Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
September 2026
Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for six more months
- The Home Ministry extended AFSPA, 1958 in 'disturbed areas' of three states for six months from 1 October 2026.
- In Manipur, it covers the whole state except areas under 13 police stations.
- In Nagaland, it covers nine districts, including Dimapur, Mon, Kiphire and Phek.
Why it matters
[Polity] AFSPA gives the armed forces special powers in areas declared 'disturbed'. The Centre or a state can make that declaration. Extensions come every six months, so the covered states and districts are a favourite exam detail.
Supreme Court split verdict on CEC selection panel; minister on panel ‘fails perception test’
- On 23 September 2026, a two-judge Supreme Court Bench gave a split verdict on the 2023 CEC Act case.
- The 2023 Act replaced the Chief Justice with a Cabinet Minister on the CEC selection panel.
- Justice Dipankar Datta said this gives the government an effective veto and fails the 'perception test'.
Why it matters
[SC Ruling] An independent Election Commission is part of the Basic Structure. The panel now has the PM, a minister and the Leader of Opposition. The validity of the 2023 Act is still undecided.
Asked before: NDA (I) 2026 asked how the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed under Article 324.
TRAI repeals its 2012 TV ad-duration rules after the Centre scraps the 12-minute cap
- TRAI issued the Duration of Advertisements in Television Channels (Repealing) Regulations, 2026.
- They repeal TRAI's 2012 regulations, which enforced a 12-minute ad cap per clock hour.
- The cap came from Rule 7(11) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
Why it matters
[Polity] TRAI regulates broadcasting carriage, not content. The ad cap itself sat in rules made under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
DILRMP 3.0 guidelines launched: ₹565.50 crore for land records from 2026-27 to 2030-31
- Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Operational Guidelines for DILRMP 3.0.
- DILRMP 3.0 runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹565.50 crore, fully funded by the Centre.
- It has 11 components under three pillars.
Why it matters
[Polity] DILRMP began as NLRMP in 2008. It became a Central Sector Scheme in April 2016. UPSC asked about its funding and features in 2024.
31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee formed to examine the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
- A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal chairs it.
- Both Houses agreed on 12 August 2026 to refer the Bill to a JPC.
Why it matters
[Polity] A JPC has members from both Houses. Usually two-thirds come from the Lok Sabha and one-third from the Rajya Sabha.