GK One-Liners

What: April 14, 2025 marks the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. The day is also observed as ‘Equality Day’ across India. Dr. Ambedkar was India’s first Law Minister, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution as Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, and founded the Scheduled Castes Federation in 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna — India’s highest civilian honour — in 1990.

How: Dr. Ambedkar’s constitutional contributions include the incorporation of Fundamental Rights (Part III), Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV), and the anti-discrimination provisions of Articles 15 and 17 (abolition of untouchability). He also played a pivotal role in shaping India’s labour laws as Labour Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. He embraced Buddhism in 1956 at Nagpur, converting along with approximately 6 lakh followers — an event known as Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din.

Why: Dr. Ambedkar is among the most frequently tested figures across all competitive exams. UPSC GS-I (modern history, social reform), GS-II (constitutional provisions, fundamental rights), and Essay papers all draw on his legacy. Critical MCQ anchors: birth year (1891), birthplace (Mhow, MP), Bharat Ratna year (1990, posthumous), Scheduled Castes Federation (1942), Drafting Committee chairmanship, and the Buddhism conversion (1956, Nagpur).

What: Kumudini Lakhia, one of India’s most celebrated Kathak dancers and choreographers, passed away at the age of 95. Born in 1930 in Ahmedabad, she was a disciple of the Jaipur gharana of Kathak and later trained under Pt. Lachhu Maharaj of the Lucknow gharana. She founded the Kadamb Centre for Music and Dance in Ahmedabad in 1964, which became a landmark institution for classical dance training. Her notable choreographic works include Dhabkar, Yugal, and Atah Kim.

How: Kumudini Lakhia was a pioneer in expanding Kathak beyond traditional solo formats into group choreography, bringing theatrical innovation to a classical form. She received the Padma Shri in 1987, was elevated to the Padma Bhushan in 2010, and was most recently awarded the Padma Vibhushan — India’s second-highest civilian honour — in January 2025, just months before her passing. Her Kadamb Centre has trained generations of dancers across India and internationally.

Why: Obituary-linked questions on classical artists with Padma award details are standard in Banking, SSC, and State PSC GK sections. Key facts: Kathak tradition (Jaipur + Lucknow gharanas), Kadamb Centre (Ahmedabad, 1964), Padma progression (Shri 1987 → Bhushan 2010 → Vibhushan Jan 2025), works (Dhabkar, Yugal, Atah Kim). The Padma Vibhushan received just months before her death makes this a high-probability 2025 exam question.

What: Daripalli Ramaiah, widely known as the ‘Tree Man of India’ or ‘Vanajeevi Ramaiah’, passed away at the age of 87. A self-taught environmentalist from Telangana, he planted over 1 crore (10 million) trees across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over several decades, guided by the motto ‘Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah’ — a Sanskrit phrase meaning ‘Trees protect those who protect them,’ drawn from ancient Indian ecological wisdom.

How: Ramaiah worked at the grassroots level, motivating local communities, schools, and government bodies to participate in large-scale afforestation. His work contributed to greening degraded lands, improving micro-climates, and reducing soil erosion in rain-shadow areas of the Deccan plateau. The Government of India recognised his contributions with the Padma Shri in 2017 under the Social Work category. He was also featured in the Telangana Class 6 school textbook, cementing his place in regional environmental education.

Why: Grassroots environmentalists with Padma awards are frequently tested in SSC, Banking, and UPSC Prelims (Environment section). Key facts: nickname (‘Tree Man of India’ / ‘Vanajeevi Ramaiah’), trees planted (1 crore+), states covered (Telangana & AP), motto (‘Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah’), Padma Shri 2017 (Social Work category). For UPSC, his work connects to GS-III themes of afforestation policy, biodiversity, and community-led conservation.

What: Moody’s Analytics revised India’s Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) GDP growth forecast downward from 6.4% to 6.1%, citing the United States’ imposition of a 26% tariff on Indian goods as the principal risk. The report, titled ‘APAC Outlook: US Versus Them’, flagged India’s export-sensitive sectors — gems and jewellery, textiles, and medical devices — as most vulnerable. Moody’s also projected the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will cut the repo rate further to 5.75% by end-CY25.

How: A 26% US tariff raises the cost of Indian goods in the American market, reducing export competitiveness and volumes. For India, whose goods exports to the US account for roughly USD 77 billion annually, this creates a demand-side shock. The anticipated RBI rate cuts to 5.75% are seen as a monetary policy response to cushion domestic growth — making credit cheaper to stimulate consumption and investment as external demand softens.

Why: GDP forecast revisions by agencies like Moody’s, IMF, ADB, and World Bank are regularly tested in Banking and Economy GK. Key facts: revised forecast (6.1%), previous forecast (6.4%), cause (26% US tariff), at-risk sectors (gems/jewellery, textiles, medical devices), projected repo rate by end-CY25 (5.75%), report name (‘APAC Outlook: US Versus Them’). This also connects to UPSC GS-III (trade policy, monetary policy, India–US economic relations).

What: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a total penalty of Rs 1.06 crore on Flipkart (operating as FIPL in insurance intermediary capacity). The penalty has two components: Rs 1 crore for redirecting users to another insurance intermediary in violation of the Insurance E-commerce Guidelines 2017; and Rs 6 lakh for continuing to sell insurance products after its Certificate of Registration (CoR) expired on September 25, 2024. Flipkart must remit the amount within 45 days or appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).

How: Under IRDAI’s Insurance E-commerce Guidelines 2017, an insurance intermediary (such as a web aggregator or corporate agent) cannot redirect customers to another entity’s platform — this protects consumer interests and prevents commission-sharing violations. Selling insurance after CoR expiry is a fundamental regulatory breach. The SAT (Securities Appellate Tribunal) hears appeals against IRDAI, SEBI, and PFRDA orders, making it the designated appellate body here.

Why: IRDAI regulatory actions, insurance law provisions, and appellate bodies are tested in Banking (Insurance GK), UPSC GS-III (financial sector regulation), and Law exams. Key facts: total penalty (Rs 1.06 cr = Rs 1 cr + Rs 6 lakh), violations (e-commerce guidelines + expired CoR), guideline year (2017), CoR expiry date (Sep 25, 2024), appeal body (SAT). The SAT as appellate authority for IRDAI — not a separate insurance tribunal — is a frequent exam confusion point.

What: The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Investigation, Prosecution & Conviction Portal won a national SKOCH Award in the ‘Police & Safety’ category. The portal has facilitated over 85,000 convictions and resolved more than 40,000 pending cases over five years, making it one of India’s most impactful digital justice platforms. The SKOCH Award is presented annually by the SKOCH Group, headquartered in Gurugram, established in 2003, and recognises excellence in governance, finance, and technology.

How: The portal integrates the investigation, prosecution, and trial tracking functions of the UP Police into a single digital system, enabling real-time case monitoring, evidence management, and coordination between police, prosecutors, and courts. This end-to-end digital approach reduces case pendency — a chronic issue in India’s criminal justice system — and improves conviction rates by ensuring timely charge-sheet filing and evidence chain management.

Why: SKOCH Awards and digital governance achievements of state police forces are tested in SSC GK, State PSC exams (especially UP PSC), and Banking Awareness. Key facts: award category (‘Police & Safety’), portal achievements (85,000+ convictions, 40,000+ pending cases resolved in 5 years), SKOCH Group (Gurugram, est. 2003). For UPSC, this connects to GS-II (e-governance, criminal justice reform) and GS-III (internal security, police modernisation).