Daily Briefing Current Affairs

GS-2INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD

Rescued by Delhi, Courting Islamabad: The Maldives' Hedge and the Limits of Swap Diplomacy

President Mohamed Muizzu's state visit to Islamabad from 20 to 22 October 2026 produced 20 MoUs, including on defence and maritime security and a call to revive SAARC. It drew a response from India's MEA on 23 October and warnings from former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of a possible return to anti-India campaigning before the 2028 elections.

Sub TopicMALDIVIAN STRATEGIC HEDGING AFTER MUIZZU'S PAKISTAN…SourceTHE HINDU, MEA, NEW INDIAN…
UPSC Relevance8/10
Time to Read3 min read
Total Views24,649
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GS-2RESERVATION AND EQUALITY

Status, Not Salary, But From When? The Creamy-Layer Ruling Meets Fourteen Years of Allocations

Government sources said on 25 October 2026 that the Centre is awaiting Supreme Court directions before allocating services to the 958 candidates recommended in CSE-2025. Allocation has been frozen since the 11 March 2026 judgment in Union of India v. Rohith Nathan changed how the OBC creamy layer is determined.

Sub TopicPROSPECTIVE APPLICATION OF THE ROHITH NATHAN…SourceINDIAN EXPRESS, VISION IAS…
UPSC Relevance9/10
Time to Read3 min read
Total Views31,929
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GS-2CUSTODIAL VIOLENCE AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

Paid For, Not Answered For: How Every Check Failed in a Chhattisgarh Custodial Death

An Indian Express profile on 26 October 2026 traced how Lehra Bai, widow of a man who died in Chhattisgarh police custody, secured a Supreme Court judgment in Lahra Bai Tamre v. State of Chhattisgarh (2026 INSC 840). The judgment, delivered on 12 August 2026, ordered a CBI probe and interim compensation and strongly censured senior State officials for the cover-up.

Sub TopicEVASION OF CUSTODIAL-DEATH SAFEGUARDS AND THE LIMITS OF…SourceSUPREME COURT OF INDIA, INDIAN…
UPSC Relevance9/10
Time to Read3 min read
Total Views27,580
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GS-2ELECTORAL ROLLS AND DUE PROCESS

When the Officer Objects and the Officer Decides: Karnataka's Reasonless Form 7s

An analysis of Form 7 data in Karnataka's 2026 Special Intensive Revision showed election officials as objectors in at least 61,059 deletion requests that cite no reason. The bulk were lodged after the 23 September deadline, days before the final roll's scheduled publication on 27 October 2026. Analysis of Karnataka's Special Intensive Revision revealed that over 61,000 Form 7 applications for voter deletion were filed by…

Sub TopicSOFTWARE-GENERATED FORM 7 OBJECTIONS FILED BY ELECTION…SourceTHE HINDU, CIVILS DAILY, CEO…
UPSC Relevance9/10
Time to Read3 min read
Total Views37,717
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GS-2CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

Appoint Yes, Remove No: Why a Governor's Letter Cannot Shortcut Article 317

Former Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar recommended to the President the removal of the Kerala Public Service Commission's chairperson and, per Lok Bhavan sources, its members and the dissolution of the commission. The recommendation was made about a week before he left Kerala on 22 October 2026 and it drew a sharp political and constitutional row over Articles 316 and 317.

Sub TopicREMOVAL OF STATE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MEMBERS UNDER…SourceTHE HINDU, INDIAN EXPRESS…
UPSC Relevance9/10
Time to Read3 min read
Total Views44,791
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