GK One-Liners

What: The Union Cabinet approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill 2026, increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) from 33 to 37, making the total 38 including the CJI. This is the first such increase in several years.

How: The amendment is made under Article 124 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to determine the number of judges in the Supreme Court. Once enacted, the President will appoint additional judges on the recommendation of the collegium, helping clear the massive backlog of pending cases.

Why: This is a high-yield polity topic for UPSC, SSC, and state PCS exams. Key angles include Article 124, the collegium system, judicial vacancies, and access to justice. Previous increases (e.g., from 7 to 26, then to 31, then 34) are often asked in MCQs.

What: Prasoon Joshi was appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati — India’s public broadcaster — by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on 2 May 2026. He succeeded Navneet Kumar Sehgal, who resigned in December 2025. Joshi is a noted lyricist, poet, and advertising professional.

How: Prasar Bharati is an autonomous statutory body established under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. It oversees Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR). Appointments to its board are made by the Union Government. Joshi previously served as Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since 2017 and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015.

Why: Institutional appointments to statutory bodies like Prasar Bharati are regularly tested in GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance) and current affairs sections of UPSC, Banking, and Railway exams. Knowing the parent ministry (MIB), enabling act, and associated platforms (DD, AIR) is essential.

What: The South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone, India’s 18th railway zone, is set to become operational from 1 June 2026, with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It was first announced in February 2019 and will comprise the Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur divisions.

How: The new zone was carved out to provide better administrative focus and faster development of railway infrastructure in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The creation of a new zone requires approval from the Railway Board and Ministry of Railways, followed by appointment of a General Manager and gradual transfer of divisions.

Why: Railway zones are a classic static GK topic in SSC, Railway (RRB), and UPSC prelims. Students must know the total number of zones (18), their headquarters, and which zones were most recently created. SCoR becoming operational makes it the answer to “Which is India’s newest/18th railway zone?”

What: Anand RK, Suparna Sharma, and Natalie Obiko Pearson — journalists with Bloomberg — won the Pulitzer Prize 2026 in the ‘Illustrated Reporting & Commentary’ category. Their report ‘trAPPed’ exposed the growing menace of cybercrime through digital arrest scams targeting Indian citizens. The prizes were announced on 6 May 2026 at Columbia University, New York.

How: The Pulitzer Prize, administered by Columbia University since 1917, is one of the most prestigious journalism awards in the world. The 2026 edition also saw the New York Times (NYT) win 3 awards, bringing its all-time total to a record 142. Reuters won 2 prizes (total: 15), and The Washington Post received the Public Service award.

Why: Indian winners of international awards are high-frequency questions in UPSC, Banking, and Railway exams. Students should also note the Pulitzer’s founding institution (Columbia University), its 1917 origins, and categories like Public Service — which represent journalism’s highest civic honour.

What: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) launched Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR) on 4 May 2026 with approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). EGRs are dematerialised (paperless) securities backed by physical gold, allowing investors to hold and trade gold without taking physical delivery.

How: EGRs are created when physical gold is deposited with a vault manager, who issues equivalent digital receipts on the exchange platform. A key feature is the GST (Goods and Services Tax) exemption: no GST is levied until the EGR holder converts their holding back to physical gold. The instrument serves jewellers, refiners, and retail investors, improving price discovery and reducing storage costs.

Why: This is relevant for UPSC GS Paper 3 (Economy), SEBI-grade exams, and Banking awareness sections. Key facts to remember: NSE was established in 1992 and is based in Mumbai; SEBI regulates capital markets; EGRs aim to formalise India’s gold market, which is the world’s second-largest consumer market for gold.

What: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) released India’s first-ever national guidance document on Diabetes Mellitus in children and adolescents (ages 0–18 years) at a National Summit held in Chandigarh. The document introduces the ‘4Ts Framework’ for early detection of Type 1 diabetes: Toilet (frequent urination), Thirsty (excessive thirst), Tired (fatigue), and Thinner (unexplained weight loss).

How: The guidance covers diagnosis, management, and treatment protocols for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the paediatric age group. A significant policy commitment is that treatment will be available free of cost at public health facilities, improving access for economically vulnerable families.

Why: Health policy firsts — especially those addressing children’s health — are commonly featured in UPSC and state PCS current affairs. The 4Ts mnemonic is a memory-friendly factoid for MCQs. India has one of the highest burdens of childhood Type 1 diabetes globally, making this document strategically significant for public health planning.