GK One-Liners

What: Prime Minister Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jointly announced the conclusion of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) along with a Double Contribution Convention. The FTA grants zero customs duty on 99% of Indian export lines to the UK, covering approximately 100% of total bilateral trade value. Current bilateral trade stands at USD 60 billion, with a target to double it to USD 120 billion by 2030. The FTA aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 development vision.

How: Negotiations for the India–UK FTA began in January 2022 and spanned 14 rounds across three years. The Double Contribution Convention ensures that workers temporarily assigned between India and the UK do not face double social security taxation in both countries — a significant benefit for India’s large IT services workforce seconded to UK clients. Key Indian export sectors to benefit include textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, and pharmaceuticals, which will now access the UK market at reduced or zero tariffs.

Why: The India–UK FTA is one of the most significant trade agreements in India’s recent diplomatic history and a near-certain UPSC Prelims and Mains GS-2 question for 2025–26. Key facts: negotiations began January 2022, zero duty on 99% lines, bilateral trade target USD 120 billion by 2030, and the Double Contribution Convention. For Mains, it connects to GS-2 themes of bilateral relations, trade diplomacy, and GS-3 themes of India’s export competitiveness and Viksit Bharat economic targets.

What: The Government of India introduced chip-based e-passports nationwide under the Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0 (PSP-V2.0). Each e-passport contains an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna as an inlay, storing the holder’s biometric data — photograph, fingerprints, and personal details — in encrypted form. The system was piloted from 1 April 2024 before nationwide rollout. It is administered by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led by S. Jaishankar.

How: The RFID chip stores data compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Document 9303 standards — the global benchmark for machine-readable travel documents. Encrypted biometric storage prevents forgery and identity theft, as the chip data can be verified against the physical document and the holder’s live biometrics at border control. The e-passport uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) encryption, meaning data can only be read by authorised immigration systems with the correct decryption keys.

Why: e-Passports, RFID technology, and PSP-V2.0 are testable UPSC Prelims topics linking GS-2 (governance, digital services) and GS-3 (technology in governance). The pilot date (1 April 2024), ICAO standard compliance, and MEA’s role are exam-ready specifics. The broader context — India’s digital identity infrastructure (Aadhaar → DigiLocker → e-Passport) — is a powerful Mains GS-2 answer illustration for India’s digital governance journey and data security frameworks.

What: Rohit Sharma (born 30 April 1987) announced his retirement from Test cricket on 7 May 2025 at age 38. In 67 Tests, he scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties, with a highest score of 212 against South Africa (2019). He captained India in 24 Tests, winning 12. His Test debut came in 2013 against West Indies at Eden Gardens, where he scored 177 — the second-highest score by an Indian on Test debut. He will continue playing ODIs and T20Is.

How: Rohit Sharma’s career arc featured a defining transformation from a middle-order batsman to one of India’s greatest opening batters. His ODI world record of 264 against Sri Lanka (2014) remains the highest individual score in One Day International cricket. As captain, he led India to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title — completing a rare multi-format ICC trophy double. He received the Arjuna Award (2015) and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2020).

Why: Rohit Sharma’s retirement is a high-profile sports current affairs event certain to appear in banking, SSC, and state PSC exams. Testable facts: 67 Tests, 4,301 runs, ODI world record 264 vs Sri Lanka (2014), Test debut score 177, ICC T20 WC 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 wins, Arjuna Award 2015, Khel Ratna 2020. The 264 ODI record is a static fact that has appeared in exams for a decade and remains relevant. His continuation in white-ball cricket is also a distinguishing point from a complete retirement.

What: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reappointed KC Venugopal (Senior Indian National Congress leader and AICC General Secretary–Organisation) as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) till April 2026. The PAC was established in 1921 during British India and reconstituted after Independence in 1950. It has 22 members — 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. By convention since 1967, the PAC Chairperson is drawn from the principal opposition party in Parliament.

How: The PAC examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India — specifically the Finance Accounts, Appropriation Accounts, and CAG’s Audit Reports on Union Government expenditure. It scrutinises whether public funds were spent as Parliament had sanctioned and flags irregularities, misappropriations, or policy non-compliance to Parliament. PAC findings carry significant weight as they are laid before Parliament and the government is expected to take remedial action on committee observations.

Why: PAC’s founding year (1921), its 22-member composition (15 LS + 7 RS), the 1967 opposition-chair convention, and its CAG-review mandate are standard UPSC Polity Prelims facts. Distinguishing PAC from Estimates Committee (scrutinises Budget estimates before spending) and Public Undertakings Committee (examines PSUs) is a common three-committee question in competitive exams. KC Venugopal’s dual role — PAC Chair and AICC General Secretary — is a current affairs personality fact for banking and SSC GK sections.

What: India listed its first Mortgage-Backed Pass Through Certificates (PTCs) on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), marking the launch of the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) market in India. The instrument was structured by RMBS Development Company, Mumbai, backed by housing loans from LIC Housing Finance Limited (LIC HFL). The issuance comprised 1 lakh certificates at a face value of ₹1 lakh each — totalling ₹1,000 crore — with a coupon rate of 7.26% and approximately 20-year maturity. The instruments are rated AAA(SO) by both CRISIL and CARE, and were listed in dematerialised, tradeable form.

How: In a PTC structure, a pool of home loans is securitised — transferred to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — and converted into tradeable certificates that pass through the principal and interest payments from the underlying mortgage borrowers to the certificate holders. This allows banks and housing finance companies to free up capital by selling off mortgage pools, while providing investors with a long-duration, high-rated fixed income instrument. Crucially, the coupon was discovered through NSE’s Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform — the first time EBP was used for mortgage-backed instruments.

Why: RMBS, securitisation, and PTCs are emerging UPSC GS-3 (financial markets, housing finance) and RBI Grade B exam topics. The ‘India’s first’ tag and the EBP platform’s first-time use make this doubly Prelims-relevant. LIC HFL as the underlying originator, CRISIL and CARE as rating agencies, and the AAA(SO) structured obligation rating are supporting facts. For Mains GS-3, India’s underdeveloped mortgage-backed securities market — and this milestone’s implications for affordable housing finance — is a strong answer-enrichment point.

What: China won the 19th Sudirman Cup at Fenghuang Gymnasium, Xiamen, China (27 April – 4 May 2025), defeating South Korea 3-1 in the final to claim their 14th title and a record 4th consecutive victory. Japan finished 3rd. India finished 9th out of 16 teams. The Sudirman Cup is the BWF (Badminton World Federation) mixed team championship, established in 1989 and named after Indonesian badminton legend Dick Sudirman.

How: In the final, China won the Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles (Shi Yuqi defeated his opponent 21-5, 21-5 in a dominant display), and Women’s Doubles. South Korea won only the Women’s Singles through star player An Se-young. Only three nations have ever won the Sudirman Cup: China (14 titles), South Korea (4 titles), and Indonesia (1 title) — a useful static fact that reflects the dominance of Asian badminton nations in team competition.

Why: Sudirman Cup results — winner, venue, final score, title count — are standard sports GK questions in banking and SSC exams. China’s 14 titles and record 4th consecutive win, the 1989 establishment and Dick Sudirman namesake, and India’s 9th-place finish are the key current + static fact bundle. An Se-young (South Korea’s Women’s Singles star) is an emerging personality tested in recent exams. The three-nation winners table (China, South Korea, Indonesia) is a high-precision static fact worth memorising for sports GK.