GK One-Liners

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2025-30, a five-year strategy adopting an ecosystem-based model to deepen access, quality, and usage of financial services across India.

How: NSFI 2025-30 focuses on expanding banking touchpoints, enhancing digital financial services, promoting financial literacy, and strengthening consumer protection. The ecosystem approach integrates banks, NBFCs, fintechs, payment banks, and business correspondents to reach underserved populations, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Why: Financial inclusion, RBI policies, and NSFI are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy) and banking exams. Understanding the evolution from NSFI 2019-24, PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana) outcomes, and digital financial inclusion metrics helps in economic policy questions.

What: India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in Category B with the highest votes, reaffirming its maritime influence in global seaborne trade governance. Category B represents nations with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.

How: The IMO Council is the executive organ of IMO, meeting twice a year. It has 40 members across three categories: Category A (10 nations with largest shipping interest), Category B (10 nations with largest seaborne trade interest), and Category C (20 nations with special interests). India’s re-election reflects its growing port infrastructure and trade volumes.

Why: IMO, maritime governance, and India’s role in international organisations are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations). Understanding IMO’s structure, India’s Sagarmala programme, and maritime trade significance helps in global governance questions.

What: India achieved an all-time high foodgrain production of 357 million tonnes, reflecting nearly 40% growth over the past decade. This record output ensures food security, buffer stock maintenance, and supports the Public Distribution System (PDS).

How: Growth drivers include improved seed varieties, expanded irrigation coverage under PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana), higher MSP (Minimum Support Price), and digital agriculture initiatives. Rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse cereals all contributed to the record. Climate-resilient varieties helped overcome monsoon variability.

Why: Foodgrain production, agricultural statistics, and food security are important for UPSC GS-III (Agriculture). Understanding production trends, cropping patterns, and government schemes supporting agriculture helps in food security questions.

What: Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi became India’s first water-positive airport, meaning it replenishes more water than it consumes. This achievement was made possible through large-scale rainwater harvesting systems, wastewater recycling, and water conservation measures.

How: Water-positive status requires an organisation to return more water to the environment than it uses. IGI Airport installed rooftop and surface rainwater harvesting systems, sewage treatment plants for recycled water use in landscaping and cooling, and groundwater recharge wells. These measures collectively ensure net positive water balance.

Why: Water conservation, sustainable infrastructure, and green airports are relevant for UPSC GS-III (Environment). Understanding water-positive concepts, green building certifications, and sustainable development in aviation helps in environmental governance questions.

What: ISRO Chairman launched ACEN (Advanced Centre for Excellence in Navigation) as India’s first private navigation technology hub. ACEN will develop Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, sensors, and multi-modal navigation systems.

How: ACEN represents public-private partnership in strategic navigation technology. It will develop indigenous alternatives to GPS-dependent systems for defence, aviation, and civilian applications. The centre aligns with NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), India’s regional satellite navigation system providing accurate positioning services.

Why: Navigation systems, NavIC, and space technology commercialisation are important for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech). Understanding GPS alternatives, INS technology, and India’s efforts in strategic technology self-reliance helps in defence and technology questions.

What: India and Maldives conducted Joint Exercise EKUVERIN 2025 in Kerala, strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and operational preparedness. ‘Ekuverin’ means ‘friends’ in the Dhivehi language, reflecting the close ties between the two nations.

How: EKUVERIN is an annual bilateral military exercise alternating between India and Maldives. It focuses on counter-terrorism, jungle warfare, and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise enhances interoperability and professional exchanges between the Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

Why: India-Maldives relations, bilateral exercises, and Indian Ocean security are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations). Understanding India’s neighbourhood first policy, defence partnerships with island nations, and exercise nomenclature helps in foreign policy questions.