UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 18th November 2025
Source: The Hindu
Relevance: UPSC GS-I Modern Indian History – Revolutionary Nationalism, HSRA
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965)
- Central Assembly Bombing (1929)
- Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
- Inquilab Zindabad slogan
- Delhi Assembly Bomb Case
- Quit India Movement (1942)
For Mains:
- Role of lesser-known freedom fighters
- Historical erasure and post-independence neglect
- Political prisoner conditions in British India
- Bhagat Singh–Dutt ideological partnership
- Debate on public commemoration and portraits in Parliament
Why in News?
November 18 marks the birth anniversary of Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965), the revolutionary who played a crucial role in the 1929 Central Assembly Bombing alongside Bhagat Singh. Despite his courage, long imprisonment, and sacrifices, Dutt remains largely absent from national memory, highlighting how India selectively remembers its revolutionaries.
Background: The Assembly Bombing and the Revolutionary Moment
On April 8, 1929, two young revolutionaries shook British rule by throwing harmless bombs into the Central Assembly Hall in Delhi, shouting “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Down with Imperialism.” Newspapers rushed to report the incident, and the world learned the names Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt. While Singh became legendary, Dutt slowly vanished from public consciousness, despite equal bravery.
A Revolutionary’s Journey
- Born in Burdwan, Bengal in 1910.
- Convicted in the Delhi Assembly Bomb Case on June 12, 1929.
- Spent nine years in harsh prisons: Multan, Jhelum, Trichinopoly, Salem, Andamans.
- Undertook repeated hunger strikes, twice fasting for over one month.
- Was in Salem Jail when Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev were executed on March 23, 1931.
- Released in 1938, rearrested during Quit India Movement (1942); jailed for four more years.
- Married Anjali, settled in Patna, daughter Bharti.
- Post-independence life marked by economic hardship.
- Coal depot allotted by Bihar govt failed; received only a symbolic six-month nomination to the Legislative Council.
Final Years: Illness, Neglect, and a Revolutionary’s Death
- Developed bone cancer in the mid-1960s.
- Spent eight months in AIIMS, New Delhi under Dr. Vig, who said only a “painless death” was possible.
- Plans to send him abroad dropped; Delhi care deemed equivalent.
- Died on July 20, 1965.
- As per his last wish, cremated at Hussainiwala beside Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev.
- Funeral attended by President, PM, ministers, but remembrance faded soon after.
Neglect and the Politics of Memory
- Parliament building still lacks portraits of Bhagat Singh and Dutt.
- Yet V. D. Savarkar’s portrait occupies a prominent place.
- In 2014, MPs Dharamvira Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury demanded inclusion of Bhagat Singh’s portrait; the demand was ignored.
- Dutt’s erasure documented by Chaman Lal Azad in Bhagat Singh aur Dutt ki Amar Kahani (1966).
- Book contains Bhagat Singh’s letters, Gandhi’s letter to Dutt, rare photos, eyewitness accounts.
- Remains out of print due to copyright issues.
- Dutt shared memories of comrades like Hari Kishan Talwar and Ehsan Ilahi.
- Criticised early films on Bhagat Singh; approved Manoj Kumar’s Shaheed (1965).
A Bond Beyond Martyrdom
- Mata Vidyawati, Bhagat Singh’s mother, lived with Dutt during his final days.
- She sold a gifted epic poem to fund his treatment.
- Comrades Shiv Verma, Sadashiv Malkapurkar, Kiran Das regularly visited him.
- Senior leaders, including Gulzari Lal Nanda, Y. B. Chavan, Jagjivan Ram, Swaran Singh, and Dr. Sushila Nayyar, visited him in hospital.
- Respect and sympathy rarely translated into material support during his life.
Legacy: A Revolutionary Forgotten
- Dutt admired Bhagat Singh’s intellectual depth and socialist ideals.
- Noted Singh was “far-sighted, always with a book in hand.”
- Yet national memory celebrated Bhagat Singh while Dutt slipped into obscurity.
- Works like Justice Anil Verma’s Bhagat Singh ke Sahyogi: Batukeshwar Dutt and Bhairav Lal Das’s Viplvi Batukeshwar Dutt attempt to revive his legacy.
- His life reflects how many revolutionaries were briefly honoured, rarely remembered, and largely neglected despite immense sacrifices.
Conclusion
Batukeshwar Dutt’s life reflects the courage of a revolutionary and the tragedy of a nation that forgot one of its own heroes. Despite his sacrifices, he remained marginalised in independent India’s memory. Remembering Dutt is essential not only to honour his contribution but also to correct historical neglect and ensure that the legacy of all freedom fighters is preserved with dignity.
UPSC PYQ
Assertion–Reason (CDS-I/2002)
Assertion (A): Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Legislative Assembly in 1929.
Reason (R): They wanted to kill some members of the Legislative Assembly as revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Options
- Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
- Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- A is true but R is false
- A is false but R is true
Correct Answer: (3) A is true but R is false
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements about Batukeshwar Dutt:
- He was a member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
- The 1929 Assembly bombing was intended as a symbolic protest, not to cause casualties.
- He came in contact with Bhagat Singh during his college days in Kanpur.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (c) All three
Source: The Indian Express
Relevance: GS Paper II (Polity & Governance — Laws, Rights), Prelims (NDPS Act definitions & punishments), GS Paper IV / Ethics (legal-ethical tensions)
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- NDPS Act, 1985
- Definition of cannabis (charas, ganja)
- Legal status of bhang (not covered under NDPS)
- Section 8(b)
- Kerala High Court ruling (2025)
- Punishment for cultivation
For Mains:
- Cannabis plant vs bhang: legal contradiction
- Right to culture vs NDPS restrictions
- Federal structure: Centre (NDPS) vs States (bhang rules)
Why in News?
- Kerala High Court (Nov 4, 2025) dismissed a petition by a man caught with five cannabis plants on the terrace.
- He argued:
- Plants had no flowering or fruiting tops → So they are not “ganja”.
- Court held:
- NDPS Act makes cultivation of any cannabis plant illegal, regardless of flowering or not.
- The law separates “cannabis plant” from products like ganja or charas.
What Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 Defines Cannabis (Section 2)
- NDPS Act (1985) was enacted due to international pressure, mainly USA, to criminalise cannabis.
- It does not ban all parts of cannabis.
Legal Definitions
Charas
- Resin extracted from cannabis plant.
- Includes hashish oil, any form of separated resin.
Ganja
- Flowering or fruiting tops of cannabis plant.
- Contains the psychoactive component (THC).
Excluded parts
- Leaves and seeds not accompanied by flowering tops.
Therefore, not considered cannabis under NDPS Act.
The Bhang Loophole
- Bhang is made from leaves, which are not illegal under NDPS Act.
- Thus:
- Bhang is NOT a narcotic drug.
- Its consumption is legal under central law.
But Bhang Is Not Completely Free
- NDPS National Policy states:
- States can regulate, permit or ban bhhang.
- Examples:
- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan → licensed bhang shops
- Assam → bhang banned under local law
This creates a unique situation:
You can drink bhang legally at Holi, but cannot grow the plant whose leaves make bhang.
Why Growing Cannabis Is a Crime
Main legal reason
- Section 8(b) NDPS Act:
- Prohibits cultivation of ANY cannabis plant unless government-approved.
Definition under Section 2(iv)
- “Cannabis plant” = ANY plant of genus cannabis, irrespective of:
- Age
- Flowering
- Fruiting
Kerala High Court Clarification
- Act does not distinguish between:
- A mature plant vs a small sapling
- A plant in the ground vs a pot
- “Cultivation” includes:
- Growing
- Raising
- Gardening
- Even keeping in pots
Conclusion:
🔹 You can legally buy bhang, but legally you CANNOT grow the cannabis plant.Difference Between Bhang and Cannabis
| Category | Bhang | Cannabis (Ganja/Charas) |
| Part of Plant Used | Leaves | Flowering tops (Ganja) and Resin (Charas) |
| Legal Status (NDPS Act) | Legal (Leaves are excluded from NDPS definition) | Illegal (Flowers/resin included in NDPS definition) |
| Cultivation | Cannot grow the plant; but bhang consumption is allowed | Growing ANY cannabis plant is illegal |
| Psychoactive Strength | Mild (Low THC) | Strong (High THC) |
| Form of Use | Drinks (bhang thandai), sweets | Smoked, vaped, resin consumed |
| Regulation | Controlled by state laws (licensed shops in some states) | Controlled strictly under NDPS Act |
| Cultural Use | Used in festivals (Holi, Maha Shivaratri) | No cultural sanction under law |
| Purpose | Traditional/religious consumption | Recreational or intoxicant use |
| Legal Reason | Leaves are not considered “cannabis” under law | Flowers/resin are officially defined as cannabis |
Punishments Under NDPS Act
Quantity-Based Punishments
For Ganja
- Small quantity → up to 1 kg
- Jail up to 1 year
- Fine up to ₹10,000
- Commercial quantity → 20 kg or more
- Jail 10–20 years
- Fine ₹1–2 lakh
For Charas
- Small quantity → up to 100 g
- Commercial quantity → 1 kg or more
Punishment for Cultivation
- Growing even one cannabis plant can result in:
- Up to 10 years rigorous imprisonment
- Up to ₹1 lakh fine
Important:
The offence is punishable even if no flowers or Ganja are produced.
Legal Exceptions — Industrial Hemp & Medical Use
Permitted under Section 14
Government may allow cultivation for:
- Industrial use (hemp fibre, seeds)
- Horticultural use
- Medical and scientific research
States that Allow Industrial Hemp
- Uttarakhand — first to issue licences in 2018
- Uttar Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
Medical Cannabis
- CSIR and other research bodies licensed for:
- Medical trials
- Research on cannabis-based medicines
- India’s first medical cannabis clinic opened in Bengaluru in 2020.
International level: Commission on Narcotic Drugs
- It is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the schedules of global drug control conventions.
- It was founded in 1946
- Headquartered in Vienna.
- Global attitudes towards cannabis have changed dramatically since the commencement of the 1961 Convention, with many jurisdictions permitting cannabis use for recreation, medication or both.
- Currently, over 50 countries allow medicinal cannabis programmes, and its recreational use has been legalised in Canada, Uruguay and 15 states of the USA.
Ongoing Legal Challenge to Ban
- Delhi High Court is hearing a petition by:
- Great Legalisation Movement India Trust
- Petition argues:
- Ban on cannabis is arbitrary, unscientific, and violates personal liberty.
- Case is still ongoing.
CARE MCQ
The Kerala High Court (2025) ruled that cultivation of cannabis is illegal even if:
(a) The plant is dried
(b) Only three plants are grown
(c) The plant has no flowering tops
(d) The leaves are not harvested
Answer: (c)
Source: The Indian Express
Relevance: GS Paper II (Polity & Governance — Laws, Rights), Prelims (NDPS Act definitions & punishments), GS Paper IV / Ethics (legal-ethical tensions)
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- NDPS Act, 1985
- Definition of cannabis (charas, ganja)
- Legal status of bhang (not covered under NDPS)
- Section 8(b)
- Kerala High Court ruling (2025)
- Punishment for cultivation
For Mains:
- Cannabis plant vs bhang: legal contradiction
- Right to culture vs NDPS restrictions
- Federal structure: Centre (NDPS) vs States (bhang rules)
Why in News?
- Kerala High Court (Nov 4, 2025) dismissed a petition by a man caught with five cannabis plants on the terrace.
- He argued:
- Plants had no flowering or fruiting tops → So they are not “ganja”.
- Court held:
- NDPS Act makes cultivation of any cannabis plant illegal, regardless of flowering or not.
- The law separates “cannabis plant” from products like ganja or charas.
What Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 Defines Cannabis (Section 2)
- NDPS Act (1985) was enacted due to international pressure, mainly USA, to criminalise cannabis.
- It does not ban all parts of cannabis.
Legal Definitions
Charas
- Resin extracted from cannabis plant.
- Includes hashish oil, any form of separated resin.
Ganja
- Flowering or fruiting tops of cannabis plant.
- Contains the psychoactive component (THC).
Excluded parts
- Leaves and seeds not accompanied by flowering tops.
Therefore, not considered cannabis under NDPS Act.
The Bhang Loophole
- Bhang is made from leaves, which are not illegal under NDPS Act.
- Thus:
- Bhang is NOT a narcotic drug.
- Its consumption is legal under central law.
But Bhang Is Not Completely Free
- NDPS National Policy states:
- States can regulate, permit or ban bhhang.
- Examples:
- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan → licensed bhang shops
- Assam → bhang banned under local law
This creates a unique situation:
You can drink bhang legally at Holi, but cannot grow the plant whose leaves make bhang.
Why Growing Cannabis Is a Crime
Main legal reason
- Section 8(b) NDPS Act:
- Prohibits cultivation of ANY cannabis plant unless government-approved.
Definition under Section 2(iv)
- “Cannabis plant” = ANY plant of genus cannabis, irrespective of:
- Age
- Flowering
- Fruiting
Kerala High Court Clarification
- Act does not distinguish between:
- A mature plant vs a small sapling
- A plant in the ground vs a pot
- “Cultivation” includes:
- Growing
- Raising
- Gardening
- Even keeping in pots
Conclusion:
🔹 You can legally buy bhang, but legally you CANNOT grow the cannabis plant.Difference Between Bhang and Cannabis
| Category | Bhang | Cannabis (Ganja/Charas) |
| Part of Plant Used | Leaves | Flowering tops (Ganja) and Resin (Charas) |
| Legal Status (NDPS Act) | Legal (Leaves are excluded from NDPS definition) | Illegal (Flowers/resin included in NDPS definition) |
| Cultivation | Cannot grow the plant; but bhang consumption is allowed | Growing ANY cannabis plant is illegal |
| Psychoactive Strength | Mild (Low THC) | Strong (High THC) |
| Form of Use | Drinks (bhang thandai), sweets | Smoked, vaped, resin consumed |
| Regulation | Controlled by state laws (licensed shops in some states) | Controlled strictly under NDPS Act |
| Cultural Use | Used in festivals (Holi, Maha Shivaratri) | No cultural sanction under law |
| Purpose | Traditional/religious consumption | Recreational or intoxicant use |
| Legal Reason | Leaves are not considered “cannabis” under law | Flowers/resin are officially defined as cannabis |
Punishments Under NDPS Act
Quantity-Based Punishments
For Ganja
- Small quantity → up to 1 kg
- Jail up to 1 year
- Fine up to ₹10,000
- Commercial quantity → 20 kg or more
- Jail 10–20 years
- Fine ₹1–2 lakh
For Charas
- Small quantity → up to 100 g
- Commercial quantity → 1 kg or more
Punishment for Cultivation
- Growing even one cannabis plant can result in:
- Up to 10 years rigorous imprisonment
- Up to ₹1 lakh fine
Important:
The offence is punishable even if no flowers or Ganja are produced.
Legal Exceptions — Industrial Hemp & Medical Use
Permitted under Section 14
Government may allow cultivation for:
- Industrial use (hemp fibre, seeds)
- Horticultural use
- Medical and scientific research
States that Allow Industrial Hemp
- Uttarakhand — first to issue licences in 2018
- Uttar Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
Medical Cannabis
- CSIR and other research bodies licensed for:
- Medical trials
- Research on cannabis-based medicines
- India’s first medical cannabis clinic opened in Bengaluru in 2020.
International level: Commission on Narcotic Drugs
- It is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the schedules of global drug control conventions.
- It was founded in 1946
- Headquartered in Vienna.
- Global attitudes towards cannabis have changed dramatically since the commencement of the 1961 Convention, with many jurisdictions permitting cannabis use for recreation, medication or both.
- Currently, over 50 countries allow medicinal cannabis programmes, and its recreational use has been legalised in Canada, Uruguay and 15 states of the USA.
Ongoing Legal Challenge to Ban
- Delhi High Court is hearing a petition by:
- Great Legalisation Movement India Trust
- Petition argues:
- Ban on cannabis is arbitrary, unscientific, and violates personal liberty.
- Case is still ongoing.
CARE MCQ
The Kerala High Court (2025) ruled that cultivation of cannabis is illegal even if:
(a) The plant is dried
(b) Only three plants are grown
(c) The plant has no flowering tops
(d) The leaves are not harvested
Answer: (c)
