18 June 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams.

Age-Based Regulation of Social Media Access for Children

Why in News?

Following global efforts to strengthen online child safety, including legislative measures in Canada and Australia, the United Kingdom has announced a ban on social media access for children below 16 years, scheduled to come into effect from 2027. The development has renewed debate on age-based regulation of social media usage in India.

Age-Based Social Media Regulation in India

Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

1. Child Definition

• The Act defines a child as any individual below the age of 18 years.

2. Parental Consent Requirement

• Under Section 9, data fiduciaries must obtain verifiable parental consent before processing a child's personal data.

3. Protection Against Exploitative Practices

• Section 9(3) prohibits Behavioural tracking of children, Monitoring of online activities, Targeted advertising directed at minors.

4. Exemptions

• Section 9(4) empowers the Central Government to exempt specified entities, such as educational institutions, from certain requirements.

5. Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021

• Significant social media intermediaries are required to deploy technological tools to identify and remove Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and Other unlawful content affecting child safety.

6. Existing Legislative Gap

• The Information Technology Act, 2000 does not prescribe a minimum age for accessing social media platforms.
• The Union Government is reportedly exploring a dedicated framework on age-based access restrictions for minors.
• Current policy discussions indicate a preference for graded and risk-based restrictions rather than a complete prohibition.

7. State-Level Initiatives

• Karnataka became the first state to announce restrictions on social media use by children below 16 years.
• Andhra Pradesh has proposed restrictions for children below 13 years of age.

Arguments Supporting Regulation

1. Mental Health Protection

• Algorithm-driven platforms are designed to maximize engagement and screen time.
• Excessive exposure has been associated with Anxiety and stress, Sleep disturbances and Negative self-image and body-image concerns.

2. Cognitive Development Concerns

• Infinite scrolling features and constant notifications may Reduce attention spans, Affect concentration and learning outcomes and Interfere with academic performance.

3. Cyber Safety and Online Harassment

• Rising incidents of cyberbullying have increased concerns regarding adolescent safety online.
• Young users, particularly girls, are often more vulnerable to digital harassment and abuse.

4. Exposure to Child Exploitation Material

• The proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) remains a major concern.
• Enhanced restrictions are viewed as a means to reduce children's exposure to harmful online content.

5. Cumulative Long-Term Harm

• Adverse effects often emerge gradually through Addiction-like usage patterns, Social isolation, Reduced physical activity, Mental health challenges.

6. Duty of Care

• Advocates argue that the State and parents have a responsibility to safeguard minors from manipulative digital environments until they attain sufficient maturity and informed consent capacity.

Arguments Against Regulation

1. Impact on Educational and Social Access

• Social media platforms often facilitate Collaborative learning, Peer interaction and Access to educational resources.
• Blanket restrictions may disproportionately affect students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

2. Migration to Unregulated Platforms

• Restrictive measures may encourage minors to shift towards Encrypted applications, Unregulated online forums and Harder-to-monitor digital spaces.

3. Right to Information and Expression

• In Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of internet access in exercising freedoms under Article 19(1)(a).
• Critics argue that excessive restrictions could impede access to information and communication.

4. Shifting Responsibility Away from Platforms

• Bans may reduce pressure on technology companies to Improve platform design, Strengthen child-safety features and Develop safer recommendation algorithms.

5. Risk of Over-Censorship

• Aggressive filtering mechanisms may inadvertently restrict Educational content, Health-related information & Discussions on mental health and adolescent well-being.

6. Concerns over Family Autonomy

• Opponents contend that decisions regarding children's digital access should primarily remain with parents rather than the State.

Key Recommendations

1. Rajya Sabha Ad-hoc Committee (2020)

• Mandate screen-monitoring applications on smart devices.
• Require internet service providers to enable child-friendly filters by default.

2. Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill (2021)

• Introduce stronger accountability mechanisms for social media platforms.
• Reclassify platforms lacking robust age-verification systems as accountable publishers.

3. Committee on Empowerment of Women (2026)

• Implement stringent KYC-based age-verification systems across digital platforms.
• Prevent minors from bypassing age restrictions through false declarations.

4. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), 2023

• Require platforms to proactively detect and remove child exploitation content using advanced technological tools.

5. PRAGYATA Guidelines (2020)

• Promote age-appropriate daily screen-time limits.
• Encourage balanced digital engagement to safeguard children's physical and psychological well-being

India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

Why in News?

• India and Japan have adopted the Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, marking a significant step in bilateral climate cooperation and carbon market development.

What is the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)?

• The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) is a bilateral carbon-crediting framework that enables countries to cooperate on greenhouse gas mitigation projects.
• It facilitates Deployment of low-carbon and climate-friendly technologies, Measurement and verification of emission reductions, Sharing of resulting carbon credits between partner countries.
• The mechanism operates in line with the cooperative approaches envisaged under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

How the India–Japan JCM Works

1. Investment in Low-Carbon Projects

• Japanese companies and institutions can invest in emission-reduction and low-carbon development projects in India.
• Potential sectors include Renewable energy, Energy efficiency, Green hydrogen, Sustainable transportation, Waste management and resource efficiency.

2. Generation of Carbon Credits

• Emission reductions achieved through approved projects are independently measured and verified.
• Verified reductions are converted into carbon credits.

3. Sharing of Credits

• The generated carbon credits are shared between India and Japan according to agreed rules.
• Both countries can utilize these credits to help achieve their respective climate commitments.

Link with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

1. What are NDCs?

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are climate action plans submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement.
• They outline national targets for Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Enhancing climate resilience, Supporting sustainable development.

2. Role of JCM

• The mechanism supports the achievement of NDC targets by Accelerating clean technology deployment, Mobilizing climate finance, Facilitating international cooperation on mitigation efforts.

Significance of the India–Japan JCM

• Climate Cooperation: Strengthens bilateral collaboration on climate action and sustainable development.
• Technology Transfer: Enables access to advanced Japanese low-carbon technologies and best practices.
• Climate Finance Mobilisation: Encourages investment flows into India's green economy and climate-friendly infrastructure.
• Carbon Market Development: Supports the emergence of robust international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement framework.
• Sustainable Development Benefits: Contributes to Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, Energy transition, Green job creation, Long-term environmental sustainability.

Prime Minister’s Visit to Slovakia

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations.

Key Outcomes of the Visit

1. Elevation of Bilateral Relations

• India and Slovakia agreed to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership.
• The move aims to deepen cooperation across strategic, economic, technological, and people-to-people sectors.

2. Defence and Security

• Strengthening defence cooperation and strategic engagement.
• Enhancing collaboration in counterterrorism and security-related areas.

3. Emerging Technologies

• Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, Digital technologies, Innovation and advanced technology applications.

4. Education and Research

• Expansion of partnerships in Higher education, Scientific research and Academic exchanges and skill development.

5. Labour Mobility

• Efforts to facilitate the movement of skilled professionals and workers between the two countries.

6. Prestigious State Honour

• Slovakia conferred its highest civilian award, the Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The honour recognizes contributions towards strengthening bilateral ties and international cooperation.

About Slovakia

• Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe.
• It shares borders with Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary
• Bratislava is the capital and largest city of Slovakia.
• It is situated along the banks of the Danube River.
• Slovakia emerged as an independent state in 1993 following peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
• The separation is commonly known as the Velvet Divorce.
• Slovakia is often referred to as the "Detroit of Europe" owing to its highly developed automobile manufacturing sector.

Significance for India

• The visit broadens India's engagement with Central Europe.
• It opens new avenues for cooperation in technology, defence, innovation, education, and skilled workforce mobility.
• The elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Partnership reflects the growing strategic importance of India–Slovakia relations in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)

Why in News?

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a test of the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, marking a significant advancement in India's indigenous long-range precision-strike capabilities.

About LRLACM

• The Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) is an indigenously developed cruise missile designed to engage high-value land-based targets with high precision.
• It is a subsonic, terrain-hugging missile, capable of flying at low altitudes to evade enemy radar and air-defence systems.
• Due to its long-range precision-strike capability, it is often compared with the Tomahawk missile of the United States.

Key Features

1. Long Strike Range

• Capable of striking targets at distances exceeding 1,000 kilometres.
• Enables deep-strike operations against strategic targets far beyond the frontline.

2. Subsonic Cruise Speed

• Operates at approximately Mach 0.8, allowing sustained and fuel-efficient long-range flight.

3. Terrain-Hugging Flight Profile

• Flies close to the ground by following terrain contours.
• Enhances survivability by reducing detection by enemy radar systems.

4. Precision Engagement Capability

• Designed to accurately neutralize Command and control centres, Strategic infrastructure, Military installations, Other high-value stationary targets.

5. Indigenous Propulsion System

• Powered by the Manik Small Turbofan Engine.
• Represents a major achievement in India's efforts toward self-reliance in advanced defence technologies.

6. Evolution from Nirbhay Missile

• LRLACM is the direct successor to the Nirbhay cruise missile programme.
• It incorporates technological improvements in Range and endurance. Guidance and navigation systems, Reliability and operational effectiveness, Indigenous content and propulsion.

Namo Cities Initiative in the National Capital Region (NCR)

Why in News?

• The National Capital Region Planning Board has approved the development of four new “Namo Cities” as greenfield urban centres, with one city each planned in the NCR portions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

About Namo Cities

• Namo Cities are proposed as greenfield urban developments, meaning they will be built on previously undeveloped land.
• The cities are envisioned as Sustainable and environmentally conscious urban centres, Smart and technology-enabled settlements, Economic growth hubs within the NCR.

Objectives

• Reduce excessive population and infrastructure pressure on Delhi.
• Promote balanced and decentralized regional development.
• Improve quality of urban living across the NCR.
• Generate employment and economic opportunities in surrounding regions.
• Support long-term sustainable urbanization.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Model

1. What is TOD?

• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is an urban planning strategy that integrates land use with public transportation systems.
• It promotes compact, mixed-use, and high-density development around major transit nodes.

2. Key Features

• High-Density Development: Encourages residential, commercial, and institutional activities near transit corridors.
• Mixed Land Use: Integrates housing, workplaces, retail spaces, and public services within walkable distances.
• Public Transport-Centric Planning: Prioritizes mass transit systems over private vehicle dependence.
• Walkability and Accessibility: Focuses on pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and last-mile connectivity.

Link with Namo Bharat (RRTS)

Role of RRTS Corridors

• The proposed cities will be developed around Namo Bharat corridors and associated transport hubs.
• The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) is designed to provide fast, reliable, and high-frequency regional connectivity across the NCR.

Miyazaki Mango

Why in News?

• The Miyazaki Mango, often regarded as one of the world's most expensive mango varieties, was recently offered to the Shree Ram Mandir in Ayodhya after being successfully cultivated locally.
• About Miyazaki Mango

Origin

• Miyazaki Mango is a premium mango cultivar originating from Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
• It is renowned for its superior quality, appearance, and sweetness, making it one of the most sought-after mango varieties globally.

Distinctive Features

• Popularly known as the “Egg of the Sun” due to Its bright red to purplish-red skin and Characteristic oval or egg-like shape.
• Fruits are carefully cultivated under controlled conditions to ensure uniform quality and high sugar content.

One-Liners

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17 June to raise awareness about land degradation, desertification, and drought-related challenges.
• For 2026, Kenya is hosting the observance under the theme “Rangelands: Recognise. Respect. Restore.”
• The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 to commemorate the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification> (UNCCD).
• UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement dedicated to combating desertification, land degradation, and drought, while promoting the principle of Land Degradation Neutrality.

Yoga Park Portal

• Yoga Park Portal is an initiative of the Ministry of Ayush.
• The portal aims to convert existing public parks into wellness centres that support Yoga and meditation, Preventive healthcare practices, Community-based health promotion activities.

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