GK One-Liners

What: The International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed on 16 May every year. The 2026 theme is ‘Building Trust through Dialogue, Inclusion and Reconciliation.’ The day was established by UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 72/130, adopted in 2017, and was first observed on 16 May 2018.

How: The day calls on states, international organisations, and civil society to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity across cultures and peoples. It is part of the UN’s broader Agenda for Sustainable Development and complements other peace-related observances such as the International Day of Peace (21 September). The UNGA resolution invites member states to raise awareness through education and public initiatives.

Why: UN-designated days — including their themes, founding resolutions, and first-observed years — are high-frequency questions in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, IBPS, and state PSC exams. Key recall anchors here: date (16 May), UNGA Res 72/130, year of resolution (2017), and first observation year (2018).

What: The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The MoU enables multilingual access to Ayush digital services using Artificial Intelligence (AI) translation through the BHASHINI platform, covering all 22 Scheduled languages of India.

How: BHASHINI (Bhasha Daan Initiative) was launched in July 2022 as India’s national public digital platform for AI-powered language translation. DIBD is the implementing body under MeitY. The MoU was signed by Dr Subodh Kumar (Ministry of AYUSH) and Amitabh Nag (DIBD). Integration will allow citizens to access AYUSH health portals, telemedicine, and information services in their native language, breaking language barriers especially in rural and tribal areas.

Why: BHASHINI, its launch year (2022), and MeitY’s digital language initiatives are tested in UPSC (GS-II governance, GS-III technology), SSC, and banking exams. The AYUSH ministry’s expanding digital footprint and language-inclusive governance are Mains GS-II themes. The 22 Scheduled Languages figure (Eighth Schedule of the Constitution) is a frequently tested constitutional detail.

What: Karnataka’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA Karnataka) developed India’s first integrated monitoring portal for Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) medicines and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS). The portal initially covers approximately 15,000 wholesalers and stockists, with plans to expand to around 45,000 retailers and pharmacists across the state.

How: The portal enables real-time tracking of drug batches flagged as NSQ and can automatically freeze distribution of those batches before they reach consumers. It also strengthens surveillance of NDPS — controlled substances regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. By digitising the supply chain from manufacturer to retailer, the system reduces the lag between quality alerts and market recall.

Why: India’s drug regulatory architecture, the NDPS Act, and e-governance innovations in health are tested in UPSC Prelims (Governance, Science & Tech) and state PSC exams. The ‘first integrated’ tag, the auto-freezing feature, and the coverage numbers (15,000 → 45,000) are MCQ-ready data points. This also links to broader themes of pharmaceutical regulation and consumer protection.

What: The RS-28 Sarmat is Russia’s next-generation Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), designated ‘Satan II’ by NATO. It replaces the Cold War-era R-36M2 Voyevoda (‘Satan I’) and was tested from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The missile is approximately 35 metres long, weighs over 208 tonnes, and can carry up to 16 smaller or 10 large nuclear warheads delivered via Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs).

How: The Sarmat is equipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, which can manoeuvre in flight to evade missile defence systems — making interception extremely difficult. Russia claims a range exceeding 35,000 km (via a polar or southern trajectory), though independent estimates place it at 10,000+ km. MIRVs allow a single missile to strike multiple targets simultaneously, significantly increasing deterrence value.

Why: Nuclear weapons, ICBM terminology (MIRV, hypersonic glide vehicles), and Russia’s strategic arsenal are tested in UPSC CSE (GS-II International Relations, GS-III Security), CDS, and CAPF exams. Key recall: NATO name (‘Satan II’), launch site (Plesetsk), payload type (MIRVs + Avangard), and predecessor missile (R-36M2 Voyevoda).

What: ‘Kaal Bhairava’ is India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), developed by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA). It is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platform with a range of 3,000 km and an endurance exceeding 30 hours. While indigenously designed, its first international manufacturing has taken place in Portugal as part of ‘Operation 777,’ in collaboration with European firm SKETCHPIXEL.

How: MALE UCAVs operate at medium altitudes (typically 10,000–30,000 feet) for extended durations, making them suitable for persistent surveillance and strike missions. The AI integration allows for autonomous decision-making in target identification and flight path management. Manufacturing in Portugal reflects India’s defence export and co-production partnerships under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) framework, even as core design remains Indian.

Why: India’s drone and UCAV programmes are high-yield topics for UPSC (Defence, Science & Tech) and CDS/CAPF exams. ‘First AI-powered UCAV,’ MALE platform definition, the manufacturer (FWDA), and manufacturing country (Portugal) are precision MCQ anchors. The broader context of India’s unmanned warfare capability development links to GS-III internal security and defence topics.

What: Global investment bank Morgan Stanley revised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for Financial Year 2026–27 (FY27) upward by 50 basis points (bps) — from 6.2% to 6.7%. For FY28, Morgan Stanley projects growth of 7%. The Q1 FY27 estimate stands at 6.5% year-on-year (YoY), with average inflation projected at 4.7% and global growth pegged at 3.2% for 2026.

How: A ‘basis point’ is one-hundredth of a percentage point (1 bps = 0.01%), a standard unit in financial forecasting. Morgan Stanley’s upward revision reflects improved macroeconomic signals — such as moderated inflation, robust domestic consumption, and government capital expenditure. The revision contrasts with its earlier April 2026 estimate of 6.2%, suggesting stronger-than-expected economic momentum post-Q4 FY26.

Why: GDP forecasts from global institutions (IMF, World Bank, Morgan Stanley, Moody’s) are frequently cited in UPSC Prelims economy questions and banking exam awareness sections. Key data: FY27 revised forecast (6.7%), revision quantum (50 bps), FY28 projection (7%), and average inflation (4.7%). Understanding ‘basis points’ is essential for RBI-related and monetary policy questions in IBPS/SBI exams.