GK One-Liners

What: The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.5% while maintaining its neutral policy stance. Simultaneously, the RBI upgraded India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for FY26 to 6.8% from its previous estimate, and lowered the CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation projection to 2.6% from 3.1%, signaling confidence in the economy’s balanced trajectory of growth with price stability.

How: The MPC evaluates multiple economic indicators including inflation trends, growth momentum, global economic conditions, and domestic demand before deciding on interest rate changes. The repo rate is the rate at which commercial banks borrow money from RBI. By keeping it unchanged, RBI ensures borrowing costs remain stable, supporting both business investment and consumer spending. The upgraded growth forecast reflects strong performance across agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors, while lower inflation expectations indicate cooling food and fuel prices.

Why: RBI’s monetary policy decisions are extensively tested in Banking exams (IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B), UPSC Prelims and Mains (GS Paper 3: Economy), and State PSC examinations. Questions often focus on repo rate levels, policy stance (accommodative/neutral/hawkish), inflation targeting framework (4% ±2%), and the relationship between interest rates and economic growth. Understanding MPC composition, voting patterns, and policy transmission mechanisms is crucial for questions on monetary policy tools, central banking functions, and macroeconomic management.

What: Balod district in Chhattisgarh has achieved the historic distinction of becoming India’s first certified child marriage-free district under the Child Marriage Free India campaign. All 436 panchayats and 9 urban local bodies in the district reported zero child marriage cases over a two-year monitoring period, earning official certification. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced an ambitious target to make the entire state of Chhattisgarh child marriage-free by 2028-29.

How: The achievement resulted from sustained multi-stakeholder efforts including community awareness campaigns, strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, training of Anganwadi workers and ASHA volunteers to identify and prevent cases, involvement of local panchayat members and religious leaders, and establishment of reporting mechanisms. Regular monitoring through district administration and social welfare departments ensured compliance, while counseling services were provided to families to change mindsets about early marriage practices.

Why: Questions on child marriage statistics, legal framework (Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, PCMA Amendment Bill), government schemes (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana), and constitutional provisions (Article 21A – Right to Education, Article 39 – Directive Principles) appear regularly in UPSC Prelims, Mains (GS Paper 2: Governance & Social Justice), State PSC, and SSC exams. Understanding district-level initiatives, success models, and challenges in eliminating child marriage is important for questions on women and child welfare, social sector programs, and India’s progress toward SDG targets, particularly SDG 5.3 which aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.

What: Madhya Pradesh Forest Department launched the Gaj Rakshak mobile application in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to track elephant movements and prevent human-elephant conflict. The elephant population in the reserve has grown significantly from 40 individuals in 2018 to 65 in 2025, making such technological intervention necessary. The app is designed to work even in offline mode, crucial for remote forest areas with limited connectivity.

How: The application provides real-time alerts through multiple channels—SMS, siren, and phone calls—whenever elephants are detected moving toward human settlements or agricultural fields. Forest guards and local communities can report elephant sightings through the app, which then generates location-based warnings to people in the vicinity. The offline functionality ensures that even in areas without internet coverage, the alert system remains operational. The initiative will be expanded to other districts including Shahdol, Sidhi, Anuppur, Singrauli, and Satna, all of which face similar human-wildlife conflict challenges.

Why: Human-wildlife conflict is a recurring topic in UPSC Prelims and Mains (GS Paper 3: Environment), State PSC exams, and Forest Service examinations. Questions test knowledge of Project Elephant (launched 1992), Wildlife Protection Act 1972, elephant corridors, conflict mitigation strategies, and technology applications in conservation. Understanding specific initiatives like Gaj Rakshak, elephant population trends, geographical distribution (Asian elephant found in 13 states), and conservation challenges helps answer questions on wildlife management, community-based conservation, and the role of technology in addressing environmental issues. The topic also connects to broader themes of sustainable development and balancing conservation with livelihood needs of forest-fringe communities.

What: The government has appointed Praveer Ranjan as Director General of CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) and Praveen Kumar as Director General of ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police). Praveer Ranjan belongs to the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre and was previously heading Airport Security operations. Praveen Kumar is a 1993-batch IPS officer who will now lead the force responsible for guarding India’s border with China and conducting high-altitude operations.

How: CISF, established in 1969, is tasked with providing security to critical infrastructure including airports, seaports, nuclear installations, space establishments, government buildings, heritage monuments, and metro rail systems across India. With over 1.62 lakh personnel, it is one of the largest Central Armed Police Forces. ITBP, formed in 1962 after the Sino-Indian War, guards the 3,488 km Indo-China border from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. The force specializes in mountain warfare, disaster response in Himalayan regions, and conducting search and rescue operations at extreme altitudes.

Why: Questions on Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), their roles, jurisdictions, and leadership appointments are standard in UPSC Prelims, Mains (GS Paper 3: Internal Security), SSC CGL, State PSC, and CAPF exams. Candidates must know the five major CAPFs—CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal)—along with Assam Rifles and NSG (National Security Guard). Understanding organizational structure, command hierarchy, specific mandates (border guarding vs. internal security vs. VIP protection), and recent modernization initiatives helps answer questions on India’s security architecture, paramilitary forces’ role in counter-insurgency, disaster management contributions, and challenges in border management.

What: The Spear Corps of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command conducted the ‘Drone Kavach’ exercise in Arunachal Pradesh from 25-28 September 2025. This specialized drill focused on drone warfare tactics, counter-drone technologies, and multi-domain combat readiness. The exercise followed the successful Mount Gorichen expedition where soldiers scaled the 6,488-meter peak, demonstrating the force’s capability to operate in extreme terrain and high-altitude conditions along the sensitive India-China border.

How: The exercise integrated offensive and defensive drone operations, testing surveillance capabilities, aerial targeting systems, and tactical coordination between ground troops and unmanned aerial systems. Counter-drone technologies including electronic warfare systems, RF (Radio Frequency) jammers, laser-based systems, and anti-drone guns were deployed and evaluated. The drill simulated real combat scenarios where drones could be used for reconnaissance, delivery of payloads, and disrupting enemy communications. Soldiers practiced detecting, tracking, neutralizing, and capturing hostile drones while protecting friendly UAV operations.

Why: Drone warfare and counter-drone strategies are emerging as critical topics in UPSC Mains (GS Paper 3: Security), Defence Services exams (NDA, CDS), and current affairs sections of all major competitive exams. Questions increasingly focus on asymmetric warfare, emerging military technologies, India’s drone manufacturing initiatives (including Project CATS – Combat Air Teaming System, and indigenous drone development under Atmanirbhar Bharat), and challenges posed by adversarial drone usage. Understanding military exercises in the Eastern Command area is crucial for questions on India-China border management, Line of Actual Control (LAC) tensions, military preparedness in high-altitude warfare, and India’s strategic response to border challenges in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.

What: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 report reveals that Manipur recorded 14,427 violent crimes in 2023, representing a staggering 20-fold increase from just 631 cases in 2022. The state topped India in violent crime rate, driven primarily by ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities that erupted in May 2023. The data shows 5,421 riots, 6,203 arson incidents, 3,339 crimes against Scheduled Tribes, 151 murders, 89 rapes, and 818 attempted murders during this period.

How: The violence was triggered by the Manipur High Court’s direction to consider Meiteis (who constitute about 53% of the population and primarily inhabit the Imphal valley) for Scheduled Tribe status. The Kukis, who live in the hill districts and already enjoy ST status, opposed this move, fearing loss of reservation benefits and land rights in tribal areas. The conflict escalated into widespread communal violence, displacement of over 60,000 people, destruction of property, and breakdown of law and order. Central forces were deployed, President’s Rule was considered, and internet shutdowns were imposed periodically to control the situation.

Why: NCRB data analysis is crucial for UPSC Prelims and Mains (GS Paper 2: Governance, GS Paper 3: Internal Security), State PSC exams, and Essay writing. Questions test understanding of crime statistics, state-wise crime rates, trends in particular offenses (crimes against women, children, SCs/STs), and law and order challenges. The Manipur situation specifically relates to constitutional provisions (Articles 371A-371J for special provisions for Northeastern states, Sixth Schedule for tribal areas, Article 342 for ST list), tribal rights, land ownership laws in hill areas, ethnic diversity management, and Centre-State relations in maintaining internal security. Understanding the ethnic composition, historical grievances, ST reservation framework, and ongoing conflict resolution efforts is essential for answering questions on Northeast India’s challenges and India’s diversity management strategies.