GK One-Liners

What: Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, the Ministry of Mines has designated seven Centres of Excellence (CoEs)—four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and three Research & Development laboratories—to accelerate research and technology development for strategic mineral supply chains. Critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements (REEs), and graphite essential for clean energy, defence, and electronics sectors.

How: These CoEs will focus on exploration technologies, extraction and processing methods, recycling of critical minerals from e-waste, and developing indigenous alternatives. The Mission aims to reduce India’s import dependence on critical minerals, many of which are currently sourced from China and other countries, by building domestic capabilities across the mineral value chain.

Why: The National Critical Mineral Mission (announced in Budget 2024-25) is crucial for India’s energy transition, electric vehicle manufacturing, and semiconductor production. Questions on critical minerals, their applications, India’s import dependence, and related missions are increasingly common in UPSC GS-III (Science & Technology, Economy) and form an important topic linking environment, economy, and strategic autonomy.

What: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has rolled out Aadhaar-based facial authentication nationwide to enable secure and simpler transactions. This technology particularly aids senior citizens and differently-abled customers who face difficulties with fingerprint biometrics or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) for transaction verification.

How: Facial authentication uses the customer’s face as a biometric identifier matched against their Aadhaar database record. The system captures a live image, compares it with the stored photograph in UIDAI’s database, and authenticates the transaction. This eliminates the need for fingerprint scanners or mobile phones for OTP reception, making banking more accessible in rural and remote areas.

Why: IPPB, launched in 2018, operates under the Department of Posts and aims to provide financial inclusion through India’s extensive postal network. Questions on payments banks, their features (no lending, deposit limit of ₹2 lakh), UIDAI authentication methods, and financial inclusion initiatives are frequently asked in banking exams (IBPS, SBI) and UPSC GS-III sections on inclusive growth.

What: New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam will host the first BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival titled ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody’. The festival brings together artistes from all seven Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries to showcase their shared cultural roots and musical heritage.

How: BIMSTEC comprises seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. ‘SaptaSur’ (meaning ‘seven notes’ in Sanskrit) symbolises the seven nations coming together through music. The festival promotes cultural diplomacy, people-to-people ties, and soft power within the regional grouping, complementing BIMSTEC’s economic and security cooperation agenda.

Why: BIMSTEC has gained importance as India’s preferred regional platform connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia. Questions on BIMSTEC—its members, headquarters (Dhaka), secretariat, summits, and sectoral cooperation areas—are common in UPSC GS-II (International Relations). Bharat Mandapam, the newly built convention centre at Pragati Maidan that hosted the G20 Summit 2023, adds contemporary relevance.

What: IPS officer Sonali Mishra (1993 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre) has become the first woman Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Her tenure will extend until her retirement on 31 October 2026. This historic appointment marks a significant milestone for gender representation in India’s security forces leadership.

How: The RPF is a central armed force under the Ministry of Railways responsible for protecting railway passengers, passenger areas, and railway property. The DG RPF heads the force and reports to the Railway Board. RPF personnel have powers of arrest, search, and seizure under the RPF Act, 1957, and work alongside the Government Railway Police (GRP) which handles crime investigation.

Why: Questions on Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)—their parent ministries, functions, and leadership—are common in UPSC and SSC examinations. Understanding the distinction between RPF (Ministry of Railways) and other forces like CRPF, BSF, CISF, and ITBP (Ministry of Home Affairs) is important. First appointments of women to leadership positions are frequently tested in current affairs.

What: Indian Navy warships INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan visited Manila during a Southeast Asia deployment to deepen maritime cooperation with the Philippines and reinforce India’s Indo-Pacific partnerships. INS Delhi is a guided-missile destroyer, INS Shakti is a fleet tanker, and INS Kiltan is an anti-submarine warfare corvette.

How: Such port visits typically include professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports events, and community outreach. They demonstrate naval capability, build interoperability, and strengthen diplomatic ties. The deployment aligns with India’s Act East Policy and the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), which promotes maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Why: India-Philippines relations have strengthened with defence cooperation agreements, including the BrahMos missile deal. Questions on Indian Navy ships, their classes, overseas deployments, and India’s maritime diplomacy initiatives are relevant for UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and defence examinations. Understanding India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and ASEAN partnerships is essential for comprehensive exam preparation.

What: Professor Michele Dougherty has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Astronomer Royal, becoming the first woman to hold this honorary position since it was established in 1675—a span of 350 years. She is a space physicist at Imperial College London known for her work on planetary magnetic fields and her role as lead scientist on the European Space Agency’s JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission.

How: The Astronomer Royal is an honorary position in the Royal Household, historically linked to the Royal Observatory Greenwich. While initially carrying observational duties, the modern role is ceremonial and advisory, promoting astronomy and space science to the public. The appointment is made by the monarch on advice from the government.

Why: International scientific appointments and “first woman” achievements are frequently tested in general awareness sections. The JUICE mission, launched in 2023 to study Jupiter’s icy moons (Ganymede, Callisto, Europa), is relevant for UPSC Science & Technology questions on space exploration. Understanding global space missions and their scientific objectives enhances preparation for contemporary science topics.