GK One-Liners

What: Under the Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme, the Centre has selected seven sites across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra to establish integrated mega textile parks. The scheme has an outlay of ₹4,445 crore and will run through 2027–28.

How: PM MITRA parks are designed to provide end-to-end textile infrastructure including spinning, weaving, processing, dyeing, printing, and garmenting facilities in a single location. The scheme is expected to attract approximately ₹70,000 crore in investment and generate nearly 20 lakh jobs. Complementary initiatives like the Samarth skilling programme and National Technical Textiles Mission support talent development and high-value textile segments.

Why: PM MITRA is inspired by the 5F vision: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. Questions on textile sector schemes, their outlay, objectives, and implementation states are frequently asked in UPSC Prelims and State PSC examinations. The scheme aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India goals for manufacturing sector growth.

What: The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 came into effect from 1 August 2025, introducing several updates to modernise India’s banking and governance framework. Key changes include revising the “substantial interest” threshold upward to ₹2 crore, extending cooperative bank director tenures up to 10 years, and permitting public sector banks (PSBs) to transfer unclaimed amounts to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).

How: The amendments empower PSBs to appoint higher-quality auditors, improving oversight and audit standards. By aligning dormant fund treatment with investor-protection goals and strengthening cooperative bank governance, the Act brings these institutions closer to constitutional and regulatory expectations. The changes address long-standing concerns about cooperative bank management and depositor protection.

Why: Banking sector reforms and amendments to banking laws are high-yield topics for banking exams (IBPS, SBI PO, RBI Grade B) and UPSC GS-III. Understanding concepts like “substantial interest,” IEPF, and cooperative bank governance is essential. The Act reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen financial sector regulation post-PMC Bank crisis and other cooperative bank failures.

What: The Indian Navy inducted INS Himgiri, a Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The frigate is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LR-SAMs), anti-submarine torpedoes, and advanced sensors, strengthening India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.

How: Project 17A frigates are follow-on vessels to the Project 17 (Shivalik-class) frigates with enhanced stealth features, improved weapons, and sensors. INS Himgiri is the namesake successor of an earlier Nilgiri-class frigate. The induction supports India’s aim to expand the naval fleet to approximately 170–175 ships by 2035 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Why: Questions on Indian Navy ships, their class names, shipyards (GRSE, MDL, CSL, GSL), and indigenous defence production are common in defence-related sections of UPSC, CDS, and NDA exams. Understanding Project 17A, its features, and the Navy’s fleet expansion plans demonstrates awareness of India’s maritime modernisation strategy.

What: The 71st National Film Awards (for 2023 releases) were announced, with 332 feature-film entries, 115 non-feature entries, 27 book entries, and 16 critics’ submissions considered. Best Feature Film went to ’12th Fail’ (Hindi), while Best Non-Feature Film was awarded to ‘Flowering Man’ (Hindi). Best Documentary was won by ‘God Vulture and Human’ (English/Hindi/Telugu).

How: The jury was led by Ashutosh Gowariker (Feature Film Jury Chair) and P. Sheshadri (Non-Feature Film Jury Chair). Best Actor was shared by Shah Rukh Khan (‘Jawan’) and Vikrant Massey (’12th Fail’)—marking Shah Rukh Khan’s first National Award. Best Actress went to Rani Mukerji (‘Chatterjee Vs Norway’), also her first National Award. Best Supporting Actor was jointly awarded to Vijayaraghavan (‘Pookkaalam’, Malayalam) and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (‘Parking’, Tamil).

Why: National Film Awards are India’s most prestigious film honours, presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Questions on recent award winners, jury chairs, and award categories are common in general awareness sections of competitive exams. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award (lifetime achievement) and regional language film awards are also frequently tested.

What: India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for July 2025 rose 7.5% year-on-year to ₹1.96 lakh crore, indicating steady tax inflows. However, net GST growth slowed to approximately 1.7% because refunds jumped 117% compared with the previous year. A key driver of the refund spike is the inverted duty structure.

How: Inverted duty structure occurs when the tax rate on inputs (raw materials) is higher than the tax rate on outputs (finished goods), leading to accumulated input tax credit that must be refunded. While some states like Sikkim and Tripura posted strong growth, weak domestic demand and softer automobile sales remain concerns. These pressures have renewed focus on GST rate rationalisation as an urgent policy priority.

Why: GST collection figures are important economic indicators tested in banking exams and UPSC GS-III. Understanding concepts like inverted duty structure, input tax credit, GST compensation to states, and rate rationalisation is essential. Monthly GST figures above ₹1.5 lakh crore are considered healthy indicators of economic activity and formalisation.

What: SpaceX launched NASA’s Crew-11 mission from Kennedy Space Center carrying two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut, and a Japanese astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) for a stay of up to eight months. The mission underlines continued commercial-space momentum and ongoing US-Russia cooperation in orbit despite geopolitical tensions.

How: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program partners with private companies like SpaceX (Crew Dragon) and Boeing (Starliner) to transport astronauts to the ISS, reducing dependence on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon launches on the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. International crew rotations maintain continuous ISS operations and scientific research.

Why: Questions on space agencies, ISS operations, commercial space programmes, and international space cooperation are relevant for UPSC Science & Technology sections. Understanding NASA’s shift to commercial crew transportation, SpaceX’s role, and India’s participation in global space initiatives (like Gaganyaan and Artemis Accords) provides comprehensive exam preparation on contemporary space developments.