- GDP growth beats expectations: India’s June‑quarter GDP expanded 7.8%, surpassing RBI forecasts and reinforcing the country’s position as one of the fastest‑growing major economies.
- GDP methodology defended: The Centre pushed back against critics of its growth‑calculation methods, insisting the 7.8% figure is accurate and based on robust data.
- Inflation creeping up: Retail inflation has been rising, with RBI projecting it to average 5.9% in the last quarter of 2026 due to higher fuel and food prices.
- Sensex, Nifty slide: Indian benchmarks fell for the third straight session, with the Sensex down nearly 374 points and Nifty losing about 141 points on global cues and crude‑oil worries.
- Crude near $97 rattles markets: Renewed US–Iran fighting pushed crude prices higher, weighing on Indian equities and raising import‑cost concerns.
- RBI forex swap draws huge response: The central bank’s dollar‑rupee forex swap auction attracted $136.37 billion in bids, underscoring strong liquidity management amid external volatility.
- Rupee steadies on RBI support: The rupee held relatively stable as RBI interventions and robust growth fundamentals offset pressure from rising oil prices.
- $30‑trillion economy narrative: Policymakers highlighted India’s trajectory toward a $30‑trillion economy, linking it to sustained high growth, demographic advantages and financial‑stability measures.
- Supreme Court on traffic‑offence compounding: The Court’s e‑committee is considering a plea to allow compounding of traffic offences in virtual courts without requiring a guilty plea, aiming to reduce case backlogs.
- Ex‑bank manager acquitted: The Supreme Court acquitted a former Indian Bank manager in a loan‑fraud case, sharply criticizing the CBI’s investigation as a failure.
- “No reformatio in peius” clarified: The top court reiterated that an appellant cannot be placed in a worse position merely for filing an appeal, reinforcing a key principle of appellate justice.
- Bar Council of India reforms: The Court issued directions for faster election of new BCI members and asked the Attorney General and Solicitor General to be involved in policy decisions.
- AI‑generated fake case laws penalty quashed: In a landmark order, the Supreme Court set aside a ₹425‑crore customs penalty after finding the authority had relied on non‑existent or hallucinated AI‑generated case citations.
- Gujarat prohibition act interim relief: The Court held there is no absolute bar on interim release of vehicles seized under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, easing hardship for some litigants.
- BCI leadership questioned: Justices told Manan Kumar Mishra he remains only a pro‑tem chairman and does not continue as democratically elected, pressing for clarity on governance.
- SARFAESI scope widened: Banks were allowed to invoke SARFAESI for loans acquired from NBFCs not originally covered under the Act, strengthening creditor rights.
- Child murder conviction overturned: After 16 years in prison, a convict was acquitted in a child murder case as the Court noted “several missing links” in the prosecution’s evidence.
- Cooperative federalism on fishing: The Court called for cooperative federalism between the Centre and Tamil Nadu in regulating purse‑seine fishing, balancing livelihoods and marine conservation.
- Lawyer’s focus on relief, not rhetoric: Justice BV Nagarathna observed that clients care more about securing relief than “beautiful judgments on law,” urging practical advocacy.
- High Courts told to decide within 3 months: The Supreme Court directed all High Courts to pronounce reserved judgments within three months, warning that delays cause irreparable harm.
- Kerala HC on NIA salary recovery: The Kerala High Court ruled that the NIA cannot recover salary paid to a public prosecutor during deputation based on later pay re‑fixation.
- “Joint parenting” not recognized: A High Court clarified that “joint parenting” is not recognized under current Indian law, affecting custody and guardianship disputes.
- Madras HC quashes case over ‘X’ post: The Madras High Court quashed a case relating to a social‑media post showing a pastor dancing with a woman abroad, calling for reflection on “foreign culture” narratives.
- Default bail in NDPS cases: The Punjab & Haryana High Court held that an accused is entitled to default bail when extension of an NDPS investigation is granted without notice or hearing.
- Blacklisting challenge not arbitrable: A five‑judge bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that a challenge to a blacklisting order is not referable to statutory arbitration.
- Court‑recording restrictions debated: Legal educators and students questioned whether the Bar Council of India’s ban on recording court proceedings undermines experiential legal education.
- Border security push: Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined a four‑pronged approach to strengthen border security and called for tighter internal security against emerging threats.
- Cyber‑security model update: India’s defence establishment noted global shifts toward operational resilience in cyber security, aligning with new international models.
- Homeland security units lauded: Security agencies received recognition for surveillance and traffic management during major events like the Durand Cup, highlighting inter‑agency coordination.
- Judiciary under strain: Retired judges and commentators pointed to systemic pressures—case backlogs, infrastructure gaps and procedural delays—threatening the judiciary’s efficiency and moral authority.
