GK One-Liners

What: President Droupadi Murmu became the second Indian President to undertake an operational submarine sortie, sailing aboard INS Vaghsheer, a Kalvari-class submarine. This historic event showcases India’s indigenous defence capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and strengthens civil-military engagement at the highest level.

How: INS Vaghsheer is part of Project-75, a collaboration between Naval Group (France) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai. The President’s sortie involved observing submarine operations, crew drills, and underwater combat readiness, demonstrating the operational prowess of India’s silent service and enhancing public awareness about naval capabilities.

Why: This is critical for UPSC Prelims (Project-75, defence indigenisation, submarine fleet) and Mains essays on Atmanirbhar Bharat, India’s maritime security strategy, and civil-military relations. Questions on India’s submarine fleet, Make in India defence projects, and presidential constitutional powers frequently appear across GS Papers II and III.

What: India will assume the Chairpersonship of the Kimberley Process (KP) in 2025, leading the global certification mechanism that prevents the trade in conflict diamonds. The KP, established in 2003, brings together governments, industry, and civil society to ensure that diamond purchases do not finance violence or human rights abuses.

How: As Chair, India will coordinate certification norms, monitor compliance across 85+ participant countries, facilitate plenary sessions, and address challenges like smuggling and traceability in diamond supply chains. India is a major diamond processing hub (Surat processes 90% of global diamonds), making this chairmanship strategically significant for both governance and trade interests.

Why: Relevant for UPSC GS Paper II (International Organizations, India’s soft power, conflict resources) and Mains essays on ethical trade, global governance mechanisms, and India’s growing multilateral leadership. Questions on commodity certification systems, UN-backed initiatives, and India’s role in international institutions are frequent in both Prelims and Mains.

What: Zoho-backed VoxelGrids has developed India’s first indigenous 1.5-tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, significantly reducing dependence on imported medical diagnostic equipment. This breakthrough aligns with the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat missions, addressing healthcare access challenges and lowering diagnostic costs for patients across India.

How: The 1.5-tesla MRI system was engineered using domestically developed components, software algorithms, and superconducting magnet technology. VoxelGrids collaborated with Indian research institutions and received support from government healthcare innovation programs. The scanner offers comparable diagnostic quality to imported models at a fraction of the cost, making advanced imaging accessible to tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Why: Highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper III (Science & Technology, Healthcare Infrastructure, Indigenisation). Mains questions on healthcare accessibility, medical device manufacturing policy, and startup innovation in MedTech sectors are increasingly common. Prelims often tests knowledge of Indian tech startups, imaging technologies, and government schemes supporting health-tech innovation.

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to establish a third launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This infrastructure expansion will support heavier satellite launches, enable parallel mission operations, and accommodate India’s growing space ambitions including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and advanced interplanetary missions.

How: The new launch pad will be designed to handle Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) with higher payload capacity (10+ tons to Geostationary Transfer Orbit). It will feature advanced propellant handling systems, modern telemetry infrastructure, and automated launch sequencing capabilities. The third pad will allow ISRO to conduct multiple launches simultaneously, reducing turnaround time and increasing launch frequency to meet commercial and strategic satellite deployment demands.

Why: Critical for UPSC GS Paper III (Space Technology, Infrastructure Development, Strategic Capabilities). Mains questions on India’s space program milestones, commercialization of space activities through IN-SPACe and NSIL, and India’s position in the global space economy are increasingly relevant. Prelims often tests ISRO facilities, launch vehicles (PSLV, GSLV, LVM3), and recent mission achievements.

What: Himachal Pradesh launched the “Green to Gold” initiative to promote regulated industrial hemp cultivation with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content below 0.3%. This policy framework aims to develop a bio-economy ecosystem, enhance sustainability in agriculture, and provide farmers with high-value crop diversification options. Industrial hemp has applications in textiles, construction materials, biofuels, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.

How: The policy establishes a licensing and monitoring framework for hemp cultivation, processing, and marketing. Farmers will receive training on low-THC hemp varieties, organic cultivation practices, and value chain integration. The state will set up processing clusters, facilitate industry partnerships, and ensure compliance with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which permits industrial hemp cultivation for non-narcotic purposes with proper authorization.

Why: Relevant for UPSC GS Paper II (Government Policies, Farmer Welfare, Federalism) and GS Paper III (Agriculture, Sustainable Development, Bio-economy). Mains essays on crop diversification, alternative livelihoods for hill farmers, and state-level agricultural innovations are common. Prelims questions on NDPS Act provisions, hemp vs. marijuana distinctions, and sustainable farming practices appear regularly in GS sections.

What: India’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model medical colleges will be established in Dhar and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh, both designated tribal regions under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. These colleges will upgrade existing district hospitals to 500-bed medical college hospitals with attached teaching facilities, addressing the acute shortage of healthcare infrastructure and medical professionals in tribal areas.

How: Under the PPP model, private medical education institutions will invest in infrastructure, equipment, and faculty recruitment, while the state government provides land, regulatory support, and operational subsidies. The colleges will be mandated to reserve seats for tribal students under reservation policies and provide affordable healthcare services to local communities. This model follows the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines for medical education standards while leveraging private sector efficiency.

Why: Critical for UPSC GS Paper II (Health Governance, Tribal Welfare, PPP Models) and Mains essays on healthcare accessibility, bridging urban-rural healthcare gaps, and innovative service delivery mechanisms. Questions on Fifth Schedule provisions, National Health Mission (NHM) interventions, medical education reforms, and tribal development policies frequently appear across both Prelims and Mains, particularly in the context of social justice and inclusive growth.