Current Affairs – February 09, 2026

{GS2 – Polity} Application of the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) in Online News **

• Context (IE): The Supreme Court of India is examining whether the “Right to be Forgotten” (RTBF) can require the removal of accurate news reports from the internet.

• The court will decide on the conflict between the Right to Privacy under Article 21 and Freedom of the Press under Article 19.

About Right to Be Forgotten (RTBF)

• The Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) allows individuals to have personal information removed from public platforms when it is outdated, irrelevant, or harmful.
• Constitutional Basis: The Supreme Court recognised RTBF as an intrinsic part of the Right to Privacy under Article 21 in the K.S. Puttaswamy judgment (2017).
• Global Standard: The concept mirrors the “Right to Erasure” in the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Scope Limitation: The Court clarified that RTBF is not an absolute right; it must yield when the information serves a larger public interest.
• Legal Vacuum: India currently lacks a specific statutory law on RTBF, forcing courts to decide on petitions on a discretionary, case-by-case basis.
  • Transitional Framework: Although the DPDP Act, 2023, has been enacted, enforcement of the “Right to Erasure” is still not operationalised.
• Statutory Ambiguity: The DPDP Act, 2023, grants a “Right to Erasure” (Section 12), but its applicability to public records like news archives is legally unsettled.
• Regulatory Gap: The IT Rules, 2021, do not legally empower intermediaries (like Google) to adjudicate on complex claims of historical truth.

Arguments in Favour of Applying RTBF in Online News

• Reformative Justice: Permanent digital records undermine rehabilitation, preventing acquitted individuals from reintegrating into society.
• Informational Control: The Puttaswamy verdict empowers citizens to suppress “irrelevant” information to safeguard their dignity.
• Profile Mitigation: RTBF prevents algorithms from creating unfair “digital profiles” that might deny jobs based on resolved, old incidents.
• Power Symmetry: It protects reputation from search engines that often prioritise sensationalism over factual accuracy.

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Arguments Against Applying RTBF in Online News

• Press Freedom: Mandating the removal of factual news violates the media’s Freedom of Speech under Article 19(1)(a).
• Historical Integrity: Erasing news archives distorts the “public record”, creating a sanitised version of history that obscures inconvenient truths.
• Chilling Effect: Frequent takedown orders may deter journalists from reporting on ongoing investigations because of the fear of future litigation.
• Technological Futility: Complete erasure is practically impossible due to archiving services; suppression attempts often trigger the “Streisand Effect” (drawing more attention to hidden content).

{GS2 – IR} PM Modi’s Official Visit to Malaysia **

• Context (TH): PM Narendra Modi recently concluded a two-day official visit to Malaysia to further strengthen the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Key Outcomes of PM Modi’s Visit to Malaysia

Defence and Security Cooperation

• Fleet Maintenance: India and Malaysia established the Su-30 Forum to exchange technical data and maintenance expertise for their joint Sukhoi-30 fleets.
• Strategic Planning: The Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) established the Strategic Affairs Working Group (SAWG) to oversee long-term defence planning.
• Security Framework: Both nations institutionalised the Malaysia-India Security Dialogue and signed a new MoU on Anti-Corruption to combat transnational crime and financial fraud.
• Sensitive Cooperation: An Exchange of Notes on National Security was finalised to formalise cooperation on sensitive matters.

Economy and Technology Partnership

• Digital Governance: The Malaysia-India Digital Council (MIDC) framework was formalised to advance policy cooperation in AI, Fintech, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Payment Integration: India and Malaysia finalised the agreement to link UPI with Malaysia’s PayNet to enable seamless cross-border payments for tourists and businesses.
• Currency Settlement: Both sides agreed to settle trade in local currencies (INR and Malaysian ringgit) to reduce dependence on foreign exchange.
• Chip Collaboration: An Exchange of Notes linked IIT-Madras with the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia to integrate semiconductor supply chains.

Social, Cultural and Welfare Engagement

• Worker Security: ESIC and PERKESO signed an agreement to legally guarantee social security benefits for Indian workers in Malaysia.
• Cultural Studies: Universiti Malaya established a permanent Thiruvalluvar Centre for Indian Studies to promote research on the Tamil language.
• Creative Industry: An Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement allows joint film production with simplified regulatory and legal clearances.
• Health Regulation: An Exchange of Notes on Healthcare formalises cooperation in drug regulation and pharmacopoeia recognition.
• Disaster Resilience: A new MoU on Disaster Management was signed to facilitate the sharing of expertise in search-and-rescue operations.
• Wildlife Conservation: Malaysia ratified the Framework Agreement to become a founding member of the India-led International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

Overview of India-Malaysia Bilateral Relations

• Geostrategic Role: Malaysia is a crucial “pivot state” in India’s Act East Policy due to its location at the strategic Strait of Malacca and South China Sea.
• Partnership Status: Bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, reflecting deep political and security trust.
• Trade Scale: Bilateral trade reached $19.5 billion in FY 2024-25, making Malaysia India’s third-largest trading partner in ASEAN.
• Trade Asymmetry: The trade balance remains heavily in Malaysia’s favour due to India’s large imports of palm oil and electronics.
  • Export Basket: Petroleum products, agricultural produce, organic chemicals, and aluminium.
  • Import Basket: Palm oil, mineral fuels, and electrical machinery.
• Defence Framework: The Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) serves as the apex body guiding defence engagements.
  • Joint Exercises: The armed forces regularly conduct Harimau Shakti (Army), Samudra Laksamana (Navy), and Udar Shakti (Air Force).
• Diaspora Bridge: Malaysia hosts the world’s second-largest Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) community (excluding NRIs) after the USA.
• Strategic Convergence: Both nations align on counter-terrorism, UNCLOS adherence in the Indo-Pacific, and Global South solidarity.
• Friction Points: Relations face occasional irritants over Zakir Naik’s extradition, palm oil price volatility, and Malaysia’s economic proximity to China.

Read More > What is ASEAN? ASEAN-India Relations

{GS3 – IE} RBI Proposes Compensation for Digital Fraud Victims **

• Context (TH): The Reserve Bank of India has proposed a compensation framework for victims of small-value digital frauds up to ₹25,000.

• Target Scope: It specifically targets fraud below ₹50,000, which accounts for approximately 65% of all digital fraud cases.
• Compensation Quantum: Victims are eligible for compensation of up to ₹25,000 or 85% of the loss, whichever is lower.
• Frequency Cap: The scheme offers a one-time relief per customer to discourage habitual negligence.
• Eligibility Criteria: Unlike previous rules, it covers inadvertent credential sharing (negligence), provided the transaction was not mala fide.
• Funding Mechanism: Payouts will be sourced from the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund, which currently holds a surplus of ~₹85,000 crore.
• Liability Sharing: The model enforces a “skin in the game” approach to distribute the financial burden
  • Customers: Absorb 15% of the loss (deductible) to ensure continued vigilance.
  • Banks: Contribute a proposed share (~15%) to incentivise robust security protocols.
  • RBI: Covers the residual balance (~70%) via the DEA Fund, subject to the ₹25,000 cap.

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About Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund

• Statutory Basis: RBI established the DEA Fund in 2014 under Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Corpus Source: Banks must transfer the credit balance of any account remaining inoperative or unclaimed for 10 years or more to this fund.
• Claimant Rights: The transfer to the DEA Fund does not extinguish the depositor’s right to reclaim their funds with applicable interest.
• Interest Accrual: RBI pays interest on these unclaimed amounts, which banks must pass on to the depositor upon final settlement.
• Utilisation Scope: Fund primarily supports depositor awareness programmes and is proposed to fund compensation for small-value digital frauds.
• Discovery Mechanism: RBI launched the centralised UDGAM portal to enable public search of unclaimed deposits across participating banks.

Read More> Cybercrimes in India

{GS3 – IE} Revised Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Draft *

• Context (TH): India removed the proposed fuel-efficiency concession for small cars in the revised Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) draft, tightening emission norms from April 2027.

About Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE)

• CAFE specifies average fuel efficiency targets for all passenger vehicles sold by a manufacturer.
• The norms aim to decrease India’s oil imports and lower carbon emissions while promoting the use of electric, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles.
• Applicable to M1 passenger cars, which have up to nine seats and weigh no more than 3,500 Kg.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) enforces compliance under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, and it was first notified in 2017.
• Manufacturers can earn, trade, or carry forward CAFE credits to meet emission targets.

CAFE-III Norms

• It will be applied from FY28 to FY32, replacing the current CAFE-II norms.
• It uses the new formula 0.002 × (W – 1170) + c, where the constant c decreases every year (FY28: 3.7264 → FY32: 3.0139), making targets tighter.

Changes Made in the New Draft

• Small-Car Exemption Removed: The proposed fuel-efficiency relaxation for petrol cars weighing ≤909 kg was withdrawn to prevent firm-specific advantages and ensure uniform compliance pressure.
• Weight Bias Curbed: The revised draft reduces over-compensation linked to vehicle weight, narrowing the gap in permissible emission targets between light and heavy vehicle fleets.
• Steeper Reduction Path: Emission norms now follow a significantly sharper decline trajectory, compelling manufacturers to deliver real-world efficiency gains rather than paper compliance.

{GS3 – Agri} National Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission

• Context (PIB): A nationwide Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission was launched from the Food Legumes Research Centre (FLRP), Madhya Pradesh, under the chairmanship of the Union Agriculture Minister.

Core Features of the Pulses Mission

• Seed-to-Market Focus: Mission adopts an end-to-end value chain approach covering seed research, on-farm practices, assured procurement, processing, and organised market access.
• Cluster Model: Pulses cultivation is organised in geographically contiguous clusters to enable collective input supply, common agronomy practices and direct linkage with processors and markets.
• Seed Reforms: Seed release and distribution are decentralised to states and farmer networks, ensuring location-specific varieties and faster dissemination.
• Research–Farmer Linkage: The FLRP campus integrates ICAR–ICARDA research directly with farmers, enabling rapid adoption of high-yielding and disease-resistant pulse varieties.
• Value Addition Orientation: Mission explicitly shifts focus from raw pulses to protein-rich value-added products, encouraging local processing and branding.

Key Challenges Faced

• Declining Acreage: Area under pulses fell from 29.3 million ha (2016–17) to ~27.4 million ha (2023–24).
• Low Productivity: Average pulses yield in India remains around 850–900 kg/ha, far below the global average of 1,200–1,300 kg/ha, reflecting rain-fed dependence and input gaps (FAO).
• Import Dependence: India imported ~2.8–3 million tonnes of pulses annually (2022–24), exposing domestic markets to global price volatility and forex outflows (DGFT data).
• Price Volatility: In bumper harvest years, market prices of chana and tur often fall 20–30% below MSP, discouraging farmers despite official price support.
• Processing Deficit: Less than 10% of pulse production is processed near farm gates, forcing long-distance transport and reducing farmers’ share in consumer prices.

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Roadmap for Pulses Self-Reliance

• Pulse Mills Expansion: Establish 1,000 pulse mills nationwide with up to ₹25 lakh subsidy per unit, enabling decentralised processing, reduced transport costs and local employment creation.
• Farmer Incentives: Farmers in identified clusters will receive quality seed kits and ₹10,000 per hectare assistance for model farming to encourage pulses acreage and technology adoption.
• Productivity Enhancement: Focused R&D on chickpea, lentil, pigeon pea, urad and moong through early-maturing and disease-resistant varieties to raise yields and reduce climate risk.
• Centre–State Coordination: States will prepare crop- and region-specific pulses roadmaps aligned with agro-climatic needs, strengthening cooperative federalism in agriculture.

Read More> Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

{GS3 – Envi} Rat-Hole Mining in Meghalaya **

• Context (IE): 27 workers died in an explosion at an illegal rat-hole mine in Thangkso, East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, triggering renewed enforcement action.

• The practice continues despite an NGT ban imposed in 2014 and reiterated in 2015.

Why it Continues Despite the Ban?

• Economic Compulsion: Rat-hole mining offers daily wages of ₹800–1,200, nearly 2–3 times higher than average MGNREGA wages in Meghalaya (~₹250/day).
• Thin Coal Geology: Over 90% of coal seams in Meghalaya are <2 metres thick, making mechanised mining unviable and sustaining dependence on manual rat-hole methods.
• Weak Enforcement: Meghalaya police recorded 477 violations of the NGT ban between 2014–2018, reflecting low deterrence and limited prosecutions.
• Political–Bureaucratic Nexus: Despite the ban, illegal coal trade persisted; Meghalaya continued exporting coal worth ₹700+ crore annually (pre-2019), indicating systemic regulatory capture.
• Migrant Labour Supply: In major accidents, 60–70% of deceased miners were migrants from Jharkhand, Assam and neighbouring states, highlighting distress-driven labour inflow.

Measures Taken to Stop Illegal Rat-Hole Mining

• Criminal Enforcement: After major accidents, FIRs have been registered for culpable homicide, violations of the MMDR Act and the Explosive Substances Act, leading to arrests of mine owners and operators.
• High Court Monitoring: The Meghalaya High Court took suo motu cognisance and appointed the Justice (Retd) B.P. Katakey Committee (2022) to continuously monitor illegal coal mining.
• Judicial Prohibition: The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014 as unscientific and unsafe, a prohibition later upheld by the Supreme Court.

Read More > Rat-Hole Mining

{Prelims – Geo} Sharda River Corridor Project

• Context (TOI): The Uttarakhand government launched the Sharda River Corridor, a major infrastructure and tourism initiative to transform the Sharda (Kali) riverfront.
• It includes the redevelopment of Sharda Ghat, a city drainage system, a heliport at Banbasa, and the Kiroda Nala Ecological Corridor to restore biodiversity.

About Sharda River

• It originates near Kalapani in Uttarakhand, on the eastern slopes of the Nanda Devi massif in the Great Himalayas, at an elevation of 3,600 metres.
• It is called the Kali River in its upper course and the Mahakali in Nepal. It becomes the Sharda River after reaching the plains at Banbasa (Uttarakhand).
• Major Tributaries: Includes the Dhauliganga (East), Goriganga, Sarju, and Ladhiya on the Indian side, and the Chameliya and Ramgun in Nepal.
• Confluence: The Sharda River joins the Ghaghara River (left-bank tributary of the Ganges) near Chauka Ghat in Uttar Pradesh.
• International Boundary: The Sugauli Treaty (1816) defined the Kali River as the western boundary between India and Nepal.
• Hydroelectric Projects: The river hosts the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, a bilateral India-Nepal initiative governed by the 1996 Mahakali Treaty.
• Ecological Significance: The river flows through Dudhwa National Park, providing critical habitat for the endangered Mahseer fish and the Gangetic dolphins.

{Prelims – IR} Chabahar Port

• Context (TH): The Government of India informed Parliament that it has fully paid its $120 million commitment towards developing Iran’s Chabahar Port.

• Chabahar Port is located at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province, near Pakistan’s China-operated Gwadar Port.
• It is Iran’s only oceanic and first deepwater port, offering direct access to global maritime trade routes.
• Port Terminals: It comprises two main terminals—
  • Shahid Kalantari: This terminal was developed in the 1980s to diversify Iran’s trade routes away from the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Shahid Beheshti: It is developed and operated by India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to facilitate trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Connectivity: The port serves as the maritime gateway for the INSTC and connects to the India-built Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan, enabling access to Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.
• India’s Utility: The port provides India with a secure, direct trade route to Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
• Significance: The port is considered a critical “Diamond” in India’s Necklace of Diamonds strategy, directly countering China’s “String of Pearls” influence (particularly Gwadar Port).

Read More > Chabahar Port

{Prelims – Disease} Avian Influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu) *

• Context (DTE): Avian Influenza (H5N1) has resurfaced in Tamil Nadu, causing more than 1,000 crows to die in Chennai.

• Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A viruses, primarily affecting domestic poultry and wild birds.
• The viruses are classified by two surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N), which regulate entry into and exit from host cells.
• Strains are categorised as Low Pathogenic (LPAI), causing mild symptoms, and Highly Pathogenic (HPAI), which spreads rapidly and causes high mortality.

About H5N1

• The H5N1 subtype is an HPAI virus that causes severe disease and high mortality in poultry.
• It undergoes frequent mutations through antigenic drift (small changes) and antigenic shift (major changes), increasing the risk of cross-species transmission.
• The virus primarily affects birds but can also infect mammals such as tigers, seals, minks, & dairy cows.
• Human infection: Rare but with a high fatality rate of approximately 60%; symptoms include severe respiratory distress and often progress rapidly to viral pneumonia.
• Global Spread: Wild aquatic birds are natural reservoirs of the virus, spreading it along migratory routes.
• Management: Involves culling infected bird populations, maintaining strict biosecurity, and administering antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to humans.
• Framework in India: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) implements the National Action Plan, which mandates surveillance and compensation for culled birds.
  • The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal serves as the nodal laboratory for the definitive diagnosis of H5N1.
• International Oversight: The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the WHO collaborate to monitor outbreaks and update global vaccine compositions.

{Prelims – Indices} Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 *

• Context (PIB): The Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 report has been released by the Portulans Institute, an independent, non-profit research institute in Washington, DC.

• The report assesses the network-based readiness of 127 economies using 53 indicators across four pillars —Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
• Global Leaders: The United States topped the list, followed by Finland and Singapore, highlighting their dominance in digital readiness.
• India’s Position: India ranked 45^th globally, improving by 4 positions from 2024. It ranked 1^st in AI scientific publications, annual telecom investment, ICT services exports, and E-commerce legislation.

• Income Benchmark: The NRI 2025 report notes that India’s network readiness exceeds income-level expectations, placing it second among lower-middle-income countries.
• Key Drivers: The report attributes India’s rise to affordable mobile data, large-scale digital infrastructure projects like 5G rollout, and a thriving AI talent pool.

{Prelims – Initiatives} Administrative Scorecards for Union Secretaries *

• Context (IE): The Cabinet Secretariat introduced ‘administrative scorecards’ for the first time to assess the performance and efficiency of Union Secretaries.

• Objective: To eliminate administrative delays and enhance accountability, in line with the “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” vision.
• Assessment Framework: The system measures performance on a 100-mark scale across parameters like file disposal, scheme expenditure, and grievance redressal.
• Weighted Metric: The Secretariat assigns the highest weightage (20%) to file disposal to ensure prompt decision-making within departments.
• Negative Marking: The framework incorporates negative marks for lapses such as excessive foreign visit expenditure and delayed payments to MSMEs.
• Discretionary Marks: The Cabinet Secretary may award discretionary marks for exceptional contributions or innovative work beyond routine duties.
• Benchmarking: This mechanism enables departments to compare current performance with historical data and with other ministries.
• Significance: The reform shifts qualitative reporting to quantitative measures, moving bureaucracy towards performance-based management.