GK One-Liners

What: Justice Surya Kant is set to become the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI), succeeding CJI D.Y. Chandrachud. He will be the first CJI from Haryana and is known for his judicial fairness, progressive judgments, and administrative foresight.

How: The CJI is appointed by the President under Article 124 of the Constitution, following the collegium recommendation. By convention, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court becomes CJI. Justice Surya Kant has served on benches dealing with constitutional matters, civil liberties, and social justice cases.

Why: CJI appointments are important for UPSC Polity. Know the appointment process: Collegium (CJI + 4 senior judges) recommends, President appoints. Track recent CJIs: Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice U.U. Lalit, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The “first from state” fact about Justice Surya Kant is exam-worthy. Link to judicial reforms, collegium debates, and pending cases in the Supreme Court.

What: East Timor (Timor-Leste) has become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), fulfilling President José Ramos-Horta’s long-standing vision for regional integration. This marks ASEAN’s first expansion since Cambodia joined in 1999.

How: East Timor applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and was granted observer status. Full membership required meeting economic, political, and administrative criteria. As Southeast Asia’s youngest nation (independent from Indonesia in 2002), its inclusion completes ASEAN’s geographical coverage of the region.

Why: ASEAN and regional groupings are staple UPSC IR topics. Original ASEAN members (1967): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. Later additions: Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia. Now East Timor. Know ASEAN-India relations: Summit meetings, Act East Policy, ASEAN-India FTA, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. ASEAN HQ is in Jakarta.

What: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 was announced with Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar receiving the Vigyan Ratna, the highest science award. Other categories—Vigyan Shri and Vigyan Yuva—honoured excellence across 13 scientific domains. The CSIR Aroma Mission team also received recognition.

How: Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, launched in 2024, replaced multiple previous science awards (Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, etc.) to create a unified national recognition system. Categories include Vigyan Ratna (lifetime achievement), Vigyan Shri (distinguished contributions), Vigyan Yuva (young scientists), and Vigyan Team. Awards are presented on National Technology Day (May 11).

Why: National awards restructuring is exam-relevant. Prof. Narlikar is renowned for astrophysics and the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravitation. CSIR Aroma Mission promotes cultivation of aromatic plants for farmers’ income. Know the 13 domains: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Environment, Innovation, and two interdisciplinary categories.

What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in Spain’s Ocean Sky 2025 exercise, becoming the first non-NATO country to join this multilateral air exercise. This milestone enhances India’s global interoperability and strengthens aerospace diplomacy with European nations.

How: Ocean Sky is a Spanish-hosted multinational exercise involving NATO allies and partners. IAF’s participation likely included fighter jets, transport aircraft, or support elements for joint training in air combat tactics, aerial refuelling, and mission planning. Such exercises expose IAF to diverse operational environments and doctrines.

Why: Defence diplomacy and international exercises are important for Security studies. India is not a NATO member but has expanded defence cooperation with NATO countries bilaterally. Know other IAF exercises: Garuda (France), Cope India (USA), Desert Knight (UAE). India’s “first non-NATO” participation signals growing strategic partnerships beyond traditional allies.

What: India will host the first Asia Pacific Accident Investigation Group (APAC-AIG) meeting, organised by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The meeting aims to boost regional aircraft safety and investigation capacity among Asia-Pacific aviation authorities.

How: APAC-AIG brings together aviation safety investigators from the region to share best practices, harmonise investigation procedures, and build technical capacity. India’s AAIB, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, investigates aircraft accidents and incidents to determine causes and recommend safety improvements.

Why: Aviation safety and international cooperation are relevant for Governance and Economy. India’s aviation sector is one of the fastest-growing globally. Know related bodies: DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) for regulation, AAIB for investigations, and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) for global standards. Hosting such meetings elevates India’s standing in global aviation governance.

What: Vigilance Awareness Week 2025 is being observed with the theme “Vigilance — Our Shared Responsibility.” The week promotes ethics, transparency, and anti-corruption drives across government departments and public sector organisations.

How: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) coordinates the observance, typically held in the week containing October 31 (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birthday). Activities include integrity pledges, workshops, essay competitions, and awareness campaigns. Public sector employees and citizens participate to reinforce anti-corruption values.

Why: CVC and anti-corruption mechanisms are important for Governance and Ethics. CVC is a statutory body (CVC Act, 2003) that oversees vigilance administration. Know related bodies: Lokpal (for public servants), CBI (for investigation), and Whistleblower Protection Act. The week’s theme varies annually—past themes include “Integrity — A Way of Life” and “Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat.”