Prelims Current Affairs includes Supreme Court Declares Right To Walk On Safe Footpaths A Fundamental Right, Important Article 21 Judgments , Uzbekistan Becomes First Central Asian Member Of New Development Bank, Pm Modi Participates In Vivatech 2026 In Paris, Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme Launched, Indian Army Contingent Leaves For Exercise Khaan Quest 2026 In Mongolia, Indian Jurist Bimal Patel Elected To Itlos, Jainendra Jain Wins Wolf Prize In Physics & Manimahesh Yatra 2026 To Run Under Strict Ngt Framework

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

1. SUPREME COURT DECLARES RIGHT TO WALK ON SAFE FOOTPATHS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

Current Context: The Supreme Court has declared the right to walk on safe and demarcated footpaths a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution, urging the government to create a legal framework protecting pedestrians.

ABOUT THE JUDGMENT

• Key Observation: The right to walk is the most basic mode of mobility and precedes the right to move on wheels.
• The Court noted that pedestrians are often treated as obstacles rather than rightful users of public roads.
• Safe, accessible, and obstruction-free footpaths are essential for the meaningful exercise of several fundamental rights.
• Case: Motor accident compensation case involving death of a five-year-old child
• Constitutional basis: Part III of the Constitution
• Article 19(1)(d): Freedom of movement
• Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of expression
• Article 19(1)(b): Right to assemble peacefully
• Article 19(1)(c): Right to form associations
• Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty
• Duty bearers: Urban development authorities, municipal corporations, municipal councils, Panchayats, local government bodies
• Remedies: Citizens can seek compensation, restitution, and legal remedies (separate from Motor Vehicles Act, 1988)
• Call for dedicated law: Copies of judgment sent to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Law Commission of India

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

2. IMPORTANT ARTICLE 21 JUDGMENTS

Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India (1984) – Right against bonded labour and inhuman working conditions.

• Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) – Right to livelihood.
• Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991) – Right to pollution-free water and air.
• Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v. State of West Bengal (1996) – Right to health and emergency medical care.
• Chameli Singh v. State of U.P. (1996) – Right to shelter.
• Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979) – Right to speedy trial and free legal aid.
• PUCL v. Union of India (2001) – Right to food.
• Ramlila Maidan Incident v. Home Secretary, Union of India (2012) – Right to sleep.
• Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) – Right to privacy.
• Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) – Right to sexual autonomy, dignity, and privacy.
• Common Cause v. Union of India (2018) – Right to die with dignity (passive euthanasia).

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. UZBEKISTAN BECOMES FIRST CENTRAL ASIAN MEMBER OF NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK

Current Context: Uzbekistan has officially joined the New Development Bank (NDB) and first Central Asian shareholder.

ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP

• Uzbekistan has become the 10th member of the New Development Bank (NDB).
• It is the first Central Asian nation to join the bank.
• The membership is expected to enhance financing opportunities for infrastructure, sustainable development, and economic modernization projects in Uzbekistan.

ABOUT NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK

• Established: 2015 by BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
• Headquarters: Shanghai, China
• Other members: Egypt, UAE, Bangladesh, Algeria, Uzbekistan

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. PM MODI PARTICIPATES IN VIVATECH 2026 IN PARIS

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, participated in VivaTech 2026 in Paris.

ABOUT VIVATECH 2026

• VivaTech (Viva Technology) is Europe’s largest startup and technology event held annually in Paris, France founded in 2016 by Publicis Groupe and Groupe Les Echos.
• India participated as the Official AI Partner Country at VivaTech 2026
• Focus areas: AI, health-tech, clean technologies, advanced computing, digital public infrastructure (DPI)
• India promoted: Ethical, open-source AI approach focused on public welfare, accessibility, healthcare, and digital inclusion

ECONOMY

5.  GREEN HYDROGEN CERTIFICATION SCHEME LAUNCHED

Current Context: The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

ABOUT THE SCHEME

• Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It provides a standardized framework for certifying hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources as “Green Hydrogen”.
• The scheme seeks to prevent greenwashing and establish market confidence in India’s green hydrogen ecosystem.
• Green Hydrogen standard: Non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions ≤2 kg CO₂ equivalent/kg of hydrogen (averaged over 12 months)
• Eligible pathways: Electrolysis and Conversion of Biomass
• Certificate types: Concept Certificate, Facility-Level Certificate, Provisional Certificate, Final Certificate
• Final Certificate: Mandatory for facilities benefiting from government incentives or selling hydrogen domestically
• Carbon credits: Enables producers to access credits under Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS)

 NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION (NGHM)

• Launch Date: 4 January 2023
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Vision: Make India a global hub for production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen
• Green Hydrogen Production: 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) per annum by 2030
• The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is India’s market-based mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and supporting the country’s climate commitments launched by the Government of India in 2023.
• Notified under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, as amended by the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022.

DEFENCE

6. INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT LEAVES FOR EXERCISE KHAAN QUEST 2026 IN MONGOLIA

Current Context: The Indian Army contingent has departed for Mongolia to participate in Exercise KHAAN QUEST 2026.

ABOUT THE EXERCISE

• Exercise Khaan Quest is a multinational military exercise conducted annually in Mongolia.
• It began in 2003 as a bilateral exercise between the US and Mongolia, and became a multinational exercise in 2006.
• The 2026 edition is being held at the Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar.
• Type: Multinational peacekeeping exercise (focused on Chapter VII of UN Charter)

APPOINTMENTS

7. INDIAN JURIST BIMAL PATEL ELECTED TO ITLOS

Current Context: Indian jurist Bimal N. Patel was elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

ABOUT THE ELECTION

• Elected as Judge of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
• Term: 2026-2035
• Election held under the framework of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• Term: 9 years (2026–2035)
• Assumes office: 1 October 2026
• Continues India’s representation: After term of Neeru Chadha ends in September 2026
• Bimal Patel’s other roles: Member of UN International Law Commission; Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University

About ITLOS

• The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982.
• It adjudicates disputes related to the interpretation and application of UNCLOS.
• It became operational after UNCLOS entered into force in 1994.
• Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany

About UNCLOS

• UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) is an international treaty that defines the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas.
• It is often called the “Constitution for the Oceans.”
• Adopted in 1982 at Montego Bay, Jamaica.
• Entered into force on 16 November 1994.

AWARDS

8. JAINENDRA JAIN WINS WOLF PRIZE IN PHYSICS

Current Context: Jainendra K. Jain won the 2025 Wolf Prize in Physics, presented by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• For: Discovery of composite fermions (concept linked to fractional quantum Hall effect)
• Concept introduced: 1989 (while postdoctoral scholar at Yale University)
• Wolf Foundation: Established 1978
• Notable fact: 27 Wolf Prize recipients later received Nobel Prize
• Significance: First person of Indian origin to receive Wolf Prize in Physics

HIMACHAL NEWS

9. MANIMAHESH YATRA 2026 TO RUN UNDER STRICT NGT FRAMEWORK

Current Context: The annual Manimahesh Yatra, one of North India’s most revered Himalayan pilgrimages, will be conducted under strict National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines this year.

ABOUT THE YATRA

• A major Hindu pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Shiva (Manimahesh Kailash)
• Located in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh
• Centre: Manimahesh Lake (≈ 3950 m altitude) beneath Chamba Kailash peak (≈ 5,660 m)
• Route: Hadsar → Dhancho → Gauri Kund → Manimahesh Lake
• Considered one of the most important Panch Kailash pilgrimages
• Location: Bharmour region, Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh
• Starts on: Janmashtami (4 September)
• Ends on: Radhashtami (19 September)

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