INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 7th NOV 2026.

Summary of Important News Items Editorials-515

INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 7th NOV 2026.

(for reading Indian Express News items from 1 to 514 please visit –

web.prernaforias.com)

1. Supreme Court on OBC Creamy Layer: Parental Income Is Not the Sole Criterion

The Supreme Court reaffirmed its March 11, 2026 judgment that the creamy-layer status of Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates cannot be determined solely by their parents' salary income. The case concerned Civil Services Examination candidates whose reservation claims had been rejected because of the income of parents employed in public sector undertakings or private institutions. Background: The 1993 government memorandum excluded salary and agricultural income from the relevant income-and-wealth test, while a 2004 clarification created disputes over the treatment of certain employees. Judicial position: The Court emphasised that parental employment status and the category of post must also be considered. Its interpretation will apply to pending service allocations for CSE 2025 candidates. However, the Court clarified that concluded selections, appointments and seniority arrangements should not automatically be reopened. Significance: The ruling concerns substantive equality and fair access to public employment. Gist: Creamy-layer identification must follow constitutionally valid, consistent criteria rather than a mechanical income-only approach.

2. Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: GRAP Stage III and the Need for Long-Term Solutions