17 January 2025

• Space: ISRO approved a third launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, to support Next Generation Launch Vehicles and Gaganyaan.
• Governance: 8th Pay Commission announced, covering 50 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners.
• International: India ranked 25th globally and 2nd in the "Future of Work" category in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025.
• Technology: SpaDeX docking success made India the 4th docking-capable nation.
• Infrastructure: Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme expanded to seven airports.

GS area: Science and Technology (Space)

The Union Cabinet approved the construction of a third launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.

• Location: Sriharikota is a barrier island in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Established: October 9, 1971 (operational date). Originally named Sriharikota Range (SHAR). Renamed in 2002 after former ISRO chairman Satish Dhawan.
• East coast advantage: The eastern coast provides an eastward launch direction over the Bay of Bengal and then the Indian Ocean. Launches gain momentum from the Earth's rotation (the rotational boost is greatest near the equator).
• Purpose of third pad: To support Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLVs), LVM3 missions, and Gaganyaan crewed flights.
• Design life: The pad is planned to support launches for the next 25-30 years.
• Current pads: First Launch Pad (FLP) and Second Launch Pad (SLP).

Static linkage: Space technology, ISRO (Science and Technology, GS Paper 3).

GS area: Governance, Economy

The Union Cabinet announced the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission.

• Coverage: Approximately 50 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners.
• 7th Pay Commission benchmark: The 7th Pay Commission (implemented 1 January 2016) used a fitment factor of 57, raising the minimum basic pay to Rs 18,000 per month and the maximum to Rs 2,50,000 per month.
• 1st Pay Commission: Constituted in 1946 under the chairmanship of Srinivasa Varadachariar.
• Budget impact: The 7th Pay Commission implementation caused an estimated Rs 1 lakh crore increase in the salary and pension bill in FY 2016-17.
• Purpose of pay commissions: Recommend revisions to salaries and service conditions of central government employees every ten years (approximately).

Static linkage: Governance, public expenditure (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Governance, Infrastructure

The Bureau of Immigration expanded the FTI-TTP to seven airports.

• First launched: June 2024 at Delhi IGI Airport.
• Expansion (16 January 2025): Seven more airports added: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, and Ahmedabad.
• Phase 1 plan: Cover Indian citizens and OCI cardholders at 21 airports.
• Phase 2 plan: Extend to foreign travellers.
• Registration validity: Passport validity period or five years, whichever is earlier.
• Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs through the Bureau of Immigration.
• Benefit: Pre-cleared travellers use automated kiosks, bypassing regular immigration queues.

Static linkage: Governance, digital infrastructure (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Science and Technology (Space)

Following the successful docking on 16 January 2025, ISRO elaborated on the mission implications.

• Gaganyaan and future stations: Docking capability enables the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian space station) to receive crew transfer and resupply missions.
• Lunar programme: Chandrayaan-4, planned as a sample-return mission, requires in-orbit rendezvous and docking of the ascent module with an orbiting vehicle.
• On-orbit servicing: Docking enables extending satellite lifetimes by refuelling or upgrading components in orbit.
• Fourth nation: India joined the USA (Gemini, 1966), Russia (1967), and China (2011) in achieving docking capability.

Static linkage: Space technology (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Economy, Governance (Education)

The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 assessed countries on their readiness for the future labour market.

• Publisher: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based higher education analytics firm.
• India's rank: 25th globally overall.
• India's strong point: 2nd in the "Future of Work" category, after the USA.
• Relevance: The index covers academic readiness, economic transformation, digital skills, and future of work.
• NEP 2020 context: India's National Education Policy 2020 aims to align higher education with employability and emerging skill requirements.

Static linkage: Education, human capital (GS Papers 2 and 3).

• Bharathapuzha River (Kerala): Also called Nila River or Ponnani River. Originates in the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu, flows westward through the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats, and empties into the Arabian Sea. The Malampuzha Dam on this river is Kerala's largest reservoir. Major tributaries include Kannadipuzha and Kalpathipuzha.
• Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan: Launched on Army Day (77th) by the Defence Minister to promote battlefield and border tourism at sites including Galwan Valley, Doklam, Nathu La Pass, and Longewala. Operated jointly by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Tourism.