GK One-Liners

What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) have jointly developed an artificial heating system capable of extending a lunar lander’s operational life to up to 200 days. The system is designed to withstand the extreme cold of lunar nights, where temperatures plunge to approximately −129°C. This was announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan in June 2026.

How: The heating system uses a nuclear-based or electrically assisted thermal management mechanism to keep critical onboard systems functional during the 14-Earth-day-long lunar night. Unlike the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-3, which operated for only about 14 Earth days before succumbing to the cold, this new system is engineered to survive multiple lunar day-night cycles. The ISRO-DAE collaboration leverages atomic energy expertise for space applications.

Why: This is highly relevant for UPSC Science & Technology and for state PSC exams covering space missions. Key exam angles include: India’s moon mission roadmap (Chandrayaan-4, Lunar Polar Exploration mission), the significance of surviving lunar nights for sustained surface exploration, and ISRO-DAE institutional collaboration. Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander remains a benchmark comparison point.

What: The Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project is a major inter-state water infrastructure initiative on the Tons River, a tributary of the Yamuna, located on the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border. Six states — Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project, which is estimated to cost approximately ₹15,000 crore with 90% Central Assistance.

How: The dam is a multipurpose project intended to serve hydropower generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply for the six beneficiary states. The central government is providing 90% funding, making it a centrally-assisted project under river development programmes. The MoU framework ensures water-sharing and benefit-sharing among the riparian states.

Why: Inter-state river disputes and water-sharing agreements are perennially tested in UPSC Prelims, Mains (GS-II governance, GS-III infrastructure), and state PSC exams in northern India. Key linkages include: Yamuna basin management, the role of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, and Centre-State fiscal relations for large infrastructure projects. The Tons River’s confluence with the Yamuna is also a potential geography question.

What: Uzbekistan has become the 10th member of the New Development Bank (NDB), making it the first Central Asian country to join the institution. The accession law was signed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 21 May 2026. The NDB was established in 2014 by the five BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

How: New member countries join the NDB through an accession process that involves signing an accession agreement and passing enabling domestic legislation. Since 2021, the NDB has expanded beyond the original BRICS bloc to include countries such as Bangladesh, Egypt, UAE, Uruguay, and now Uzbekistan. This expansion reflects the NDB’s mandate to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging economies.

Why: The NDB is a high-frequency UPSC and banking exam topic. Key facts to remember: founded 2014, HQ Shanghai, 10 members as of 2026, K.V. Kamath was its first President. Questions are also asked on the difference between NDB and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Uzbekistan’s entry signals NDB’s outreach into Central Asia, a region of growing strategic interest for India.

What: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the establishment of a National Military Drone Technology Hub at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K), Uttar Pradesh, with an outlay of ₹500 crore. The nodal body for the hub will be the Army Design Bureau (ADB), and the project is being promoted by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), also known as the UP Defence Industrial Corridor (DIC).

How: The hub is designed to bring together academia, defence R&D, and industry under one roof to accelerate drone technology development for military use. IIT-Kanpur’s existing research infrastructure and proximity to the UP Defence Corridor make it a strategic choice. The ADB will oversee technology transfer, product testing, and induction pathways for domestically developed military drones.

Why: Drone warfare and indigenous defence manufacturing are priority topics for UPSC GS-III (security, internal security, defence indigenisation) and defence services exams. Linkages include: the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework, Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, the UP Defence Industrial Corridor, and India’s drone policy. The simultaneous delivery of 41 JK 250e drones to the Army (from Drogo Aerospace, Hyderabad) underlines the fast-growing domestic drone ecosystem.

What: India and Japan have adopted rules for their Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), a bilateral carbon market framework operating under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement (adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC). The rules were adopted on 8 June 2026, building on a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in 2025. The JCM enables both countries to cooperate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to count those reductions toward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

How: Under Article 6.2, countries can transfer “internationally transferred mitigation outcomes” (ITMOs) bilaterally. Japan, which has JCM agreements with over 25 countries, uses the mechanism to export clean technology while earning carbon credits. India benefits through technology transfer, green investment, and meeting its NDC targets more cost-effectively. The MoC signed in 2025 laid the legal groundwork for these bilateral rules.

Why: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement — governing carbon markets — is one of the most tested topics in UPSC Environment and IR sections since COP26. Key concepts to link: carbon credits, ITMOs, Article 6.2 (bilateral) vs. Article 6.4 (multilateral UN mechanism), India’s NDC targets, and net-zero commitments. The India-Japan JCM also ties into India’s broader climate diplomacy and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

What: Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been named in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, making her the only Indian on the list. She features in the ‘Titans’ category alongside global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, and Temba Bavuma. Mandhana is a two-time International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

How: TIME’s list is divided into four categories — Leaders, Icons, Innovators, and Titans — recognising individuals who have shaped global sports through performance, influence, and impact. Mandhana’s inclusion reflects her sustained excellence in international women’s cricket, her role as a brand ambassador for the sport in India, and the rising global profile of women’s cricket following expanded ICC tournaments.

Why: Sports awards and international recognition of Indian athletes are standard questions in competitive exams, especially SSC, banking, and state PSC exams. Key facts to retain: Mandhana is a left-handed opening batter from Maharashtra; she plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL); she is a two-time ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. The TIME 100 Sports list is separate from the TIME 100 Most Influential People list — a distinction that may itself be tested.