Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 20 Nov 2023

Indira Gandhi Birth Anniversary

Recently, the Prime Minister has paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary (19^th November 1917 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh).

Indira Gandhi, also known as the Iron Lady of India, was the third and the only female Prime Minister of India, who served from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 to 1984.
- She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.
She led India to victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
She imposed a state of emergency in 1975, suspending civil liberties and democratic rights.
She was assassinated in retaliation for the Operation Blue Star, a military action against the Sikh militants in the Golden Temple.
She was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, posthumously in 1984.

Birth Anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai

The Prime Minister has paid tributes to the symbol of the bravery of Indian women power, Rani Lakshmibai on her birth anniversary(19th November 1828 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh).

Rani Lakshmibai, originally named Manikarnika was one of the brave warriors of India's struggle for Independence and the Queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi.
She married Maharaja Gangadhar Rao at the age of 14, adopting the name Laxmibai. Her son died, and she later adopted Damodar Rao.
In 1853, when the Maharaja of Jhansi died, Lord Dalhousie refused to acknowledge the child and applied the Doctrine of Lapse, and annexed the state.
- According to this, any princely state that was under the direct or indirect control of the East India Company where the ruler did not have a legal male heir would be annexed by the company.
She was one of the leading figures of the Indian Revolt of 1857.
Rani Lakshmibai fought bravely against the British to save her empire from annexation. She died fighting on the battlefield on 17th June 1858.
When the Indian National Army started its first female unit (in 1943), it was named after the valiant queen of Jhansi.

Read more: Rani Lakshmibai

AI-Driven Martian Oxygen: Revolutionizing Mars Missions

Researchers have devised a groundbreaking method using AI-driven chemistry to produce oxygen from Martian meteorites.

By converting meteorites into compounds and creating catalysts, this AI-chemist demonstrated a capacity to produce oxygen under simulated Martian conditions, marking a crucial leap towards self-sustaining Martian exploration.
This innovative approach unlocks the potential for utilizing indigenous resources, steering future missions toward cost-effectiveness and reduced complexity.

Australia Wins ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023

In the final showdown of the Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia clinched victory against India by a margin of six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium situated in Ahmedabad.

The match witnessed a remarkable performance by Australia's Travis Head, who secured a century.
This triumph marked Australia's sixth World Cup title, establishing a new record as they had previously secured victories in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015 editions of the tournament.
- India secured triumph in the World Cup twice, in 1983 and 2011.