GK One-Liners

What: Aarogya Setu 2.0 is a rebuilt national health application and Personal Health Record (PHR) platform launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It creates a unique Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID for every citizen and has already generated over 90 crore ABHA accounts.

How: The app integrates with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) wallet, enabling users to manage health records, set medicine reminders, and access cashless treatment benefits. A companion WhatsApp chatbot called Ayushman Sarathi — also launched by Union Minister JP Nadda — offers 24/7 eligibility checks, Ayushman Card downloads, hospital searches, and grievance tracking.

Why: This is high-yield for UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, and state PSC exams under Health Schemes and Digital India. Expect questions on the full form of ABHA, the ministry responsible (MoHFW), the number of accounts created, and the link to PM-JAY.

What: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) 2.0 Portal is a revamped digital platform launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Approximately 14,500 organisations currently hold FCRA registration, which permits them to receive foreign funds for specified purposes.

How: The upgraded portal introduces Application Programming Interface (API)-based integration, Aadhaar authentication for identity verification, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot for user assistance. It is hosted on MeghRaj — India’s government cloud infrastructure — and operates under the updated FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026.

Why: Relevant for UPSC GS-II (Governance, Transparency) and Banking/SSC exams. Key facts to remember: ~14,500 registered organisations, MHA oversight, MeghRaj hosting, and the AI + Aadhaar integration. The FCRA itself is a recurring topic in civil services mains as it governs NGO accountability.

What: India successfully completed its first Satellite Landing System (SLS) approach using the GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system. An IndiGo Airbus A320 performed this milestone approach at Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur, Rajasthan.

How: GAGAN is India’s indigenous Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It provides precision guidance using Localiser Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV) approaches; 23 such approaches have been published so far, with a target of 40+ by year-end. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Why: GAGAN is a staple Science & Technology topic for UPSC Prelims and CDS exams. Core facts: full form of GAGAN, co-developers (ISRO + AAI), the A320 aircraft, and Udaipur airport as the milestone site. It also links to India’s growing aviation infrastructure ambitions.

What: The Union government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) worth Rs 34,102 crore to supply 580 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) of Yamuna river water to Rajasthan via three underground pipelines. The MoA was signed under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, formalising an inter-state water-sharing arrangement.

How: Water will flow from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana through the Western Yamuna Canal and onward to Rajasthan. The project implements the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) Agreement and will directly benefit three districts in Rajasthan — Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu — and two in Haryana — Bhiwani and Fatehabad.

Why: Inter-state water disputes and river-linking projects are recurring UPSC GS-II and GS-III themes. Key facts: project cost (Rs 34,102 cr), water volume (580 MCM), the 1994 UYRB Agreement, MHA oversight, and the beneficiary districts. Connects to themes of federalism and cooperative water governance.

What: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), headed by Bhupendra Yadav, released a report identifying approximately 25 of India’s 58 Tiger Reserves (TRs) as low or no-tiger zones requiring priority reintroduction. The report was released on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Sariska Tiger Reserve reintroduction programme.

How: Three key challenges identified for reintroduction are: low prey density in forest areas; fragmented habitat connectivity preventing natural dispersal; and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) disrupting protection efforts in Central and Eastern India. Potential recipient sites for tiger reintroduction include Satkosia (Odisha), Buxa (West Bengal), and Palamau (Jharkhand).

Why: Tiger conservation is a high-frequency topic in UPSC Environment sections and state PSC exams. Core facts: total TRs = 58; 25 are low/no tiger zones; three challenges (prey, habitat, LWE); three reintroduction candidate sites; MoEFCC oversight. Also useful for connecting to Project Tiger (1973) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

What: Ravi Agrawal has been reappointed as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for a period of six months, effective 1 July 2026 through 31 December 2026. The CBDT is the apex body for direct tax administration in India and functions under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), established in 1964.

How: The reappointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), which is chaired by the Prime Minister. Ravi Agrawal belongs to the 1988 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and had previously succeeded Nitin Gupta as CBDT Chairman in June 2024.

Why: Institutional appointments — especially heads of apex financial regulators — are standard one-liner questions in SSC CGL, IBPS, and UPSC Prelims. Key facts: 6-month term, effective 1 July 2026, 1988-batch IRS, ACC approval, CBDT established 1964 under MoF. Distinguish CBDT (direct taxes) from CBIC — Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs — which handles GST and customs.