GK One-Liners

What: Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal was selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, India’s highest honor in cinema. The award will be conferred on 23 September 2025 during the 71st National Film Awards ceremony, recognizing his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema spanning over four decades with more than 350 films.

How: The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is presented annually by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to individuals for exceptional contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. The selection is made by a committee based on the artist’s body of work, impact on cinema, and cultural significance.

Why: National awards and honors are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims current affairs. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, established in 1969, is named after the father of Indian cinema and appears regularly in questions on cultural institutions, cinema heritage, and personalities. Understanding award categories and recipients is crucial for Art & Culture sections.

What: The Indian Navy and Greece’s Hellenic Navy conducted their first-ever bilateral naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea from 13-18 September 2025. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trikand represented India in this historic engagement, marking a significant expansion of India’s defense partnerships in the Mediterranean region.

How: The exercise included harbor-phase interactions and advanced sea drills covering Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Replenishment at Sea (RAS), gunnery exercises, and helicopter cross-deck operations. These activities enhance interoperability and strengthen operational coordination between the two navies.

Why: India’s expanding defense partnerships, particularly in the Mediterranean and with European nations, are highly relevant for UPSC Security and International Relations sections. Questions on bilateral exercises, naval diplomacy, maritime cooperation under Indo-Pacific strategy, and India’s engagement with NATO partners appear in Prelims and Mains GS2/GS3.

What: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad is spearheading India’s indigenous 6G (sixth-generation) telecommunications research and development targeting a 2030 commercial rollout. The institute has demonstrated prototypes including 7 gigahertz (GHz) band communications, massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna systems, and satellite-ready connectivity solutions.

How: The research involves developing an in-house low-power System-on-Chip (SoC) capable of supporting both civilian and defense communication needs. The 6G technology will offer ultra-high-speed connectivity (100 times faster than 5G), near-zero latency, and integration with artificial intelligence, enabling applications like holographic communication and advanced IoT networks.

Why: Telecommunications technology and indigenous innovation are critical for UPSC Science & Technology sections. Questions on 5G/6G deployment, spectrum allocation, digital infrastructure under Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat in strategic technologies, and India’s position in global telecom standards appear regularly in Prelims and Mains GS3.

What: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched ‘AIIMS Disha’, an innovative indoor navigation mobile application for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi. The app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and artificial intelligence-based routing algorithms to provide real-time, turn-by-turn guidance to patients and visitors navigating the large hospital complex.

How: The app maps the entire AIIMS Delhi campus including Outpatient Departments (OPDs), diagnostic laboratories, pharmacies, emergency services, and administrative offices. BLE beacons installed throughout the facility communicate with the user’s smartphone to pinpoint location accurately. The AI routing engine calculates the shortest path considering real-time factors like crowd density and accessibility requirements.

Why: Digital health innovations and e-governance initiatives are important for UPSC Social Justice and Governance sections. Questions on healthcare accessibility, Digital India in health sector, patient-centric services, and technology adoption in government hospitals appear in GS2 (Health & Welfare) and GS3 (Technology). Understanding BLE and AI applications demonstrates broader tech knowledge.

What: Indian speed skater Anandkumar Velkumar created history by winning India’s first-ever world championship title in speed skating at the 2025 World Speed Skating Championships held in China. He clinched gold in the men’s 42-kilometer marathon event and also won gold in the 1000-meter race and bronze in the 500-meter sprint.

How: Anandkumar’s victory came through exceptional endurance in the marathon event, which tests both physical stamina and strategic race management. His success reflects years of dedicated training, improved infrastructure support for skating in India, and strategic preparation across multiple distance categories. The triple-medal haul demonstrates versatility across sprint, middle-distance, and endurance formats.

Why: Historic firsts in international sports are frequently asked in UPSC Prelims current affairs. Questions on Indian athletes achieving world championships, emerging sports in India, and sporting milestones appear regularly. This can be referenced in Mains essays on youth achievement, sports development beyond cricket, and India’s growing presence in diverse international sporting disciplines.

What: Oil India Limited (OIL) and Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore and develop critical and strategic minerals, with particular emphasis on copper resources. This collaboration directly supports India’s National Critical Mineral Mission aimed at reducing import dependence and ensuring long-term mineral security for strategic industries.

How: The partnership combines OIL’s geological exploration expertise and financial resources with HCL’s mining and metallurgical capabilities. Joint ventures will be formed to survey copper-rich regions, establish extraction facilities, and develop processing infrastructure. The collaboration leverages synergies between two major public sector undertakings to accelerate domestic mineral production and create integrated value chains.

Why: Critical minerals are essential for defense manufacturing, renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and electronics—making this topic highly relevant for UPSC Economy and Security sections. Questions on mineral security, Atmanirbhar Bharat in strategic sectors, PSU collaborations, supply chain resilience, and the National Critical Mineral Mission appear frequently in Prelims current affairs and Mains GS3 papers on Economic Development and Resource Security.