GK One-Liners

What: India’s fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in Financial Year 2025 (FY25), marking a remarkable 106% increase over the past decade. This growth has established India as the world’s second-largest fish producer globally, creating 74.66 lakh employment opportunities and generating exports worth ₹62,408 crore.

How: The expansion is driven by the Blue Revolution initiative, promotion of inland aquaculture, modernization of fishing harbors, strengthening of fisheries cooperatives, and implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Government support through infrastructure development, cold storage facilities, and market linkages has accelerated production across marine and inland sectors.

Why: This topic connects directly to UPSC GS3 (Agriculture and allied sectors, Blue Economy) and Prelims questions on government schemes. The exponential growth demonstrates India’s economic diversification beyond traditional sectors and aligns with themes of employment generation, export promotion, and sustainable resource management frequently tested in Mains essays and economic development questions.

What: India and Germany signed comprehensive strategic agreements covering skills mobility, migration management, security cooperation, and clean energy transition. The partnership includes a landmark announcement of visa-free transit facilities, with bilateral trade already exceeding USD 50 billion, reflecting the deepening economic and strategic ties between the two democracies.

How: The agreements operationalize cooperation through joint working groups on skill certification, mutual recognition of qualifications, technology transfer in renewable energy, cybersecurity information sharing, and simplified visa procedures for professionals and students. Germany’s position as Europe’s largest economy and India’s growing global stature create synergies in manufacturing, green hydrogen development, and defense technology collaboration.

Why: Critical for UPSC GS2 (International Relations, Bilateral Agreements) and Prelims questions on India’s foreign policy partnerships. The visa-free transit provision, clean energy focus, and skills mobility align with current exam themes of India’s global engagement, energy transition commitments, and demographic dividend utilization. Relevant for Mains essays on India’s strategic autonomy and economic diplomacy.

What: Major Swathi Shantha Kumar of the Indian Army received the prestigious United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Award for 2025 in recognition of her exceptional contributions to promoting gender-inclusive peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. This honor highlights India’s significant role in UN peacekeeping missions and the increasing participation of women in military leadership positions.

How: Major Kumar served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), where she implemented community engagement programs, trained local women in conflict resolution, facilitated protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations, and demonstrated leadership in challenging operational environments. Her work exemplifies the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, which emphasizes women’s participation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC GS2 (International Organizations, India’s Peacekeeping Contributions) and GS1 (Women’s Issues, Gender Equality). India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces, and questions on peacekeeping mandates, UN awards, and women’s representation in armed forces appear regularly in Prelims and Mains. This recognition connects to broader themes of gender mainstreaming and India’s soft power projection internationally.

What: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), a third-generation fire-and-forget missile system with top-attack capability. The missile is designed to engage and destroy heavily armored targets including main battle tanks, and is now moving closer to formal induction into the Indian Army.

How: The MPATGM employs advanced infrared imaging seeker technology that locks onto targets before launch, allowing the operator to take cover immediately after firing (fire-and-forget). The top-attack mode enables the missile to strike from above, exploiting the thinner armor on tank turrets. Weighing under 14.5 kg, it provides infantry units with portable, precision anti-armor capability without requiring continuous guidance or operator exposure during flight.

Why: Critical for UPSC GS3 (Defence Technology, Indigenous Manufacturing, Atmanirbhar Bharat) and Prelims questions on DRDO projects and missile classifications. The third-generation designation (fire-and-forget vs. earlier wire-guided or semi-active systems) is frequently tested. This development reduces India’s dependence on imported anti-tank systems like Israeli Spike missiles, aligning with Make in India objectives and self-reliance in critical defense technologies.

What: India unveiled SCORP (System for Collaborative Operations in Rugged Platforms), the country’s first indigenously developed legged mobile manipulator robot. This quadruped robot with manipulator arms represents a significant milestone in India’s robotics and deep-tech innovation ecosystem, demonstrating capabilities in autonomous navigation, object manipulation, and operation in challenging terrains.

How: SCORP combines legged locomotion (similar to Boston Dynamics’ Spot) with robotic arm manipulation, enabling it to navigate uneven surfaces, climb stairs, and perform complex tasks in environments unsuitable for wheeled robots. The system integrates artificial intelligence for path planning, computer vision for object recognition, sensor fusion for environmental awareness, and remote operation capabilities. Potential applications include disaster response, industrial inspection, border surveillance, and hazardous material handling.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC GS3 (Science & Technology, Robotics, Industry 4.0, Make in India) and Prelims questions on emerging technologies and indigenous innovation. The development connects to broader themes of deep-tech startups, government support for advanced manufacturing, and India’s positioning in the global robotics market. Questions on AI applications, autonomous systems, and technological self-reliance appear regularly in both Prelims and Mains, particularly in the context of Atmanirbhar Bharat and strategic technology sectors.

What: The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala has been renamed and designated as the state’s first dedicated Butterfly Sanctuary, representing a pioneering initiative in insect conservation in India. This designation recognizes the sanctuary’s exceptional butterfly diversity and establishes specialized conservation protocols for lepidopteran species, promoting both ecological protection and eco-tourism development with community participation.

How: The sanctuary will implement butterfly-specific conservation measures including habitat restoration with native flowering plants, creation of butterfly corridors, monitoring of rare and endemic species, restriction of pesticide use in buffer zones, and establishment of butterfly gardens and interpretation centers. Community-based ecotourism initiatives will provide livelihood opportunities through guided butterfly walks, photography tourism, and local homestays, creating economic incentives for conservation while raising awareness about pollinator importance.

Why: Important for UPSC GS3 (Environment & Ecology, Biodiversity Conservation) and Prelims questions on protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and conservation initiatives. Butterflies serve as biological indicators of ecosystem health, and their conservation connects to broader themes of pollinator protection, climate change impacts, and community-based conservation models. The designation reflects India’s expanding approach to wildlife protection beyond charismatic megafauna to include invertebrate diversity, a topic increasingly featured in environment-focused Mains questions and current affairs.