GK One-Liners

What: The Union Cabinet has extended the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) — India’s flagship scheme for providing tap water connections to every rural household — until 2028. The revised outlay stands at Rs 8.69 lakh crore, with the Central government’s share at Rs 3.59 lakh crore, including an additional Rs 1.51 lakh crore over the original Rs 2.08 lakh crore sanctioned in 2019.

How: The extended phase, often referred to as JJM 2.0, shifts the programme’s focus from physical infrastructure creation to sustainable service delivery — ensuring that existing connections remain functional and water quality is maintained. It is implemented under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and follows a functional household tap connection (FHTC) model with community-level monitoring.

Why: JJM is a recurring topic in UPSC Prelims for its budget figures, ministry linkage, and launch year (2019). For Mains (GS-II), the shift from coverage to sustainability raises questions on last-mile delivery, Panchayati Raj institutions’ role in water management, and SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

What: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’ document at South Block, New Delhi. Prepared by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), the vision outlines a roadmap for transforming India into a modern, integrated, multi-domain military force by the centenary of Independence.

How: The document is structured around four core themes: Jointness (integration of Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber defence capabilities, Theatre Commands (unified geographic/functional command structures), and self-reliance through Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing. Theatre Commands represent a structural shift away from single-service commands.

Why: This is significant for UPSC GS-III (Internal Security & Defence) and Mains essays. Key exam angles include India’s Theatre Command reform, civil-military relations, Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, and multi-domain warfare. The 2047 timeline also connects to Viksit Bharat goals, making it relevant for broad analytical questions.

What: The Supreme Court of India (Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan) permitted passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old patient who has been in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) since 2013 after falling from a balcony at Panjab University. This is considered the first practical application of India’s passive euthanasia guidelines in a judicial verdict.

How: The ruling is grounded in the landmark 2018 judgment Common Cause v. Union of India, which recognised the Right to Die with Dignity as part of Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution. The court held that the PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) tube used for feeding constitutes ‘medical treatment’ — not basic care — and can therefore be withdrawn. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, was directed to supervise the withdrawal process.

Why: Passive euthanasia, living wills, and Article 21 jurisprudence are high-value topics for UPSC GS-II (Polity) and Ethics paper. Students must distinguish between active euthanasia (illegal in India) and passive euthanasia (permitted under strict guidelines). The Common Cause judgment and its constitutional basis are directly examinable in Prelims and Mains.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued revised ‘Prudential Norms on Declaration of Dividend’ for commercial banks, effective from Financial Year 2026–27 (FY27). Under the new framework, the maximum dividend a bank can declare is capped at 75% of its Profit After Tax (PAT).

How: The key regulatory change is the shift in the eligibility criterion from the earlier Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) and Non-Performing Assets (NPA) threshold to the Common Equity Tier-1 (CET-1) capital ratio. Banks with a CET-1 ratio at or below 8% will not be permitted to declare any dividend. CET-1 is a stricter and more loss-absorbing measure of a bank’s core capital, aligning India’s norms with Basel III global banking standards.

Why: RBI’s capital adequacy framework, dividend norms, and Basel III terminology are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims (Economy) and GS-III Mains. Understanding CET-1 vs CRAR, and why RBI restricts dividends to protect depositors during stress, is essential. This also connects to the broader theme of banking sector prudential regulation and financial stability.

What: The Union Cabinet amended Press Note 3 — originally issued on 17 April 2020 — which governs Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Land Border Countries (LBCs). The seven LBCs are China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. The amendment allows a non-controlling stake of up to 10% via the automatic route, while larger investments still require government approval.

How: The amendment also introduces a 60-day decision timeline for government-route proposals from LBCs, aimed at reducing regulatory uncertainty while maintaining national security oversight. Press Note 3 (2020) had originally been introduced to curb opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies by Chinese entities during the COVID-19 downturn, when Indian valuations were depressed.

Why: Press Note 3, FDI automatic vs government route, and India’s evolving economic relationship with China are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and GS-III (Economy). The 2020 origins — linked to border tensions — and the 2026 liberalisation reflect the strategic recalibration of India-China economic ties, a strong Mains essay and interview topic.

What: Global online learning platform Coursera has partnered with Mission Karmayogi, India’s National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB), which was launched in September 2020. Coursera will deliver curated courses through the iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training) Karmayogi Marketplace — the digital learning platform for government officials.

How: The courses focus on four priority domains: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Infrastructure, Leadership, and Public Welfare. The CEO of Karmayogi Bharat — the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up to implement the mission — is Chhavi Bhardwaj. The core philosophy of Mission Karmayogi is to shift India’s civil services from a ‘rule-based’ to a ‘role-based’ model of human resource management, aligning training with actual job competencies.

Why: Mission Karmayogi, iGOT platform, and civil service reforms are directly relevant to UPSC GS-II (Governance and Administration). Key exam points include: launched in 2020, implemented via an SPV, focus on competency-based training, and the rule-to-role shift philosophy. The Coursera partnership also highlights public-private collaboration in government capacity building — a recurring Mains theme.