LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court Constitutes Special Benches to Hear Oldest Pending Cases
• The Supreme Court of India constituted four special division benches on 13 July 2026 to expedite the disposal of its oldest pending civil and criminal cases.
• Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued a new roster notification, effective from 13 July 2026, allocating these matters to the special benches.
• Two division benches headed by Justice P.K. Mishra and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti will hear the oldest pending civil cases, while benches led by Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan will deal with the oldest criminal cases.
• The special benches will function on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, which are designated as non-miscellaneous days for regular hearings in the Supreme Court.
• The initiative is limited to the oldest identified pending matters, with nearly 800 cases selected for priority disposal and approximately 200 cases assigned to each bench.
• As of 13 July 2026, the Supreme Court had 96,045 pending cases, comprising 74,244 civil cases and 21,801 criminal cases.
• Among the priority matters, the oldest civil case dates back to 1986, while the oldest criminal case was instituted in 1991, highlighting the long-standing nature of judicial pendency.
• The formation of these special benches is part of the Supreme Court’s internal case-management strategy to reduce backlog and ensure faster resolution of long-pending disputes under the Court’s roster system.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
United Nations Releases First Global Scientific Assessment on Artificial Intelligence
• The United Nations released its first scientific assessment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in July 2026, titled “Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.”
• The 40-member Independent International Scientific Panel on AI is co-chaired by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.
• The report examines key aspects of AI, including science, healthcare, education, agriculture, economic impact, security, environmental effects, human rights, democracy, cultural and individual well-being, governance, and AI reliability.
• The panel was established to provide independent scientific evidence on AI developments and does not make policy recommendations, leaving policy decisions to governments.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised that evidence-based scientific assessments are essential for informed global decision-making on AI governance.
• According to the report, the United States accounted for about 75% of the world’s AI computing capacity in 2025, while China contributed around 15%.
• The findings are intended to support discussions at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, with the first dialogue held in Geneva on 6–7 July 2026.
• The report marks the beginning of a series of periodic UN assessments on Artificial Intelligence, with a comprehensive follow-up report scheduled for 2027 to guide international cooperation on AI governance, safety, and reliability.
NATIONAL NEWS
India Launches Campaign for UN Security Council Seat (2028–29)
• India officially launched its campaign on 13 July 2026 for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled the campaign and introduced India’s SHANTI Vision at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) comprises 15 members—5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members, with the latter elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.
• Under the Asia-Pacific Group allocation, India will contest the 2028–29 non-permanent seat against Tajikistan, with elections scheduled for June 2027.
• SHANTI stands for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity, highlighting India’s vision for inclusive and responsible global governance.
• The SHANTI framework focuses on peacekeeping, maritime security, counter-terrorism and terror financing, responsible use of artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and reform of global institutions.
• India has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times, most recently during the 2021–22 term, and has consistently supported UN peacekeeping operations and multilateral cooperation.
• The campaign also reinforces India’s commitment to representing the Global South, promoting consensus-based diplomacy, and advocating greater representation of developing countries in global decision-making institutions.
STATE NEWS
Uttarakhand Inaugurates First Geographical Indications (GI) Products Gallery
• Uttarakhand inaugurated its first Geographical Indications (GI) Products Gallery on 13 July 2026 at the Uttarakhand Forest Training Academy, Haldwani.
• The gallery showcases over 30 GI-tagged products from the State, highlighting its rich agricultural produce, handicrafts, and traditional cultural heritage.
• A Geographical Indication (GI) identifies products whose quality, reputation, or unique characteristics are closely associated with a specific geographical region.
• In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and is administered by the Geographical Indications Registry.
• The exhibition features notable GI products such as Bedu, Ramnagar Litchi, Ramgarh Peach, Tejpat, Munsiyari White Rajma, Kumaon Chyura Oil, Almora Lakhori Chilli, Aipan Art, Chamoli Wooden Ramman Masks, and Uttarakhand Tamta Copperware.
• Uttarakhand has more than 30 GI-tagged products, including a record 18 GI registrations obtained in a single day in December 2023.
• The gallery has been established to create awareness among students, researchers, trainees, and visitors about the importance of GI products and their cultural significance.
• The initiative also aims to promote traditional knowledge, strengthen rural livelihoods, and provide greater market access to the State’s farmers, artisans, and craftspeople through enhanced visibility of GI-certified products.
Ladakh to Establish Autonomous Hill Development Councils in All Seven Districts
• The Ladakh Administration decided on 13 July 2026 to constitute Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) for all seven districts of the Union Territory.
• The decision covers Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Zanskar, and Drass, following the creation of five new districts in April 2026.
• Autonomous Hill Development Councils are elected district-level bodies established under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act to promote local self-governance.
• Leh has had an AHDC since 1995, while Kargil has been governed by a similar council since 2003.
• Under the new arrangement, each council will exercise powers relating to land management, district cadre recruitment and promotions, taxation, and fee collection, along with responsibilities for health, education, tourism, infrastructure, and social welfare.
• Before the 2026 reorganisation, Ladakh consisted of only Leh and Kargil districts; the addition of Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Zanskar, and Drass has increased the total to seven districts.
• The Administration has also proposed a Union Territory-level governing body above the seven councils under a customised Article 371 framework, with legislative, executive, financial, and administrative functions.
• The initiative aims to strengthen decentralised governance, enhance local participation in development planning, and provide greater administrative autonomy across all districts of Ladakh, which became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019.
Unjha Cumin and Unjha Fennel Receive Geographical Indication (GI) Tags
• Unjha Cumin (Jeera) and Unjha Fennel (Variyali) from North Gujarat were granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags, with certificates issued on 28 March 2026.
• The GI registrations were awarded in the name of the Unjha Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Unjha, under Class 30 of the Nice Classification, which covers spices and other food products.
• A Geographical Indication (GI) identifies products whose quality, reputation, or unique characteristics are closely associated with a particular geographical region.
• In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and is administered under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• Unjha, a major agricultural trading hub in North Gujarat, is widely recognised for its large-scale trade in cumin and fennel, making it an important spice market in India.
• The GI recognition provides legal protection, strengthens origin-based branding, and enhances the market identity of these region-specific agricultural products.
• GI-certified products play a significant role in domestic and international trade by ensuring product authenticity, traceability, and protection against misuse.
• With these additions, Unjha Cumin and Unjha Fennel join Gujarat’s growing list of GI-tagged agricultural products, which already includes Gir Kesar Mango, Bhalia Wheat, and Kachchhi Kharek.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
All India Water Secretaries’ Conference 2026 Held in New Delhi
• The All India Water Secretaries’ Conference was held in New Delhi on 13–14 July 2026 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, bringing together nearly 200 senior officials from States and Union Territories.
• The conference was chaired by Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil, with Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary and Secretary V. L. Kantha Rao co-chairing the deliberations.
• Discussions focused on eight priority areas of water governance, including water conservation, dam safety, irrigation reforms, groundwater management, and the Catch the Rain 2026 campaign.
• The event highlighted the importance of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge as key strategies for sustainable water resource management.
• On 14 July 2026, three important water management documents were released, including a City-level Action Plan for Reuse of Treated Water for Varanasi and an Operation & Maintenance Manual for Artificial Recharge and Groundwater Conservation Structures.
• The Dam Safety Act, 2021 was emphasised as the legal framework governing the safety and management of specified dams across the country.
• Participating States adopted a commitment to implement time-bound measures under the vision of "Jal Surakshit, Bharat Surakshit", with a target to complete the Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation for all specified dams by December 2026.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti, established in 2019 through the merger of two water-related ministries, continues to coordinate national policies for integrated water resource management and conservation.
