GK One-Liners

What: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) inaugurated PARAM SHAKTI, a 3.1 petaflops supercomputer at IIT Madras, powered by PARAM RUDRA architecture developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). This installation is part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), aimed at building India’s indigenous high-performance computing capabilities.

How: The NSM, launched in 2015 as a joint initiative by MeitY and Department of Science & Technology, focuses on deploying a network of supercomputers across academic and research institutions. C-DAC’s PARAM series uses indigenously designed processors and software stacks, reducing dependency on foreign technology while supporting AI research, climate modeling, and computational biology.

Why: Questions on Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat in technology, and government initiatives for AI/computing appear frequently in UPSC Prelims (Science & Tech) and Mains GS3 (Technology, Innovation). Understanding NSM’s objectives and India’s supercomputing infrastructure is crucial for both static and current affairs preparation.

What: The Government of India launched the PANKHUDI portal, a centralized digital platform designed to ensure transparent, coordinated funding and real-time monitoring of schemes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It integrates data from programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mission Shakti, and POSHAN Abhiyaan.

How: PANKHUDI uses a unified dashboard that tracks fund allocation, utilization rates, and outcome indicators across states and Union Territories. It employs data analytics to identify implementation gaps, enables beneficiary feedback mechanisms, and facilitates inter-ministerial coordination for holistic welfare delivery.

Why: Digital governance and e-governance initiatives are high-yield topics for UPSC Mains GS2 (Governance, Social Justice) and Prelims. Questions often test knowledge of portal names, parent ministries, and objectives. Understanding convergence platforms like PANKHUDI also helps in essay writing on women’s empowerment and accountability in welfare schemes.

What: The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) in its World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2026 report projected India as the fastest-growing major economy globally. The forecast is driven by robust public investment in infrastructure, resilient domestic consumption, and expanding services sector activity.

How: India’s growth trajectory is supported by capital expenditure in highways, railways, and renewable energy, coupled with rising rural incomes through schemes like PM-KISAN and MGNREGA. Strong domestic demand offsets global headwinds, while government reforms in taxation (GST) and ease of doing business attract foreign investment.

Why: Economic Survey data, international projections by IMF/World Bank/UN agencies, and India’s comparative growth performance are staple questions in UPSC Prelims (Economy) and Mains GS3 (Economic Development). Understanding drivers of growth—public investment vs. private consumption—is essential for analytical questions and policy-oriented answers.

What: The Central government approved the 1,720 MW Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh, designed to harness the Kameng River’s potential while providing flood moderation benefits to the Brahmaputra Valley. The project will be developed under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, ensuring private sector participation with government oversight.

How: The BOOT model allows private developers to build and operate the project for a specified period (typically 30-40 years) before transferring ownership to the government. The project includes run-of-river technology to minimize ecological disruption, multi-purpose reservoirs for flood control, and transmission infrastructure to integrate power into the national grid.

Why: Questions on hydroelectric projects in Northeast India, BOOT/PPP models, and renewable energy infrastructure are common in UPSC Mains GS3 (Infrastructure, Energy). Understanding flood moderation benefits connects to disaster management (GS3) and regional development challenges in the Northeast, a recurring Mains theme.

What: Fintech firm Skydo received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) licence, enabling it to facilitate regulated cross-border payment services. This licence allows Skydo to process international transactions for exporters, freelancers, and businesses, enhancing trust and transparency in India’s fintech ecosystem.

How: The PA-CB licence framework, introduced by RBI in 2020, regulates entities that aggregate payment services for cross-border transactions. Licensed entities must comply with KYC norms, maintain capital adequacy, and ensure cybersecurity standards. Skydo’s platform automates invoice reconciliation, currency conversion, and compliance reporting for exporters.

Why: RBI’s regulatory framework for fintechs, Payment Aggregator norms, and digital payment infrastructure are frequently tested in UPSC Prelims (Economy, Banking) and Mains GS3 (Indian Economy). Understanding the distinction between domestic and cross-border payment regulations is crucial for questions on financial sector reforms and India’s export competitiveness.

What: The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, secured its fifth consecutive ‘Excellent’ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) rating. This assessment reflects IREDA’s strong governance, financial performance, and leadership in renewable energy financing.

How: The MoU rating system, administered by the Department of Public Enterprises, evaluates PSUs on financial metrics (profitability, asset quality), operational efficiency, and achievement of sector-specific targets. IREDA’s consistent rating demonstrates its role in mobilizing capital for solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects while maintaining low non-performing assets (NPAs).

Why: PSU performance evaluation, renewable energy financing institutions, and India’s clean energy transition are key topics for UPSC Mains GS3 (Economic Development, Environment). Questions may test knowledge of IREDA’s role, MoU rating methodology, and government initiatives for achieving 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.