GK One-Liners

What: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumed charge as Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 1st January 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari. He is decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), and Sainya Seva Medal (SYSM), reflecting his distinguished service record.

How: The VCAS is the second-highest-ranking officer in the IAF, responsible for strategic planning, operational readiness, and administrative oversight. The position involves coordination with the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) on defence modernization, procurement decisions, and integration of emerging technologies. Appointments are based on seniority, merit, and operational experience across various commands.

Why: IAF organizational structure and senior appointments frequently appear in UPSC Prelims and SSC exams under Defence & Internal Security. Understanding the chain of command, gallantry awards (PVSM, AVSM), and succession planning is crucial for General Studies Paper 3. Questions on defence modernization and leadership transitions are common in current affairs sections.

What: The Central Government approved 22 projects worth ₹41,863 crore under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme. These projects are expected to generate an output of ₹2.58 lakh crore and create approximately 34,000 direct jobs across 8 states, strengthening India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem.

How: The scheme provides fiscal incentives, infrastructure support, and policy facilitation for manufacturing critical electronic components like semiconductors, display panels, and advanced sensors. It operates under the larger Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) framework, offering graded subsidies based on incremental sales and domestic value addition. Projects are distributed geographically to promote balanced regional development.

Why: This connects directly to Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives—recurring themes in UPSC Mains (GS3: Economy) and Banking exams. Questions on PLI schemes, electronics manufacturing policy, and employment generation through industrial policy are high-yield. Understanding the shift from assembly to component manufacturing is crucial for essays on self-reliance and supply chain resilience.

What: India’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow at 11% and real GDP at 7.2% in Financial Year 2026-27, driven by credit-led consumption and supportive government policies. This positions India among the fastest-growing major economies globally, despite global headwinds.

How: The growth projection reflects sustained domestic demand, infrastructure capital expenditure, improved credit availability through banking sector reforms, and recovery in rural consumption. Policy measures including interest rate management, fiscal stimulus, and structural reforms in manufacturing and services sectors contribute to this outlook. Real GDP adjusts for inflation, while nominal GDP includes price changes.

Why: GDP growth rates are staple questions in UPSC Prelims (Economy section) and Banking exams (Current Affairs). Understanding the difference between nominal and real GDP, factors driving growth, and comparative analysis with other economies is essential for Mains GS3. This data is frequently used in essay writing on India’s economic trajectory, demographic dividend, and global positioning as the world’s fastest-growing large economy.

What: Assam became India’s first state to constitute the 8th Pay Commission, headed by former Chief Secretary Subhas Das, ahead of the expiry of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. This marks a proactive approach to salary and pension revisions for state government employees and pensioners.

How: Pay Commissions are statutory bodies established to review and recommend salary structures, allowances, and pension benefits for government employees. The 8th Pay Commission will examine the existing pay matrix, analyze inflation trends, fiscal capacity of the state, and recommend revised compensation structures. States typically follow Central Pay Commission recommendations but can constitute their own commissions based on fiscal autonomy principles under federalism.

Why: This is significant for UPSC Polity (GS2) as it demonstrates fiscal federalism and state autonomy in administrative matters. Pay Commission structures, Centre-State financial relations, and fiscal responsibilities are recurring themes in both Prelims and Mains. Questions on constitutional provisions enabling states to form their own pay structures and the impact on state finances are common in state PSC examinations.

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated “The Light & the Lotus” exhibition in Delhi, showcasing Buddha relics discovered in Piprahwa in 1898. These relics are archaeologically linked to Kapilavastu, the ancient capital of the Shakya kingdom and birthplace of Gautama Buddha, making them of immense historical and spiritual significance.

How: The Piprahwa excavations, conducted by William Claxton Peppé, unearthed a stupa containing relics believed to belong to Buddha himself. The site’s identification with Kapilavastu is supported by epigraphic evidence, including inscriptions mentioning the Shakya clan. The exhibition presents these relics along with contextual archaeological findings, historical documentation, and digital reconstructions of ancient Buddhist architecture.

Why: Ancient Indian history, particularly the life of Buddha, Kapilavastu, and early Buddhist archaeology, is crucial for UPSC Prelims (GS1: Ancient History) and state PSC exams. Questions on Buddhist heritage sites, archaeological discoveries, and the spread of Buddhism appear regularly. Understanding the significance of stupas, relics, and excavation sites like Piprahwa connects to broader themes of India’s cultural heritage and UNESCO World Heritage nominations.

What: The Government launched the Export Promotion Mission with a corpus exceeding ₹25,000 crore, specifically designed to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in export activities. The mission provides interest subvention (interest rate subsidy) and collateral-free loan support to MSME exporters, addressing two critical barriers—high borrowing costs and lack of collateral security.

How: Interest subvention reduces the effective interest rate on export credit, making borrowing more affordable for MSMEs. Collateral support mechanisms involve credit guarantee schemes where the government backs a portion of the loan, eliminating the need for physical assets as security. This is implemented through partnerships with banks, EXIM Bank, and SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), with sector-specific interventions for textiles, handicrafts, engineering goods, and other export-intensive MSME sectors.

Why: MSME development is a cornerstone theme in UPSC Mains GS3 (Economy) and Banking exams. Questions on export promotion policies, trade facilitation, credit availability, and financial inclusion regularly appear. Understanding the role of MSMEs in employment generation (contributing ~45% to India’s manufacturing output and 30% to GDP) and export competitiveness is crucial for essays on inclusive growth, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s role in global value chains.