrorism cases by state/UT (Annexure‑III).

The Centre, through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary (operational since 1993‑94), continues to fund judicial infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh. For FY 2026‑27 a Mother Sanction of Rs 8.79 crore was issued, extending the scheme’s deadline to 30 Sept 2026. Cumulative funds released to the state from FY 2021‑22 to FY 2025‑26 total Rs 104.29 crore, supporting court halls, residential units, lawyers’ halls, toilet complexes and digital rooms. As of 31 May 2026, Andhra Pradesh’s district courts have 875 sanctioned posts with 137 vacancies. Two pre‑2021 projects remain under construction, and progress is monitored via the Nyaya Vikas Portal.

The Union Budget 2026 earmarks ₹2,010 crore for judicial infrastructure under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – ₹810 crore for development of district and subordinate courts and ₹1,200 crore for the eCourts Project Phase‑III, which aims to digitise courts, provide training and capacity‑building programmes, and introduce e‑Filing, e‑Pay, virtual courts, video‑conferencing and the National Judicial Data Grid. The release also presents vacancy data for Rajasthan High Court (11 judge vacancies, 205 judicial officer vacancies, 7,606 court‑staff vacancies) and for the Tonk‑Sawai Madhopur judgeships, highlighting staffing shortfalls. The Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, affirmed these allocations in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the role of CSS funding, Tele‑Law services, free legal aid and ADR mechanisms in improving access to justice.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has launched the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) 2.0, a Central Sector Scheme with a financial outlay of ₹255 crore for 2026‑31. The scheme aims to expand technology‑driven legal services across India through four components: (i) Tele‑Law, which offers free pre‑litigation advice via a mobile app, toll‑free number 14454, and video‑conferencing at Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs); (ii) Nyaya Bandhu, a pro‑bono programme with panels in 23 High Courts and clubs in law colleges; (iii) Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme to build capacity of grassroots workers; and (iv) VIDHI‑Sanjeevani, a centralized integrated dashboard that monitors implementation and incorporates the Nyaya Setu AI chatbot supporting 22 Indian languages. The scheme targets 50 lakh beneficiaries over five years and includes specific data on CSCs and pro‑bono advocates in Andhra Pradesh.

On 25 July 2026, Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma launched the ‘Bharat Taxi’ service in Jaipur under the cooperative model promoted by the Ministry of Cooperation. The scheme positions Sarathis as owners‑shareholders, with about 8 lakh Sarathis and 41 lakh customers already registered nationwide, daily completing roughly 11,000 trips and depositing around Rs 77 crore directly into drivers’ accounts. Rajasthan, home to about 42,000 cooperative societies and 1.35 crore members, flagged off an initial fleet of 60 cabs, 20 bikes and 20 autos, with plans to extend the model to roughly 500 cities across India, linking it to tourism, public transport and local employment generation.

On the eve of the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas (25 July 2026), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Indian Defence Forces are fully prepared to face any challenge, citing the enemy’s continued use of proxy wars and infiltration. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to soldier welfare and highlighted ongoing defence modernisation and self‑reliance, noting the forces’ adoption of latest technologies such as drones and robotic mules. The commemorative events in Dras included tributes to Kargil war heroes, cultural programmes, and displays of cutting‑edge equipment, underscoring the link between past valour and future capability.

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes to former Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee on 25 July 2026, marking Chatterjee’s birth anniversary. The ceremony was attended by MPs, former MPs and dignitaries, with Lok Sabha Secretary‑General Shri Utpal Kumar Singh also offering tributes. Chatterjee (born 25 July 1929, Tezpur, Assam) entered politics in 1968, was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1971, served ten consecutive terms, and was Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha from 4 June 2004 to 31 May 2009. He received the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 1996, launched Lok Sabha Television in July 2006, and inaugurated the Parliamentary Museum in August 2006. A portrait of him, painted by Shri Manish Kumar Rao, was unveiled on 10 Feb 2014 by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment dated 19 Nov 2025 in Madras Bar Association vs UOI (W.P.(C) No. 1018 of 2021), struck down certain provisions of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021. The Court held that its judgments apply to the appointments, tenure and service conditions of tribunal members and Chairpersons. The Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, stated that any future statutory provisions will be drafted to align with Supreme Court judgments and will consider the judicial independence of tribunals, as conveyed in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The Centre’s Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme, launched in October 2019 to expedite trials under the POCSO Act and rape cases, has been extended to September 2026. As of 30 April 2026, 775 FTSCs—including 398 exclusive e‑POCSO courts—are functional across 29 States/UTs. Over the last three years, cases registered rose from 81,471 in 2023 to 1,43,936 in 2025, while disposals peaked at 85,595 in 2024; pending cases remain above 2 lakh. The scheme has released ₹1,259.51 crore to States/UTs since inception, with central share disbursements of ₹200 crore each in FY 2023‑24, 2024‑25 and 2025‑26. Regular video‑conference reviews and inclusion in Inter‑State Zonal Council agendas aim to strengthen implementation.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, inaugurated the two‑day Orientation Programme ‘Prarambh’ for the 67 newly elected or nominated members of the Rajya Sabha on 25 July 2026. The programme, attended by the Deputy Chairman, Secretary‑General and senior secretariat officers, emphasized the members’ role in ‘Amrit Kaal’ and the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’. Key points highlighted were the importance of Question Hour, Zero Hour and the cautious use of Rule 267, the need for continuous learning of parliamentary procedures, and the adoption of AI‑driven tools such as Vani Setu for real‑time multilingual interpretation. The Chairman urged members to uphold constitutional values, ensure constructive debate, and contribute to policy‑making.

The United States Trade Representative announced on 23 July 2026 the final Section 301 measures on forced‑labour, imposing an additional 10 % ad valorem duty on imports from India – a reduction from the 12.5 % duty initially proposed on 2 June 2026. About 45 % of India’s exports to the United States, including generic pharmaceuticals, smartphones and products already covered by Section 232 (steel, aluminium, auto parts), remain exempt from the additional duty, while the remaining 55 % will attract the 10 % tariff, placing India in a lower tariff tier relative to most other economies. The measures are linked to ongoing negotiations for the India‑U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intensified its crackdown on organised gold‑smuggling syndicates in a series of intelligence‑driven operations across India in July 2026. Over 27 kg of foreign‑origin gold was seized and 12 persons arrested. The operations uncovered sophisticated concealment methods – gold bars hidden in aircraft lavatory ceiling panels (12 kg), in a waist‑belt and handbag (5 kg), gold dust in wax retrieved by cleaning staff (3.7 kg), in specially fabricated utensils (4.6 kg), inside a passenger’s body (≈2 kg) and in a car cavity (≈2 kg). The smuggling routes involved arrivals from Addis Ababa, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Dubai.

The Indian Army’s Headquarters Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub‑Area dispatched a Flood Relief Column from the School of Artillery, Devlali, to Silvassa on 24 July 2026 after heavy rains and a Red Alert in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Responding to a distress call, the column evacuated 23 civilians (including 7 women and 4 children) from Sanduri Village (Madhuban Dam area) to a shelter at Khanvel, distributed food, and set up an on‑site medical camp. No casualties were reported, but water‑logging, disrupted communications and restricted access routes persisted, prompting continued coordination with local administration for further relief efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, calling it a proud moment for every Indian. He highlighted Sarnath’s close association with Lord Buddha and said the recognition celebrates India’s civilisational and spiritual heritage and will inspire more visitors worldwide to connect with Buddha’s ideals.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has approved the 6‑lane, 8.1‑km Dwarka Road Tunnel on NH‑148AE, costing ₹6,969.67 crore and to be built on Hybrid Annuity Mode under the NH(O) Scheme. Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the project will be executed by NHAI and will link the Shiv Murti Interchange on the Dwarka Expressway (NH‑248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. A 3.14‑km twin‑tube tunnel, including a 1.98‑km stretch beneath the Southern Ridge, will provide an access‑controlled, high‑speed corridor connecting West and South Delhi, easing traffic from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi, and integrating with the proposed AIIMS‑Mahipalpur Elevated Corridor.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has approved the 117.7‑km Kanpur–Kabrai (4/6 lane access‑controlled) Highway, a greenfield project costing ₹7,145 crore, to be built by NHAI under the Bhopal–Kankan Economic Corridor. The highway will link Bundelkhand’s mineral‑rich Kabrai belt with industrial hubs such as Kanpur and Bhopal, cutting travel time from about 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours. It is expected to lower logistics costs, reduce fuel consumption, decongest existing routes, and improve supply‑chain efficiency for minerals, manufactured goods and agricultural produce. Enhanced connectivity will also facilitate faster movement of seeds, fertilisers and farm machinery, helping farmers reduce post‑harvest losses, achieve better prices and boost rural incomes, thereby fostering inclusive regional development.