GK One-Liners

What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana with a total outlay of ₹24,000 crore. A key component is Mission Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, allocated ₹11,440 crore to boost domestic pulse production and reduce import dependency.

How: The scheme targets improved productivity through better seeds, mechanisation, and irrigation support. It focuses on pulse-growing regions with incentives for farmers to shift to protein crops. The mission also includes minimum support price (MSP) reforms and procurement guarantees to ensure farm income stability.

Why: Agricultural schemes are perennial favourites in UPSC, State PSC, and banking exams. India imports significant quantities of pulses despite being a major producer—this makes self-sufficiency initiatives exam-relevant. Link this to food security, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and nutritional security goals.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the Unified Markets Interface (UMI), a tokenized finance system using wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The launch also includes AI-based UPI HELP for customer grievance redressal and Internet of Things (IoT) Payments for machine-to-machine transactions.

How: UMI enables seamless interbank settlements using digital tokens backed by the RBI. Wholesale CBDC transactions will improve liquidity management and reduce settlement risks. AI-UPI HELP uses artificial intelligence to resolve UPI-related complaints faster, while IoT Payments facilitate automated transactions between connected devices.

Why: RBI initiatives on digital payments, CBDC, and fintech innovation are high-frequency topics in banking exams (IBPS, SBI, RBI Grade B). Understand the difference between retail CBDC (e-Rupee for public) and wholesale CBDC (for financial institutions). IoT Payments signal the future of embedded finance.

What: The 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences (Nobel Prize in Economics) was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their contributions to innovation-driven growth theory and the concept of creative destruction in economics.

How: Their work explains how innovation drives long-term economic growth and why some economies grow faster than others. The concept of “creative destruction” (originally from Joseph Schumpeter) describes how new innovations replace outdated technologies, creating cycles of growth. Their models inform policies on R&D investment, patent systems, and competition law.

Why: Nobel Prize winners are asked in almost every competitive exam. Memorise all 2025 Nobel laureates across categories. Note that the Economics Nobel is technically the “Sveriges Riksbank Prize” established in 1968, not part of Alfred Nobel’s original 1895 will—a common exam trick question.

What: India’s first Semiconductor Innovation Museum was inaugurated in Hyderabad on October 12, 2025, by T-Chip. The museum showcases cutting-edge technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips, humanoid robots, and reusable rocket engine prototypes.

How: The museum serves as both an educational facility and innovation hub, displaying the evolution of semiconductor technology from early transistors to modern AI processors. It aims to inspire students and researchers while supporting India’s semiconductor manufacturing ambitions under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

Why: Semiconductor policy is a hot topic given global chip shortages and India’s push for Aatmanirbharta in electronics. Hyderabad is emerging as a semiconductor hub alongside Gujarat (Dholera) and Karnataka. Questions on semiconductor fabs, chip design, and related government schemes are increasingly common in UPSC Science & Tech.

What: Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025, the bilateral army exercise between India and Australia, was conducted in Perth with 120 Indian Army troops participating. The exercise focused on urban warfare, interoperability, and technology integration in military operations.

How: The drill included joint training in counter-terrorism operations, close-quarter battle techniques, and coordinated urban combat scenarios. Both armies shared best practices in drone warfare, communications systems, and tactical medical evacuation, strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Why: Bilateral defence exercises are frequently asked in exams. Key exercise names to remember: AUSTRAHIND (India-Australia Army), AUSINDEX (Navy), Pitch Black (Air Force). Australia is a QUAD partner—linking this exercise to Indo-Pacific security strategy adds depth to Mains answers.

What: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) relaunched the revamped Sugamya Bharat App. The updated app enhances accessibility for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and the elderly with new features.

How: Key upgrades include an AI-powered chatbot for assistance, support for 10 Indian languages, and crowd-sourced accessibility mapping where users can report barriers in public spaces. The app integrates with the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) launched in 2015 to create barrier-free environments.

Why: Social justice and welfare schemes for vulnerable sections are important for UPSC GS-II and State PSC exams. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and related initiatives like UDID (Unique Disability ID) and Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan form a cluster of exam-relevant topics.