GK One-Liners

What: GST (Goods and Services Tax) Day is observed on 1 July every year to mark the rollout of India’s unified indirect tax regime, which came into effect on 1 July 2017. In 2026, India completed 9 years of GST, with the event organised by CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs). The theme for 2026 was ‘सुगम कर व्यवस्था, सशक्त भारत’ (Simplified Tax System, Empowered India).

How: GST replaced a web of central and state taxes — including excise duty, VAT, and service tax — with a single, destination-based, multi-tier tax structure (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%). It operates on a dual GST model where both the Centre (CGST) and States (SGST) levy tax simultaneously. As of May 2026, the GST taxpayer base stands at 1.65 crore registered entities.

Why: GST Day is a recurring anchor for Prelims questions on the year of launch, administering body (CBIC), number of taxpayers, and annual themes. For Mains/PI, understanding GST’s federal structure, revenue-sharing formula, and the GST Council is critical. The 2026 milestone also signals maturation of India’s indirect tax reforms.

What: Digital India, launched on 1 July 2015, completed 11 years in 2026. The flagship programme is administered by MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) and aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Its expanded focus in 2026 now includes AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Semiconductor Manufacturing alongside its original pillars.

How: The programme works across three core pillars: digital infrastructure, digital services delivery, and digital literacy. A key metric of success is the dramatic fall in mobile data costs — from ₹269 per GB to just ₹8–10 per GB — driven by competition in the telecom sector and improved connectivity through schemes like BharatNet. India now has one of the lowest data tariffs in the world.

Why: Digital India is a perennial favourite in UPSC, SSC, and state PSC exams — questions often test the launch year, ministry, pillars, and key schemes under the umbrella (PM-WANI, DigiLocker, UMANG, etc.). The 2026 expansion into AI and semiconductors links it to the India Semiconductor Mission and the National AI Mission, making it highly relevant for Science & Tech sections too.

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a 3-day official visit to Seychelles (June 27–29, 2026) at the invitation of President Dr. Patrick Herminie. The visit coincided with Seychelles’ Golden Jubilee — 50 years of independence. India signed 9 MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) during the visit and extended a LoC (Line of Credit) worth ₹1,250 crore.

How: PM Modi was conferred with the honorary title ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ by the Seychelles government — a recognition of India’s role in supporting the island nation’s maritime security and blue economy. The visit reinforced India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which guides India’s engagement with Indian Ocean island states and focuses on maritime cooperation, connectivity, and capacity building.

Why: India–Seychelles relations are a high-yield topic for exams focused on India’s foreign policy and Indian Ocean strategy. Questions often test the SAGAR doctrine, LoC amounts, honorary titles conferred, and the significance of island diplomacy. The Golden Jubilee context and the 9 MoUs make this visit particularly exam-relevant for 2026–27 cycles.

What: NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), HSBC India, and JP Morgan have partnered to enable real-time FX (Foreign Exchange) settlement for cross-border UPI payments. HSBC provides live FX rates through an API (Application Programming Interface) while JP Morgan handles multi-currency conversion. This makes international UPI transactions faster and more cost-effective for users abroad.

How: Traditionally, cross-border transactions involve correspondent banks and multi-day settlement cycles. Under this arrangement, FX rates are quoted and settled in real time at the point of transaction, eliminating delays. UPI, which is already live in 9 countries — Singapore, UAE, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, France, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Cambodia — gains a more robust back-end infrastructure to handle volume and currency complexity.

Why: UPI’s global expansion is a recurring topic in banking and economy sections of UPSC, RBI Grade B, SEBI, and NABARD exams. Key facts to remember: NPCI operates UPI; countries where UPI is live; the role of the RBI’s payment system regulations. This partnership also signals India’s intent to position UPI as a global alternative to SWIFT for retail cross-border payments.

What: ZSI (Zoological Survey of India) celebrated its 111th Foundation Day on 1 July 2026, having been established on 1 July 1916. On the occasion, ZSI released Animal Discoveries-2025 documenting 709 new faunal records, and the 19th edition of Plant Discoveries-2025 covering 353 new taxa. ZSI is headquartered in Kolkata and functions under MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change).

How: The ATS 4.0 (Animal Taxonomy Series, 4th edition) framework underpins ZSI’s survey and documentation activities. Two major digital tools were also released: the Fauna of India Checklist v3.0 — a comprehensive, updated inventory of all known faunal species in India — and the PaleoIndia Portal, a first-of-its-kind database for India’s fossil and palaeontological records, enabling researchers and public access to prehistoric biodiversity data.

Why: ZSI is a standard reference in environment-related questions for UPSC Prelims and state exams. Key facts often tested: founding year (1916), headquarters (Kolkata), parent ministry (MoEFCC), and publications like Animal Discoveries. The PaleoIndia Portal is a novel addition that could feature in Science & Tech MCQs. The scale of 709 new faunal discoveries also underlines India’s rich and underdocumented biodiversity.

What: Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, a veteran ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) scientist widely known as the ‘Moon Man of India’, has been appointed as Chairman of the CDC (Curriculum Development Centre) for School Education in Tamil Nadu. His 3-year tenure will oversee curriculum frameworks for approximately 1.3 crore school students across the state. He has also served as Vice President of TANSCST (Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology).

How: Annadurai rose to national prominence as the Project Director of Chandrayaan-1 — India’s first lunar mission, launched in 2008 — and also contributed significantly to Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission), India’s first interplanetary mission. His appointment to lead curriculum development reflects Tamil Nadu’s push to infuse science, space, and technology thinking into school education at the foundational level.

Why: Questions on ISRO scientists, their associated missions, and honorary titles frequently appear in Science & Technology sections of UPSC, TNPSC, and other state PSC exams. Key linkages to remember: Annadurai ↔ Chandrayaan-1 ↔ Moon Man of India ↔ Padma Shri 2016. His new role as CDC Chairman also links to education policy questions relevant to Tamil Nadu-specific state exams.