GK One-Liners

What: The Union Cabinet approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The CPC is a temporary constitutional body mandated to submit recommendations within 18 months. Implementation is expected from January 2026, affecting over 1 crore central government employees and pensioners.

How: Pay Commissions review salary structures, allowances, and pension benefits for central government employees. The ToR typically includes examining pay scales, rationalising allowances, recommending minimum pay, and suggesting performance-linked incentives. The 7th CPC (2016) recommended 2.57 fitment factor; the 8th CPC may propose further revisions based on inflation and fiscal capacity.

Why: Pay Commission recommendations impact fiscal policy and public finance—important for Economy. Know key terms: Fitment Factor (multiplier for pay revision), Minimum Pay, DA (Dearness Allowance), and HRA. Previous CPCs: 1st (1946), 7th (2016). CPC recommendations are not binding but usually accepted. Link to One Rank One Pension (OROP) for defence and similar reforms.

What: ISRO Chairman announced that the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission is 90% complete. The mission will feature Vyommitra, a female humanoid robot, on test flights. ISRO also revealed plans for the Bharatiya Antriksh Station (BAS), India’s own space station, targeted for 2035.

How: Gaganyaan will send Indian astronauts (Gaganauts) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for 3-7 days. Key components include the Crew Module, Service Module, Crew Escape System (tested successfully), and GSLV Mk III (LVM3) launch vehicle. Vyommitra will test life support systems before crewed flights. Four IAF pilots are training as astronaut candidates.

Why: Gaganyaan and India’s space programme are high-priority UPSC topics. Key facts: India will be the 4th country for indigenous human spaceflight (after Russia, USA, China). Vyommitra means “sky friend” in Sanskrit. BAS aligns with India’s vision for sustained space presence. Link to Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and ISRO’s commercial arm (NSIL).

What: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers in Tamil Nadu—the first direct benefit-sharing payout under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework. The payment relates to Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), a valuable timber species endemic to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

How: Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and Nagoya Protocol, users of biological resources must share benefits with local communities. NBA facilitates ABS agreements between companies using genetic resources and the communities that conserve them. This payment recognises farmers’ role in cultivating and conserving Red Sanders.

Why: ABS and biodiversity governance are important for Environment. Know the framework: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nagoya Protocol (2010), and India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002). Red Sanders is a CITES Appendix II species with export restrictions. NBA (HQ: Chennai) works with State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees at local level.

What: The Indian Navy will commission Ikshak, the third indigenously built Survey Vessel (Large), constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. This reinforces India’s self-reliance in shipbuilding and enhances hydrographic survey capabilities.

How: Survey Vessels (Large) conduct deep-sea hydrographic surveys, oceanographic research, and support naval operations with seabed mapping. Ikshak joins INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak in the class. GRSE, a Mini Ratna defence PSU, has delivered over 100 warships to the Indian Navy, demonstrating mature indigenous shipbuilding.

Why: Indigenous defence production and shipyards are important for Security and Economy. Know major defence shipyards: GRSE (Kolkata), MDL (Mumbai), GSL (Goa), CSL (Kochi), and HSL (Visakhapatnam). Link to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, positive indigenisation lists, and the goal of making India a global shipbuilding hub. Survey vessels support both defence and civilian maritime operations.

What: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed Western Ghats, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sundarbans among Asia’s threatened heritage sites in its latest World Heritage Outlook report. Climate change was identified as the primary threat. Khangchendzonga National Park, however, was rated “good.”

How: IUCN’s World Heritage Outlook assesses conservation status of natural World Heritage Sites using three categories: Good, Some Concern, and Critical. Western Ghats faces deforestation and climate impacts; Sundarbans is threatened by sea-level rise and cyclones; Manas struggles with poaching and habitat degradation. These assessments inform UNESCO’s monitoring.

Why: World Heritage Sites and IUCN assessments are important for Environment. India has 7 Natural World Heritage Sites: Western Ghats, Sundarbans, Manas, Kaziranga, Nanda Devi, Valley of Flowers, and Great Himalayan National Park (plus Khangchendzonga as mixed site). Know UNESCO-IUCN relationship: UNESCO designates, IUCN evaluates natural sites. Link to climate adaptation and conservation funding challenges.

What: Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, emphasising safety, stability, and self-reliance in the maritime sector. The event saw participation from 85 countries and announced the launch of Vadhavan Port, a major greenfield port project in Maharashtra.

How: Vadhavan Port (Dahanu, Maharashtra) is being developed as India’s 13th major port with capacity of 298 MTPA, making it one of the world’s largest. It will have deep-draft berths for ultra-large container vessels. The project aligns with Sagarmala (port-led development) and aims to reduce logistics costs and boost EXIM trade.

Why: Maritime infrastructure and Sagarmala are important for Economy. India has 12 major ports under central government; Vadhavan will be the 13th. Know major ports: JNPT, Mumbai, Chennai, Paradip, etc. Maritime India Vision 2030 targets doubling port capacity. Link to PM Gati Shakti, multimodal connectivity, and Blue Economy. India aims to become a maritime hub under Amrit Kaal.