Article 142
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Current affairsFSSAI Proposes Mandatory Red Hexagonal Front-of-Pack Warning Labels for High-Fat, High-Sugar, High-Salt Packaged Foods — Supreme Court Directs Expedited ImplementationFSSAI submitted a proposal on August 30, 2026 to the Supreme Court for mandatory red hexagonal front-of-pack (FOP) warning labels on packaged foods high in fat, sugar, salt, or classified as "highly sweetened beverages." The SC bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran had directed this on August 13, 2026. Thresholds will be based on ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines 2024. This remains a proposal — not yet gazetted or enforceable. Current affairsSupreme Court Issues Fresh Directions Against Digital Arrest Scams: RBI Ordered to Frame SOP on Mule Accounts Within Four WeeksThe Supreme Court of India has issued fresh nationwide directions to combat digital arrest scams, ordering the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling mule bank accounts within four weeks, directing states to operationalise cyber fraud grievance mechanisms and e-Zero FIRs, and requiring the SOP to be shared with every High Court Registrar General. Complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal fell sharply from 1,23,672 in 2024 to 16,377 by June 30, 2026. Current affairsSupreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026: Sanctioned Strength Raised from 34 to 38 — Tackling 92,000+ Case BacklogParliament has passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the apex court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice). The Bill replaces the May 2026 ordinance and amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 — a direct response to the 92,000+ case pendency crisis in India's highest court. Current affairsSupreme Court Directs Election Commission to Curb Electoral Black Money: Seizure Reporting, Time-Bound Investigation, and Compliance DeadlineThe Supreme Court of India, in a bench led by Justices Sanjay Karol and N.K. Singh, issued comprehensive directions on August 17, 2026 to curb the use of black money in elections — mandating 24-hour seizure reporting, one-year investigation timelines, and a compliance report from the Election Commission of India by November 18, 2026. Current affairsSupreme Court "Judgments and Gender" Handbook 2026: Gender-Sensitive, Trauma-Informed Guidelines for All Indian CourtsSC approved "Judgments and Gender" handbook (July 14, 2026; released Aug 3–4). CJI Surya Kant's bench directed all courts to replace "prosecutrix" with "victim/survivor/complainant", ban patriarchal phrases, and apply trauma-informed adjudication. Triggered by Allahabad HC mischaracterising sexual assault of a 14-year-old as "rape preparation" (2026 SCC OnLine SC 207). NJA committee chaired by Justice Aniruddha Bose. DGPs and Directors of Prosecution also directed. Current affairsSupreme Court Issues Nationwide Directions on Digital Arrest Scams; Directs RBI to Frame Mule Account SOPThe Supreme Court of India, on August 5, 2026, issued a fresh set of nationwide directions to strengthen the response to digital arrest scams and cyber-enabled financial fraud. The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to frame and circulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with mule accounts and money laundering-linked bank accounts within four weeks.
In previous-year questions
- The Supreme Court used its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to issue systemic directions to the RBI and state bodies on cyber fraud (August 2026). What power does Article 142 confer on the Supreme Court?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Under which Article of the Constitution does the Supreme Court derive authority to issue binding directions to executive bodies such as DGPs and Directors of Prosecution — as it did in the "Judgments and Gender" handbook directions?UPSC · Current Affairs
- In the ongoing suo motu case on digital arrest scams, the Supreme Court's power to issue directions to executive bodies like the RBI and state governments — even beyond the scope of a specific statutory challenge — derives primarily from which constitutional provision?UPSC · Current Affairs