GK One-Liners

What: The commissioning of the 250 MW Unit-2 of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project marks a significant milestone in India’s renewable energy expansion. Located on the Subansiri River (a tributary of Brahmaputra) on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, this run-of-the-river project will eventually generate 2,000 MW when all eight units are operational. The project strengthens power supply to India’s North-Eastern states while contributing to the country’s Net Zero by 2070 targets.

How: The project harnesses the Subansiri River’s hydroelectric potential through a 116-meter-high concrete gravity dam and underground powerhouse equipped with eight 250 MW Francis turbines. Run-of-the-river design minimizes environmental impact by avoiding large reservoirs and maintaining ecological river flow. The generated power is evacuated through 400 kV transmission lines to load centers across Assam and neighboring states, addressing the chronic power deficit in the North-East region and enabling industrial development.

Why: Renewable energy topics are critical for UPSC GS Paper III (Energy & Environment). Questions may explore India’s hydropower potential, environmental concerns with large dams, comparison with solar/wind energy, and the role of North-Eastern rivers in energy security. The project connects to broader themes including North-East development, Act East Policy implementation, climate commitments under Paris Agreement, and transition from fossil fuels. Expect linkages to Forest Rights Act challenges and environmental clearance processes.

What: Madhya Pradesh has become India’s first state to adopt a three-year rolling budget system, a significant fiscal reform enhancing transparency and policy continuity. Unlike traditional annual budgets, rolling budgets provide a three-year financial framework that is revised annually based on performance and changing priorities. This system allows better resource allocation, reduces uncertainty for departments, and enables multi-year project planning with assured funding visibility.

How: Under the rolling budget framework, the state presents a detailed budget for Year 1 and indicative projections for Years 2 and 3. Each year, the actual expenditure and achievements of Year 1 are reviewed, Year 2 projections become the detailed budget, and a new Year 3 is added. This creates continuity in policy implementation while allowing flexibility to adjust to revenue realities and emerging priorities. The system incorporates outcome-based budgeting, linking allocations to measurable targets in health, education, infrastructure, and social welfare sectors.

Why: Fiscal federalism and budget reforms are important for UPSC GS Paper II (Governance) and GS Paper III (Economy – Public Finance). Questions may examine differences between rolling and performance budgets, advantages in capital expenditure planning, challenges in revenue forecasting, and implications for federal fiscal architecture. This reform connects to themes including cooperative federalism, 15th Finance Commission recommendations, fiscal responsibility legislation, and state-level governance innovations. It demonstrates best practices that could be adopted at the Union level or by other states.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced liquidity infusion measures totaling ₹2.90 lakh crore through Open Market Operations (OMOs) and dollar-rupee swap operations to address tightening liquidity conditions in the banking system. These interventions aim to ease short-term liquidity stress, stabilize interest rates in money markets, and manage foreign exchange volatility amid capital outflows and seasonal currency demand. The measures ensure adequate credit flow to productive sectors during the crucial year-end period.

How: OMOs involve RBI purchasing government securities from banks, injecting cash into the banking system and increasing lendable resources. Dollar-rupee swaps allow banks to exchange foreign currency for rupees with RBI for a specified period, providing rupee liquidity while helping RBI manage forex reserves without direct market intervention. These tools work alongside RBI’s repo rate policy and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) adjustments to maintain optimal liquidity levels. The timing addresses year-end advance tax outflows, festival season cash demand, and foreign portfolio investor (FPI) redemptions.

Why: Monetary policy instruments are high-weightage topics in UPSC GS Paper III (Economy – Monetary Policy). Questions may probe differences between OMOs and repo operations, liquidity management during economic slowdowns, impact on inflation and growth, and coordination with fiscal policy. This connects to broader themes including financial stability, credit growth trends, transmission of monetary policy to real economy, and RBI’s role in managing external sector vulnerabilities. Expect analytical questions on balancing liquidity support with inflation control objectives.

What: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 recognized 24 scientists and research teams across four categories for exceptional contributions to science, technology, and innovation. Instituted to replace multiple fragmented science awards, this national recognition system honors excellence in fundamental research, applied science, technology development, and lifetime contributions. The awards align with India’s vision to become a global science and innovation powerhouse by recognizing breakthrough work in areas ranging from quantum computing to agricultural biotechnology.

How: The award categories include Vigyan Ratna (lifetime achievement), Vigyan Shri (distinguished contributions), Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (young researchers under 45), and Vigyan Team (collaborative research teams). Recipients are selected through a rigorous peer-review process by eminent scientists across disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine, agriculture, and environmental sciences. The recognition includes citation, medal, and financial support for continued research, encouraging sustained scientific excellence and mentorship of next-generation researchers.

Why: Science and technology achievements are regularly featured in UPSC Current Affairs questions and Mains GS Paper III. The awards framework demonstrates India’s science policy evolution and commitment to research excellence. Questions may explore differences from international awards like Nobel Prize, government support for basic versus applied research, challenges in retaining scientific talent, and the role of public recognition in building scientific temper. This connects to National Education Policy 2020’s research emphasis, Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical technologies, and India’s aspirations for global scientific leadership.

What: The Akash Next Generation (Akash-NG) surface-to-air missile system successfully completed user trials, marking a significant advancement in the Indian Air Force’s air defense capabilities. An upgraded version of the original Akash missile system, Akash-NG features an indigenous radio frequency seeker developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), improved range up to 30 km, enhanced maneuverability, and faster reaction time. The system can engage multiple aerial threats including fighter aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles simultaneously.

How: Akash-NG employs an active radar homing seeker that enables the missile to independently track and destroy targets without continuous ground guidance, improving kill probability. The compact launcher design allows rapid deployment, while network-centric warfare integration enables coordinated operations with other air defense systems. Manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) with over 90% indigenous content, the system demonstrates Make in India success in critical defense technologies. Multiple units will be deployed along borders and strategic installations to create layered air defense architecture.

Why: Indigenous defense production and air defense systems are priority areas in UPSC GS Paper III (Internal Security & Defence). Questions may explore strategic significance amid border tensions, comparison with Russian S-400 or Israeli Iron Dome systems, technology transfer implications, and cost-effectiveness of indigenous versus imported systems. The development connects to Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense, DRDO’s role in strategic autonomy, defense exports potential, and India’s response to evolving aerial threats including armed drones and fifth-generation aircraft in the neighborhood.

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 satellite using its LVM-3 rocket (nicknamed ‘Baahubali’) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. BlueBird Block-2 is an advanced communication satellite designed to provide direct satellite-to-smartphone broadband connectivity globally, eliminating the need for ground-based cell towers in remote and underserved areas. This technology enables users to access high-speed internet on regular smartphones through Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks.

How: The satellite operates in LEO constellation mode, working alongside other BlueBird satellites to create continuous global coverage through inter-satellite links. Advanced phased-array antennas beam signals directly to 5G-enabled smartphones, providing bandwidth for voice calls, messaging, and internet browsing in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. LVM-3, India’s heaviest launch vehicle capable of placing 10-ton payloads into Low Earth Orbit, demonstrated its commercial launch capabilities. The mission showcases ISRO’s evolution from launching small satellites to becoming a competitive player in global commercial satellite launch services.

Why: Space technology and satellite applications are crucial for UPSC GS Paper III (Science & Technology – Space). Questions may examine LEO satellite economics, spectrum allocation challenges, digital divide solutions, and competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper systems. This connects to broader themes including Digital India in remote areas, disaster communication resilience, strategic autonomy in critical technologies, ISRO’s commercialization through NewSpace India Limited, and India’s position in the global space economy projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040.