GK One-Liners

What: The Kannada short story collection ‘Heart Lamp’ won the International Booker Prize 2025, with the £50,000 prize split equally between author Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi. The award was announced at the Tate Modern, London. The win registered four simultaneous historic firsts: the first Kannada-language work to win the International Booker Prize; the first short story collection to win (previous winners were all novels); Banu Mushtaq becoming the first Kannada author and the first Muslim woman from India to win the prize.

How: The International Booker Prize, awarded annually since 2005, recognises the best work of fiction translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Unlike the Booker Prize (which is for English-language fiction), the International Booker explicitly rewards the act of literary translation — hence the prize is shared equally between author and translator. Banu Mushtaq is a prominent Kannada writer known for her fiction exploring the lives of Muslim women in Karnataka, while Deepa Bhasthi translated the collection into English, making it accessible to global audiences.

Why: International Booker Prize winners are directly tested in UPSC Prelims (GS-I — Art & Culture) and all major competitive exams. Key facts: prize — International Booker 2025; work — ‘Heart Lamp’ (Kannada short stories); author — Banu Mushtaq; translator — Deepa Bhasthi; venue — Tate Modern, London; prize value — £50,000 (split equally); firsts — first Kannada work, first short story collection, first Kannada author, first Muslim woman from India. Distinguish from the Booker Prize (English fiction) — a classic MCQ trap. India’s growing presence in international literary awards is relevant for GS-I cultural diplomacy questions.

What: Mizoram has been declared India’s first fully literate state under ULLAS — Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society — which is India’s New India Literacy Programme (NILP) running from 2022 to 2027 under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24, Mizoram has achieved a literacy rate of 98.2%, surpassing the Ministry of Education’s benchmark of 95% for declaring full literacy. Of 3,026 identified illiterates in the state, 1,692 were enrolled in the programme, supported by 292 volunteer teachers.

How: ULLAS/NILP was launched in 2022 to replace the earlier Saakshar Bharat Mission, with a focus not just on foundational literacy and numeracy but also on critical life skills, vocational skills, and digital literacy for adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling. States identify residual illiterates through local surveys, train volunteer educators (typically schoolteachers and students), and conduct assessments to certify literacy. The programme aligns with the NEP 2020’s emphasis on lifelong learning and achieving 100% youth and adult literacy by 2030 — India’s commitment under the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.

Why: ULLAS/NILP, NEP 2020 and state literacy achievements are testable in UPSC Prelims GS-II (Education policy, Social Issues) and State PSC exams. Key facts: Mizoram — India’s 1st fully literate state; programme — ULLAS (NILP, 2022–27); under — NEP 2020, Ministry of Education; literacy rate — 98.2% (PLFS 2023–24); MoE benchmark — 95%; identified illiterates — 3,026; enrolled — 1,692; volunteer teachers — 292. ULLAS’s full form and its distinction from Saakshar Bharat Mission are likely MCQ anchors. Mizoram’s achievement also contextualises the Northeast India narrative of social development despite infrastructure gaps.

What: Eminent Indian astrophysicist Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away on May 22, 2025 at the age of 87. He was the founder and first director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, established in 1988. His most celebrated scientific contribution is the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, co-developed with British cosmologist Sir Fred Hoyle in 1963 — an alternative formulation to Einstein’s General Relativity that incorporates Mach’s Principle and defines inertia as an effect of the large-scale mass distribution of the universe. He was also associated with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) from 1972.

How: The Hoyle–Narlikar theory proposes that the inertia of an object is not an intrinsic property but arises due to its interaction with all other matter in the universe — a concept rooted in Mach’s Principle. While not the mainstream model of cosmology (the Big Bang model is dominant), the theory has been influential in alternative cosmological frameworks. Beyond research, Dr. Narlikar was renowned for science popularisation — he authored several books in English and Marathi, including science fiction, making complex astrophysics accessible to the general public. He received the Padma Bhushan (1965), Padma Vibhushan (2004), Kalinga Prize (1996), and Maharashtra Bhushan (2010).

Why: Dr. Narlikar’s institutional contributions and awards are tested in UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology) and State PSC exams. Key facts: full name — Jayant Vishnu Narlikar; born — July 19, 1938; institution founded — IUCAA, Pune (1988); key theory — Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity (1963, with Fred Hoyle); TIFR — 1972; awards — Padma Bhushan (1965), Padma Vibhushan (2004), Kalinga Prize (1996). IUCAA Pune as a premier autonomous astronomy research institution under the University Grants Commission (UGC) is independently testable. Dr. Narlikar’s Kalinga Prize — UNESCO’s science popularisation award — is also a high-yield fact.

What: M.R. Srinivasan (born January 5, 1930) — the Founder-Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) — passed away at the age of 95 in Ooty. He was a pioneering figure in India’s civilian nuclear programme, having worked directly with Dr. Homi Bhabha on the commissioning of Apsara — India’s first nuclear research reactor — in 1956 at what is now the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay. Over his career, he was instrumental in the development of 18 nuclear power units in India. He also served as India’s Governor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 1990 to 1992 and was a founding member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). He received the Padma Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (1990), and Padma Vibhushan (2015).

How: NPCIL, established under the Companies Act in 1987 as a wholly owned Government of India enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of nuclear power reactors in India. Srinivasan’s foundational leadership at NPCIL established the institutional framework that today operates 24 nuclear reactors with a total installed capacity of over 7,000 MW, with multiple units under construction. Apsara (1956) — Asia’s first research reactor — was the seedbed for India’s indigenous nuclear expertise, enabling the development of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) without dependence on foreign technology.

Why: India’s nuclear programme institutions and pioneers are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology) and State PSC exams. Key facts: M.R. Srinivasan — born January 5, 1930; Founder-Chairman NPCIL; AEC Chairman; worked with Homi Bhabha on Apsara (1956); developed 18 nuclear units; IAEA Governor (1990–92); WANO founding member; Padma Vibhushan (2015). Apsara as India’s and Asia’s first nuclear reactor (1956, BARC Trombay) is a recurring exam fact. The distinction between NPCIL (power generation) and BARC (research) within India’s atomic energy ecosystem is a useful Polity/S&T anchor.

What: The Airports Council International (ACI) World 2024–25 report ranked Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi as the 9th busiest airport globally, handling 77.82 million passengers. IGIA is India’s busiest airport and ranks 3rd in Asia — behind Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). The world’s busiest airport remains Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the USA with 108.07 million passengers. The United States dominates the global top 10 with 5 airports. Total global passenger traffic is forecast at 9.9 billion in 2024–25, reflecting a 4.8% year-on-year increase. IGIA also won the Skytrax award for Best Airport in India and South Asia 2025.

How: ACI World is the global trade association of airports, representing over 2,000 airports in 180+ countries. Its annual passenger traffic report is the definitive benchmark for airport rankings. IGIA is operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a GMR Group-led consortium. Its capacity has expanded significantly over the past decade — with Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 collectively handling the bulk of international and domestic traffic. IGIA’s rise to 9th globally (from much lower ranks a decade ago) reflects India’s rapid civil aviation growth, driven by a growing middle class, low-cost carrier expansion, and the government’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme.

Why: Airport rankings and ACI data are tested in UPSC Prelims (GS-III — Infrastructure) and Banking Awareness. Key facts: IGIA rank — 9th globally; passengers — 77.82 million; India’s rank — 1st (busiest); Asia rank — 3rd (behind DXB and HND); global 1st — Atlanta ATL (108.07 mn); USA has 5 of top 10; global pax forecast — 9.9 billion (+4.8%); Skytrax — Best Airport India & South Asia 2025. The Noida International Airport (Jewar) — which recently received its DGCA aerodrome licence — will eventually complement IGIA for NCR traffic, a useful Mains infrastructure planning link.

What: The United States became India’s 4th largest crude oil supplier in April 2025, overtaking the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time. US crude imports to India doubled to 0.33 million barrels per day (mbd), giving the US a 7.3% share of India’s crude basket — edging past UAE’s 6.4%. The top three crude suppliers to India remain Russia (37.8%), Iraq (19.1%), and Saudi Arabia (10.4%). India has set a target to increase US energy imports to USD 25 billion annually, up from the current USD 15 billion, as part of broader India-US strategic energy partnership.

How: Russia’s dominant 37.8% share reflects the dramatic realignment of India’s crude sourcing since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022 — India capitalised on deeply discounted Russian Urals crude while Western nations sanctioned it. The rise of US crude reflects India’s strategic diversification of energy suppliers to reduce over-dependence on any single source and to leverage the India-US energy partnership. India imports approximately 85% of its crude requirements, making crude supplier diversification a key energy security priority. The shift also has diplomatic dimensions — increasing US energy exports to India reduces India’s trade surplus with Russia and strengthens India-US economic ties.

Why: India’s crude import sources and energy security policy are tested in UPSC Prelims GS-III (Energy, Economy) and Banking Awareness. Key facts: US — India’s 4th largest crude supplier (April 2025); US imports — 0.33 mbd, 7.3% share; overtook UAE (6.4%); top 3 — Russia (37.8%), Iraq (19.1%), Saudi Arabia (10.4%); India’s US energy import target — USD 25 billion (from USD 15 billion). Russia’s 37.8% share (post-Ukraine war discount policy) and its geopolitical implications for India’s Non-Aligned foreign policy stance are a strong Mains GS-II and GS-III analytical thread. India’s ~85% crude import dependence is a recurring exam fact.