Salient Features — Current Affairs 2026

Current Affairs Connections

Recent developments and news linked to Salient Features.

COVID-19 pandemic and constitutional governance challenges

March 2020 onwards

The COVID-19 pandemic tested various constitutional features including federal structure, fundamental rights, and emergency powers without formally declaring emergency under Article 352. The crisis demonstrated how the Constitution's federal framework enabled coordinated response between Center and States while also revealing tensions in power distribution. Lockdown measures raised questions about fundamental rights restrictions, showing the balance between individual liberty and collective welfare. The pandemic also accelerated digital governance initiatives, testing the Constitution's adaptability to technological changes in administration and service delivery.

UPSC Angle: Relevant for questions on emergency provisions, federal structure during crisis, fundamental rights limitations, and constitutional adaptation to contemporary challenges. Expected in Mains discussions on governance and constitutional flexibility.

Background (2019–2022)

Earlier events that provide context for this topic.

Supreme Court upholds EWS reservation under 103rd Constitutional Amendment

November 2022

The Supreme Court's validation of the 103rd Amendment introducing 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) demonstrates the Constitution's adaptability through its amendment procedure. This amendment modified Articles 15 and 16 to allow economic criteria-based reservation, showing how the Constitution evolves to address contemporary social justice needs. The Court's decision also reaffirmed that the basic structure doctrine doesn't prevent all amendments but only those that destroy the Constitution's essential features. This development is significant for understanding how equality provisions can be modified while maintaining constitutional integrity.

UPSC Angle: Expected questions on constitutional amendment procedure, equality provisions, reservation policy evolution, and judicial review of amendments. Likely to be tested in context of social justice and constitutional interpretation.

Article 370 abrogation and reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir

August 2019

The abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories fundamentally altered India's federal structure and demonstrated the Constitution's unitary bias. This action showcased the Center's power under Article 3 to alter state boundaries and the temporary nature of special provisions. The reorganization highlighted how the Constitution's federal structure can accommodate extraordinary measures while maintaining national integration. The Supreme Court's ongoing examination of this action will determine the limits of such constitutional powers and their impact on federalism.

UPSC Angle: Critical for questions on federal structure, special provisions, Article 3 powers, Center-State relations, and constitutional interpretation. Likely to appear in both Prelims and Mains focusing on federalism and national integration.