World Inequality Report 2026

• This is the 3rd edition of the report after 2018 and 2022, prepared by the World Inequality Lab.

Key Findings of the Report:

• Global Wealth Concentration: Top 1% control 37% and top 10% share 75% of all global wealth.
• India: Top 1% holds about 40% and top 10% hold around 65% of total wealth.
• Global Income Concentration: Top 10% share 53% of global income.
• India: Top 1% earns around 23% and top 10% capture 58% of national income.
• Wealth Growth: Since the 1990s, the wealth of billionaires has grown (at 8%) nearly twice the rate of bottom half of the population.
• Climate Inequality: Top 10% account for 77% of carbon emissions, while the poorest half accounts for only 3%.
• Structural Imbalance: Each year Global South transfer more than 1% of world GDP to Global North through debt service, profit repatriation, and financial flows (3 times more than development aid).

Policy Recommendations in the Report

• Progressive Taxation and Tax Justice: Global minimum tax on billionaires and internationalanti-evasion coordination to fund public goods and cut inequality.
• Public Investment: Fund free high-quality education, healthcare, childcare, and nutrition to reduce early disparities and boost opportunities.
• Redistributive Programs: Use cash transfers, pensions, and unemployment benefits to shift resources downward.
• Gender Equality Measures: Provide affordable childcare and parental leave, enforce equal pay, and protect against discrimination to redistribute unpaid care work.
• Climate Policy Focused on Ownership: Climate subsidies with progressive taxes and green investments by public sector (instead of private) to reach net-zero without wealth concentration.
• International Financial Reform: Introduce global currency, centralized credit systems, and surplus taxes to aid social investment in developing countries.

India’s Nuclear Power Generation reaches Record High in FY 2024-25

• As per Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) crossed 50 billion Units (BUs) generation in financial year 2024-25, first time in its operation history.
• This helped avoid nearly 49 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Nuclear Power in India

• India adopted a three-stage nuclear power programme.
• Three Stage Nuclear Programme
• Status: It contributes about 3% to total electricity generated. (July 2025).
• Target: 100 GW of Nuclear Power Capacity by 2047.

Key Initiatives to advance Nuclear Power in India

• Nuclear Energy Mission: Launched in Union Budget 2025-26 focussing on Research and Development (R&D) of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
• SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors with power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, about one-third of generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.
• Developing Bharat Small Reactors: BSRs are 220 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a proven safety and performance record.
• PHWR is a heavy water cooled and heavy water moderated natural uranium based fuel reactor.

Key Achievements towards Enhancing Capacity:

• First two units of indigenous 700 MWe PHWR at Kakrapar, Gujarat (KAPS - 3 & 4) began commercial operation in FY 2023-24.
• Launch of Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP), a 4 x 700 MWe PHWR.
• Rawatbhata Atomic Power Project (RAPP) Unit 7 –3rd indigenous 700 MWe PHWR, started commercial operation in 2025.

Contempt of Court

• Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order punishing a woman for criminal contempt, holding that contempt power is not a “personal armour” for judges.

• Not Personal Armour: Contempt cannot be used to suppress criticism of judges.
• Bona Fide Apology: Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, allows acceptance of sincere remorse even after guilt is recorded.
• Judicial Restraint: Contempt jurisdiction must be exercised cautiously and proportionately.
• Mercy Principle: Forgiveness forms part of judicial conscience when the contemnor shows contrition.

About Contempt of Court in India

• Purpose: Protect judicial authority, ensure public confidence, and preserve the sanctity of justice delivery.
• Constitutional Basis: Articles 129 and Article 215 empower the Supreme Court and High Courts as Courts of Record with inherent authority to punish for contempt.
• The term “contempt of court” appears in Article 19(2) as a ground to restrict freedom of speech.
• Statutory Framework: Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (H.N. Sanyal Committee Recommendation).
• Civil Contempt (Section 2(b)): Wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
• Criminal Contempt (Section 2(c)): Publication or act that Scandalises the authority of a court, Prejudices with judicial proceedings, Obstructs the administration of justice in any manner.
• Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 2006: It specified that punishment for contempt can be imposed only if the act substantially interferes or is likely to interfere with the administration of justice.
• Initiation of Proceedings: Courts may act suo motu, or any person may file a petition with the consent of the Attorney General (SC) or Advocate General (HC).
• Punishment: Simple imprisonment up to 6 months or a fine up to ₹2,000, or both, and it is waived if the court accepts a genuine apology.

Sustainability of India’s Growth Rate

• India recorded 8.2% GDP growth, supported by the manufacturing and services sectors.
• However, the IMF rated India’s national income accounting “Grade C”, citing methodological gaps.

Evidence for the Sustainable Growth Rate of India

• Sectoral Momentum: Manufacturing grew 9.1% and Services 9.2%, with financial services at 10.2%.
• Consumption Demand: Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) up 7.9%, signalling rising household spending and urban demand resilience.
• Real GVA Growth: Real GVA increased from ₹82.88 lakh crore → ₹89.41 lakh crore, confirming genuine increase in value addition, not inflation-led growth.
• Inflation Contained: Nominal GDP grew 8.8%, very close to real GDP 8.2%, meaning.
• Exports & Investment: Exports from SEZs rose from ₹7.59 lakh crore (FY21) → ₹14.63 lakh crore (FY25); investments up ₹6.17 lakh crore → ₹7.82 lakh crore.

Evidence for the Unsustainable Growth Rate of India

• National Accounting Quality: IMF flagged outdated base year (2011–12), absence of Producer Price Index, and weak state-level data question the reliability of growth numbers.
• Uneven Sectoral Recovery: Mining grew only 0.04%, electricity 4.4%, showing weak backbone sectors.
• Employment-Output Mismatch: Agriculture employs ~45% of workforce but contributes ~14% to GVA.
• Weak Goods Export: In 2023–24, India’s merchandise exports were approx. $437 billion, while Vietnam exported approx. $404 billion despite being far smaller, and China exported approx. $3.4 trillion.
• Structural Weaknesses: No consolidated state/local body fiscal data after 2019.

Way Forward

• Data Reform: Update base year; adopt Producer Price Index (PPI). E.g. Shift from 2011–12 → 2023–24 base, matching global statistical norms.
• Export Diversification: Broaden goods export base via FTAs and cluster development. E.g. India–UAE CEPA boosting gems/jewellery & electronics exports.
• Labour Formalisation: Improve productivity via skilling and MSME digitisation. E.g. Apprenticeship incentives under Skill India promote an industry-ready workforce.
• Manufacturing Deepening: Push labour-intensive and high-tech sectors through PLI schemes.
• Climate Resilience: Build climate-proof infrastructure and diversify energy mix. E.g. Renewable-powered industrial corridors in Gujarat & Tamil Nadu.

Global Environment Outlook 2025

• The 7th edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) was released at the 7th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), in Nairobi.
• The Global Environment Outlook is the flagship environmental assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The UNEA is the top global environmental decision-making body with universal membership that governs UNEP.

Key Highlights

• Major Crises: Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution are worsening together.
• Rising Emissions: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have risen by 1.5% each year since 1990, reaching a new high in 2024.
• Economic Costs: Extreme weather has caused USD 143 billion annual losses over twenty years; air pollution health damages reached USD 8.1 trillion in 2019 (6.1% of global GDP).
• Biodiversity Decline: Nearly 1 million species face extinction, and 20–40% of the world’s land is degraded, affecting over 3 billion people.
• Pollution Burden: About 8,000 MT of plastic waste pollutes the planet; 9 million deaths occur each year due to pollution.
• Solution Pathways: A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach can secure a sustainable future, with macroeconomic benefits reaching at least USD 20 trillion annually by 2070.

About UNEP

• The UNEP is the leading global environmental authority within the UN for coordinating responses to environmental issues and promoting sustainable development.
• Established: In 1972, after the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference).
• Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Reports: Emissions Gap Report, Adaptation Gap Report, Global Environment Outlook, and Frontiers.

Mephedrone

• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a clandestine Mephedrone unit in Maharashtra under “Operation Hinterland Brew,” seizing 128 kg of the drug.

About Mephedrone:

• Mephedrone, or 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC), is a synthetic stimulant of the amphetamine and cathinone classes.
• It acts as a xenobiotic and environmental contaminant, typically appearing as powder or crystals, and produces euphoria, alertness and sociability similar to amphetamine-type stimulants.
• It causes anxiety, paranoia, cardiovascular strain, hallucinations and addiction; severe toxicity can lead to hyperthermia, seizures and potentially fatal outcomes.
• It is a prohibited psychotropic substance in India under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
• A xenobiotic is a foreign chemical not naturally produced by the body, such as drugs, pollutants or additives, and requires metabolic detoxification for removal, often affecting health and ecosystems

Operation Hinterland Brew:

• It is an anti-narcotics initiative by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to dismantle illegal drug-manufacturing units in remote or rural areas.
• It is part of broader national efforts under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and enforcement of the NDPS Act, 1985, to curb synthetic drug production and trafficking.

Bharat 6G Mission

• The Apex Council under the Bharat 6G Mission reviewed national 6G progress and Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) initiatives.

Bharat 6G Mission

• Launch: Started in 2023 under the Department of Telecommunications to operationalise the Bharat 6G Vision and drive India’s 6G development by 2030.
• Aim: Build indigenous 6G technology, expand India’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and influence global 6G standards.
• Phases: Runs in two stages, 2023-2025 for concept validation and standards groundwork, and 2025-2030 for large-scale trials and early commercial use.
• Governance: Guided by an Apex Council and implemented through the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), a collaboration of industry, academia, start-ups and R&D bodies.
• Testbeds: It sets up national 6G Terahertz and Optical Communication testbeds and supports 100 sanctioned 5G labs, funded through the ₹1-lakh-crore R&D Innovation Fund.

6G:-

Definition: Sixth-generation (6G) mobile technology using high-frequency sub-Terahertz (THz) and THz bands to enable multi-gigabit speeds and advanced sensing.

Features: Artificial Intelligence (AI) optimisation, massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), network slicing and next-generation Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC).

Advantages: Supports hyper-connectivity, multi-sensory data fusion and universal computing with higher energy efficiency, stronger security and resilient network management.

India Context: India targets commercial 6G by 2030, has over 127 global 6G patents and is advancing research through India-United States 6G cooperation and Bharat 6G Mission.

Planetary-Defense Exercise on 3I/ATLAS

• Europe has launched the world’s largest planetary-defence drill, centred on tracking the fast-approaching object 3I/ATLAS.

Planetary-Defense Exercise on 3I/ATLAS:

• The 3I/ATLAS planetary-defense drill is the largest global simulation ever conducted to test how nations detect, track and respond to near-Earth threats.
• Launched By: Led jointly by ESA, NASA, UN-IAWN (International Asteroid Warning Network).

Aim:

• To evaluate Earth’s readiness for high-velocity objects by testing early-warning systems, tracking networks, emergency coordination and citizen communication.
• Also aims to identify gaps in international cooperation, data-sharing and psychological preparedness.

How It Works?

1. Tracking 3I/ATLAS: Agencies use ground telescopes and space-based sensors to continuously monitor the comet’s position, speed and brightness, refining its orbital path in real time.
2. Analysing Trajectory Shifts: Scientists test for small deviations caused by gravity or solar forces, updating orbital models to identify any change that could alter its distance from Earth.
3. Calculating Impact Probabilities: Thousands of simulations are run with different uncertainty ranges to determine whether the object could intersect Earth’s orbit or remain safely distant.
4. Running Global Response Scenarios: Teams simulate options such as deflection missions, civil-defence mobilisation or evacuation modelling to test operational readiness under pressure.
5. Testing International Coordination: The drill evaluates how quickly NASA, ESA, ISRO, CNSA, JAXA and UN-IAWN exchange data, issue alerts and take joint decisions during high-uncertainty events.

Key Features:

• Real object (3I/ATLAS) travelling at ~60 km/s provides real-world complexity.
• Involves planetary-defense modelling, orbital prediction drills and anomaly-response protocols.
• Includes public-communication modules, addressing misinformation and psychological preparedness.
• Uses multi-agency coordination, including defense space commands.
• Parallel geopolitical coordination amid ESA’s record budget and U.S.–China–India moves in space security.

Significance:

• Strengthens global readiness for future asteroid threats — a rising planetary-security concern.
• Exposes systemic weaknesses like absence of a global public-guidance system during space anomalies.

Q-day

• Google’s new Quantum Echoes experiment using the 65-qubit Willow processor has sparked global debate on whether it accelerates the arrival of Q-day.

About Q-day:

• What it is?
• Q-day refers to the moment when a cryptographically relevant quantum computer becomes powerful enough to break widely used encryption systems such as RSA-2048, threatening global digital security.

Background:

• The fear stems from Shor’s algorithm (1994), which showed that a sufficiently large quantum computer could factor large numbers exponentially faster, breaking the mathematics behind today’s public-key cryptography.

Key Features of Q-Day Risk:

• Breaks RSA & ECC: Quantum computers could factor keys and compromise global internet security.
• Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: Hackers/governments may store encrypted data today and decrypt it later.
• Requires millions of logical qubits: Current machines have only hundreds of noisy qubits — far from attack capability.
• Triggers Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Push for quantum-safe algorithms like CRYSTALS-Kyber & Dilithium (standardised by NIST).

Significance:

• Global cybersecurity transition: Banks, governments, military networks and cloud systems must shift to PQC before the end of this decade.
• Strategic & geopolitical implications: Nations see PQC as the next digital infrastructure race.
• Long-term digital safety: Prevents future mass data breaches, identity theft, and compromise of national security communications.

Shilp Didi Programme

• The Union Textiles Secretary announced that the Shilp Didi Programme has significantly boosted women artisans’ income, with some earning over ₹5 lakh.

Shilp Didi Programme:

• A government initiative to economically empower women artisans (“Shilp Didis”) by providing training, digital skills, and market access, including e-commerce platforms and physical exhibitions.
• Launched In: 2024 (100-day pilot phase began in June 2024).
• Implemented By: Ministry of Textiles, through the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
• Aim: To make women artisans financially independent, improve design and business skills, and help them leverage modern marketing and entrepreneurship tools.

Key Features:

1. E-training modules (entrepreneurship, regulatory compliance, social media, e-commerce onboarding).
2. Marketing opportunities via Dilli Haat, craft fairs, and curated events.
3. E-commerce integration for nationwide and global visibility.
4. Baseline inclusion of 100 women artisans from 72 districts across 23 states.
5. Covers 30 diverse handicrafts (textiles, pottery, metal crafts, embroidery, etc.).
6. Capacity-building through National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) clusters.

Significance:

• Provides sustainable livelihoods and boosts rural/non-farm incomes.
• Strengthens micro-entrepreneurship among women in the handicrafts sector.
• Enhances digital inclusion—artisans use social media & e-commerce to expand markets.