GK One-Liners

What: National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) is observed on 24 April every year to mark the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1993), which added Part IX and Article 243B to the Constitution. The 2026 edition was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with the theme ‘Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas’ (Empowered Panchayat, Holistic Development). The first NPRD was celebrated on 24 April 2010.

How: The 73rd Amendment institutionalised the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, mandating elections, reservations for women and SCs/STs, and State Finance Commissions. The 2026 event saw the release of the Performance Assessment Index (PAI) 2.0 report, which evaluates panchayat-level governance outcomes across states. PAI 2.0 is a more comprehensive upgrade of the earlier index, measuring devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries.

Why: NPRD is a recurring topic in UPSC Prelims and State PCS exams under Indian Polity. Questions often test the constitutional article (243B), the amendment number (73rd), the year of enactment (1993), and themes. PAI reports are relevant for GS-II (Local Governance) and Essay sections.

What: The 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) is scheduled for 31 May 2026 in New Delhi, co-organised with the African Union Commission (AUC). The summit’s theme is ‘IA SPIRIT: India-Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, Inclusive Transformation’, with a logo featuring a lion on interlocked maps of India and Africa. The official website is www.iafs2026.in, launched by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

How: The IAFS series is India’s flagship diplomatic platform for engaging the 55 African Union member states collectively. Previous summits (2008, 2011, 2015) resulted in credit lines, capacity-building commitments, and trade agreements. IAFS-IV is expected to further deepen cooperation in health, digital infrastructure, defence, and the Global South agenda.

Why: India-Africa relations, the African Union, and India’s Global South diplomacy are high-frequency topics in UPSC Prelims and Mains (GS-II: International Relations). IAFS summits and their themes are directly asked in exam MCQs. This summit aligns with India’s Voice of the Global South initiatives.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) with effect from 24 April 2026, invoking Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The grounds cited were persistent non-compliance and risk to depositors. PPBL had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 2022, with further restrictions imposed in early 2024.

How: Under Section 22(4), the RBI can cancel a bank’s licence if it is not carrying on banking business in a manner beneficial to the public, or if it fails to comply with regulatory requirements. Post-cancellation, the RBI has indicated it will approach the High Court for initiating winding-up proceedings. PPBL retains full liquidity to repay depositors.

Why: RBI’s regulatory powers, types of bank licences, and provisions of the Banking Regulation Act are standard topics in UPSC Economy and Banking Awareness papers. Section 22 deals specifically with licensing of banking companies. This case is also relevant for GS-III (Money & Banking) and current affairs-based Mains questions on financial regulation.

What: Rocklink India has commissioned India’s first integrated Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery and rare earth recycling facility at Sikandrabad, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, within the UPSIDC (Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation) industrial area. The plant has an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) and processes 95 types of battery scrap using R2 recycling technology, achieving over 98% material recovery efficiency.

How: The facility recovers critical battery materials — Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn) — as well as rare earth elements including Neodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium, which are vital for EV motors and defence applications. R2 (Responsible Recycling) certification is an internationally recognised standard for safe, environmentally responsible e-waste processing.

Why: India’s push for electric vehicle (EV) adoption makes battery recycling and critical mineral recovery strategically essential to reduce import dependence on China for rare earths and battery materials. This is relevant for UPSC GS-III (Infrastructure & Technology), Environment, and Economy sections, especially questions on critical minerals, circular economy, and India’s EV policy.

What: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), established on 1 January 2015 as the successor to the Planning Commission, was reconstituted in April 2026. Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri — former Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the Government of India and BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Balurghat, West Bengal — was appointed as the new Vice-Chairperson (VC), succeeding Suman Bery whose term ends on 1 May 2026.

How: New full-time members appointed include Prof. Gobardhan Das (Director, IISER Bhopal; TB pathogenesis researcher), Prof. Abhay Karandikar, K.V. Raju, and M. Srinivas. Rajiv Gauba (former Cabinet Secretary) is the only member retained from the previous composition. These reconstitutions reflect policy priorities in science, health, and economic governance.

Why: NITI Aayog’s structure, mandate, and differences from the Planning Commission are standard UPSC Prelims topics. Appointments to NITI Aayog — the VC, CEO, and members — are frequently asked in current affairs. The appointment of a TB researcher signals India’s continued focus on eliminating tuberculosis by 2025 (under the National TB Elimination Programme).

What: Himadri Speciality Chemical Limited (HSCL) — India’s largest speciality carbon black producer — has commissioned the country’s first anode material production facility at Mahistikry, Hooghly, West Bengal. The plant has an initial capacity of 200 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) and produces anode materials critical for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems.

How: Anode materials (typically graphite-based) are one of the four key components of a Li-ion battery, alongside cathode, electrolyte, and separator. HSCL leverages its existing expertise in speciality carbon products to manufacture these materials domestically. The company also has an LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cathode project with a planned capacity of 2,000 MTPA, expected in Q3 FY2027.

Why: India currently imports most of its battery components, making domestic production critical for energy security and reducing the cost of EVs. This facility is a milestone in India’s EV value chain indigenisation, directly relevant to UPSC GS-III topics on energy, infrastructure, and industrial policy. It also connects to PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage.