29 September 2026
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting on 28 September 2026, recommended three High Court Chief Justices for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court. They are Justice Sunita Agarwal (Gujarat), Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya (Delhi) and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh (Telangana). The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 38 judges and 34 are in office. The working strength would be 37 after the elevations. The recommendations now go to the Union government.
Recommended:
Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Aparesh Kumar Singh
Sanctioned strength:
38 judges
Judges in office:
34
Why it matters for exams: Judicial appointments and the Collegium system are a staple of polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
A Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran issued directions on 28 September 2026 in the suo motu case In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi NCR. Delhi Police must form dedicated teams in each district, led by Deputy Superintendents of Police, to survey vulnerable areas and prepare vulnerability maps. Parks, Metro stations, bus terminals and railway stations are to be assessed within four weeks, with lighting and CCTV faults repaired. The Delhi High Court is to assign cases to Fast Track Special Courts, with trials targeted for completion within one year. Senior Advocate Liz Mathew is the amicus curiae and the next hearing is on 5 October 2026.
Bench:
Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran
Deadline for audit:
Four weeks
Next hearing:
5 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Suo motu jurisdiction and court-monitored public safety measures are recurring themes.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
On 28 September 2026 a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta set aside the Bombay High Court order granting bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre. Mhatre and four others have been charged with offences including assaulting public servants, voluntarily causing hurt, rioting, criminal intimidation and intentional insult, in connection with an incident of 6 July at the Shastri Nagar Hospital of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Dombivli. The Bench said a strong message must be sent that the medical fraternity cannot be attacked in this manner, and directed him to surrender within three days. The appeal was filed by the State of Maharashtra.
Bench:
Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
Time to surrender:
Three days
Incident:
6 July, Shastri Nagar Hospital, Dombivli
Why it matters for exams: Bail jurisprudence and protection of healthcare workers appear in both current affairs and law-related papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta ruled in Bihar State Ardh Sarkari Arajpati Karamchari Maha Sangh v. State of Bihar (2026 INSC 1061). Workers of five corporations affected by the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 had waited for dues for decades. The Court directed ₹1,00,000 to each daily-wage worker, with 12% annual interest on delayed EPF dues and 6% on other dues. Of 2,274 verified employees, 2,074 had received payments. The States must publish details within four weeks and pay within three months, and untraced workers get 12 months to claim.
Compensation per worker:
₹1,00,000
Interest on delayed EPF dues:
12% per annum
Verified employees:
2,274
Why it matters for exams: Labour rights and State reorganisation disputes link polity, economy and law.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting the United States from 29 September to 5 October 2026. He will attend the G20 Trade Ministers' meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 30 September and 1 October 2026 on an invitation from the US Trade Representative. He will hold talks to advance a balanced India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and finalise an interim deal in line with the Joint Statement of 7 February 2026. He will also travel to Chicago and New York and meet American business leaders. India says it will engage constructively with all G20 members and back a rules-based multilateral trading system.
Visit:
29 September to 5 October 2026
G20 Trade Ministers' meeting:
Milwaukee, 30 September to 1 October 2026
Joint Statement:
7 February 2026
Why it matters for exams: India-US trade ties and the G20 are frequent topics in economy and international relations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
In the women's 400m hurdles final at Aichi-Nagoya on 28 September 2026, Vithya Ramraj won bronze in 54.75 seconds, a personal best. She broke PT Usha's national record of 55.42 seconds, set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Mariam Kareem of the UAE took gold in 54.31 seconds, a Games record, and Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan won silver in 54.58 seconds. It was Ramraj's second medal at the Games, after silver in the 4x400m mixed relay. Anu Raghavan finished fifth with a personal best of 55.88 seconds.
Time:
54.75 seconds
Previous national record:
55.42 seconds (PT Usha)
Gold:
Mariam Kareem (UAE), 54.31 seconds
Why it matters for exams: Records held by PT Usha are a Kerala PSC favourite and the Asian Games feature in sports sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
Gulveer Singh won silver in the men's 1500m final at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on 28 September 2026, clocking a personal best of 3:36.72. Kazuto Iizawa of Japan took gold in 3:36.35, a Games record, and Nagiya Mori of Japan won bronze in 3:37.92. It was Gulveer's second silver at the Games, after the men's 10,000m, where he ran 28:29.38 behind Bahrain's Birhanu Balew. The Prime Minister congratulated him.
Time:
3:36.72 (personal best)
Gold:
Kazuto Iizawa (Japan), 3:36.35, Games record
Bronze:
Nagiya Mori (Japan), 3:37.92
Why it matters for exams: Asian Games medal details are regular sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
Pincky Balhara won bronze in the women's -78kg kurash event at the Asian Games in Nagoya on 28 September 2026. She lost the semifinal 0-5 to South Korea's Sumin Mo after beating Garam Lim 3-0 in an earlier round. It is her second Asian Games medal; she won silver in the women's -52kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Games, where kurash made its debut at the Games. The Prime Minister congratulated her.
Event:
Women's -78kg kurash
Medal:
Bronze
Earlier Asian Games medal:
Silver, -52kg, Jakarta 2018
Why it matters for exams: Less common Asian Games sports like kurash are asked in sports sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime for India on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on 25 September 2026. He said the Convention "strengthens international cooperation for a safer digital future". During the same High-Level Week he also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Treaty:
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime
Signed by:
S. Jaishankar
Occasion:
81st UN General Assembly, New York
Why it matters for exams: India's treaty commitments at the UN and cybercrime governance are linked to science-tech and polity syllabi.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York during the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in September 2026. He said they exchanged views on a number of ongoing issues and took stock of bilateral and BRICS cooperation. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting. In the same week he held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Gulf developments, met Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, and co-chaired the India-Gulf Cooperation Council Troika Ministerial Meeting to review the Joint Action Plan 2024-28.
Meeting:
Jaishankar and Sergey Lavrov
Venue:
81st UNGA High-Level Week, New York
Joint Action Plan reviewed:
India-GCC Joint Action Plan 2024-28
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral meetings and groupings such as BRICS and the GCC are standard international-relations topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Article 148 provides for a Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
He can be removed only in like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
After he ceases to hold office he is not eligible for further office under the Government of India or of any State.
The administrative expenses of his office are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India.
Under Article 151, his reports on the accounts of the Union are submitted to the President, who causes them to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Appointed by:
The President, by warrant under his hand and seal
Removal:
Like a Judge of the Supreme Court
Union audit reports:
Submitted to the President (Article 151)
Office expenses:
Charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India
Why it matters for exams: Articles 148 to 151 are a staple of polity papers, especially the appointment, removal and reporting rules.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
Background
Article 315 provides for Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States.
Article 316 covers the appointment and term of office of members; Article 317 covers removal and suspension of a member.
Article 318 gives power to make regulations on conditions of service; Article 319 prohibits members from holding certain offices after they cease to be members.
Article 320 lists the functions of Public Service Commissions; Article 321 gives power to extend those functions.
Article 322 deals with expenses and Article 323 with reports of the Commissions.
Commissions for Union and States:
Article 315
Removal and suspension of a member:
Article 317
Functions:
Article 320
Power to extend functions:
Article 321
Why it matters for exams: The Article numbers 315 to 323 are asked directly in polity questions on constitutional bodies.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
IRDAI is a statutory body set up to protect the interests of policyholders and to regulate, promote and ensure the orderly growth of the insurance industry in India.
Its mission is to protect the interest of, and secure fair treatment to, policyholders.
It aims to bring about speedy and orderly growth of the insurance industry for the benefit of the common man and to provide long term funds for accelerating growth of the economy.
It sets, promotes, monitors and enforces high standards of integrity, financial soundness, fair dealing and competence of those it regulates.
It works to ensure speedy settlement of genuine claims, prevent insurance frauds and put in place effective grievance redressal machinery.
Nature:
Statutory body
Sector regulated:
Insurance industry
First mission point:
Protect the interest of and secure fair treatment to policyholders
Claims:
Ensure speedy settlement of genuine claims
Why it matters for exams: Regulators and their mandates (IRDAI, RBI, SEBI) are a standard economy and banking-exam topic.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
Background
DRDO works under the Department of Defence Research and Development of the Ministry of Defence.
It was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the Technical Development Establishments of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation.
It began with 10 establishments or laboratories and is now a network of around 41 laboratories and 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories.
Its indigenous systems include the Agni and Prithvi missiles, the Tejas light combat aircraft, the Pinaka rocket launcher and the Akash air defence system.
Its guiding line is "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam", meaning the source of strength is science.
Parent department:
Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence
Merged into DRDO:
Technical Development Establishments, Directorate of Technical Development and Production and Defence Science Organisation
Motto:
Balasya Mulam Vigyanam
Laboratories:
Around 41, plus 5 Young Scientist Laboratories
Why it matters for exams: DRDO's parent department, origin and flagship systems are common in defence and science-and-technology sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Charter Act enacted by the British Parliament vested legislative power for the first time in a single authority, the Governor-General in Council.
It created an office of Law Member and provided for the appointment of a Law Commission.
Section 53 is described as the legislative mainspring of law reform in India.
The First Law Commission, with Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay as First Law Member, produced a draft of the Penal Code.
Four Law Commissions were constituted in the British period; their labour produced the Indian Code of Civil Procedure, the Indian Contract Act, the Indian Evidence Act and the Transfer of Property Act.
First Law Member:
Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay
Legislative mainspring of law reform:
Section 53 of the Charter Act
Law Commissions in the British period:
Four
Draft by the First Law Commission:
Penal Code
Why it matters for exams: The origin of the Law Commission and the drafting of the Penal Code under Macaulay are staple modern-history and polity facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC