GK One-Liners

What: The Government of India and Zomato signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide 2.5 lakh flexible jobs annually through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. A new ‘Aggregator’ category has been created to accommodate gig economy job listings.

How: The NCS portal, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, will list delivery and logistics jobs from Zomato. Job seekers can register, apply, and track applications digitally. The ‘Aggregator’ category recognises platform-based employment as a legitimate job category, formalising the gig economy workforce.

Why: Gig economy regulation and employment schemes are emerging UPSC topics. The NCS portal was launched in 2015 to connect job seekers with employers. Link this to the Code on Social Security 2020, which includes provisions for gig and platform workers. This MoU demonstrates public-private partnership in employment generation.

What: Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), located in Visakhapatnam, has been granted Mini Ratna Category-I status by the Government of India. This gives HSL greater operational autonomy for defence innovation, capital expenditure, and joint ventures under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

How: Mini Ratna status is granted to profit-making Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). Category-I requires three consecutive years of profit and positive net worth. HSL can now make investments up to ₹500 crore or equal to net worth (whichever is lower) without government approval. This empowers faster decision-making.

Why: PSU categorisation (Maharatna, Navratna, Mini Ratna) is frequently asked in banking and UPSC exams. Key fact: Mini Ratna Category-I can invest up to ₹500 crore independently, while Category-II can invest up to ₹300 crore. HSL is under the Ministry of Defence and builds naval vessels including submarines.

What: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at an altitude of 32,000 feet. The system is capable of deployments above 25,000 feet and integrates NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) for precise navigation.

How: MCPS is designed for High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) jumps used by special forces. NavIC integration provides indigenous satellite-based navigation, reducing dependence on foreign GPS systems. The system enables accurate insertion of paratroopers in hostile terrain.

Why: NavIC is India’s regional navigation satellite system covering India and 1,500 km beyond—a key fact for Science & Tech. DRDO’s parachute systems support Aatmanirbharta in defence. HALO/HAHO jumps are used for covert operations—useful context for defence-related questions.

What: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and NTT DATA, a Japanese IT services company, signed an MoU to launch Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Japan. This will enable Indian tourists to make QR-based payments at Japanese merchants using their existing UPI apps.

How: NPCI International partners with local payment networks to enable UPI acceptance abroad. Japanese merchants will display UPI-compatible QR codes, which Indian visitors can scan using apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm. Transactions are processed in real-time through the UPI infrastructure.

Why: UPI’s global expansion is a key current affairs topic for banking exams. Countries where UPI is already operational: Singapore, UAE, Bhutan, Nepal, France, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius. NPCI International was established in 2020 to drive international adoption of India’s payment systems including UPI and RuPay.

What: IndiaAI, the government’s AI mission body, launched a Face Authentication Challenge with a prize pool of ₹2.5 crore. The challenge aims to develop AI-based face verification systems to prevent impersonation in competitive examinations. Applications close on October 25, 2025.

How: Participants will develop facial recognition algorithms that can authenticate candidates in real-time during exams. The systems must be accurate, spoof-resistant, and work across diverse Indian demographics. Winners will potentially have their solutions deployed in national-level examinations to curb malpractice.

Why: IndiaAI Mission was launched to position India as a global AI hub. Exam integrity has become a national issue after recent paper leak scandals. This challenge demonstrates AI’s role in governance—a cross-cutting theme for UPSC Science & Tech and Ethics papers. Know IndiaAI’s focus areas: compute infrastructure, datasets, and application development.

What: The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global warning after detecting 48.6% Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in cough syrups linked to 21 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) confirmed these contaminated products were not exported.

How: Diethylene Glycol is an industrial solvent toxic to humans, especially children. It was likely used as a cheaper substitute for pharmaceutical-grade glycerin. CDSCO, India’s drug regulatory body, has initiated investigations and recalls. WHO’s alert warns other countries to be vigilant about similar substandard medicines.

Why: Drug regulation and CDSCO’s role are important for UPSC GS-II (Health) and Science & Tech. This is not India’s first DEG contamination incident—similar cases occurred in Gambia (2022). Know CDSCO’s functions: drug approval, quality control, and import regulation under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.