GK One-Liners

What: India officially assumed the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Chairmanship for 2026 from Brazil. India’s presidency theme emphasizes a humanity-first approach centered on four pillars: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability, reflecting India’s vision for inclusive multilateralism and South-South cooperation.

How: As Chair, India will host the annual BRICS Summit, coordinate ministerial meetings across sectors including trade, finance, health, and technology, and shape the agenda for New Development Bank (NDB) initiatives. India aims to expand BRICS Plus outreach, strengthen payment systems alternatives to SWIFT, and promote climate action through collective South leadership.

Why: BRICS features prominently in UPSC questions on multilateral groupings, economic diplomacy, and India’s foreign policy priorities. Questions on BRICS expansion (recent addition of UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran), New Development Bank operations, alternative financial architectures, and India’s role in reshaping global governance appear in GS-II (International Relations) and Current Affairs sections across UPSC, SSC, and banking examinations.

What: The Viksit Bharat-Gramin Rozgar Abhiyan Mission Guarantee (VB-G RAM G) Act 2025 has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The new legislation guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually, increased from MGNREGA’s 100 days, aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision for comprehensive rural development.

How: The Act integrates digital wage payment systems, skill-based work allocation, productivity-linked incentives, and convergence with schemes like PM Awas Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission. It emphasizes durable asset creation including water conservation structures, rural connectivity infrastructure, and climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure while maintaining the legal guarantee framework and demand-driven employment model.

Why: Rural employment guarantee schemes are cornerstone topics in UPSC Mains (GS-II: Government Policies, GS-III: Poverty Alleviation) and Prelims. Questions test knowledge of scheme provisions, budget allocations, implementation challenges like delayed payments and wage rates, impact on rural distress migration, and role in social security. Understanding the evolution from NREGA (2005) to MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G Act demonstrates policy continuity and reforms—essential for Mains answer writing and interview discussions.

What: The Insurance Amendment Bill 2025 introduces landmark reforms including allowing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in insurance companies, up from the previous 74% limit. The legislation strengthens consumer protection mechanisms, mandates enhanced digital transparency in policy terms and claim settlements, and advances the “Insurance for All by 2047” mission for comprehensive financial inclusion.

How: The Bill amends the Insurance Act 1938 and IRDAI Act 1999 to liberalize foreign capital inflows while maintaining regulatory oversight through Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). New provisions include mandatory disclosure norms, faster claim processing timelines, simplified policy language requirements, and integration with digital public infrastructure like Aadhaar and DigiLocker for seamless service delivery.

Why: Insurance sector reforms frequently appear in UPSC (GS-III: Economy, Financial Sector) and banking exams testing FDI policy changes, regulatory frameworks, and financial inclusion initiatives. Questions cover insurance penetration rates (India’s low 4% vs global 7%), IRDAI’s regulatory role, micro-insurance schemes, and linkages with social security programs. Understanding FDI liberalization impacts—capital inflows, technology transfer, competition dynamics—is crucial for economic policy analysis in Mains essays and interviews.

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted drogue parachute tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module, marking a critical safety milestone for India’s ambitious human spaceflight program. Drogue parachutes are deployed first during descent to stabilize the capsule and reduce initial velocity before main parachutes deploy for final landing.

How: The test validated the drogue parachute’s ability to decelerate the crew module from supersonic to subsonic speeds (approximately Mach 0.8 to Mach 0.4) at high altitudes. The parachute system underwent rigorous evaluation including deployment sequence, inflation dynamics, structural integrity under aerodynamic loads, and reliability under various atmospheric conditions. This follows successful test vehicle flights and abort mission demonstrations in Gaganyaan’s phased development.

Why: ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission is a high-priority topic in UPSC (GS-III: Science & Technology, Space Program) with questions on mission objectives, crew module components, launch vehicle (GSLV Mk III/LVM-3), orbital parameters, and international collaboration. Understanding parachute recovery systems, crew safety mechanisms, and India’s human spaceflight capabilities compared to global programs (NASA’s Artemis, China’s Shenzhou) is essential for comprehensive exam preparation and demonstrates India’s technological advancement in critical strategic sectors.

What: East Bengal Football Club became the first Indian women’s club to win an international football title by clinching the inaugural South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Club Championship. This historic achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian women’s football development and regional sporting excellence.

How: East Bengal FC competed against top women’s club teams from SAFF member nations including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan. The tournament format provided crucial international exposure and competitive experience for Indian women footballers, contributing to skill development, tactical awareness, and confidence building at the regional level. The victory demonstrates the growing strength and organization of women’s football infrastructure in India.

Why: Women’s sports achievements are increasingly featured in UPSC current affairs and state PSC examinations, reflecting India’s focus on gender equity in sports. Questions cover government initiatives like Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme, sports infrastructure development, and India’s performance in international tournaments. Understanding SAFF’s role in regional football development, India’s football governance structure (AIFF), and policies promoting women’s participation in sports is relevant for GS-II (Social Justice) and Current Affairs sections across competitive examinations.

What: B P Kanungo, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of IIFL Finance (India Infoline Finance Limited), a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC). His appointment brings extensive regulatory expertise and central banking experience to strengthen the company’s governance framework and ensure robust compliance with evolving financial regulations.

How: As Non-Executive Chairman, Kanungo will provide strategic oversight on risk management, corporate governance practices, regulatory compliance, and board-level decision-making without involvement in day-to-day operations. His tenure at RBI (2017-2021) included oversight of payment systems, currency management, and financial inclusion initiatives. This appointment reflects the trend of regulatory professionals joining private sector financial institutions to enhance governance standards and navigate complex compliance landscapes.

Why: Questions on RBI’s organizational structure, Deputy Governors’ roles, NBFC regulations, and corporate governance in financial institutions frequently appear in banking exams (IBPS, SBI, RBI Grade B) and UPSC (GS-III: Economy, Banking Sector). Understanding the regulatory framework for NBFCs under RBI supervision, differences between banks and NBFCs, recent policy changes following NBFC crisis episodes, and importance of independent directors in financial sector governance is crucial for comprehensive preparation across competitive examinations focusing on Indian economy and financial sector reforms.