GK One-Liners

What: The Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 was introduced in Parliament, giving employees the legal right to ignore work-related communication after office hours. The bill aims to reduce digital burnout and support global-style labour reforms in India’s growing service economy.

How: The bill proposes that employers cannot penalise employees for not responding to calls, emails, or messages outside designated working hours. Similar laws exist in France (2017), Spain, Portugal, and Belgium. The bill supports work-life balance amid increasing remote work and always-on digital culture, particularly affecting IT and BPO sectors.

Why: Labour reforms, worker rights, and work-life balance are important for UPSC GS-II (Social Issues) and GS-III (Economy). Understanding new labour codes, gig economy regulations, and global labour standards helps in governance and social policy questions.

What: Rajasthan became India’s first state to achieve 100% digitisation of voter rolls under the Systematic Identification of Residents (SIR) programme. This milestone improves electoral accuracy, transparency, and removes duplicate entries from electoral rolls.

How: The Election Commission’s SIR programme links voter IDs with Aadhaar to create authenticated electoral rolls. Digital voter rolls enable real-time updates, easy verification, and reduce electoral fraud. The system integrates with the Voter Helpline App and National Voters’ Service Portal for citizen services.

Why: Electoral reforms, ECI initiatives, and digital governance are important for UPSC GS-II (Polity, Governance). Understanding voter registration processes, Aadhaar-voter ID linkage debates, and electoral roll management helps in election administration questions.

What: Indian scientists identified ‘Alaknanda’, a massive early spiral galaxy discovered using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The discovery challenges existing theories of early-universe galaxy formation, as spiral galaxies were thought to form much later in cosmic history.

How: JWST’s infrared capabilities allow observation of distant galaxies formed shortly after the Big Bang. Alaknanda, named after the Himalayan river, shows well-developed spiral structure in the early universe (when it was less than 2 billion years old), suggesting galaxies matured faster than models predicted. Indian astronomers contributed to data analysis and interpretation.

Why: Space discoveries, JWST, and Indian contributions to astronomy are relevant for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech). Understanding cosmology basics, space telescopes, and India’s scientific collaborations helps in space science questions.

What: According to TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), India’s internet subscribers crossed 1.017 billion, registering 1.49% growth. The expansion is driven primarily by wireless broadband, with ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) rising as India shifts toward high-speed digital connectivity.

How: India’s internet penetration grew through affordable data plans, smartphone proliferation, and Digital India initiatives. 4G/5G expansion, BharatNet for rural connectivity, and PM-WANI public Wi-Fi programme accelerated access. Wireless broadband dominates with over 98% share, while wired broadband grows in urban areas for enterprise and home use.

Why: Digital connectivity, TRAI data, and telecom sector are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy, Science & Tech). Understanding India’s digital divide, internet penetration metrics, and telecom infrastructure development helps in digital governance questions.

What: India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025 opened in Panchkula, Haryana with the theme ‘Vigyan Se Samruddhi’ (Prosperity through Science). The festival showcased innovations in AI, climate technology, biotechnology, and traditional knowledge integration.

How: IISF, organised by Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, is India’s largest science communication platform. It features mega science exhibitions, student programmes, industry-academia meets, and science village demonstrations. The festival promotes scientific temper and showcases S&T achievements to the public.

Why: Science communication, IISF, and S&T policy are relevant for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech). Understanding India’s science festivals, R&D ecosystem, and efforts to promote scientific temper (Article 51A) helps in science policy questions.

What: International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on December 9 to emphasise global efforts against corruption. The day traces anti-corruption principles to ancient codes including Hammurabi’s Code (Babylon), Horemheb’s reforms (Egypt), and Kautilya’s Arthashastra (India).

How: The day marks the adoption of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2003. UNCAC, ratified by 190+ countries including India, provides a comprehensive framework for prevention, criminalisation, international cooperation, and asset recovery. India’s anti-corruption framework includes Prevention of Corruption Act, Lokpal, CVC, and CBI.

Why: Anti-corruption mechanisms, UNCAC, and governance reforms are important for UPSC GS-II (Governance). Understanding India’s anti-corruption institutions, whistleblower protection, and international cooperation helps in ethics and governance questions.