Daily briefing
Current Affairs — 25 August 2026
The day's source-attributed current affairs for UPSC, organized for fast revision.
Articles from 25 August 2026
- Bills on simultaneous elections unconstitutional: Cong. leader Chidambaram tells JPC proposed legislation violates Constitution’s Basic Structure; think tanks point to infirmities; while some Padma awardees support move, others say it can lead to chaosP. Chidambaram told a Joint Committee of Parliament that proposed “One Nation, One Election” legislation on simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections violates the Constitution’s basic structure and fails the two-thirds amendment requirement.Read analysis →
- How the SC ruling redefined ‘industry’Supreme Court’s nine-judge Constitution Bench clarified how the term ‘industry’ must be interpreted under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and held that Rajappa (1978) does not automatically bind IRC cases.Read analysis →
- Smart glasses highlight gaps in privacy lawsMeta’s AI-powered smart glasses are raising privacy and covert-surveillance concerns, highlighting gaps in India’s data protection governance.Read analysis →
- The top court’s treatment of BWSSB highlights the enduring anxiety over the scope of labour protectionThe Supreme Court’s treatment of the BWSSB (1978) “industry” test under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 is debated alongside the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, after repeal of the ID Act in late 2025.Read analysis →
- SC bans constructions near Rajasthan’s Jojari river to curb pollutionThe Supreme Court ordered a 100-metre construction ban along the Jojari river and a 500-metre hazardous-industry restriction to curb river pollution.Read analysis →
- What Amul can teach us about helping rare-disease patientsA proposed Patient Data Collective model aims to speed rare-disease drug development by building trusted, consented patient datasets and using “external controls” instead of traditional randomized trials when patient numbers are too small.Read analysis →
- Panel will take plaints of sexual assault by police: SCSC directs women protesters alleging sexual molestation by police during the NEET-UG protest crackdown to file complaints directly to the High Powered Enquiry Committee’s nodal officer.Read analysis →
- The fact is youth unemployment has a household costPLFS 2025 estimates high youth unemployment among 18–29-year-olds and shows household consumption and income strain when tertiary-educated jobseekers remain unemployed.Read analysis →
- Labour rights beyond the shadow of BWSSB (V. Gopala Gowda)A Supreme Court reference on the meaning of “industry” in labour law is discussed alongside concerns that legal transitions after the Industrial Disputes Act repeals should not weaken worker protections.Read analysis →
- THE GIST (SC ruling on ‘industry’)Supreme Court Constitution Bench in IRC, 2020 dispute holds the older interpretation of “industry” does not automatically apply.Read analysis →
- The ECI must stop filing of bulk applications for deletion of votersECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has triggered calls to prevent bulk voter-deletion filings using Form 7 without identity checks and effective voter notice.Read analysis →
- Raise proportionate quantity issue with CWMA, SC tells T.N.Supreme Court asks Tamil Nadu to raise its “proportionate” Cauvery water shortfall contention with the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for action and updated reporting.Read analysis →
- The story so farFlock surveillance cameras in the United States have triggered protests and safeguards changes after allegations of misuse, raising questions for India’s potential AI-powered camera adoption.Read analysis →
- Did Press Note 3 relaxations help attract more FDI?India has reported ₹4,895.65 crore in 29 FDI projects from entities benefiting from Press Note 3-related relaxations up to 10 August 2026.Read analysis →
- Centre lifts ban on wheat exports amid depressed local pricesThe Government of India lifted the wheat export ban with immediate effect and removed export restrictions for wheat flour and specified wheat products due to depressed domestic prices.Read analysis →
- Centre moves to simplify medical device regulationsThe Union Health Ministry proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 to simplify compliance and speed market access for eligible medical devices.Read analysis →
- Opposition raises concerns over ‘weakening’ of ISRO; Centre hits backOpposition and the Centre disputed reports about privatization and potential ISRO role changes in India’s space programme, with ISRO investment-linked concerns centred on Kulasekarapattinam second spaceport plans.Read analysis →
- Manipur awaits Centre’s decision on Census 2027Manipur is awaiting Union guidance for <strong>Census 2027</strong> amid a High Court PIL hearing and halted field preparation.Read analysis →
- Citing vacancies, Congress chief says Modi government is trying to end reservationCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that sanctioned vacancies in civilian central government establishments are being used as a “back door” to weaken reservation through the “reservation hatao” campaign.Read analysis →
- Indian polls are conducted transparently, asserts CECCEC Gyanesh Kumar said elections are conducted transparently with concurrent audit and linked electoral literacy efforts to young voters.Read analysis →
- Home Minister directs police chiefs to detect and deport illegal migrantsAmit Shah directed police chiefs to detect and deport illegal migrants and pushed AI-based analysis on Multi Agency Centres (MAC) platforms for national-security SOPs at NS Strategies Conference-2026.Read analysis →
- Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow, hands over PM’s personal messageS. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin and delivered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message linking SCO and BRICS meeting possibilities.Read analysis →
- Doval set to hold border talks with China’s Wang todayAjit Doval visited Beijing ahead of the 25th India–China boundary talks between Special Representatives and met Wang Yi and Han Zheng.Read analysis →
- What has fuelled the backlash against Flock cameras in U.S.?Backlash in the United States against Flock’s licence plate reader surveillance system has intensified after allegations of law-enforcement misuse of Flock data and broader privacy concerns.Read analysis →
- Hyderabad, adjoining ACs drive Telangana’s record SIR deletionsTelangana’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is reported to have deleted 21.7% of names, with higher deletions around Hyderabad and Secunderabad.Read analysis →
- People’s Plan 2.0: an ambitious dreamKerala is discussing a revival of its People’s Plan Campaign as “People’s Plan 2.0”, with an updated participatory model using student internships, local bodies, and a tech-enabled online portal.Read analysis →
- Over 1 crore names deleted in Karnataka draft electoral rollsKarnataka’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) deleted over 1.07 crore electoral-roll names, reducing the electorate to about 4.46 crore voters and triggering a large discrepancy-notice process.Read analysis →
- Krishna water only for drinking: panelKrishna River Management Board committee decided that water from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar will be used only for drinking water needs of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, not irrigation; it will decide the sharing ratio on September 4 for the period until June–July.Read analysis →
- SC asks Centre to consider plea for reduction in NEET-SS cut-offSupreme Court asked the Union government to consider reducing the NEET-SS Super Speciality qualifying percentile for in-service government doctors after a plea by the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association.Read analysis →
- BJP accuses Karnataka government of ‘double standard’ over Adani GroupKarnataka BJP accused the Congress government of a “double standard” over Gautam Adani as the Karnataka legislature passed the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 permitting disposal-related actions up to 5% of park and garden land for public utility projects.Read analysis →