Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
July 2026
Parliament passes Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026 with tougher penalties for exam cheating
- The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 30 July 2026, a day after the Lok Sabha.
- Jail for using unfair means rises to 5–10 years, with fines up to ₹50 lakh.
- Organised exam crime now gets at least 7 years and a minimum ₹10 crore fine.
Why it matters
[Polity] The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. That Act covers exams by UPSC, SSC, railway boards, IBPS and the NTA. Service providers caught cheating can now be barred for eight years.
Supreme Court seeks Centre’s reply on plea challenging the ‘merger’ exception in the anti-defection law
- The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre on 28 July 2026.
- The plea was filed by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.
- It challenges how Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule is read.
Why it matters
[Polity] The Tenth Schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment in 1985. The 91st Amendment in 2003 removed the 'split' exception. The 'merger' exception still remains.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly passes Uniform Civil Code Bill, the fourth state to do so
- The Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed the UCC Bill on 21 July 2026 by voice vote.
- It is the fourth state after Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam.
- It bans polygamy and makes registration of marriages compulsory.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 44, a Directive Principle, asks the State to try to secure a uniform civil code. A state can make such a law because marriage and succession are in the Concurrent List. The Bill still needs the Governor's assent.
Monsoon Session opens; Bill introduced to raise Supreme Court judges’ strength from 34 to 38
- Parliament's Monsoon Session began on 20 July 2026.
- Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill that day.
- It raises the number of judges, other than the CJI, from 33 to 37.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 124 lets Parliament fix the number of Supreme Court judges by law. That number is set in the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. An ordinance lapses six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless replaced by a law.
National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 and its 2025 Amendment come into force after four years
- The Sports Ministry brought the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 into force from 15 July 2026.
- The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act, 2025 came into force the next day, 16 July 2026.
- The Act makes NADA a statutory body. NADA handles testing, investigations and anti-doping education.
Why it matters
[Polity] Parliament passed the Act in August 2022. The World Anti-Doping Agency objected that it gave government too much control. India amended the law in 2025 before switching it on.