CURRENT AFFAIRS

U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term has triggered sweeping geopolitical and economic disruptions, with his aggressive trade and foreign policies paradoxically strengthening China’s global economic position.

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh has urged the Centre to raise import duty on foreign apples from 50% to 100% and impose a seasonal ban on imports from July to November to protect nearly 2.5 lakh apple farmers. Apples account for about 80% of the state’s fruit output.

The Kerala High Court has set aside consumer proceedings against actor Mohanlal, holding that a brand ambassador cannot be held liable for a company’s alleged unfair trade practices unless there is a clear, direct link between the endorsement and the consumer’s transaction.

The Jharkhand government has officially notified the Jharkhand PESA Rules, 2025. With this, a 25-year long wait since the formation of the state has finally ended.

According to the Defense Secretary, European Union leaders António Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) have been invited as special guests to India's 77th Republic Day celebrations this year (2026).

The Supreme Court of India has recently urged the Union Law Secretary to consider measures to prevent the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, especially in cases involving consensual relationships between adolescents.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified revised regulations aimed at tackling caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions, introducing stronger compliance requirements, clearer institutional responsibility, and enforceable penalties for non-compliance.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued the NPS Vatsalya Scheme Guidelines, 2025, operationalising a new contributory pension framework aimed exclusively at minors, with the objective of strengthening long-term financial security from an early age.

The Supreme Court of India delivered a split verdict on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, a provision introduced through the 2018 Amendment. Section 17A mandates prior approval/sanction before initiating any inquiry or investigation against public servants for decisions taken in the discharge of official duties.