GK One-Liners

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate to 5.25% while maintaining a neutral monetary policy stance. The central bank projected India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 7.3% for Financial Year 2025-26 and inflation at 2%.

How: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted for the rate cut to stimulate economic growth while balancing inflationary pressures. The neutral stance signals flexibility to adjust policy in either direction based on evolving domestic and global economic conditions.

Why: RBI’s monetary policy decisions are central to UPSC Prelims (Economy) and Mains (GS-III). Understanding the repo rate mechanism, MPC composition, and the inflation-growth trade-off is essential for banking and economic policy questions.

What: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) and IBM unveiled a strategic roadmap to position India among the top 3 quantum economies globally by 2047. This initiative aims to boost indigenous research and development in quantum computing technologies.

How: The roadmap focuses on building quantum infrastructure, developing a skilled workforce, fostering public-private partnerships, and creating an ecosystem for quantum startups. It aligns with India’s vision of technology self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in emerging technologies.

Why: Quantum computing is a critical emerging technology for UPSC Science & Tech sections. Questions on India’s technology missions, NITI Aayog initiatives, and strategic technology partnerships frequently appear in Prelims and Mains.

What: India ranked 131st with a score of 0.607 in the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index 2025-26. Denmark topped the index for the third consecutive time, while Afghanistan remained at the bottom, highlighting fragile global gender equality and rising conflict exposure for women.

How: The WPS Index, published by Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security, measures women’s inclusion (economic, social, political), justice (legal discrimination, son bias), and security (intimate partner violence, community safety, organized violence).

Why: Global gender indices are important for UPSC Social Issues and International Relations sections. Understanding India’s performance and the methodology of such indices helps in answering questions on women’s empowerment and gender-related SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) targets.

What: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have enabled digital Passport Verification Records (PVRs) through DigiLocker. This allows secure, paperless, and tamper-proof passport processing for Indian citizens.

How: DigiLocker, a flagship initiative under Digital India, stores verified documents issued by government agencies. The integration allows passport applicants to digitally share their verified documents, eliminating the need for physical document submission and reducing processing time.

Why: E-governance initiatives and Digital India programs are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims and Mains (GS-II). Understanding DigiLocker’s architecture, its integration with government services, and its role in citizen service delivery is important for Governance-related questions.

What: International Cheetah Day 2025 highlighted global cheetah conservation efforts. India’s Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, successfully revived the cheetah population to 32 at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, including 21 India-born cubs—a historic wildlife reintroduction success.

How: Cheetahs were translocated from Namibia and South Africa under an inter-governmental agreement. Kuno National Park was selected due to its suitable habitat, prey base, and low human-wildlife conflict potential. The project involves continuous monitoring, prey augmentation, and community engagement.

Why: Wildlife conservation projects, species reintroduction, and protected areas are high-priority topics for UPSC Environment & Ecology (GS-III). Questions on Project Cheetah, translocation programs, and international conservation agreements are expected in upcoming examinations.

What: Russian President Vladimir Putin received a ceremonial welcome in India for the 23rd Annual India-Russia Summit. Key discussions focused on defence ties, energy trade, skilled labour mobility agreements, and strategic balancing amid global geopolitical pressures.

How: The annual summit mechanism institutionalizes dialogue at the highest level. Both nations explored new agreements on defence cooperation (including S-400, BrahMos), energy security (oil imports, nuclear energy), and people-to-people ties while navigating Western sanctions on Russia.

Why: India-Russia relations are a staple of UPSC International Relations (GS-II). Understanding the historical context of this “special privileged strategic partnership,” current areas of cooperation, and India’s balancing act between Russia and the West is crucial for Mains and Interview.