Polity and governanceThe Hindu, Page 16GS2GS3Must read
The Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to stop key vehicle-related services for motorists who have not paid their traffic e-challans (electronic tickets issued for traffic violations). The order, dated 28 September 2026, was passed by a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan in S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India, a road safety case the Court has been monitoring since 2012. The Bench noted that e-challans worth ₹49,194.05 crore had been issued across the country but only ₹26,175.05 crore had been recovered, leaving about ₹23,000 crore unpaid. It observed that issuing large numbers of e-challans serves little purpose unless the fines are actually recovered.
Prelims facts
- In S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India, the Supreme Court noted e-challans worth ₹49,194.05 crore issued and only ₹26,175.05 crore recovered.
- Vehicles with unpaid e-challans are to be denied RC renewal, ownership transfer, fitness and PUC certificates, and blacklisted on the Parivahan portal.
- Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (added in 2019) mandates electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety.
- Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (August 2021) covers about 132 million-plus cities and requires a notice within 15 days.
- MoRTH must run a public dashboard, updated monthly, on electronic enforcement by States and UTs.
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Polity and governanceIndian Express, Page 2GS2Must read
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the 20 States and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is complete to run a special drive to enrol "left out and young/first time eligible electors". The written instruction was issued on 29 September 2026 and repeated at a video conference with State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) on 1 October, The Indian Express reported. Enrolment is to happen through continuous updation, the routine process by which names are added to the roll between revisions, using Form 6, the application for inclusion of a new elector.
Prelims facts
- The ECI has ordered a special drive in 20 States and UTs where the SIR is over to enrol left-out, young and first-time eligible electors.
- Plain statutory Form 6 will be used, without the July addition on whether the applicant or parents were on the roll after the previous SIR.
- CEOs must compare pre-SIR and post-SIR rolls to identify deleted electors and may seek help from parties' booth-level agents.
- Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 lets the Commission order a special revision of electoral rolls.
- Article 326 provides for elections on the basis of adult suffrage; Form 6 is the application for inclusion of a new elector.
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EconomyIndian Express, OpinionGS3Must read
The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024-25, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 30 September 2026, shows a strong year for India's registered factories. Persons engaged rose from 1.96 crore to 2.10 crore, a growth of 7.19% that added more than 14 lakh jobs. Gross value added (GVA, the value of output minus inputs) grew 9.59%, output 7.81%, invested capital 11.10%, total emoluments 12.08% and net profit 7.73%. Five States (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana) account for about 56% of factory employment. Five industries (basic metals, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food products) contribute more than 45% of GVA.
Prelims facts
- ASI 2024-25: persons engaged in registered factories rose 7.19%, from 1.96 crore to 2.10 crore, adding more than 14 lakh jobs.
- ASI 2024-25: GVA grew 9.59%, output 7.81%, invested capital 11.10%, emoluments 12.08% and net profit 7.73%.
- Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana account for about 56% of factory employment.
- The op-ed cites PLFS 2025: 73.1% of non-farm workers are in informal-sector enterprises.
- The ASI covers factories registered under Sections 2(m)(i) and 2(m)(ii) of the Factories Act, 1948.
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Society, justice and ethicsPIB, Government releaseGS1GS3
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on 2 October 2026 that the Government of India, in consultation with the Union Territory of Ladakh, has identified 28 places and features in Ladakh by standard place and feature names on the official map of the Survey of India (SoI). The release says the aim is to facilitate "their accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large". The updated map of Ladakh is available on the Survey of India's state maps page. The list has 10 peaks, 3 mountains, 2 passes, 2 glaciers, 1 valley, 1 lake, 1 river, 1 other water body and 7 land areas.
Prelims facts
- On 2 October 2026 the Centre, with the UT of Ladakh, identified 28 places and features in Ladakh by standard names on the Survey of India map.
- Peaks named include Atisha Giri, Rinchen Zangpo, Marpa Lotsava Ri, Milarepa Kangri, Kanishka Peak and Zorawar Peak; a lake is named Guru Rinpoche.
- On 7 August 2026 a similar exercise named 27 places in Arunachal Pradesh on the Survey of India map.
- China has issued lists of names for places in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, which India rejects.
- The Survey of India, founded in 1767 and now under the Department of Science and Technology, is responsible for names and spellings of geographical features.
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Environment and geographyIndian Express, Page 4GS3
Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 102 in September 2026, the lowest September average in five years, according to figures released by the Union Environment Ministry on 30 September. The September average was 105 in 2025, 105 in 2024, 108 in 2023 and 104 in 2022. Between January and September 2026 the city had 194 days with AQI below 200, against 187 in 2025, 188 in 2024, 193 in 2023 and 146 in 2022, and 79 days in the poor to severe range, against 86, 86, 80 and 127 in those years. Average PM2.5 from 1 January to 28 September was 69 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), the same as in 2025.
Prelims facts
- Delhi's average AQI in September 2026 was 102, the lowest September average in five years (105 in 2025).
- Despite this, PM10 rose from 104 to 106 µg/m³ and PM2.5 from 35 to 39 µg/m³ in September, according to CPCB data cited by The Indian Express.
- The overall AQI equals the worst sub-index among the pollutants measured, not their average.
- India's National AQI, launched on 17 October 2014, covers eight pollutants and six categories from good to severe.
- Overall AQI is computed only when at least three pollutants are measured, one of which must be PM2.5 or PM10.
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