UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 20 January 2026

IMEC’s Relevance to India and its Chokepoints

Context

The current reciprocal tariff policies and protectionism by the US is a bad sign for the development of a multi-state, multimodal transport and trade corridor like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

About

For almost all the participating nations except the US, IMEC does not represent a geopolitical contest.

Instead, it serves as economic insurance to future-proof global trade in an era marked by supply-chain shocks, geopolitical fragmentation, and climate stress.

Supreme Court Directions on Student Suicides and HEI Functioning

In News

The Supreme Court of India has issued directions to Central and State governments under Article 142 on Student Suicides and Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Functioning.

Major Issues Highlighted by Supreme Court

Rapid massification and privatization of higher education: India now ranks second globally in student enrolment, has led to student distress, deaths, chronic faculty vacancies, and exploitation.

Student mental health: The Supreme Court noted an epidemic of student suicides, with stressors including rigid attendance policies, overburdened curricula, exam pressures, faculty shortages, reliance on guest faculty, and non-transparent placement processes.

Medical and engineering students face extreme workload and exploitative academic culture.

Child Trafficking in India

Context

Child trafficking continues to be a grave human rights challenge in India, despite a robust constitutional framework and multiple statutory protections.

What is Child Trafficking?

The Palermo Protocol (UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children), 2000 defines child trafficking as ‘the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation.’

Section 143 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 defines trafficking as; recruitment, transportation, harbouring, transfer or receipt of persons for exploitation.