CLAT POST MAY A - 4 STAR TOPICS

1 Year of Operation Sindoor, Cabinet Clears bill to expand SC strength to 38, INS Mahendragiri Inducted into India Navy, Un Secretary General Election, Manipur Ethnic Conflict and UAPA Power Expansion.

Operation Sindoor

India’s coordinated tri-service offensive against nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupies Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) completed its first anniversary on May 7th 2026. It was launched in response to the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attacks

Result of the operation

Neutralized over 100 terrorists including senior Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tailba (LeT) commanders and concluded within 88 hours under a ceasefire reached on May 10, 2025.

PRAHAR AND OTHER DEFENSE INITIATIVES

Large-scale underground command-and-control infrastructure, counter Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology integration and the launch of PRAHAAR the country’s first structured National Counter Terrorism Policy and Stratergy

Pahalgam attack - incident summary

Five terrorists entered Baisaran Valley and opened fire on tourists on 22 April 2025 and killed 26 civilians

Pahalgam attack - weapons/method

Weapons used - M4 Carbines and AK-47 rifles. Victims were reportedly targeted on religious grounds. Men were asked to recite Islamic verse and checked before being shot.

Pahalgam attack - Responsibility/group

The resistance Front (TRF). A lashkar-e-Taliba proxy. Designated under the UAPA in January 2023

Perpetrators of Pahalgam

4 identified suspect were Pakistani nationals - Ali Bhai, Asif Fauji, local residents - Adil Hussain Thoker of Anantnag and Ahsan of pulwama. South Kashmir chief of operations in Lahore of LeT = Sajid Saifullah Jatt. LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and deputy Saifullah Khalid Kasuri in Pakistan. Parvaiz Ahmad Johar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar were both arrested by the NIA under Section 19 of UAPA for providing food, shelter, and logistical support to the attacker.

Immediate Responses to Pahalgam Terror Attack

• Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) Actions:

  • Placed the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance.

  • Suspended bilateral trade & closed the Attari-Wagah border.

  • Banned Pakistani imports (e.g., textiles, cement) and halted Indian exports (e.g., onions).

• Diplomatic & Global Response:

  • India sent All-Party Delegations globally to present forensic evidence.

  • Condemned & called for accountability by FATF, QUAD, BRICS, and SCO.

Operation Sindoor — Targets & Systems IAF Strikes & Weapons:

• Jets Deployed: Rafale jets.

• Munitions Used: SCALP (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée) cruise missiles and HAMMER (Highly Agile and Maneuverable Munition Extended Range) precision bombs.

Operation Sindoor - Targets and Systems Key Targets (9 Sites):

• Sawai Nala, Syedna Bilal, Kotli Abbas, Kotli Gulpur, Bhimber, Mehmoona Joya, Sarjal-Launchpad, Muridke, and Bahawalpur.

• Primary Target: Markaz Subhan Allah facility in Bahawalpur (JeM's main hub; sustained severe structural damage).

Operation Sindoor - Targets and Systems Impact & Neutralized Terrorists:

• Over 100 terrorists killed.

• Key Targets Killed: Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmad (all linked to IC-814 hijacking & Pulwama attack).

Pakistan's Retaliation & India's Defence Pakistani Attacks:

• Launched drone and missile swarms targeting military and civilian areas on May 7, 8, and 9, 2025.

• Intensified cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC).

Indian Countermeasures & Impact:

• Layered air defence (including legacy L/70 anti-aircraft guns) intercepted all incoming threats.

• 8 PAF Airbases Damaged: Nurkhan, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bholari, Jacobabad, Rafiqui, and Sargodha.

Resolution:

Ceasefire understanding reached on May 10, 2025, initiated by Pakistan's DGMO (no formal peace treaty signed).

Post Sindoor Defence priorities - Underground command infrastructure

Large scale underground command and control centers with C4I2SR (command, control communications, comupters, intelligence, information, surveillance, and reconnaissance). Also includes medical facilities, long term habitation bunkers, and forward storage for Fuel, Oil, and Lubricants (FOL), rations, and ammunition.

Post Sindoor Defence Priorities - Dual-use Surface and Air infrastructure

The IAF conducted an emergency landing field (ELF) activation drill on Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh with the Su-30MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and C-295 aircraft participation.

Post Sindoor Defence priorities - Akashteer

Indigenous vehicle-mounted automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System, is being networked with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the Indian Navy’s TRIGUN platform to create a unified real-time aerial battlespace picture.

Post Sindoor Defence priorities - Mission Sudarshan Chakra

Comprehensive national air defence shield with a pre-feasability report already submitted

Post Sindoor Defence Priorities - Project Kusha

Developing an indigenous long range surface to air missile (SAM) system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicals.

UAPA, 1967

India’s primary anti-terrorism law which allows banning organization, asset seizure and preventive detention.

National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (NIA)

Federal agency operating across state jurisdiction without requiring state gov consent.

National Security Act (NSA), 1980

Allows preventive detention for up to 12 months.

National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)

Led by NSA and coordinates interagency security stratergy

Multi Agency Center (MAC)

Under intelligence Bureau (IB), a real time intelligence-sharing platform linking central and state agencies.

National Technical Research Organization (NTRO)

Handles cyber, satellite, and signals intelligence

Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)

Integrates Army, Navy, and Air Force intelligence for joint operational planning.

National Security Guard (NSG)

Under MHA comprises the Special Action Group (SAG) from Army peronnel and the Special Ranger Group (SRG) and Central Armed police forces (CAPFs) - led by Director General B. Srinivasan, a 1992 - batch IPS from Bihar Cadre, appointed August 24.

CRPF. - India’s largest paramilitary force with approximately 300,000 personnel

Led by Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh, 1991 bath OPS officer of Asssam-Meghalaya cadre, appointed January 2025

Specialized units

Para Special Forces (Para SF), Marine Commandos (MARCOS), and Garud Commandos are deployed for cover, cross-border, and anti-hijacking missions.

IB director and their job

Director Tapan Kumar Deka leads domestic intelligence and instrumental in tracking the Pahalgam attackers over two months of continuous surveillance.

Research and Analysis Wint (R&AW) Chief and job

Ravi Sinha who leads external intelligence operations monitoring cross border terrorist networks.

Other counter-terrorism infrastructure

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) and Computer emergency response team of India (CERT-In)

PRAHAAR

Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities, Human Rights and Rule of Law, Attenuating Enabling Conditions, Aligning International Efforts, and Recovery

PRAHAAR - Prevention

Intelligence-led threat detection through real-time sharing via the MAC and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI)

PRAHAAR - Response

Local police as first responders, with State Counter-Terrorism Forces and NSG for high-intensity situations.

PRAHAAR - Aggregating Internal Capacities

Training standardisation through the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and equipment modernisation across states.

PRAHAAR - Human Rights and Rule of Law

Operations anchored in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, with a multi-level judicial redressal mechanism.

PRAHAAR - Attenuating Enabling Conditions

Multi-stakeholder de-radicalisation involving community leaders, civil society, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

PRAHAAR - Aligning International Effort

Leveraging Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) and Extradition Treaties for evidence sharing and fugitive repatriation, alongside United Nations (UN) designations of global terrorists.

PRAHAAR - Recovery and Resilience

A "whole-of-society" approach to restoring normalcy and building community resilience post-attack.

Union Cabinet chair

PM Narendra Modi

May 5th 2026 Union Cabinet approved

Supreme court amendment bill 2026 which proposes to raise the number of supreme court judges from 34 to 38 including CJI

Why the new amendment

Because of 92385 backlog pending cases in the supreme court

Money for the new expentitures

From Consolidated Fund of India

Backdrop of amendment and expansion years

Backdrop - 2 existing vacancies and three more retirements.

Two Judicial vacancies

Justice BR Gaval’s retirement in nov 2025 and another from Justice Rajesh Bindal completion of tenure in April 2026

Imminent Retirements

Justice J.K Maheshwari, Pankaj Mithal in June, Sanjay Karol in August.

Supreme court establishment date and Article

January 36, 1950 under Article 124 with CJI and 7 other Judges and Parliament with power to prescribe a larger number by law

Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Acts

1956 - 7 to 10 1960 - to 13 1977 - to 17 restricted to 15 1979 - lifted 1986 0 to 25 2008 & 2009 to 30 2019 - from 30 to 33 all of these excluding CJI

Supreme court establishment before

Regulating Act of 1773 established the first supreme court of Calcutta and then in Bombay in 1800 and Madras in 1823

High courts act of 1861

High courts across British India abolished the existing Supreme Courts.

The Government of India Act, 1935

Established Federal Court of India which served as institutional predecessor to Supreme Court 1950

Article 124(1)

Parliament holds sole authority to increase sanctioned strength of the SC.

Article 216

HC where the President can increase judicial strength through executive order under this article.

Process of increasing no of seats

1. CJI sends formal proposal to Union Ministry of Law and Justice

2. Inter ministerial consultation w/ the Ministry of Finance on budgetary implications

3. Cabinet approval - Amendment bill must be passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by a simple majority

4. President’s assent for legal effect.

Collegium System

Comprising of CJI and the 4 most senior judges by length of service recommends names for appointment and President formally makes appointment based on the receipt of these recommendations.

Article 124(2)

Supreme court judges are appointed by the President under this article

Requirements to be a SC judge

• Indian Citizen

• HC judge for 5 years

• Advocate for 10 years in HC / distinguished jurist in President’s opinion.

Article 124(4)

Can be removed by the President only on an address

Article 131

Original jurisdiction - covers disputes between the government of India and one or more states, or between two or more states

Article 32

Grants original jurisdiction to issue directions for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights

Article 139

Empowers Parliament to confer upon the Supreme Court the power to issue directions orders, or writs for purposes other than the enforcement of Fundamental Rights

Article 132

Handles Constitutional matters

Article 133

Handles civil matters

Article 134

Handles criminal matters

Article 136

Confers Special Leave Petition (SLP) jurisdiction, a discretionary appellate power to admit appeals from any court or tribunals.

Article 143

Advisory Jurisdiction with this article permits the President to refer questions of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for a non-binding opinion.

Article 129

Designates supreme court as the court of record with the power to punish contempt of court

Article 137

Empowers the supreme court to review its own judgements and orders

Article 141

Renders SC decisions binding on all courts throughout India

Article 142

Makes all orders and decrees of the SC executable and enforceable across the country

Article 147

Designates the SC as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution; it additionally exercises judicial review over legislation and executive actions.

Acting CJ

appointed by President when the CJI is absent or unable to perform duties

Ad Hoc Judge

Appointed by CJI temporarily under Article 127 when the court’s quorum cannot be constituted due to insufficient judges.

CJI power

Authority to reappoint a retired SC judge or when additional seats are required.

Article 124(2)

CJI appointment

Current CJI

Justice Surya Kant - 53rd CJI

Process of appointment

Senior most SC judge is recommended, outgoing CJI recommends through Ministry of Law and Justice then PM and then President

Preceding CJI

Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai

Power of CJI

Constitutes benches, Decides which judge hears which case, manages the supreme court docket.

Writs available within the SC’s constitutional remedies framework

Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, quo warranto

INS Mahendragiri

(Yard 12654) delivered to Indian Navy on April 30 2026 and is the sixth ship of the Nilgiri Class and the fourth constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai

Mahendragiri designation and making

• Sixth Project 17A frigate

• Delivered within 17 months of first ship

  • INS Nilgiri

• 75% indigenous content

• Construction engaging over 200 micro, small and medium enterprises

• Employment for 4000 directly and 10000 indirectly.

This ship is designed by ______ and supervised by _________

Warship design Bureau, Warship overseeing team

Tools that this ship is equipped with

• CODOG propulsion system

• Advanced sensors

• BrahMos Missiles

• MFSTAR radar

• Medium range surface-to-air Missile (MRSAM) air defense system

CODOG

Combined Diesel or Gas

Capabilities of INS Mahendragiri

• Anti surface

• anti air

• anti submarine

Mahendragiri stealth architecture

Wooden Hull structure, low engine capacity, manual tracking equipment, and unarmed deck layout

What is Project 17A?

Also known as Nilgiri class, Indian Navy initiative to design and construct seven advanced stealth guided missile frigates.

What is a frigate

Versatile, medium-sized warship designed for high speed and manoeuvrability and mainly used for escorting larger vessels such as aircraft carriers or merchant convoys and conducting ASW (Anti Sea warfare), AAW (anti-air warfare) and ASuW (Anti Surface warfare).

Program birth and executive authorities

Born in 2019 and executed under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India framework

Frigates built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders

INS Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Mahendragiri

Frigates built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders

INS Himgiri, Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri

First ship from the class

INS Nilgiri

Project prior to Project 17A - Project 17

Shivalik-class

Other roles of Project 17A frigate

Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations and Naval diplomacy missions.

Project 17A enhances India’s capacity for ______________

Blue-water operations

Why is blue-water operations significant

Enables Navy to project power across vast distances and maintain a sustained operational presence across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Especially important because of increasing Naval competition in reference to People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)

Completion in compressed timeline

Within 17 months 6 INS are completed.

What happened in the UN on April 21-22 2026?

4 candidates had an informal pitch of their records and visions as part of the ongoing process to select the next UN Secretary General.