UPSC Current Affairs
Tech Regulations, Space Milestones, and Economic Resiliency Dominate the Day
10 stories · about 5 min read · quiz and Mains question at the end
MeitY Warns Meta Over Instagram Ads Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a stern notice to Meta, ordering it to immediately disable all advertisements and content promoting or facilitating access to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on Instagram. The Ministry has demanded a detailed compliance report and explanation within seven days. This emphasizes India's tightening regulatory grip on intermediary liability and child protection online.
ISRO Successfully Conducts First SOLVE Ground Test for Gaganyaan
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the first ground test of 'SOLVE', a solid motor-based test platform. This platform is designed to carry out Integrated Parachute Tests to validate the complex deceleration and recovery system of the Gaganyaan Crew Module under simulated flight conditions. Achieving a flawless deceleration mechanism is a critical safety milestone before India's first manned space flight.
Government Raises Concerns Over WhatsApp's Proposed Username Feature
The Indian government has raised cybersecurity concerns over WhatsApp's upcoming feature that will allow users to establish custom usernames instead of sharing phone numbers. Authorities worry that this configuration could ease identity spoofing, facilitate impersonation of genuine individuals or public institutions, and pose severe hurdles to tracking cybercriminals. The government is engaging with the messaging platform to review necessary accountability safeguards before a nationwide rollout.
Supreme Court Warns Against Using AI-Fabricated Precedents in Courts
The Supreme Court of India recently highlighted serious ethical risks regarding the deployment of Artificial Intelligence in legal proceedings, warning that presenting AI-fabricated judicial precedents to a bench constitutes criminal misconduct. While AI tools can simplify clerical research, generative models are prone to hallucinations, generating non-existent case laws. The apex court emphasized that technology should assist, not subvert, the integrity of the justice delivery system.
GST Completes Nine Years Amid Divergent Trends of Import Growth and Lagging Domestic Sales
Marking nine years of implementation on July 1, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) recorded a 14% year-on-year revenue increase in June 2026. However, economic experts highlight structural vulnerabilities, pointing out that much of the buoyancy is driven by imported inflation and rising taxes on imports, while domestic sales momentum has softened. Longstanding systemic issues like complex input tax credit (ITC) systems, multiple state registrations, and the inverted duty structure still require resolution.
India's Services PMI Slumps to a 17-Month Low of 57.4 in June 2026
India’s Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped to a 17-month low of 57.4 in June 2026, indicating a deceleration in domestic demand and business activity. While any score above 50 represents economic expansion, the visible loss of momentum reflects tougher domestic market conditions, fierce competition, and rising input costs. Economists suggest that while international export demand remains healthy, the domestic cooling could potentially slow down employment generation within the services sector.
Odisha Plans Rs 9,000 Crore Disaster-Resilient Power Grid Along Coastal Belt
To counter the frequent disruptions caused by severe cyclonic storms, the Government of Odisha has designed a comprehensive master plan to establish a disaster-resilient power transmission grid along its 575-km coastline. The state has formally requested over Rs 9,000 crore in financial assistance from the Central Government to fund the project, which involves cabling electricity lines underground and deploying smart automation systems. This initiative aims to protect critical power supply lines from catastrophic wind damage.
International Panel Urges Multilateral Coordination Against Unchecked AI Advancements
The Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI has warned global policymakers against letting generative artificial intelligence develop without structured regulatory guardrails. While celebrating AI's potential to accelerate scientific discoveries, the panel pointed out high-consequence threats including systemic bias, automated misinformation campaigns, and deepfakes. It recommended that sovereign states coordinate on real-time verification standards and ethical AI development frameworks.
Renowned Pandavani Folk Icon Teejan Bai Passes Away at 69
Legendary Pandavani singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai has passed away at the age of 69. Hailing from Chhattisgarh, she was celebrated globally for her expressive, energetic storytelling style of the Mahabharata, accompanied by her iconic tambura. She broke rigid patriarchal traditions to bring this regional tribal art form to international stages, leaving an extraordinary legacy in India's cultural history.
India Secures Energy Buffer with 80 Days of Strategic Crude Storage
Amid heightened geopolitical turbulence in critical shipping corridors, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri announced that India currently maintains a robust crude oil inventory sufficient to meet national demand for 76 to 80 days. This buffer includes crude reserves stored in national Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs), commercial ports, refineries, and pipelines. Elevating India's storage reserves is central to mitigating supply shocks stemming from disruptions in maritime choke points.
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