GK One-Liners

What: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant virtually inaugurated India’s first fully paperless district court at Kalpetta in Kerala. This marks the complete digitisation of district judiciary operations, eliminating physical paperwork in case filing, hearings, judgments, and record maintenance.

How: The initiative leverages the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, integrating digital case filing systems, virtual court hearings, electronic documentation, and automated case management systems. All judicial records are now maintained in secure digital repositories accessible to litigants, lawyers, and judges through online portals.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC Prelims (Indian Polity—judiciary reforms) and Mains GS2 (e-governance applications). Questions on Digital India initiatives, judicial reforms, and technology in governance frequently appear. The paperless court model aligns with themes of transparency, accessibility, and environmental sustainability in public administration.

What: India became the world’s first country to commercially produce bio-bitumen from agricultural waste, as announced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) ceremony. Bio-bitumen is an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based bitumen used in road construction.

How: The technology converts agricultural residue like rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and corn stalks into bitumen through thermochemical processes. This innovation reduces dependence on imported petroleum bitumen, addresses stubble burning issues, and provides farmers with additional income streams from crop waste.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC Mains GS3 (Science & Technology, Infrastructure) and essay themes on circular economy and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Questions on waste-to-wealth innovations, sustainable infrastructure, and CSIR’s contributions are common. This also connects to environmental protection (stubble burning) and rural economy enhancement.

What: Rajasthan hosted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Conference 2026, where the ₹10,000 crore India AI Mission was highlighted. The mission aims to train 1 million youth in AI skills, establishing India as a global AI powerhouse through infrastructure development, research support, and startup ecosystem strengthening.

How: The India AI Mission encompasses building AI computing infrastructure, creating large datasets, supporting AI startups through funding and incubation, establishing centres of excellence in premier institutions, and implementing skill development programs across tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Why: Critical for UPSC Prelims (current schemes) and Mains GS3 (Science & Technology—achievements and initiatives). Questions on Digital India 2.0, emerging technologies, skill development, and India’s position in global tech rankings are frequent. This connects to themes of youth employment, innovation ecosystem, and fourth industrial revolution preparedness.

What: The United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists, recognizing grasslands’ critical role in climate resilience and carbon sequestration. Rangelands cover approximately 54% of Earth’s land surface and support 1 billion people globally, including pastoral communities.

How: The initiative aims to promote sustainable rangeland management, highlight pastoralist communities’ contributions to biodiversity conservation, raise awareness about grassland degradation threats, and encourage policies supporting traditional grazing practices that maintain ecosystem health and carbon storage capacity.

Why: Important for UPSC Prelims (UN observances, environment) and Mains GS3 (climate change, biodiversity conservation). Questions on carbon sequestration mechanisms, ecosystem services, sustainable land management, and international environmental initiatives frequently appear. This connects to India’s commitments under Paris Agreement and National Action Plan on Climate Change.

What: The United States withdrew from 66 international organisations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA). This represents a significant retreat from multilateral cooperation and global governance frameworks established post-World War II.

How: The withdrawal process involves formal notifications to respective organizations, cessation of financial contributions, recall of diplomatic staff from relevant bodies, and termination of treaty obligations. This impacts global climate negotiations, renewable energy cooperation, public health initiatives, and various technical cooperation platforms.

Why: Critical for UPSC Mains GS2 (International Relations—multilateralism crisis, India’s response to changing global order). Questions on climate diplomacy, ISA’s future, emerging global power dynamics, and India’s strategic autonomy doctrine are frequent. This withdrawal creates opportunities for India and other emerging powers to assume greater leadership in international institutions.

What: Veteran nuclear scientist A.K. Balasubrahmanian was appointed as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for a three-year tenure. AERB is India’s apex regulatory body for safety oversight of nuclear installations, radiation facilities, and radioactive material handling, functioning under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.

How: As AERB Chairman, he oversees safety assessments for nuclear power plants, research reactors, fuel cycle facilities, and radiation applications in medicine and industry. The board conducts safety audits, enforces radiation protection standards, reviews emergency preparedness protocols, and grants regulatory clearances for nuclear projects.

Why: Relevant for UPSC Prelims (important appointments, nuclear governance) and Mains GS3 (Science & Technology—nuclear energy, safety regulations). Questions on India’s nuclear program, regulatory frameworks, civil nuclear cooperation agreements, and energy security frequently appear. This connects to India’s nuclear expansion plans and commitment to 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.