GK One-Liners

What: State Bank of India (SBI) won the “World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025” and “Best Bank in India” awards at the Global Finance Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The recognition highlights SBI’s innovation, digital transformation, and excellence in consumer banking services.

How: Global Finance, a leading financial publication, evaluates banks on criteria including growth, profitability, customer service, technological innovation, and geographic reach. SBI’s digital initiatives—YONO (You Only Need One) app, digital lending, and extensive ATM/branch network—contributed to this recognition.

Why: Banking awards and SBI achievements are frequently asked in banking exams. SBI facts: Largest Indian bank by assets, a Public Sector Bank (PSB), Maharatna status, HQ in Mumbai, tagline “The Banker to Every Indian.” Know SBI’s digital initiatives: YONO, SBI Anywhere, and BHIM-SBI Pay. Global Finance Awards are prestigious in the banking industry.

What: UPI introduced the “Pay with Mutual Fund” feature enabling users to make real-time payments directly from liquid mutual fund units. This innovation offers 6–7% returns on idle money while eliminating bank transfer delays, merging investment and payments seamlessly.

How: Users can link their liquid mutual fund folios to UPI. When making a payment, units are instantly redeemed and the amount transferred to the merchant. This allows money to earn returns until the moment of payment, unlike idle bank account balances. SEBI regulations permit instant redemption up to ₹50,000 per day from liquid funds.

Why: UPI innovations are crucial for banking exams. Liquid funds are debt mutual funds investing in short-term instruments with high liquidity. Know UPI features: UPI Lite (offline small payments), UPI 123PAY (feature phone), UPI Autopay, and now Pay with Mutual Fund. This represents convergence of payments and wealth management—a fintech trend worth understanding.

What: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched SITAA (Start-up Innovation for Transforming Aadhaar Authentication) to promote Aadhaar-based innovation in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, biometrics, and privacy technology. MeitY and NASSCOM are partners for startup incubation.

How: SITAA invites startups to develop solutions that enhance Aadhaar’s ecosystem—improving authentication accuracy, fraud prevention, privacy protection, and accessibility. Selected startups receive incubation support, mentorship, and potential integration with Aadhaar infrastructure. The scheme builds on Aadhaar’s success as the world’s largest biometric ID system.

Why: Aadhaar and UIDAI initiatives are important for Governance and Technology sections. Aadhaar facts: 12-digit unique ID, over 1.4 billion enrolments, enabled by Aadhaar Act 2016. Know Aadhaar-enabled services: DBT, eKYC, Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS). SITAA reflects the government’s push to leverage digital identity for innovation—link to Digital India and Startup India.

What: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit, two indigenously built Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited. These vessels enhance India’s maritime security capabilities and feature Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) technology for improved propulsion.

How: FPVs are designed for coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and search-and-rescue operations. CPP technology allows variable blade pitch, enabling better manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency. Indigenous construction under “Make in India” reduces import dependency and builds domestic shipbuilding capacity.

Why: ICG and indigenous defence production are important for Security and Economy. ICG operates under the Ministry of Defence and is the fourth-largest coast guard globally. Know other ICG vessel classes: Pollution Control Vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels, Interceptor Boats. Goa Shipyard Limited is a Mini Ratna PSU—link to defence PSU classifications and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

What: The biannual Darbar Move practice has been revived in Jammu & Kashmir after a four-year suspension. Government offices will now shift between Srinagar (summer capital) and Jammu (winter capital), reviving economic activity and symbolising regional unity.

How: Darbar Move, a 150-year-old tradition from Dogra rule, involves relocating the civil secretariat and key departments between the two capitals. Officials and files move twice yearly—to Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter. The practice was suspended during COVID-19 and the post-Article 370 transition period.

Why: J&K’s administrative structure is important for Polity. After Article 370 abrogation (2019), J&K became a Union Territory with legislature (like Delhi and Puducherry). The two-capital system addresses geographic and climatic diversity. Know J&K’s new administrative setup: Lieutenant Governor, Legislative Assembly, and the ongoing statehood restoration debate.

What: NASA confirmed the discovery of 2025 PN7, a quasi-moon orbiting near Earth’s path around the Sun. Unlike a true moon, it moves alongside Earth without directly orbiting our planet, instead following a heliocentric (Sun-centred) orbit that temporarily brings it close to Earth.

How: Quasi-moons are co-orbital objects that appear to orbit Earth when viewed from our planet but actually orbit the Sun. They can enter and exit quasi-moon status over centuries. Earth has several known quasi-moons, including Kamo’oalewa (discovered 2016). These objects are studied for potential asteroid mining and planetary defence insights.

Why: Space discoveries and terminology are important for Science & Tech. Distinguish: True moon (orbits planet), quasi-moon (co-orbital, orbits Sun), and trojan asteroid (shares planet’s orbit at stable Lagrange points). NASA’s asteroid tracking is linked to planetary defence—know DART mission (2022) that tested asteroid deflection. Such discoveries inform future space exploration strategies.