GK One-Liners

What: India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on defence cooperation, marking a significant milestone in bilateral strategic relations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias formalized this agreement, establishing a five-year roadmap for collaboration. A Greek Liaison Officer will be stationed at the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram.

How: The declaration operationalizes defence ties through military exercises, intelligence sharing on maritime security, defence industrial cooperation, and capacity building programs. The IFC-IOR serves as a regional hub for real-time maritime domain awareness, tracking shipping traffic and potential threats in the Indian Ocean Region. Greece’s participation enhances multilateral coordination in this strategically vital maritime corridor.

Why: This partnership reflects India’s Act East and extended neighbourhood policy, relevant for UPSC General Studies Paper-II (International Relations) and Paper-III (Security). Questions on India’s bilateral defence agreements, maritime security architecture, and Indo-Pacific partnerships frequently appear in Mains. The IFC-IOR has been asked in Prelims regarding its location and mandate.

What: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the SATYA Portal, a digital platform that automates laboratory testing and certification services through Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) labs. Union Minister Jitin Prasada inaugurated this initiative designed specifically to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by simplifying quality assurance processes.

How: SATYA streamlines the entire testing lifecycle—from online sample submission and status tracking to digital certificate issuance. It eliminates manual paperwork, reduces turnaround time, and provides transparent pricing for electronics and IT product testing. The portal integrates with existing STQC infrastructure across India, offering standardized quality benchmarks aligned with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and international norms.

Why: Digital governance initiatives form a core component of UPSC GS-II (Government Policies and Interventions). SATYA exemplifies the government’s push toward ease of doing business and Atmanirbhar Bharat through digital platforms. Questions on MeitY’s role, MSME support schemes, and digital transformation in public service delivery are common in both Prelims and Mains, particularly in the context of India’s economic development strategy.

What: India climbed four positions to rank 45th globally in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, published by the Portulans Institute. The United States secured first place, while China dropped to 24th position. The NRI measures a country’s capacity to leverage information and communication technologies (ICT) for economic and social development across governance, people, technology, and future readiness pillars.

How: India’s improved ranking reflects progress in digital infrastructure expansion through BharatNet, rising internet penetration, growing digital payment adoption via UPI (Unified Payments Interface), and government initiatives like Digital India. However, challenges remain in digital literacy gaps, cybersecurity preparedness, and rural connectivity. The index evaluates 133 economies on 53 variables spanning technology adoption, innovation capability, and regulatory environment.

Why: Global indices and India’s performance feature prominently in UPSC Prelims Current Affairs and GS-II (International Relations/Governance). The NRI specifically connects to questions on digital transformation, India’s position in global technology rankings, and comparative analysis with peer economies. Mains essays and GS-III questions on inclusive growth often reference such metrics to assess development outcomes and policy effectiveness.

What: Global credit rating agency Moody’s has projected India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 6.4% for the fiscal year 2027 (FY27), reinforcing India’s position as the fastest-growing economy among G-20 nations. The forecast is accompanied by positive banking sector metrics: Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio stabilizing at 2-2.5%, bank credit growth between 11-13%, and Return on Assets (ROA) improving to 1.2-1.3%.

How: This growth trajectory is supported by sustained consumption demand, government capital expenditure on infrastructure, manufacturing sector expansion under Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and recovering private investment. The banking sector’s health is attributed to improved asset quality following the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) implementation, robust capital adequacy ratios, and digital lending growth. However, risks include global economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions affecting trade, and domestic challenges like rural demand recovery.

Why: Economic growth projections by international agencies are critical for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Questions on GDP growth drivers, banking sector reforms, NPAs, and India’s comparative economic performance frequently appear in Prelims and Mains. Understanding metrics like ROA, credit growth, and fiscal indicators is essential for answering economy-related analytical questions. This also connects to themes of inclusive growth and financial sector stability.

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has finalized Mons Mouton, located near the lunar south pole, as the landing site for its ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission. Designated as site MM4, this mission scheduled for launch around 2028 aims to achieve India’s first lunar sample return, bringing back approximately 3 kilograms of regolith (lunar soil and rock fragments) for scientific analysis.

How: The Chandrayaan-4 mission employs a complex architecture involving multiple modules: an ascent module to collect samples and lift off from the lunar surface, a transfer module to carry samples back to lunar orbit, and a re-entry module to safely return the payload to Earth. The south polar region was selected due to the presence of permanently shadowed craters that may contain water ice deposits—crucial for understanding lunar geology, potential resource utilization, and supporting future human missions. This follows Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft landing in August 2023.

Why: ISRO missions are high-yield topics in UPSC GS-III (Science & Technology). Chandrayaan series questions appear regularly in Prelims covering mission objectives, technological achievements, and scientific significance. The lunar south pole’s importance for water ice, India’s space diplomacy through lunar exploration, and the technological leap from landing to sample return are relevant for Mains answers on India’s space program and its strategic implications in the global space race.

What: Thanya Nathan C., a 24-year-old visually challenged woman, has been appointed as a judge in Kerala, becoming the first visually challenged woman judge in the state’s judicial history. She topped the Civil Judge merit list, demonstrating exceptional legal acumen and determination despite her disability. This appointment marks a significant milestone in inclusive judicial representation and disability rights in India’s constitutional framework.

How: Thanya’s appointment reflects the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, which mandates 4% reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities in government positions, including the judiciary. Her success was enabled by accessible examination systems (screen readers, scribes, extra time provisions) and the Kerala Public Service Commission’s commitment to inclusive recruitment. The appointment also highlights the effectiveness of assistive technologies in legal education and practice, proving that physical limitations need not constrain professional excellence.

Why: This development is relevant for UPSC GS-II (Polity and Governance) questions on disability rights, judicial appointments, and social justice. The RPWD Act 2016 frequently appears in Prelims regarding reservation percentages, definitions of benchmark disabilities, and government schemes. For Mains, this connects to broader themes of inclusive governance, Article 14 (Equality before Law), representation in constitutional institutions, and India’s commitment to UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which it ratified in 2007.