Supreme Court Strikes Down Maharashtra's Methanol Rules | Proportionality Test Explained | UPSC

The Supreme Court declared Maharashtra's methanol rules (Rules 18A & 18B) unconstitutional. Here's the full case, Article 14, Article 19(1)(g), and the proportionality test explained — essential UPSC current affairs. On 18 September 2026, the Supreme Court struck down Rules 18A and 18B of the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972 in Balaji Formalin Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India, holding the mandatory colourant-bitterant requirement on industrial methanol unconstitutional. In this video: Why the 1991 Mumbai hooch tragedy led to the 2011 amendment What Rules 18A and 18B actually required The Article 14 and Article 19(1)(g) arguments on both sides The proportionality test from K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), applied step by step Why the Court found the rules disproportionate, and what it means for GS2 Polity & Governance Essential for UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains current affairs revision. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🚀 Preparing for UPSC 2027–28? Start your journey with India’s top educators on Unacademy. 📲 Enroll Now: https://unacademy.com/goal/upsc-civil... Get your UPSC Subscription at ₹19,999 for 12 Months, with up to 12 Months FREE on select plans ✅ Complete Syllabus Coverage ✅ GS + CSAT + Test Series ✅ Access to All Batches & Courses ✅ Mains Test Series with Evaluation* ✅ Dedicated Doubt Solving ⏰ Offer Ends: 23rd September Start your UPSC preparation with the right guidance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Timestamps 00:00 Intro: The Controversy in Maharashtra 00:18 SC Verdict Snapshot 01:10 Setting Up the Case: A Chemical, Its Industrial Use & Diversion 03:39 The Verdict: Balaji Formalin vs Union of India, 18 Sept 2026 05:00 Unacademy Course Offer (Sponsored) 05:52 Back to the Debate: What Is Methanol? 07:24 Where Methanol Is Legally Used (Paint & Pharma) 08:46 Background: The 1991 Mumbai Hooch Tragedy 09:47 The Parthasarthy Committee & the 20-Year Delay 10:16 The 2011 Amendment: Rules 18A & 18B Explained 11:39 Can Maharashtra Even Regulate Methanol? (Poisons Act, 1919) 13:23 What the Court Actually Struck Down 14:28 Rule 18A, Step 1: Licence Verification 15:09 Rule 18A, Step 2: The Colourant & Bitterant Mandate 17:34 Does the Rule Actually Meet Its Objective? 18:43 How Industries Got Hit 20:19 Article 14 Explained: Reasonable Classification & Intelligible Differentia 23:25 Article 19(1)(g): Freedom of Trade & Reasonable Restrictions 25:44 The Proportionality Test (K.S. Puttaswamy, 2017) 26:32 Step 1: Legitimate Aim 27:07 Step 2: Rational Connection — Where the State Failed 28:46 Step 3: Necessity — Alternatives the State Ignored 30:15 Step 4: Balancing the Rights 31:00 Final Verdict: Rules 18A & 18B Struck Down ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Playlist: UPSC Current Affairs 2026-27    • UPSC Current Affairs 2026-27 | Polity, Eco...   FOLLOW US Telegram: https://t.me/unstoppablesupsc ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #UPSC #SupremeCourt #CurrentAffairs #UPSCCurrentAffairs #Article14 #Article19 #ProportionalityTest #BalajiFormalin #MethanolCase #MaharashtraNews #GS2Polity #CivilServices #IAS #UPSC2027 Balaji Formalin vs Union of India, Balaji Formalin case UPSC, Maharashtra Poisons Rules 1972, Supreme Court methanol rules, SC methanol verdict, methanol case supreme court, Article 14 and 19 case study, Article 19 1 g UPSC, proportionality test UPSC, K S Puttaswamy case, doctrine of proportionality, reasonable classification intelligible differentia, Justice Pardiwala judgment, 1991 Mumbai hooch tragedy, Poisons Act 1919, subordinate legislation India, judicial review India, UPSC current affairs today, UPSC current affairs 2026, daily current affairs UPSC, UPSC GS2 polity, UPSC mains GS2, UPSC CSE current affairs, supreme court judgments UPSC, UPSC Unstoppable