GK One-Liners

What: The Indian Navy hosted Exercise MILAN 2026 — a biennial multilateral naval exercise — alongside the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the 9th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave at Visakhapatnam from February 15–25, 2026. MILAN 2026’s theme was “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration” while IFR 2026 carried the theme “United through Oceans.”

How: MILAN is hosted by the Indian Navy and brings together friendly foreign navies for professional interactions, maritime exercises, and capacity-building. The IONS Conclave brings together chiefs of navies from the Indian Ocean rim nations to discuss shared maritime security concerns. Visakhapatnam, home to the Eastern Naval Command, served as the host port for this edition.

Why: This is highly relevant for UPSC GS3 (Internal Security & Defence) and GS2 (International Relations). MILAN demonstrates India’s growing maritime diplomacy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. Expect questions on IONS membership, India’s naval exercise portfolio, and the significance of IFR in projecting sea power.

What: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II) in Assam, with a financial allocation of ₹6,839 crore. The programme covers 1,954 border villages across 15 States and 2 Union Territories, focusing on development in strategically sensitive frontier areas.

How: VVP targets villages located along India’s northern and north-eastern borders — particularly near China and Pakistan — to prevent outmigration and boost livelihoods. The programme provides funds for road connectivity, housing, renewable energy, telecom infrastructure, and livelihood activities. VVP–I was launched in 2023 covering select districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.

Why: VVP sits at the intersection of GS2 (Government Schemes, Federalism) and GS3 (Border Management, Internal Security). It connects to broader themes of Atmanirbhar Bharat, demographic reversal in border areas, and India’s strategic response to China’s “model villages” (Xiaokang) along the LAC. Prelims may ask about coverage, allocation, or nodal ministry.

What: India formally joined the US-led Pax Silica coalition, launched in December 2025 in Washington D.C. The coalition aims to secure the “silicon stack” — encompassing critical minerals, semiconductor manufacturing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure — among like-minded democracies.

How: Pax Silica functions as a technology-security grouping that coordinates among member nations on supply chain resilience for semiconductors and rare earth elements. It complements frameworks like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), and the Quad’s critical technology working groups. India’s membership strengthens its positioning as a trusted semiconductor and technology partner.

Why: This is significant for UPSC GS2 (International Relations, India-US relations) and GS3 (Economy — Critical Minerals, Technology Policy). India’s semiconductor ambitions under the India Semiconductor Mission and its push to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains make this a high-yield topic for both Prelims and Mains.

What: India acquired the HELMA-P (High Energy Laser for Multiple Applications – Portable) directed-energy laser system from French defence company CILAS, supported by MBDA and Safran. The system is designed for counter-drone operations, enabling India to neutralise Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) using high-powered laser beams rather than kinetic munitions.

How: Directed-energy weapons (DEWs) work by focusing electromagnetic energy — in this case a high-powered laser — on a target to damage or destroy it. HELMA-P is a portable, ground-based system that can track and engage multiple drone threats rapidly and at low per-shot cost compared to conventional missiles. It aligns with India’s broader counter-UAV strategy developed post-Jammu airbase drone attack (2021).

Why: This is important for UPSC GS3 (Defence Technology, Internal Security) and Mains essays on emerging warfare. India’s acquisition of DEWs from France is also a signal of deepening India-France defence ties, relevant to GS2 (International Relations). Prelims may ask about the type of system, the supplying country, or the operational role of HELMA-P.

What: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute at the Rocket Test Range Station (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh on February 18, 2026. The test validated the safety margins required for crew module re-entry from space.

How: During re-entry, the Gaganyaan crew module will encounter extreme aerodynamic forces. The drogue parachute is deployed first at high altitude to stabilise and slow down the module before the larger main parachutes open at lower altitude. Testing involves deploying the parachute at simulated speeds and altitudes to verify structural integrity and drag performance — critical for astronaut safety.

Why: Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed spaceflight mission under ISRO, making every subsystem test a significant milestone. UPSC regularly covers Gaganyaan for GS3 (Space Technology). This test also highlights DRDO–ISRO collaboration. Key facts: Gaganyaan targets sending 3 astronauts (Gaganauts) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for up to 3 days and safe ocean splash-down recovery.

What: International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observed annually on February 21. In 2026, the theme is “Youth voices on multilingual education.” The day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999 and has been observed globally since February 21, 2000. The date commemorates the 1952 Language Movement in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), when students were killed protesting for the recognition of Bengali.

How: UNESCO uses IMLD to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to encourage multilingual education. Member nations organise events, seminars, and policy dialogues on endangered languages, mother-tongue-based education, and the role of language in preserving identity. India, with over 19,500 dialects and 22 scheduled languages, has a deeply relevant stake in this observance.

Why: This is relevant for UPSC GS1 (Art & Culture — Linguistic diversity, UNESCO) and GS2 (Education Policy, Constitutional provisions on language — Articles 343–351). The 2026 theme on youth and multilingual education also connects to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on mother-tongue instruction in early grades. Prelims frequently asks about the year of proclamation and the observing body.