23 March 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

India’s Expanding Online Censorship Regime

Why in News

The Government of India is considering decentralising content-blocking powers under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, allowing multiple ministries to issue takedown orders.

India’s Existing Online Censorship Framework

1. Legal Basis:

• Governed by: IT Act, 2000 & Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
• Regulates Digital platforms and Social media intermediaries

2. Dual Mechanism:

(a) Centralised System – Section 69A allows government to Block online content

• Grounds: Sovereignty, National security, Public order
• Currently final orders issued by MeitY (IT Ministry)

(b) Decentralised System – Section 79

• Under Section 79(3)(b), Government agencies can send direct takedown requests enabled via Sahyog Portal

Sahyog Portal

1. Launched by:

• Ministry of Home Affairs (2024)

2. Operated by:

• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

3. Function:

• Enables agencies to Directly send content removal requests to platforms

Proposed Change

• Expansion of Section 69A powers to Ministries like Home, Defence, External Affairs, Information & Broadcasting shift from centralised → multi-authority system

Role of Intermediaries

• Platforms like Facebook and YouTube must comply with takedown orders to retain safe harbour protection

Judicial Perspective

1. Landmark Case:

• Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015)

2. Key Outcomes:

• Struck down: Section 66A (violated free speech under Article 19(1)(a))
• Upheld: Section 69A

With conditions: Procedural safeguards, Reasoned orders, Transparency

Key Concerns

1. Free Speech Risks:

• Potential violation of Article 19(1)(a)

2. Lack of Transparency:

• Opaque decision-making and Limited public accountability

3. Overlapping Authorities:

• Multiple ministries issuing orders → Confusion and Overreach

4. Increasing State Control:

• Expands Government control over digital content

Anti-Dumping Investigation into Chinese Ethyl Chloroformate Imports

Why in News

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of ethyl chloroformate from China, citing unfair pricing and injury to domestic industry.

Key Allegation

• Chinese exporters allegedly sold at artificially low prices

Impact: Price suppression in India and Losses to domestic manufacturers

Core Concepts

1. Dumping:

• Occurs when Export price < Normal value (home market price or cost of production)

2. Dumping Margin:

• Difference between Normal Value – Export Price

3. Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD):

• Additional tariff imposed to Offset unfair pricing

Purpose: Protect domestic industry and ensure fair trade

Anti-Dumping Framework in India

1. Investigation Authority:

• Conducted by: Directorate General of Trade Remedies
• Under Ministry of Commerce & Industry
• Functions: Determine dumping, Calculate margins, Recommend duty

2. Imposition Authority:

• Done by: Department of Revenue (Ministry of Finance
• Role: Final decision to Accept/reject DGTR recommendations

3. Legal Basis:

• Customs Tariff Act, 1975: Sections 9A, 9B, 9C
• Supported by Anti-Dumping Rules, 1995

4. Lesser Duty Rule:

• India imposes Lower of Dumping margin and Injury margin

5. Duration & Review:

• Validity: 5 years
• Can be extended via Sunset Review

6. WTO Thresholds:

• Investigation ends if Dumping margin < 2% (De minimis) and Import share < 3% (Negligible)

Based on World Trade Organization rules

About Ethyl Chloroformate

1. Nature:

• Highly reactive organic compound and Colourless liquid with pungent odour

2. Industrial Uses:

• Used in Pharmaceuticals (APIs, antibiotics), Chemical manufacturing, Herbicides

3. Hazards:

• Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable

Health risks: Respiratory irritation, Pulmonary edema

India’s Demographic Transition

Why in News

India is moving from a young, rapidly growing population to an ageing and urbanised society, creating both opportunities and policy challenges up to 2051.

What is Demographic Transition?

• High birth & death rates → Low birth & death rates
• Resulting in Slower population growth and Ageing population

Key Trends in India

1. Slowing Population Growth:

• Population: 1.35 billion (2021) → 1.59 billion (2051)
• Growth rate: ~0.5% annually

Indicates: Stabilisation phase

2. Falling Child Population:

• Age group (0–4 years): 113.5 million → 8.6 million (2051)

Impacts: Reduced demand for schools and better teacher-student ratios

3. Shift in Education System:

• Government schools: Declining
• Private schools: Increasing

Reflects: Changing preferences & quality concerns

4. Ageing Population:

• Elderly (60+): 130.5 million (9.6%) → 325.3 million (20.5%)

Leads to Higher healthcare demand & Pension and social security pressure

5. Workforce Dynamics:

• Working-age population: Peaks in 2041 (~65.5%) and Declines by 2051 (~62.8%)

Risk: Shrinking demographic dividend

Opportunities for India

1. Education Reform:

• Fewer children → Better infrastructure use and improved quality

2. Healthcare Efficiency:

• Lower birth rates: Reduce maternal care burden
• Resources can shift to Preventive & elderly care

3. Gender Dividend:

• Increasing female workforce participation can Offset workforce decline and boost productivity

4. Silver Economy:

• Growing elderly population → Demand for Geriatric care, Senior services, Assistive technologies

New economic sector opportunity

Key Implications

1. Education Sector:

• Declining enrolment Particularly in pre-primary

2. Labour Market:

• Workforce contraction After 2041

3. Policy Pressure:

• Rising median age (~40 years by 2051)

Major Challenges

1. Skill Gap:

• Youth lack Employable skills

2. Ageing Burden:

• Rising dependency ratio

3. Resource Allocation:

• Need to rebalance Education vs healthcare spending

Paternity Leave as a Tool for Changing Gender Norms in India

Why in News

The Supreme Court of India has urged the government to introduce a structured paternity leave policy, highlighting its role in promoting gender equality and shared parenting.

Why Paternity Leave Matters

1. Breaking Gender Stereotypes:

• Challenges the notion: Women = caregivers & Men = breadwinners

Promotes Shared parenting responsibilities

2. Reducing the “Motherhood Penalty”:

• Women often face Career interruptions and Lower wages

Shared leave can Reduce wage disparities and address a major component of the gender wage gap

3. Improving Workplace Equality:

• When both parents get leave Employers are less biased against hiring women leads to Fair recruitment & promotion practices

4. Redistributing Care Work:

• Encourages men to Participate in childcare reduces “Dual burden” on women (work + home)

5. Boosting Female Labour Force Participation:

• Helps improve Female Labour Force Participation Rate by Preventing women from dropping out mid-career.

Challenges in India

1. Legal Vacuum:

• No dedicated law like Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

Paternity leave remains Fragmented and non-uniform

2. Limited Coverage:

• Over 80% workforce in Informal/unorganised sector

Most workers do not benefit

3. Social Stigma:

• Patriarchal norms discourage men from taking leave

Fear of Career penalties

4. Inadequate Existing Provision:

• Central government employees Only 15 days leave, too short to bring real behavioural change

Blur over India’s Carbon Credit Plan

Why in News

The ₹20,000 crore carbon credit programme announced in Government of India’s Union Budget 2026 has created confusion regarding its scope—whether it targets industrial decarbonisation or agriculture-based carbon markets.

Core Issue

• Policy clarity lacking between Industrial emissions reduction and Agricultural carbon sequestration

Result: Ambiguity in implementation and stakeholder participation

Focus: Industrial Decarbonisation

1. CCUS-Based Approach:

• The programme is aligned with Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) roadmap

Targets: Power, Steel, Cement, Refineries, Chemicals

2. Why Agriculture is Excluded:

• Agricultural emissions: Methane (CH₄) and Nitrous oxide (N₂O)

These are Biological emissions not suitable for Point-source capture

CCUS vs CDR: Key Distinction

1. CCUS (Industrial Focus):

• Captures CO₂ from Factories, power plants
• Prevents New emissions

Process: Capture → Utilisation → Storage

2. CDR (Nature-Based Approach):

• Removes CO₂ from Atmosphere includes Afforestation, Soil carbon sequestration, Agroforestry, Biochar

3. Role of Agriculture:

• Falls under Carbon Dioxide Removal can contribute via Carbon farming and Soil carbon storage

Policy Gap in India

• Strong framework for Industrial decarbonisation (CCUS) missing National policy for Carbon farming and Agricultural carbon markets
• Leads to Missed rural income opportunities and Limited climate mitigation potential

Chapchar Kut Festival (Mizoram)

Why in News

The state of Mizoram recently celebrated the vibrant Chapchar Kut festival in Aizawl.

About Chapchar Kut

• It is the biggest spring festival of Mizoram
• Popularly known as “Festival of Joy” among the Mizo people
• Celebrated: Every year in March
• Marks Completion of jungle clearing for Jhum (shifting) cultivation indicates Transition from preparation to cultivation phase

Historical Background

1. Origin:

• 15th century among the Mizo tribes

2. Decline:

• During colonial period

3. Revival:

• 1973 as a secular cultural festival

Purple Fest 2026

Why in News

Purple Fest 2026 was hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan to celebrate the talent, achievements, and aspirations of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities).

About Purple Fest

• Organised by: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)
• Under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Objective: Promote inclusion, dignity, and empowerment of persons with disabilities
• Symbolism of Purple: The colour purple represents Dignity and Independence globally associated with Disability rights movement

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