GK One-Liners

What: The Government of India has extended the tenure of the 16th Finance Commission until November 30, 2025. The Commission, chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, is tasked with recommending Centre–State tax devolution for the period 2026–2031 and disaster financing mechanisms.

How: Finance Commissions are constituted under Article 280 of the Constitution every five years. They recommend the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Centre and States (vertical devolution) and among States (horizontal devolution). The 16th FC will also address grants-in-aid and local body funding.

Why: Finance Commission is a perennial UPSC favourite under Polity and Economy. Key facts: Article 280 provisions, composition (Chairman + 4 members), and the current 41% vertical devolution recommended by the 15th FC. Dr. Arvind Panagariya is former NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman—another exam-relevant detail.

What: India unveiled a $77 billion (₹6.4 trillion) plan to harness 76 GW of hydropower from the Brahmaputra river basin by 2047. The initiative is led by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and involves NHPC Limited (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) and NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation).

How: The plan involves constructing multiple dams and run-of-the-river projects across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and other northeastern states. It aims to tap the Brahmaputra’s massive hydropower potential before the river enters Bangladesh. Projects will include pumped storage and multipurpose dams for irrigation and flood control.

Why: Hydropower development in the Northeast links to energy security, Act East Policy, and strategic concerns (China’s upstream projects). NHPC and NEEPCO are key PSUs for infrastructure questions. The Brahmaputra is a transboundary river—connect this to India-China-Bangladesh water diplomacy in Mains answers.

What: Maldives has become the world’s first country to achieve WHO-validated triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis. The country has achieved over 95% antenatal care coverage.

How: Triple elimination requires meeting strict WHO criteria: HIV MTCT rate below 2%, Hepatitis B below 1%, and syphilis below 50 cases per 100,000 live births. Maldives achieved this through universal antenatal screening, free treatment, and strong primary healthcare infrastructure.

Why: Global health milestones are asked in UPSC International Relations and Science & Tech sections. India is working towards similar elimination targets under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP). Maldives is also India’s key Indian Ocean neighbour—link to Neighbourhood First policy.

What: The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discovery of the FOXP3 gene, which is crucial for peripheral immune tolerance. Their work explains how the immune system prevents attacks on the body’s own tissues.

How: The FOXP3 gene controls the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress excessive immune responses. Mutations in FOXP3 cause severe autoimmune disorders. This discovery has opened new avenues for treating autoimmune diseases, allergies, and improving organ transplant outcomes.

Why: Nobel Prize winners are guaranteed exam questions. Know all 2025 laureates across categories. FOXP3 links to immunology topics in UPSC Science & Tech. Note: Shimon Sakaguchi is Japanese, reflecting Japan’s strong Nobel legacy—useful for comparative questions.

What: Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the ‘Vishwas’ scheme to reduce Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) litigation. The scheme introduces rationalised penal damages and digital upgrades including e-Office and SPARROW (Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window).

How: Vishwas allows employers to settle pending EPF disputes with reduced penalties, encouraging compliance. The digital reforms streamline EPF processes, making it easier for businesses to manage provident fund contributions and reducing administrative burden on the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Why: Labour reforms and social security schemes are important for UPSC GS-II (Governance) and banking exams. EPFO is India’s largest social security organisation. Link to other labour reforms like the four Labour Codes (2020) and Aatmanirbhar Bharat employment initiatives.

What: Indian space startup GalaxEye announced ‘Mission Drishti’—India’s first private multi-sensor Earth Observation (EO) satellite. The 160 kg satellite will merge Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical payloads to deliver 1.5-metre resolution imagery, with launch planned for early 2026.

How: SAR uses radar signals that can penetrate clouds and work at night, while optical sensors provide detailed daylight imagery. Combining both on a single satellite platform enables all-weather, round-the-clock Earth monitoring. This is valuable for agriculture, disaster management, and defence applications.

Why: India’s private space sector is booming post-Space Policy 2023 and IN-SPACe reforms. GalaxEye joins Pixxel, Agnikul, and Skyroot as key startups. Multi-sensor EO satellites are cutting-edge technology—expect questions on SAR vs. optical imaging and India’s space startup ecosystem.