Parliamentary & Federal System (Indian Polity).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Indian Polity and Governance; Mains GS2
Inter-State Council for UPSC: Article 263, Sarkaria Commission, composition, meetings, zonal councils, Article 262 water tribunals and real PYQs.
Federalism for UPSC: federal and unitary features of the Indian Constitution, why India is called quasi-federal, cooperative federalism and real PYQs.
Emergency provisions for UPSC: the three types (Art. 352, 356, 360), approval rules, effect on Fundamental Rights, 44th Amendment changes and real…
Centre-State relations for UPSC: legislative (Art. 245–255), administrative (Art. 256–263) and financial relations (Art. 268–293), commissions and PYQs.
The 21st Maritime State Development Council met in Mumbai on 13 October 2026. It was the first MSDC after the Indian Ports Act, 2025 (notified 15 May 2026) made the Council a statutory body. Members adopted Vision 2030 and 2047 targets and set March 2027 deadlines for One Nation One Port Process and Maritime Single Window integration.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Ports Act 2025 date, MSDC, ONOP, Sagar Setu, SbPCP/BCSPS. · Mains GS-III: ports and shipbuilding; GS-II: cooperative federalism.
13 Oct 2026
The 57th GST Council meeting on 8 October 2026 focused on process reform rather than rates. It recommended removing arrest powers under GST, raising the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, cutting the general penalty from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000, no notices below ₹10,000 tax, wider input tax credit and refunds, and limits on interception of goods in transit.
UPSC angle: Prelims: GST Council structure, Article 279A. · Mains GS-III: indirect tax reform; GS-II: fiscal federalism.
8 Oct 2026
On 5 August 2026 the Prime Minister marked seven years since Articles 370 and 35(A) ceased to operate in 2019, calling 5 August 2019 a defining milestone. He said the full application of the Constitution has empowered women and marginalised communities in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The change rested on two Presidential Orders, C.O. 272 and C.O. 273.
UPSC angle: Prelims: J&K reorganisation.
5 Aug 2026
The Union Government released an additional tax devolution instalment of ₹1,09,019 crore to the States on 1 August 2026, the Finance Ministry said. It comes on top of the normal monthly devolution due on 10 August. The aim is to help States speed up capital and development spending. Uttar Pradesh got the largest share, ₹19,208 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: divisible pool; FC share.
1 Aug 2026
NITI Aayog released the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) on 17 July 2026. It rates all 28 States and 8 Union Territories on eight pillars and 84 indicators, mixing hard data with an investor survey. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Odisha are the Top Performers. The Index was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NITI indices.
17 Jul 2026
West Bengal became the 36th State/UT to implement Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY on 8 June 2026, when the National Health Authority signed an MoU with the State. About 1.43 crore families, nearly 6 crore people, will get cashless hospital cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family a year. The Centre expects to contribute nearly ₹1,000 crore annually.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PM-JAY cover.
8 Jun 2026