GK One-Liners

What: India will host UNESCO’s 20th Intergovernmental Committee Session for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. India’s nominations for Deepawali (Festival of Lights) and Chhath Puja are expected to be discussed, showcasing India’s cultural leadership on the global stage.

How: The ICH Committee meets annually to evaluate nominations for the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. India currently has 15 ICH elements inscribed, including Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, and Garba. Hosting the session enhances India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power.

Why: UNESCO heritage lists, ICH elements, and cultural diplomacy are important for UPSC GS-I (Art & Culture). Understanding the difference between tangible (World Heritage Sites) and intangible cultural heritage, India’s inscribed elements, and the nomination process helps in culture-related questions.

What: Egypt inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the Giza Pyramids, now the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation. The museum houses over 50,000 artefacts including King Tutankhamun’s complete collection displayed together for the first time.

How: The GEM project, spanning over two decades and costing approximately $1 billion, covers 500,000 square metres. It employs cutting-edge conservation techniques and immersive displays. The museum aims to boost Egypt’s tourism industry and serve as a global centre for Egyptology research and education.

Why: Major international cultural developments and ancient civilisations are relevant for UPSC GS-I (World History, Art & Culture). Understanding Egypt’s archaeological significance, UNESCO’s role in heritage preservation, and museum studies helps in civilisation-related questions and essays.

What: International Students’ Day is observed on November 17 to commemorate the 1939 Nazi crackdown on Czech students who protested against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. Nine student leaders were executed and over 1,200 students were sent to concentration camps. The day highlights global student solidarity and educational rights.

How: The day was established by the International Union of Students (IUS) in 1941 to honour the students’ resistance and sacrifice. It is observed through seminars, discussions, and campaigns promoting access to quality education, academic freedom, and student rights worldwide.

Why: Important days and their historical significance are frequently asked in competitive exams. Understanding the background of international observances, their connection to world history events, and their contemporary relevance helps in general awareness and history questions.

What: Narayana Health, one of India’s leading hospital chains founded by Dr. Devi Shetty, entered the UK market by acquiring Practice Plus Group Hospitals. This acquisition strengthens Narayana Health’s global healthcare position and marks a significant expansion of Indian healthcare companies into developed markets.

How: The acquisition involves taking over multiple hospitals and clinics operated by Practice Plus Group in the UK. Narayana Health, known for its affordable cardiac care model in India, aims to replicate its cost-effective, high-quality healthcare delivery in the UK’s NHS-supplementary private healthcare sector.

Why: Healthcare sector expansion, Indian companies’ global acquisitions, and medical tourism are relevant for UPSC GS-III (Economy). Understanding India’s healthcare industry growth, outbound investments by Indian firms, and healthcare delivery models helps in economic development questions.

What: Reliance Jio and Google announced a partnership offering Jio users free access to Google AI Pro plan for 18 months. The package includes Google’s Gemini AI models, 2 TB cloud storage, and TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) enabled services, democratising advanced AI access for Indian users.

How: The partnership leverages Jio’s massive subscriber base (400+ million users) and Google’s AI capabilities. Users can access Gemini for text, image, and code generation tasks. This collaboration builds on Google’s earlier $4.5 billion investment in Jio Platforms and advances India’s AI ecosystem development.

Why: AI democratisation, telecom-tech partnerships, and digital India initiatives are important for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech). Understanding big tech collaborations in India, AI adoption trends, and the role of telecom companies in technology distribution helps in current affairs.

What: Professor Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman, revered as the “Pitamaha (Grand Father) of Computer Science Education in India”, passed away. He pioneered computer science programmes in India, proposed the MCA (Master of Computer Applications) curriculum, and led early supercomputing initiatives.

How: Prof. Rajaraman established the first computer science department at IIT Kanpur and later contributed to IISc Bangalore. He authored foundational textbooks used across Indian universities, trained generations of computer scientists, and was instrumental in establishing the PARAM supercomputer programme at C-DAC.

Why: Pioneers in Indian science and technology, educational institution builders, and their contributions are important for UPSC GS-III (Science & Tech) and general awareness. Understanding India’s IT sector evolution, key institutions, and individuals who shaped technical education helps in personality-based questions.