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
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
Background
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act is Act No. 69 of 1971, amended in 2005 (Act No. 51 of 2005).
Section 2 covers burning, mutilating, defacing, defiling, disfiguring, destroying, trampling upon or otherwise showing disrespect to the Indian National Flag or the Constitution.
The punishment is imprisonment which may extend to three years, or fine, or both.
This is the provision invoked in the Kerala High Court's flag ruling in which the court stressed intention to insult.
Act number:
Act No. 69 of 1971
Maximum imprisonment:
three years
Why it matters for exams: Static law facts (Act number, punishment) asked in polity papers.
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
Justice A. Badharudeen of the Kerala High Court quashed proceedings against Mohammed Kasim H.K. in Mohammed Kasim H.K. v Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
A photograph showed him holding the Indian National Flag with the saffron portion facing downward; it was shared in a private WhatsApp group.
He had taken part in the Har Ghar Tiranga programme.
The case was under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The court held that non-intentional, accidental or mistaken acts, without intention or mens rea to insult the flag, do not attract prosecution.
Judge:
Justice A. Badharudeen
Law:
Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (Section 2)
Case:
Crl.MC 7673/2024
Why it matters for exams: Links national symbols law with the mens rea principle.
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
The Kerala High Court has issued guidelines restricting photography, videography and live streaming on its premises.
They are prohibited in court halls, judges' chambers, registry offices, record rooms, server rooms and security control rooms.
Prior permission of the Registrar General, or an officer authorised by the Chief Justice, is needed to upload or publish such material on social or digital media.
The guidelines apply to advocates, litigants, interns, law clerks, media persons and visitors.
Live streaming of court proceedings is allowed only where authorised by law or by orders of the court.
Permission authority:
Registrar General or officer authorised by the Chief Justice
Why it matters for exams: Open-court principle versus court decorum; Registrar General's role is a likely factual question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
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
Justice Harisankar V. Menon of the Kerala High Court held that an inter-religion marriage must also be considered for benefits under the inter-caste marriage reservation category.
The petitioner, Jisha Thomas, a Christian woman married to a Hindu man, was a farm employee in the Agriculture Department.
The court directed that her appointment be regularised with all consequential benefits.
The case is WP(C) 36236/2022, with neutral citation 2026:KER:70453.
Judge:
Justice Harisankar V. Menon
Petitioner:
Jisha Thomas
Case:
WP(C) 36236/2022
Why it matters for exams: Reservation jurisprudence and Kerala's inter-caste marriage category are recurring PSC topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas of the Kerala High Court quashed a government order of 27 July 2026 that abolished the Kerala Police Officers Association (KPOA).
The order had also reconstituted the Kerala Police Association with additional ranks and provided for sharing of assets in a 60:40 ratio.
It had set up ad hoc committees to run the associations and fixed elections by 30 September 2026.
The court held the order was an intrusion on the petitioner's rights under Article 19(1)(c) and legally invalid, as members were not consulted.
The ad hoc committees were also quashed.
Judge:
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas
Case:
WP(C) 26155/2026
Asset sharing ratio in quashed order:
60:40
Why it matters for exams: Tests Article 19(1)(c) (freedom to form associations) applied to a Kerala police body.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
On 28 September 2026 UN Member States held a high-level meeting marking 25 years since the Durban Declaration.
Secretary-General António Guterres called racism a poison requiring stronger laws, inclusive institutions and reparatory justice.
He warned that digital tools are amplifying hate speech and disinformation.
Ethiopia's representative urged reparations for colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
The Durban Declaration, adopted in South Africa in 2001, is a framework for eliminating racism, discrimination and xenophobia.
Years since Durban:
25
Declaration adopted:
2001, South Africa
Meeting date:
28 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: Human-rights declarations and anniversaries are common in general awareness papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
On 28 September 2026 Kim Son Gyong, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, spoke in the general debate of the UN General Assembly's 81st session.
He said the country's nuclear status can never be reversed in any circumstances or by any means.
He cited the US-Japan-Republic of Korea security partnership and military exercises as raising pressure.
He called for UN reforms to increase impartiality and equal representation of Member States.
He marked 35 years since the DPRK joined the United Nations.
Speaker:
Kim Son Gyong
UNGA session:
81st
Years since UN entry:
35
Why it matters for exams: Korean Peninsula security and UN membership history are frequent exam topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
On 28 September 2026 South Sudan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Cecilia Adout Majok Adeng, addressed the General Assembly.
She said South Sudan remains committed to general elections in December 2026 to conclude its transition period, 15 years after independence.
She said the ballot must replace the bullets and called for lifting all sanctions, including the arms embargo.
She said the country does not want indefinite dependence on international peacekeeping through UNMISS.
She noted that electoral institutions need resources and that refugees and internally displaced persons must not be left out.
Elections planned:
December 2026
Speaker:
Cecilia Adout Majok Adeng
UN mission:
UNMISS
Why it matters for exams: Elections, UN missions and African states' recent history are recurring topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
On 28 September 2026 Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim addressed the UN General Assembly in place of de facto head of state General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
He called the denial of General al-Burhan's US visa deeply regrettable and called on the UN to examine the incident and uphold the 1947 Headquarters Agreement.
He rejected any attempt to impose solutions, dictates or external agendas on Sudan's people.
He called for Security Council reform, including two permanent African seats.
The civil war between the de facto government and the Rapid Support Forces has run since April 2023.
Speaker:
Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim
Agreement cited:
1947 Headquarters Agreement
African permanent seats sought:
two
Why it matters for exams: UN host-country obligations, Security Council reform and the Sudan war are linked exam themes.
Kerala PSCUPSC
29 September 2026
At a UN Security Council meeting on 28 September 2026, officials reported over 1,600 settler attacks in the West Bank this year, an average of 6.7 a day against 5 a day in 2025.
More than 4,300 Palestinians have been displaced.
Israel invited bids for 1,234 homes in the E1 area near East Jerusalem, with a 19 October deadline.
In Gaza, 1,394 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire, and about 94% of the population needs shelter assistance.
Board of Peace official Nickolay Mladenov said the situation on the ground does not yet match the documented agreements; Hamas disarmament and Israel's full withdrawal have yet to begin.
Settler attacks this year:
over 1,600
E1 homes put to bid:
1,234
Killed in Gaza since ceasefire:
1,394
Why it matters for exams: Tests knowledge of the Security Council's role in the Israel-Palestine question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction comprises a Preamble, 24 Articles and 3 Annexes. It aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting their development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use by States Parties. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is its implementing body, and the Convention entered into force on 29 April 1997. The OPCW has 193 Member States, and its Executive Council has 41 members.
Structure:
Preamble, 24 Articles, 3 Annexes
Implementing body:
OPCW
OPCW Member States:
193
Why it matters for exams: Treaty-body pairings in disarmament, such as the convention and its implementing organisation, are a common linking question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Charter of the United Nations, the founding document of the Organization, was signed on 26 June 1945 in San Francisco at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24 October 1945. Under Article 111 its Chinese, French, Russian, English and Spanish texts are equally authentic. Arabic is one of the six official languages of the UN but is not among these five. The Statute of the International Court of Justice is annexed to the Charter and forms an integral part of it (Article 92).
Signed at:
San Francisco
Authentic texts:
Chinese, French, Russian, English, Spanish
Annexed to the Charter:
Statute of the International Court of Justice
Why it matters for exams: The founding treaty of the UN, its place of signing and its authentic languages are common general-knowledge questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The International Court of Justice settles, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. Article 34 of the Statute provides that only states may be parties in cases before the Court. The Court can deal with a dispute only when the States concerned have accepted its jurisdiction, for example by special agreement, through a treaty clause or through declarations recognizing its jurisdiction as compulsory. Advisory opinions are generally not binding on the requesting body.
Who may be parties to cases:
only States (Article 34)
Advisory opinions requested by:
authorized UN organs and specialized agencies
Basis of jurisdiction:
consent of the States concerned
Why it matters for exams: The distinction between contentious jurisdiction and advisory jurisdiction, and the consent principle, are frequently tested.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Statute of the International Court of Justice provides that the Court shall consist of fifteen members, no two of whom may be nationals of the same state. Members are elected for nine years and may be re-elected. They are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council from a list of persons nominated by the national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration. A candidate needs an absolute majority of votes in both bodies. Any Security Council vote on judges is taken without distinction between permanent and non-permanent members, so no veto applies.
Judges:
15
Term:
nine years
Elected by:
General Assembly and Security Council, absolute majority in both
Why it matters for exams: The composition and election rules of the Court are staple questions on international judicial bodies.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Article 61 of the UN Charter provides that the Economic and Social Council consists of fifty-four Members of the United Nations elected by the General Assembly. Eighteen members are elected each year for a term of three years, and a retiring member is eligible for immediate re-election. The Council was originally smaller: amendments enlarged it from eighteen to twenty-seven and then to fifty-four. It is the principal body for coordination, policy review and policy dialogue on economic, social and environmental issues.
Members:
54
Elected each year:
18
Term:
three years
Why it matters for exams: Council size, election by the General Assembly and the three-year rotation are stock questions on the UN's economic and social arm.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC