GK One-Liners

What: India and Thailand will conduct the 14th edition of their bilateral Army exercise ‘Maitree’ (meaning ‘friendship’ in Sanskrit and Thai) at Umroi, Meghalaya from September 1-14, 2025. The exercise focuses on deepening military interoperability in counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations under semi-urban conditions, simulating United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mandates.

How: The drill emphasizes tactical and technical skills for operations in both rural and built-up urban settings, involving approximately 76 soldiers from each nation. India will field personnel from specialized units, while Thailand will deploy infantry forces. The previous 13th edition was hosted in Thailand’s Tak Province in July 2024. The exercise includes joint planning, scenario-based drills, and live-firing exercises to enhance tactical coordination.

Why: Critical for UPSC GS-III (internal security, defence cooperation) and GS-II (bilateral relations). Questions may cover India’s Act East Policy, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) engagement, or India’s UN peacekeeping contributions. Connects to India’s counter-insurgency expertise in northeastern states, defence diplomacy initiatives, and strategic partnerships in Indo-Pacific. Relevant for Mains essays on regional security architecture and India’s neighbourhood-first policy.

What: The Government of India appointed Goldman Sachs as transaction advisor to structure and execute stake sales in four Public Sector Banks (PSBs)—Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Central Bank of India, UCO Bank, and Punjab & Sind Bank—where the Centre holds over 90% shareholding. These listed PSBs are currently exempt from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandate of 25% minimum public shareholding until August 1, 2026.

How: Goldman Sachs will advise on divestment mechanisms including Offer for Sale (OFS), strategic sale options, or Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) to reduce government stake while ensuring market stability. The exemption until 2026 provides flexibility on timing and structuring. The stake sale aligns with the government’s fiscal consolidation goals and is part of broader PSB reforms including mergers, capital infusion, and performance-linked governance improvements.

Why: Essential for UPSC GS-III (economy—banking sector reforms, disinvestment policy). Questions may cover PSB recapitalization, bad loan resolution through National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL), or SEBI listing requirements. Connects to Union Budget disinvestment targets, fiscal deficit management, and banking consolidation reducing PSBs from 27 to 12. Relevant for Mains essays on financial sector reforms, public vs. private banking efficiency, and the role of foreign investment banks in Indian capital markets.

What: CG Power inaugurated India’s first end-to-end Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) pilot line at Sanand, Gujarat, adding domestic capability for chip assembly, packaging, testing, and post-test services. The CG Semi project (phases G1 & G2) involves approximately ₹7,600 crore investment and is expected to create over 5,000 jobs while strengthening India’s semiconductor value chain.

How: The facility operates under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), providing backend semiconductor services that currently account for about 55% of global semiconductor value chain costs. OSAT involves taking fabricated silicon wafers, dicing them into individual chips, assembling them into packages, conducting electrical testing, and preparing them for integration into electronic devices. This complements India’s fabrication (fab) facilities being developed by other companies.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC GS-III (science & technology, manufacturing policy). Questions may cover India Semiconductor Mission incentives (50% fiscal support for approved projects), Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical technologies, or comparisons with Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung. Connects to Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for electronics, chip supply chain resilience post-COVID disruptions, and China+1 manufacturing strategies. Relevant for Mains essays on technology self-reliance, semiconductor geopolitics, and Make in India 2.0.

What: India launched its first National Biofoundry Network (NBN) under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy to accelerate indigenous biomanufacturing and support the ambitious goal of achieving a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT)-led NBN connects six leading research institutions across India.

How: The network offers end-to-end synthetic biology prototyping services including DNA synthesis, strain engineering, bioprocess optimization, and scale-up support for startups, researchers, and industry. It operates alongside the BioE3 Challenge initiative to promote youth innovation and startup-led solutions in areas like bio-based chemicals, sustainable materials, precision fermentation, and agricultural biotechnology. The biofoundries provide shared infrastructure reducing R&D costs for emerging biotech enterprises.

Why: Critical for UPSC GS-III (science & technology, biotechnology policy). Questions may cover India’s bioeconomy vision, comparison with global biofoundries (UK’s BioFoundry, US DBTL facilities), or applications of synthetic biology in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial processes. Connects to Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical technologies, Start-up India initiatives, and sustainable development goals. Relevant for Mains essays on innovation ecosystems, public research infrastructure, and bio-based circular economy models.

What: Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel was appointed as Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a three-year term beginning August 28, 2025. He will represent India and its constituency countries on the 24-member IMF Executive Board, which oversees the Fund’s operational and policy decisions.

How: IMF Executive Directors represent either individual countries (for major economies) or constituencies of multiple countries. India’s constituency typically includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. As Executive Director, Patel will participate in board deliberations on lending programs, surveillance reports, quota reviews, and global economic assessments. His expertise in monetary policy (he served as RBI Governor 2016-2018) and previous IMF experience strengthens India’s voice in international economic governance.

Why: Important for UPSC GS-II (international organizations, India’s role in global governance) and GS-III (economy—international financial institutions). Questions may cover IMF’s role in global financial stability, India’s quota and voting share (2.76% currently), or Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocations. Connects to India’s stance on IMF reforms, G20 presidency outcomes, and advocacy for emerging economy representation. Relevant for Mains essays on reforming Bretton Woods institutions and India’s leadership in multilateral forums.

What: India and Bhutan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thimphu to expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, including livestock development, food security, sustainable agricultural practices, research collaboration, post-harvest management systems, and value-chain development. This strengthens the long-standing partnership between the Himalayan neighbors.

How: The MoU framework facilitates technical knowledge exchange, joint research programs, capacity-building initiatives for Bhutanese farmers, and technology transfer in areas like organic farming (Bhutan aims to be 100% organic), high-altitude agriculture, and climate-resilient crop varieties. India will support infrastructure development for cold storage, processing units, and market linkages. The cooperation aligns with Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness development philosophy and food self-sufficiency goals.

Why: Essential for UPSC GS-II (bilateral relations, India’s neighbourhood policy). Questions may cover India-Bhutan special relationship, hydropower cooperation (Bhutan supplies 70%+ of India’s hydropower imports), or India’s role in Bhutan’s economic development. Connects to India’s Act East Policy extension to neighboring countries, border area development programs, and strategic significance of India-Bhutan-China trijunction. Relevant for Mains essays on India’s soft power, agricultural diplomacy, and securing Himalayan borders through development partnerships.