GK One-Liners

What: India is hosting the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at Red Fort, Delhi. India has nominated Diwali (Festival of Lights) for inscription on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

How: The ICH Convention (2003) protects living heritage including traditions, performing arts, rituals, and festivals. India has 15 ICH elements already inscribed including Yoga, Kumbh Mela, and Durga Puja. If approved, Diwali would join this prestigious list, recognising its cultural significance across Indian communities worldwide.

Why: UNESCO heritage lists, cultural diplomacy, and India’s ICH elements are important for UPSC GS-I (Art & Culture) and GS-II (International Relations). Understanding the difference between World Heritage Sites (tangible) and ICH (intangible), and India’s inscribed elements helps in culture questions.

What: During the India-Russia State Visit 2025, Russia joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), India’s initiative for conserving seven big cat species. Agreements covered labour mobility, healthcare cooperation, maritime and polar ties, with a 2030 economic roadmap unveiled for deeper multi-sectoral partnership.

How: IBCA, launched by India in 2023, focuses on tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma conservation. Russia’s membership brings expertise in Siberian tiger and snow leopard protection. The economic roadmap targets USD 100 billion bilateral trade through defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, and connectivity projects like INSTC.

Why: India-Russia relations, IBCA, and strategic partnerships are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and GS-III (Environment). Understanding bilateral cooperation dimensions and India’s leadership in conservation initiatives helps in foreign policy questions.

What: Fino Payments Bank became the first payments bank to receive RBI approval for transitioning into a Small Finance Bank (SFB). This enables Fino to offer lending services and accept larger deposits, significantly strengthening its financial inclusion mandate.

How: Payments banks, licensed since 2015, can accept deposits up to ₹2 lakh but cannot lend. SFBs can provide full banking services including loans to small borrowers and micro-enterprises. RBI’s 2021 guidelines allowed payments banks with 5+ years of operation and good track record to apply for SFB conversion. Fino’s transition will expand credit access in underserved areas.

Why: Banking sector reforms, differentiated banks, and financial inclusion are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy) and banking exams. Understanding payments banks, SFBs, universal banks, and RBI’s licensing framework helps in financial sector questions.

What: The 5th edition of Exercise Harimau Shakti, a joint military exercise between India and Malaysia, was held in Rajasthan. The exercise focused on UN Chapter VII sub-conventional operations, heliborne missions, and desert warfare training.

How: Harimau Shakti (‘Tiger Strength’ in Malay) is an annual bilateral army exercise alternating between India and Malaysia. It enhances interoperability in counter-insurgency, jungle and desert warfare, and peacekeeping operations. Both nations contribute significantly to UN peacekeeping missions, making joint training valuable.

Why: India-Malaysia relations, bilateral exercises, and ASEAN partnerships are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and GS-III (Security). Understanding Act East Policy, exercise naming conventions, and India’s defence diplomacy with Southeast Asian nations helps in foreign policy questions.

What: Home Minister Amit Shah launched ‘Sahakar Sarathi’ at the EARTH Summit 2025 in Gandhinagar, along with 13+ digital cooperative services, Sahakar Taxi, and cooperative insurance schemes. The initiative aims at tech-led rural empowerment through the cooperative sector.

How: Sahakar Sarathi is a digital platform integrating cooperative services including credit, marketing, and insurance under one umbrella. It connects Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), dairy cooperatives, and consumer cooperatives with digital infrastructure. The government is computerising 63,000+ PACS to make them multi-service centres.

Why: Cooperative sector reforms, PACS computerisation, and rural development are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding cooperative movement history, government initiatives for cooperatives, and digital transformation in agriculture helps in rural economy questions.

What: Simone Tata, the visionary behind Lakmé cosmetics and Westside retail chain, passed away at 95. She was a key figure in shaping India’s beauty and retail sectors, transforming Lakmé from a small cosmetics company into an iconic Indian brand.

How: Simone Tata (née Dunoyer de Segonzac), a French-Swiss national who married Naval Tata, joined Lakmé in 1961 and became its chairperson. Under her leadership, Lakmé became India’s largest cosmetics brand. She later established Trent Ltd., which operates Westside and Zudio stores, pioneering organised retail in India.

Why: Business pioneers, women entrepreneurs, and Indian corporate history are relevant for general awareness and essay writing. Understanding Tata Group’s diversification, women’s contributions to Indian business, and retail sector evolution helps in economy and society questions.