GK One-Liners

What: India delivered the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Fiji, comprising 5 metric tonnes of cowpea seeds to support agricultural productivity and food security during Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to India. This assistance is part of a broader developmental partnership that includes gifting ambulances for healthcare infrastructure, establishing a defence cooperation wing in Suva (Fiji’s capital), and planning a cyber security training cell to enhance Fiji’s digital defence capabilities.

How: The cowpea seed assistance addresses Fiji’s food security challenges exacerbated by climate change impacts including cyclones, flooding, and soil degradation. Cowpea is a drought-resistant, nitrogen-fixing legume that improves soil fertility while providing nutritional protein to local communities. India’s broader engagement with Fiji includes development projects under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), capacity building programs, disaster relief support, and people-to-people exchanges leveraging the significant Indian diaspora (approximately 40% of Fiji’s population has Indian ancestry).

Why: India’s Pacific Island engagement is crucial for its Indo-Pacific strategy. Questions on FIPIC, developmental diplomacy, India’s soft power in the Pacific, and climate resilience support appear in UPSC Prelims (International Relations) and Mains GS2 (India’s Foreign Policy, Regional Cooperation). This topic connects to India’s Act East/Act Far East policies, countering China’s growing influence in Pacific Island nations through Belt and Road projects, maritime security cooperation, and India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

What: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), in collaboration with IIT Madras and maritime industry partners, launched MAR-a-THON 2025 (Maritime And Regional Innovation Hackathon) under the Sagarmala Programme’s Startup to Innovation to Industry (S2I2) initiative. The hackathon aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the maritime sector ahead of India Maritime Week 2025, encouraging technology-driven solutions for challenges in port operations, logistics, environmental sustainability, and digitalization.

How: MAR-a-THON 2025 invites startups, students, researchers, and innovators to develop solutions across multiple themes including automated port operations using AI and robotics, green shipping technologies to reduce emissions, blockchain for supply chain transparency, Internet of Things (IoT) for cargo tracking, predictive maintenance for vessels and port equipment, and coastal zone management. Selected participants receive mentorship from industry experts, access to port infrastructure for testing, seed funding opportunities, and potential integration into the Sagarmala ecosystem connecting India’s 12 major ports and 200+ non-major ports.

Why: Maritime sector innovation and startup ecosystem development are important economic topics. Questions on Sagarmala Programme, port-led development, blue economy initiatives, and maritime logistics appear in UPSC Prelims (Economy, Infrastructure) and Mains GS3 (Infrastructure Development, Innovation). This topic connects to India’s goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy with ports as growth drivers, reducing logistics costs from 14% to 8% of GDP, the Maritime India Vision 2030, and positioning India as a global maritime hub leveraging its 7,500 km coastline.

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong jointly inaugurated Phase-II of the PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) Mumbai Terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), raising the terminal’s total capacity to 4.8 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. This expansion makes it India’s largest container terminal, significantly enhancing Maharashtra’s position in global maritime trade and strengthening India-Singapore economic cooperation in port infrastructure development.

How: PSA Mumbai is a joint venture between PSA International (Singapore’s port operator with expertise in over 50 terminals globally) and Indian public sector entities. Phase-II adds advanced infrastructure including deepwater berths capable of handling ultra-large container vessels, automated container handling equipment reducing turnaround time, improved rail and road connectivity under the Dedicated Freight Corridor, and enhanced customs clearance facilities for faster cargo processing. JNPA handles approximately 56% of India’s total containerized cargo, serving as the primary gateway for western and northern Indian hinterland.

Why: Port infrastructure and India-Singapore economic partnership are crucial development topics. Questions on major ports, container traffic, public-private partnerships, and trade infrastructure appear in UPSC Prelims (Economy, Geography) and Mains GS3 (Infrastructure, Economic Development). This topic connects to the Sagarmala Programme, Maritime India Vision 2030 targeting 10 billion tonnes cargo handling by 2030, efforts to make Indian ports globally competitive, and bilateral cooperation models where foreign expertise combines with Indian scale for infrastructure modernization.

What: Sundeep Sikka, Chief Executive Officer of Nippon Life India Asset Management Company, was elected as Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), with Vishal Kapoor, CEO of Bandhan Asset Management Company, appointed as Vice Chairman. AMFI is the apex industry body representing all Asset Management Companies (AMCs) in India, responsible for promoting ethical practices, investor education, and industry development under the regulatory oversight of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

How: As AMFI Chairman, Sikka will lead initiatives to strengthen investor protection mechanisms, promote transparency in mutual fund operations, drive financial literacy campaigns to expand the investor base beyond major cities, coordinate with SEBI on regulatory compliance, address challenges like mis-selling and unsuitable product recommendations, and advance the mutual fund industry’s role in channeling household savings into capital markets. AMFI conducts certification programs for mutual fund distributors, sets industry standards, and resolves investor grievances through its investor service centers.

Why: Mutual fund regulation and financial market institutions are important economic topics. Questions on AMFI, SEBI, mutual fund industry structure, investor protection measures, and capital market intermediaries appear in UPSC Prelims (Economy) and Mains GS3 (Financial Markets, Investor Protection). This topic connects to India’s household financial savings pattern (shifting from physical assets to financial assets), efforts to achieve financial inclusion through systematic investment plans (SIPs), the mutual fund industry’s Assets Under Management (AUM) exceeding ₹50 lakh crore, and the role of capital markets in funding India’s infrastructure and economic growth.

What: Indian-American Amit Kshatriya was appointed as NASA’s Associate Administrator, the highest civil service position at the agency. In this role, Kshatriya will oversee operations across NASA’s ten field centers, coordinate between center directors and headquarters, manage agency-wide programs, and provide critical support to the Artemis programme (aiming to return humans to the Moon) and the Moon-to-Mars exploration architecture. This appointment highlights the contributions of the Indian diaspora to global space exploration.

How: As Associate Administrator, Kshatriya will manage NASA’s organizational structure spanning research centers like Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and others. His responsibilities include resource allocation, strategic planning for human spaceflight missions, coordination with international partners including India’s ISRO, oversight of technology development programs, and ensuring alignment between scientific research and exploration objectives. The Artemis programme involves establishing sustainable lunar presence, testing technologies for Mars missions, and fostering commercial partnerships for lunar economy development.

Why: Indian diaspora achievements and international space cooperation are relevant topics. Questions on NASA missions, Artemis programme, India-US space collaboration, and contributions of Indian-origin scientists appear in UPSC Prelims (Science & Tech, International Relations) and Mains GS3 (Space Technology). This topic connects to the Artemis Accords (which India signed in 2023), potential India-US collaboration on lunar missions, the role of soft power through diaspora representation in global institutions, and India’s growing stature in international space partnerships including the Chandrayaan-5 collaboration with Japan and potential contribution to the International Space Station.

What: The Indian men’s hockey team defeated South Korea 4-1 in the Asia Cup 2025 final held at Rajgir, Bihar, securing India’s fourth Asia Cup title. The victory also earned India direct qualification for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Men’s Hockey World Cup. This achievement demonstrates India’s continued dominance in Asian hockey and builds momentum ahead of major international tournaments including the Olympics.

How: The Asia Cup serves as a continental championship and World Cup qualifier, featuring top Asian hockey nations including traditional powerhouses like India, Pakistan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. India’s comprehensive 4-1 victory showcased superior teamwork, strategic execution, and individual skill. The team’s preparation included intensive training camps, participation in the FIH Pro League for international exposure, and tactical refinements under the coaching staff. Rajgir’s hosting of the tournament reflects India’s investment in sports infrastructure at tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Why: Sports achievements and hosting major tournaments are important for national prestige. Questions on FIH rankings, major hockey tournaments, India’s Olympic sports performance, and sports infrastructure development appear in UPSC Prelims (Sports, Current Affairs) and Mains GS1 (Indian Society, Sports). This topic connects to the National Sports Policy, Khelo India initiative for grassroots development, India’s hockey legacy (eight Olympic gold medals historically), and government support through schemes like Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) that provides financial assistance to elite athletes for training and international exposure.