Weekly Current Affairs: SC on Pellet Guns, Ceuta Migrant Surge & More
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
This weekly roundup covers key developments from the last week of July 2026, including the Supreme Court's refusal to ban pellet guns, the passage of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the approval of the Samudra Manthan offshore energy scheme. It also highlights international events like the Ceuta migrant surge and France's first 'fire cloud'.
Background
The Supreme Court was hearing petitions related to a student protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on July 20, 2026, where pellet guns were used. The court had to balance the need for crowd control with concerns over injuries caused by pellet guns.
Key facts
The Supreme Court refused to impose a blanket ban on pellet guns for crowd control.
The court said police regulations permit graded use of force in exceptional situations.
The court directed the Delhi government to provide treatment to all injured protesters.
The court ordered preservation of the Rapid Action Force's ammunition log and related records.
The court stressed that both protesters and police are human beings and law enforcement must have proper safety gear.
Parliament passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
India approved the Rs 84,084 crore Samudra Manthan offshore energy scheme.
France witnessed its first-ever 'fire cloud' amid devastating wildfires.
Iran claimed it had destroyed US F-35 fighter jets.
Migration surged into Spain's Ceuta enclave.
Prelims pointers
- Supreme Court: Apex court of India, guardian of the Constitution.
- Rapid Action Force (RAF): A specialized unit of CRPF for riot control.
- Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Recently passed by Parliament.
- Samudra Manthan: Offshore energy scheme, approved with Rs 84,084 crore outlay.
- Ceuta: Spanish enclave in North Africa, a migration hotspot.
- Fire cloud: Also known as pyrocumulonimbus, a rare weather phenomenon.
- F-35: US fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.
- Jantar Mantar: A historic site in Delhi, often used for protests.
Mains angles
- GS2: Role of judiciary in balancing fundamental rights and public order.
- GS3: Internal security and use of non-lethal weapons in crowd control.
- GS2: Government policies and interventions for energy security (Samudra Manthan).
- GS2: International relations - migration issues and border security (Ceuta).