UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 12 June 2026

Strict Enforcement of PCPNDT Act Needed: SC

Context

The Supreme Court underscored the need for strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.

About

It voiced concern over the persistent societal preference for male children and the continued practice of sex-selective measures rooted in deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes.

While acknowledging the progress made in recent years, the court noted that significant challenges remain, with several states continuing to report sex ratios at birth below the national average.

India’s Care Economy: Recognising the Invisible Foundation of Development

Context

The Supreme Court's 2026 judgment recognising homemakers as "nation builders" and assigning a minimum value of ₹30,000 per month to unpaid domestic care work has brought renewed attention to India's care economy.

What is the Care Economy?

The care economy refers to all paid and unpaid activities related to the care of children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities etc.

Care work forms a critical pillar of human development, labour productivity, and social welfare systems in modern economies.

According to the International Labour Organisation, increasing investments in the care services sector have the potential to generate 475 million jobs globally by 2030.

Declining Fertility Rate in India

Context

For decades, Indian policymakers have encouraged population control, however, recently India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has now dropped to 1.9.

TFR as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2024

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime assuming she lives through her reproductive years (15-49 years), has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1.

Replacement rate is the number of child births a woman must go through to keep the population constant from one generation to the next without migration.

R&D Underspending in India

Context

India's low spending on Research \& Development (R\&D) is not due to a single factor; it is the outcome of systemic, historical, financial, and cultural factors interacting with each other.

Reasons for Low R\&D Spending

Large Domestic Market and Limited Competitive Pressure: India's vast domestic market allows firms to grow without facing intense global competition. This reduces incentives to invest in risky and expensive frontier innovation.

Historical Legacy of Colonial De-industrialisation: Colonial policies weakened indigenous manufacturing capabilities and encouraged a trading-oriented business culture. This historical trajectory reduced emphasis on innovation-driven manufacturing.

India’s Textile Industry Weaves a New Growth Story

Context

The Union Minister of Textiles, highlighted the achievements of India's textile sector emphasizing its transformation into a globally competitive, innovation-driven and employment-intensive industry.

Textile Sector of India

Share in Domestic Trade: The domestic apparel & textile industry in India contributes approx. 2.3 % to the country’s GDP,13% to industrial production and 12% to exports.

It has expanded to nearly USD 190 billion in 2025-26.

News In Short 12-06-2026

Context

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is likely to be withdrawn from almost the entire Northeast by 2027, except for one or two States.

What is AFSPA?

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 empowers the armed forces to operate in areas declared as “disturbed areas”.

It grants special powers to security forces to maintain public order and combat insurgency.