GK One-Liners

What: India has become the third country in the world, after the United States of America and South Korea, to establish an indigenous waterjet propulsion system manufacturing facility. The facility was inaugurated by the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at Goa, developed in collaboration with M/s MJP (Marine Jet Power).

How: Waterjet propulsion systems offer higher speed, better manoeuvrability, and reduced draft compared to conventional propellers—critical for patrol vessels and interceptor craft. Over 100 waterjet systems are now operational across Indian maritime platforms, boosting the ICG’s coastal surveillance capabilities.

Why: This milestone aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and defence indigenisation themes frequently tested in UPSC. Questions on India’s self-reliance in strategic technologies, coastal security infrastructure, and the role of the ICG are high-yield for both Prelims and Mains (GS-III: Security).

What: The Government of India has doubled the Lakhpati Didi target from 3 crore to 6 crore women. Simultaneously, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) corpus has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore to strengthen rural economic infrastructure.

How: Lakhpati Didis are women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) who earn over Rs 1 lakh annually through diversified livelihoods including agriculture, animal husbandry, and micro-enterprises. The expanded AIF will fund cold storage, warehouses, and processing units at the farm-gate level under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi ecosystem.

Why: Women’s economic empowerment and rural infrastructure are recurring UPSC themes. Expect questions linking SHG movements, DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission), and agricultural value chains in both Prelims factual MCQs and Mains essays on inclusive growth.

What: The 13th edition of Exercise MILAN 2026 is being conducted from 18–25 February at Visakhapatnam and in the Bay of Bengal. MILAN (Multilateral Indian-Led Naval) is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy to enhance interoperability among friendly foreign navies.

How: The exercise involves sea-phase operations including anti-submarine warfare, surface gunnery, and humanitarian assistance drills, along with a harbour phase featuring professional exchanges and cultural events. Participating nations span the Indo-Pacific, reflecting India’s maritime outreach under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Why: MILAN is frequently asked in UPSC Prelims alongside exercises like Malabar, JIMEX, and AUSINDEX. For Mains, it connects to India’s Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific strategy, and the role of the Navy in regional security architecture (GS-II: IR and GS-III: Security).

What: According to the Trade Watch Quarterly report for Q2 FY26, India’s electronics exports have reached USD 42.1 billion—a five-fold increase since 2016. India has also entered the top 6 global e-commerce markets, with merchandise exports growing by 8.5% year-on-year.

How: This growth is driven by the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics, expansion of smartphone and semiconductor manufacturing, and favourable trade agreements. Global supply chain diversification away from China has positioned India as an alternative manufacturing hub.

Why: Electronics manufacturing and export data are high-frequency Prelims facts. For Mains, connect this to Make in India 2.0, PLI schemes, and India’s strategy to become a global electronics hub. Questions may also test knowledge of trade balance improvements and FDI inflows into the sector.

What: The Government has launched Bharat EduAI Stack, an open architecture framework to integrate Artificial Intelligence into India’s education ecosystem. Complementing this, the Bodhan AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been established, along with new AI-focused programmes at IIM Lucknow, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Jammu.

How: EduAI Stack provides Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and data standards for AI tools to plug into existing educational platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM. The Bodhan CoE will conduct research on personalised learning, AI tutors, and automated assessment systems.

Why: Digital education and AI policy are converging themes in UPSC. Expect Prelims questions on EduAI Stack components and Mains questions on NEP 2020’s technology integration, ethical concerns in AI-based education, and bridging the digital divide (GS-II: Education and GS-III: S&T).

What: The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026 was held at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, inaugurated by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. A key highlight was the launch of DAMCHAT, an AI-powered platform for real-time dam health monitoring and risk assessment under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II/III.

How: DAMCHAT uses machine learning algorithms to analyse sensor data from dams, predict structural vulnerabilities, and provide early warnings. DRIP, supported by the World Bank and AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank), aims to rehabilitate over 700 dams across India to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

Why: Dam safety has gained prominence after the Dam Safety Act, 2021. UPSC Prelims may test provisions of the Act and agencies like the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). Mains questions could explore disaster risk reduction, infrastructure modernisation, and AI applications in water resource management (GS-III).