Fundamental Rights and Duties — Current Affairs 2026

Current Affairs Connections

Recent developments and news linked to Fundamental Rights and Duties.

Supreme Court upholds validity of EWS reservation in NEET admissions

October 2024

This judgment relates directly to Article 15(6) inserted by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment (2019), which provides for reservation for economically weaker sections in educational institutions. The Court's decision impacts the interpretation of equality provisions and the scope of affirmative action beyond caste-based reservations. It demonstrates the evolving nature of the right to equality and how constitutional amendments continue to shape fundamental rights jurisprudence.

UPSC Angle: Questions may focus on the constitutional validity of EWS reservations, the relationship between Articles 14, 15, and 16, the criteria for reasonable classification, and the balance between equality and affirmative action in contemporary India.

Background (2024)

Earlier events that provide context for this topic.

Parliament passes Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023

August 2024

Following the Puttaswamy judgment that recognized privacy as a fundamental right, this legislation provides the statutory framework for data protection in India. The Act implements the constitutional mandate to protect informational privacy while balancing it with legitimate state interests and business needs. It represents the practical implementation of the fundamental right to privacy in the digital age and shows how constitutional rights evolve through legislative action.

UPSC Angle: Expected questions on the relationship between fundamental rights and data protection, the implementation of privacy rights through legislation, the balance between individual privacy and state surveillance, and the role of technology in shaping constitutional interpretation.