UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 2 June 2026

Right to Be Forgotten: Delhi HC Directs Google and Indian Kanoon to De-Index Records

June 2, 2026

Right to Be Forgotten Latest News

The Delhi High Court in a recent landmark order upheld the "Right to be Forgotten". It directed Google, other search engines, and Indian Kanoon to disable name-based searches for certain judgments, orders, and news articles.
The order applies mainly to cases ending in acquittal, discharge, quashing, or settlement. It also covers cases of a purely private nature. The platforms were directed to comply within two weeks.

What is the Right to be Forgotten

Right to be Forgotten is the right of an individual to request that certain information about them — particularly old, irrelevant, or harmful information — be removed or hidden from search engine results, so that it does not continue to haunt them indefinitely.
It does not mean erasing the past — it simply means ensuring that a casual internet search does not automatically surface damaging information about a person who has already been legally exonerated.

Background: The Cases That Prompted This Order

The court decided 38 petitions — the oldest dating back to 2016 — filed by individuals including:
- Persons acquitted of criminal charges.
- Parties to purely private civil or matrimonial disputes.
- Persons whose names appear incidentally in judicial records of proceedings to which they were not even parties.
The petitioners argued that continued name-based searchability of their judicial records on platforms like Indian Kanoon causes disproportionate and continuing harm to their reputations, dignity, and life prospects — far exceeding any legitimate public interest served by such accessibility.

The Court's Key Findings

On Search Engines Having No Legal Authority - The High Court held made clear that search engines have no legal basis to maintain unlimited name-based access to judicial records involving acquitted persons or private matters.
On the Disproportionality of Permanent Digital Searchability - The right to be forgotten reflects the evolution of privacy in response to the permanence of online information.
On the Distorted Picture Created by Search Results - The court said that an acquittal should not remain hidden while details of an arrest appear prominently in search results. It observed that repeatedly highlighting a person's arrest, accusation, or legal troubles without proper context is unfair.
On Informational Self-Determination - The court noted that digital records can remain online for a very long time. It said people should have the ability to seek erasure of outdated personal information. This helps individuals avoid permanent exposure to past events that may no longer be relevant to their present lives.

Specific Directions Issued By The Court

To Google and Search Engines — De-index name-based search results linking to judgments, orders, or news articles in cases of acquittal, discharge, quashing, settlement, or private disputes.
- De-indexing simply prevents a person's name from appearing as a search result when someone types their name into Google or searches by name on Indian Kanoon.
- The judgment or court order continues to exist in full — on the court's own website, on Indian Kanoon, and on any other platform that hosts it.
- De-indexing is NOT the same as deletion.
To Indian Kanoon — Restrict name-based search functionality within the platform for records of petitioners who appeared before the Delhi HC — while keeping judgments fully accessible by case number, citation, court details, and date.
To Courts — The High Court prescribed parameters for courts to decide on masking of names and personal identifiers in judicial records in cases of acquittal, discharge, or quashing — when sought by any party involved.
To Petitioners — Those granted de-indexing relief may additionally seek masking from the original court that rendered the judgment.

What the Court Did Not Decide

The court explicitly limited its scope — it only dealt with de-indexing from name-based search results and restricting name-based search functionality within Indian Kanoon.
It did not consider complete removal or takedown of entire judgments from Indian Kanoon or any other legal database.
The Supreme Court is separately dealing with the larger question of whether entire judgments can be taken down from Indian Kanoon.

The Privacy Framework — Constitutional Underpinning

The Right to be Forgotten in India flows from the right to privacy recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) by the Supreme Court in the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India (2017) judgment.
India currently lacks a comprehensive statutory framework governing the right to be forgotten — the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 touches on related concepts but does not fully codify this right.
The Delhi HC's order fills this gap through judicial interpretation — holding that the right to informational privacy and informational self-determination must be actively protected even in the absence of specific legislation.

Source: IE | TH

Right to Be Forgotten FAQs

Q1: What is the Right to Be Forgotten?

Ans: The Right to Be Forgotten allows individuals to seek removal of outdated or irrelevant personal information from name-based search results to protect privacy and dignity.

Q2: Why did the Delhi High Court uphold the Right to Be Forgotten?

Ans: The Right to Be Forgotten was upheld to prevent continued reputational harm caused by easy online access to records of acquittals, settlements, and private disputes.

Q3: What directions were issued under the Right to Be Forgotten ruling?

Ans: The Right to Be Forgotten ruling directed Google and Indian Kanoon to disable name-based searches while keeping judicial records accessible through other methods.

Q4: Does the Right to Be Forgotten mean deleting court judgments?

Ans: No. The Right to Be Forgotten involves de-indexing search results, not deleting judgments. Court records remain available through citations, case numbers, and court databases.

Q5: What is the constitutional basis of the Right to Be Forgotten in India?

Ans: The Right to Be Forgotten is derived from the right to privacy under Article 21, as recognized by the Supreme Court in the Puttaswamy judgment.

Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities: PM10 Dust, Ozone and Urban Air Quality Challenges

June 2, 2026

Summer Air Pollution Latest News

The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) revoked all Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) curbs in March 2026 — signalling the end of winter pollution.
However, as temperatures rose in April, it reimposed Stage 1 of GRAP to combat summer air pollution — reimposing it again in May as North India reeled under heatwaves.
Delhi recorded 54 days between April 1 and May 31, 2026 where PM10 levels exceeded national standards — highlighting that air pollution is now a year-round crisis, not just a winter problem.

Summer vs Winter Air Pollution — Key Differences

Most people associate Indian city pollution with winter smog. Winter pollution is dominated by finer PM2.5 particles that get trapped close to the ground due to low temperatures, low wind speeds, and the basin-like topography of cities like Delhi.
Summer, however, brings a different pollution chemistry — driven primarily by two pollutants — PM10 (coarser dust particles) and ground-level ozone.
While summer brings stronger winds and thunderstorms that help disperse some pollutants, heat and intense sunlight create their own dangerous pollution conditions.

What is PM10 and What Causes Its Summer Spike

PM10 refers to particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometres in diameter — coarser dust particles that can enter the respiratory tract and cause breathing problems.
Unlike the finer PM2.5 of winter, PM10 is primarily driven by dust in summer.
Two main mechanisms drive India's summer PM10 spikes:
- Natural Dust Storms — Loo and Andhi - Hot conditions over the Indian subcontinent create a low-pressure area that extends toward Iran. Its interaction with surrounding high-pressure areas produces hot, windy conditions that stir up dust storms. These include: Loo and Andhi.
  - Loo — Hot, dry winds that carry dust from West Asia and the Thar Desert across northern India toward the Bay of Bengal. These can elevate PM10 levels for days.
  - Andhi — Shorter, localised dust storms that form when strong downward-moving air from thunderstorms hits the ground, lifts loose dust, and carries it at high speed. While loo storms are common in North India, cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad typically face dusty episodes from local thunderstorms.
- Human Activities Worsening Dust - Natural dust is compounded by human activity. Construction and demolition work — which often resumes after winter GRAP restrictions are lifted — adds significantly to PM10 without adequate dust control measures.

What is Ground-Level Ozone and Why Does It Rise in Summer

Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly from vehicles or chimneys — it is a secondary pollutant that forms through a chemical reaction.
When Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) — largely from vehicles — and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — from industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, paints, and other sources — react under strong sunlight, ozone is formed.
Hotter, sunnier summer days therefore provide ideal conditions for ozone formation.
Ozone, along with particulate matter, causes respiratory illnesses and is particularly dangerous for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing lung conditions.

The Scale of the Problem — Beyond Delhi

Summer air pollution is not confined to Delhi. Between April 1 and May 31, 2026:
- Delhi — 54 days with PM10 exceeding national standards (100 μg/m³); 40 days with hourly ozone breaches.
- Mumbai — High PM10 and ozone levels driven by construction activity, dust, and traffic.
- Chennai — Occasional PM10 breaches; high vehicular density and hot weather make it an ozone hotspot.
- Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata — Also recorded PM10 and ozone spikes driven by local sources.

What Can Cities Do — Solutions and Way Forward

Forecasting and Early Warning Systems
- Natural dust cannot be controlled — but it can be predicted. Delhi's Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) — created after the severe 2018 dust storms — now runs year-round and has been extended to Jaipur and Mumbai.
- It provides three-day Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts for 140 Indian cities.
- The IMD also publishes national weather forecast bulletins multiple times daily.
- Authorities must use these systems to issue timely local alerts on dust storms, ozone, and poor air quality so citizens can reduce exposure.
Construction Dust Control
- Construction sites need active dust management year-round — not just during winter GRAP periods.
- A CEEW study found that simply reducing heavy vehicle movement at construction sites can lower local PM levels.
Reducing Ozone — Cutting NOx and VOC Emissions
- Tackling ozone requires cleaner transport, better industrial compliance, and attention to solvents, paints, and fuel combustion.
- Even simple behavioural campaigns like Delhi's 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' — urging drivers to switch off vehicles while waiting at traffic junctions — can meaningfully reduce idling emissions and ozone formation.
Summer Action Plans for All Cities
- Delhi has had a Summer Action Plan since 2022.
- Other cities urgently need similar plans combining forecasting, public health advisories, construction dust control, road dust management, and action on ozone-forming emissions.
- Indian cities must plan for both winter and summer pollution seasons — treating them with equal seriousness.

Source: TH | TH

Summer Air Pollution FAQs

Q1: What causes Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities?

Ans: Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities is mainly caused by PM10 dust particles, ground-level ozone formation, dust storms, construction activities, and vehicular emissions.

Q2: How is Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities different from winter pollution?

Ans: Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities is dominated by PM10 and ozone, whereas winter pollution is primarily driven by PM2.5 particles trapped near the surface.

Q3: What is PM10 and why is it important in summer?

Ans: Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities often features elevated PM10 levels, which are coarse dust particles capable of causing respiratory problems and poor air quality.

Q4: Why does ozone increase during summer months?

Ans: Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities worsens when sunlight triggers chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, producing ground-level ozone.

Q5: How can cities reduce Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities?

Ans: Summer Air Pollution in Indian Cities can be reduced through dust control at construction sites, emission reductions, forecasting systems, and dedicated summer action plans.

The End of Cheap Global Money – Explained

June 2, 2026

Global Money Latest News

The Reserve Bank of India's annual report for 2025-26 has flagged concerns over elevated sovereign bond yields and possible reversal of monetary easing by global central banks, signalling the end of the era of cheap global money and its implications for India.

Understanding the Concept of Government Bonds and Yields

A government bond is a debt instrument issued by a sovereign authority to borrow money for a specific period.
In return, the issuer promises to pay a fixed annual interest over the bond's life and repay the original borrowed amount at maturity.
Government bonds are considered "risk-free" assets as their payments are backed by the sovereign's power to tax or print money.
Bond yields, the effective annual interest rate, serve as a benchmark for setting interest rates across other fixed-income securities, establishing the minimum return investors expect for their money over a comparable period.

Quantitative Easing (QE)

Quantitative Easing is a monetary policy tool used by central banks to stimulate the economy.
Under QE:
- Central banks create new money to purchase government bonds and long-term assets from commercial banks.
- The objective is to flood the financial system with liquidity.
- It aims to lower long-term interest rates and encourage banks to lend more.
- QE was extensively used after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Era of Cheap Money: A Historical Perspective

Bond Yield Trends in Major Economies
- Over the past two decades, bond yields in major economies have witnessed a dramatic decline. Late 1990s and early 2000s:
  - US: Over 6%; UK: 5.4%; Japan: 1.7%;
- During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-21):
  - - US: 0.9%; UK: 0.4%; Japan: Practically zero
Negative Yields Phenomenon
- Japan even witnessed negative bond yields in 2016-17 and 2019-20, meaning investors were willing to pay the Japanese government to keep their money. Negative yields are possible in scenarios of:
- Deflation (falling prices of goods and services)
- Currency appreciation expectations
- Extreme economic uncertainty, where investors prioritise safety over returns

Why Money Was Cheap

During this period, central banks maintained ultra-low interest rates and pursued aggressive quantitative easing to revive economies battered by:
- 2008 Global Financial Crisis; COVID-19 pandemic; Persistent low inflation in developed economies
This created an environment of abundant global liquidity, with capital flowing freely into emerging markets like India in search of higher yields.

The Current Scenario: End of Cheap Money

Rising Bond Yields: Bond yields have risen significantly in 2025-26:
- Japan: Average of 1.8% in 2025-26, rising to 2.5% in the current fiscal, with a high of 2.8% in May 2026.
- US: Average of 4.2%, rising to 4.4%, with a high of 4.7%.
- UK: Average of 4.6%, rising to 4.9%, with a high of 5.2%.
This marks a sharp departure from the near-zero yields that characterised the post-2008 era.

Reasons for Global Money Becoming Expensive

Return of Inflation: A series of global disruptions has brought inflation back:
- COVID-19 supply chain disruptions (2020-21)
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine (2022)
- US tariff actions under President Donald Trump (2025)
- US-Israel versus Iran conflict (ongoing)
- The prospect of further inflation due to higher fuel, fertilizer, and food prices from the West Asia supply shock has made ultra-low interest rates unsustainable.
End of Quantitative Easing: The QE policies that drove cheap money have ended for several reasons:
- Inflationary consequences of new money supply growing faster than physical production
- Excessive government borrowing due to artificially low rates
- Unsustainable public debt levels taken on by governments
- The combined effect of high inflation and elevated public debts is now reflected in rising sovereign bond yields globally

Implications for India

Capital Flow Trends: The end of cheap global money has significant implications for India's capital flows:
Net Capital Inflows
- 1998-99: $8.3 billion
- 2007-08: Record $107.9 billion
- 2008-09: Collapsed to $7.8 billion during the financial crisis
- 2009-10 to 2023-24: Averaged $67.3 billion annually
- 2024-25: Just $18 billion
- First nine months of 2025-26: Net capital outflows of $580 million
Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) Outflows: A striking trend is visible in FPI flows into Indian equity markets:
- From 1998-99 to 2020-21, only two years witnessed net negative inflows: 2008-09 and 2015-16.
- Since 2020-21, five out of six years have witnessed FPIs pulling out more money than they put in.
Narrowing Yield Differential: A critical concern is the narrowing yield differential between India and the US:
- India's 10-year government bond yields: Around 7%
- US 10-year Treasury yields: Around 4.5%
- Current differential: 2.5 percentage points
- Historical decade average: 4+ percentage points
- When adjusted for rupee depreciation and the "safe-haven" value of US Treasuries, the effective yield gap becomes even smaller, making Indian assets relatively less attractive to foreign investors.

Challenges for India's Economy

Pressure on capital inflows: Foreign capital may become harder to attract.
Currency pressure: Lower inflows can weaken the rupee.
Higher borrowing costs: Indian companies and the government may face higher costs of raising foreign funds.
Stock market volatility: Reduced FPI flows can affect Indian equity markets.
Current account financing: Persistent current account deficits become harder to finance.

India's Strategic Response

To attract foreign capital in this changed environment, India needs to offer a more compelling "pull" story rather than relying on the "push" from cheap global money. This requires:
- Higher GDP and earnings growth prospects.
- Macroeconomic stability with controlled inflation and fiscal deficits.
- Structural reforms to boost manufacturing and exports.
- Deeper financial markets to attract long-term capital.
- Policy predictability and investor-friendly regulations.
- Enhanced ease of doing business.

Concerns Raised by Experts

The RBI's annual report flagged worries about elevated sovereign bond yields and possible reversal of monetary easing by global central banks.
Experts have described the end of quantitative easing and near-zero interest rates as "perhaps the single most consequential development in global capital markets" in recent times.
The combination of persistent inflation and high public debt in developed economies is unlikely to allow a quick return to the cheap money era.

Way Forward

Short-Term Measures
- RBI interventions to manage currency volatility.
- Targeted policy measures to attract FPI flows.
- Diversification of funding sources for the government and corporates.
- Strengthening forex reserves as a buffer.
Long-Term Strategy
- Boosting manufacturing exports through PLI and Make in India schemes.
- Deepening domestic savings to reduce dependence on foreign capital.
- Attracting stable FDI through structural reforms.
- Developing bond markets to provide alternatives for foreign investors.
- Enhancing competitiveness through labour, land, and capital market reforms.

Source: IE

Global Money FAQs

Q1: What is quantitative easing?

Ans: Quantitative easing is a monetary policy where central banks create new money to buy government bonds and other assets, flooding the financial system with liquidity to lower long-term interest rates.

Q2: Why have global bond yields risen?

Ans: Yields have risen due to the return of inflation from supply disruptions, the Ukraine war, US tariff actions, the West Asia conflict, and the end of quantitative easing.

Q3: What is the current yield differential between India and the US?

Ans: The current yield differential is around 2.5 percentage points, significantly narrower than the historical decade average of 4+ percentage points.

Q4: How has FPI inflow to India changed in recent years?

Ans: Since 2020-21, five out of six years have witnessed FPIs pulling out more money than they put in, contrasting with only two negative years between 1998-99 and 2020-21.

Q5: What does India need to attract foreign capital in this new environment?

Ans: India needs to offer a compelling growth story with higher GDP and earnings growth prospects, macroeconomic stability, and structural reforms rather than relying on cheap global money.