GK One-Liners

What: NASA’s Artemis II launched on 1 April 2026 at 6:35 PM EDT from Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule. The four-member crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover (the first person of color on a lunar mission), and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (the first Canadian on a lunar mission).

How: The mission is a crewed flyby — Orion will orbit the Moon without landing, travelling approximately 406,000 km from Earth, making it the farthest crewed spaceflight ever (surpassing Apollo 13). The ~10-day journey is designed to test life-support systems and deep-space operations. Artemis III, planned for 2028, will attempt the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 (1972).

Why: UPSC Prelims regularly tests ISRO and NASA mission milestones; crew firsts and specific mission parameters are prime MCQ triggers. Artemis I (uncrewed, November 2022) → Artemis II (crewed flyby, 2026) → Artemis III (landing, 2028) is the sequence to remember for both Prelims and Banking GA sections.

What: Bhavasagara is India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna, established at the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) in Kochi, Kerala. It was designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

How: Under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act 2002, the Central Government can designate repositories for specific biological material. CMLRE, the nodal agency for India’s deep-sea research, catalogues and preserves specimens of organisms found in the Indian Ocean’s deep zones, supporting scientific study and international biodiversity commitments.

Why: This topic is high-yield for UPSC Prelims (Environment & Ecology) and SSC. It tests knowledge of the Biological Diversity Act 2002 and its operational sections, ministry-institution linkages (MoEFCC + MoES), and India’s deep-sea mission. The name Bhavasagara (Sanskrit for “ocean of existence”) may appear as a distractor test.

What: Emirates NBD, a UAE-based bank (in which the UAE government holds a 56% stake), announced a deal to acquire a 60% stake (extendable to 74%) in RBL Bank Limited for approximately Rs 26,853 crore (~USD 3 billion). The open offer price is set at Rs 280 per share. RBL Bank, formerly Ratnakar Bank Limited, was established in 1943 and is headquartered in Mumbai.

How: The deal, subject to SEBI approval, will be executed through a combination of preferential allotment and an open offer to public shareholders. Post-acquisition, RBL Bank will become Emirates NBD’s largest subsidiary outside the UAE, and Emirates NBD will gain majority shareholding and board control — the first foreign bank to do so in a profitable Indian private bank.

Why: This is the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ever in Indian banking — a landmark for both RBI’s FDI framework and the India–UAE bilateral economic relationship. UPSC GS-III (Economy) and Banking exams (IBPS PO/Clerk, RBI Grade B) test FDI in banking caps, regulatory approvals, and significant cross-border deals.

What: The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) was held in Campo Grande, Brazil, from 23–29 March 2026, with the theme “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life.” The CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, is a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) treaty that protects migratory animals and their habitats across national borders.

How: At COP15, 40 new species were added to the CMS appendices for protection. A key finding highlighted that 49% of migratory species globally are in decline. The next COP16 will be hosted by Germany in 2029, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the CMS. India is a signatory to the CMS and has taken measures like the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for migratory birds.

Why: CMS COPs are tested in UPSC Prelims (Environment) and SSC GK for venue, theme, and species-protection outcomes. The declining migratory species statistic and the Germany-2029 COP16 hosting are specific, high-yield facts. Confusing CMS with CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) or CITES is a common error to avoid.

What: Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) is a Joint Venture (JV) between Coal India Limited (CIL, 51%) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL, 49%), incorporated on 21 May 2024. The flagship project at Lakhanpur, Odisha (under Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, a CIL subsidiary), will set up a 2,000 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) ammonium nitrate facility using indigenous BHEL gasification technology.

How: The total project investment is Rs 25,000 crore, with the Cabinet approving a specific outlay of Rs 8,500 crore for the coal gasification component. Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) will be handled via Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK) contracts jointly by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and BHEL. The project converts coal into syngas (synthesis gas), which is then used to produce chemicals like ammonium nitrate for the fertiliser sector.

Why: Coal gasification is a strategic priority under India’s energy transition plan to reduce dependence on imported natural gas and LNG. UPSC GS-III (Energy, Infrastructure) and Banking exams test PSU JV structures, Cabinet approvals, and energy policy. The CIL-BHEL equity split (51:49) and the incorporation date (May 2024) are strong MCQ triggers.

What: India has issued 3,561 Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) out of a global total of 6,311, accounting for over 56% of all IRCCs issued worldwide. IRCCs are certificates granted under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Only 34 out of 142 signatory countries have issued IRCCs, making India’s leadership exceptional.

How: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), headquartered in Chennai, is India’s nodal authority for implementing the Nagoya Protocol. When a researcher or company accesses India’s biological resources, the NBA grants an IRCC, which is registered on the Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House (ABSCH) — a global transparency mechanism under the CBD Secretariat. This ensures that benefits from the use of genetic resources are shared equitably with the source country and communities.

Why: India’s dominance in IRCC issuance reflects the strength of its Biological Diversity Act 2002 implementation. UPSC Prelims tests the Nagoya Protocol, CBD, and NBA regularly. The 56% global share statistic and the NBA’s role as the nodal body are precise, exam-ready facts. Confusing NBA (biodiversity) with other regulatory bodies is a common error.