GK One-Liners

What: The Union Cabinet has approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, a transformative initiative targeting the creation of 3.5 crore (35 million) jobs over the next three years. The scheme provides direct financial incentives to both first-time employees entering the formal workforce and employers who hire them, particularly focusing on sectors like manufacturing, textiles, hospitality, and technology services. This addresses India’s twin challenges of unemployment and informal sector dominance.

How: Under the ELI framework, first-time employees registered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) receive a fixed monthly stipend or wage subsidy for the initial 12-24 months of employment. Employers benefit from reduced payroll taxes, expedited clearances, and production-linked incentives for hiring and training workers. The scheme integrates with the National Career Service Portal for skill matching and leverages Aadhaar-EPFO linkage to prevent duplication and ensure transparency in disbursement.

Why: This is critical for UPSC Economy (GS3) focusing on employment generation, fiscal policy, and labor reforms. Prelims questions will test knowledge of scheme parameters, implementation agencies (Ministry of Labour & Employment), and linkage with PM-DAKSH, Skill India Mission, and PLI schemes. For Mains, this connects to themes of demographic dividend realization, formalization of the economy, and addressing the jobless growth phenomenon. Banking exams cover budget allocations and EPFO mechanisms.

What: The Cabinet has sanctioned a landmark ₹1 lakh crore (₹100,000 crore) Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme aimed at accelerating private-sector participation in deep-tech research across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, and advanced materials. This represents India’s largest-ever investment in technology innovation and seeks to position the country as a global R&D hub while reducing dependence on imported technology.

How: The scheme provides matching grants (up to 50% of project costs) for private companies, startups, and industry-academia consortia conducting applied research. It establishes sector-specific R&D clusters with shared infrastructure, creates a ₹20,000 crore Venture Capital Fund for deep-tech startups, offers tax exemptions on R&D expenditure under Section 35(2AB) of the Income Tax Act, and incentivizes patent filing through streamlined intellectual property protection. Implementation will be coordinated by the Department of Science & Technology and Department of Biotechnology.

Why: High-yield for UPSC Science & Technology (GS3) and Economy sections covering innovation policy, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and industrial policy. Prelims tests knowledge of National Research Foundation (NRF), Technology Innovation Hubs, and India’s position in global innovation indices (GII). For Mains essays, this links to themes of technological sovereignty, private sector R&D trends (currently <1% of GDP), and building competitive advantages in emerging technologies. State PSC and banking exams cover budget allocations and startup ecosystem developments.

What: INS Udaygiri, an advanced stealth frigate built under Project 17A (Nilgiri-class frigates), has been commissioned into the Indian Navy. This vessel represents a quantum leap in indigenous defense manufacturing with over 75% indigenous content, incorporating cutting-edge stealth features, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, and network-centric operations. The frigate is named after a mountain range in Madhya Pradesh, continuing the Navy’s tradition of naming frigates after mountain ranges.

How: Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, INS Udaygiri features reduced radar cross-section through geometric design and radar-absorbent materials, integrated BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missiles, advanced sonar systems for submarine detection, and helicopter launch facilities for extended reach. The ship uses indigenously developed combat management systems and surveillance radars, significantly reducing import bills and strengthening India’s blue-water naval capabilities.

Why: Essential for UPSC Defence (GS3) covering indigenous defense production, Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense, and naval modernization. Prelims questions test Project 17A details, shipbuilding yards (MDL, GRSE, Cochin Shipyard), and naval platforms classification (frigates vs destroyers vs corvettes). For Mains, this connects to Make in India in defense, strategic autonomy, India’s maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, and the Navy’s transition from brown-water to blue-water capabilities. Defense exam aspirants must know shipbuilding projects and weapons systems integration.

What: The Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2025 has reported 1,523 unicorn companies worldwide (startups valued at over $1 billion without going public), with India securing the third position globally after the United States and China. India’s unicorn ecosystem has grown exponentially from just 10 unicorns in 2015 to over 120 in 2025, spanning fintech, edtech, e-commerce, healthtech, and SaaS sectors. This reflects robust venture capital inflows, policy support through Startup India, and a thriving digital economy.

How: India’s rise was driven by favorable regulatory frameworks including tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC, simplified compliance through the Startup India portal, massive smartphone penetration enabling digital services, a large talent pool from IITs and engineering colleges, and successful exits (IPOs and acquisitions) demonstrating investor confidence. Government initiatives like the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), SIDBI support, and regulatory sandboxes in fintech accelerated growth while reducing entry barriers for new ventures.

Why: Critical for UPSC Economy (GS3) covering entrepreneurship, ease of doing business, and digital economy. Prelims tests knowledge of Startup India Action Plan (2016), DPIIT’s role, unicorn vs decacorn classifications, and India’s position in global startup rankings. For Mains, this connects to themes of job creation through entrepreneurship, angel tax reforms, FDI in startups, and challenges like funding winter, regulatory compliance burden, and scaling issues. Banking exams cover venture capital ecosystem and startup financing mechanisms.

What: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to cooperate on green steel and aluminium production under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) framework signed in 2022. Green steel refers to steel produced using hydrogen instead of coal-based blast furnaces, resulting in near-zero carbon emissions. Similarly, green aluminium uses renewable energy for smelting. This partnership aligns with both nations’ Net Zero commitments (India by 2070, UAE by 2050) and promotes sustainable industrial manufacturing.

How: The cooperation involves joint investment in green hydrogen production facilities (using solar and wind energy for electrolysis), technology transfer for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) processes using hydrogen, establishing pilot plants in industrial zones like GIFT City and Masdar City, and creating preferential trade channels for green metals under CEPA’s tariff concessions. The UAE’s abundant solar resources combined with India’s manufacturing scale create synergies for cost-effective green metal production targeting European markets with Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requirements.

Why: Essential for UPSC Environment (GS3) covering climate action, sustainable industrialization, and international cooperation. Prelims questions test CEPA provisions (signed February 2022), green hydrogen mission details, India’s National Steel Policy 2017, and carbon capture technologies. For Mains, this connects to themes of decarbonization of heavy industries, India-UAE strategic partnership evolution beyond energy trade, and challenges in transitioning energy-intensive sectors. International Relations (GS2) questions may cover bilateral trade agreements and climate diplomacy linkages.

What: Indian Railways has launched the RailOne App, a unified digital platform that integrates ticket booking, PNR (Passenger Name Record) enquiry, meal ordering, freight tracking, and complaint registration under a single interface. This consolidates services previously scattered across multiple apps like IRCTC Rail Connect, UTS App, and RailMadad, improving user experience through seamless navigation, reduced storage requirements, and unified payment systems. The app is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

How: RailOne leverages cloud infrastructure for handling peak traffic loads during festive seasons (over 2 crore tickets booked daily), integrates with UPI and digital wallets for contactless payments, uses GPS-based live train tracking for real-time updates, employs AI chatbots for instant query resolution, and connects with the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) for delay predictions. The app also incorporates accessibility features like multilingual support (12 Indian languages) and voice-based navigation for differently-abled passengers.

Why: Important for UPSC Governance (GS2) and Science & Technology (GS3) focusing on e-governance initiatives and digital public infrastructure. Prelims questions test knowledge of Digital India flagship programs, IRCTC’s role, railway modernization projects, and government app consolidation efforts. For Mains, this links to themes of citizen-centric service delivery, reducing digital fragmentation, enhancing ease of living, and challenges in digital adoption among rural and elderly populations. Railway recruitment exams cover ticketing systems, PRS architecture, and technology integration in operations.