GK One-Liners

What: GalaxEye’s Mission Drishti, launched on 3 May 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, placed the world’s first OptoSAR (Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite into orbit. Weighing 190 kg, it is India’s largest private satellite to date.

How: OptoSAR combines Electro-Optical (EO) sensors with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on a single platform, enabling all-weather, day-and-night Earth imaging. This dual-sensor design delivers roughly three times more data than conventional single-mode satellites, making it highly effective for surveillance, disaster monitoring, and agriculture.

Why: This launch marks a major milestone for India’s private space sector, often asked in UPSC Prelims and state PSC science & technology sections. GalaxEye, founded in 2021 by IIT Madras alumni and partnered with NSIL (NewSpace India Limited — ISRO’s commercial arm), plans a 10-satellite constellation by 2030, relevant for questions on India’s space commercialisation policy.

What: On 1 May 2026, India successfully conducted the Phase-II test of the LR-AShM (Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile) from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal. The missile has a range of 1,500 km and reaches an initial speed of Mach 10, sustaining an average of Mach 5 during its glide phase.

How: The missile is 13 metres long with a 1.4-metre diameter and uses two-stage solid propulsion technology. Developed by DRDO’s (Defence Research and Development Organisation) APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad, it uses a boost-glide trajectory — accelerating to hypersonic speed then gliding toward the target. This was the third test overall (Test 1: 2023; Test 2: November 2024).

Why: With this test, India joins the elite group of nations — the US, Russia, and China — possessing hypersonic anti-ship missile capability. This is directly relevant for UPSC Prelims defence questions, NDA/CDS exams, and Mains essays on India’s strategic deterrence and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

What: Rohit Jain was appointed as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from 3 May 2026, for a three-year term. He was elevated from his previous role as Executive Director (ED) within the RBI, replacing T. Rabi Sankar who retired in April 2026.

How: T. Rabi Sankar was notably associated with India’s CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) initiative, commonly known as the Digital Rupee. Rohit Jain’s elevation follows the standard internal promotion route within the RBI hierarchy: Executive Director → Deputy Governor. The RBI was established on 1 April 1935 and is headquartered in Mumbai.

Why: RBI appointments are a fixture in banking awareness sections of IBPS, SBI, and RBI Grade B exams. Knowing the current Deputy Governors, their portfolios, and their predecessors is essential. This also links to broader themes of central bank governance and India’s digital currency policy frequently tested in UPSC Economy.

What: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant declared Sikkim as India’s first fully paperless judiciary state at the ‘Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education’ held at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok. The announcement coincided with Sikkim completing 50 years as part of the Indian Union (merged 1975).

How: The paperless judiciary model eliminates physical case files, replacing them with digitised court records, e-filing of petitions, digital cause lists, and electronic case management systems. This aligns with the Supreme Court’s broader e-Courts Mission Mode Project, which aims to modernise India’s judicial infrastructure at district and subordinate court levels.

Why: This is relevant for UPSC Prelims (Polity — judicial reforms, e-governance) and Mains (GS-II — governance, transparency, and accountability). It also tests knowledge of India’s small states — Sikkim’s merger in 1975 via the 36th Constitutional Amendment is a frequently asked constitutional history fact.

What: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Ministry of Rural Development) launched the fourth phase of PMGSY — Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana — in Odisha with an outlay of Rs 1,700 crore. The phase covers 827 road projects spanning 1,701.84 km across 8 districts, connecting 898 habitations.

How: PMGSY-IV follows a 60:40 cost-sharing model between the Centre and the state (90:10 for North-East and hilly states). The 8 target districts — Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Sambalpur — are predominantly tribal and aspirational districts, prioritised for last-mile rural connectivity.

Why: PMGSY is a perennial topic in UPSC Prelims and state PSC exams. Key facts to remember: launched in 2000 under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee; nodal ministry is MoRD (Ministry of Rural Development); target is all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations. Phase IV questions may appear in SSC CGL, CHSL, and banking exams covering government schemes.

What: India defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the Thomas Cup 2026 to advance to the semi-finals, guaranteeing themselves at minimum a bronze medal. The Thomas Cup is the biennial men’s badminton team championship organised by the BWF (Badminton World Federation), considered the most prestigious team event in the sport.

How: Team matches in the Thomas Cup are decided in a best-of-five format, with singles and doubles rubber matches. India’s 3-0 whitewash is a dominant result. India’s first-ever Thomas Cup win came in 2022 in Bangkok, defeating defending champions Indonesia 3-0 — a historic upset that ended a 73-year wait.

Why: Sports current affairs are tested heavily in SSC, Railway, and state PSC exams. Key facts: Thomas Cup named after Sir George Thomas (England); first held 1948–49; held every two years; BWF headquarters — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. India’s 2022 win and 2026 semi-final are both high-probability question triggers for competitive exam aspirants.