Current Affairs by Prithu

As India scales its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and aims for AI sovereignty, digital compute capacity becomes a core national asset. However, powering these data centres creates a direct nexus between technology policy, power sector planning, and climate commitments.

While a surging billionaire count reflects macroeconomic dynamism, capital market maturity, and expanding entrepreneurial ecosystems, it also highlights the policy challenge of wealth concentration. It underscores the need for progressive taxation, social security expansion, and targeted inclusive growth models.

Farmer groups in Rajasthan have formally filed objections against the proposed Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Unjha Jeera (cumin) and Saunf (fennel), arguing that Unjha in Gujarat is merely a trading/marketing hub rather than the actual agrarian production center.

High-Powered Nandan Nilekani Task Force on Exam Reforms & Public Examinations Bill News Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered task force led by Nandan Nilekani to overhaul national testing systems, while the government tabled the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. About Nilekani Task Force Architecture: A multidisciplinary expert panel led by Nandan Nilekani, featuring V. Kamakoti (Director, IIT Madras), S. Somanath (Former ISRO Chairman), Tapan Deka (Former IB Director), Anita Karwal (Former Education Secretary), and Amrit Lal Meena (Logistics Expert). Mandate: To recommend immediate technical and structural measures to secure upcoming competitive exams, deploy tech-driven anti-leak protocols, and overhaul testing infrastructure. Legislative Push: The Government listed the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to establish fast-track courts, mandate 5-month trial timelines, and enforce strict penalties against organized paper-leak syndicates. Why is it Important? Institutional paper leaks impair meritocracy, cause severe youth distress, and stall recruitment cycles. Coupling high-tech Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) solutions (via Nilekani's task force) with statutory fast-track judicial enforcement aims to rebuild systemic trust in national examination bodies.

UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Nandan Nilekani Task Force composition; Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026; Fast-Track Special Courts (FTSCs) execution framework. GS-II (Polity & Governance): Civil service recruitment integrity, administrative reforms in public testing agencies, digital public infrastructure in governance, and judicial speed.

#GS2 #PolityAndGovernance #PublicExaminations #ExamReforms Note- Nandan Nilekani Committee was also constituted for Aadhar and UIDAI also.

Must read for Mains 2026 for GS-3 and GS-4

US Trade Policy: Retaining 10% Tariff Under Forced Labor Scrutiny News Following the expiration of temporary tariffs imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, the United States retained a 10% tariff levy on merchandise imports from India under Section 301, citing supply chain forced-labor compliance concerns. About Section 301 Mechanism: Allows the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate and impose trade sanctions against countries whose trade practices or labor standards are deemed unreasonable or discriminatory to US commerce. Targeted Export Lines: Primarily impacts labor-intensive export sectors such as textiles, apparel, marine products, and processed agriculture. Comparative Positioning: Countries meeting specific bilateral compliance protocols (e.g., Japan, South Korea) secured lower effective rates compared to non-compliant export nations. Why is it Important? This tariff action illustrates how non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are increasingly used to regulate international trade access. Indian export competitiveness requires strengthening supply chain documentation, formalizing labor standards, and pursuing proactive trade diplomacy.

UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Section 301 vs Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974; WTO principles on Most Favoured Nation (MFN) and Non-Tariff Barriers. GS-III (Economy): Foreign trade policy, global supply chain compliance, export promotion strategies, and India-US economic relations.

#GS3 #Economy #ExternalTrade #NonTariffBarriers

Copyright Law vs. Artificial Intelligence (ANI v. OpenAI) News The Delhi High Court commenced hearings on a landmark lawsuit filed by news agency ANI against OpenAI, evaluating whether AI models can use copyrighted journalistic content for training without explicit licensing or authorization. About Core Legal Question: The High Court is evaluating the dynamic relationship between statutory copyright protections (Copyright Act, 1957) and rapid technological innovation driven by Large Language Models (LLMs). Fair Use Standard: OpenAI contends that training AI on publicly available information and using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques does not constitute copyright infringement under Section 51 of the Copyright Act. First for Indian Judiciary: This marks the first time an Indian Constitutional Court is addressing the boundaries of "fair use" in the context of generative AI training data. Why is it Important? The ruling will establish a critical legal precedent for India's digital economy. It balances protecting the intellectual property and financial viability of original content creators against encouraging innovation in artificial intelligence research and deployment.

UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Copyright Act, 1957 provisions; Exceptions under Section 52 (Fair Dealing/Fair Use); Basics of RAG and LLM architecture. GS-III (Science & Technology & Economy): Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the digital age, governance of Artificial Intelligence, and protection of news media ecosystems.

#GS3 #ScienceAndTechnology #IntellectualPropertyRights #ArtificialIntelligence

Electoral Roll Revision (SIR) in Inaccessible Border Corridors News As part of the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Election Commission personnel and Block Level Officers (BLOs) in Punjab are navigating flooded riverine border stretches via boats to ensure full voter registration coverage ahead of statutory deadlines. About Special Summary Revision (SIR): A periodic statutory drive conducted under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to update voter lists by registering new voters, correcting details, and deleting duplicate entries. Grassroots Execution: Utilizes Block Level Officers (BLOs) to conduct door-to-door verification, focusing on geographically isolated, riverine (Diara), and international border enclaves. Constitutional Mandate: Implements the Election Commission of India's (ECI) mandate under Article 324 to maintain clean, inclusive, and accurate electoral rolls. Why is it Important? Exemplifies field-level administrative dedication to upholding universal adult suffrage (Article 326). Ensuring that citizens in remote, flood-prone, or border areas are not disenfranchised strengthens democratic legitimacy and inclusive governance.

UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Representation of the People Act, 1950 (Sections 14-25); Role and statutory duties of BLOs; Constitutional provisions under Article 324 and Article 326. GS-II (Polity & Governance): Electoral reforms, inclusive democratic participation, administrative execution in challenging geographies, and the role of the Election Commission of India.

#GS2 #PolityAndGovernance #Elections #ElectoralReforms

Supreme Court Bars Unauthorized Recording of Virtual Proceedings News The Supreme Court issued strict directions prohibiting the unauthorized recording, editing, and social media sharing of audio-visual footage from live-streamed court proceedings without explicit judicial permission. About Judicial PIL: The order responded to a Public Interest Litigation highlighting the growing misuse of live-streamed proceedings, where video snippets were edited out of context for clickbait and sensationalism on digital platforms. Regulatory Compliance: Reaffirms that while live-streaming promotes judicial transparency, court proceedings remain legally protected content under the administrative rules of the judiciary. Contempt Powers: Unauthorized recording or alteration of court footage will attract proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Why is it Important? Maintains a balance between the "Open Court" principle and safeguarding the dignity, privacy, and decorum of judicial proceedings. Sensationalized online clips can pressure judges, intimidate litigating parties, and distort public perception of complex legal arguments.

UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings; Contempt of Courts Act, 1971; Constitutional status of the Supreme Court as a Court of Record (Article 129). GS-II (Polity & Governance): Judicial transparency, open court doctrine, digital governance safeguards, and judicial independence.

#GS2 #PolityAndGovernance #Judiciary #DigitalGovernance

Question has already being asked in Mains 2024. Further this issue becomes more important this year. Please note that a GS-4 case study from this topic is expected one

Public Examinations Reform: Fast-Track Courts & Anti-Leak Legislation News Following nationwide student protests regarding paper leaks in public recruitment examinations, the Union Government announced plans to establish dedicated Fast-Track Special Courts (FTSCs) alongside a tough new statutory framework to penalize organized cheating syndicates.

About

Statutory Baseline: Builds upon the enforcement mechanisms of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, designating strict penal provisions for organized paper leak networks. Judicial Mechanism: Establishes specialized Fast-Track Courts to expedite trial proceedings, addressing past operational bottlenecks where probe agencies filed weak closure reports or trials faced years of procedural delay. Investigative Oversight: Sets mandatory timelines for charge-sheet filings, digital evidence preservation, and financial audits of private testing agencies and administrative collusion. Why is it Important? Systemic paper leaks compromise meritocracy, delay public recruitment cycles, and create acute distress among millions of youth. Creating dedicated judicial pipelines prevents procedural delays, deters organized crime syndicates, and restores institutional trust in national public recruitment systems.

UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 provisions; Non-bailable and cognizable nature of organized paper leak offenses; Jurisdictional powers to setup Fast-Track Special Courts. GS-II (Polity & Governance): Judicial reforms, fast-track justice delivery systems, public administration accountability, rule of law, and civil service recruitment integrity.

#GS2 #Polity #JudicialReforms #PublicExaminations #Governance

Reason to ask above question.

Deployment of Plainclothes Police in Protest Dispersal The involvement of police officers in plain clothes during public protests involves a delicate balance between state operational necessity and constitutional safeguards governing accountability. 1. Arguments Supporting Legality and Justification (State & Operational View) Operational and Tactical Necessity: Police manuals permit plainclothes officers to blend into crowds for real-time intelligence gathering, covert surveillance, and identifying agent provocateurs, armed agitators, or infiltrators who might derail a peaceful demonstration. Immediate Prevention of Violence: In volatile situations where an assembly turns violent or threatens public safety, immediate physical intervention by on-duty plainclothes personnel can be justified under general police powers to prevent crime and protect life and property. Absence of an Explicit Statutory Ban: While standard regulations prescribe uniforms for routine law enforcement, statutory law (such as the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita / CrPC) grants police broad discretion to maintain public order, without explicitly prohibiting plainclothes personnel from assisting uniformed teams in crowd control. 2. Arguments Demonstrating Illegality (Constitutional & Rights View) Violation of D.K. Basu Guidelines: The landmark Supreme Court ruling in D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) explicitly mandated that all police personnel handling citizens, arrests, or detentions must wear clear, visible identification and name tags displaying their designations. Erosion of Accountability and Due Process: When non-uniformed officers exercise physical force or lathi-charge demonstrators, individual identity is obscured. This deprives citizens of procedural due process under Article 21, as unidentified officers cannot easily be held accountable for custodial violence or excessive force. Chilling Effect on Fundamental Rights: The presence of unidentifiable individuals using force creates panic and confusion, directly infringing upon the right to assemble peacefully guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b). Statutory Authority Standard: Section 189 of the BNSS (formerly Section 129 CrPC) requires an explicit command of lawful state authority to disperse an assembly. An official uniform provides the necessary visual proof of that authority to prevent acts from being perceived as unlawful private aggression. While deployable for covert intelligence gathering and identifying provocateurs, using plainclothes officers to execute direct physical force or lathi-charges against peaceful protesters is procedurally unsupportable under the D.K. Basu framework and fundamental constitutional guarantees.

Q. With reference to the historic Supreme Court judgment in the D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal case (1997) and its relation to Article 22 of the Indian Constitution, consider the following statements: 1. The procedural guidelines laid down in the D.K. Basu judgment flow from Articles 21 and 22, mandating that the police must inform a friend, relative, or well-wisher of the arrestee about the arrest within 8 to 12 hours. 2. Under the D.K. Basu guidelines, an arrested individual is entitled to the continuous presence of a legal counsel throughout the entire duration of custodial interrogation. 3. The constitutional protections guaranteed under Article 22(1) and Article 22(2), along with the corresponding custodial safeguards of the D.K. Basu judgment, apply uniformly to all persons, including those arrested under preventive detention laws. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Artificial Intelligence Law: Regulating Autonomous Agents and Synthetic Media ​News The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is finalizing the framework for India's upcoming AI legislation, which will specifically cover autonomous AI agents and deepfake technologies. ​About ​Agentic AI Governance: The law explicitly addresses autonomous AI agents capable of making independent execution decisions, establishing clear legal accountability for algorithmic actions. ​Synthetic Media Control: It mandates technical watermarking, metadata tagging, and fast-track removal protocols for non-consensual synthetic media and deepfakes. ​Risk-Based Framework: Adopts a tiered risk model that balances deep-tech innovation with safeguards against election interference, identity fraud, and automated financial scams. ​Why is it Important? As AI tools evolve from text generation to autonomous agentic execution, existing legal frameworks like the IT Act, 2000 face significant liability gaps. Establishing clear regulatory boundaries protects digital public infrastructure, combats algorithmic manipulation, and creates a secure environment for India's growing AI economy. ​UPSC Edge ​Prelims Focus: Technical differences between Generative AI and Autonomous Agentic AI; Mechanisms of digital watermarking; MeitY regulatory mandates under the IT Rules. ​GS-III (Science & Technology & Internal Security): Artificial Intelligence ethics and governance, cybersecurity threats, deepfakes, and technology policy. ​#GS3 #ScienceAndTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #Cybersecurity

Census 2026: Administrative Framework for Caste Enumeration News With roughly six months remaining before the launch of the delayed decennial Census, the Union Government is evaluating concrete operational frameworks to enumerate caste data across the country. About Methodological Options: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Registrar General of India (RGI) are exploring two primary formats: an open-ended self-declaration option versus a standardized drop-down menu of recognized castes. Addressing Technical Challenges: The drop-down framework aims to prevent data collection errors caused by local phonetic spellings, sub-caste regional variations, and synonym overlaps across state boundaries. Historic Milestone: This represents the first integrated caste enumeration effort within post-Independence regular decennial Census operations, moving beyond the standalone 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC). Why is it Important? Accurate, standardized demographic data is essential for evidence-based public policy, targeted social welfare schemes, and assessing the ground-level outcomes of affirmative action. Establishing a clear enumeration methodology minimizes data discrepancies and helps build consensus among state administration stakeholders. UPSC Edge Prelims Focus: Statutory authority under the Census Act, 1948; Role of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (Office under MHA); Constitutional provisions regarding SC/ST/OBC listings under Articles 341, 342, and 342A. GS-I (Society) & GS-II (Governance): Population dynamics and social stratification, evidence-based policy formulation, welfare management, and social justice. #GS1 #Society #Demographics #CasteCensus

Deployment Preparation for India’s First Indigenous Dengue Vaccine ​ News India is preparing to deploy its first domestically developed Dengue vaccine, following Phase-3 clinical trial evaluations overseen by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). ​ About ​Tetravalent Strain Design: Developed by domestic pharmaceutical firms, the live-attenuated vaccine is engineered to protect against all four distinct dengue virus serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4). ​Vector Profile: Dengue is a major seasonal public health challenge across India, transmitted primarily by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. ​Clinical Focus: Phase-3 trials focus on evaluating long-term safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in reducing severe dengue hemorrhagic fever hospitalizations across endemic urban areas. ​Why is it Important? Seasonal dengue outbreaks place significant pressure on healthcare systems across urban and rural India. A domestically produced tetravalent vaccine will lower hospitalization rates, reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses, and strengthen national preventive health infrastructure. ​

UPSC Edge

​Prelims Focus: Four dengue virus serotypes (DEN 1–4); Transmission vector (Aedes aegypti); Regulatory roles of ICMR and CDSCO. ​GS-III (Science & Technology): Vaccine technology development, biotechnology indigenization, and vector-borne disease control strategies. ​#GS3 #ScienceAndTechnology #Biotechnology #DengueVaccineDevelopment

EPFO 3.0 Social Security Overhaul for Informal & Gig Workers ​News The Union Ministry of Labour & Employment is finalizing the "EPFO 3.0" reform package, aimed at expanding universal pension coverage and integrating platform and gig workers into the formal social security ecosystem. ​About ​Universal Pension Layer: Introduces a flexible pension architecture that enables informal sector workers and self-employed individuals to voluntarily contribute to structured retirement funds. ​Gig Economy Safety Net: Implements the social security provisions outlined in the Code on Social Security, 2020, establishing dedicated welfare boards financed through aggregator platform contributions. ​Digital Upgrades: Features an upgraded IT infrastructure with real-time claims processing, central database synchronization via the e-Shram portal, and seamless provident fund transfers. ​Why is it Important? India's gig and informal workforce is growing quickly without traditional employment safety nets. EPFO 3.0 transitions social policy away from rigid, formal-sector-only rules toward a flexible, universal, tech-driven protection system suited for a modernizing labor market. ​

UPSC Edge

​Prelims Focus: Statutory framework of the Code on Social Security, 2020; Key functions of the e-Shram portal; Goverance structure GS-II & GS-III (Social Justice & Economy): Social security nets for gig and platform workers, formalization of the labor market, and social welfare reforms. ​#GS2 #SocialJustice #LaborReforms #GigEconomySocialSecurity