GK One-Liners

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 19th installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on February 24, 2025. The scheme provides direct income support of ₹6,000 annually to eligible farmer families in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each, transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

How: PM-KISAN, launched in December 2018, covers small and marginal farmers (holding up to 2 hectares of cultivable land), though the land limit was removed in 2019 to include all farmers. Beneficiaries are identified through land ownership records verified at district and state levels. The scheme uses Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts for instant transfers, reducing leakages and ensuring targeted delivery. Exclusions include institutional landholders, government employees, and income taxpayers.

Why: PM-KISAN is India’s largest DBT program and a critical component of agricultural income support policy. UPSC tests direct benefit transfer mechanisms, financial inclusion initiatives, agricultural welfare schemes, and the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity in Prelims (Agriculture, Government Schemes) and Mains (GS2 – Government Policies, GS3 – Agriculture). Questions on scheme coverage, budget allocation, and impact on farmer income are common.

What: Haryana implemented the Witness Protection Scheme 2025 to safeguard witnesses from threats, intimidation, and violence during criminal proceedings. The scheme provides a legal framework for protecting individuals who provide crucial testimony in criminal cases, addressing the long-standing problem of witness intimidation that undermines the justice delivery system.

How: The scheme offers three categories of protection: (1) identity protection through anonymity orders, (2) relocation to safe houses with new identities for high-risk witnesses, and (3) armed security cover. A Competent Authority headed by the District and Sessions Judge assesses threat levels and sanctions appropriate protection measures. Witnesses can apply directly or be referred by investigating agencies or courts. The scheme covers expenses for relocation, accommodation, and livelihood support during the trial period.

Why: Witness protection is fundamental to fair trial rights (Article 21) and effective criminal justice administration. UPSC tests criminal law reforms, witness protection frameworks, Supreme Court guidelines (Mahendra Chawla vs. Union of India, 2018), and state-level implementation of judicial reforms in Prelims (Polity, Law) and Mains (GS2 – Governance, Justice Delivery). Questions on criminal justice reforms and procedural safeguards appear regularly.

What: The Soliga (Sholiga) tribe plays a pivotal role in community-based tiger conservation at Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. The Soligas, recognized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), have been granted rights to collect minor forest produce and continue traditional practices within the tiger reserve under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

How: The Soligas serve as forest watchers, anti-poaching patrol members, and biodiversity monitors, using traditional ecological knowledge to track wildlife movements, identify threats, and maintain habitat corridors. Their sustainable harvesting practices, fire management techniques, and cultural reverence for forests contribute to ecosystem health. BRT became the first tiger reserve in India where a tribal community was granted settlement rights within protected areas, demonstrating successful co-existence between conservation and tribal rights.

Why: Community-based conservation represents a paradigm shift from exclusionary preservation to participatory models. UPSC tests Forest Rights Act 2006, tribal rights in protected areas, PVTG status, tiger conservation strategies (Project Tiger), and the balance between conservation and livelihood rights in Prelims (Environment, Tribal Welfare) and Mains (GS3 – Environment, GS1 – Tribal Communities). Questions on indigenous knowledge in conservation are increasingly relevant.

What: NASA is scheduled to launch the ‘Athena’ lunar lander (Nova-C class) on February 26, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which contracts private companies to deliver scientific instruments, technology demonstrations, and exploration payloads to the lunar surface in preparation for the Artemis crewed missions.

How: The Athena lander, built by Intuitive Machines (a Texas-based aerospace company), will carry NASA science instruments to study the Moon’s surface composition, radiation environment, and potential water ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters. The lander uses autonomous navigation systems for precision landing and can operate for approximately 14 Earth days (one lunar day) before the extreme cold of lunar night halts operations. This public-private partnership model reduces mission costs while accelerating lunar exploration.

Why: International space missions and NASA’s lunar exploration programs are relevant for UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology, Current Affairs) and Mains (GS3 – Space Technology). Questions on Artemis program, India-US space cooperation, commercial space partnerships, and lunar resource exploration appear regularly. Understanding the distinction between robotic precursor missions and crewed Artemis landings is important for comprehensive coverage.

What: The Indian Coast Guard conducted ‘Sagar Kavach’ (Sea Shield), a comprehensive coastal security exercise along West Bengal’s 158-kilometer coastline covering the Sundarbans delta region, Haldia port, and the maritime boundary with Bangladesh. The exercise tested multi-agency coordination, rapid response capabilities, and threat detection systems against maritime terrorism, smuggling, and illegal intrusions.

How: Sagar Kavach involved Coast Guard ships and aircraft, Navy assets, Marine Police, Customs, port authorities, fishing communities, and intelligence agencies in a coordinated simulation of security threats. The exercise included mock scenarios of suspicious vessel interception, coastal infiltration prevention, port security drills, and search-and-rescue operations. Real-time information sharing through the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network (NC3I) was tested, along with deployment of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) for vessel tracking.

Why: Coastal security became a national priority after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008). UPSC tests coastal security architecture, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, Coast Guard’s role, maritime domain awareness, and India’s island territories defense in Prelims (Internal Security) and Mains (GS3 – Security Challenges). Questions on coastal surveillance systems, fishing community integration in security, and vulnerability of port infrastructure are common.

What: Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli became the fastest cricketer to reach 14,000 international runs across all formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), surpassing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli achieved this milestone in fewer innings, demonstrating exceptional consistency across formats and playing conditions over more than 15 years of international cricket.

How: Kohli’s achievement reflects his adaptability to different formats, technical proficiency against pace and spin, fitness levels enabling longevity, and ability to perform under pressure in crucial matches. His run-scoring rate combines classical technique with aggressive intent, making him effective in Test cricket’s long-format demands and limited-overs cricket’s acceleration requirements. The record underscores India’s batting depth and the evolution of modern cricket with increased international fixtures.

Why: Major sports achievements involving record-breaking performances are tested in UPSC Prelims (Current Affairs, Sports) and contribute to General Studies awareness. Questions on cricket milestones, Indian sports icons, international cricket formats (ICC tournaments), and sports administration bodies like BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) appear regularly. Such achievements also reflect India’s sporting culture and global prominence in cricket.