LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 Introduced
• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 20 July 2026 during the Monsoon Session to increase the Court's sanctioned judicial strength.
• The Bill proposes raising the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India), taking the total strength to 38, including the CJI.
• It seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, an ordinary statute that determines the sanctioned strength of judges in the apex court.
• Since the amendment relates to a statutory law and not the Constitution, it requires only a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament.
• The proposal follows the Union Cabinet’s approval on 5 May 2026 and is intended to replace the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 issued under Article 123.
• The increase in judicial strength aims to improve case disposal and reduce the Supreme Court’s backlog of over 92,000 pending cases.
• The previous revision in the Court’s sanctioned strength took place in 2019, when the number of judges was increased from 30 to 33, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
• The Supreme Court, established under Part V of the Constitution, remains the highest judicial authority in India, with its sanctioned strength being revised through ordinary legislation whenever required.
Supreme Court Directs Uniform Guidelines for Post-Retirement Benefits of Judges
• The Supreme Court directed the Union Government to constitute a committee within two weeks to formulate uniform guidelines on post-retirement facilities for former Chief Justices and High Court judges.
• The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations within three months of its formation to both the Union Government and the Supreme Court.
• The directive aims to remove disparities among states in providing post-retirement facilities and ensure a consistent welfare framework for retired High Court judges.
• Post-retirement benefits may include government accommodation, security arrangements, domestic assistance, drivers, telephone facilities, and medical reimbursement.
• The Bench comprised Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana, who highlighted variations in amenities available across different states.
• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the Union Government had no objection to the constitution of the proposed committee.
• The matter originated from a writ petition concerning post-retirement security and welfare, along with a contempt petition filed by Justice V. S. Dave, President of the Association of Retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• The initiative seeks to strengthen judicial welfare by ensuring equitable post-retirement support for retired constitutional court judges throughout the country.
APPOINTMENTS
Andy Burnham Becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Andy Burnham assumed office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 20 July 2026, after being invited by King Charles III to form the government at Buckingham Palace.
• He succeeded Keir Starmer, who stepped down following political pressure arising from the Labour Party’s local election performance.
• Burnham became Leader of the Labour Party on 17 July 2026 after an unopposed leadership contest, paving the way for his appointment as Prime Minister.
• The UK Prime Minister serves as the head of government, leading the executive and typically heading the political party that commands a majority in the House of Commons.
• Before becoming Prime Minister, Burnham served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017, securing re-election in 2021 and 2024.
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority comprises ten local authorities, with the elected mayor responsible for regional governance and strategic development.
• Burnham became the seventh person to hold the office of UK Prime Minister within a decade, reflecting a period of significant political change.
• The United Kingdom follows a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system, where the monarch formally appoints the Prime Minister based on parliamentary majority support.
Khalil al-Hayya Elected Head of Hamas Political Bureau
• Khalil al-Hayya was elected as the head of Hamas’s Political Bureau following the death of Yahya Sinwar, becoming the group's top political leader.
• Born in 1960 in the Gaza Strip, al-Hayya has been associated with Hamas since its establishment in 1987 and is regarded as one of its senior political figures.
• The Political Bureau directs Hamas’s external political and diplomatic affairs, while the organisation originated during the First Intifada as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Al-Hayya has represented Hamas in indirect ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations, with Qatar, Egypt, and the United States serving as key mediators.
• Much of Hamas’s external leadership has operated from Qatar, while Iran has remained an important regional supporter of the organisation.
• He has survived multiple Israeli strikes, including attacks in Gaza (2007) and Doha (2024), amid ongoing operations targeting Hamas leaders.
• Before his election, Hamas was temporarily managed by a five-member leadership council headed by Mohammed Darwish after the deaths of senior leaders.
• The leadership transition was conducted under strict secrecy because of the continuing security situation and ongoing conflict in the region.
OpenAI Appoints Uday Ruddaraju as Chief Technology Officer (Compute)
• OpenAI appointed Indian-origin technologist Uday Ruddaraju as Chief Technology Officer (Compute) on 19 July 2026, after serving as Head of Compute and Infrastructure since July 2025.
• As CTO (Compute), he will oversee AI compute infrastructure, including large-scale data centres, distributed systems, hardware platforms, and engineering strategy.
• Compute infrastructure forms the backbone of AI model development, supporting the training and deployment of large language models through high-performance computing resources.
• Before joining OpenAI, Ruddaraju led Infrastructure Engineering at xAI and X, following earlier engineering leadership positions at Robinhood and eBay.
• OpenAI is strengthening its global compute ecosystem by expanding data centres, advanced hardware capabilities, and cloud infrastructure to support future AI systems.
• The CTO role in AI companies focuses on technology leadership, driving infrastructure planning, platform scalability, and engineering innovation.
• Modern AI infrastructure integrates servers, accelerators, storage, networking, and distributed software systems to deliver efficient model training and inference.
• The appointment highlights the growing importance of compute capacity as a strategic pillar for advancing next-generation artificial intelligence technologies.
IMPORTANT DAYS
21st Bihar Battalion Celebrates 46th Raising Day
• The 21st Bihar Battalion commemorated its 46th Raising Day on 20 July 2026 at the Bihar Regiment Centre, Danapur Cantonment, marking the anniversary of its formation.
• The battalion was raised on 20 July 1981 under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mansoor Malik and has since built a distinguished service record.
• Raising Day is a military tradition that celebrates the establishment of a unit and honours its history, achievements, and personnel.
• The battalion has participated in several key operations, including Operation Bajrang (1990–91), Operation Rakshak (1999–2003), and Operation Alert (2014), besides deployments in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh (1982–85).
• The Bihar Regiment Centre at Danapur serves as the regimental hub for training, administration, and ceremonial activities of the Bihar Regiment.
• Brigadier Rakesh Kumar Bora, Commandant of the Bihar Regiment Centre, paid tribute to fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at Veer Smriti Sthal.
• The ceremony featured a two-minute silence, military band performances, and participation of serving officers and veterans, reflecting the regiment's enduring traditions.
• The Bihar Regiment is one of the Indian Army’s prominent infantry regiments, with its battalions observing Raising Day annually to preserve regimental heritage and esprit de corps.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Pakistan to Host the 14th South Asian Games in 2027
• Pakistan will host the 14th South Asian Games from 23–31 March 2027, with competitions taking place in Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad.
• Over 3,500 athletes from eight South Asian nations are expected to participate across 27 sporting disciplines.
• The South Asian Games, also known as the South Asian Federation Games, are organised under the South Asian Olympic Council.
• Pakistan was awarded the hosting rights in December 2019, but the event was postponed multiple times before being rescheduled for March 2027.
• This will be Pakistan’s third time hosting the Games, following the 1989 and 2004 editions.
• The 2027 edition will be the first South Asian Games in Pakistan to be conducted across multiple cities, instead of being confined to Islamabad.
• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved ₹11 billion (Pakistani Rupees) in July 2026 to support infrastructure and organisational preparations for the event.
• The South Asian Games serve as the premier regional multi-sport competition in South Asia, promoting sporting excellence and cooperation among member nations.
Bangladesh and United States Launch Tiger Lightning 2026 Military Exercise
• Bangladesh and the United States commenced the bilateral military exercise Tiger Lightning 2026 on 19 July 2026, with the 13-day exercise continuing until 31 July 2026.
• The exercise is jointly conducted by the Bangladesh Army and the United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) to strengthen defence cooperation and operational coordination.
• More than 160 military personnel from both countries are participating in the 2026 edition of the exercise.
• The training programme focuses on jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) to enhance combat readiness and battlefield medical response.
• The opening ceremony was held at the Para Commando Brigade, Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet, a key military installation in Bangladesh.
• The inaugural event was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen and Lieutenant General Md. Mainur Rahman, Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army.
• Tiger Lightning was first launched in 2017 and resumed after a temporary suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As a bilateral military exercise, Tiger Lightning aims to improve interoperability, tactical skills, and joint operational capabilities through realistic field training and knowledge sharing between the two armies.
58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026: India Records Historic Four-Gold Medal Finish
• India achieved its best-ever performance at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026, winning four gold medals and jointly topping the medals table with China, Vietnam, and Individual Participants Group B from Russia.
• Debadatta Priyadarshi from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, secured a gold medal, improving on his silver medal performance at the 57th IChO (2025) held in Dubai.
• The other Indian gold medallists were Harshit Singla (Punjab), Kabeer Chhillar (Delhi), and Sandeep Kuchi (Telangana).
• The 58th International Chemistry Olympiad was conducted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10–19 July 2026, with participation from 363 students representing 93 countries, making it the largest edition of the competition.
• IChO is an annual global chemistry competition for secondary school students and is one of the four major International Science Olympiads.
• The Olympiad assesses participants through advanced theoretical and practical chemistry examinations, promoting scientific excellence and international collaboration.
• In the 2025 edition, India won two gold and two silver medals, finishing sixth overall, while the 2026 performance marked a historic improvement.
• India's outstanding result at IChO 2026 highlights the country's growing strength in international science competitions and the excellence of its young chemistry talent.
STATE NEWS
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Approves Draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026
• The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on 19 July 2026, and it is scheduled to be introduced in the State Legislative Assembly during the Monsoon Session.
• The Uniform Civil Code seeks to establish a common civil law governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and live-in relationships, as envisaged under Article 44 of the Constitution.
• The draft Bill mandates monogamy for all communities and prohibits polygamy, nikah halala, and triple talaq, while retaining the legal marriage age of 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
• Marriage registration will be compulsory across all administrative levels, and the Bill provides equal inheritance and property rights to sons and daughters.
• The legislation introduces compulsory registration of live-in relationships within one month, with up to five years' imprisonment prescribed for married individuals entering such relationships.
• Scheduled Tribes and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in protected areas are exempted to preserve their customary practices and cultural traditions.
• The draft was prepared after an extensive public consultation process, which received over 9.5 lakh suggestions from citizens and stakeholders.
• If enacted, Madhya Pradesh will become the fourth Indian state to implement a Uniform Civil Code, following Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam.
AWARDS
James Gray to Receive Pardo alla Carriera at the 79th Locarno Film Festival
• American filmmaker James Gray will be honoured with the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera (Honorary Career Pardo Award) at the 79th Locarno Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland.
• The award ceremony is scheduled for 9 August 2026 at Piazza Grande, the festival’s iconic open-air cinema venue.
• The Locarno Film Festival, held annually in the Swiss canton of Ticino, is internationally recognised for showcasing feature films, short films, and independent cinema.
• The Pardo alla Carriera is the festival’s lifetime achievement honour, presented to filmmakers for their outstanding and lasting contributions to world cinema.
• James Gray is acclaimed for critically acclaimed films such as We Own the Night (2007), Two Lovers (2008), The Immigrant (2013), and Ad Astra (2019).
• His latest film, Paper Tiger, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026 and is scheduled to open the New York Film Festival on 25 September 2026.
• The 79th Locarno Film Festival will be held from 5–15 August 2026, under the artistic direction of Giona A. Nazzaro.
• As part of the tribute programme, the festival will screen We Own the Night and Two Lovers, celebrating James Gray’s contribution to contemporary cinema.
Wang Jibing Wins China's Lu Xun Literary Prize 2026
• Food delivery rider and poet Wang Jibing won the poetry category of the 9th Lu Xun Literary Prize on 15 July 2026 for his poetry collection Low Flight.
• The Lu Xun Literary Prize, established in 1996, is one of China’s highest literary honours and is presented once every four years across multiple literary categories.
• Named after renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun, the award recognises excellence in poetry, fiction, essays, literary criticism, and other genres.
• Originally from Jiangsu Province, Wang Jibing has worked as a food delivery rider in Kunshan since 2019, drawing inspiration from everyday experiences in the gig economy.
• His award-winning collection Low Flight (2024) reflects the lives of delivery workers and incorporates insights gathered from interviews with nearly 200 riders.
• Wang first gained national attention in 2022 through his viral poem Man in a Hurry, followed by the publication of his debut poetry collection in 2023.
• The Lu Xun Literary Prize honoured 35 literary works across seven categories during its ninth edition, celebrating outstanding contributions to Chinese literature.
• Despite receiving one of China's most prestigious literary awards, Wang Jibing stated that he will continue working as a food delivery rider, highlighting the close connection between his profession and creative writing.
SPORTS
Spain Wins FIFA World Cup 2026 with Extra-Time Victory over Argentina
• Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy on 19 July 2026, defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey (USA).
• Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute and was named Man of the Match for his match-winning performance.
• Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title, adding to its historic triumph in 2010, and became the first country to simultaneously hold both the men's and women's FIFA World Cup titles.
• Argentina played the entire extra-time period with 10 players after Enzo Fernández was sent off following a second yellow card in stoppage time.
• Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced an outstanding display with 12 saves, keeping Argentina in contention until the decisive goal.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduced the expanded 48-team format, making it the largest edition in the tournament's history.
• Spain's Rodri received the Golden Ball Award as the tournament's best player, while the competition witnessed a record 308 goals.
• The FIFA World Cup, organised by FIFA (founded in 1904), follows a final format in which matches level after 90 minutes are decided through extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout.
