26 October 2026
Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed W.P.(CRL) 3342/2026 in Neha v. The State NCT of Delhi. A Special Executive Magistrate had issued a notice on October 17, 2026 under Sections 126 and 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita read with Section 135(3), directing the petitioner to execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety to maintain peace during an inquiry. The Court held that the notice was not based merely on hearsay but also on case diary entries from different police stations relating to different events. It held that a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the BNSS dated 24.08.2026 covered the Mandi House area, and that the notice met the requirements of a show cause notice under Chapter IX of the BNSS. The Court said it cannot sit in the armchair of the Special Executive Magistrate to test his subjective satisfaction at this stage. It directed that the State give the petitioner all the materials relied on before she appears before the Magistrate, and said the Magistrate may decide whether to insist on a bond at the first instance.
Case number:
W.P.(CRL) 3342/2026
Bond directed:
Rs 10,000 with one surety
Provisions:
Sections 126 and 130 read with Section 135(3), BNSS
Why it matters for exams: The provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita that replaced the old preventive sections of the Criminal Procedure Code are being asked in every current paper.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
BNSS Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita — The law that replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 as India's code of criminal procedure.
SEM Special Executive Magistrate — An executive magistrate appointed for particular areas or functions, including preventive orders.
26 October 2026
A Division Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Renu Bhatnagar dismissed a review petition in Justice For All v. Government of NCT of Delhi. The original writ petition sought enforcement of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 for free books, uniforms and study materials for children admitted under the Economically Weaker Section and Disadvantaged Group categories in recognised private schools in Delhi. The Delhi government framed a policy on 10 June 2025 giving financial assistance for uniforms instead of supplying them, citing procurement delays of about six months and differing school uniform designs, colours and specifications. A coordinate bench had accepted the policy in a judgment of 23 January and directed that adequate amounts be provided under it. The Bench held that the review sought to re-argue the case, which is outside the scope of review, that the contention under the Act had already been considered, and that the policy cannot be called completely arbitrary, whimsical or capricious. It found no error apparent on the face of the record.
Policy dated:
10 June 2025
Bench:
Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Renu Bhatnagar
Why it matters for exams: The Right to Education Act and the EWS and DG categories under it are among the most asked education-policy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
EWS Economically Weaker Section — A category of children entitled to free seats in private schools under the Right to Education Act.
DG Disadvantaged Group — The second category of children entitled to free seats under the same Act.
26 October 2026
A Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Vinod Kumar decided Union of India and Anr. v. Om Prakash, neutral citation 2026:DHC:9162-DB. The Court held that a caveat stating a decision cannot be cited as a precedent is unique to the Supreme Court, because its decisions are binding under Article 141 of the Constitution. The Bench expressed serious doubt that any other court can direct that its decision will not be cited, and warned that if lower courts claimed that power, litigants similarly placed on facts would receive different treatment. On the merits, the Court upheld a Tribunal order granting Om Prakash, a retired Scientist, ante-dated in situ promotion under the Flexible Complementing Scheme with the interview dispensed with. It held that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change could not rely on the bar on retrospective promotion because the delay in assessment was wholly attributable to it. Ante-dating to Scientist C from January 1, 2006 was upheld, and promotion to Scientist D from January 1, 2010 was made subject to his being found suitable on the remaining parameters of the Scheme.
Neutral citation:
2026:DHC:9162-DB
Scheme:
Flexible Complementing Scheme
Why it matters for exams: Article 141 and the doctrine of binding precedent are core polity and law topics for every competitive examination.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Precedent Judicial precedent — An earlier decision that a later court must or may follow on the same point of law.
26 October 2026
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, inaugurated the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory, called AATAL, at the IITM Delhi Branch. The Press Information Bureau released the announcement on 24 October 2026. The laboratory analyses the chemical composition of gases and aerosols, including PM2.5, metals and toxic elements, and identifies pollution sources in real time, such as vehicular emissions, industrial activity, biomass and crop residue burning, construction and road dust, and pollutants transported from elsewhere. It is integrated with IITM's AIRWISE system, whose forecasts have a spatial resolution of 400 metres and cover the next 72 hours, to support forecasting and the decisions of the Commission for Air Quality Management. The release records that in one live example transport contributed about 25 per cent of Delhi's pollution, with an overall reading of around 180. Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao is the Director of IITM.
Laboratory:
Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL)
Forecast resolution:
400 metres, next 72 hours
Ministry:
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Why it matters for exams: The Ministry of Earth Sciences, PM2.5 and the Commission for Air Quality Management are all standard examination topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
PM2.5 Particulate Matter 2.5 — Airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, small enough to enter the lungs and the bloodstream.
26 October 2026
The Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas invoked Stage-I of GRAP across the entire National Capital Region with immediate effect. Delhi's Air Quality Index stood at 244 at 2 pm, which places it in the Poor category. The Sub-Committee directed that actions under Stage-I of the extant GRAP be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all concerned agencies across the NCR so that AQI levels do not slip further. Implementing agencies were asked to keep watch and intensify measures under the existing GRAP schedule, and citizens were urged to follow the citizen charter under GRAP Stage-I. News On AIR carried the announcement on 21 October 2026.
AQI:
244 at 2 pm, Poor category
Stage invoked:
Stage-I of GRAP
Area covered:
The entire National Capital Region
Why it matters for exams: GRAP, the AQI categories and the Commission that enforces them are asked in almost every environment paper.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
GRAP Graded Response Action Plan — A set of anti-pollution measures for the National Capital Region that get stricter as air quality worsens.
28 September 2026
Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav chaired a high-level meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta to review the Delhi Government's Air Pollution Mitigation Action Plan, with Delhi Environment Minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Public Works Minister Shri Pravesh Sahib Singh, MoEFCC Secretary Shri Tanmay Kumar and CAQM Chairman Shri Rajesh Verma present. The winter strategy has ten action points. No PUCC, no fuel is to be enforced in mission mode at all 500 ANPR-enabled fuel stations. From 01.11.2026 entry is restricted for non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI, except CNG and electric vehicles. The winter protocol also provides for doubled parking charges, staggered office timings and 50 per cent work from home. Last-mile connectivity covers all 228 Metro stations and the bus fleet has reached 6,840 including 5,088 electric buses. Road redevelopment of 1,193 km is complete with the balance due by November 15. Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction are banned from November 1 to January 31, with a complete ban from December 10 to January 20. Air quality monitoring stations have been raised from 47 to 60, with 334 enforcement teams. The Press Information Bureau released the details on 28 September 2026.
ANPR-enabled fuel stations:
500
Entry restriction from:
01.11.2026 for non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI
Bus fleet:
6,840 including 5,088 e-buses
Monitoring stations:
Raised from 47 to 60
Why it matters for exams: The PUCC rule, Bharat Stage norms and Delhi's winter curbs are a likely question set in every current affairs paper this season.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
PUCC Pollution Under Control Certificate — The certificate a vehicle must hold to show its emissions are within permitted limits.
ANPR Automatic Number Plate Recognition — Camera technology that reads vehicle number plates automatically.
26 October 2026
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, said 2,50,754 Form 6 applications had been received since the claims and objections period began on August 31, in addition to 2,12,400 received before the draft rolls were published. The exercise is the Special Intensive Revision with October 1 as the qualifying date. Special camps were held at all 14,947 polling stations on October 25. The statement said only a few days are left in the period of claims and objections. The machinery for the revision comprises 13 district election officers, 70 Electoral Registration Officers, 902 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and 14,947 booth level officers. The Tribune reported the figures on 24 October 2026.
Form 6 applications:
2,50,754
Polling stations:
14,947
Qualifying date:
October 1
Why it matters for exams: Form 6, the qualifying date and the hierarchy of electoral registration officers are recurring questions on India's electoral machinery.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
ERO Electoral Registration Officer — The officer responsible for preparing and revising the electoral roll of an assembly constituency.
Form 6 Form 6 — The application form used to enrol a new voter in the electoral roll.
26 October 2026
The Delhi High Court refused to stay the film 'Doosra' on a plea by the former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly claiming a violation of his personality rights. The Court said it would watch the film before deciding the claim. The film was scheduled for release on October 23. LiveLaw reported the order on 22 October 2026 and Bar and Bench on 23 October 2026.
Film:
Doosra
Scheduled release:
October 23
Why it matters for exams: Personality rights cases are becoming a regular current affairs topic, and Ganguly's cricket offices are standard general knowledge.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Personality rights Personality rights — A person's right to control the commercial use of their name, image, voice and likeness.
Background
Delhi is in the news this week for its air quality curbs, and the dust restrictions of the winter protocol apply across the same city that holds some of India's best known monuments. One of Delhi's UNESCO World Heritage properties is listed as Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi, inscribed under criterion (iv) as an outstanding example of early Islamic architecture in India. UNESCO records that the Qutb Minar is 72.5 metres high. The property also contains the Quwwatu'l-Islam mosque, the Alai Darwaza gateway, the incomplete Alai Minar whose first storey stands 25 metres high, the tomb of Iltutmish, the madarsa of Alauddin Khilji, the Iron Pillar and other structures. UNESCO notes that the property is owned by the Government of India.
Height of the Qutb Minar:
72.5 metres
Alai Minar first storey:
25 metres
Criterion:
(iv)
Why it matters for exams: The height of the Qutb Minar, the monuments inside the complex and the criterion under which it is listed are classic objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Iron Pillar Iron Pillar of Delhi — A wrought iron pillar inside the Qutb complex, famous for resisting corrosion.