GK One-Liners

What: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) made continuous SIM-linking compulsory for messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to curb cyber fraud. The mandate includes automatic 6-hour web session logout and QR code re-login requirements for enhanced security.

How: Under the new rules, messaging apps must verify users’ SIM cards continuously rather than just during initial registration. Web sessions will auto-terminate after 6 hours, requiring fresh QR code authentication. This prevents misuse of stolen devices and reduces SIM-swap fraud, where criminals hijack phone numbers.

Why: Cyber security regulations, telecom policy, and digital governance are important for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech) and GS-II (Governance). Understanding DoT’s regulatory role, IT Act provisions, and cyber fraud prevention measures helps in technology governance questions.

What: India signed loan agreements worth over $800 million with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for multiple development projects: solar-powered irrigation in Maharashtra, Indore Metro Phase-2 in Madhya Pradesh, skill training in Gujarat, and wetland revival in Assam.

How: ADB provides concessional loans for infrastructure, sustainable development, and capacity building in developing member countries. India is ADB’s largest borrower, using funds for urban infrastructure, renewable energy, education, and environmental conservation. Projects align with India’s climate commitments and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) targets.

Why: Multilateral development banks, infrastructure financing, and international loans are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding ADB’s structure, India’s borrowing patterns, and project-linked financing helps in economic governance questions.

What: India’s population is projected to stabilise at 1.8-1.9 billion by 2080 before beginning to decline. This stabilisation is driven by rising female literacy, improved healthcare access, and declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which has dropped below replacement level (2.1) in many states.

How: Demographic transition occurs as societies move from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates. India is in the late transitional stage, with southern states already below replacement fertility while northern states are catching up. Government programmes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, family planning services, and women’s education have accelerated this transition.

Why: Population dynamics, demographic dividend, and social development are important for UPSC GS-I (Society) and GS-II (Social Issues). Understanding demographic transition theory, state-wise fertility variations, and policy implications helps in population and development questions.

What: NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) launched ‘Banking Connect’, a single-integration net-banking layer linking all banks with Payment Aggregators (PAs). The platform enables biometric and QR code authentication for seamless digital payments.

How: Banking Connect acts as a unified middleware that connects banks’ net-banking systems with multiple payment aggregators through one integration. Previously, banks needed separate integrations with each PA. This reduces complexity, lowers costs, and improves transaction success rates while enabling advanced authentication methods.

Why: NPCI innovations, digital payments infrastructure, and fintech are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding NPCI’s role, UPI ecosystem, payment aggregators, and India’s digital payment leadership helps in economic and technology questions.

What: PM Modi addressed the 60th All India DGP-IGP Conference in Raipur, emphasising tech-driven policing, AI-enabled investigations, forensics expansion, and Vision 2047 for modern citizen-centric police forces. The conference theme was “Viksit Bharat, Surakshit Bharat.”

How: The annual DGP-IGP Conference brings together senior police officers from states and central agencies to discuss national security challenges and policing reforms. Focus areas included cybercrime, terrorism, CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems), and Smart Police Stations. Vision 2047 envisions fully modernised, accountable, and technology-enabled police.

Why: Police reforms, internal security, and governance are important for UPSC GS-II (Governance) and GS-III (Security). Understanding police modernisation schemes, CCTNS, and technology in law enforcement helps in security and administration questions.

What: National Pollution Control Day is observed on December 2-3 to remember victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) and raise awareness on pollution, industrial safety, and environmental protection. The Bhopal disaster remains the world’s worst industrial accident.

How: On December 2-3, 1984, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, killing thousands and affecting over 500,000 people. The disaster led to stricter environmental laws including the Environment Protection Act, 1986, National Green Tribunal Act, and Hazardous Waste Management Rules.

Why: Environmental legislation, industrial disasters, and pollution control are important for UPSC GS-III (Environment). Understanding the Bhopal tragedy’s impact on Indian environmental law, liability principles, and current pollution regulations helps in environmental governance questions.