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• The Supreme Court has provided constitutional backing to the Systemic Institutional Revision (SIR), affirming its validity as an administrative reform. • The ruling clarifies that previous adjudicatory proceedings against individual electors do not constitute a constitutional bar against systemic revisions of electoral rolls. • The court noted that the presumption under Section 114 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 119 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023), is rebuttable and does not permanently freeze voter rolls.

• Political activist Yogendra Yadav explained his decision to skip the Supreme Court hearing regarding the Special Institutional Revision (SIR) of voter lists. • Yadav argues that the court's decision was a foregone conclusion, asserting that the judiciary effectively gave the Election Commission of India (ECI) a "carte blanche" to manage voter lists without sufficient oversight. • The situation is significant as it suggests a lack of judicial intervention to protect voter integrity or annul elections held after the SIR process.

• The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not exceed its statutory powers while conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. • The court rejected arguments that the SIR was "ultra vires," stating that the process is legal even if it differs from the ordinary revision procedure. • This ruling validates the ECI's authority to implement specialized voter list updates across several states, including Bihar and West Bengal.

• The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional and legal validity of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. • The ruling follows extensive court arguments where the judiciary decided in favor of the Election Commission on all major issues raised. • This decision is significant as it affirms the Commission's authority to conduct intensive voter list revisions to ensure electoral integrity.

• The Congress party criticized a Supreme Court judgment on Wednesday that cleared the Election Commission (EC) regarding the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. • Congress alleges the ruling ignored "major flaws and contradictions" in the EC's process, which they claim has deprived millions of citizens of their right to vote. • The party clarified that the legal challenges brought by civil society and political groups focused on the EC's conduct rather than the legal validity of the SIR itself.

• The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, affirming its authority to verify citizenship to ensure free and fair elections. • Key measures approved include the use of Aadhaar cards as an indicative document for verification and the publication of a list containing approximately 65 lakh excluded electors in Bihar. • The court ruled that a prior entry in the electoral roll does not prevent the EC from conducting fresh inquiries, rejecting claims that names cannot be deleted without prior notice under Rule 21A of the 1960 Rules.

• The Supreme Court of India ruled that the Election Commission's (EC) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is constitutional and falls within the poll body's legal powers. • The court determined that the SIR does not conflict with the Representation of the People (RP) Act or the 1960 EC Rules, citing Section 21(3) of the RP Act and Article 324 of the Constitution as the legal basis. • This decision matters as it affirms the EC's authority to conduct such exercises to ensure the constitutional imperative of holding free and fair elections.

• The Supreme Court of India validated the Election Commission's (EC) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral rolls. • A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected opposition claims that the exercise was arbitrary or exclusionary. • The court ruled that the SIR aligns with the EC's constitutional mandate to ensure free and fair elections by maintaining the integrity and accuracy of voter lists.

• The Supreme Court, in a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, upheld the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise for voter rolls. • The court ruled that the SIR is constitutional and cannot be termed "ultra vires" or illegal simply because it employs a process distinct from routine statutory voter revisions. • This decision validates the ECI's authority to implement a more rigorous rehaul of electoral rolls to ensure accuracy and legitimacy in the voting process.

• The BJP has criticized the INDIA bloc, calling for "self-introspection" after the Supreme Court upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. • BJP spokesperson Trivedi stated that the apex court clarified the SIR is essential for ensuring free and fair elections and falls within the Election Commission's constitutional jurisdiction. • The ruling is a significant blow to the opposition's challenges against the electoral roll revision process in the state.

• The Supreme Court of India ruled on Wednesday that the Special Summary Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission supports the constitutional requirement for free and fair elections. • Petitioner Yogendra Yadav criticized the verdict, claiming that such powers could allow the BJP to decide who is eligible to vote. • The ruling is significant as it validates the Election Commission's processes for updating voter rolls, which critics argue can be manipulated to disenfranchise specific groups.

• The Supreme Court, led by CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, upheld the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. • The ruling follows a batch of petitions that challenged the validity of the SIR exercise across various Indian states. • The judgment is significant as it clarifies the extent of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) powers regarding the maintenance and revision of voter lists.

• The Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional and legal validity of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. • A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed petitions that challenged the legality of the exercise. • The court ruled that the ECI possesses full authority to conduct the SIR under Article 324 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

• Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan have raised concerns regarding the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Interim Revision (SIR) exercise. • Yadav alleges that the ECI continued rolling out phases of the exercise during Supreme Court hearings, creating a "fait accompli" that bypassed judicial oversight. • The critics argue that these actions led to large-scale voter deletions, potentially disenfranchising citizens and eroding essential constitutional safeguards.

Exclusive: Science agency is planning to sack a third of the team working on the national climate model, sources sayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJob cuts at the national science agency mean Australia will no longer be able to submit climate projections to form part of global reports and will have significantly reduced ability to forecast future damage to the country, leading researchers have warned.Multiple sources told Guardian Australia that CSIRO planned to sack a third of the team working on the national climate model that provides projections relied on by governments, councils, industry and farmers as they plan for the future. Continue reading...

Analysis commissioned by independent senator found national science agency’s funding is at its lowest since 1978Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government will boost funding to CSIRO by $387.4m in a bid to meet the long-term costs of the national science agency.It follows months of advocacy by scientists and staff after hundreds of job cuts and cost-cutting measures. Continue reading...

• Apple will pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to deliver its promised AI-powered Siri features on time. • The lawsuit, filed in a U.S. federal court, stems from Apple's 2017 marketing of advanced Siri capabilities that were not released as advertised, affecting millions of iPhone users. • This settlement underscores growing legal scrutiny on Big Tech's AI promises amid delays in product rollouts, potentially setting precedent for similar cases.

Olly Robbins gave MPs a classic civil servant’s performance – and there are lessons from history about how ministers should respondThe Whitehall satire Yes Minister was said to be Margaret Thatcher’s favourite TV show due to its proximity to reality, as the programme’s loquacious top civil servant, Sir Humphrey, might have put it.Yes Minister had a familiar groove: there would be a problem in response to which the mandarin would artfully deploy the most astonishing sophistry to avoid blame or get his own way. Jim Hacker, the largely clueless yet ambitious politician played by the late Paul Eddington, rarely won the day. Continue reading...

• Alec Baldwin, 68, admitted the 2021 Rust shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has changed his career outlook, stating he no longer wants to work. • In July 2024, a Santa Fe judge dismissed his involuntary manslaughter case due to prosecution withholding evidence; the incident injured director Joel Souza. • Baldwin's comments reflect ongoing trauma from the New Mexico set tragedy where assistant director Dave Halls called the gun a 'cold gun.'

• Apple pushed iOS 19.4 on April 9, 2026, introducing Siri 3.0 with on-device multimodal AI for 1 billion US iPhone users. • Update adds contextual understanding and app automation, processing queries 3x faster without cloud reliance. • Addresses privacy demands post-EU probes, with Tim Cook stating 'AI belongs on device.'

Spain's international feature film 'Sirat' has earned a historic Best Sound nomination at the 2026 Oscars, featuring the first all-female sound team in Academy Awards history. ABC News reports the team's achievement in a male-dominated category, highlighting their innovative work on the film directed by an emerging Spanish filmmaker. The nomination underscores growing diversity in technical Oscars fields, potentially influencing future sound design inclusivity. Industry experts predict the team could win, breaking barriers ahead of the March ceremony.

Spain's international feature Sirat achieves a milestone with its all-female sound team nominated for Best Sound at the 2026 Oscars, marking the first time women have dominated this male-led category. ABC News reports director Linsey Davis highlighting the team's innovative techniques that propelled the film's authentic audio landscape. The nomination underscores growing diversity in technical Oscars fields amid industry pushes for inclusion. Experts predict potential wins could inspire more female-led crews in future sound design.