Article 22(1) Safeguards Against Unconstitutional Arrest

Polity

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In Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol v. State of Punjab (2026), the Supreme Court strengthened the safeguards under Article 22(1) and set out conditions for re-arrest.

Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol v. State of Punjab (2026)

Supreme Court: Strengthened safeguards under Article 22(1) regarding arrest and re-arrest.
Article 22(1):
- An arrested person must be informed of the grounds of arrest.
- Has the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of their choice.
Re-arrest: The Court laid down safeguards/conditions to prevent arbitrary or repeated re-arrest after release.
Significance: Reinforces personal liberty, due process and constitutional protection against arbitrary arrest.

International

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Visegrád Group (V4) backed India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council at the first V4-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Visegrád Group (V4)

V4: Informal intergovernmental grouping of 4 Central European countries for political, economic, cultural and security cooperation.
Origin: Founded in 1991 as the Visegrád Triangle by Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland through the Visegrád Declaration in Hungary.
Members: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
Objectives:
- Support post-communist democratic transition.
- Facilitate members’ integration into the EU and NATO.
Institutional structure:
- No permanent secretariat.
- Rotating annual presidency; Slovakia holds the presidency for 2026–27.
- The International Visegrad Fund, based in Bratislava, is its only formal institution; it supports cultural, educational and research projects.
V4+: Dialogue with non-member partners such as Japan.
India–V4: India and V4 agreed to hold annual Foreign Ministers’ meetings and an annual Business Forum.

Polity

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Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026, became India’s first state law recognising women as farmers irrespective of land ownership.

Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026.

Significance: Maharashtra became the first Indian state to legally recognise women as farmers irrespective of land ownership.
Objective: Address gender-based barriers faced by women in agriculture and strengthen their access to rights, schemes and support systems.
International Context: 2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the UN General Assembly.
Focus: Recognition of women’s contribution across agrifood systems and addressing barriers to their participation and empowerment.

Science & technology

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The US confirmed deploying on-orbit “space control weapons” to protect its satellites from China and Russia, prompting backlash over the limitations of the Outer Space Treaty.

Outer Space Treaty (OST), 1967

Foundational treaty governing peaceful use of outer space; 115 countries, including India, have ratified it.
Non-appropriation: No national sovereignty/ownership over outer space or celestial bodies.
Peaceful use: Bans WMDs/nuclear weapons in orbit and military activities on the Moon/celestial bodies.
Responsibility & liability: States are responsible for national space activities, including private entities, and liable for damage caused by their space objects.
Astronauts: Considered “envoys of mankind” and entitled to assistance.
Gap: Limited regulation of conventional weapons, ASATs, jamming and space debris.
India: Indian Space Policy 2023 + IN-SPACe; joined Artemis Accords (2023); not party to Moon Agreement (1979).

Polity

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Vice-President inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 at New Delhi.

India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026

9th IIWW 2026: Held in New Delhi; inaugurated by the Vice-President.
Organiser: Ministry of Jal Shakti with Central/State governments, international organisations, industry and private sector.
Theme: “Climate Resilient Water Management.”
Origin: Conceptualised in 2012 as India Water Week to address global water challenges and promote sustainable solutions.

International

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Indian Naval Ships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish reached Subic Bay, Philippines, to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA).

ADMM-Plus

ADMM-Plus: ASEAN + 8 Dialogue Partners platform for regional security and defence cooperation.
Plus Countries: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, USA.
Purpose: Promote peace, stability, defence cooperation and interoperability.
JCA: Brings ASEAN + Plus maritime forces together for harbour and sea-phase activities, enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding.
India: INS Sahyadri & INS Kulish participated in the JCA at Subic Bay, Philippines.
Annual meeting: Held annually since 2017.

Additional Information – ASEAN

Full form: Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Established: 1967, Bangkok Declaration.
Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
Members: 11 — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste.
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
Objectives:
- Regional peace, stability and security.
- Promote economic integration and trade.
- Social, cultural and political cooperation.
- Maintain ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific.
Key frameworks: ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), ADMM-Plus.
India–ASEAN: India became a sectoral dialogue partner (1992) and summit-level partner (2002); Strategic Partnership (2012) and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022).
Importance for India: Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific engagement, trade, connectivity, maritime security and regional stability.