GK One-Liners

What: India and France signed a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal worth Rs 64,000 crore (approximately USD 7.4 billion) on April 28, 2025, for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) carrier-borne fighter jets — comprising 22 single-seat fighters and 4 twin-seat trainer variants. The deal was signed by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and French Defence Minister Thierry Matho.

How: The Rafale-M jets are optimised for carrier operations and will be deployed aboard INS Vikrant — India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2022. Deliveries are scheduled to begin by end-2029 and be completed by 2031. The G2G route bypasses commercial tendering, enabling faster acquisition and government-to-government accountability. France’s President is Emmanuel Macron and PM is François Bayrou.

Why: Defence procurement deals of this scale are tested in UPSC Prelims (Defence/International) and CDS/NDA. Key recall: deal value (Rs 64,000 cr / USD 7.4 bn), jet count (26 = 22+4), carrier platform (INS Vikrant), signatories (Rajesh Kumar Singh + Thierry Matho), and delivery timeline (2029–2031). The Rafale-M is distinct from the earlier IAF Rafale deal (36 jets, 2016).

What: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, reported that global military expenditure reached USD 2,718 billion in 2024 — a real-terms increase of 9.4%. The top five spenders, accounting for 60% of global military spending, were: USA (USD 997 bn, 1st), China (USD 314 bn, 2nd), Russia (USD 149 bn, 3rd), Germany (4th), and India (USD 86.1 bn, +1.6%, 5th). Global military spending equals 2.5% of world GDP.

How: Over 100 countries increased their defence budgets in 2024, driven by the Russia–Ukraine conflict, tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and NATO’s 2% GDP spending target. India’s 1.6% growth was modest compared to the global average, reflecting a stable but growing defence budget focused on modernisation and indigenisation under the Defence Acquisition Procedure.

Why: SIPRI rankings are directly tested in UPSC Prelims (International Affairs/Defence) and Banking GK. Key recall: total global spend (USD 2,718 bn), growth rate (+9.4%), India’s rank (5th), India’s spend (USD 86.1 bn), and the top 3 (USA–China–Russia). Germany overtaking Japan/UK as 4th is itself a noteworthy shift to remember.

What: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — MeitY) launched the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) portal and guidelines. ECMS is India’s first dedicated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme specifically for electronic components, with an outlay of Rs 22,919 crore over 6 years (FY26–FY32), aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and Global Value Chain (GVC) integration. Separately, Bengaluru-based startup Sarvam was selected to build India’s first indigenous Artificial Intelligence Large Language Model (AI LLM) under the Rs 10,370 crore India AI Mission.

How: ECMS addresses a critical gap — India currently imports most electronic components despite being a large electronics assembler. The scheme incentivises domestic production of components such as resistors, capacitors, PCBs, and display modules. The India AI Mission, also under MeitY, will fund compute infrastructure and sovereign AI capabilities; Sarvam’s LLM will be designed for Indian languages and use cases. MeitY’s Minister of State is Jitin Prasada.

Why: PLI schemes with specific outlays and MeitY-led tech initiatives are high-frequency UPSC Prelims (Economy/Governance) and SSC GK topics. Key recall: ECMS outlay (Rs 22,919 cr), duration (FY26–32), India AI Mission outlay (Rs 10,370 cr), selected startup (Sarvam, Bengaluru), and the “first dedicated PLI for electronic components” tag.

What: Uganda officially declared the end of its Ebola Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) outbreak — its second Ebola outbreak in under three years — less than three months after the outbreak was confirmed in Kampala on January 30, 2025. The last patient was discharged on March 14, 2025, after which the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mandatory 42-day countdown was observed before the declaration. Ebola SVD is caused by the Sudan Virus (SUDV), first identified in southern Sudan in June 1976, and kills approximately 4 in 10 infected persons. There have been 8 prior SVD outbreaks — 5 in Uganda and 3 in Sudan.

How: The rapid containment — achieved in under three months — reflects improved outbreak response protocols including contact tracing, isolation, and community engagement. SUDV belongs to the same filovirus family as the Ebola Virus (EBOV) but is a distinct species with no approved vaccine, making containment through non-pharmaceutical interventions critical. The 42-day WHO countdown (double the maximum Ebola incubation period of 21 days) is the standard protocol before declaring an outbreak over.

Why: Disease outbreak declarations are tested in UPSC Prelims (International Affairs/Health) and Banking GK. Key recall: outbreak confirmation date (Jan 30, 2025), last patient discharge (Mar 14, 2025), WHO 42-day rule, SUDV first identified (southern Sudan, 1976), case fatality (~40%), and Uganda’s outbreak history (5 of 8 prior SVD outbreaks). Distinguish SUDV from EBOV (Zaire strain) — both are Ebola species but different viruses.

What: Bihar created two Guinness World Records (GWRs): (i) World’s Largest Madhubani Painting on Canvas — measuring 18.69 square metres, created by 50 women over 50 continuous hours under Padma Shri Bauaa Devi as a tribute to the late Padma Shri Jagdamba Devi; and (ii) Largest Singing Bowl Ensemble — featuring 375 Buddhist monks at Bodh Gaya, organised by the Bihar State Sangha Association (BSSA). GWR certificates were presented to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Patliputra Sports Complex, Patna. Bihar’s Governor is Arif Mohammed Khan.

How: The Madhubani painting was timed to coincide with the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games (May 4, 2025) — Bihar’s first edition of the Games — to be hosted across five cities: Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai. Madhubani (Mithila) art is a traditional folk painting style from the Mithila region of Bihar, recognised for its intricate patterns and natural dyes. The singing bowl record celebrates Bihar’s deep Buddhist heritage centred at Bodh Gaya.

Why: State-level GWR achievements and Khelo India Games hosting are tested in Bihar PSC, UPSC Prelims (Awards/Culture), and SSC GK. Key recall: Madhubani painting size (18.69 sq m), artist count (50 women), patron (Padma Shri Bauaa Devi), singing bowl count (375 monks), and Khelo India Youth Games 2025 host cities. The Bihar–Bodh Gaya–Buddhist heritage link is a recurring cultural theme.

What: K. Ramakrishna Rao (IAS, 1991 batch, Telangana cadre), the third senior-most IAS officer in Telangana, was appointed Chief Secretary of Telangana, succeeding A. Santhi Kumari who retired on April 30, 2025. He simultaneously holds the post of Special Chief Secretary (Finance) in a Full Additional Charge (FAC) capacity.

How: Ramakrishna Rao served as Finance Secretary of Telangana for over 10 years following the state’s formation in 2014 — a tenure that gave him direct stewardship of the state’s fiscal consolidation. He holds the distinction of having prepared 14 state budgets (12 full budgets and 2 votes-on-account), the highest by any Finance Secretary in Telangana’s history. He also previously served as Director General of the Centre for Good Governance (CGG), Hyderabad.

Why: Senior IAS appointments are tested in Telangana PSC and UPSC current affairs. Key recall: batch year (1991), cadre (Telangana), predecessor (A. Santhi Kumari), 14 budgets record, and CGG DG role. Note the parallel with Kerala’s new CS (also 1991 batch, appointed the same week) — a potential multi-state comparison MCQ. The 14-budget statistic is a strong unique hook for recall.