LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court Proposes Assistance Fund for Young Lawyers and Women Advocates

• The Supreme Court of India suggested the creation of a Young Lawyers’ Professional Assistance Fund to support advocates facing financial difficulties during the early years of practice.

• A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana issued notices to the Centre, States, Union Territories, and other stakeholders on 19 June 2026.

• The proposed scheme is aimed particularly at first-generation lawyers and advocates from economically or socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

• The Court indicated that eligible young advocates may receive a monthly stipend-cum-honorarium, ensuring basic financial support during the initial years of legal practice.

• Assistance may continue for up to seven years, with maximum support during the first three years and a gradual reduction thereafter.

• Suggested sources for the fund include voluntary contributions from senior advocates, a share of court fees, and a portion of costs imposed by courts in judicial proceedings.

• The bench also emphasized the need for better infrastructure and facilities for women advocates, including provisions relating to safety, privacy, comfort, and professional convenience within court premises.

• The matter, arising from a petition filed by women lawyers concerning inclusiveness and sustainability in the legal profession, has been listed for further hearing on 17 July 2026, with the Attorney General, Advocate Generals, and UT counsel requested to assist the Court.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UAE Social Media Minimum Age Rule 2026

• The UAE Cabinet approved a resolution on 18 June 2026 fixing 15 years as the minimum age for social media account creation and use.

• Children below 15 years are prohibited from creating, operating, or using personal social media accounts.

• The rule applies to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

• Users aged 15–16 years may access social media with enhanced safeguards, including parental controls and restricted interactions.

• Social media companies must implement robust age-verification systems, including digital identity checks and AI-supported verification tools.

• Self-declaration of age will not be accepted as valid proof for account creation.

• The resolution prohibits the use of children’s personal data for commercial purposes based on tracking online activity.

• Social media companies have a 12-month transition period and must comply with the new standards by June 2027.

RANKING AND REPORTS

QS World University Rankings 2027: IIT Delhi Emerges as India's Top-Ranked Institution

• IIT Delhi secured the highest position among Indian universities, attaining 118th rank globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

• IIT Bombay slipped slightly to 134th place, while IIT Madras improved its standing to 170th, maintaining its presence among the world's top 200 universities.

• IIT Hyderabad recorded notable progress, climbing 76 positions to reach 588th rank in the latest edition.

• The rankings are published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and assess institutions on parameters such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact, and internationalisation.

• A total of 52 Indian universities featured in the 2027 rankings, reflecting the country's expanding presence in global higher education.

• India ranked fifth worldwide in terms of the number of universities represented, behind the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Germany.

• The number of Indian institutions in the QS rankings has grown significantly, increasing from 11 universities in 2015 to 52 in 2027, marking a rise of about 271%.

• IIT Delhi strengthened its global reputation by achieving 39th position in employer reputation and 60th in citations per faculty, highlighting its academic and research excellence.

STATE NEWS

International Festival of Yoga and Meditation 2026 Celebrated Across Ladakh

• The International Festival of Yoga and Meditation 2026 is being held across Ladakh from 15–21 June 2026 to commemorate the 12th International Day of Yoga.

• The week-long programme features yoga and wellness activities at prominent locations including Leh, Siachen Base Camp, and Pangong Lake.

• The festival was formally inaugurated on 16 June 2026 by Harsh Malhotra at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre in Leh.

• A seminar titled “Integration of Yoga for Public Health” was organised on 18 June 2026 by the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa and the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre.

• Sowa Rigpa, also known as the Tibetan system of medicine, is a traditional healing practice widely followed in the Himalayan region, particularly in Ladakh.

• The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa operates under the Ministry of Ayush and promotes education, research, and healthcare services related to this medical system.

• The United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, while the first global observance took place in 2015.

• The festival highlights the role of Yoga and Sowa Rigpa in preventive healthcare, with discussions focused on holistic well-being and integrated health approaches.

Tamil Nadu Establishes Five Renewable Energy Zones to Strengthen Green Power Development

• The Government of Tamil Nadu approved five dedicated Renewable Energy Zones on 19 June 2026 to streamline the development and management of green energy projects.

• These zones will function under Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited and focus on the administration of wind and solar power initiatives.

• Regional headquarters have been established at Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, and Madurai, creating a decentralized framework for project execution.

• The zonal setup will facilitate faster approvals, project coordination, and development of power evacuation infrastructure for renewable energy installations.

• Each zone will be headed by Assistant Executive Engineers, who will oversee implementation and operational activities within their respective regions.

• The initiative also supports repowering of wind farms, enabling the replacement of outdated turbines with modern, higher-capacity equipment.

• The new structure will assist in implementing key clean-energy programmes such as PM-KUSUM 2.0, PM Rooftop Solar, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Floating Solar Projects.

• The move is expected to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position as a leading renewable-energy state by improving regional management and enhancing the integration of sustainable power sources into the electricity network.

AWARDS

Jainendra K. Jain Receives 2025 Wolf Prize in Physics for Composite Fermion Theory

• Jainendra K. Jain, originally from Rajasthan, was awarded the 2025 Wolf Prize in Physics for his pioneering contribution to the theory of composite fermions.

• The award was presented on 18 June 2026 in Jerusalem by Isaac Herzog during a state ceremony held at the Knesset.

• Jain developed the concept of composite fermions in 1989 while serving as a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University.

• The composite fermion framework provided a breakthrough explanation for the fractional quantum Hall effect, a key quantum phenomenon observed in two-dimensional electron systems under strong magnetic fields.

• He shared the 2025 Wolf Prize with James P. Eisenstein and Mordehai Heiblum for their contributions to quantum Hall physics.

• Currently, Jain serves as an Evan Pugh University Professor and Eberly Family Chair in Physics at Pennsylvania State University and is also the Founding Director of the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute in India.

• Established in 1978 by the Wolf Foundation, the Wolf Prize is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious scientific honours, with many recipients later becoming Nobel laureates.

• Jainendra K. Jain became the first person of Indian origin to receive the Wolf Prize in Physics, marking a significant milestone for the global Indian scientific community.