GK One-Liners

What: India signed a Government-to-Government (G2G) Letter of Request (LoR) with France worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore for 114 Rafale multi-role fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Approximately 94 of these aircraft will be manufactured in India by Dassault Aviation in partnership with an Indian firm, with first delivery expected in 2028.

How: The deal is structured as a G2G agreement, bypassing lengthy procurement procedures. Domestic manufacturing will be carried out under a Transfer of Technology (ToT) arrangement, boosting India’s aerospace industrial base. The IAF currently operates only 29 squadrons against a sanctioned requirement of 42.5 squadrons.

Why: This is one of India’s largest-ever defence contracts and a landmark in the Make in India initiative for defence. UPSC and state PCS prelims frequently test Rafale-related facts — deal value, number of jets, IAF squadron strength, and the manufacturing partner Dassault Aviation.

What: RudraM-II is an indigenous air-launched anti-radiation missile developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad — the nodal Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory for missile systems. It has a range of 300 km (double that of RudraM-I’s 150 km), a speed of Mach 5.5, and carries a 200 kg warhead.

How: The missile is designed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (DEAD) missions, targeting enemy radar and communication systems. It is launched from the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter platform and was tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. It will replace the Russian-origin Kh-31 missiles currently in IAF service.

Why: Anti-radiation missiles are a key element of modern air warfare doctrine. Questions on DRDO missile systems — including range, speed, launch platform, and developing lab — are standard in UPSC Science & Technology and defence sections. Note the RCI–Hyderabad connection for the developing lab.

What: The State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2026 Report, published by ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations)–IPCIDE, ranked India as the 5th most digitalised economy globally — up significantly from 8th rank (among 32 countries) in 2025. India also ranked 4th on the CHIPS (Computing, Hardware, Infrastructure, Platforms and Services) Index, behind the USA, China, and Singapore.

How: India’s jump in rankings is driven by its massive user base — accounting for 19.9% of global Artificial Intelligence (AI) users — and being the 2nd largest AI talent pool in the world. Government schemes like Digital India and the National AI Mission have accelerated infrastructure and adoption.

Why: Global digital and technology rankings are high-frequency topics in UPSC Prelims and state exams. Key figures to remember: 5th (SIDE rank), 4th (CHIPS Index), 19.9% (global AI users share), 2nd (AI talent pool), and publisher ICRIER–IPCIDE.

What: The Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026 was launched by the Department of Higher Education (DoHE) under the Ministry of Education (MoE). It identifies 13 priority sectors — including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology — and establishes Research Chairs at 7 premier Lead Institutions across India.

How: Selections under the scheme are made by an Empowered Committee chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, who serves as the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India. The scheme aims to attract top global and Indian researchers to academia and plug gaps in cutting-edge research output.

Why: Education policy schemes linked to technology sectors are frequently asked in UPSC and state civil services exams. Key points to retain: ministry (MoE/DoHE), number of priority sectors (13), number of lead institutions (7), and selection committee chair (PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood).

What: India extended its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to Cambodia by linking it with the KHQR (Khmer Quick Response) code system, which operates under Cambodia’s Bakong digital payment platform. The linkage was operationalised through a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and ACLEDA Bank Plc. of Cambodia, enabling payments at over 4.5 million KHQR merchants.

How: Indian users can scan KHQR codes using their UPI-enabled apps to make payments seamlessly, without currency conversion friction at the point of sale. The system was inaugurated in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. With this addition, UPI is now accepted in 9 countries including Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Singapore, the UAE, Qatar, and Cambodia.

Why: UPI’s international expansion is a flagship Digital India success story and a recurring topic in banking and economy sections of competitive exams. Key data: 4.5 million+ merchants, 9 countries, partner bank (ACLEDA), system name (Bakong/KHQR), and executing body (NPCI International).

What: Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) won the prestigious Food Planet Prize 2026, carrying a cash award of USD 1.5 million, from the Curt Bergfors Foundation based in Båstad, Sweden. APCNF was selected from over 1,000 global nominations, recognising it as a transformative model for sustainable and chemical-free agriculture.

How: APCNF was launched in 2016 by the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) under the Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Department. It promotes zero-budget natural farming — eliminating chemical fertilisers and pesticides — and has since been adopted in 20+ Indian states as well as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Zambia, demonstrating a scalable model for food system transformation.

Why: International awards for Indian agricultural and environmental initiatives are standard prelims fodder. Remember: prize amount (USD 1.5 million), awarding foundation (Curt Bergfors, Sweden), launch year (2016), implementing agency (RySS, AP), and adoption in 20+ states and 3 foreign countries.