Current Affairs — 28 May 2026

1. Supreme Court's Revival of Sedition Trials

Core Context & Background

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code — the sedition provision — was drafted by Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1837, omitted from the IPC in 1860, and then inserted in 1890 through Special Act XVII specifically to suppress India's growing nationalist movement. The British colonial government used it extensively against leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak (tried thrice for writings in Kesari) and Mahatma Gandhi (for articles in Young India in 1922). Gandhi famously called Section 124A "the prince among the political sections of the IPC designed to suppress the liberty of the citizen."

Post-independence, the judiciary has repeatedly attempted to restrict its scope. In Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962), the Supreme Court upheld its validity but held that only speech accompanied by incitement to violence or intent to create public disorder qualifies as sedition. The landmark S.G. Vombatkere v. Union of India (2022) case placed the law in complete abeyance — freezing all fresh FIRs, investigations, and pending trials.

Latest Developments

In May 2026, the Supreme Court clarified in Kamran v. State of Madhya Pradesh that lower courts may proceed with Section 124A trials and appeals, provided the accused explicitly consents. This has revived public debate. Meanwhile, with the repeal of the IPC, sedition has formally transitioned into the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The word "sedition" (Rajdroh) has been deliberately dropped. Section 152 of the BNS now penalises acts that endanger "sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India," shifting focus from disaffection against the government to actual threats against the State.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• Section 124A IPC — drafted by Macaulay, inserted 1890 via Special Act XVII

• Key cases: Kedar Nath Singh (1962), S.G. Vombatkere (2022), Balwant Singh (1995)

• BNS 2023: Section 152 replaces sedition; no use of the word "Rajdroh"

• Constitutional provisions involved: Articles 14 (Right to Equality), 19 (Freedom of Speech), 21 (Right to Life and Dignity)

• 22nd Law Commission recommended retaining sedition with safeguards

• UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967) — cited as harsher alternative if sedition is fully scrapped

2. Judicial Decorum in the Digital Age

Core Context & Background

India's judiciary operates under a framework of ethical standards codified through multiple instruments — the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life (1997), the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (2002, endorsed by the UN), and Supreme Court precedents like A.M. Mathur v. Pramod Kumar Gupta (1990), which warned against judges using the bench as a "pulpit" for personal views.

Latest Developments

The Chief Justice of India issued a formal clarification after oral remarks using terms like "cockroaches" and "parasites" to criticise unmeritorious litigation triggered public outrage and social media satire (including a mock "Cockroach Janta Party" movement). The controversy highlighted the Vijayabhaskar Standard (2021), which established that a court's formal opinion is expressed only through written judgments and orders — not oral observations during hearings. In Supriyo v. Union of India (2023), oral observations had misled the public about the likely ruling on same-sex unions, a further example of the gap between bench speech and final decree.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, 1997 — Item 8 prohibits public debate on political matters or pending cases

• Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (2002) — UN-endorsed framework on judicial ethics

• Chief Election Commissioner v. M.R. Vijayabhaskar (2021) — formal opinion = written judgment, not oral remarks

• National Judicial Academy — responsible for continuing judicial education

• Article 124 — appointment of Supreme Court judges; judicial independence doctrine

3. VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 — Replacing MGNREGA

Core Context & Background

MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005) has been one of India's largest social protection programmes, guaranteeing 100 days of unskilled manual work per rural household per year. It operates on a demand-driven, open-ended funding model where the Centre funds the full wage bill.

Latest Developments

The Centre released draft rules for the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, which will replace MGNREGA from July 2026. Key changes include:

The guaranteed employment has been increased from 100 to 125 days per rural household annually, with mandatory wage payment within 15 days of work completion. However, the Centre's funding shifts from open-ended to a "Normative Allocation" model based on the 16th Finance Commission's devolution formula. The largest weightage in the formula goes to GSDP Distance (42.5%) — measuring how far a State's per capita income falls below the richest State — thus ensuring poorer States receive more. Cost-sharing becomes 60:40 (Centre:States) for most States, and 90:10 for northeastern and Himalayan States. Any expenditure above the normative allocation must be borne entirely by the State.

A National Level Steering Committee (16 members, headed by the Union Rural Development Secretary) and a Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee (GRG) Council (headed by the Union Minister for Rural Development) will govern the scheme. States can also notify a 60-day agricultural pause during peak sowing and harvesting seasons.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• MGNREGA enacted in 2005; VB-G RAM G replaces it from July 2026

• Guaranteed days: raised from 100 to 125 per rural household per year

• 16th Finance Commission devolution formula used for allocation

• GSDP Distance gets highest weightage (42.5%)

• Cost-sharing: 60:40 for most States; 90:10 for NE/Himalayan States

• Yuktdhara portal — spatial planning for Gram Panchayat Plans

• PM Gati Shakti — national planning platform integration

4. Failure of the UN NPT Review Conference

Core Context & Background

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was approved by the UN General Assembly on 12 June 1968 and came into force on 5 March 1970. It is the only multilateral treaty aiming to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation, promote peaceful nuclear energy use, and advance global disarmament. The treaty recognises only five Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) — the US, Russia (formerly USSR), the UK, France, and China — as those that possessed nuclear weapons before 1 January 1967. NPT review conferences are held every five years.

Latest Developments

The 2026 NPT Review Conference at the United Nations collapsed without a consensus document — the third consecutive failure after the 2015 and 2022 conferences. The 2022 conference had failed after Russia blocked agreement over references to its occupation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. In 2026, the breakdown was triggered by a draft provision stating that Iran "can never seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons." The US accused Iran of denying IAEA access to nuclear sites after recent military strikes, while Iran demanded condemnation of US and Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear facilities. The UN Secretary-General appealed for diplomacy to reduce nuclear risks.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• NPT: approved 12 June 1968, in force 5 March 1970; 191 member states

• Five NWS: US, Russia, UK, France, China (nuclear before 1 January 1967)

• Review conferences held every 5 years; 3rd consecutive failure in 2026

• IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) — monitors NPT compliance

• India has never signed the NPT — calls it discriminatory

• India's nuclear doctrine: "No First Use" (NFU) policy

• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) — related instrument; India not a signatory

5. Major Abhilasha Barak — UN Military Gender Advocate Award

Core Context & Background

The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award was created in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs under the Department for Peace Operations. It recognises military peacekeepers who best integrate a gender perspective into peacekeeping activities and promote the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. India is one of the largest troop and police contributors to UN peacekeeping missions globally.

Latest Developments

Major Abhilasha Barak, serving with the Indian Battalion in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as Commander of the Female Engagement Team (FET), was named the 2025 recipient. She will be honoured at the UN Headquarters on 29 May — the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. India contributes 642 personnel to UNIFIL. Major Barak is also distinguished as the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army. She is India's third recipient of this award, after Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2023).

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• UNIFIL — UN Interim Force in Lebanon; India contributes 642 personnel

• UN Military Gender Advocate Award — created 2016 by Office of Military Affairs

• UNSC Resolution 1325 — Women, Peace and Security framework

• International Day of UN Peacekeepers — 29 May (observed annually)

• India's prior recipients: Major Suman Gawani (2019), Major Radhika Sen (2023)

• Major Abhilasha Barak — first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army

6. World Health Assembly's First Resolution on Stroke

Core Context & Background

The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is attended by delegations from all 194 WHO Member States and is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. Stroke is a medical emergency caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain — either due to a blockage (ischaemic stroke) or bleeding (haemorrhagic stroke).

Latest Developments

For the first time in WHO's history, the WHA passed a dedicated resolution on stroke, urging member states to designate it a public health priority and strengthen national policies across prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and long-term support. Globally, stroke affects about 12 million people annually and kills over half of them; nearly two in three survivors are left with lasting disability. Around 87% of stroke deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In India, stroke incidence is estimated at 108–172 per 1,00,000 people per year, with a one-month case fatality rate of 18–42%.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• WHA — decision-making body of WHO; meets annually in Geneva

• First-ever WHA resolution on stroke — passed in 2026

• Stroke — caused by interruption of blood flow to brain (blockage or bleeding)

• Global burden: 12 million cases annually; 87% deaths in LMICs

• India: 108–172 per 1,00,000 per year; 18–42% one-month fatality rate

• Major risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, tobacco, obesity, air pollution, alcohol

7. Road Dust as a Pollution Threat

Core Context & Background

India's urban air quality crisis has long been attributed primarily to vehicular tailpipe emissions, industrial pollution, and crop stubble burning. However, recent scientific research has highlighted road dust — the resuspension of silt, soil, and construction debris from road surfaces — as an equally critical and often underestimated contributor to PM2.5 levels in Indian cities, particularly Delhi.

Latest Developments

Studies show that road dust contains toxic heavy metals from brake pad and engine wear — including lead, cadmium, and nickel — that enter the bloodstream through inhalation. It is linked to COPD aggravation, persistent ground-level smog, and reduced visibility. Key challenges include ineffective anti-smog guns (which only temporarily suppress dust), mechanical sweepers without vacuum seals (which scatter fine particles), illegal parking blocking cleaning operations, and Delhi's naturally dry geography. Solutions proposed include three-tier vegetative barriers along roads, re-engineered retaining kerbs, drip irrigation replacing open water hoses on medians, and GPS-tracked sweeper operations.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• PM2.5 — particulate matter ≤2.5 micrometres; deepest lung penetration

• Sources of road dust: soil, construction debris, brake pads (lead, cadmium, nickel)

• COPD — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; aggravated by fine mineral dust

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) — India's framework to reduce air pollution

• Anti-smog guns, mechanical sweepers — current interventions with limitations

• Yuktdhara, PM Gati Shakti — spatial planning tools relevant to urban infrastructure

8. Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi

Core Context & Background

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a non-military strategic coalition of India, the United States, Australia, and Japan. It first emerged informally in 2004 as a humanitarian coordination group after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, was formally institutionalised in 2007 by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, revived in 2017, and elevated to a Leaders' Summit format in March 2021. It operates through multiple working groups on climate, critical technologies, cybersecurity, health security, infrastructure, and space.

Latest Developments

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM) at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Australia's Foreign Minister affirmed the shared vision for a "free and open Indo-Pacific." Key Quad initiatives include the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), the Quad STEM Fellowship (100 graduate students annually, 25 per nation), and a Unified Counter-Terrorism Grid that shares intelligence on terror financing.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• Quad members: India, USA, Australia, Japan

• Genesis: Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004 → Manila 2007 → revived 2017 → Leaders' Summit 2021

• IPMDA — Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (launched Tokyo Summit 2022)

• Quad STEM Fellowship — 100 graduate students annually at US universities

• UNSC Resolution 1325 link — Quad's gender-inclusive security framework

• FATF — Financial Action Task Force; referenced in Quad counter-terror grid

• Hyderabad House, New Delhi — venue for high-level diplomatic meetings

9. BRICS 2026 — India's Chairship and Tourism Working Group

Core Context & Background

BRICS is a plurilateral alliance of major emerging economies, originally formed as BRIC in 2006 (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and expanded to include South Africa in 2010. India holds the BRICS Chairship in 2026, hosting the 18th BRICS Summit. India's theme is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."

Latest Developments

India hosted the inaugural BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in virtual format, focused on establishing an AI-integrated, digitized, and sustainable intra-BRICS travel corridor. Key priorities include AI-driven visitor advisory systems, low-carbon tourism, hospitality skilling, and streamlined visa facilitation. The virtual meeting serves as the foundation for the 2nd TWG meeting and a Quad Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur, where a formal joint declaration will be finalised (the "Jaipur Roadmap").

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• BRICS formed as BRIC (2006); South Africa added (2010); expanded further (2024 onward)

• India's BRICS Chairship 2026 — 18th BRICS Summit

• Theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" (BRICS acronym)

• BRICS logo 2026: coloured petals (member nations' flags) + "Namaste" gesture

• BRICS TWG — Tourism Working Group; inaugurated under India's Chairship

• New BRICS members (2024): Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE

10. Wi-Fi 7 Manufacturing in India

Core Context & Background

Wi-Fi 7, formally designated IEEE 802.11be (Extremely High Throughput or EHT), is the latest generation of wireless communication technology. While Wi-Fi 6 focused on managing high device density, Wi-Fi 7 maximises raw data speed, eliminates network congestion, and delivers ultra-low latency.

Latest Developments

Global networking brand TP-Link announced the commencement of local manufacturing of Wi-Fi 7 products in India, beginning with enterprise access points. Wi-Fi 7 key innovations include 320 MHz ultra-wide channels on the 6 GHz band, 4K-QAM (4096-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, packing 12 bits per symbol), Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allowing simultaneous multi-band transmission, and Preamble Puncturing to bypass interference in part of a channel. It achieves a theoretical maximum speed of 46 Gbps — 4.8 times faster than Wi-Fi 6 — and 16×16 MU-MIMO for massive spatial multiplexing. It utilises India's newly delicensed 5925–6425 MHz spectrum.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• Wi-Fi 7 = IEEE 802.11be = Extremely High Throughput (EHT)

• Maximum theoretical speed: 46 Gbps (4.8× faster than Wi-Fi 6)

• Key tech: 320 MHz channels, 4K-QAM, MLO, Preamble Puncturing, 16×16 MU-MIMO

• India delicensed 5925–6425 MHz spectrum for Wi-Fi 7

• MU-MIMO — Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output; enables simultaneous multi-device communication

• Relevant to: Digital India, BharatNet, Smart Cities Mission

11. ICMR's Medical Innovations Patent Mitra (I2I Connect)

Core Context & Background

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is India's apex body for biomedical research, functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India has historically been dependent on imported medical technologies for diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices. Strengthening indigenous innovation and technology transfer is a key objective under the Make in India and Viksit Bharat 2047 frameworks.

Latest Developments

ICMR launched the Medical Innovations Patent Mitra: Innovators-to-Industry (I2I) Connect, described as India's largest biomedical innovation and technology transfer platform. It bridges research institutions and industry for commercialisation of indigenous healthcare technologies. Over 100 Indian technologies were showcased, including vaccines and diagnostics for typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese Encephalitis, Mpox, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), and Chandipura virus. A companion Indian Biomedical Patent Landscape Report and Technology Compendium were also released.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• ICMR — apex biomedical research body; under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

• Patent Mitra I2I Connect — India's largest biomedical technology transfer platform

• Diseases covered: typhoid, TB, Japanese Encephalitis, Mpox, KFD, Chandipura virus

• NIRF — National Institutional Ranking Framework; referenced for institutional quality

• Viksit Bharat 2047 and Make in India — overarching policy frameworks

• Public-Private Partnership model in biomedical innovation

12. PM-AJAY Portal and Mobile App

Core Context & Background

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored welfare scheme launched in FY 2021-22 by consolidating three earlier schemes: Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY). It is administered by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Latest Developments

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the centralised PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile Application. The portal functions as a Management Information System (MIS) to track financial allocations and fund flows in real time. The mobile app allows field inspectors to upload geo-tagged, time-stamped site photographs to validate construction milestones before fund releases. The scheme targets SC-dominated villages (SC population above 40%, total population 500+) with infrastructure grants of ₹2 lakh per village and ₹1 lakh for administrative costs, monitored against 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 developmental domains.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

• PM-AJAY launched FY 2021-22; consolidates PMAGY + SCA to SCSP + BJRCY

• Nodal Ministry: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment

• Target: SC-dominated villages with SC population >40%

• 50 indicators across 10 domains (water, sanitation, literacy, clean fuel, financial inclusion, etc.)

• NIRF — National Institutional Ranking Framework; hostels funded in NIRF-ranked institutions

• Beneficiaries: SC households Below Poverty Line (BPL)