Here are the 13th September 2025 Current Affairs for UPSC covering key issues: the RTI’s shift towards a “right to deny information,” the rise of cyber scams, debates on property rights, the gender parity gap among tribals, and the Supreme Court’s ruling on disability quotas. Each topic is structured for UPSC Prelims & Mains 2025, with laws, reports, and exam-focused insights.

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1. The RTT’s Shift to a ‘Right to Deny Information’

What’s the News?

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, long celebrated as India’s most powerful transparency tool, has come under scrutiny after the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 amended Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI.

• Under the amendment, information may be denied if classified as “personal data,” unless a clear public interest is established.

• Civil society, legal experts, and media argue this weakens accountability, effectively turning the RTI from a right to know into a right to deny.

• The Central Information Commission’s (CIC) 2020–21 Annual Report showed nearly 40% RTI requests rejected, often on vague grounds like “personal information.”

• The debate highlights a constitutional balancing act: Privacy (Article 21) vs Transparency & Free Expression (Article 19).

Key Points for UPSC

• RTI Act, 2005

  • Mandates disclosure of government records.

  • Three-tier system: Public Information Officer (PIO) → Appellate Authority → Central/State Information Commission.

  • Suo-moto disclosure under Section 4.

  • Exemptions under Section 8: national security, foreign relations, fiduciary interest, etc.

• DPDP Act, 2023

  • Introduces strong safeguards for “personal data.”

  • Section 44(3) amends RTI Sec. 8(1)(j), expanding grounds to deny disclosure of “personal information.”

• Tension in Governance

  • Transparency vs Privacy: balancing public accountability with protection of individuals.

  • 2nd ARC Report: RTI is the “master key to Good Governance.”

• Prelims Angle

  • Article 19(1)(a) – RTI implicit in Freedom of Speech & Expression.

  • Article 21 – Right to Privacy (Justice Puttaswamy Case, 2017).

  • Section 8(1)(j) – key exemption clause.

  • DPDP Act – India’s first dedicated personal data protection law.

Recent Developments & Global Context

• Indian Context

  • High rejection rates of RTI applications (CIC 2020–21: ~40%).

  • Cases like PM CARES Fund kept outside RTI’s ambit, sparking debate.

  • RTI Amendment Act (2019) diluted independence of Information Commissioners (tenure & service conditions).

• Global Context

  • European Union (GDPR): strict on privacy, but member states balance FOI (Freedom of Information) laws.

  • Aarhus Convention (1998): guarantees access to environmental information.

  • Democracies globally wrestle with tension between data protection and citizen oversight.

Relevant Conventions / Treaties / Laws

• Domestic:

  • RTI Act, 2005

  • DPDP Act, 2023

  • RTI Amendment Act, 2019

• International:

  • ICCPR (Article 19) – freedom of information.

  • UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) – stresses transparency.

  • Aarhus Convention – access to environmental information.

Case Studies

• Commonwealth Games Scam (2010) – Exposed misuse of funds via RTI queries.

• Adarsh Housing Scam (Maharashtra) – Brought to light by RTI applications.

• MGNREGA Leakages (Rajasthan) – Discrepancies in fund flow revealed through RTI.

Challenges in RTI Implementation

• Structural:

  • Vacancies in Information Commissions.

  • Bureaucratic inertia and culture of secrecy.

  • Backlogs in appeals.

• Functional:

  • Overuse of exemptions (Sec. 8).

  • Lack of proactive disclosure.

  • “Personal information” used as vague denial ground.

• Procedural:

  • Low awareness among citizens.

  • Poor record-keeping in government offices.

  • Fear of penalties under DPDP Act discourages disclosure.

Implications for India & the World

• For India

  • Weakening RTI could reduce citizen oversight, increase corruption risk, and erode trust in democracy.

  • May discourage investigative journalism and citizen activism.

  • Burden shifts onto citizens to prove public interest — reversing the spirit of RTI.

• For the World

  • India, once hailed as a global RTI pioneer, risks sliding backwards in transparency rankings.

  • Sets precedent for other democracies facing the privacy–transparency dilemma.

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2. Scam Space

What’s the News?

India is witnessing an alarming expansion of the “scam space”, driven by digital platforms, deepfake technology, and cryptocurrency fraud. A recent case in Hyderabad exposed how a retired doctor was duped of ₹20 lakh after viewing a deepfake video of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing a fake investment scheme.

This incident highlights how AI-driven impersonation, low digital literacy, and weak global regulation have created fertile ground for fraudsters.

Key Points for UPSC

• Scale of Problem

  • NCRB Report 2022: 76,500+ cybercrime cases (24% rise over 2021); 66% linked to fraud.

  • RBI Report 2023: ₹7,128 crore lost in digital payment frauds in FY 2022–23.

  • WEF Global Risks Report 2024: cybercrime projected to cost $10–$13 trillion annually by 2025.

• Typical Scam Lifecycle
  Contact → Trust building (fake profiles, deepfakes) → Exploitation (crypto/gifts/investments) → Laundering via digital wallets/offshore accounts.

• Indian Legal Framework

  • Information Technology Act, 2000 (Sections 66C, 66D on identity theft and cheating).

  • IPC Sections 419/420 (cheating and fraud).

  • RBI Guidelines on Digital Payments Security (KYC, OTP, transaction limits).

• Prelims Pointers

  • Sections of IT Act relevant to cybercrime.

  • FATF’s role in anti-money laundering.

  • MLATs (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties) for cross-border cybercrime cooperation.

Recent Developments & Global Context

• Deepfake & AI-enabled scams: Fake videos of ministers and celebrities are widely circulated to lure victims into crypto investments and Ponzi schemes.

• Cross-border fraud networks: Fraudsters operate from multiple jurisdictions using crypto wallets and disappear overnight.

• Platform inertia: Social media platforms often act only after users report scams — by then, damage is done.

• Global response:

  • G20 discussions (2023–24): stressed international regulation of crypto assets.

  • Budapest Convention on Cybercrime: provides a framework for cooperation, though India has not ratified it.

  • Estonia’s digital literacy programs are global best practices.

Relevant Conventions / Treaties / Laws

• Domestic:

  • IT Act, 2000; IPC 419/420.

  • RBI’s cyber security framework for banks & NBFCs.

• International:

  • Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – crypto transaction monitoring.

  • Budapest Convention (2001) – global cooperation on cybercrime.

  • UNCAC (UN Convention Against Corruption) – relevance for financial fraud.

Challenges & Concerns

• Low Digital Literacy: Despite high smartphone penetration, large sections of society lack the skills to detect online manipulation.

• Deepfake Manipulations: AI-generated visuals make scams highly convincing.

• Cross-Border Complexity: Offshore servers and crypto wallets make investigation difficult.

• Platform Profit Motive: Social media firms prioritize engagement; proactive fraud removal is limited.

• Procedural Gaps: Many scams treated as isolated cases rather than systemic vulnerabilities.

Implications for India & the World

• For India

  • Weak cyber defenses risk financial inclusion initiatives (UPI, digital wallets).

  • Public trust in digital governance could erode if scams remain unchecked.

  • Necessitates cyber literacy campaigns, mandatory crypto platform registration, and faster takedown requests.

• For the World

  • Cybercrime is now a non-military global threat, comparable to terrorism in its economic cost.

  • Requires cross-border coordination, FATF-compliant crypto regulation, and shared AI-detection systems.

Case Studies / Examples

• Hyderabad Deepfake Scam (2024) – ₹20 lakh lost through AI-generated impersonation of Finance Minister.

• Twitter Bitcoin Scam (2021) – celebrity accounts hacked to promote crypto fraud.

• MGNREGA wage frauds – local scams exposed through RTI and digital audits.

Way Forward

• Digital Literacy: Integrate cyber safety into school curricula & civil society programs.

• Proactive Regulation: Mandatory registration/disclosure norms for crypto platforms.

• Platform Responsibility: AI-driven fraud detection, faster removal of manipulated content.

• International Cooperation: Ratify/align with Budapest Convention; leverage G20 frameworks.

• Institutional Capacity: Strengthen NCRB cyber units, state cyber cells, and technical forensics.

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3. Denying Upward Mobility to Candidates with Disabilities Defeats Purpose of Quota: SC

What’s the News?

The Supreme Court of India recently highlighted a critical anomaly in the implementation of reservations for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Unlike SC/ST/OBC candidates, meritorious PwD candidates who cross the general-category cut-off are not shifted to the unreserved list.

This denial of “upward mobility” undermines the very spirit of reservations by restricting opportunities for other PwD candidates who could benefit from the quota. The Court has sought the Union Government’s response to rectify this policy gap.

Key Points for UPSC

• Principle of Upward Mobility

  • Established in case law for SC/ST/OBC reservations.

  • Ensures meritorious reserved candidates are placed in open category, freeing up reserved seats for others.

  • SC observed PwD candidates are being denied this benefit.

• Legal Framework

  • Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 – Section 34 provides 4% reservation in government jobs.

  • Constitutional Basis – Articles 14 (Equality before law), 16 (Equality of opportunity in public employment).

  • UNCRPD (ratified by India in 2007) – mandates reasonable accommodation and non-discrimination.

• Prelims Angle

  • RPwD Act, 2016 → 4% job quota, 5% in higher education.

  • Constitutional Articles: 14, 16, 41.

  • India’s UNCRPD obligations (2007 ratification).

Recent Developments & Global Context

• India

  • Judiciary has expanded interpretation of substantive equality for PwDs (e.g., reservation in promotions case law).

  • SC has held that PwD reservations are horizontal (cutting across vertical categories like SC, ST, OBC).

  • National Statistical Office (NSO) survey (2018): India has 2.2% disabled population, yet their participation in public jobs is disproportionately low.

• Global Context

  • UNCRPD: Article 27 guarantees equal access to work and employment.

  • U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990) and UK Equality Act (2010) provide models of reasonable accommodation.

  • Several countries treat disability quotas flexibly, ensuring merit migration is applied.

Relevant Conventions / Treaties / Laws

• Domestic:

  • RPwD Act, 2016 (Sections 32–34).

  • Constitution – Articles 14, 16, 41 (Directive Principles on right to work).

  • Case Law: Union of India v. National Federation of the Blind (2013) – SC mandated implementation of 3% reservation.

• International:

  • UNCRPD (2006) – India ratified in 2007.

  • Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 4 (Inclusive Education).

Challenges

• Policy Gaps – Lack of clarity on “merit migration” for PwDs in recruitment rules.

• Administrative Weakness – Delays in updating DoPT circulars and cadre rules.

• Awareness & Sensitisation – Limited institutional training for HR/recruiting agencies.

• Implementation Deficit – High backlog in filling PwD quota posts.

Implications for India & the World

• For India

  • Rectifying the anomaly would ensure real representation of PwDs in both reserved and open categories.

  • Aligns with India’s constitutional vision of substantive equality.

  • Supports social justice goals and boosts inclusivity in bureaucracy and academia.

• For the World

  • Strengthens India’s compliance with UNCRPD commitments.

  • Positions India as a model for balancing affirmative action with merit-based migration in developing democracies.

Case Studies & Judicial Notes

• National Federation of the Blind v. Union of India (2013) – Directed full implementation of PwD reservations.

• Rajeev Kumar Gupta v. Union of India (2016) – SC upheld reservation in promotions for PwDs.

• Current SC hearing (2025) – flagged anomaly in “upward mobility” application.

Way Forward

• Amend Service Rules to explicitly allow upward migration for PwD candidates.

• Strengthen DoPT Guidelines – clarify horizontal reservation policies.

• Regular Monitoring – annual compliance audits by Central Information Commission and Social Justice Ministry.

• Awareness Campaigns – ensure PwDs are aware of their entitlements.

• Capacity Building – training for recruitment agencies and HR departments.

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4. Property Rights and the Gender Parity Gap among Tribals

What’s the News?

Property rights are once again in public debate in India, with courts and policymakers stressing digitisation of land records, title security, and recognition of women’s and homemakers’ contributions. Within this debate, tribal women remain among the most disadvantaged groups, facing a gender parity gap in ownership due to customary exclusions, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and weak enforcement of equality laws.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 (WEF) placed India at 131/148 countries, and tribal women fare worse than the national average — especially in land ownership, education, and economic participation.

Key Points for UPSC

• Right to Property in India

  • Originally a Fundamental Right (Article 31).

  • Downgraded to a constitutional/legal right under Article 300A after the 44th Amendment (1978).

• Tribal Women and Land Ownership

  • Hindu Succession Act, 2005 excludes Scheduled Tribes under Section 2(2), leaving inheritance governed by customary laws.

  • NFHS-5 (2019–21) – only 43% of Indian women own land/house, with far lower figures among STs.

  • Agricultural Census (2015–16) – only 16.7% of ST women possess land rights.

• Policy Initiatives

  • Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) – digitising land records.

  • Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) – recognises individual and community land claims but often excludes women in practice.

  • PESA Act, 1996 – empowers tribal Gram Sabhas in land/resource governance.

Recent Developments & Judicial Trends

• Recognition of Homemakers’ Contribution – Courts increasingly factor unpaid household work in property disputes.

• Digitisation Push (2024–25) – States adopting e-registration, blockchain pilots, and Aadhaar verification to curb land fraud.

• Tribal Women’s Rights Cases:

  • Prabha Minz Case (Jharkhand, 2022) – struck down Oraon custom that excluded daughters from inheritance.

  • Kamala Neti Case (Odisha, 2019) – highlighted inequity in women’s land ownership.

Global Context

• Land Governance

  • World Bank & UN-Habitat advocate clear land titles as key to credit access and poverty reduction.

  • Torrens System (Australia, Canada) – state-backed conclusive land titles.

• Gender Gap

  • WEF Global Gender Gap Report 2025 – India ranked 131; gaps most visible in economic participation and political empowerment.

  • UNDRIP (2007) and CEDAW call for indigenous women’s equal rights, but customary practices often clash with these standards.

Case Studies / Reports

• Commonwealth Games Scam via RTI – highlighted importance of transparency in property/resource management.

• Prabha Minz Case (Jharkhand, 2022) – upheld daughters’ inheritance rights.

• Dalwai Committee (2018) – emphasised women’s land reforms for agricultural growth.

• Oxfam India Report (2022) – land inequality a major driver of women’s vulnerability, especially for STs.

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