The Ministry of Culture is organizing an event to commemorate the 200 years of Rani Channamma’s victory at Kittur. The celebration will take place on October 24, 2025, at Siri Fort Auditorium, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi.
To mark the occasion, a ₹200 commemorative coin featuring the portrait of Rani Channamma will be released, paying tribute to the fearless queen who became one of India’s earliest symbols of resistance against British rule.
Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New & Renewable Energy, will be the Chief Guest at the event. The ceremony will also be graced by the presence of Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, and Shri V. Somanna, Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways. Several dignitaries, historians, cultural scholars, and representatives from Karnataka are expected to attend the commemoration, highlighting Rani Channamma’s enduring legacy and her significant contribution to India’s early freedom struggle.
The year 2024 marked two centuries since Rani Channamma of Kittur, the queen of a small princely state in present-day Karnataka, rose in defiance of the British East India Company’s unjust policies. When the British sought to annex her kingdom under the “Doctrine of Lapse” following the death of her adopted son, Channamma refused to surrender her sovereignty. Instead, she led her army with exceptional courage and strategy, defeating the British forces in a fierce battle that predated the First War of Independence by over three decades. Her valiant stand made her one of the first female warriors in India’s history to fight colonial oppression, earning her a lasting place among the great heroes of the nation.
To continue honoring her unparalleled courage, the Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp on October 23, 2024, marking 200 years of Rani Channamma’s victory at Kittur.
The Ministry of Finance issued a gazette notification on October 22, 2025, officially confirming the release of the ₹200 commemorative coin, which stands as a significant addition to the nation’s numismatic history.
This issue will mark the 25th commemorative coin for the year 2025. The coin not only celebrates Rani Channamma’s indomitable spirit but also reflects India’s continued commitment to honoring its rich heritage and the valor of those who shaped its freedom narrative. Additionally, several more commemorative coin releases are expected this year, as outlined in the upcoming and possibility section.
