Article 326
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Current affairsInternational Day of Democracy 2026: Deliberative Democracy and the AI Governance ChallengeThe United Nations observes International Day of Democracy on September 15 each year. The 2026 theme is "Raising Hands and Voices — Fostering Agency and Ownership through Deliberative Democracy," highlighting participatory governance models as democratic institutions face challenges from disinformation, AI-driven political manipulation, and declining citizen trust globally. Current affairsSupreme Court on Black Money in Elections: Directions to Curb Unaccounted Cash, Expedite Probes, and Protect Democratic IntegrityThe Supreme Court of India, in State of Karnataka & Anr. v. Prathik Parasrampuria (2026 INSC 868, August 17, 2026), held that the use of black money in elections "compromises democracy's core" and issued binding directions: report cash seizures above ₹10 lakh within 24 hours, complete election-related investigations within one year, designate specialised courts for candidate-related cases, and require High Court approval before withdrawing prosecutions. 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.