GK One-Liners

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh. The park is a flagship initiative to modernize India’s textile value chain through integrated infrastructure, supporting weavers and artisans while celebrating the heritage of Maheshwari sarees. PM MITRA aims to create world-class manufacturing clusters with plug-and-play facilities.

How: The PM MITRA scheme, announced in Budget 2021-22, establishes Greenfield and Brownfield integrated textile parks across India with common infrastructure including power, water, effluent treatment, logistics, and testing facilities. Each park receives central funding of up to ₹500 crore with matching state contributions. Dhar’s park will encompass the entire textile value chain from spinning and weaving to garment manufacturing and exports, creating thousands of jobs.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC Mains GS3 (Economy – Industrial Policy, Employment Generation) covering textile sector reforms, manufacturing competitiveness, and rural industrialization. Questions on PM MITRA scheme, textile parks, and India’s position in global textile trade are relevant. The initiative connects to Atmanirbhar Bharat, ease of doing business, and government efforts to boost manufacturing employment, especially for women and rural artisans.

What: India and Mauritius signed an agreement to establish a satellite tracking station near Diego Garcia, the strategic island in the Indian Ocean. The deal is part of a broader partnership covering space research, maritime security cooperation, and India’s support for Mauritius’ sovereignty claims over the Chagos Archipelago (which includes Diego Garcia). This strengthens India’s space and strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

How: The satellite tracking station will enhance India’s space surveillance and Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TTC) capabilities for satellite launches and missions. It complements India’s existing ground stations at Sriharikota, Port Blair, and Bengaluru. The strategic location near Diego Garcia provides coverage over the Indian Ocean for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) missions. The agreement also includes technology transfer, capacity building for Mauritian scientists, and joint maritime domain awareness initiatives.

Why: This is highly relevant for UPSC Mains GS2 (International Relations – Bilateral Cooperation, Indian Ocean Diplomacy) and GS3 (Science & Tech – Space Programme). Questions on ISRO’s global partnerships, India’s Act East/neighbourhood first policy, and strategic presence in IOR are common. The Chagos Islands issue connects to decolonization, territorial disputes, and India’s support for developing nations. Diego Garcia’s strategic importance relates to Indo-Pacific security architecture.

What: India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to develop an international occupational classification system for skill recognition. The framework aims to standardize skills across countries, improve overseas job mobility for Indian workers, and strengthen formalization of the workforce through platforms like National Classification of Occupations (NCS) and e-Shram portal.

How: The MoU will align India’s National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) with ILO’s International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) system. This harmonization enables mutual recognition of skills and qualifications, facilitating easier migration for skilled workers seeking employment abroad. The initiative integrates with India’s e-Shram database (which registers 290+ million unorganized workers) and the Skill India Mission, creating standardized competency benchmarks recognized internationally.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC Mains GS2 (International Organizations, Migration Issues) and GS3 (Employment, Skill Development). Questions on labour migration, remittances, Skill India Mission, and India’s diaspora engagement are frequent. The framework connects to themes like demographic dividend, overseas employment opportunities, protection of migrant workers’ rights, and India’s bilateral labour agreements. Essays on human capital development and global workforce integration can reference this initiative.

What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is examining a proposal worth approximately ₹2 lakh crore to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets with around 60% local content under the Make in India initiative. The plan includes establishing a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Hyderabad. If approved, this would take India’s total Rafale fleet strength to 176 aircraft (including the 36 already ordered in 2016 and 26 Rafale-M for the Navy).

How: The proposal involves significant technology transfer from France’s Dassault Aviation, with major components manufactured domestically by Indian aerospace companies including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private sector partners. The MRO facility in Hyderabad would serve as a regional maintenance hub, potentially servicing Rafales operated by other nations. Local manufacturing includes airframe components, avionics integration, weapons systems, and engines under licensed production with progressive indigenization over the contract period.

Why: This is critical for UPSC Mains GS3 (Defence & Security – Military Modernization, Indigenous Defence Production) covering strategic autonomy, Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, and air power capabilities. Questions on defence procurement policy, Make in India in defence sector, technology transfer, and India’s fighter jet requirements are common. The deal connects to broader themes of reducing import dependency, building aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, and maintaining strategic balance in the region.

What: From October 1, 2025, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will reserve the first 15 minutes of online Tatkal and regular ticket booking exclusively for Aadhaar-authenticated user IDs. This measure aims to curb touting and fraudulent ticket booking by ensuring only verified individuals can access the initial booking window. Booking counter timings for Passenger Reservation System (PRS) remain unchanged.

How: Users must link their Aadhaar number with their IRCTC account and complete One Time Password (OTP) based authentication to access the priority booking window. During the first 15 minutes after Tatkal booking opens (10:00 AM for AC classes, 11:00 AM for non-AC), only Aadhaar-verified accounts can make reservations. After this window, all users can book normally. The system prevents multiple IDs from the same Aadhaar, reducing the scope for automated bulk bookings by touts using fake credentials.

Why: This is relevant for UPSC Mains GS2 (Governance – E-Governance, Service Delivery) and GS3 (Infrastructure – Railways). Questions on Aadhaar applications, digital authentication, railway reforms, and technology in public service delivery are frequent. The initiative exemplifies use of digital identity infrastructure for improving service accessibility and fairness. It connects to broader themes of Digital India, JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity, and leveraging technology to eliminate intermediaries in citizen services.

What: The Department of Posts (DoP) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage India Post’s network of 1.65 lakh post offices as last-mile distribution outlets for BSNL SIM cards, recharges, and telecom services. This partnership aims to expand telecom access and promote digital inclusion, particularly in rural and remote areas where banking and telecom infrastructure is limited.

How: Post offices will function as BSNL service centers, handling SIM card activation, bill payments, recharge services, and customer support. India Post’s extensive rural presence (89% of post offices are in rural areas) provides BSNL with a ready distribution network without establishing new physical infrastructure. Postal employees will receive training on telecom services, and digital payment integration will enable cashless transactions. This complements BSNL’s 4G/5G rollout and helps the public sector telecom compete with private operators.

Why: This is important for UPSC Mains GS3 (Infrastructure – Telecom, Digital Inclusion) and GS2 (Governance – Public Service Delivery). Questions on last-mile connectivity, rural digital infrastructure, BSNL revival efforts, and leveraging existing government networks are relevant. The partnership exemplifies inter-ministerial cooperation, creative use of government assets, and strategies for bridging the digital divide. It connects to Digital India mission, financial inclusion through digital payments, and ensuring equitable access to communication services.