GK One-Liners

What: The Union Cabinet approved India’s formal bid to host the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2030, authorizing the signing of the Host Collaboration Agreement and providing necessary government guarantees. If successful, Gujarat will receive central grant support for infrastructure readiness and event preparations.

How: The bid process involves submitting formal documentation to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), meeting hosting requirements including venue standards, security protocols, and financial guarantees. Gujarat will leverage existing sports infrastructure while upgrading facilities to international standards for the multi-sport event.

Why: This connects to UPSC Polity (Cabinet decisions, Centre-State cooperation) and Sports sections. Questions may cover India’s sports diplomacy, hosting mega-events post-2010 CWG, and the economic impact of international tournaments. Relevant for Mains GS-II (bilateral relations) and essay topics on soft power.

What: Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships held in Ahmedabad, lifting a total of 193 kg (84 kg snatch + 109 kg clean & jerk) in the women’s 48 kg category. She set championship records across all three categories and secured automatic qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

How: Mirabai competed in her weight class, performing two lifts—snatch (lifting the barbell overhead in one motion) and clean & jerk (lifting to shoulders, then overhead). Her combined total exceeded all competitors, earning gold and meeting the qualification threshold for the next CWG through her championship performance.

Why: Important for UPSC Prelims Current Affairs and Sports questions. Mirabai is a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist and frequently appears in questions about Indian athletes’ achievements. Connects to government support schemes like Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India initiatives. Relevant for Mains essay on sports excellence.

What: The Hockey Men’s Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled from August 29 to September 7, 2025, at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar—marking the state’s first major international hockey tournament. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the trophy in New Delhi. The tournament winner qualifies automatically for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Men’s Hockey World Cup.

How: The tournament features top Asian teams competing in a round-robin and knockout format at Bihar’s newly built Rajgir Hockey Stadium. India, as defending champion from previous editions, will compete for the continental title and automatic World Cup qualification, showcasing regional sports infrastructure development.

Why: Critical for UPSC Sports and Regional Development sections. Questions may cover FIH rankings, India’s hockey achievements, or sports infrastructure in tier-2 cities. Connects to GS-II (governance—Centre-State sports cooperation) and GS-III (economic development through sports tourism). Essay potential on federalism and sports decentralization.

What: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched ‘Project Aarohan’ in partnership with Vertis Infrastructure Trust to support the education of toll-plaza workers’ children. The initiative provides scholarships, mentoring, and career guidance with a ₹1 crore fund in its first phase (July 2025–March 2026), supporting 500 students with ₹12,000 annually and 50 postgraduate aspirants with ₹50,000 each.

How: The project is implemented through Bharat Cares (SMEC Trust), prioritizing beneficiaries from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities. It combines financial assistance with mentorship programs to ensure holistic educational support for children of frontline toll workers across India’s highway network.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC GS-II (governance, social welfare schemes) and GS-III (infrastructure development). Questions may cover Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in social welfare, NHAI’s role beyond construction, or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Connects to essays on inclusive development and the dignity of labor. Aligns with government’s focus on last-mile welfare delivery.

What: The Central Government constituted three high-level committees chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to plan nationwide commemorations for significant anniversaries: the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (October 31, 2025) and Birsa Munda (November 15, 2025), and the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (December 25, 2024).

How: These PM-chaired committees will coordinate multi-ministerial efforts to organize national and state-level events, including seminars, exhibitions, cultural programs, and publications highlighting each leader’s contributions. The committees ensure high-level oversight for events celebrating Patel’s role in national integration, Munda’s tribal freedom struggle leadership, and Vajpayee’s statesmanship.

Why: Critical for UPSC Polity (institutional mechanisms, administrative committees) and Modern History. Questions may cover Sardar Patel’s integration of princely states, Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan movement against British exploitation, or Vajpayee’s pokhran tests and foreign policy. Relevant for Mains GS-I (freedom struggle, national movement) and essay topics on national unity and leadership. Tests awareness of constitutional functionaries’ birth anniversaries.

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Suzuki’s first Made-in-India battery Electric Vehicle (EV), the e-VITARA, at Hansalpur, Gujarat, positioned for exports to approximately 100 countries including Japan and Europe. Simultaneously, hybrid battery electrode manufacturing commenced at the TDSG plant (a Toshiba-Denso-Suzuki collaboration), supporting India’s green mobility transition.

How: Suzuki Motor Corporation announced plans to invest approximately ₹70,000 crore in India by 2031 to expand manufacturing capacity, introduce new models, and establish localized supply chains for EV components. The e-VITARA leverages India’s production ecosystem for global exports, demonstrating reverse innovation where products are designed for emerging markets and then exported to developed economies.

Why: Essential for UPSC GS-III (economy—FDI, Make in India, manufacturing) and Environment (electric mobility, carbon reduction). Questions may cover India’s automotive policy, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for EVs, or Japan-India economic cooperation. Connects to National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), FAME scheme subsidies, and India’s push for battery manufacturing self-reliance. Relevant for Mains essays on sustainable development and Atmanirbhar Bharat.