Daily Current Affairs

August 1, 2025

Current Affairs

Long-term Air Pollution Exposure increases Dementia Risk

Context: A new large-scale study by Cambridge University researchers has found that long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased risk of developing dementia. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Major Pollutants and associated Health risks; ROS. 

The data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that 99% of the world’s population breathes air containing high levels of pollutants. 

Long-term Air Pollution Exposure increases Dementia Risk: Highlights of the Study

S. No. Pollutants Description Associated Risks
1.PM 2.5Extremely fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. 


Predominantly produced by vehicle emissions and thermal power plants. 		For every 10 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) of long-term exposure to PM2.5, an individual’s relative risk of dementia would increase by 17% from the baseline. 
2.Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Produced primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles, thermal power plants, and various industrial processes. For every 10 μg/m³ of long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide, the relative risk of dementia increased by 3%.
3.Soot Soot or Black Carbon comes from sources such as vehicle exhaust emissions and burning wood.  The study reported that dementia risk jumped by 13% for each 1 μg/m³ of long-term soot exposure.

What is Dementia?

  • Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. The illness gets worse over time, and mainly affects older people. 
  • According to WHO, ~57 million people worldwide had dementia in 2021. The number is expected to increase to at least 150 million cases by 2050. The rise in air pollution, especially in developing countries, might lead to an even sharper rise in cases. 
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How Air Pollution causes Dementia?

  • When pollutants are inhaled, the body’s immune system fights back through the release of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). ROS are the chemicals used by immune cells to neutralise foreign substances. When larger concentrations of pollutants are inhaled, greater amounts of ROS are released.
  • However, ROS is damaging for the body’s cells as well. Therefore, as a natural counter-defence mechanism, the body produces another set of chemicals called antioxidants, that protect the cells against ROS.
  • But Antioxidants are present in small quantities, and take time to build up. So, while they are able to effectively deal with smaller amounts of ROS, they are helpless when ROS is produced in large amounts. 
  • Thus, oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the body’s ability to detoxify them- leading to cellular damage from excess ROS.
  • Both oxidative stress and resulting inflammation in the brain play a well-established role in the onset and progression of dementia. Air pollution triggers these processes through direct entry of pollutants to the brain or via the same mechanisms underlying lung and cardiovascular diseases.

These findings underscore the need for an interdisciplinary approach to dementia prevention. That means along with healthcare interventions, there is a need to strengthen urban planning, transport policy, and environmental regulation.

Sacred Buddhist Piprahwa gemstones repatriated to India

Context: A collection of 349 gemstones, part of the sacred Piprahwa Buddhist relics, was repatriated to India, 127 years after they were taken during colonial times.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Piprahwa Relics. 

These relics had appeared for auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, but were acquired and brought back to India through a private initiative led by Pirojsha Godrej of Godrej Industries.

What are the Piprahwa Relics?

  • The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 during a British-era excavation at Piprahwa, near the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh. Piprahwa is believed to be the part of ancient Kapilavastu, the homeland of Lord Buddha
  • The excavation uncovered a Buddhist stupa containing:
    • Bone fragments believed to be of Lord Buddha.
    • Jewel-encrusted reliquaries (349 gemstones).
    • Caskets made of soapstone and crystal, and a sandstone coffer.
    • Most relics were placed in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, but the jewels ultimately went to auction houses.

Why is the Repatriation Significant?

  • Cultural and Religious Value: The relics are deeply sacred to the Buddhist community worldwide. Their discovery and preservation strengthen India’s identity as the cradle of Buddhism.
  • Geopolitical Messaging: By reclaiming Buddhist heritage from Hong Kong (under Chinese influence), India reinforces its Buddhist soft power against China’s attempts to project itself as a guardian of Buddhist legacy.

A large portion of the collection will be displayed at the National Museum Delhi.

Judicial Discretion and Bail in POCSO Cases

Context: In recent years, courts have begun considering nuances while granting bail on the POCSO cases. Bail may be considered favourably if the relationship appears to be consensual, and especially where the victim has recorded a statement before the Magistrate to that effect.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Mains: POCSO Act: Implementation Issues. 

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act

  • The POCSO Act is a special law in India enacted in 2012 to protect children (under 18 years) from sexual abuse and exploitation. 
  • It is a gender-neutral law. The Act defines a child as "any person" under the age of 18.
  • Implementation: Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Key Provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act

  • The Act criminalises both penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment, and child pornography.
  • It deems all minors under 18 incapable of ‘consent’, and any sexual activity with a person under 18 is automatically considered abuse, even if the child agrees. The accused bears the burden of proving his innocence. 
  • Typically, the trauma that child sexual abuse victims endure prevents them from voicing their complaints immediately. In 2018, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice clarified that there is no time or age bar for reporting sexual offences under the POCSO Act.
  • It mandates child-friendly procedures like special courts, in-camera trials, and video-recorded testimonies. 

With strict penalties, a presumption of guilt on the accused, and time-bound trials, the Act aims to fill critical legislative voids and deliver swift, victim-centric justice.

POCSO and Age of Consent

  • POSO does not recognise consent below the age of 18. Any sexual act with a teen, even if voluntary, is treated as an offence. This creates a legal grey zone in cases where teenagers enter into consensual relationships that later attract criminal charges.

Judicial Discretion and Bail in POCSO Cases: 

Recently, a special POCSO court in Mumbai granted bail to a 40-year-old female teacher accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy, noting the consensual nature of their relationship.

  • Bail in POCSO Cases: POCSO offences are cognizable and non-bailable; Arrests can be made without a warrant, and bail is not automatic. But the law does not contain specific statutory guidelines on bail.
  • Judicial discretion in Bail: In recent years, courts have begun considering nuances while granting bail. Bail may be considered favourably if the relationship appears to be consensual, and especially where the victim has recorded a statement before the Magistrate to that effect. Examples include:
    • Deshraj @ Musa vs State of Rajasthan case (2024): The SC granted bail to an 18-year-old boy who had been in jail for five months in a POCSO case involving a 16-year-old girl. The relationship appeared to be consensual.

Also Read: SC recent judgment and deviation from POCSO Act   

These decisions reaffirm that bail under POCSO remains a matter of judicial discretion where courts weigh constitutional liberties against the risk to the victim.

Key challenges to the Implementation of POCSO Act

  • Disclosure of identities: Though the act banned it, there have been numerous instances when the identity of child victims has been revealed by the media or court themselves while giving verdict. 
  • Mandatory reporting provision: The mandatory reporting provision of crimes under the Act proved to be counterproductive as victims of sexual abuse or their families may hesitate to approach medical professionals for fear of being drawn into a criminal case, thereby negatively impacting their right to health and medical care. It hinders adolescents’ access to safe and legal sexual and reproductive services, including legal abortions and contraceptives.
  • Applicability to consensual relations in minors: The POCSO Act made any sexual activity involving a child an offence under the Act. By rendering teenagers incapable of giving consent to sexual relationships, consensual ‘romantic relationships’ between teenagers often get criminalised. Most of such cases often resulted in acquittal because the adolescent girl failed to testify against her sexual partner.
  • Delay in investigation: The pendency of POCSO cases is extremely high due to slow pace of police investigations and delay in submitting the reports by forensic laboratories.
  • Lack of Special Courts in all Districts: Though the POCSO Act came into force in 2012, designation of Special Courts (as mandated by the Act) did not happen at the expected pace. States were lagging behind in designating these courts causing the Supreme Court to intervene.
  • Inadequate compensation to the victims: The payment of compensation to victims under the POCSO Act is a complex issue because there is often a lack of clarity on procedures for disbursing the compensation, especially in cases where the child has no family support, or resides in a childcare institution without parental support, or there is apprehension that the compensation so awarded may be misused. 

Debate on bringing down the Age of Consent: 

  • In an ongoing case, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising has requested the SC to bring down the age of consent from 18 to 16. 
  • Rationale: The criminalisation of adolescent relationships is a direct infringement of fundamental rights of the person. 
  • However, the Central government responded that such changes, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would undermine the legal protections designed to safeguard minors and potentially increase the risk of child abuse. 

Way Forward

  • Increase awareness about the Act by including age appropriate information about POCSO in school curriculum, including information on helplines like Childline.
  • Appropriate amendments to the law to decriminalise adolescent sexuality. 
  • Stipulate a time limit for consideration of disbursement of compensation to the victim. 
  • Set up more Forensic laboratories while improving the capacity and infrastructure of existing ones. 

Also Read: Law Commission Report On Pocso Act 

The Child Adoption Crisis in India

Context: The latest data obtained through a recent Right To Information (RTI) application shows asymmetry in child adoption in India. Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the country’s nodal adoption agency, has struggled to effectively manage the adoption process. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). Mains: The Child Adoption Crisis in India. 

Adoption is India are governed by two laws

  • Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists). 
  • Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. CARA comes into the picture for parents taking the JJ Act route.

Central Adoption Resource Authority

  • Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) was set up in 1990 by the Ministry of Women & Child Development to oversee child adoption procedures for Indians and non-resident Indians living abroad.
  • CARA attained the status of a statutory body in 2016 under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.  
  • CARA is the nodal body regulating the adoption of orphaned, surrendered and abandoned children in India. 

Mandate and Functions of Central Adoption Resource Authority

  • CARA is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003.  
  • These procedures include centralising registration for children and prospective parents, conducting home study reports, referring children, preparing orders and conducting post-adoption follow-ups.
  • CARA is also mandated to frame regulations on adoption-related matters from time to time as per Section 68 of the JJ Act, 2015.  

In 2018, CARA allowed individuals in a live-in relationship to adopt children from and within India. 

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, 1993:

  •  The international agreement facilitates adoption beyond borders. 
  • It helps find a permanent family for a child for whom a suitable family cannot be found in his or her State of origin and to prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children. 
  • India ratified the convention in 2003.

Juvenile Justice Act and Adoption Process

  • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 empowered CARA to streamline the process and infuse transparency and efficiency into the system.
    • It included setting up an e-governance system (CARINGS) to facilitate adoption, allowing prospective parents to track applications and setting out times for domestic and inter-country adoptions to ensure early deinstitutionalisation of such children.
    • The streamlined process meant that once CARA gave a no-objection certificate (NOC) to childcare institutions and civil society organisations, they could directly give a child for adoption, minimising the possibility of trafficking and corruption. 
  • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2022 authorised local District Magistrates (DMs) to issue adoption orders in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability, thus decentralising responsibilities. The DMs would also be charged with inspecting the functioning of local childcare institutions, child welfare committees, juvenile justice boards, etc.

Benefits of Adoption: 

  • Adoption can provide a child with the critical resource needed for a healthy and stable living. 
  • Allows mothers to continue pursuing their goals without putting their education or career on hold.
  • Relieves the financial and emotional stress of unplanned pregnancy and single parenting.
  • Gives an opportunity to help hopeful parents who would not be able to have a child otherwise.  

Challenges in Child Adoption Process in India: 

  • Growing gap and imbalance in Adoption: In 2022, a Parliamentary panel called the imbalance in adoption a paradoxical situation:
    • As per the 2020 World Orphan Report, India has an estimated 3.1 crore children who were orphans. But as of 2025, only 2652 children were legally free for adoption.  
    • While a significant number of parents are willing to adopt, only a limited number of children are legally cleared for adoption. As of 2025, there are 13 prospective parents for every child free for adoption. 
  • Time-consuming adoption process: Average delay for prospective parents to get an adoption referral in India has increased from 3 years by 2022 to about 3.5 years in 2025. This delay could force prospective parents to adopt children via illegal means. 
  • Implementation Challenges:
    • Over-Centralisation: CARA’s centralised processes and requirement for multiple NOCs and home studies cause delays and discourage many adoptions, especially inter-country adoptions. 
    • Tedious legal formalities: Exhaustive paperwork and court procedures often lead to attrition of prospective parents in the adoption process pipeline.
    • Infrastructure constraints: Implementation is a huge challenge due to resource limitations, lack of training, and a gap in linkages between adoption agencies and the Child Care Institutions (CCI).
    • Shortage of babies/young children: High demand-supply skew exists for healthy infants/toddlers (aged 0-2 years) amid prevalent societal prejudices. Most children tend to be older in age or have special needs, who are less likely preferred by prospective parents.

In 2023, the Supreme Court “expressed displeasure” over the time-consuming adoption process.

Way Forward

  • Digitalisation of the records of children with Child Care Institutions (CCI) to speeden the process of bringing children to legal adoption pool.
  • Address Legal Complexities: Simplify procedures, make court processes child-friendly avoiding intimidating environments. Set time-bound frameworks at each step to fasten the adoption process. 
  • Mandatory formal training and counseling for prospective parents, particularly those adopting children with special needs. 
  • Enhance Monitoring and Quality enhancement mechanisms for Child Care Institutions (CCI), including mandatory licensing and annual grading on indicators like resource availability and child protection norms compliance. 
  • A Parliamentary Standing Committee (2022) has recommended district-level surveys to ensure that orphan and abandoned children found begging on the streets are made available for adoption at the earliest.
  • Robust post-adoption tracking systems are also needed.

Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956 which allows Hindus to adopt without involving agencies remains a popular mode of child adoptions. However, it adds to concerns as adoptions under HAMA may bypass child welfare checks leading to potential misuse about trafficking and illegal adoptions.  

Hence, India needs a robust child adoption process that is child-centric, less time consuming and  institutionalised. 

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