GK One-Liners

What: Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth will become India’s 31st Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) effective 30 June 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi. He belongs to the Armoured Corps and was commissioned on 20 December 1986 from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) into the 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse).

How: Seth has served as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCAS) since 1 April 2026, making him the natural successor to the top post. He will be the first Armoured Corps officer to hold the CoAS position in approximately 29 years, and his tenure is confirmed until 31 August 2028. His decorations include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM).

Why: Institutional appointments — especially tri-service chiefs — are among the most frequently tested facts in exams like UPSC, CDS (Combined Defence Services), and SSC CGL. Key hooks here: regiment (Armoured Corps), serial number (31st), predecessor (Gen Dwivedi), and the “first Armoured Corps CoAS in ~29 years” angle often appears as a statement-based question.

What: The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026 is the 20th edition of the annual ranking published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It covers 163 countries representing 99.7% of the world’s population. Iceland secured the top spot for the 19th consecutive year, while India ranked 127th — a slip from 115th in 2025.

How: The index measures three domains: Societal Safety and Security, Ongoing Conflict, and Militarisation. In 2026, global peacefulness deteriorated for the 12th consecutive year, with the Ongoing Conflict domain declining by 9.2%. Russia was ranked the least peaceful nation, and the violence cost global GDP an estimated USD 21.81 trillion in 2025, representing 10.5% of world GDP. South Asia recorded the sharpest regional deterioration.

Why: The GPI is a standard UPSC Prelims and State PCS topic. Key facts to memorise: publisher (IEP, Sydney), India’s rank (127th), top country (Iceland — 19 consecutive years), least peaceful (Russia), and the total number of active conflicts (61 state-based). The economic cost of violence figure is relevant for GS Paper III (Economy/Security).

What: India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Rs 449 crore contract with ASSPL — Accord Software & Systems Pvt Ltd (established 1991, Bengaluru) — for 20 ECGNSS (Enhanced Capability Global Navigation Satellite System) Jammers for the Indian Navy. The deal was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

How: The jammers fall under the “Buy Indian–IDDM” (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) procurement category, requiring at least 75% indigenous content. The ECGNSS Jammer disrupts enemy navigation systems through two techniques: spoofing (feeding false signals) and deceptive jamming (overpowering legitimate GNSS signals), thereby degrading adversary precision-guided operations and enhancing India’s Electronic Warfare (EW) capability.

Why: Defence indigenisation and the “Buy Indian–IDDM” category are recurring themes in UPSC GS Paper III (Security) and CDS exams. This deal exemplifies the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in defence. Candidates should note: the vendor (ASSPL), category (Buy Indian-IDDM), technology (GNSS jamming/spoofing), and the 75% indigenous content threshold — all are testable details.

What: NASA has announced the four-member crew for Artemis III, planned for late 2027: Randy Bresnik (Commander, USA — veteran test pilot with three spaceflights), Frank Rubio (USA — holds the US record for the longest continuous stay aboard the International Space Station at 371 days), Andre Douglas (USA — first spaceflight), and Luca Parmitano (Italy/ESA — first ESA astronaut in the Artemis programme). The mission will involve docking tests in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), not a lunar landing.

How: Artemis III will test the integrated capability of three spacecraft: SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS), Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander, and NASA’s Orion capsule launched on the Space Launch System (SLS). The mission is a critical verification step before crewed lunar surface operations planned under later Artemis missions.

Why: Space missions — especially Artemis (NASA’s successor to Apollo) — are frequently asked in UPSC Prelims, ISRO-related questions, and SSC exams. Focus points: Luca Parmitano’s historic status (first ESA astronaut in Artemis), Frank Rubio’s ISS record (371 days), and the fact that Artemis III is a LEO docking test, not a Moon landing. The three spacecraft involved are also testable.

What: Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) — Prime Minister’s Secure Motherhood Campaign — completed 10 years in June 2026, having been launched on 9 June 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme provides free, assured antenatal care services to pregnant women on the 9th of every month at government health facilities. It offers 9 guaranteed antenatal care services and is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

How: On the 9th of each month, government doctors — including specialists from the private sector who volunteer — conduct comprehensive check-ups including blood pressure monitoring, blood tests, ultrasounds, and nutrition counselling. The 10th anniversary was marked by Union Minister J.P. Nadda releasing a commemorative Rs 75 coin and Rs 5 postal stamp, under the theme “10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care”.

Why: Government health schemes — particularly those targeting maternal and child health — are a staple of UPSC Prelims, State PCS, and SSC exams. Key facts: launch date (9 June 2016), nodal ministry (MoHFW), day of service (9th of every month), number of assured services (9), and the 10th anniversary commemorative releases. This also links to SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 3 on Good Health and Well-Being.

What: The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles — Round 3 — has approved 96 companies, including 22 new applicants. The total committed investment stands at Rs 12,822.67 crore, with a projected turnover of Rs 58,294.18 crore. The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) and focuses on Man-Made Fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics, and technical textiles.

How: Under Round 3, the 22 newly approved applicants have committed Rs 2,339.14 crore in investment. The scheme is expected to generate approximately 36,217 jobs. PLI schemes provide financial incentives to manufacturers based on incremental sales above a base year, making them attractive to both established players and new entrants seeking to scale up domestic manufacturing capacity in high-growth textile segments.

Why: PLI schemes across sectors are among the most tested topics in UPSC GS Paper III (Economy) and State PCS exams. For textiles specifically, candidates should note: the focus sectors (MMF apparel, MMF fabrics, technical textiles), the scale of investment (Rs 12,822 crore), projected employment (36,217 jobs), and the nodal ministry (MoT). PLI textiles also connects to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the broader Make-in-India manufacturing push.