GK One-Liners

What: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) published ‘Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025’, India’s first dedicated forest asset account aligned with the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework. The report documents significant environmental gains including a 22.5% increase in forest cover between 2010-11 and 2021-22, and a 7.32% rise in growing stock volume (total biomass of trees) from 2013 to 2023, providing quantitative valuation of forest ecosystem services.

How: The SEEA framework integrates environmental data with economic accounts, measuring forests not just by area coverage but by their economic value, carbon sequestration capacity, biodiversity contribution, and ecosystem services like water regulation and soil conservation. The accounts use data from the Forest Survey of India’s biennial assessments, satellite imagery analysis, and ground-level surveys to track changes in forest extent, quality, and stock. This methodology allows policymakers to assess trade-offs between economic development and environmental conservation by quantifying the economic cost of forest degradation or the benefit of conservation efforts.

Why: This is crucial for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Environment & Ecology) questions on natural resource accounting, sustainable development indicators, and environmental governance. Questions may focus on the significance of natural capital accounting beyond GDP, India’s forest conservation policies, the role of Forest Survey of India, implementation of National Forest Policy 1988, and international commitments under Paris Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity. The report also connects to Green GDP concepts, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes, and compensatory afforestation mechanisms under the Forest Conservation Act.

What: NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched the ATL Sarthi/Frontier Region programme at the University of Kashmir to establish 500 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across Jammu & Kashmir with an investment of ₹100 crore. The initiative will provide students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things, and 3D printing, aiming to foster innovation culture and problem-solving skills among young learners in the frontier region.

How: Each ATL receives funding for setting up a dedicated innovation workspace equipped with do-it-yourself kits, 3D printers, robotics tools, electronics components, and rapid prototyping equipment. Schools get access to online learning modules, mentor networks, and national innovation challenges. The Sarthi programme provides additional support through innovation ambassadors, regional workshops, and special focus on frontier regions that have historically received less attention in innovation initiatives. Students work on real-world problems under teacher guidance, participating in competitions like the Atal Tinkering Marathon and connecting with the broader ATL community of over 10,000 labs nationwide.

Why: This expansion is significant for UPSC Mains (GS2 – Governance & Social Justice) questions on educational equity, regional development disparities, and innovation ecosystem building. Questions may address NITI Aayog’s role in transforming India’s innovation landscape, the importance of experiential learning in STEM education, bridging the urban-rural digital divide, and special developmental initiatives for Jammu & Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation. The program demonstrates how targeted interventions can mainstream peripheral regions into national development narratives, relevant for questions on inclusive growth and reducing inter-regional disparities.

What: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced a dedicated Food Safety and Standards Compliance System (FoSCoS) licensing pathway specifically for Ayurveda Aahara products to standardize quality and safety norms. This regulatory framework is supported by an Ayush-linked ‘Kind of Business’ category in licensing applications and includes 91 validated Ayurvedic recipes that manufacturers must follow for compliant production, bridging traditional food wisdom with modern food safety regulations.

How: The FoSCoS licensing system creates a distinct regulatory category for foods prepared according to Ayurvedic principles, which differ from conventional food products in ingredients, preparation methods, and claimed health benefits. Manufacturers must register under the Ayurveda Aahara category, follow the 91 validated recipes documented in classical Ayurvedic texts and verified by Ayush experts, maintain hygiene standards per FSSAI norms, and clearly label products with Ayurvedic ingredients and their properties. This dual oversight—FSSAI for safety and Ayush Ministry for authenticity—ensures products are both safe and genuinely Ayurvedic, preventing misbranding and adulteration.

Why: This regulatory innovation is relevant for UPSC Mains questions on integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern governance (GS2 – Governance), health policy (GS2 – Health), and preservation of cultural heritage (GS1 – Culture). Questions may focus on the National AYUSH Mission, challenges in standardizing traditional medicine, intellectual property protection for traditional knowledge, the role of FSSAI in ensuring food safety, and balancing commercial interests with authentic traditional practices. The initiative also connects to India’s efforts to promote Ayurveda globally and the growing wellness industry’s integration with traditional healthcare systems.

What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) officially retired the MiG-21 fighter aircraft on 26 September 2025 after 62 years of service, with the final flight conducted during rehearsals at Chandigarh on 24 September. The Soviet-origin aircraft, inducted in 1963, played significant roles in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Despite its legendary service, the aircraft earned the nickname “Flying Coffin” due to numerous crashes attributed to its single-engine design and aging airframe.

How: The MiG-21 was gradually phased out as the IAF inducted more capable platforms. Replacement aircraft include the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which offers superior avionics, weapons systems, and safety features; the Rafale multi-role fighter jets from France; and eventually the MiG-29 and Su-30MKI upgrades. The retirement process involved transferring pilots to new platforms, decommissioning squadrons sequentially, and preserving some aircraft as museum pieces to honor their legacy. The transition reflects IAF’s broader modernization strategy focusing on multi-role capabilities, reduced dependency on single-engine fighters, and indigenous manufacturing under Make in India.

Why: This retirement is significant for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Defence) questions on military modernization, indigenization of defense equipment, and IAF’s force structure transformation. Questions may address challenges in replacing aging aircraft fleets, the role of Tejas LCA in self-reliance, comparative analysis of single-engine versus twin-engine fighters, defense procurement delays, and the strategic implications of reducing squadron strength below the authorized 42 squadrons. The MiG-21’s history offers case studies for questions on India’s defense partnerships with Soviet Union/Russia and the evolution of India’s military aviation capabilities since independence.

What: Mycologist Kanad Das was appointed as the 13th Director of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), becoming the first “mushroom scientist” (fungal taxonomy expert) to lead the institution since its founding in 1890. Dr. Das has documented 165 new fungal species during his career and plans to focus on digitizing BSI’s vast herbarium collections and developing a comprehensive checklist of Indian fungi, addressing a major gap in documentation of India’s fungal biodiversity.

How: BSI, headquartered in Kolkata with regional centers across India, maintains one of the world’s largest herbarium collections with over 3 million plant specimens. Dr. Das’s digitization initiative will involve high-resolution imaging, DNA barcoding, and creating searchable online databases accessible to researchers globally. The comprehensive fungal checklist project will compile data from field surveys, historical records, and molecular studies to document India’s estimated 27,000+ fungal species, of which only about 14,000 have been described. This work supports biodiversity conservation, identifies economically important fungi, and aids in understanding ecological relationships in various Indian ecosystems.

Why: This appointment is relevant for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Science & Technology, Environment) questions on biodiversity documentation, scientific institutions’ modernization, and mycology’s importance in ecosystems and medicine. Questions may address BSI’s role in botanical surveys and conservation efforts, the significance of fungal diversity (decomposition, nutrient cycling, medicinal compounds), India’s biodiversity hotspots, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and digitization of scientific collections for global research collaboration. Fungi’s role in antibiotic production (like penicillin), food security, and climate resilience makes mycology increasingly relevant for contemporary environmental challenges.

What: According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), smartphone shipments from India to the United States jumped 148% year-on-year in August 2025, reaching approximately $965 million. Overall smartphone exports from India rose 39% to roughly $1.53 billion during the same period. This surge is primarily driven by the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics manufacturing, which has successfully attracted major global brands to establish large-scale manufacturing facilities in India.

How: The PLI scheme, launched in 2020, offers financial incentives (4-6% of incremental sales) to companies manufacturing smartphones and electronic components in India. This has attracted investments from Apple (manufacturing iPhones through Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron), Samsung, Xiaomi, and other major brands. India has transformed from a predominantly import-dependent market to a significant exporter by building a robust supplier ecosystem, improving manufacturing quality to meet international standards, reducing logistics costs through dedicated infrastructure, and negotiating trade agreements that provide preferential market access. The “China+1” strategy adopted by global companies seeking supply chain diversification has further accelerated India’s electronics manufacturing growth.

Why: This export growth is crucial for UPSC Mains (GS3 – Indian Economy) questions on manufacturing sector revival, export promotion strategies, and Make in India initiative. Questions may focus on evaluating the PLI scheme’s effectiveness, comparing India’s electronics manufacturing trajectory with China’s and Vietnam’s, analyzing India’s position in global value chains, challenges in backward integration (component manufacturing), and the relationship between export competitiveness and domestic capability building. The development also relates to India’s trade deficit reduction efforts, employment generation in manufacturing, and positioning India as an alternative manufacturing hub in the context of geopolitical supply chain realignments.