Daily Current Affairs - 8th November 2025

If you missed Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) | Sept - Oct 2025, read it here.

Denmark: Social Media Ban

1. On November 7, 2025, the Government of Denmark announced a political agreement to ban access to social media for anyone aged under 15.

2. The move is led by the Ministry of Digitalization, which focuses on protecting children and young people in the digital world.

3. The new policy sets 15 years as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms.

4. However, parents may be permitted — after a specific assessment — to grant consent allowing their children aged 13 or 14 to access social media.

5. This initiative is considered one of the most sweeping steps by a European government to safeguard minors from the negative impacts of social media.

6. The Danish government described it as a “groundbreaking step”, being one of the first countries in the EU to introduce legal age limits on social media use.

7. This measure follows a similar global precedent set by Australia in December 2024, which became the first country in the world to enact such a social media age ban.

   • The Australian Parliament set the minimum age for social media access at 16 years.

   • Under that law, social media companies such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram can face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million) for systemic failures to block underage users.

Political and Geographical Overview of Denmark

1. Denmark is a Northern European nation and forms a part of the Scandinavian countries, which are culturally and historically connected nations in Northern Europe.

2. The capital city of Denmark is Copenhagen.

3. Denmark also includes two self-governing territories — the Faroe Islands and Greenland — both located in the North Atlantic Ocean.

4. The country shares its only land boundary with Germany to the south.

5. It is bordered by the North Sea on the west and the Baltic Sea on the east.

6. Denmark’s geography consists of the Jutland Peninsula and more than 400 islands.

7. Among these islands, Zealand is the largest and most densely populated.

8. The longest river in Denmark is the Gudenå River.

9. The climate of Denmark is influenced by the Warm Gulf Stream, also known as the North Atlantic Current, which moderates temperatures throughout the year.

10. Due to its maritime climate, rainfall in Denmark occurs evenly throughout the year. 

India and the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)

1. India is set to join the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) as an Observer.

2. The TFFF is an initiative launched by Brazil to strengthen global forest conservation efforts.

3. It was formed on the sidelines of COP-30 in Belem, Brazil, where COP refers to the Conference of the Parties — the supreme decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

4. The TFFF acts as a global fund designed to provide long-term financial support for making forest preservation a viable economic model.

5. Its main objective is to incentivize the conservation and expansion of tropical forests.

6. It does this by making annual payments to Tropical Forest Countries (TFCs) that maintain their standing forests.

7. These Tropical Forest Countries are nations located in the tropical belt that possess large forest cover and high biodiversity.

8. The funding mechanism of the TFFF aims to mobilize around $125 billion through a mix of public and private investments.

9. The public contribution is expected to be around 20–25%, while the private sector would contribute 70–80% of the total fund.

10. The returns generated from these investments will be used to pay countries that successfully conserve and sustain their forest ecosystems.

11. The TFFF is expected to support over 70 Tropical Forest Countries that meet specific eligibility criteria.

12. These criteria include maintaining an annual deforestation rate below 0.5% and ensuring fair resource allocation to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).

Importance of Forest Conservation

1. Forest conservation plays a critical role in climate regulation and ecosystem stability.

2. Globally, forests absorb about 7.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually (as per Global Forest Watch), helping to slow down global warming.

3. Tropical forests, though covering only 7% of Earth’s surface, hold nearly 50% of global biodiversity, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

4. Forests also contribute to soil conservation by reducing erosion and stabilizing slopes, which in turn helps mitigate flood intensity.

5. They have economic value through trade in timber, rubber, and non-timber forest products.

6. Forests provide livelihood support and cultural identity for millions of forest-dependent communities.

7. They serve as a medicinal resource base, offering plants used in traditional and modern medicine.

8. Forests also help regulate rainfall and maintain the hydrological cycle, ensuring water security.

Other Global Initiatives for Forest Conservation

1. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 1992, promotes the conservation of ecosystems, sustainable use of resources, and equitable sharing of genetic benefits.

2. The UN REDD+ Programme, launched in 2008, provides financial incentives to developing countries for reducing deforestation and enhancing carbon stocks.

3. The Bonn Challenge, initiated in 2011, aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded forests by the year 2030.

4. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, recognizes forests as vital tools for climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration (the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide).

Supreme Court Directions on Stray Dogs in Key Public Spaces

1. The Supreme Court of India (SC) has issued directions to remove stray dogs from key public spaces across the country.

2. The Court observed that repeated incidents of dog bites at such locations are not merely a public-health issue but also a matter of human safety.

3. The right to human safety is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty.

4. The Court emphasized that ensuring safe public environments is part of the State’s constitutional obligation under Article 21.

5. The Supreme Court directed that a nodal officer must be appointed for the upkeep and surveillance of each public premise, including educational institutions, hospitals, and transport hubs.

6. These nodal officers shall be appointed by the management of each respective institution or facility.

7. The Court further directed District Magistrates to secure such premises with adequate fencing, boundary walls, and gates.

8. Local municipal authorities and panchayats were instructed to carry out regular inspections at least once every three months.

9. The Court mandated that all government and private hospitals must maintain a mandatory stock of anti-rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin at all times.

10. It also directed that proper waste-management systems be implemented to eliminate food sources that attract stray animals to public areas.

Issue of Stray Dogs in India

1. India faces a significant stray dog population, estimated at 1.5 crore according to the 2019 Livestock Census.

2. Dog bite incidents in India reached around 37 lakh in 2024, as per data from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

3. Rabies, a fatal viral disease transmitted through animal bites, remains a major public-health concern in India.

4. India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, making it the largest contributor worldwide.

5. Dog bites are responsible for about 96% of the mortality and morbidity associated with rabies in the country.

Provisions and Steps Taken Regarding Stray Dogs in India

1. Under Article 243(W) of the Constitution, municipalities are mandated to take measures for control of the stray dog population.

2. Article 51A(g) of the Constitution lists the Fundamental Duty of every citizen “to have compassion for living creatures.”

3. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, aim to humanely manage stray dog populations.

4. These rules adopt the Capture–Sterilize–Vaccinate–Release (CSVR) model, which means dogs are caught, sterilized, vaccinated, and then released back into their territory.

5. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also launched the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE).

6. The goal of NAPRE is to eliminate dog-mediated rabies in India by 2030, aligning with the global “Zero by 30” initiative.

Sections 33–36 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951

1. Recent debates over the rejection of nomination papers have revived calls to reform India’s electoral nomination process under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA, 1951).

2. The RPA, 1951 lays down the rules and procedures for conducting free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.

3. Sections 33 to 36 of the Act deal specifically with the process of filing, disclosure, scrutiny, and acceptance or rejection of nomination papers submitted by candidates.

Section 33 – Filing of Nomination Papers

1. Section 33 governs the procedure for filing nomination papers by candidates contesting elections.

2. A candidate must submit nomination papers that are signed both by the candidate and by proposers supporting the candidature.

3. For party-affiliated candidates, only one proposer from the constituency is required to sign the nomination paper.

4. For independent candidates, the law requires ten proposers from the constituency to sign the nomination paper.

Section 33A – Mandatory Disclosure Requirements

1. Section 33A, inserted by an amendment in 2002, mandates public disclosure of specific personal and legal details by candidates.

2. Every candidate must declare criminal cases pending or convicted against them.

3. They must also disclose details of their assets and liabilities, including those of their spouse and dependents.

4. Additionally, candidates must provide information about their educational qualifications.

5. This disclosure aims to ensure transparency and informed voter choice in elections.

Section 33B – Limitation on Additional Disclosures

1. Section 33B restricts the scope of disclosures beyond what is specified in Section 33A.

2. It states that no additional information other than what is required under Section 33A can be demanded from a candidate by any authority.

3. This provision was added to balance transparency with privacy, preventing arbitrary demands for personal data.

Section 34 – Security Deposit Requirement

1. Section 34 prescribes the payment of a security deposit at the time of filing nomination papers.

2. For candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections, the security deposit amount is ₹25,000.

3. For candidates contesting State Assembly elections, the required deposit is ₹10,000.

4. The security deposit is forfeited if the candidate fails to secure one-sixth of the total valid votes in the constituency.

5. This mechanism discourages non-serious candidates from contesting elections merely for symbolic purposes.

Section 35 – Election Notification and Schedule

1. Section 35 empowers the Returning Officer (RO) to notify the schedule for filing, scrutiny, and withdrawal of nomination papers.

2. The Returning Officer is an election official appointed to oversee and manage the electoral process in each constituency.

3. This section ensures that all candidates are informed of the official timeline for the nomination process.

Section 36 – Scrutiny of Nomination Papers

1. Section 36 deals with the scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer (RO).

2. The RO examines each nomination to ensure it complies with the legal and procedural requirements under the RPA.

3. The Returning Officer may accept or reject nomination papers that are defective or incomplete.

4. However, any rejection must be based on valid legal grounds, and candidates must be given an opportunity to respond.

Together, Sections 33–36 form the core legal framework governing candidate nominations in India’s electoral process.

The ongoing debates and court cases highlight the need for greater transparency, digitization, and procedural fairness in implementing these provisions.

Reforming the nomination process under these sections would strengthen India’s democratic and electoral integrity.

Supreme Court Raises Concern over India’s Land Registration System

1. The Supreme Court of India (SC) has expressed serious concern over the inefficiency and outdated nature of India’s land registration system.

2. The observation came in the case of Samiullah v. State of Bihar, which dealt with fraudulent land registration and ownership disputes.

3. The Court noted that the existing land registration framework continues to rely on colonial-era laws.

4. These include the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, the Stamp Act, 1899, and the Registration Act, 1908.

5. The SC highlighted that the registration of a deed under the Registration Act, 1908, only provides presumptive evidence of ownership, not conclusive title.

   • A presumptive title means the State merely records ownership claims, but does not guarantee or certify the authenticity of ownership.

6. This lack of State-backed certification leaves buyers and property owners vulnerable to fraud and litigation.

7. The Court observed that fraudulent deeds, encroachments, and weak verification mechanisms have resulted in 66% of civil litigation in India being land-related.

8. The SC also found that digitization efforts like DILRMP (Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme) and NGDRS (National Generic Document Registration System) are incomplete.

9. These programmes digitize records but do not verify or correct faulty land titles, limiting their effectiveness.

Key Suggestions and Directions by the Supreme Court

1. The Supreme Court suggested the integration of Blockchain Technology to modernize India’s land registration system.

2. It stated that Blockchain, if implemented, could create an incorruptible, transparent, and easily verifiable registry of property transactions.

   • Blockchain is a type of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) where encrypted records (blocks) are permanently linked across a network of computers.

3. In Blockchain, each block contains verified data, and these blocks are chronologically connected and cryptographically secured, making tampering nearly impossible.

4. The SC explained that such systems could integrate survey data, cadastral maps (detailed maps showing land boundaries), and registration details into a single digital framework.

5. This integration would prevent multiple sales of the same property, a common source of disputes.

6. The Court further directed the Law Commission of India to study the feasibility of moving from a presumptive title system to a conclusive title system.

   • A conclusive title system means the State guarantees ownership, and once a title is registered, it becomes legally undisputed.

7. The SC also called for an institutional and legal overhaul of the land registration framework.

8. It recommended amendments and alignment among key legislations such as the Registration Act (1908), Evidence Act (1872), and the Information Technology (IT) Act (2000).

9. The Court emphasized the need for stronger coordination between the Centre and the States to ensure uniform reform and implementation.

About Blockchain Technology and Its Global Relevance

1. Blockchain Technology ensures immutability, meaning data once recorded cannot be altered or deleted.

2. It provides transparency, as every transaction is traceable and verifiable by all authorized participants.

3. It promotes decentralization, reducing the dependence on single authorities and minimizing the risk of corruption.

4. The use of Blockchain can enhance public trust, reduce property fraud, and increase efficiency in land and public record systems.

5. Globally, countries such as Sweden, Georgia, and Ghana have already piloted Blockchain-based land registries.

6. These international pilots have shown significant improvements in system efficiency, transparency, and citizen confidence.

World Economic Forum (WEF): “Shaping the Deep-Tech Revolution in Agriculture” Report

1. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a new report titled “Shaping the Deep-Tech Revolution in Agriculture.”

2. The report has been launched under the WEF AI for Agriculture Initiative (AI4AI).

3. The AI4AI Initiative brings together public and private sector partners to scale agritech solutions globally.

4. Its objective is to accelerate the transformation of global food systems through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep technology.

   • Deep Tech refers to advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, biotechnology, quantum computing, and data analytics that offer radical innovation and high impact potential in solving complex problems.

Key Challenges in Global Agriculture

1. The report identifies a declining agricultural workforce as a major challenge for the global food system.

2. This decline is driven by rural-to-urban migration and an ageing farmer population, leading to reduced labour availability in farming.

3. Climate change and extreme weather events are also severely affecting agricultural productivity.

4. Without substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions, global calorie yield from staple crops could fall by 24% by 2100.

5. The degradation of natural resources poses another critical challenge for long-term agricultural sustainability.

6. Currently, agriculture consumes about 70% of global freshwater resources.

7. Additionally, 71% of aquifers — underground layers of water-bearing rock — are already depleted.

8. One-third of the world’s soils are degraded, reducing their productivity and fertility.

9. If degradation continues, 90% of global topsoil may be degraded by 2050, threatening future food security.

Deep-Tech Use Cases in Agriculture Highlighted by the Report

1. The report highlights Intello Labs’ AI and computer vision-based solution called “Fruitsort.”

2. Fruitsort uses advanced cameras and machine learning algorithms to rapidly analyse fresh produce and detect quality defects in fruits and vegetables.

3. It enables farmers and supply chains to ensure standardized quality assessment and reduce post-harvest losses.

4. The report also cites India’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) as a deep-tech application in crop insurance.

5. PMFBY integrates remote sensing technologies such as satellite imagery to assess crop losses efficiently.

6. It also employs high-resolution drones and a dedicated mobile application for real-time crop data collection.

7. Infosys has developed the “5G.NATURAL” programme, which represents a deep-tech innovation in smart farming.

8. This programme focuses on creating a scalable, modular, and intelligent swarm system, designed specifically for automated harvesting.

9. The report also mentions Boomitra’s URVARA project, which stands for Vital Agricultural Regeneration and Adaptation.

   • The URVARA project focuses on carbon monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) — a system that ensures accurate tracking of carbon emissions and sequestration in agriculture.

10. Such initiatives aim to promote regenerative farming, enhance soil carbon storage, and support global climate goals.

Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) Report on India by the World Bank

1. The World Bank has released the latest Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) Report on India.

2. The report urges India to accelerate financial sector reforms to achieve its long-term target of becoming a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047.

3. The FSAP assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of a country’s financial stability, development, and regulatory framework.

4. The report notes that India’s financial system has become stronger and more diversified over recent years.

5. The total financial sector assets have increased to about 175% of GDP, up from 144% in 2017.

6. Despite this progress, the report observes that the State continues to play a dominant role in India’s financial system.

Key Highlights of the FSAP Report

1. The report highlights digital public infrastructure as a major strength of India’s financial ecosystem.

   • Digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to foundational digital systems such as Aadhaar, UPI, and Jan Dhan, which have enhanced access, efficiency, and financial inclusion.

2. It praises regulatory progress made by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

3. The report acknowledges that these reforms have strengthened supervision and improved regulatory capacity in the financial sector.

4. However, it points out continuing challenges in the oversight of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and risk management practices.

5. The expansion of regulatory authority over cooperative banks and the tightening of prudential rules were particularly appreciated by the FSAP.

6. The report notes that corporate bond and infrastructure financing markets in India remain shallow and underdeveloped.

7. Most institutional investors continue to prefer government securities over corporate debt instruments, limiting capital market depth.

8. The FSAP also highlights tax disparities between debt and equity instruments, which discourage participation in the bond market.

Key Reforms Recommended by the FSAP

1. The report calls for boosting private capital mobilisation through deeper bond and securitisation markets.

   • Securitisation refers to the process of pooling financial assets and selling them as securities to investors.

2. Developing these markets would help attract long-term institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies.

3. It recommends strengthening NBFC regulation by refining scale-based frameworks and aligning them with global prudential norms.

4. The FSAP also advises integrating digital and financial reforms to ensure that fintech innovations support broader financial inclusion goals.

5. It calls for sustaining reform momentum through greater coordination among India’s financial regulators such as RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA.

6. Such coordination, according to the report, is vital to maintain financial stability and foster market growth.

7. The FSAP also highlights the need to mobilise green finance to support India’s low-carbon transition.

8. It recommends using Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to fund green and climate-resilient projects.

9. DFIs can also help reduce investor risk and attract sustainable capital for climate-friendly infrastructure.

About the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP)

1. The FSAP is a joint initiative of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) launched in 1999.

2. Its primary objective is to assess the resilience of financial systems, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend reforms.

3. In advanced economies, FSAP assessments are conducted solely by the IMF.

4. In developing and emerging market economies, FSAPs are jointly conducted by the IMF and the World Bank.

5. India’s previous FSAP assessment was carried out in 2017.

BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN)

1. Researchers have completed the first draft of atlases of the developing human brain.

2. This major scientific achievement is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN).

3. The BRAIN Initiative, short for Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies, aims to revolutionize understanding of the human brain through advanced mapping and imaging tools.

4. Under BICAN, scientists have created cellular-level maps (called atlases) that illustrate how the human brain develops over time.

Key Findings of the Research

1. The research charts how different types of brain cells emerge and mature from the earliest embryonic and foetal stages until adulthood.

   • Embryonic and foetal stages refer to the early developmental phases of human life when the nervous system begins to form.

2. This mapping provides unprecedented insights into the cellular composition and development of the human brain.

3. The findings could play a vital role in tackling brain-related disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

4. These disorders are often linked to abnormal brain cell development or neural circuit disruptions, making such research crucial for early diagnosis and therapy design.

About BICAN

1. The BICAN (BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network) is a collaborative scientific effort involving neuroscientists, computational biologists, and software engineers.

2. Its core aim is to create a comprehensive, open-access cell atlas of the entire human brain.

   • An open-access atlas means that the data will be freely available to researchers worldwide to encourage scientific collaboration and discovery.

3. The initiative combines neuroscience (study of the brain), computational biology (use of algorithms to analyse biological data), and software engineering (building data-driven digital tools).

4. Together, these disciplines help map, categorize, and model every cell type within the brain for better understanding of structure and function.

5. The BICAN project thus marks a significant milestone in global efforts to decode the human brain’s cellular complexity.

Rhesus Macaque

1. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recently recommended reinstating the Rhesus Macaque under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

   • The National Board for Wildlife is the apex advisory body in India for wildlife conservation policy and habitat protection.

2. Inclusion under Schedule II of the Act provides statutory protection against illegal capture, trade, and cruelty towards the species.

3. This move will restore legal safeguards that ensure the humane treatment and conservation of the Rhesus Macaque population.

About Rhesus Macaque

1. The Rhesus Macaque is a species of monkey scientifically known as Macaca mulatta.

2. It is native to mainland Asia, where it is widely distributed across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, and Afghanistan.

3. The species is classified as a nonhuman primate, meaning it belongs to the primate order but is not human.

4. Interestingly, Rhesus Macaques share approximately 93% of their genetic sequence with humans, making them biologically and behaviorally similar in many ways.

5. Due to this genetic closeness, they are often used in biomedical and behavioral research to study human physiology and diseases.

6. The Rhesus Macaque is an omnivore, meaning it feeds on both plant-based and animal-based foods such as fruits, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates.

7. It exhibits both arboreal (tree-dwelling) and terrestrial (ground-dwelling) behavior, allowing it to adapt to a variety of habitats including forests, urban areas, and temples.

8. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as of Least Concern, indicating that it currently faces no major threat of extinction.

9. However, increasing human-wildlife conflict in urban and agricultural zones has made management and protection of the species an important policy issue.

Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma & MedTech (PRIP) Scheme

1. The Central Government has recently extended the deadline for applying to the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma & MedTech (PRIP) Scheme.

2. The scheme is launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, which operates under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

3. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹5000 crores, aimed at fostering research and innovation in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.

4. The primary aim of PRIP is to transform India into a global powerhouse for R&D in the Pharma and MedTech sectors, enhancing both domestic capabilities and global competitiveness.

Key Features of the PRIP Scheme

1. Component A focuses on strengthening research infrastructure by establishing Centres of Excellence at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPERs).

   • Centres of Excellence are specialized institutes designed to promote high-quality research, advanced training, and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences.

2. Component B emphasizes the promotion of research and innovation specifically in the Pharma and MedTech sectors, encouraging development of new drugs, medical devices, and technologies.

3. Through these initiatives, PRIP seeks to enhance India’s global presence in health technologies and support cutting-edge scientific advancements.

Google Planning AI Data Centre on Christmas Island

1. Google applied last month for Australian environmental approvals to build its first subsea cable connecting Christmas Island to Darwin, a northern Australian city.

   • Darwin hosts the U.S. Marine Corps for six months of the year, adding strategic importance to the project.

2. The plan to build a data centre on Christmas Island, located 350 km (220 miles) south of Indonesia, has not been previously reported.

3. Christmas Island covers 135 square km (52 square miles) and is best known for its asylum seeker detention centre and the annual migration of millions of red crabs.

4. Until recently, the island faced poor telecommunications, and its 1,600 residents had limited job opportunities.

5. Its location allows monitoring of key maritime passages, including the Sunda Strait, Lombok Strait, and Malacca Straits, making it strategically valuable.

6. Geographically, Christmas Island is situated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1,500 km northwest of the Australian mainland.

7. The island is nicknamed the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean" due to its unique biodiversity, including red crabs, seabirds, whale sharks, and spectacular coral reefs.

8. Experts note that Christmas Island is well positioned to track maritime activity through critical sea lanes in the region.

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