Government policies, constitutional matters, and governance
The Supreme Court, during a hearing on a presidential reference, stressed that governors are expected to grant assent to state assembly-passed bills within a reasonable time, while cautioning against setting rigid time limits due to potential risks of excessive judicial intervention in legislative processes. This observation came amid pleas from opposition-ruled states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Punjab, highlighting delays by governors in acting on bills, prompting debates on constitutional obligations and gubernatorial discretion.
The Supreme Court, on September 8, 2025, issued a directive to the Election Commission of India to include Aadhaar as the 12th document for verifying voter identity during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. This step addresses fears of large-scale voter exclusion ahead of the state's Assembly elections, while the court made it clear that Aadhaar does not serve as evidence of citizenship. The order came during hearings on petitions challenging the revision process, which has sparked political debates and confusion over document requirements for proving eligibility.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the 2027 Census will be India's first fully digital exercise, where nearly 34 lakh enumerators will use their own smartphones and dedicated mobile apps to collect data, replacing traditional paper-based methods. This move aims to ensure real-time data processing, faster publication, and enhanced accuracy for policy-making. The announcement comes amid preparations for the census, delayed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes new features like self-enumeration and caste data collection to support welfare schemes and delimitation of constituencies.
The Women's Reservation Act 2023, passed by Parliament in September, mandates 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. However, its implementation depends on delimitation exercises and constitutional amendments that may take several years.