GK One-Liners

What: Indian Railways completed India’s first hydrogen-powered trainset built to RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation) standards. A dedicated hydrogen production plant is planned at Jind, Haryana, showcasing Aatmanirbhar capability in advanced green rail technology.

How: Hydrogen fuel cell trains use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity through electrochemical reaction, emitting only water vapour. The technology offers zero carbon emissions, quiet operation, and is suitable for non-electrified routes. Indian Railways aims to achieve Net Zero by 2030, making hydrogen trains critical for decarbonising diesel routes.

Why: Green hydrogen, rail decarbonisation, and clean transport are important for UPSC GS-III (Environment, Economy). Understanding hydrogen fuel cell technology, National Green Hydrogen Mission, and Railways’ sustainability initiatives helps in energy transition questions.

What: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) CoP20 held in Uzbekistan marked the convention’s 50th anniversary. The conference adopted 353 decisions, conducted 46 votes, reviewed 50 proposals, and added 77 species to protection lists, with coordinated Global South leadership shaping key outcomes.

How: CITES regulates international trade in over 40,000 species through three appendices: Appendix I (trade banned), Appendix II (trade regulated), and Appendix III (monitoring). CoP20 added species like freshwater stingrays, glass frogs, and certain shark species. Global South nations pushed for sustainable use provisions benefiting local communities.

Why: CITES, wildlife trade regulation, and biodiversity conventions are important for UPSC GS-III (Environment). Understanding CITES appendices, India’s role in wildlife protection, and international environmental governance helps in conservation questions.

What: Amazon announced over $35 billion investment in India by 2030 across multiple verticals. The company signed an MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, targets AI access for 14 million small businesses, AI education for 4 million government school students, and aims to create 1 million jobs.

How: The investment covers cloud infrastructure (AWS), e-commerce expansion, logistics network, and AI/digital initiatives. Partnership with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (under Ministry of Railways) focuses on logistics and supply chain skills. Amazon’s Small Business Accelerator programme provides digital tools and market access to MSMEs.

Why: FDI in tech, e-commerce policy, and digital economy are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding large-scale tech investments, job creation commitments, and MSME digitisation initiatives helps in economic development questions.

What: India began building its first all-electric green tug for Deendayal Port (Kandla), Gujarat under the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP). The vessel offers zero emissions, high energy efficiency, and modern navigation systems to support green port operations.

How: Green tugs use battery-electric propulsion instead of diesel engines for harbour towing operations. The Maritime India Vision 2030 and Harit Sagar Guidelines mandate ports to adopt green technologies. Kandla, India’s largest cargo port by volume, leads this transition. Electric tugs reduce air pollution, noise, and operating costs in port areas.

Why: Green shipping, port decarbonisation, and maritime sustainability are important for UPSC GS-III (Environment, Economy). Understanding Sagarmala, green port initiatives, and IMO emission regulations helps in maritime policy questions.

What: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) identified two new jumping spider species – Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar (family Salticidae) – in Meghalaya. The discovery underscores under-documented arachnid diversity in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot with distinct diagnostic features.

How: Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are the largest spider family with over 6,000 species globally, known for excellent vision and hunting by stalking. The Indo-Burma hotspot, covering Northeast India, has high endemism but limited taxonomic surveys. ZSI’s species documentation contributes to biodiversity assessment and conservation planning.

Why: Biodiversity discovery, ZSI role, and Northeast India’s ecological significance are important for UPSC GS-III (Environment). Understanding biodiversity hotspots, taxonomic surveys, and India’s faunal diversity helps in conservation biology questions.

What: The World Inequality Report 2026 highlights deepening income, wealth, gender, and climate inequalities globally. For India, it notes high concentration with the top 10% capturing a majority share of national income and wealth, reflecting persistent disparities despite economic growth.

How: The World Inequality Lab (Paris School of Economics) publishes annual inequality reports using tax data, household surveys, and national accounts. India’s inequality stems from uneven educational access, informal employment, regional disparities, and wealth concentration in land and financial assets. The report recommends progressive taxation and wealth redistribution policies.

Why: Income inequality, wealth distribution, and development economics are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy) and GS-II (Social Issues). Understanding Gini coefficient, wealth concentration patterns, and redistributive policies helps in economic development questions.