GK One-Liners

What: The South Coast Railway (SCoR) became India’s 18th railway zone, commencing operations on 1 June 2026 with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It was gazetted on 4 May 2026 and confirmed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 28 April 2026. The zone covers a network of 3,532 km and 385 stations, and unveiled an 18-star logo on 27 May 2026, with General Manager Sandeep Mathur at its helm.

How: SCoR was carved out of two existing zones: three divisions — Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal — were taken from the South Central Railway (SCR), while the Visakhapatnam division was transferred from the East Coast Railway (ECoR), formerly known as the Waltair division. This reorganisation was driven by the need for more focused administration of the Andhra Pradesh coastal corridor and efficient freight and passenger operations in the region.

Why: Railway zone questions are perennial Prelims picks — examiners test the total number of zones, the newest zone, and HQ locations. Key facts to remember: SCoR is the 18th zone, HQ Visakhapatnam, operational from 1 June 2026, covers 3,532 km, and draws from both SCR and ECoR. The creation of new zones also links to topics such as administrative decentralisation and infrastructure development under the National Rail Plan.

What: From 1 June 2026, the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II — covering domestically produced solar photovoltaic (PV) cells — became mandatory for all net-metering and open-access renewable energy (RE) projects commissioned on or after this date. Such projects must now use both ALMM List-I approved modules and ALMM List-II approved solar cells. List-II currently includes 9 manufacturers with a combined capacity of 13,067 MW. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), led by Minister Pralhad Joshi, administers the ALMM framework.

How: The ALMM framework has three tiers: List-I covers solar modules (mandatory since 2019), List-II covers solar PV cells (effective 1 June 2026), and List-III will cover ingots and wafers (effective 1 June 2028). By mandating the use of domestically manufactured components, the policy promotes import substitution, boosts the domestic solar manufacturing value chain, and aligns with the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for solar under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Why: This topic cuts across GS Paper 3 (Energy, Environment, Economy) and is highly relevant to competitive exams. Key facts: ALMM full form, the three lists and their effective dates, current capacity under List-II (13,067 MW), and the administering ministry (MNRE). The policy is directly linked to India’s solar energy targets (500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030) and domestic manufacturing goals under the National Solar Mission.

What: India is nearing the finalisation of a multi-billion dollar deal for six HDW Class 214 (Type 214) submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology under Project 75-India (P75I). The deal involves Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as the foreign OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) partnering with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, for indigenous construction. AIP technology allows conventional submarines to operate without surfacing for oxygen — dramatically extending their submerged endurance.

How: P75I is a Strategic Partnership (SP) model programme under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which mandates that at least one private Indian defence company be involved in major defence platforms. The submarines will be built at MDL under a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement, progressively increasing India’s self-reliance in submarine construction. The selection of TKMS over French and Spanish competitors marks a significant Indo-German defence convergence.

Why: Defence acquisitions, especially under the Strategic Partnership model, are increasingly tested in UPSC GS Paper 3 and CDS exams. Key facts: 6 Type 214 submarines, AIP technology, TKMS + MDL partnership, P75I programme, DAP 2020 framework. This deal also signals India’s diversification away from Russian defence platforms — a relevant angle for GS Paper 2 (India’s foreign policy and security alliances). MDL has previously built the Scorpene-class submarines under P75.

What: D.K. Shivakumar, President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), was elected as the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader on 30 May 2026 and is set to be sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June 2026. He succeeds Siddaramaiah, who served as Chief Minister from May 2023 to June 2026. Karnataka’s capital is Bengaluru and the Governor is Thawarchand Gehlot.

How: The transition followed the Congress high command’s decision to honour the power-sharing arrangement agreed upon when the party came to power in May 2023. Siddaramaiah led the first term, with Shivakumar — who had been Deputy CM — slated to take over for the remainder of the five-year term. The CLP election formalised the leadership change before the Governor’s invitation and oath ceremony.

Why: State government transitions are a regular feature of Prelims current affairs. Key facts: Karnataka is a Congress-governed state, capital Bengaluru, Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, new CM D.K. Shivakumar (swearing-in 3 June 2026), outgoing CM Siddaramaiah. Polity-related questions may also test the constitutional role of the Governor in appointing a CM and the process of CLP elections — relevant to Articles 163–164 of the Constitution.

What: World Milk Day is observed on 1 June every year, established in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The 2026 theme is “Celebrating Women Farmers,” recognising the central role of women in dairy farming globally. India is the world’s largest milk producer, contributing approximately 22% of global output — around 240 million tonnes (MT) annually — and supports the livelihoods of roughly 80 million farmers.

How: India’s dairy success is rooted in Operation Flood, also called the White Revolution, launched in 1970 and spearheaded by Dr Verghese Kurien, widely known as the “Father of the White Revolution.” The programme was implemented through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), headquartered at Anand, Gujarat, and popularised the Amul cooperative model — linking rural milk producers directly to urban consumers through a network of village cooperatives.

Why: World Milk Day facts appear in Prelims under UN observances, environment/food security, and Indian economy sections. Critical details: FAO established WNTD in 2001 (not WHO — a common distractor), India’s rank as the largest producer, Dr Kurien’s title, NDDB HQ at Anand, and the Amul cooperative model. The 2026 theme “Celebrating Women Farmers” may also be tested as a standalone MCQ.

What: A new frog species, Amolops kamal, was discovered near Singrep village in Kiphire district, Nagaland, and reported on 29 May 2026. It belongs to the genus Amolops, commonly known as cascade frogs, which inhabit fast-moving mountain streams. The species is considered an indicator species — its presence or absence reflects the quality and health of freshwater ecosystems in the region.

How: The discovery was made during biodiversity surveys in the Eastern Himalayas, which form part of one of the world’s 36 recognised biodiversity hotspots. Nagaland, located in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, is home to exceptional richness in amphibians, reptiles, and endemic flora. New species discoveries in this region are typically the result of herpetological field surveys combined with molecular (DNA) analysis to confirm taxonomic distinction from closely related species.

Why: Biodiversity discoveries from India’s Northeast — particularly new species from hotspot zones — are a consistent feature of UPSC Prelims (Environment section) and SSC GK rounds. Key facts: species name (Amolops kamal), location (Kiphire district, Nagaland), genus (cascade frogs), ecological role (indicator species), and the broader hotspot context (Indo-Burma / Eastern Himalayas). The concept of indicator species and biodiversity hotspots are also Mains-relevant themes under environmental conservation.