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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 covers 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 exam.
Right to Internet: Fundamental Rights, Children and Digital Safety
Why in News?
The Supreme Court of India, in a significant ruling concerning children's digital access, recognised the constitutional importance of the right to access and use the internet, including for children. The ruling highlights the need to balance children's fundamental rights with protection from harmful online content and digital exploitation.
Key Highlights of the Judgment
1. Internet Access and Fundamental Rights
- Article 21: Protects the right to life and personal liberty.
- Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, including the ability to seek, receive and communicate information through the internet.
- The Court emphasised that children also enjoy fundamental rights, irrespective of age, subject to constitutionally valid and legally justified restrictions.
- Internet access is increasingly important for education, information, communication and participation in modern society.
2. Blanket Restrictions May Be Disproportionate
- A blanket ban on children's internet access may be an excessive response when less restrictive safeguards can address the underlying risks.
- Such bans can push children towards secretive internet use or less-regulated platforms, making parental supervision and protection more difficult.
- Restrictions should therefore be assessed in light of their purpose, necessity, proportionality and impact on children's rights.
3. Distinguishing Internet Access from Harmful Content
- Recognising the importance of internet access does not mean that every website, platform or online activity must remain unrestricted.
- Targeted restrictions on harmful content and services, including adult-content websites and child sexual abuse material, may be justified under applicable law.
- The objective should be to reduce exposure to harm without unnecessarily denying children access to educational and beneficial online resources.
4. Accountability of Digital Platforms
- Digital platforms have an important role in identifying, reporting and removing Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) in accordance with applicable law.
- Effective content moderation, reporting mechanisms and age-appropriate safeguards are necessary to reduce online risks.
- Platform accountability should complement, rather than replace, parental guidance and public regulation.
5. Child-Centric Digital Safeguards
Instead of relying exclusively on blanket bans, child-protection measures may include:
- Child-friendly or restricted browsing modes.
- Appropriate parental supervision and age-appropriate settings.
- Effective content moderation and reporting tools.
- Stronger protections against cyberbullying, grooming and online exploitation.
- Digital-literacy education to help children identify harmful content and unsafe online interactions.
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Other Important Supreme Court Judgments |
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Judgment |
Key principle |
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Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020) |
The Supreme Court held that freedom of speech and expression under |
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Pragya Prasun v. Union of India (2025) |
Highlighted the importance of accessible digital systems and held that |
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Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
Recognised that Article 19(1)(a) encompasses the right to receive and |
Why Blanket Internet Bans Can Harm Children
1. Educational Exclusion and the Digital Divide
- Children increasingly use online resources for classroom learning, research, competitive examination preparation and language development.
- Restrictions may disproportionately affect students who lack access to alternative educational resources.
- A blanket ban may widen inequalities between children with access to private educational support and those who depend on digital platforms.
2. Restrictions on Creativity and Participation
- The internet enables children to learn coding, create digital art, publish writing and develop entrepreneurial skills.
- It also provides opportunities to participate in educational communities and age-appropriate civic discussions.
- Excessive restrictions may limit these opportunities for learning and self-expression.
3. Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Children
- Children with disabilities may rely on digital tools for accessible education and communication.
- Children in remote areas may depend on online resources to overcome geographical barriers.
- Those who rely on moderated online communities for learning or social interaction may lose important sources of support.
Arguments in Favour of Restricting Children's Internet Use
1. Mental Health Protection
- Excessive social media use may expose children to cyberbullying, harmful social comparisons and pressure associated with online popularity.
- Limiting exposure to harmful content may help protect psychological well-being.
2. Prevention of Problematic Digital Use
- Endless scrolling, frequent notifications and algorithmic recommendations can encourage excessive screen use.
- Age-appropriate limits may promote healthier digital habits and reduce compulsive use.
3. Better Sleep and Academic Concentration
- Unrestricted recreational internet use, particularly late at night, can interfere with sleep.
- Limits on non-educational screen time may help children concentrate on studies, physical activity and offline social interactions.
4. Protection from Online Exploitation
- Children may be exposed to online grooming, fraud, sexual exploitation, harmful challenges and inappropriate material.
- Age-appropriate controls and effective enforcement can reduce these risks.
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Child Internet Restrictions Across the World |
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Country |
Policy development |
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Australia |
Introduced requirements for covered social-media platforms to take reasonable |
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France |
Established a legal framework requiring parental authorisation for social-media registration by children under 15, |
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Greece |
Announced plans in 2026 to restrict social-media access for children under 15, |
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India |
The debate over age-based social-media restrictions has gained attention, |
State of Biodiversity Action Report
Why in News?
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) released the State of Biodiversity Action Report, providing the first comprehensive global assessment of collective progress towards implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The report examines progress towards the framework's 2030 targets and 2050 vision, identifying gaps in implementation, financing, data availability and policy coordination.
Major Gaps Identified by the Report
1. Misalignment Between National and Global Targets
- National biodiversity targets and planned actions submitted by Parties do not yet fully reflect the scope and ambition of the global targets.
- This gap between national commitments and collective objectives may hinder the achievement of the framework's 2030 targets.
2. Uneven Pace of Implementation
- Progress varies significantly across the framework's targets.
- Actions addressing the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss are lagging behind other areas.
- Marine, coastal and inland-water ecosystems continue to show gaps in the coverage of biodiversity actions.
3. Financing and Harmful Incentives
- Mobilisation and tracking of private-sector finance for biodiversity remain challenging.
- Progress in identifying and reducing subsidies and other incentives harmful to biodiversity has been limited.
- Insufficient financing can constrain conservation, restoration and sustainable-use initiatives.
4. Data and Knowledge Gaps
- Inadequate data availability and sharing limit the assessment of biodiversity trends.
- Some indicators have not been sufficiently developed or operationalised.
- Gaps in technical capacity, monitoring infrastructure and scientific knowledge weaken implementation and reporting.
5. Policy and Governance Challenges
- Inconsistent policies and weak coordination across sectors and levels of government create implementation barriers.
- Biodiversity objectives may not be adequately integrated into agriculture, infrastructure, industry and other sectoral policies.
- Limited participation of rights holders and other stakeholders can undermine inclusive and effective conservation.
About the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)
- Adoption: December 2022, at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Adopting Parties: The framework was adopted by the CBD's Parties; the CBD has 196 Parties.
- Purpose: To halt and reverse biodiversity loss through conservation, restoration, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits.
- Predecessor: Builds on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
- Structure: A 2050 vision, four long-term goals for 2050, a 2030 mission and 23 action-oriented targets for 2030.
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Four Long-Term Goals of the KMGBF |
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Goal |
Core objective |
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Goal A — Protect and Restore |
Maintain, enhance or restore ecosystem integrity, connectivity |
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Goal B — Prosper with Nature |
Ensure that biodiversity is sustainably used and managed, and |
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Goal C — Share Benefits Fairly |
Ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the |
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Goal D — Invest and Collaborate |
Secure adequate and accessible means of implementation, |
Important 2030 Targets to Remember
- Target 2: Restore at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland-water, coastal and marine ecosystems.
- Target 3: Conserve at least 30% of terrestrial and inland-water areas, and marine and coastal areas, through effectively conserved and managed systems.
- Target 18: Identify and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity, while scaling up positive incentives.
- Target 19: Substantially and progressively increase financial resources from all sources for biodiversity implementation.
PM CARES for Children Scheme
Why in News?
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has notified Aadhaar authentication or proof of possession of an Aadhaar number as a requirement for availing benefits under the Special Scholarship Scheme associated with PM CARES for Children, according to the supplied news report.
About PM CARES for Children Scheme
- Launch: Announced on 29 May 2021.
- Objective: To provide sustained care, protection and support to children who lost their parents or specified caregivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Target beneficiaries: Eligible children who lost both parents, a surviving parent, a legal guardian or adoptive parents to COVID-19 during the period specified under the scheme.
Major Features of the Scheme
1. Financial Assistance
- Eligible beneficiaries receive financial support through a structured assistance mechanism.
- The scheme provides for a corpus of ₹10 lakh for each eligible child, which becomes available under the prescribed conditions when the beneficiary reaches 23 years of age.
- The assistance is intended to support the transition to adulthood and greater financial independence.
2. Education Support
- Provides assistance for school education and continuing education.
- Eligible beneficiaries can receive scholarship support under the applicable provisions.
- Educational assistance aims to reduce financial barriers and enable children to pursue their studies.
3. Health Protection
- Eligible beneficiaries are provided health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY), subject to the scheme's provisions.
- This component seeks to protect children from the financial burden of healthcare expenses.
4. Care and Protection
- The scheme aims to ensure the long-term well-being of affected children.
- Support includes arrangements for care, protection, education and financial security in accordance with the scheme's guidelines.
Aadhaar Requirement: Significance
- Identity verification: Helps establish the identity of applicants seeking scholarship benefits.
- Beneficiary authentication: Supports verification during the delivery of scheme benefits.
- Administrative efficiency: May help reduce duplication and improve the accuracy of beneficiary records.
- Access to benefits: Applicants must follow the notified authentication or proof-of-possession requirements and applicable procedures.
India’s First Red List of Ecosystems (RLE)
Why in News?
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has launched India’s first state-level Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) project to assess the risk of ecosystem collapse across all 14 districts of Kerala.
Why Is the Assessment Important?
- Ecosystem degradation: Tropical riparian evergreen forests in the southern Western Ghats have reportedly lost around 83% of their extent over the past century.
- Conservation priority: These forests have been assessed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework.
- Evidence-based conservation: The assessment can help identify vulnerable ecosystems, prioritise restoration and support biodiversity conservation planning.
About the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE)
- Adoption: The IUCN Council adopted the RLE framework in 2014.
- Purpose: It is a global standard for assessing the risk of ecosystem collapse.
- Coverage: It applies to terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.
- Assessment approach: It evaluates ecosystem distribution, environmental degradation, disruption of ecological processes and interactions, and the overall risk of collapse.
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Five Assessment Criteria |
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A. Reduction in geographic distribution |
Decline in the area occupied by an ecosystem |
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B. Restricted geographic distribution |
Limited distribution that makes an ecosystem vulnerable to threats |
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C. Environmental degradation |
Deterioration of the abiotic environment, such as soil, |
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D. Disruption of biotic processes and interactions |
Changes in ecological processes, |
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E. Quantitative analysis of collapse risk |
Quantitative estimation of the probability of ecosystem collapse |
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Eight RLE Categories |
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Collapsed (CO) |
The ecosystem has lost its defining biotic or abiotic characteristics |
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Critically Endangered (CR) |
Faces an extremely high risk of collapse |
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Endangered (EN) |
Faces a very high risk of collapse |
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Vulnerable (VU) |
Faces a high risk of collapse |
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Near Threatened (NT) |
Close to qualifying for a threatened category |
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Least Concern (LC) |
Does not currently qualify for a threatened category |
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Data Deficient (DD) |
Available information is insufficient for assessment |
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Not Evaluated (NE) |
Has not yet been assessed against the RLE criteria |
Link with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)
- Goal A: Focuses on maintaining, enhancing or restoring ecosystem integrity, connectivity and resilience, while halting human-induced extinction of threatened species and reducing extinction risk.
- Target 1: Calls for participatory, integrated and biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and/or effective management processes to bring the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance, including ecosystems of high ecological integrity, close to zero by 2030.
- Significance of RLE: Ecosystem assessments provide evidence to help monitor biodiversity trends, identify conservation priorities and guide restoration efforts.
Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission
Why in News?
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is preparing for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, which aims to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars’s two natural satellites, and return them to Earth.
About the MMX Mission
- Lead Agency: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
- International Collaboration: The mission involves contributions from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES).
- Primary Objective: Collect and return at least 10 grams of material from Phobos to Earth.
- Expected Arrival at Mars: 2027.
- Planned Sample Return: 2031.
- Scientific Significance: If successful, MMX would become the first mission to return samples from a natural satellite of Mars.
- Rover: A small rover developed jointly by DLR and CNES will explore the surface of Phobos and support the mission’s surface investigations.
Major Objectives
- Investigate the origin of Martian moons: Determine whether Phobos and Deimos are captured asteroids or formed from material ejected by a major impact on Mars.
- Analyse surface material: Examine the composition and characteristics of Phobos through direct sampling.
- Understand the Martian system: Improve knowledge of the formation and evolution of Mars and its moons.
- Support planetary science: Provide information relevant to understanding the evolution of small bodies in the Solar System.
Phobos and Deimos: Mars’s Natural Satellites
- Discovery: Both moons were discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall in August 1877.
- Shape: Both are small, irregularly shaped natural satellites.
- Origin hypotheses:
- Asteroid-capture hypothesis: They may be asteroids captured by Mars’s gravitational field.
- Impact-origin hypothesis: They may have formed from debris ejected into orbit following a major impact on Mars.
NASA’s PUFFINS Mission
Why in News?
NASA has selected Ramya Anche, an astronomer at the University of Arizona, as the Principal Investigator of its PUFFINS mission, which is targeted for launch in 2030.
About PUFFINS
- Full Form: Polarimetry in the Ultraviolet to Find Features in INterStellar dust.
- Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- Mission Type: Small satellite (SmallSat) mission in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
- Launch Target: 2030.
- Primary Objective: To investigate the role of the smallest interstellar dust grains in the propagation of starlight and in the processes of star and planet formation.
- Observation Target: Approximately 70 stars.
- Indian Collaborators:
- Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.
- Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.
Ultraviolet Spectropolarimetry
- Meaning: A technique that studies the polarisation of light across different wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Working Principle: As starlight passes through interstellar dust, its polarisation can change due to interactions with dust grains. Analysing these changes helps scientists investigate the properties and distribution of the grains.
- Target Dust Grains: The mission will study very small interstellar dust grains, approximately 0.05 micrometres in size.
- Why UV Observations? Ultraviolet spectropolarimetry can provide information about tiny dust grains that may be difficult to characterise using visible-light and infrared observations alone.
Why Is PUFFINS Important?
- Interstellar Dust: Helps improve understanding of the composition and properties of dust between stars.
- Propagation of Starlight: Investigates how dust affects the passage and polarisation of starlight.
- Star Formation: Provides insights into the material involved in the formation of stars.
- Planet Formation: May improve understanding of the dust processes associated with the formation of planetary systems.
- India–US Scientific Collaboration: Involvement of IUCAA and IIA highlights collaboration between Indian research institutions and NASA-led space science.
Green Diwali Campaign
Why in News?
WWF-India Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP) has launched a nationwide Green Diwali Campaign to promote environmentally responsible celebrations by encouraging people to opt for cracker-free festivities.
About EIACP
- Full Name: Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme.
- Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Key Objectives:
- Disseminate environmental information and improve public awareness.
- Build institutional and community capacity on environmental issues.
- Promote environmentally sustainable livelihoods. - Origin: EIACP evolved from the Environmental Information System (ENVIS), established in 1982 to collect, collate, store and disseminate environmental information.
About WWF-India
- Established: 1969.
- Nature: A conservation organisation working towards biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability.
- Key Focus Areas: Wildlife conservation, habitat protection, ecological sustainability and environmental awareness.
One-Liners
- AUSTRAHIND 2026: The 5th edition of the India–Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, with the theme “Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.” The previous edition was held at Irwin Barracks, Perth, Australia.
- India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement: The India–New Zealand FTA came into force on 20 October 2026, providing duty-free access to the New Zealand market for 100% of Indian exports. The agreement aims to double bilateral trade in goods and services to approximately NZ$7 billion (₹35,000 crore) by 2030. Bilateral merchandise trade was around US$1.1 billion in 2025–26..
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