Daily Current Affairs — 26 August 2025
7 articles • UPSC Prelims & Mains
Global Shift Towards Younger Forests
Context A recent study highlights a global shift towards younger forests, disrupting the carbon balance as older, carbon-rich forests decline. Importance of Forest Age Young Forests grow rapidly and can absorb up to 20 times more CO₂ than older forests, especially less than 20 years old. However, they store much less carbon compared to old-growth forests.
Call For India to Transform Into ‘a product nation’
Context There is a growing consensus that India must transition from being primarily a service-driven economy to a product nation amid US punitive tariff action. Way Ahead India must enhance RD investment, strengthen IP protection, and nurture deep-tech talent to build globally competitive products. Greater access to risk capital, world-class infrastructure, and innovation clusters is essential.
Understanding India’s Internal Diasporas
Context The concept of being a ‘foreigner or videshi’ typically reserved for international migrants, is increasingly used by internal migrants in India to describe their experience of cultural displacement. Defining Diaspora The term ‘diaspora’ has become central in policy and academic discussions after the High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora published its report in 2001–02. It has been defined through national borders, and evokes images of overseas communities — Punjabis in Canada, Tami
30% of MPs and MLAs Face Serious Criminal Cases
Context An analysis of MPs and MLAs across India shows that 31% of Members of Parliament (MPs) and 29% of Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) have declared serious criminal charges against them. Criminalisation of politics Criminalisation of politics refers to the growing participation of individuals with criminal backgrounds in electoral politics. A serious criminal charge includes offences where the maximum punishment is five years or more, or those that are non-bailable.
Women Leading India’s Economic Transformation Story
In News The Ministry of Labour and Employment has emphasized that Women’s employment rate in India has nearly doubled between 2017-18 to 2023-24. Recent Trend in Women’s Labour Participation As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 the women’s employment rate (WPR) has increased from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24, and unemployment dropping from 5.6% to 3.2%. Rural female employment surged by 96%, and urban by 43%.
India- Fiji Islands Relation
Context India and Fiji unveiled initiatives to bolster defence and maritime security cooperation, including the creation of a Defence Attache post at the High Commission of India in Suva, which will also cover the Pacific Islands. India-Fiji Ties Historical Relations: The India-Fiji relations began in 1879. Over the next four decades, approximately 60,553 Indians were brought to work on sugarcane plantations, laying the foundation for a vibrant Indian diaspora known as Girmitiyas.
Commercial & Prohibited Speeches Not Part of Fundamental Rights: SC
In News The Supreme Court of India recently clarified that commercial and prohibited speeches do not enjoy protection under the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression (Article 19(1)(a)). Supreme Court’s Key Observations Commercial speech: E.g., advertisements, profit-driven promotions do not automatically get the same fundamental protection as political or social speech. Prohibited/Hate Speech: Expressions promoting enmity, hatred, or violence against any group based on inherent c