GK One-Liners

What: The Supreme Court of India ruled that the right to a passport flows from personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court clarified that pending criminal cases do not automatically disqualify an individual from obtaining a passport, reinforcing the principles of due process and judicial oversight in passport issuance decisions.

How: The judgment establishes that passport authorities cannot arbitrarily deny passports based solely on pending cases. Each application must be evaluated on individual merits, balancing national security concerns with fundamental rights. The ruling mandates transparent procedures and the right to appeal against rejections, preventing misuse of discretionary powers by authorities.

Why: This landmark judgment is crucial for UPSC Mains GS-II (Polity & Governance) questions on fundamental rights interpretation and judicial activism. It connects to topics like Article 21’s expanding scope (Maneka Gandhi case onwards), separation of powers, and administrative law. For Prelims, expect questions on constitutional articles, Supreme Court judgments, and passport-related provisions under the Passports Act, 1967.

What: India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $4.18 trillion. This milestone reflects India’s strong domestic demand, structural reforms, and resilient economic growth. India remains the fastest-growing major economy globally and is projected to surpass Germany to become the third-largest economy by 2030.

How: The growth has been driven by robust consumption patterns, government-led infrastructure investment, digital transformation under Digital India initiatives, production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes boosting manufacturing, and favorable demographics. Economic reforms like GST (Goods and Services Tax) implementation, improved ease of doing business rankings, and a vibrant startup ecosystem have also contributed significantly.

Why: This is a high-priority topic for UPSC Mains GS-III (Economy) covering India’s growth trajectory, structural reforms, and global economic positioning. Questions on India’s economic performance, comparative analysis with other economies, and policy interventions are common. For Prelims, expect questions on GDP rankings, growth drivers, economic indices, and India’s position in global economic forums like G20 and BRICS.

What: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, approved defence procurements worth ₹79,000 crore to modernize India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force. The acquisitions focus on advanced strike systems, surveillance technologies, communication infrastructure, and force multipliers to enhance operational readiness and strategic capabilities across all three services.

How: The procurement process follows the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which emphasizes indigenous manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The acquisitions include domestically developed systems to boost the defence industrial base, reduce import dependency, and promote public-private partnerships in defence manufacturing. The DAC evaluates proposals based on operational necessity, technology transfer, and Make in India alignment.

Why: Critical for UPSC Mains GS-III (Internal Security & Defence) covering defence modernization, indigenous capability building, and strategic autonomy. Questions often link defence procurement to Atmanirbhar Bharat, defence industrial corridors, and India’s security challenges. For Prelims, expect questions on DAC composition, DAP provisions, major defence acquisitions, defence PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings), and indigenization initiatives like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence).

What: The Union Government declared the Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) covering an area of 1,084 hectares. The sanctuary is a critical habitat for migratory birds and serves as an important wetland ecosystem. The ESZ designation aims to protect biodiversity, conserve wetland resources, and regulate developmental activities in the surrounding buffer zone.

How: ESZ designation follows the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 guidelines. Within the ESZ, activities like mining, major construction, and polluting industries are prohibited or regulated. The notification allows sustainable ecotourism, community-based conservation, and scientific research while mandating environmental impact assessments for permissible activities. State authorities will monitor compliance and implement conservation action plans.

Why: ESZ is a recurring topic in UPSC Mains GS-III (Environment & Ecology) covering conservation strategies, wetland protection, and biodiversity management. Questions often link ESZs to Wildlife Protection Act, Ramsar Convention, Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds, and conflicts between development and conservation. For Prelims, expect questions on ESZ provisions, important bird sanctuaries, wetland ecosystems, and environmental legislation frameworks.

What: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) with an extended range of 120 kilometers. This indigenously developed system enhances India’s rocket artillery capability with improved accuracy, longer strike range, and all-weather operational capacity. The Pinaka system is designed for rapid deployment and saturation attacks on enemy positions.

How: The Pinaka LRGR incorporates advanced guidance systems, enhanced propulsion technology, and precision navigation mechanisms. It builds upon the earlier Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system with improved range and accuracy. The system can be rapidly deployed, has a quick reaction time, and can engage multiple targets simultaneously. Development involves collaboration between DRDO labs, ordnance factories, and private sector partners under the Make in India initiative.

Why: Critical for UPSC coverage of indigenous defence capabilities and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence sector (GS-III). Questions link Pinaka to DRDO’s role, defence modernization, import substitution, and India’s artillery upgrade programs. For Prelims, expect questions on Pinaka specifications, DRDO achievements, artillery systems nomenclature, and defence self-reliance initiatives. The system’s operational deployment strengthens India’s border security preparedness.

What: Indian researchers developed PathGennie, an open-source computational tool that predicts drug-protein unbinding pathways. This breakthrough technology helps scientists understand how drug molecules interact with and detach from protein targets, which is crucial for designing more effective pharmaceuticals. Being open-source makes it accessible to researchers globally, democratizing advanced drug discovery capabilities.

How: PathGennie uses advanced computational algorithms and molecular dynamics simulations to model drug-protein interactions at the atomic level. It predicts the pathways through which drugs dissociate from their target proteins, providing insights into binding affinity, drug efficacy, and potential side effects. The tool reduces the time and cost of experimental drug testing by enabling virtual screening and optimization before laboratory trials. Its open-source nature allows collaborative improvement and customization.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC GS-III (Science & Technology) covering biotechnology innovations, drug development processes, and India’s contributions to global healthcare research. Questions may connect to topics like generic drug manufacturing, pharmaceutical policy, computational biology applications, and India’s position in the global pharmaceutical industry. For Prelims, expect questions on bioinformatics tools, drug discovery processes, open-source technology benefits, and recent scientific achievements by Indian institutions.