GK One-Liners

What: NHPC Limited, along with Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), is reviving the 2,185-MW Sawalkote run-of-the-river hydropower project on the Chenab River at an estimated cost of ₹22,704 crore. This makes it Jammu & Kashmir’s largest hydroelectric scheme, expected to generate approximately 7,000 million units of electricity annually.

How: Run-of-the-river projects generate power by channelling a portion of river flow through turbines without creating large reservoirs, minimising displacement and environmental impact. Beyond power generation, Sawalkote is expected to aid flood moderation in the Chenab basin. The project gains strategic significance amid India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, signalling a major shift in water diplomacy with Pakistan.

Why: Hydropower projects, especially on Indus system rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), are frequently tested in UPSC GS-I (Geography) and GS-II (International Relations). Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, its provisions, recent developments, and India’s hydropower rights on western rivers is essential. NHPC, headquartered in Faridabad, is India’s largest hydropower company.

What: India became the world’s fifth-largest aviation market in 2024 by carrying approximately 241 million passengers, registering an 11.1% year-on-year growth. The Mumbai-Delhi sector ranked among the world’s busiest air routes. Premium travel also grew by about 11.8%, indicating rising affluence and business travel demand.

How: India’s aviation growth is driven by expanding middle-class income, competitive airfares from low-cost carriers, improved airport infrastructure under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, and increasing regional connectivity. Aircraft like Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families dominate the fleet, suited for short-to-medium haul domestic routes that form the bulk of Indian air travel.

Why: India’s aviation sector rankings, UDAN scheme, airport privatisation (Adani, GMR), and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations are frequently asked in UPSC GS-III (Infrastructure) and banking exams. The sector’s growth reflects India’s economic trajectory and is often linked to questions on logistics, tourism, and Make in India initiatives in aerospace.

What: LTIMindtree won an ₹811.5-crore contract from the Income Tax Department to implement PAN 2.0, a comprehensive modernisation of Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) services. The project aims to create a unified digital platform with operations targeted within 18 months of rollout.

How: PAN 2.0 will streamline services including Aadhaar-PAN linking, PAN issuance and reissuance, authentication, and verification through a single integrated system. The platform will enhance security protocols, improve user experience, and reduce processing times. This modernisation supports the government’s Digital India vision and faceless tax administration initiatives.

Why: PAN is mandatory for financial transactions above specified thresholds and is the foundation of India’s tax information network. Questions on PAN, its linkage with Aadhaar, TAN, and tax administration reforms are common in banking exams (IBPS, SBI) and UPSC GS-III (Governance). Understanding digital governance initiatives and their implementing agencies enhances preparation for contemporary administrative topics.

What: ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’, the annual interactive programme where the Prime Minister engages with students, teachers, and parents on exam-related stress, set a Guinness World Record after the MyGov platform logged approximately 3.53 crore registrations in a single month—the highest-ever for a citizen-engagement drive. The 2025 edition drew roughly 21 crore viewers.

How: The initiative uses the MyGov platform for registrations and allows participants to submit questions and creative entries. The programme reframes examination time as a positive learning festival, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of stress-free, holistic education. Students from across India participate through live streaming in schools and community centres.

Why: ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ exemplifies technology-enabled citizen engagement and governance innovation. Questions on MyGov initiatives, NEP 2020 provisions, and government programmes for student welfare are relevant for UPSC GS-II (Governance) and education-related topics. The Guinness World Record adds a factual element frequently tested in current affairs sections.

What: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and support from Monsoon Mission III, launched an Artificial Intelligence-powered advisory pilot in Maharashtra. The system delivers hyperlocal climate guidance to smallholder farmers through accessible channels like WhatsApp bots.

How: The AI system integrates weather forecasts, soil data, crop models, and historical patterns to generate personalised advisories on sowing times, irrigation schedules, pest management, and harvest timing. By using WhatsApp—a widely adopted platform in rural India—the initiative ensures accessibility without requiring farmers to download new applications or use complex interfaces.

Why: ICRISAT, headquartered in Hyderabad, focuses on dryland agriculture in semi-arid tropics. Questions on agricultural research institutions (ICRISAT, ICAR, CGIAR centres), precision agriculture, and climate-smart farming are common in UPSC GS-III (Agriculture). The Monsoon Mission by the Ministry of Earth Sciences aims to improve monsoon prediction, directly impacting agricultural planning.

What: Indian and UK researchers identified an ultra-rare ‘CRIB’ blood group in a Bengaluru woman under the Cromer blood group system. The missing CRIB antigen makes matching compatible blood extremely difficult, as fewer than 10 people worldwide are known to lack this antigen. This discovery has significant implications for rare-transfusion planning and prenatal care.

How: Beyond the familiar ABO and Rh systems, the International Society of Blood Transfusion recognises over 40 blood group systems based on different antigens on red blood cells. The Cromer system antigens are carried on a protein called DAF (Decay Accelerating Factor). Individuals lacking specific antigens may develop antibodies if transfused with incompatible blood, causing potentially fatal transfusion reactions.

Why: Blood group systems, their antigens, and transfusion compatibility are relevant for UPSC Science & Technology and medical entrance examinations. Rare blood group discoveries highlight India’s growing contribution to haematology research. Understanding blood typing beyond ABO-Rh, including systems like Kell, Duffy, and Cromer, demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of human biology.