Public Interest Litigation — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
Supreme Court Guidelines on COVID-19 Management PILs
May 2021During the second wave of COVID-19, the Supreme Court handled numerous PILs related to oxygen shortage, vaccine distribution, and healthcare infrastructure. The Court issued guidelines for oxygen allocation, directed the Centre to prepare a national vaccination policy, and monitored the implementation of COVID-19 relief measures. This demonstrated PIL's continued relevance in addressing contemporary crises and showed how courts can play a coordinating role during national emergencies. However, it also raised questions about judicial overreach and the limits of PIL jurisdiction in policy matters.
UPSC Angle: Expected questions on PIL's role during emergencies, judicial activism vs. separation of powers, and the balance between judicial intervention and executive discretion in crisis management. Relevant for questions on federalism, disaster management, and constitutional governance.
Delhi Air Pollution and Stubble Burning PIL Cases
October 2023The Supreme Court has been actively hearing PILs related to Delhi's air pollution crisis, particularly focusing on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. The Court has issued directions for crop residue management, implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), and coordination between state governments. These cases highlight PIL's role in addressing inter-state environmental issues and demonstrate how courts can compel government action on climate change and public health matters. The cases also show the challenges of implementing court orders across multiple jurisdictions.
UPSC Angle: Important for questions on environmental federalism, inter-state disputes, climate change litigation, and PIL's effectiveness in addressing complex environmental challenges. Relevant for both Environment and Polity sections of the UPSC syllabus.
Electoral Bonds PIL and Political Funding Transparency
February 2024The Supreme Court's decision to strike down the electoral bonds scheme following PIL petitions marked a significant victory for transparency in political funding. The Court held that the scheme violated the right to information and the principle of free and fair elections. This case demonstrated PIL's role in ensuring electoral integrity and transparency in democratic processes. The judgment required the State Bank of India to disclose details of all electoral bonds, showing how PIL can be used to enforce transparency and accountability in governance.
UPSC Angle: Crucial for questions on electoral reforms, political funding, transparency in governance, and PIL's role in strengthening democratic institutions. Expected in Mains questions on election law, political parties, and governance reforms.