GK One-Liners

What: The NAKSHA Programme was launched under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) to modernize urban land records using cutting-edge geospatial technology, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Web-based Geographic Information System (Web-GIS). This initiative aims to create accurate, transparent, and easily accessible land records for urban areas, supporting the vision of ‘One Nation, One Land Record’ that seeks to integrate land records across India into a unified digital framework.

How: NAKSHA employs drone surveys, satellite imagery, and GNSS technology to create precise digital maps of urban land parcels with clear boundaries and ownership details. The Web-GIS platform enables real-time access to land records for citizens, officials, and financial institutions through a centralized portal. The system integrates cadastral maps (property boundaries), revenue records, and mutation data, eliminating discrepancies between different government departments. Citizens can access their land records online, apply for mutations digitally, and obtain digitally signed documents, significantly reducing the time and complexity involved in land transactions and reducing scope for fraud.

Why: Land records modernization and digital governance are crucial topics for UPSC GS Paper 2 (Governance) and Paper 3 (Technology). Questions on Digital India initiatives, land reforms, property rights, ease of doing business, and urban governance appear regularly. Understanding DILRMP’s evolution (from National Land Records Modernization Programme), the importance of clear land titles for credit access and dispute resolution, challenges in land administration (fragmented records, disputes, forgery), and the role of technology in transparency helps answer questions on administrative reforms, urban planning, and digital public infrastructure comprehensively.

What: The electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform has expanded to include 247 commodities with the addition of 9 new items including Green Tea and Mustard Oil. Launched in April 2016, e-NAM is a pan-India electronic trading portal that connects existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) to create a unified national marketplace for agricultural commodities, promoting transparent price discovery and reducing intermediation costs for farmers.

How: e-NAM integrates over 1,400 mandis (agricultural markets) across states into a single digital platform where farmers can upload their produce details, and buyers from across the country can bid electronically. The system provides real-time price information, quality assaying through standardized methods, online payment facilities, and logistical support for transportation. Farmers benefit from competitive bidding that often yields better prices than traditional mandi systems, elimination of information asymmetry, and reduction in post-harvest losses through direct linkages with buyers. The platform also maintains price transparency by displaying historical and current prices across markets.

Why: Agricultural marketing reforms and farmer welfare are high-priority topics for UPSC GS Paper 3 (Agriculture). Questions on APMC reforms, Minimum Support Price (MSP), farmer income doubling, agricultural value chains, and technology in agriculture appear frequently. Understanding e-NAM’s role in creating One Nation One Market for agriculture, challenges in implementation (interstate trade barriers, varying state APMC Acts, digital literacy), comparison with farm reform laws (repealed 2021), and the balance between open markets and farmer protection helps answer questions on agricultural policy, market reforms, and rural economy comprehensively.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) sandbox to enable fintech companies and banks to test innovative use cases for the digital rupee (e-rupee). The pilot programme, which began in December 2022, has already reached 7 million users across India. The sandbox provides a controlled testing environment where participants can experiment with new features, payment mechanisms, and business models before full-scale deployment.

How: The CBDC operates as a digital token representing legal tender issued directly by the central bank, combining the efficiency of digital payments with the safety of physical currency. Unlike cryptocurrencies, it is backed by sovereign guarantee and maintains stable value. The retail pilot allows users to make person-to-person and person-to-merchant payments through digital wallets, even offline using near-field communication technology. The sandbox enables testing of programmable payments (automatic execution based on conditions), smart contracts for complex transactions, cross-border payment settlements, and integration with existing payment systems like UPI and NEFT.

Why: Central Bank Digital Currencies and monetary policy innovations are critical topics for UPSC GS Paper 3 (Economy and Technology). Questions on digital currency versus cryptocurrency, financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, payment system security, and RBI’s role in digital finance appear regularly. Understanding CBDC’s distinction from UPI (RBI liability versus bank liability), advantages over physical currency (reduced printing costs, traceability, financial inclusion), potential challenges (privacy concerns, bank disintermediation, cybersecurity risks), and global CBDC developments (China’s digital yuan, ongoing pilots) helps answer questions on financial innovation, monetary sovereignty, and the future of money comprehensively.

What: Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature for his visionary and apocalyptic prose that explores profound existential themes through unconventional narrative structures. Known for his distinctive style featuring extremely long sentences, minimal punctuation, and meditative pacing, Krasznahorkai’s works include “Satantango,” “The Melancholy of Resistance,” and “Seiobo There Below,” which have been translated into numerous languages and adapted into acclaimed films.

How: Krasznahorkai’s literary technique employs extended, flowing sentences that can span entire pages without breaks, creating an immersive, hypnotic reading experience. His narratives often depict isolated communities, philosophical investigations into human existence, and apocalyptic visions of civilization’s decline. The author draws inspiration from Hungarian literary traditions while incorporating elements of European philosophy, particularly nihilism and existentialism. His collaboration with filmmaker Béla Tarr resulted in cinematic adaptations that mirror his literary style—slow, contemplative, and visually stunning—bringing international recognition to his work beyond literary circles.

Why: Nobel Prize achievements and literary contributions are relevant for UPSC GS Paper 1 (Culture) and general awareness sections. Questions on Nobel laureates, particularly those addressing human condition and philosophical themes, cultural diplomacy, and contributions to world literature appear in preliminary examinations. Understanding the Nobel Prize selection process, thematic evolution in literature (modernism to postmodernism), and the role of translation in making regional literature globally accessible helps answer questions on cultural heritage, soft power, and international recognition comprehensively. The award also highlights Central European literary traditions and Hungary’s cultural contributions.

What: India will host the 8th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from October 27-30, 2025, bringing together representatives from 124 member nations. The ISA, headquartered in Gurugram, India, is an international organization initiated by India and France during COP21 in 2015, dedicated to promoting solar energy deployment, mobilizing investment, and facilitating technology transfer among solar-resource-rich countries, particularly in the tropics.

How: The Assembly serves as the apex decision-making body of ISA, reviewing progress on initiatives like the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) project for transnational electricity grids, the ISA Solar Finance Facility for affordable project financing, and capacity-building programs for solar professionals. Member nations discuss policy frameworks, share best practices in solar deployment, coordinate research and development efforts, and commit to collective targets for solar capacity addition. The gathering facilitates South-South cooperation, with developed nations providing technical and financial support to emerging economies for accelerating solar transitions while addressing challenges like intermittency, storage, and grid integration.

Why: International cooperation on climate change and renewable energy are critical topics for UPSC GS Paper 2 (International Relations) and Paper 3 (Environment). Questions on ISA’s structure and initiatives, India’s climate diplomacy, global energy transition, technology transfer mechanisms, and multilateral environmental agreements appear regularly. Understanding ISA’s distinction from other climate forums (UNFCCC, Mission Innovation), India’s leadership role in global climate action, the concept of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” solar diplomacy as soft power, and practical challenges in renewable energy cooperation (financing gaps, technology access, capacity building) helps answer questions on India’s foreign policy priorities, climate governance, and sustainable development goals comprehensively.

What: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated India’s first electric truck battery swapping station in Sonipat, Haryana, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition to clean logistics. The facility enables heavy-duty electric trucks to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones in minutes, addressing the primary challenge of long charging times that limit electric vehicle adoption in commercial transport. The initiative promises 50-60% lower battery costs through shared battery infrastructure.

How: Battery swapping stations maintain an inventory of fully charged batteries that can be rapidly exchanged for depleted ones, typically within 5-10 minutes compared to 1-2 hours for fast charging. The model separates vehicle ownership from battery ownership—operators lease batteries as a service, reducing upfront vehicle costs significantly. Centralized charging infrastructure enables optimal charging during off-peak electricity hours when renewable energy is abundant and rates are lower, improving economics and grid integration. The system uses standardized battery packs with automated handling equipment, real-time battery health monitoring, and predictive maintenance to maximize battery life and reliability.

Why: Electric mobility and green logistics are high-priority topics for UPSC GS Paper 3 (Environment and Infrastructure). Questions on electric vehicle adoption challenges, battery technology, charging infrastructure, emission reduction strategies, and sustainable transport policy appear regularly. Understanding the battery swapping versus fixed charging debate (capital costs, convenience, standardization challenges), the role of heavy-duty vehicles in emission reduction (trucks contribute disproportionately despite smaller numbers), policy incentives under FAME scheme, battery recycling and circular economy considerations, and grid integration challenges helps answer questions on climate mitigation, urban air quality improvement, and India’s net-zero commitments comprehensively. The economics of total cost of ownership for electric versus diesel trucks is also crucial for policy analysis.