UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CSIR and IGIB Organized Workshop on “BIRSA 101” — India’s First Indigenous CRISPR-Based Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

Q1. Comparable foreign CRISPR-based gene therapies for Sickle Cell Disease, against which India's indigenously developed BIRSA 101 is being positioned as a low-cost alternative, are reported to be priced at approximately how many crore rupees per patient?

  • A. Rs 5–10 crore
  • B. Rs 20–25 crore
  • C. Rs 50–60 crore
  • D. Rs 100–120 crore

Q2. BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR-Cas9-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease, has been developed by which one of the following institutions?

  • A. CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
  • B. CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi
  • C. National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi
  • D. Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad

Q3. India's first indigenous CRISPR-Cas9 based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease, 'BIRSA 101', has been developed by which one of the following institutions?

  • A. CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
  • B. CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi
  • C. National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi
  • D. Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad

Q4. With reference to the genetics of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), consider the following statements: 1. SCD follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, whereas SCT carriers are heterozygous for the mutation. 2. The HBB gene that encodes the beta-globin chain is located on chromosome 11, and the sickling mutation substitutes valine for glutamic acid at the 6th position of the beta-globin chain. 3. Individuals with Sickle Cell Trait (HbAS) are generally asymptomatic except under conditions of severe hypoxia, while HbSS homozygotes manifest the full clinical disease. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. SCD follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, whereas SCT carriers are heterozygous for the mutation.
  2. The HBB gene that encodes the beta-globin chain is located on chromosome 11, and the sickling mutation substitutes valine for glutamic acid at the 6th position of the beta-globin chain.
  3. Individuals with Sickle Cell Trait (HbAS) are generally asymptomatic except under conditions of severe hypoxia, while HbSS homozygotes manifest the full clinical disease.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Sickle Cell Disease, targeted under India's National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, is caused by a point mutation in which one of the following genes and chromosomal locations?

  • A. HBA1 gene on chromosome 16
  • B. HBB gene on chromosome 11
  • C. G6PD gene on the X chromosome
  • D. SPTA1 gene on chromosome 1

Q6. With reference to the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, consider the following States: 1. Kerala 2. Punjab 3. Jharkhand 4. Arunachal Pradesh Which of the above are correctly identified as 'high-focus States' under the Mission?

  1. Kerala
  2. Punjab
  3. Jharkhand
  4. Arunachal Pradesh
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, in how many 'high-focus States' is universal screening of the population in the 0–40 years age group being undertaken?

  • A. 15
  • B. 17
  • C. 19
  • D. 21

Q8. In which year did the Union Cabinet approve the declaration of 15th November, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, as 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas'?

  • A. 2019
  • B. 2020
  • C. 2021
  • D. 2022

Q9. BIRSA 101, described as India's first indigenous CRISPR-Cas9 based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease, has been developed by CSIR-IGIB, an institute that functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, under the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • C. Indian Council of Medical Research, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • D. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q10. The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, which targets universal screening of populations aged 0-40 years across 17 tribal-dominated States to eliminate Sickle Cell Disease by 2047, is implemented primarily by which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of AYUSH

Q11. In the context of regulation of gene therapy products such as BIRSA 101 in India, the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
  • B. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • C. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q12. Which one of the following was the world's first regulator-approved gene therapy based on CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology?

  • A. Lyfgenia (lovotibeglogene autotemcel)
  • B. Zynteglo (betibeglogene autotemcel)
  • C. Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel)
  • D. Skysona (elivaldogene autotemcel)
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

  • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore