GK One-Liners

What: The Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) launched White Revolution 2.0, a comprehensive dairy development programme targeting a 50% increase in milk procurement over the next five years. The initiative will establish 1.20 lakh Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) across the country with special focus on women’s empowerment in the dairy value chain.

How: The programme builds on the legacy of Operation Flood by strengthening cooperative infrastructure, modernizing milk collection systems, and providing technical support to dairy farmers. Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be integrated into procurement networks, ensuring fair pricing mechanisms and quality control standards at the grassroots level.

Why: Questions on cooperative federalism, rural economy schemes, and women entrepreneurship appear regularly in UPSC GS-III (Agriculture) and GS-II (Government Schemes). This connects to Amul’s cooperative model, National Livestock Mission, and India’s position as the world’s largest milk producer—all frequent prelims and mains topics.

What: India and the United Kingdom signed a bilateral Social Security Agreement (SSA) to prevent double taxation on social security contributions for workers moving between the two countries. The pact will benefit approximately 75,000 Indian professionals working in the UK, with portability of contributions coordinated through India’s Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

How: Under the agreement, workers will pay social security contributions only in their country of employment, avoiding dual liability. The Certificate of Coverage (CoC) mechanism through EPFO will ensure seamless transfer of benefits, protect pension rights, and provide totalization of contribution periods for determining eligibility in both nations.

Why: UPSC frequently tests bilateral agreements, labour migration trends, and India’s diaspora engagement policies in GS-II (International Relations). This SSA represents India’s growing economic diplomacy framework and connects to similar agreements with other nations—a common prelims pattern question on “India has Social Security Agreements with how many countries?”

What: According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), India ranked 7th globally in Research and Development (R&D) expenditure with USD 75.73 billion in 2024. China topped the list at USD 785.9 billion, while global R&D spending reached USD 2.87 trillion, reflecting increased investment in innovation and technology development worldwide.

How: India’s R&D spending is distributed across government research institutions (CSIR, DRDO, ISRO), private sector innovation (particularly in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automotive), and academic research in IITs and national laboratories. The rise reflects policies like the National Research Foundation (NRF) and increased Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP.

Why: UPSC Science & Technology questions frequently test India’s global innovation rankings, patent filings, and comparison with other nations. This data connects to themes like Atmanirbhar Bharat in technology, public-private partnerships in R&D, and India’s position in Global Innovation Index (GII)—all standard prelims and mains discussion points.

What: The Indian Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Agneevasthraa, a domestic manufacturer specializing in carbon fabrics and advanced composites for armour systems. The partnership aims to develop lightweight, high-strength protective equipment including body armour, vehicle armour, and ballistic helmets using indigenous materials and technology.

How: Carbon fiber composites offer superior strength-to-weight ratios compared to traditional steel or ceramic armor, providing better protection while reducing soldier fatigue. The technology aligns with the Make in India initiative by reducing dependence on imported defense materials, building domestic manufacturing capacity, and creating a supply chain for advanced composite materials in the defense sector.

Why: UPSC regularly tests Make in India in Defense, Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, and indigenization of military equipment in GS-III (Security). Questions on defense procurement reforms, public-private partnerships in defense manufacturing, and strategic autonomy in military technology are common in both prelims and mains, especially in the context of reducing import dependence.

What: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) signed a comprehensive Research and Development agreement focusing on technology solutions for extreme environments. The collaboration will address challenges in high-altitude operations, off-grid energy systems, and sustainable waste management in remote military installations.

How: DRDO brings defense-specific requirements and operational insights from border deployments, while CSIR contributes expertise in materials science, renewable energy, and environmental engineering from its 37 national laboratories. Joint research teams will develop cold-weather survival equipment, solar-powered communication systems, and bio-degradable waste processing technologies suitable for Himalayan and desert terrains.

Why: UPSC tests inter-institutional collaboration in science, dual-use technologies, and strategic research priorities in GS-III (Science & Technology, Defence). The Siachen Glacier operations, Ladakh border infrastructure, and India’s mountain warfare capabilities are recurring themes, making this agreement relevant for questions on technological self-reliance in challenging operational environments.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to acquire stakes up to 9.95% in eight banks including HDFC Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, and Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB). This regulatory clearance allows the insurance major to diversify its investment portfolio while maintaining compliance with sectoral exposure limits for insurance companies.

How: RBI’s approval reflects the regulatory framework governing insurance companies’ equity investments in the financial sector, balancing portfolio diversification with systemic risk management. The 9.95% threshold keeps stakes below the 10% limit that would trigger different reporting and governance requirements, allowing ICICI Prudential to benefit from banking sector growth without operational control responsibilities.

Why: UPSC frequently tests cross-sectoral investments, RBI’s regulatory role, and the structure of India’s financial system in GS-III (Economy). Understanding insurance companies as institutional investors, small finance banks’ role in financial inclusion, and regulatory frameworks governing non-banking financial institutions are essential for prelims and mains questions on Indian banking and capital markets.