GK One-Liners

What: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) to develop strategies for reducing dust pollution—a major contributor to Delhi-NCR’s air quality crisis.

How: The partnership focuses on conducting scientific studies on road dust re-suspension, construction site emissions, and mechanical road sweeping effectiveness. CSIR-CRRI will provide technical expertise on dust suppression technologies, while SPA contributes urban planning solutions. Implementation includes real-time monitoring, enforcement mechanisms, and capacity building for municipal authorities.

Why: CAQM was established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, replacing the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA). Air quality governance and institutional mechanisms are frequently tested in UPSC GS Paper-3 (Environment) and GS Paper-2 (Governance). Understanding CAQM’s mandate, powers, and initiatives is crucial for both Prelims and Mains.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) discontinued daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auctions due to sustained liquidity surplus in the banking system. VRR is a tool where RBI absorbs excess liquidity from banks for varying tenors at market-determined interest rates, helping maintain the policy corridor and short-term interest rate stability.

How: The decision reflects improved liquidity conditions driven by government spending, RBI’s open market operations, and reduced currency leakage. With banks holding excess funds, the need for daily liquidity absorption through VRR auctions diminished. RBI continues to monitor liquidity dynamics through Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and other tools to ensure financial stability.

Why: RBI’s monetary policy tools—repo rate, reverse repo, VRR, SDF, and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)—are core topics in UPSC GS Paper-3 (Economy). Questions on liquidity management, monetary policy transmission, and RBI’s operational framework regularly appear in Prelims and Mains. Understanding the difference between VRR and fixed-rate repo is essential for banking exams as well.

What: Exercise Khaan Quest is an annual multinational peacekeeping exercise hosted by Mongolia since 2003. The 2025 edition involves participation from over 20 countries including India, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and NATO members, focusing on United Nations peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief training.

How: The exercise features combined training scenarios including peace enforcement, stabilization operations, and civil-military cooperation. Participating troops undergo joint planning, interoperability drills, and tactical exercises designed to enhance readiness for UN missions. India’s involvement strengthens its credentials as a leading troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.

Why: India is the third-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping forces and has participated in over 50 missions since 1950. Questions on India’s peacekeeping role, multilateral military exercises, and strategic partnerships appear in UPSC GS Paper-2 (International Relations) and GS Paper-3 (Defence). Understanding exercises like Khaan Quest, Malabar, and Garuda helps contextualize India’s defence diplomacy and Act East Policy.

What: The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommended R Doraiswamy as the next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country’s largest life insurer. FSIB is an autonomous body that recommends appointments to key positions in public sector banks and financial institutions.

How: FSIB evaluates candidates through a rigorous selection process involving domain expertise assessment, interview panels comprising government officials and independent experts, and performance track record analysis. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. This transparent mechanism replaced the earlier Banks Board Bureau (BBB) framework.

Why: Understanding FSIB’s role and mandate is crucial for UPSC GS Paper-3 (Economy & Banking Sector Reforms). Questions on institutional reforms, PSU governance, and appointment mechanisms regularly appear in Prelims and Mains. LIC, as India’s largest institutional investor and insurance provider, holds strategic importance in financial inclusion and capital markets—making its leadership appointments significant current affairs topics.

What: India will develop its first underwater museum around the decommissioned naval ship INS Guldar off the coast of Maharashtra. The initiative aims to create an artificial reef ecosystem while preserving maritime heritage, promoting marine biodiversity, and boosting coastal tourism through recreational diving experiences.

How: The ship will be deliberately sunk at a designated location following environmental clearances and maritime safety protocols. Over time, marine organisms will colonize the structure, creating an artificial reef that supports fish populations and coral growth. The site will be developed with diving facilities, interpretation centers, and visitor management infrastructure, managed by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in collaboration with the Indian Navy.

Why: This project exemplifies the intersection of defence heritage conservation, marine ecology, and sustainable tourism—themes relevant to UPSC GS Paper-3 (Environment & Tourism). Understanding concepts like artificial reefs, blue economy initiatives, and coastal zone management is important for both Prelims and Mains. The initiative also aligns with India’s Blue Economy vision and Sagarmala Programme objectives.

What: World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually on June 12, designated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002 to raise awareness about child labor elimination and promote children’s rights to education, health, and protection from exploitation. The day highlights the global commitment to ending all forms of child labour by 2025, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7.

How: ILO coordinates global campaigns involving governments, civil society, employers, and workers’ organizations to advocate for stronger legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and social protection systems. Key interventions include universal education access, poverty alleviation programs, occupational safety standards, and rescue-rehabilitation mechanisms for working children. India’s Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 and National Child Labour Project (NCLP) are significant policy responses.

Why: ILO conventions, SDG targets, and child rights issues are frequently tested in UPSC GS Paper-2 (International Organizations & Social Justice). Understanding India’s constitutional provisions (Article 24), legal framework, and rehabilitation schemes is essential for Prelims and Mains. Questions often link child labour to poverty, education access, and social welfare schemes—making this observance highly exam-relevant.