New Delhi, August 3: Parliament cleared two significant legislations on Monday, with the Lok Sabha approving a Bill to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges and the Rajya Sabha passing amendments to strengthen the MSME ecosystem. President Droupadi Murmu called for greater focus on education for girls and tribal students, while the Chief of Defence Staff highlighted the growing role of emerging technologies in future warfare.
Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Increase Supreme Court Judges' Strength to 37
The Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The government said the move is aimed at reducing the backlog of cases and ensuring faster delivery of justice.
Rajya Sabha Clears MSME Amendment Bill 2026
The Rajya Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to simplify dispute resolution and address delayed payments faced by MSMEs. The legislation also mandates central public sector enterprises to ensure timely payments to micro and small businesses.
President Murmu Calls for Greater Focus on Girls' and Tribal Education
President Droupadi Murmu, while inaugurating Jagadguru Kripalu University in Cuttack, said education remains the foundation of nation-building and urged universities to prioritise the education of girls and tribal students. She called on higher education institutions to develop ethical, skilled and socially responsible citizens.
CDS Highlights Growing Role of AI and Emerging Technologies in Modern Warfare
Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani said artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, autonomous systems, space technologies and data-driven decision-making are transforming military operations and shaping future conflicts. He stressed the need for the armed forces to continuously adapt to technological advancements.
India, Uzbekistan Strengthen Strategic Partnership
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said India and Uzbekistan share common concerns over terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking during talks with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich. He noted that bilateral cooperation continues to expand across sectors including energy, health, education and infrastructure.
Supreme Court Allows States to Withdraw Cases Against Paper Leak Protesters
The Supreme Court clarified that state governments, including Delhi, may withdraw FIRs registered against students protesting against paper leak incidents, except in cases involving grave and heinous offences. The ruling provides relief to several student protesters while excluding serious criminal cases.
Rajnath Singh Calls for Greater Civil-Military Integration
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged stronger coordination between the armed forces and civilian wings of the Ministry of Defence to build a more integrated and efficient defence ecosystem. He was addressing the 85th Armed Forces Headquarters Civilian Services Day celebrations in New Delhi.
Government Proposes Two-Wheeler Ambulances for Faster Emergency Response
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released a draft proposal to introduce two-wheeler ambulances under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The initiative aims to improve emergency medical response in congested urban areas and remote locations where conventional ambulances face delays.
India Crosses 5 Lakh Aadhaar-Verified Organ Donation Pledges
India has crossed 5 lakh Aadhaar-verified organ donation pledges since the launch of the digital pledge portal in 2023. The government also said India now ranks third globally in the number of organ transplants, highlighting growing public participation in organ donation initiatives.
Kiren Rijiju Accuses Opposition of Avoiding Parliamentary Debate
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged that Opposition parties failed to participate in discussions on key Bills, including the Supreme Court Judges Amendment Bill, despite raising repeated disruptions during Parliament proceedings.
