GS Paper II · Executive & Judiciary
Supreme Court Rulings Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)
From the syllabus: Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions; structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; pressure groups
Why it matters: Questions analyze landmark verdicts that expand fundamental freedoms or reinterpret constitutional provisions in response to evolving societal needs.
In the news
October 2026
13 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Prompts Relocation of Protests from Jantar Mantar to Open SpacesThe Supreme Court of India urged authorities to identify spacious, open-air alternative sites for public demonstrations in Delhi, prompting government steps to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a primary protest venue. A bench led by the Chief...
13 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Calls for Practical Balance in Firecracker RegulationsHearing matters on air quality and festive celebrations, the Supreme Court stressed that environmental curbs on firecrackers must balance public health considerations with ground-level enforceability. The court observed that blanket...
12 Oct 2026
Supreme Court move challenges electoral and administrative transparencySenior political leaders visited the Supreme Court Registry to file petitions seeking an independent judicial probe into controversial administrative and electoral processes. The legal challenge highlights ongoing tensions between...
11 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Free Movement Subject to Public OrderThe Supreme Court emphasized that citizens have a fundamental right to free movement, cautioning against unjustified detentions and disproportionate curbs on public transit. The court clarified that while maintaining public order...
04 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Intervenes on Essential Drug Pricing and Retailer MarginsThe Supreme Court of India has intervened in matters concerning retail pricing and profit margins of essential pharmaceutical drugs. The court emphasized that affordable healthcare requires strict regulation of retail prices to prevent...
02 Oct 2026
Valid Visa Does Not Guarantee Right of Entry, Rules Delhi High CourtThe Delhi High Court has ruled that possessing a valid visa does not grant a foreign national an enforceable legal right to enter India. The court clarified that the grant of a visa is a sovereign function of the state and does not...
01 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre and RBI on Zero-MDR PolicyThe Supreme Court issued notices to the Union Government, the Reserve Bank of India, and NPCI regarding a petition challenging the zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) policy on UPI transactions. The court questioned whether waiving...
September 2026
30 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Explores Relaxation for Next-Gen Green CrackersThe Supreme Court has weighed in favour of conditional relaxation on next-generation joined green firecrackers ahead of the festive season. The Union government presented a report by CSIR-NEERI showing that these new firecrackers differ...
30 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Examines Legality of Zero UPI Merchant Discount RateThe Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union Government, the Reserve Bank of India, and the National Payments Corporation of India on a petition challenging the zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) policy for Unified Payments...
28 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Moved Over Special Intensive Revision of Electoral RollsA petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a time-bound independent inquiry and a stay on the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across several States and Union Territories. The plea raised...
28 Sep 2026
Form 26 and Electoral Disclosure Mandates Under Judicial ReviewLegal disputes concerning the rejection of candidate nomination papers have brought Form 26 disclosures back under national scrutiny. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Supreme Court rulings, candidates must submit...
27 Sep 2026
Chief Justice Launches Bihar's First Victim Rights CentreChief Justice of India Surya Kant inaugurated the first Victim Rights Centre in Bihar to ensure direct legal assistance to vulnerable and unheard citizens. Speaking at the launch, he emphasized that justice must reach beyond courtroom...
24 Sep 2026
Justice Datta flags Minister on CEC selection panelIn a split verdict regarding the appointment process of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC), Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta observed that having a Cabinet Minister on the selection committee fails...
13 Sep 2026
Higher Judiciary Reinforces Norms Against Reflexive ArrestsHighlighting the importance of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21, courts have reiterated that law enforcement officers must avoid routine or reflexive arrests without satisfying necessary legal standards. Judges emphasized...
12 Sep 2026
Gauhati High Court Rebukes Assam Government Over Farmland DemolitionsThe Gauhati High Court questioned the Assam state government over the demolition of 21 houses on private farmland in Goalpara district. The court noted that the revenue authorities acted in a prima facie illegal and unauthorized manner,...
12 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Urges Timeline for FSSAI Warning Labels and School Nutritional LiteracyThe Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to provide a clear timeline for implementing Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) warning labels on packaged foods. Noting children's vulnerability to uninformed...
11 Sep 2026
Courts mandate strict oversight against reflexive arrestsSuperior courts in India have issued directives curbing the police practice of making routine and reflexive arrests without adequate justification. The rulings reinforce that personal liberty under Article 21 must not be compromised...
11 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Questions FSSAI on Sugar, Salt, and Fat Warning ThresholdsThe Supreme Court of India questioned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding standard thresholds for front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) targeting high sugar, salt, and saturated fat content. The court highlighted...
08 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Sets Deadline for Uniform Aravalli DefinitionThe Supreme Court refused to grant an extension to the high-powered committee tasked with formulating a uniform definition for the ecologically fragile Aravalli hills and range, fixing November 30 as the final deadline. The court noted...
08 Sep 2026
Kerala High Court Urges Restraint in SC/ST Caste VerificationThe Kerala High Court held that authorities must show leniency and procedural restraint when requiring individuals from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities to prove their caste status. The court ruled that denial of...
04 Sep 2026
Karnataka High Court Limits Police Powers on Externment OrdersThe Karnataka High Court struck down a state notification that empowered Superintendents of Police (SPs) to issue externment orders under the Police Act. The court clarified that the statute reserves this power strictly for Police...
04 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Scrutinizes Maternity and Parental Leave ProvisionsThe Supreme Court reviewed provisions under the Social Security Code regarding paid maternity leave, with particular emphasis on equal protections for adoptive mothers and non-biological parents. The bench recommended that the Union...
03 Sep 2026
Delhi High Court Grants Bail in NIA Case Citing Long Pre-Trial IncarcerationThe Delhi High Court granted bail to two accused in a National Investigation Agency (NIA) terror case, emphasizing that prolonged pre-trial incarceration without timely trial infringes upon the fundamental right to liberty under Article...
August 2026
30 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Highlights Proactive Judicial Action on 'Digital Arrest' ScamsChief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the Indian judiciary is proactively tackling emerging cybercrimes, such as 'digital arrest' scams, rather than waiting solely for statutory amendments. The observation highlights the...
27 Aug 2026
Supreme Court debate on definition of industry and Triple TestLegal experts and labor analysts have raised concerns over a recent Supreme Court ruling that shifts away from the classic Triple Test established in the Bangalore Water Supply case of 1978. The Triple Test defines an industry based on...
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August 2026
26 Aug 2026
Supreme Court clarifies police jurisdiction under PCPNDT ActThe Supreme Court examined legal questions regarding police powers and judicial cognisance under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. The court clarified procedures regarding FIR registration, police...
25 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Directs 100-Metre Buffer Zone Along Jojari RiverThe Supreme Court banned all construction activities within a 100-metre buffer zone of the Jojari river in Pali, Rajasthan, in response to severe industrial effluents polluting the water body. The Court noted that heavy industrial...
24 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Panel Pulls Up Assam Over Kaziranga Mining and Eco-Sensitive ZoneA Supreme Court-appointed committee has scrutinised the Assam government regarding illegal mining activities adjacent to the Kaziranga National Park. The scrutiny intensified following proposals to reduce the default 10 km Eco-Sensitive...
22 Aug 2026
Patna HC Rules Essential Religious Practice Doctrine Does Not Extend to Every Mode of WorshipThe Patna High Court ruled that constitutional protection under Article 25 extends only to essential and integral religious practices, not to every mode or manner of their exercise. The single bench reiterated that freedom of religion...
22 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Panel Flags Construction Violations in Kaziranga Animal CorridorsThe Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has sought action regarding unchecked construction activities along nine key animal corridors in Kaziranga National Park. The directive emphasizes upholding the Supreme...
22 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Trims Law Practice Requirement for Judicial ServicesThe Supreme Court has revised the mandatory legal practice requirement for candidates appearing for lower judicial service examinations to one year. Successful candidates with one year of practice will undergo one year of intensive...
21 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Reaffirms Significance of MGNREGAThe Supreme Court of India praised the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), observing that it serves as a crucial social security net rather than a freebie or a measure of exploitation. The court was...
21 Aug 2026
SC Overturns 1978 'Industry' Precedent for New Labour CodeThe Supreme Court ruled that the definition of 'industry' under the new Industrial Relations Code will be interpreted based on its own statutory text and context. This judgment marks a departure from the landmark 1978 Bangalore Water...
21 Aug 2026
Judicial Scrutiny Increases Over Forest Relocation and EncroachmentsThe Odisha government formed an inquiry committee following directives from the Odisha Human Rights Commission to investigate allegations of non-consensual tribal relocation from critical tiger habitats. Simultaneously, the Supreme...
20 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Urges Household Engagement for Solid Waste ManagementThe Supreme Court of India stated that solid waste management cannot be treated as the sole responsibility of municipal sanitation workers. The apex court urged local authorities and District Collectors to engage households and...
02 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Clarifies Stance on Post Facto Environmental ClearancesThe Supreme Court of India clarified that its approval of post facto environmental clearances under exceptional circumstances must not be treated as a general amnesty scheme. Environmentalists have raised concerns that retroactive...
01 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Mandates DNA Testing for Indians Killed in UkraineThe Supreme Court has directed the Centre to facilitate DNA testing to identify the mortal remains of Indian nationals killed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The court also ordered the Ministry of External Affairs to provide legal...
July 2026
22 Jul 2026
Allahabad High Court Delivers Split Verdict on Safeguards Against DemolitionsThe Allahabad High Court has delivered a split verdict regarding the institutional safeguards required against punitive executive demolitions, popularly known as "bulldozer justice". While one judge emphasized the absolute primacy of...
17 Jul 2026
Supreme Court intervenes in life-saving drug pricingThe Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of a case concerning access to expensive life-saving medicines. The issue originated from a petition filed in the Kerala High Court by a breast cancer patient challenging the...
17 Jul 2026
Supreme Court emphasizes duty to preserve life during protestsWhile hearing matters related to activist Sonam Wangchuk's fast, the Supreme Court reiterated that the state has a fundamental duty to preserve the life of a citizen on an indefinite fast. The court noted that this duty must be...
16 Jul 2026
Delhi High Court Mandates Medical Care for Sonam WangchukThe Delhi High Court has directed the government to conduct daily medical monitoring of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike for Ladakh's constitutional safeguards. The court accepted arguments that the...
15 Jul 2026
Judicial Challenges Mount Over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula DisputeThe Madhya Pradesh High Court is facing complex legal challenges regarding the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex, a sensitive 11th-century monument claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. The ongoing ASI survey and subsequent litigation...
15 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Questions "Native" Language DefinitionThe Supreme Court of India questioned the use of the term "native" in a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) circular. The Court asked whether English could be considered an indigenous Indian language given its widespread,...
15 Jul 2026
Call Records Alone Not Substantiated Proof, Rules SCThe Supreme Court ruled that the mere production of telephone call records does not substitute for substantive proof of a criminal conspiracy or an illicit affair leading to a crime. In clearing a woman accused of her husband's murder,...
13 Jul 2026
Supreme Court stays Madras HC blanket ban on cow slaughterThe Supreme Court of India has stayed an order of the Madras High Court that directed a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves across Tamil Nadu. The High Court had issued the ban in May, leading to appeals regarding its impact...
13 Jul 2026
Supreme Court proposes draft regulations for AI usage in Indian courtsThe Supreme Court of India has formulated draft regulations detailing the permissible and barred applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial proceedings. The framework aims to leverage technology for language translation,...
09 Jul 2026
SC Considers Larger Bench for Written Grounds of ArrestThe Supreme Court is considering a reference to a larger bench to resolve conflicting rulings on whether authorities must provide written grounds of arrest to an accused. This arose during an appeal regarding bail, highlighting the need...
08 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Admissibility of Partner's Hotel Records in DisputesThe Supreme Court of India upheld a wife's right to access her husband's hotel room records in matrimonial dispute proceedings. The bench ruled that while the right to privacy under Article 21 is fundamental, it can be balanced in the...
08 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Warns Against AI-Fabricated Judicial PrecedentsThe Supreme Court cautioned legal practitioners against presenting artificial intelligence-fabricated case laws and precedents during court proceedings. The bench observed that generating fake judicial citations through generative tools...
08 Jul 2026
Impeachment and Resignation: The Case of Judicial AccountabilityThe resignation of a senior judge under investigation has reignited a legal debate on whether judges can escape impeachment proceedings by stepping down. Legal experts point to constitutional provisions stating that impeachment...
07 Jul 2026
Delhi High Court Defines Media's Role as a Public FunctionThe Delhi High Court has ruled that the media performs a public function, which places a heavy responsibility on press organizations to verify facts before publishing. The judgment noted that while press freedom is a cornerstone of...
04 Jul 2026
Digital Accessibility as a Fundamental Right: Delhi HC Notice to ZEEThe Delhi High Court has issued a notice to ZEE regarding a plea demanding accessibility features for visually challenged users on its ZEE5 streaming platform during the FIFA World Cup. The petition emphasizes that digital platforms...
03 Jul 2026
Constitutional Nuances of Cow Slaughter Regulations and Article 48Tamil Nadu's decision to approach the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court directive has brought the focus back to state-level cow slaughter legislations. The case highlights the delicate balance between state-level police powers...
Practise Supreme Court Rulings
10 of our latest questions on this topic (out of 44).
Question 1 of 10
In a landmark ruling concerning loan defaulters and banks, which High Court held that 'loanees do not mortgage their constitutional rights' and cannot be barred from traveling abroad without criminal charges?
Mains practice
The intersection of state sovereignty, judicial oversight, and technological innovation is reshaping public welfare delivery in India. Discuss this statement in light of recent developments in public health equity, smart governance, and sustainable resource management.
15 marks
The Tribunal Reforms Bill 2026 has raised concerns regarding the institutional autonomy of quasi-judicial bodies in India. Discuss how executive control over the appointment and removal of tribunal members challenges the principle of separation of powers, and suggest reforms to secure their independence.
15 marks
Despite categorical directives from the Supreme Court, the implementation of accountability mechanisms, such as installing CCTV cameras in police stations, remains highly uneven across Indian states. Analyze the institutional and administrative bottlenecks in implementing custodial reforms and suggest a comprehensive framework to ensure transparency in police administration.
15 marks
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.