GK One-Liners

What: The Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat Grameen Rozgar Abhivyakti Mandhan Guarantee (VB-G RAM G) Bill 2025, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The new legislation increases guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 per household annually, introduces an agricultural pause mechanism, implements technology-driven monitoring systems, and establishes state-wise budget caps for improved fiscal management.

How: The enhanced scheme provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment to rural households, with provisions for agricultural pause during peak farming seasons to avoid labour shortages. Technology integration includes biometric attendance, geo-tagged work sites, and digital wage payments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). State-wise budget allocation ensures equitable resource distribution based on demand and developmental needs, while maintaining the demand-driven nature of the program.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC GS Paper II (Governance, Government Policies) and Paper III (Inclusive Growth). Questions on MGNREGA evolution, employment guarantee schemes, rural development programs, and technology in governance appear regularly. The topic connects to fiscal federalism, social security, rural-urban migration control, and asset creation—important for mains answers on poverty alleviation and answer writing on scheme comparison and policy impact assessment.

What: The SHANTI (Safety of Hydrogen and Nuclear Technology Implementation) Bill 2025 grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), previously functioning as an executive body. The legislation strengthens nuclear safety oversight, formally recognizes Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), expands the definition of nuclear damage to include environmental and health impacts, and sets an ambitious target of 100 Gigawatts (GW) nuclear capacity by 2047.

How: Statutory status empowers AERB with independent regulatory authority, enforcement powers, and legal backing for safety standards. The bill establishes comprehensive frameworks for licensing, inspection, and safety assessment of nuclear facilities including emerging technologies like SMRs. It mandates environmental impact assessments, public liability provisions, and stringent safety protocols aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. The 100 GW target requires expanding from current ~7 GW capacity through indigenous reactor programs and international cooperation.

Why: This is vital for UPSC GS Paper III (Science & Technology, Energy Security). Questions on nuclear regulatory framework, AERB functions, SMR technology, nuclear liability, and India’s energy transition strategy appear in prelims and mains. The topic links to clean energy goals, technological self-reliance, climate commitments, and institutional reforms—essential for comprehensive answers on sustainable development and energy policy in essay and GS papers.

What: Brazil has officially transferred the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) presidency to India for 2026, symbolized by the handover of the Amazon gavel. India’s presidency will focus on four key pillars: building resilience in global systems, responsible artificial intelligence governance, climate action and sustainable development, and amplifying Global South priorities in international forums.

How: The rotating presidency allows each BRICS member to set the annual agenda and host the summit. India will organize ministerial meetings, working group sessions, and the annual BRICS Summit in 2026. The Amazon gavel represents continuity and shared commitment to multilateralism. India’s agenda emphasizes creating alternative payment systems, strengthening the New Development Bank, promoting South-South cooperation, and addressing climate finance and technology transfer challenges faced by developing nations.

Why: This is critical for UPSC GS Paper II (International Relations, Multilateral Forums). Questions on BRICS evolution, expansion to BRICS+, New Development Bank operations, Global South leadership, and India’s multilateral diplomacy appear regularly. The topic connects to de-dollarization efforts, alternative global governance architectures, South-South cooperation, and India’s strategic autonomy—crucial for mains answers on multipolarity and essay topics on emerging world order and India’s global role.

What: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has permitted the issuance of zero-coupon bonds in ₹10,000 denominations, significantly lowering the entry barrier from previous minimum investments. Zero-coupon bonds are debt instruments that do not pay periodic interest; instead, they are issued at a discount to face value and redeemed at par on maturity, with returns coming from capital appreciation.

How: Companies can now issue these bonds in smaller denominations accessible to retail investors. Investors purchase bonds at a discounted price (e.g., ₹8,000 for a ₹10,000 face value bond) and receive the full face value at maturity, with the difference representing their return. This structure eliminates reinvestment risk associated with coupon-bearing bonds and provides predictable returns. The reform aims to deepen corporate bond markets by expanding the investor base beyond institutional players and high-net-worth individuals.

Why: This is important for UPSC GS Paper III (Capital Markets, Financial Inclusion). Questions on SEBI regulatory reforms, corporate bond market development, debt instruments, retail investor participation, and financial market deepening appear regularly. The topic connects to broader themes of democratizing finance, reducing dependence on bank credit, diversifying household savings, and developing alternative financing channels—crucial for mains answers on capital market reforms and inclusive financial systems.

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with The Order of Oman (First Class), the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Sultanate of Oman. This is PM Modi’s 29th international honour, reflecting India’s strengthening bilateral relationship with Oman spanning defence cooperation, trade, energy security, and people-to-people ties supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

How: The Order of Oman recognizes exceptional contributions to strengthening India-Oman relations. The honour reflects strategic convergence on regional security (Indian Ocean security, counter-terrorism), economic partnership through CEPA (signed 2024 targeting $10 billion bilateral trade), energy cooperation (Oman supplies LNG to India), defence exchanges, and cultural ties (Indian diaspora of over 500,000 in Oman). High-level visits and institutional mechanisms ensure sustained cooperation.

Why: This is relevant for UPSC GS Paper II (International Relations, Bilateral Relations). Questions on India’s West Asia policy, Gulf cooperation, CEPA provisions, energy diplomacy, Indian diaspora engagement, and strategic partnerships appear in prelims and mains. The topic connects to India’s Act East and Look West policies, maritime security in Indian Ocean Region, hydrocarbon security, and economic diplomacy—important for comprehensive answers on India’s foreign policy priorities and regional partnerships.

What: Jharkhand has enacted one of India’s earliest comprehensive legislation specifically protecting gig workers’ rights and welfare. The law mandates registration of gig workers and platforms, ensures minimum wages, provides social security coverage including health insurance and accident protection, establishes grievance redressal mechanisms, and imposes penalties up to ₹10 lakh on aggregator platforms for violations of worker protection norms.

How: The legislation requires platform aggregators (food delivery, ride-hailing, e-commerce) to register workers, contribute to a welfare fund, ensure transparent payment systems, and provide accident insurance. It establishes minimum wage floors based on working hours, mandates written contracts outlining terms of engagement, prohibits arbitrary deactivation of workers, and creates state-level boards to monitor compliance. Workers gain access to skill development programs, grievance mechanisms, and social security schemes previously limited to formal sector employees.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC GS Paper II (Social Justice, Labour Welfare) and Paper III (Gig Economy, Employment). Questions on gig economy regulation, platform worker rights, social security extension, labour law reforms, and Code on Social Security implementation appear regularly. The topic connects to formalization of informal economy, digital labour markets, worker classification debates (employee vs. contractor), and inclusive growth—essential for mains answers on emerging employment challenges and contemporary governance issues in the digital economy era.