GK One-Liners

What: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav represented India at the G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. India reaffirmed its commitment to climate finance obligations, progress on Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and equitable global sustainability frameworks.

How: G20 environment meetings coordinate climate action among the world’s largest economies, which together account for over 80% of global GDP and 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. India advocated for developed nations to meet their $100 billion annual climate finance commitment and pushed for technology transfer to developing countries.

Why: G20 and climate negotiations are staple UPSC topics. Key facts: South Africa holds G20 presidency in 2025; India’s NDCs include 50% non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070. Link to Loss and Damage Fund, Green Climate Fund, and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Indian currency, clarifying legal tender definitions, coinage and banknote issuance processes, and currency operations. The RBI confirmed that the ₹2000 note remains valid legal tender and listed all currency printing presses and mints.

How: The FAQs explain that banknotes are printed at four RBI-owned presses (Dewas, Nasik, Mysuru, Salboni) and one government press (Nashik). Coins are minted at four India Government Mints (Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Noida). RBI issues notes under Section 22 of the RBI Act, 1934, while coins are issued by the Government under the Coinage Act, 2011.

Why: Currency issuance and RBI’s role are fundamental topics for banking exams. Key distinctions: RBI is the sole authority for banknote issuance; Government issues coins; ₹1 note is issued by the Ministry of Finance, not RBI. Know the concept of “legal tender”—coins are legal tender up to certain limits (₹1000 for coins up to ₹10).

What: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) announced the introduction of a ticket rescheduling feature allowing passengers to change their travel date or train by paying only the fare difference, eliminating traditional cancellation charges.

How: Under the new system, passengers can modify their booking within a specified window without cancelling and rebooking. If the new fare is higher, they pay the difference; if lower, the balance is refunded. This reduces financial loss for passengers and streamlines railway operations by retaining bookings rather than processing cancellations.

Why: Railway reforms and IRCTC services are relevant for current affairs and GS-II (Governance). IRCTC is a Mini Ratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways. Link to other recent railway initiatives: Vande Bharat trains, KAVACH safety system, and the Railway Ticketing policy. This reform improves ease of travel—a consumer welfare measure.

What: The 16th Annual Meeting of WHO-IRCH (International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 14–16, 2025. The meeting focused on global cooperation in herbal medicine regulation. India participated under the leadership of the Ministry of Ayush.

How: IRCH is a WHO platform that facilitates cooperation among national regulatory authorities on herbal medicines. It develops guidelines for safety, quality, and efficacy standards. India’s active participation promotes international recognition of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) systems.

Why: WHO’s traditional medicine initiatives and India’s Ayush diplomacy are emerging UPSC topics. WHO released its Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025–2034, which supports integration of traditional medicine into health systems. Link to the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat—the first WHO centre in India.

What: IIT-Madras startup Muse Wearables launched ‘Ring One’, a smart ring integrating health tracking and contactless payments. The device uses tokenisation technology and Secure Element (SE) chip security, enabling tap-to-pay functionality with RuPay cards.

How: Tokenisation replaces sensitive card details with unique tokens, enhancing payment security. The SE chip stores encrypted payment credentials on the ring itself. Health features include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and SpO2 measurement. NPCI has supported the integration for RuPay-based transactions.

Why: Wearable payments and fintech innovation are relevant for banking and technology sections. Know tokenisation concepts: RBI mandated card-on-file tokenisation in 2022; Device Account Numbers (DAN) replace actual card numbers. IIT incubators producing successful startups (like this) demonstrate India’s innovation ecosystem—useful for Essay and GS-III.

What: Union Minister Jitin Prasada is set to inaugurate the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 in Dehradun. The summit serves as a pre-event to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 and focuses on promoting responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption across sectors.

How: The summit will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to discuss AI applications in governance, healthcare, education, and agriculture. Regional events like this help build grassroots understanding of AI and prepare stakeholders for the larger national summit. Uttarakhand is positioning itself as an emerging tech hub.

Why: AI governance and India’s AI strategy are important for UPSC Science & Tech and Essay papers. Know IndiaAI Mission’s pillars: compute infrastructure, AI datasets, AI applications, and AI skilling. The Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), where India is a founding member, promotes responsible AI—link this for international context.