GK One-Liners

What: UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme added Himachal Pradesh’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves at the 37th session held on 27 September 2025. This recognition makes it India’s 13th globally recognized biosphere reserve. The Cold Desert spans parts of Lahaul and Spiti districts at high altitudes (3,000-6,000 meters), characterized by unique trans-Himalayan cold desert ecosystems with sparse vegetation, rare wildlife like snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes, and ancient Buddhist monasteries.

How: UNESCO’s MAB Programme designates biosphere reserves that demonstrate innovative approaches to conservation and sustainable development. These reserves follow a zonation model: a core area for strict protection, a buffer zone for limited activities compatible with conservation, and a transition area for sustainable development activities involving local communities. The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve’s inclusion recognizes its success in balancing biodiversity conservation with the livelihoods of local communities through sustainable tourism, traditional agricultural practices, and preservation of indigenous knowledge systems. The designation also brings international funding opportunities, research collaboration networks, and enhanced visibility for conservation efforts.

Why: This achievement is crucial for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Environment & Biodiversity) questions on conservation strategies, UNESCO designations, and India’s biodiversity hotspots. Questions may focus on the concept and significance of biosphere reserves versus national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the three-zone model of biosphere reserves, India’s network of 18 biosphere reserves (13 now UNESCO-recognized), the importance of trans-Himalayan ecosystems, and how biosphere reserves integrate conservation with sustainable livelihoods. The topic connects to India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and the importance of mountain ecosystems in climate regulation and water security.

What: India declared Gokul Jalashay in Buxar district and Udaipur Jheel in West Champaran district as Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance), raising the country’s total to 93 Ramsar sites covering approximately 13.6 lakh hectares. These Bihar wetlands are significant for migratory bird populations, local biodiversity including fish species and aquatic plants, and ecosystem services like flood regulation, groundwater recharge, and supporting livelihoods of fishing communities and farmers who depend on wetland-fed irrigation.

How: The Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 (India ratified in 1982), designates wetlands of international importance based on ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological criteria. Sites must meet at least one of nine criteria, including supporting vulnerable species, maintaining biodiversity, or hosting significant waterfowl populations. Once designated, countries commit to maintaining the ecological character of Ramsar sites, promoting wise use principles, and developing management plans involving local communities. India has dramatically expanded its Ramsar network in recent years through systematic surveys, improved wetland mapping, and integrating wetland conservation into state development plans under the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.

Why: This expansion is significant for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Environment) questions on wetland conservation, international environmental conventions, and India’s environmental commitments. Questions may address the Ramsar Convention’s significance, challenges in wetland conservation including encroachment and pollution, the role of wetlands in climate change mitigation (carbon sequestration) and adaptation (flood control), comparison of India’s wetland coverage with global benchmarks, and the tension between development pressures and conservation mandates. The topic also connects to National Wetland Conservation Rules 2017, the distinction between Ramsar sites and other protected area categories, and how designation improves conservation outcomes through increased monitoring, funding, and community awareness.

What: Mukhi, born at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on 29 March 2023, became the first India-born cheetah to reach adulthood (approximately 18 months old), marking a significant milestone for Project Cheetah. The project currently reports 27 cheetahs including 16 India-born cubs with a 61% cub survival rate, exceeding the global average of approximately 50%, demonstrating successful adaptation to Indian conditions after the cheetah’s extinction from India in 1952 when the last three individuals were hunted in Koriya, Chhattisgarh.

How: Project Cheetah, launched in September 2022, involved translocating cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to establish a breeding population in India. Kuno National Park was selected after extensive habitat evaluation, prey base assessment (including chital, nilgai, wild boar), and rehabilitation of villages from the core area. The project provides intensive monitoring through radio collars, dedicated veterinary care, supplementary feeding during the acclimatization phase, and protection from territorial conflicts and human-wildlife interaction. Cubs are monitored for health parameters, hunting skill development, and integration into the ecosystem. The 61% survival rate reflects successful management protocols addressing challenges like extreme summer heat, monsoon-related diseases, and ensuring adequate prey availability.

Why: This milestone is crucial for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Environment & Biodiversity) questions on species reintroduction programs, wildlife conservation strategies, and India’s commitment to biodiversity restoration. Questions may focus on the rationale for reintroducing an extinct species versus protecting existing endangered species, challenges in translocation projects including genetic diversity concerns, habitat suitability assessment methods, comparison with other reintroduction programs globally (wolves in Yellowstone, Arabian Oryx), and the ecological role of apex predators in maintaining ecosystem balance. The success also validates India’s conservation capabilities and connects to broader themes of ecological restoration, IUCN guidelines for reintroductions, and balancing conservation with local community interests around protected areas.

What: World Food India 2025, held in New Delhi, concluded with investment commitments exceeding ₹1 lakh crore through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with 26 companies across various food processing segments. These investments are projected to generate over 64,000 direct jobs and approximately 10 lakh indirect livelihood opportunities across the food processing value chain, including farming, logistics, retail, and ancillary services. The event showcased India’s potential as a global food processing hub, leveraging its agricultural diversity, large consumer market, and government incentives.

How: World Food India serves as a platform connecting domestic and international investors with opportunities in India’s food processing sector. The event featured sector-specific sessions on dairy, fruits and vegetables, grains, seafood, organic foods, and food retail. MoUs covered establishment of mega food parks, cold chain infrastructure, processing units for value addition, export-oriented facilities, and technology transfer partnerships. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) facilitated these commitments through schemes like Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for food processing, PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME), and infrastructure support through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). These schemes offer capital subsidies, concessional credit, and marketing support to attract private investment.

Why: This investment surge is crucial for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Indian Economy, Agriculture) questions on food processing sector development, agricultural value addition, and employment generation. Questions may focus on the importance of food processing in reducing post-harvest losses (estimated at 15-20% for fruits and vegetables), increasing farmers’ incomes through better price realization, generating non-farm rural employment, improving food security through better storage and distribution, and boosting agricultural exports through value-added products. The sector connects to broader themes of doubling farmers’ income, Aatmanirbhar Bharat in agri-food systems, and leveraging India’s demographic dividend through labor-intensive manufacturing in food processing rather than capital-intensive sectors.

What: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) mentorship initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-Urban), pairing 72 high-performing “mentor” cities with nearly 200 “mentee” cities to share practical waste management solutions. The program operates through a structured 100-day action plan backed by approximately 300 signed MoUs, focusing on peer-to-peer knowledge transfer in areas like segregation at source, composting, waste-to-energy facilities, plastic waste management, and citizen behavior change campaigns.

How: Mentor cities are selected based on their performance in Swachh Survekshan rankings, innovative practices in waste management, and proven implementation models. Each mentor city guides 2-3 mentee cities through site visits, workshops, training programs for municipal workers, and technical assistance in setting up infrastructure. The 100-day action plan includes specific milestones: establishing door-to-door waste collection in uncovered areas, operationalizing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), setting up decentralized composting units, implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic waste, and digitizing waste management through mobile apps for real-time tracking. MoUs formalize commitments, timelines, and success metrics, with MoHUA providing technical and financial support for scaling proven solutions.

Why: This peer-learning model is significant for UPSC Mains (GS2 – Governance, GS3 – Environment) questions on urban governance innovations, Swachh Bharat Mission, and sustainable city management. Questions may address challenges in solid waste management including inadequate segregation (only 60% of urban waste is collected, and less than 30% is processed), the benefits of peer learning over top-down directives, the role of behavioral change in sanitation outcomes, integration of informal waste pickers into formal systems, and comparing India’s waste management approach with international best practices like Japan’s segregation model or Scandinavia’s waste-to-energy systems. The initiative demonstrates cooperative federalism and horizontal learning across urban local bodies, themes increasingly relevant for questions on improving municipal governance capacity.

What: Senior advocate R. Venkataramani was reappointed as the Attorney General of India for a fresh two-year term starting 1 October 2025, continuing his service as the country’s 16th Attorney General after first assuming office in 2022. The Attorney General, appointed by the President under Article 76 of the Constitution, serves as the principal legal advisor to the Government of India and the highest law officer of the country, representing the Union government in the Supreme Court and High Courts.

How: The Attorney General’s responsibilities include advising the government on legal matters, representing India in constitutional and significant cases before the Supreme Court, appearing in cases where government interests are involved, and providing legal opinions when sought by the President, ministries, or government departments. The position differs from the Solicitor General and Additional Solicitors General who assist the Attorney General. Unlike government servants, the Attorney General is not a full-time employee and can maintain private practice, though with certain restrictions to avoid conflicts of interest. The position carries the right to speak and participate in Parliament proceedings without voting rights, access to parliamentary committees, and receives remuneration rather than a fixed salary.

Why: This reappointment is relevant for UPSC Mains (GS2 – Polity & Constitution) questions on constitutional posts, legal officers of the government, and the justice delivery system. Questions may focus on comparing the Attorney General’s role with the Solicitor General and Advocate General (state-level equivalent), the significance of allowing private practice, the Attorney General’s parliamentary privileges under Articles 88 and 105, the process of appointment and removal (pleasure of the President), and landmark cases where the Attorney General’s arguments shaped constitutional jurisprudence. The position connects to broader themes of separation of powers, checks and balances, and the interface between the executive and judiciary through legal representation and advisory functions.