GK One-Liners

What: Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, an annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, ranked Bengaluru 36th among million-plus cities, showing significant improvement. Mysuru earned entry into the Super Swachh League, recognizing cities that maintain consistently high sanitation standards across multiple survey cycles.

How: The survey evaluates cities on multiple parameters including waste collection efficiency, segregation practices, processing infrastructure, citizen feedback, and sustained maintenance of public sanitation facilities. Cities are ranked based on field assessments, direct observation, and citizen engagement scores, with special recognition tiers for consistent performers.

Why: This connects to UPSC General Studies Paper III (Urban Governance) and State PSC exams focusing on Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 implementation. Questions often appear on performance indicators for urban local bodies, success stories of sanitation campaigns, and the role of competitive rankings in driving municipal reforms.

What: Maharashtra inaugurated Vidarbha’s first integrated steel plant in Gadchiroli, operated by Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL). The facility features a 4.5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MnTPA) steel production capacity and includes a 10 MnTPA slurry pipeline for transporting iron ore, creating employment opportunities while reducing road transport emissions.

How: Integrated steel plants combine iron ore mining, iron-making (blast furnaces), steel-making, and finishing processes at a single location. The slurry pipeline technology pumps iron ore mixed with water through pipes rather than using trucks, significantly cutting logistics costs and carbon emissions while improving efficiency in mineral-rich regions like Gadchiroli.

Why: This is relevant for UPSC Mains GS III (Industrialization, Infrastructure) and Banking/SSC exams covering Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Expect questions on integrated vs. mini steel plants, green logistics innovations, industrial development in Naxal-affected regions, and the government’s National Steel Policy targets for production capacity expansion.

What: Tesla, the American electric vehicle manufacturer, opened its first showroom in India at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. The company launched the Model Y sports utility vehicle priced at ₹59.89 lakh, marking its formal entry into the Indian market after years of negotiations over import duties and local manufacturing policies.

How: Tesla initially faced challenges due to India’s high import duties on completely built units (CBUs), which can reach 100% for vehicles above certain price thresholds. The company secured some concessions through the government’s new EV policy that allows reduced duties for manufacturers committing to local production, though full localization is expected to take several years given India’s developing EV supply chain ecosystem.

Why: This is critical for UPSC Mains GS III (Electric Mobility, Trade Policy) and current affairs sections in Banking exams. Questions may focus on India’s EV policy framework, National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), PLI schemes for auto components, challenges in EV adoption (charging infrastructure, battery costs), and balancing Make in India goals with technology transfer from global players.

What: At the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad 2025 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, India secured two gold medals and two silver medals. The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is a prestigious annual competition for high school students, testing their knowledge and problem-solving skills in theoretical and practical chemistry across organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry domains.

How: Indian students qualify for the IChO through a rigorous multi-stage selection process conducted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), involving the National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC), Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO), and intensive training camps. The international competition features challenging laboratory experiments and theoretical problems that go beyond school curricula, requiring deep conceptual understanding.

Why: This achievement is relevant for UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology current affairs) and Mains GS III essays on India’s scientific talent development. Banking and SSC exams frequently include questions on international Olympiads, HBCSE’s role under the Department of Atomic Energy, and government initiatives to nurture STEM talent through programs like INSPIRE and Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY).

What: India successfully test-fired two nuclear-capable ballistic missiles—the Prithvi-II and Agni-I—from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha. Prithvi-II is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of up to 350 kilometers, while Agni-I is an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 700-900 kilometers away, both forming critical components of India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.

How: These routine test-firings validate the operational readiness, reliability, and accuracy of India’s missile systems under simulated combat conditions. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducts these tests from Chandipur’s launch pads, tracking missile trajectories through multiple radars, telemetry systems, and electro-optical sensors to ensure all parameters meet specifications before missiles are inducted into the Strategic Forces Command.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC Mains GS III (Internal Security, Defence Technology) and Defence Ministry-related exams. Questions often focus on India’s strategic missile programs, the Agni and Prithvi series specifications, nuclear doctrine principles (credible minimum deterrence, no-first-use policy), DRDO’s role in indigenous defense development, and India’s missile technology control regime commitments alongside its strategic autonomy.

What: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences based in Hyderabad, received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025. The recognition honors INCOIS for its innovative use of open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies in marine forecasting, ocean state prediction, and disaster early warning systems for fishermen and coastal communities.

How: INCOIS leverages satellite data, ocean buoys, and advanced modeling to provide real-time information on sea conditions, potential fishing zones, and tsunami warnings through platforms accessible via mobile apps and SMS. By adopting open-source GIS tools like QGIS and PostGIS, the organization has democratized geospatial technology access while maintaining high-quality scientific outputs, reducing dependence on expensive proprietary software and enabling rapid innovation.

Why: This connects to UPSC Mains GS III (Disaster Management, Science & Technology) and questions on India’s ocean observation systems, Digital India’s geospatial policy reforms (liberalization of mapping data), and the role of Ministry of Earth Sciences institutions. Expect coverage of INCOIS services like the Ocean State Forecast system, Potential Fishing Zone advisories, and tsunami early warning systems that demonstrate technology’s role in protecting livelihoods and lives.