GK One-Liners

What: World Earth Day is observed every year on 22 April. The 2026 theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, organised by EARTHDAY.ORG. The day was first observed on 22 April 1970, co-founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes, drawing around 20 million Americans.

How: The date was deliberately chosen to fall between spring break and final exams in the United States to maximise student participation. The 1970 event directly led to landmark U.S. legislation — the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. Today, over 1 billion people in 193 countries participate annually. The Paris Agreement on climate change was also signed on Earth Day, 22 April 2016.

Why: Earth Day facts — theme, founder, year, and associated legislation — are regularly tested in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, and state PSC exams under Environment and Current Affairs. The Paris Agreement connection makes it doubly relevant for International Relations questions.

What: The Union Cabinet approved a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners on 18 April 2026. The rate has been raised from 58% to 60% of Basic Pay/Pension, effective from 1 January 2026. The previous revision had taken DA from 55% to 58% in July 2025.

How: DA is calculated using the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW), as recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC). The government revises DA twice a year — in January and July — to offset the impact of inflation on government employees’ purchasing power.

Why: DA/DR hike announcements are standard questions in banking and SSC exams. Key numbers to remember: 60% (current rate), effective date (1 Jan 2026), and the index used (AICPI-IW). The 7th CPC framework and twice-yearly revision cycle are frequently asked in Polity and Economy sections.

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Jae Myung at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, on 20 April 2026, during a State Visit (19–21 April 2026). Both countries signed a 5-year Joint Strategic Vision (2026–2030) and agreed to a bilateral trade target of USD 50 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 25–27 billion.

How: Three companion documents were signed: (1) a Comprehensive Framework for Shipbuilding, Shipping and Maritime Logistics; (2) a Joint Statement on Sustainability Cooperation; and (3) a Joint Statement on Energy Resource Security. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries is also set to be upgraded, and Korean industrial townships are planned in India.

Why: India–South Korea bilateral relations, CEPA, and summit outcomes are tested in UPSC and banking exams under International Relations. The shipbuilding and semiconductor dimensions connect to India’s Make in India and Semiconductor Mission goals, making this a cross-cutting current affairs item.

What: ‘Prajna’ is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled satellite imaging system designed to provide real-time security decision support. It was developed by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The system was formally handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Kartavya Bhawan-3, New Delhi.

How: The handover was conducted by Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), to Govind Mohan, Home Secretary, MHA. By integrating satellite imagery with AI analytics, Prajna enables security agencies to process large volumes of geographic and surveillance data rapidly, supporting faster and more informed decisions during security operations.

Why: This is a significant instance of DRDO’s dual-use technology transfer — from defence research to internal security. Questions on DRDO labs, AI in national security, and inter-ministry technology transfers are common in UPSC Prelims (Science & Tech) and defence-focused state PSC exams. CAIR’s role in AI and robotics for defence is a recurring exam topic.

What: India’s first 3D Glass Chip Packaging Unit is being established in Bhubaneswar, Khordha district, Odisha, by 3D Glass Solutions Inc. (3DGS), a U.S.-based company, through its Indian subsidiary HIPSPL. The project involves an investment of Rs 1,943.53 crore and will have an annual capacity of 70,000 glass panels and 50 million assembled units. Commercial production is targeted to begin in August 2028.

How: The unit operates under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which is part of the Semicon India programme launched in 2022 with a total budget of Rs 76,000 crore, overseen by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Glass-based chip packaging is an advanced semiconductor technology that improves chip density, thermal performance, and miniaturisation compared to traditional substrate-based packaging.

Why: India’s semiconductor ecosystem is a high-priority exam topic following the Semicon India programme. Location-based questions (Bhubaneswar/Odisha), mission linkages (ISM/MeitY), and investment figures are tested in UPSC Prelims and banking exams. This also connects to India’s goal of reducing import dependence in electronics and achieving self-reliance in chip manufacturing.

What: India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park is being established at Sindhu Ghat on the banks of the Indus River in Leh, Ladakh. A petroglyph is a rock engraving — an image or symbol carved or scratched onto rock surfaces by prehistoric or early historic communities. The foundation stone was laid by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena in April 2026, coinciding with World Heritage Day (18 April).

How: The park was initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Archives, Ladakh, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The primary objective is to conserve rock engravings in the Leh region that face threats from unregulated tourism, weathering, and human encroachment. The site on the Indus riverbank makes it archaeologically significant, as the Indus Valley civilisation’s cultural traces extend into this region.

Why: Questions on ASI, World Heritage Day, and India’s heritage conservation initiatives are standard in UPSC and state PSC exams. The ‘first’ tag (India’s first petroglyph conservation park), the location (Ladakh/Indus), the institutional MoU (ASI + Archives Dept), and the World Heritage Day connection provide multiple exam-ready data points across History, Polity, and Environment sections.