GK One-Liners

What: Gujarat launched India’s first tribal-focused genome project to sequence 2,000 tribal genomes for precision medicine. The project aims to tackle genetic disorders prevalent in tribal populations, particularly sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia, through targeted interventions.

How: Genome sequencing identifies genetic variants that cause hereditary diseases. By creating a tribal-specific genetic database, researchers can develop targeted screening programmes, carrier detection, and personalised treatment protocols. This data will complement the broader Genome India Project launched in 2020.

Why: Genome projects, precision medicine, and tribal welfare are important for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech) and GS-II (Social Justice). Understanding India’s genetic diversity, the Genome India initiative, and efforts to address tribal health disparities is relevant for Mains and Essay papers.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) repatriated 274 tonnes of gold from overseas vaults, bringing total domestic gold holdings to 575.8 tonnes. Gold now constitutes 13.92% of India’s total foreign exchange reserves, enhancing sovereignty, safety, and reserve diversification.

How: India stores gold reserves both domestically (in RBI vaults) and abroad (with central banks like Bank of England). Repatriation involves physically moving gold to India, reducing storage costs abroad and eliminating counterparty risks. This follows a global trend of central banks increasing domestic gold holdings.

Why: Foreign exchange reserves, gold reserves, and RBI’s asset management are frequently tested in banking exams and UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding the composition of forex reserves (gold, SDRs, foreign currency assets) and reserve diversification strategies is essential for economic analysis.

What: India launched DRAP (Dumpsite Remediation Action Plan) and UiWIN (Urban Innovation Watch India Network) initiatives to remediate 214 legacy dumpsites by 2026. The programme is backed by ₹4,181 crore funding and operates on a 5P framework to transform dumpsites into investment-ready urban spaces.

How: The 5P framework includes Planning, Policy, People, Private sector, and Partnerships. Remediation involves biomining (extracting recyclables), bioremediation (using microbes to degrade waste), and capping (covering with soil for land reclamation). Processed waste is converted to refuse-derived fuel or construction materials.

Why: Solid waste management, Swachh Bharat Mission, and urban governance are important for UPSC GS-III (Environment). Understanding legacy dumpsite challenges, waste processing technologies, and circular economy principles helps in environment and urban planning questions.

What: INS Sahyadri, an indigenously built Shivalik-class stealth frigate, participated in Exercise Malabar 2025 held in Guam. The exercise brought together navies of the Quad nations – India, United States, Japan, and Australia – to boost maritime security cooperation and Indo-Pacific interoperability.

How: Exercise Malabar, which began as a bilateral India-US exercise in 1992, has evolved into a quadrilateral naval exercise. It includes anti-submarine warfare drills, surface warfare exercises, air defence operations, and maritime interdiction operations, enhancing tactical coordination among partner navies.

Why: Quad exercises, Indo-Pacific strategy, and naval diplomacy are important for UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and GS-III (Security). Understanding the evolution of Malabar exercise, Quad’s maritime dimension, and India’s naval outreach helps in geopolitics and defence questions.

What: India joined the Brazil-led Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) as an observer at COP30. The facility aims to provide climate finance for tropical forest conservation, addressing equity concerns and supporting developing countries with significant forest cover.

How: TFFF creates a mechanism for developed countries to compensate tropical nations for preserving forests that act as global carbon sinks. Unlike carbon markets that treat forests as tradeable credits, TFFF focuses on direct payments for conservation, ensuring benefits reach local communities and indigenous peoples.

Why: Climate finance, forest conservation, and COP negotiations are high-yield topics for UPSC GS-III (Environment). Understanding REDD+ mechanisms, climate equity debates, and India’s position on forest-based climate solutions helps in environment and international relations questions.

What: India introduced a new deep-sea fishing policy for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles from the coast. The policy bans foreign fishing vessels, promotes fisher cooperatives, ensures catch traceability, and enforces ecological and safety safeguards.

How: Under the new rules, only Indian-flagged vessels operated by registered cooperatives can fish in the EEZ. Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) are mandatory for tracking. Catch data must be reported for sustainable stock management. Seasonal bans protect breeding cycles, while safety equipment requirements reduce fisher casualties.

Why: Maritime zones (EEZ, territorial waters), fisheries policy, and Blue Economy are important for UPSC GS-III (Economy, Environment). Understanding UNCLOS provisions, India’s marine resource governance, and the role of fisher cooperatives helps in policy-related questions.