GK One-Liners

What: India has launched its first open-sea marine fish farming pilot project in the Andaman Sea. The project is being implemented by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, focusing on finfish and seaweed cultivation to boost the Blue Economy.

How: The project uses cage culture technology in open ocean waters, allowing fish to grow in their natural marine environment while being protected in large floating enclosures. Seaweed cultivation complements the initiative by providing additional income streams and supporting marine ecosystem health.

Why: This aligns with India’s Blue Economy vision under Sagarmala and sustainable development goals. Questions on mariculture, NIOT’s role, and India’s ocean economy initiatives frequently appear in UPSC Prelims (Environment) and Mains GS3 (Conservation, Economy).

What: India has announced its first-ever Tailings Policy aimed at recovering critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements from mining waste (tailings). This policy supports India’s clean energy transition and strengthens mineral security for strategic sectors.

How: Tailings are the waste materials left after extracting valuable minerals from ore. The new policy establishes frameworks for systematic recovery of residual critical minerals from these waste dumps using advanced extraction technologies, converting environmental liabilities into economic assets.

Why: Critical minerals are essential for electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy infrastructure. This links to Atmanirbhar Bharat, energy security, and circular economy concepts—all high-yield topics for UPSC GS3 (Economy, Environment) and Banking exams.

What: United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India, resulting in major bilateral agreements including a $200 billion trade target by 2032, investment commitments in Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), enhanced defence partnership, and a 10-year Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply deal with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

How: The visit builds on the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022. The Dholera SIR investment will boost India’s smart city and industrial corridor ambitions, while the LNG deal ensures long-term energy security through diversified supply sources.

Why: India-UAE relations exemplify strategic partnerships in West Asia. Questions on CEPA, energy diplomacy, industrial corridors, and Gulf cooperation are common in UPSC GS2 (International Relations) and state PSC exams.

What: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for FY 2025-26 upward to 7.3%, representing an increase of 0.7 percentage points from its earlier estimate. This makes India one of the fastest-growing major economies globally.

How: The upward revision is attributed to robust domestic consumption, resilient private and public investment activity, and continued structural reforms. Additionally, the IMF raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.3%, partly driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom investments across economies.

Why: IMF forecasts are frequently asked in UPSC Prelims and Banking exams (RBI Grade B, NABARD). Understanding India’s growth drivers, comparison with global growth rates, and macroeconomic indicators is essential for GS3 (Economy) and interview preparation.

What: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) won the SKOCH Award 2025 for developing an indigenous Cell Broadcast Solution. This system delivers disaster alerts to mobile phones in 21 Indian languages through partner agencies including India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

How: Cell Broadcast technology sends emergency messages to all mobile devices within a specific geographic area simultaneously, without requiring internet connectivity or knowing individual phone numbers. Unlike SMS, it doesn’t congest networks during emergencies and reaches everyone in the affected zone instantly.

Why: This exemplifies Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical communication infrastructure. Questions on disaster management technology, indigenous telecom solutions, and multi-agency coordination appear in UPSC GS3 (Science & Technology, Disaster Management) and SSC CGL.

What: Researchers from Germany and the United Kingdom have discovered a new hybrid state of matter that exhibits both solid and liquid properties simultaneously at the nanoscale. This breakthrough could significantly improve the efficiency of platinum catalysts used in fuel cells and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

How: At the nanoscale, certain materials can exist in a transitional state where atoms maintain ordered crystalline structure (solid-like) while also exhibiting fluid mobility (liquid-like). This dual behavior allows platinum nanoparticles to have enhanced catalytic activity compared to purely solid or liquid forms.

Why: Scientific discoveries related to states of matter, nanotechnology, and clean energy applications are important for UPSC Science & Technology section. This connects to hydrogen economy, fuel cell technology, and India’s green hydrogen mission—all high-priority topics for GS3.