• 20 Nov 2025

Birth Anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai

Why in News?

The nation paid tribute to Rani Lakshmibai on her birth anniversary, honouring her role as one of the most iconic leaders of the 1857 revolt and a symbol of resistance against British rule.

Key Points

• Early Life:
  • Rani Lakshmibai was born on 19th November 1828 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and was originally named Manikarnika. 
  • During her childhood, she received formal training in horse riding, fencing, and shooting, reflecting her early inclination toward physical strength and martial skills. 
  • She grew up alongside notable companions such as Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope, who later became prominent figures in the 1857 uprising.
• Manikarnika Becomes Rani of Jhansi:
  • At the age of fourteen, Manikarnika married Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar of Jhansi and was thereafter known as Rani Lakshmibai. 
  • She gave birth to a son who died in infancy, after which the royal couple adopted a son, Damodar Rao, from the Maharaja’s extended family to succeed the throne.
• Role in the Struggle for Independence:
  • After the death of Gangadhar Rao in 1853, the British Governor-General Lord Dalhousie refused to recognise the adopted heir and attempted to annex Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse. 
  • Rani Lakshmibai opposed this move and led a remarkable resistance against British forces, defending Jhansi with exceptional courage. 
  • She continued fighting even after leaving Jhansi and ultimately died on the battlefield on 17th June, 1858. 
  • Her legacy continued to inspire freedom movements, including the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the first women’s unit of the Indian National Army formed in 1943.

Doctrine of Lapse

• The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy implemented during the tenure of Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856). 
• It stipulated that any princely state under British influence would be annexed if its ruler died without a natural male heir, and adopted sons would not be recognised as successors. 
• Using this doctrine, Dalhousie annexed several states including Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854).

Spiritual Economic Zones

Why in News?

The state government of Uttarakhand has announced the creation of two “Spiritual Economic Zones” with the aim of boosting tourism by leveraging the region’s spiritual, cultural and natural heritage.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand will establish two zones—one in Garhwal and one in Kumaon—each developed as integrated hubs for spiritual and wellness-based tourism.
• These zones will promote activities such as yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, naturopathy, and the showcasing of local mountain products and handicrafts.
• Each zone will host cultural programmes and events to highlight the state’s traditional practices, spiritual identity, and indigenous healing systems.
• The government has stated that implementation will begin within the current financial year of 2025-26.
• Additionally, one village in each of Uttarakhand’s 95 blocks will be developed as a “spiritual village” to create widespread tourism-linked livelihood opportunities.

Tesla’s First Centre in India

Why in News?

Tesla, the US-based electric vehicle (EV) company is opening its first full-scale India centre on 26th November 2025 at the Orchid Business Park in Gurugram, marking a major launch in its Indian retail strategy. 

Key Points

• About Gurugram Centre:The new centre in Gurugram is intended to act as a showroom, delivery hub and service centre for the Indian market, signalling a stronger physical presence. This follows Tesla’s earlier openings of experience centres in Mumbai and New Delhi.
  • India became Tesla’s 50th global market when it launched two imported variants of the Model Y in the country.
  • Tesla sold 104 units in retail during September–October, according to registration data from the government-backed Vahan portal.
• About Vahan Portal:
  • It is a government-run national database that maintains comprehensive vehicle registration records across India. 
  • It is operated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and provides real-time information on vehicle sales, new registrations, and compliance details. 
  • Owing to its accuracy and nationwide coverage, the portal serves as a credible data source for assessing EV adoption trends and other transport-sector developments.

Sounds of Kumbha

Why in News?

The music album Sounds of Kumbha, which was commissioned by the Uttar Pradesh government and inspired by the Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj, has been nominated for the 68th Grammy Awards.

Key Points

• The album “Sounds of Kumbha” is a 12-track production by Siddhant Bhatia, featuring over 50 global artists including Grammy winners.
• The album is deeply rooted in the Maha Kumbh experience, capturing ambient sounds of the pilgrimage, river confluence, chants and rituals, thereby reflecting India’s cultural heritage on a global platform.
• It has been nominated in the Best Global Music Album category alongside renowned acts such as Anoushka Shankar and the band Shakti.
• The 68th Grammy ceremony is scheduled for 1st February, 2026 in Los Angeles.

Grammy Awards

• The Grammy Awards are presented annually by the Recording Academy in the United States to honour outstanding achievements in the music industry.
• They are considered one of the “Big Three” major Americanl music awards, alongside the Billboard Music Awards and the American Music Awards.
• The awards are known for recognising both artistic excellence and technical proficiency, covering performers, composers, producers, sound engineers, and arrangers.

BIRSA 101

Why in News?

The Minister of Science & Technology has launched “BIRSA 101”, India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease.

• Named after  Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary (15th November 2025), the therapy strengthens India’s push for a “Sickle-Cell-Free Nation,” with significant benefits for affected tribal communities in central and eastern India.

Key Points

• About BIRSA 101:
  • The gene therapy was developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology(CSIR-IGIB) and transferred to the Serum Institute of India through a structured technology-transfer agreement, ensuring rapid pathway from lab to market.
  • The public–private model is designed to deliver high-quality, affordable genomic therapies to underserved communities.
• About CRISPR Gene Editing:
  • CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a naturally occurring defence mechanism found in bacteria, used to cut viral DNA.
  • Modern gene-editing uses CRISPR–Cas9, where Cas9 functions like molecular scissors to cut DNA at specific target sites.
  • It enables precise, efficient, and low-cost genome editing, making it a major breakthrough in biotechnology and medical research.
  • First demonstrated as a gene-editing tool in 2012, pioneered by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
    
• About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD):
  • Sickle Cell Disease is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder caused by an HBB gene mutation, producing abnormal Hemoglobin-S that makes red blood cells sickle-shaped and rigid. This leads to anemia, pain crises, infections, and organ complications.
  • It is highly prevalent in tribal communities of central and eastern India and is a focus area under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (2023–2047).
  • Conventional treatment includes hydroxyurea, blood transfusions, and stem-cell transplant.

Buddhist Tourism in Kaushambi

Why in News?

Kaushambi has come into focus as different tourism development projects are underway to boost Buddhist tourism and integrate the district into Uttar Pradesh’s Buddhist Circuit, especially with the launch of the new Vande Bharat services.

Key Points

• Tourism Projects: The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is transforming Kosam Inam village in Kaushambi district into a prominent Buddhist tourism hub, with the construction of an 11-hectare Buddha Theme Park underway. 
  • Other developments in the village include a Common Facility Centre and a theme gate.
• Buddhist monasteries: Kaushambi contains three historically significant Buddhist monasteries:
  • Ghositarama Monastery: This is the most important Buddhist site in Kaushambi. It was built by the wealthy merchant Ghosita and is where the Buddha spent his sixth and ninth rainy season retreats (varshavasas) and delivered many important sermons.
  • Kukuta Monastery: This monastery is explicitly mentioned in ancient Buddhist texts (Tripitakas) as one of the four main establishments of the Order in Kaushambi during the Buddha's time.
  • Pavarikambavana Monastery: Also listed in Buddhist scriptures, this was Pavarika's Mango Grove and was another place where the Buddha stayed and taught in Kaushambi.

Sashastra Seema Bal Celebrates 16th Raising Day

Why in News?

The 48th Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), marked its 16th Raising Day with a formal ceremony on 20th November 2025.

• The 48th Battalion is one of its field units deployed in the Jaynagar sector of Madhubani district, Bihar, responsible for a stretch of the Indo-Nepal border.

Key Points

• The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs tasked with guarding India’s independent border with Nepal and Bhutan, controlling cross-border crimes, trafficking and smuggling.
• It was originally established as the Special Service Bureau in 1963 in the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, with an unconventional mandate to prepare border populations for resistance.
• Following the Kargil Review Committee recommendations, the force was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs and designated a Border Guarding Force. It was officially renamed Sashastra Seema Bal on 15th December, 2003. 
  • It received the mandate to guard the Indo-Nepal border in 2001 and the Indo-Bhutan border in 2004.
• Its authorized strength and functions include border guarding, intelligence, search and rescue, disaster relief, community outreach and preventive operations along the border.