GK One-Liners

What: The United States formally exited the World Health Organization (WHO) after 78 years of membership, becoming the first and only country ever to withdraw from the global health body. The US had been a founding member since 1948 and was the largest contributor, providing approximately 20% of the WHO’s budget.

How: The withdrawal leaves the WHO with approximately $278 million in unpaid US dues. This creates a significant funding gap for global health programmes including disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and health system strengthening in developing countries. Other major contributors like Germany, Japan, and the UK may face pressure to increase contributions.

Why: Questions on international organisations, their funding mechanisms, and US foreign policy shifts are common in UPSC International Relations. The WHO’s structure, India’s role in global health governance, and multilateralism challenges are high-yield topics for both Prelims and Mains GS-II.

What: Indian Railways commissioned Kavach 4.0, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, on the 96-kilometre Bajwa-Ahmedabad route covering 17 stations in Gujarat. The maiden train to operate under this system was the Sankalp Fast Passenger. With this deployment, Kavach coverage has crossed 2,200 kilometres nationwide.

How: Kavach 4.0 is certified to Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4), the highest international safety standard for railway signalling systems. It uses radio frequency identification, GPS, and ultra-high frequency communication to automatically apply brakes if the driver fails to respond to signals, preventing collisions and over-speeding accidents.

Why: Railway safety initiatives and indigenous technology development are frequently asked in UPSC Science & Technology and Infrastructure sections. Questions on Kavach’s features, SIL certification levels, and the Make in India aspect of railway modernisation are examination favourites.

What: The President approved 70 gallantry awards, 301 service decorations, and 98 Mention-in-Despatches (MiDs) for 2026. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, for becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS).

How: The gallantry awards include 1 Ashok Chakra (highest peacetime bravery), 3 Kirti Chakras (second-highest peacetime), and 13 Shaurya Chakras (third-highest peacetime). The Ashok Chakra, instituted in 1952, can be awarded to civilians and military personnel for most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice not in the face of the enemy.

Why: Defence awards, their hierarchy, and eligibility criteria are standard topics for UPSC Prelims. The Gaganyaan programme connection and India’s space achievements make this particularly relevant for Science & Technology and Current Affairs sections.

What: The World Bank approved $815 million in financing for the 1,125 MW Dorjilung Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan, the country’s largest hydropower venture. The project is a joint venture between Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) holding 60% and Tata Power holding 40%, expected to generate 4,500 GWh of electricity annually.

How: Under the bilateral hydropower cooperation framework, 80% of the electricity generated will be exported to India, strengthening energy security for both nations. The project follows the successful model of earlier India-Bhutan hydro projects like Tala (1,020 MW) and Mangdechhu (720 MW), which provide clean energy while generating revenue for Bhutan.

Why: India-Bhutan relations and hydropower cooperation are important for UPSC International Relations and Energy Security. Questions on bilateral projects, cross-border power trade, and India’s neighbourhood-first policy are commonly asked in both Prelims and Mains.

What: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its ‘State of Finance for Nature 2026’ report, revealing a stark imbalance: $30 is spent on activities harmful to nature for every $1 invested in protection. In 2023, global spending on nature protection stood at just $220 billion compared to $7.3 trillion on harmful activities.

How: The report calls for scaling up investments in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to $571 billion annually by 2030 to meet biodiversity and climate targets. NbS include ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, protected area management, and green infrastructure—approaches that harness natural processes to address environmental challenges.

Why: Environment financing, UNEP reports, and Nature-based Solutions are increasingly important for UPSC Environment and Ecology. Questions on global environmental governance, biodiversity finance gaps, and India’s commitments under CBD and UNFCCC are high-priority topics.

What: India ranked 6th among 11 Asian countries in the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026, published by Dezan Shira & Associates (Hong Kong). The index evaluates manufacturing competitiveness using 8 pillars and 43 sub-parameters covering factors like infrastructure, labour costs, policy environment, and supply chain efficiency.

How: China secured the top position, followed by Malaysia (which overtook Vietnam to claim 2nd place), Vietnam (3rd), Singapore (4th), and South Korea (5th). India’s ranking reflects both its manufacturing potential—driven by demographic dividend and policy initiatives like Make in India and PLI schemes—and areas requiring improvement such as logistics efficiency and ease of doing business.

Why: Global competitiveness rankings and India’s manufacturing sector performance are relevant for UPSC Economy sections. Questions on PLI schemes, manufacturing policy, and comparative advantages in Asia are frequently asked in both Prelims and Mains GS-III.