January 23 is observed as Parakram Diwas to commemorate the birth anniversary of which national leader?
January 23 is Parakram Diwas, marking the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (born January 23, 1897, Cuttack, Odisha). Parakram Diwas was first observed in 2021.
💡 Concept Note
Parakram Diwas was declared by the Central Government in January 2021, beginning with Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary. The word Parakram means courage or martial prowess. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945) was born in Cuttack, Odisha. He was twice elected President of the Indian National Congress (1938 and 1939). He resigned from the INC presidency in 1939 after differences with Gandhi and formed the Forward Bloc. He escaped British surveillance in January 1941 (the “Great Escape”) and eventually reached Germany, then Singapore. He died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945, over Taiwan (then Formosa).
In the 2026 Parakram Diwas celebrations, the central venue was Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair). What is the historical significance of this location in the context of Netaji?
Netaji hoisted the Indian Tricolour at Port Blair (now Sri Vijaya Puram) on December 30, 1943, when the Japanese allowed him to administer the Andaman and Nicobar Islands nominally under the Azad Hind Government.
💡 Concept Note
Netaji renamed the islands: Neil Island became Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island became Swaraj Dweep. This was the first time the Indian flag flew on Indian soil, even under Japanese-administered occupation.
CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) is an elite unit of which central security force, specialised for anti-Naxal jungle warfare?
CoBRA is a specialised anti-Naxal jungle warfare unit of the CRPF, consisting of 10 battalions. It was raised in 2008-09 for intelligence-based operations in LWE-affected areas.
💡 Concept Note
CoBRA personnel are trained in deep forest penetration, guerrilla counter-tactics, IED neutralisation, and community relations. They have led major operations in Bastar (Chhattisgarh) and Saranda (Jharkhand).
CPI(Maoist) was formed in 2004 through the merger of which two organisations?
CPI(Maoist) was formed in 2004 through the merger of CPI(ML) People’s War (active mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI, active in Jharkhand and Bihar).
💡 Concept Note
CPI(Maoist) is designated a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). At its peak, it operated in the Red Corridor spanning 106 districts across 10 states.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose ranked 4th in the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination in 1920 but resigned from the ICS in 1921. Who primarily inspired him to do so?
Bose resigned from the ICS in 1921, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement and under the mentorship of Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das). He chose to serve the national movement over a colonial career.
💡 Concept Note
Bose’s resignation from the ICS was a radical act — he ranked 4th in the 1920 ICS exam in London. He then became the political protege of Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das), known as Deshbandhu (Friend of the Motherland), who led the Swaraj Party within the Congress. Bose served as Chief Executive Officer of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (1924) under C.R. Das as Mayor. After Das’s death in 1925, Bose emerged as an independent political leader, becoming INC President in 1938.
The Naxalbari peasant uprising of 1967, which gave birth to the Naxalite movement, took place in which state?
The Naxalbari uprising took place in 1967 in the Naxalbari area of Darjeeling district in West Bengal, led by Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The term Naxal derives from this village.
💡 Concept Note
The Naxalbari movement was influenced by Mao Zedong’s revolutionary theories and sought violent agrarian revolution. It spread rapidly and led to multiple splinter groups over subsequent decades.
What was the Azad Hind Provisional Government, proclaimed by Netaji on October 21, 1943?
Netaji proclaimed the Azad Hind (Free India) Provisional Government in Singapore on October 21, 1943. It was recognised by Axis powers and a few other nations, and commanded the Indian National Army (INA).
💡 Concept Note
The Azad Hind Government had a cabinet structure, issued its own stamps and currency, and had diplomatic recognition from 9 countries. It represented the INA’s political counterpart to its military operations.
The Saranda Action Plan (2011) was launched as a development initiative targeting which region?
The Saranda Action Plan was a ₹73 crore special development package for the Saranda forest region of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, targeting roads, schools, health, and livelihood for tribal communities.
💡 Concept Note
The Saranda Action Plan represented the government’s dual strategy against Naxalism: security operations alongside development outreach to address the grievances that Maoists exploit for recruitment in tribal areas.
The INA trials of 1945-46 at Red Fort in Delhi had a profound impact on the Indian independence movement. Who led the defence of the INA officers?
Bhulabhai Desai led the defence of the INA officers (Shah Nawaz Khan, P.K. Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon) at the Red Fort trials. Nehru also appeared as defence counsel.
💡 Concept Note
The INA trials galvanised Indian public opinion across religious and political lines. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of 1946, partly inspired by the INA spirit, convinced British leaders that the loyalty of the Indian armed forces could no longer be assumed.
Under which legislation is CPI(Maoist) designated as a terrorist organisation in India?
CPI(Maoist) is designated a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). UAPA provides powers to ban organisations, detain suspects, and designate individuals as terrorists.
💡 Concept Note
UAPA (1967, significantly amended in 2008 and 2019) is India’s primary anti-terrorism law. The 2019 amendment allowed designation of individuals (not just organisations) as terrorists. It has been debated for its civil liberties implications.
