GK One-Liners

What: The RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme completed 9 years since its launch on October 21, 2016, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016. Its inaugural commercial flight was operated on April 27, 2017 by Prime Minister Modi on the Shimla–New Delhi route.

How: UDAN operates on a market-driven yet financially supported model, offering Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines to make tickets affordable on underserved routes. As of 2025, it has operationalised 625 routes connecting 90 airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.

Why: UDAN is a perennial favourite in UPSC Prelims (Governance/Economy) and SSC/Banking GK sections. Key recall points: launch year (2016), first flight date (Apr 27, 2017), route count (625), and airport count (90). It also links to the broader theme of infrastructure-led inclusive growth.

What: Madhya Pradesh has become home to India’s first PM-MITRA (PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park, approved for Bhainsola village in Badnawar, Dhar district — approximately 110 km from Indore. The park spans 21,000 acres and has attracted investment proposals worth Rs 10,000 crore.

How: PM-MITRA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) under the Ministry of Textiles (MoT). The Government of India is providing Rs 4,445 crore over 7 years up to FY28 for 7 such parks across 7 states. The MP park features a 20 MLD Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plant, solar energy infrastructure, and Build-to-Suit (BTS) units to attract manufacturers.

Why: This is a high-yield topic for UPSC Prelims (Economy/Governance) and Banking awareness. Key facts: first park state (MP), district (Dhar), area (21,000 acres), central outlay (Rs 4,445 cr), and the full expansion of PM-MITRA. MP CM Mohan Yadav and Governor Mangubhai C. Patel are associated dignitaries.

What: The World Bank’s ‘India Poverty and Equity Brief – April 2025’ reports that extreme poverty (defined as living on less than USD 2.15 per day) fell sharply from 16.2% in 2011–12 to just 2.3% in 2022–23, lifting approximately 17.1 crore people out of extreme poverty. An additional 37.8 crore people crossed the broader poverty line.

How: The decline reflects strong employment growth exceeding working-age population growth since 2021–22, alongside welfare schemes. Rural poverty dropped from 18.4% to 2.8%, urban poverty from 10.7% to 1.1%, and the rural-urban gap narrowed from 7.7% to 1.7%. Urban unemployment fell to 6.6% in Q1 FY25, the lowest since 2017–18.

Why: This report is directly relevant to UPSC Mains GS-III (Poverty, Inclusive Growth) and Economics sections of SSC/Banking. Key data: USD 2.15 threshold, 2.3% poverty rate, 17.1 crore lifted, rural-urban convergence. World Bank was established in 1944; President: Ajay Banga.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of the Imperial Urban Co-operative Bank, Jalandhar, Punjab under Sections 5(b) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The RBI has requested the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Punjab to issue a winding-up order against the bank.

How: Upon cancellation, the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) — established under the DICGC Act, 1961 — will pay each eligible depositor up to Rs 5 lakh as deposit insurance. As of January 31, 2025, DICGC had already paid Rs 541 crore to depositors. Approximately 97.79% of depositors are entitled to full repayment of their deposits.

Why: RBI licence cancellations are frequently tested in Banking and UPSC Prelims (Economy). Key recall: DICGC insurance limit (Rs 5 lakh), governing law (Banking Regulation Act 1949, Sec 56 for co-op banks), and DICGC establishment year (1961). This topic also illustrates the regulatory mechanism for co-operative bank failure.

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), headquartered in Bengaluru, assumed the lead role of the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters for six months from April 2025. This transition was formalised at the 53rd Charter meeting held at the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad from April 14–17, attended by 22 foreign delegates.

How: The Charter, founded in 2000, has 17 member space agencies and serves 120+ countries by providing free satellite data for disaster response — covering floods, landslides, and infrastructure damage. ISRO has contributed 153 activations and approximately 700 Earth Observation (EO) products since 2021. The Charter celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025.

Why: This is relevant to UPSC Prelims (Science & Tech / International Bodies) and CDS/NDA. Key recall: ISRO’s chairperson (Dr. V. Narayanan), Charter founding year (2000), member count (17), and ISRO’s contribution since 2021. It also links to India’s growing role in global space governance.

What: Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh launched India’s first Made-in-India Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test kits: Truenat HPV-HR Plus (developed by Molbio Diagnostics, Goa) and Patho Detect (developed by Mylab, Pune). These kits use Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technology and target 7–8 high-risk HPV strains. Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer among Indian women.

How: The kits were developed under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Grand Challenges India (GCI) initiative, implemented through the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), established in 2012 with headquarters in New Delhi. They have been validated by AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), NICPR, NIRRCH, and the WHO IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in Lyon.

Why: This is a high-relevance topic for UPSC Science & Technology and Health sections, as well as SSC GK. India accounts for 1 in 5 global cervical cancer patients and 25% of global deaths from the disease (WHO data). Key recall: kit names, developers (Molbio/Mylab), BIRAC founding year (2012), and the RT-PCR technology used.