GK One-Liners

What: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its 54th meeting (April 7–9, 2025), chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, cut the Repo Rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.00%. Consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate stands at 5.75% and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) / Bank Rate at 6.25%. The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is 4.00% and the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is 18.00%.

How: The Repo Rate is the rate at which commercial banks borrow short-term funds from RBI against government securities. A rate cut reduces borrowing costs for banks, which in turn lowers lending rates for consumers and businesses, stimulating credit growth and economic activity. The MPC revised India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast downward to 6.5%, signalling caution amid global headwinds including US tariff risks.

Why: The Repo Rate is one of the most frequently tested facts in Banking (IBPS PO, RBI Grade B, SBI PO) and UPSC Prelims. Candidates must memorise the full rate corridor: Repo (6.00%), SDF (5.75%), MSF/Bank Rate (6.25%), CRR (4.00%), SLR (18.00%). The MPC framework (constituted under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, 1934) is a high-yield topic for UPSC GS-III (monetary policy, inflation targeting).

What: Meghalaya’s Ryndia silk (also known as Eri, Peace, or Ahimsa silk) and Khasi handloom products received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the GI Registry, Chennai, functioning under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The initiative was driven by the Meghalaya Textiles Department in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

How: Ryndia silk is unique because it is produced from cocoons spun on castor plants by Eri silkworms (Samia ricini). Unlike conventional silk, the Eri silkworm is not killed during the process — the moth is allowed to emerge naturally before the cocoon is harvested — making it a cruelty-free or ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) silk. This aligns the product with ethical fashion and Buddhist/Jain value systems.

Why: GI tags are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and are relevant for UPSC GS-II (IPR, WTO TRIPS agreement) and GS-III (handicrafts, rural economy). Ryndia’s ‘Peace silk’ distinction and its castor-plant origin make it a unique MCQ trigger. State PSC exams (especially Meghalaya) will likely feature this prominently.

What: Mauritius became the first African country and the fourth nation globally to sign the International Solar Alliance’s (ISA) Country Partnership Framework (CPF). The signing took place at the Global SolarX Accelerator Programme in Port Louis, Mauritius. The CPF focuses on floating solar energy, agrivoltaics (combining solar panels with agriculture), and green hydrogen development.

How: Under the CPF, the ISA will support Mauritius in deploying solar technologies suited to its island geography — floating solar over water bodies, agrivoltaic systems that allow simultaneous crop cultivation and energy generation, and green hydrogen production using solar-powered electrolysis. A dedicated Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) hub will be established in Mauritius to build local capacity.

Why: The ISA was jointly launched by India and France at COP21 (Paris, 2015) and is headquartered in Gurugram, India. It is a key institution for UPSC GS-II (India’s multilateral diplomacy) and GS-III (renewable energy, international climate frameworks). ‘Agrivoltaics’ is an emerging concept increasingly tested in recent prelims. Mauritius’s ‘first in Africa’ status is a strong MCQ anchor.

What: Bangladesh became the 54th country to sign the Artemis Accords with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), which were initiated in October 2020. The Accords establish a set of principles for the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration and use of outer space, grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Signing strengthens Bangladesh’s Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO).

How: The Artemis Accords are bilateral agreements between NASA and individual countries, setting norms for safe operations, interoperability, release of scientific data, and the preservation of heritage sites in outer space. For Bangladesh, the practical benefits include access to satellite technology, NASA training programmes for scientists and students, and enhanced capacity for Earth observation and remote sensing applications.

Why: The Artemis Accords are increasingly tested in UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology) and are relevant for GS-II (India’s space diplomacy, as India signed in 2023). Knowing the signatory count, founding framework (1967 OST), and associated national space agencies (e.g., SPARRSO for Bangladesh, ISRO for India) is essential. The Accords are distinct from the UN Moon Agreement (1979), which has far fewer signatories.

What: The Skytrax World Airport Awards 2025, held in Madrid, named Singapore’s Changi Airport as the World’s Best Airport for a record 13th time. Qatar’s Hamad International Airport ranked 2nd and Japan’s Tokyo Haneda Airport ranked 3rd. Among Indian airports, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) ranked 32nd and was named the Best Airport in India and South Asia. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2 (KIA T2) was declared India’s first 5-star terminal. Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) ranked 56th.

How: The Skytrax survey is one of the world’s largest passenger satisfaction surveys, evaluating airports on criteria including check-in efficiency, security processing, signage, retail, cleanliness, and overall ambience. A ‘5-star terminal’ rating — now awarded to Bengaluru KIA T2 — reflects the highest standard of airport terminal quality globally, a distinction previously held only by terminals in Asia and the Middle East.

Why: Airport rankings appear frequently in Banking and SSC awareness sections and occasionally in UPSC Prelims. Key facts to retain: Changi (1st, record 13th time), Hamad-Qatar (2nd), Haneda-Japan (3rd), Delhi IGIA (32nd, Best in India & South Asia), Bengaluru KIA T2 (India’s 1st 5-star terminal), Hyderabad RGIA (56th). The ‘first 5-star terminal in India’ distinction for Bengaluru is the most likely MCQ trigger.

What: The 3rd Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Agriculture Ministerial Meeting was held in Kathmandu, Nepal. India was represented by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Agriculture & Farmers Welfare), who proposed the establishment of a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Agriculture to be hosted in India. On the sidelines, India and Nepal signed a bilateral agricultural Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

How: BIMSTEC groups seven Bay of Bengal nations — India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan — for regional cooperation across 14 priority sectors, with agriculture being one of the most critical given the region’s agrarian economies. A Centre of Excellence for Agriculture would serve as a shared research and knowledge hub for member states, offering technical assistance, seed bank support, climate-resilient farming practices, and capacity-building.

Why: BIMSTEC is heavily tested in UPSC GS-II (regional organisations, India’s neighbourhood policy) and is India’s primary sub-regional grouping for Bay of Bengal connectivity. The 7 member states, secretariat location (Dhaka, Bangladesh), and India’s role as a lead nation in multiple sectors are standard exam facts. The proposal for a CoE in India and the India-Nepal bilateral MoU make this a current-affairs anchor for 2025 exam cycles.