GK One-Liners

What: Lucknow has been recognised as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The dossier, prepared by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, highlighted Awadhi culinary heritage including iconic dishes like Galouti Kebab, Tunday Kebab, and Nihari.

How: The UCCN was launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities using creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development. Cities can apply under seven creative fields: Crafts & Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music. Lucknow’s application emphasised sustainable culinary tourism and cultural soft power.

Why: UNESCO designations and India’s soft power initiatives are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims and Mains (GS-I: Art & Culture). Other Indian UNESCO Creative Cities include Varanasi (Music), Jaipur (Crafts), Chennai (Music), Mumbai (Film), and Hyderabad (Gastronomy).

What: Vivek Menon, founder of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), became the first Asian to be elected as Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC). The SSC is the custodian of the globally recognised IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

How: The SSC is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions, comprising over 9,000 experts worldwide. It provides technical advice on species conservation, assesses extinction risks, and guides global biodiversity policy. The Chair leads strategic direction and coordinates conservation networks across regions.

Why: IUCN, Red List categories (CR, EN, VU, NT, LC), and Indian conservationists are high-yield topics for UPSC Environment sections. Understanding IUCN’s structure and India’s role in global conservation governance is essential for GS-III and Essay papers.

What: India will co-host a triad of major naval events at Visakhapatnam from February 15–25, 2026: the International Fleet Review (IFR), MILAN multilateral naval exercise, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave under the MAHASAGAR vision. The Presidential Fleet Review will showcase INS Vikrant, along with Visakhapatnam, Nilgiri, and Arnala class vessels.

How: IFR is a ceremonial review of naval ships by the President of India as Supreme Commander. MILAN (meaning ‘meeting’ in Hindi) is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by India since 1995. IONS is a voluntary initiative promoting maritime cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral states, established in 2008.

Why: Naval exercises, India’s maritime strategy, and defence diplomacy are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and GS-III (Security). INS Vikrant (India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier) and IONS are frequently tested topics in both Prelims and Mains.

What: India launched its first fully digitised National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 from ICAR-CMFRI (Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) headquarters in Kochi. The 45-day enumeration drive will cover over 1.2 million households across approximately 4,000 fishing villages in 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories.

How: The census uses tablet-based digital data collection for real-time monitoring and accuracy. Enumerators collect information on fishing households, craft and gear ownership, employment patterns, and socio-economic conditions. CMFRI coordinates with state fisheries departments for field implementation.

Why: Blue economy, fisheries sector data, and ICAR institutes are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding India’s marine resources, fishing communities, and policy interventions like Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is essential for competitive exams.

What: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will establish India’s first private helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) for Airbus H125 and H125M helicopters at Vemagal in Karnataka. First delivery is expected by early 2027, catering to civil and para-public operations while supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

How: The FAL will involve technology transfer from Airbus, local manufacturing of components, final assembly, testing, and certification in India. H125 is a single-engine light helicopter used for emergency medical services, law enforcement, tourism, and utility operations. H125M is its military variant.

Why: Defence manufacturing, Make in India in aerospace, and private sector participation in defence production are frequently tested in UPSC and SSC exams. Understanding FDI in defence, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) partnerships, and self-reliance initiatives is crucial for current affairs.

What: The FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs / International Chess Federation) Chess World Cup 2025 trophy has been renamed the “Viswanathan Anand Cup” in honour of the legendary Indian Grandmaster. The tournament will be held in Goa with top Indian players D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa participating, while Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura opted out.

How: Viswanathan Anand, India’s first Grandmaster (1988) and five-time World Chess Champion, has been instrumental in popularising chess in India. His legacy has inspired a generation of Indian chess prodigies who now dominate global rankings. FIDE renamed the trophy to honour his contributions.

Why: Sports awards, Indian achievers in international sports, and chess-related news are common in competitive exams. India’s chess revolution, led by Anand and continued by young GMs like Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, is a significant soft power story worth knowing.