1. Khongjom Day: 23 April
Tags: Important Days
Khongjom Day is an annual event celebrated on 23 April to commemorate the soldiers who fought in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.
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The event was held at Kheba Ching in Khongjom, Thoubal district of Manipur.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and GovernorMs. Anusuiya Uikey paid tribute to the martyrs in the programme.
The observance of Khongjom Day commemorates the sacrifices made by the people of Manipur in the fight for freedom and independence.
The Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 took place at Khongjom and marked the beginning of colonial rule in the region.
About Manipur
Formation (as a state) - 1972
Capital and largest city - Imphal
District - 16
Governor - Anusuiya Uikey
Chief Minister -N. Biren Singh (BJP)
Legislative Assembly -Manipur Legislative Assembly (60 seats)
Rajya Sabha -1 seat
Lok Sabha - 2 seats
2. National Panchayati Raj Day: 24 April
Tags: Important Days
Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on 24th April to commemorate the enactment of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Constitution in the year 1993.
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The day is celebrated to acknowledge national local self-governance and democratic decentralisation.
The theme of National Panchayati Raj Day 2023 is 'Sustainable Panchayat: Building Healthy, Water Sufficient, Clean & Green Villages.'
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is the nodal ministry responsible for empowering, enabling and ensuring accountability of Panchayati Raj Institutions for achieving inclusive growth with social justice and efficient service delivery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations in Madhya Pradesh and laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore.
He virtually attended the house warming ceremony of 4.11 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and launched the integrated e-Gram Swaraj and GeM portal for public procurement at the panchayat level.
He launched the campaign "Joint steps towards development" for inclusive development.
He laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various railway projects worth about Rs 2,300 crore and 5 projects of Jal Jeevan Mission worth about Rs 7,853 crore.
About Madhya Pradesh
It is the second largest state of India by area after Rajasthan.
Forests occupy 25.14 percent of its area.
Governor - Mangubhai Patel
Chief Minister - Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Capital - Bhopal
3. World Earth Day: 22 April
Tags: Important Days
World Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on 22 April to show support for environmental protection.
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Its purpose is to create awareness among people about environmental protection.
The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, and is now coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network).
The event is celebrated by over 1 billion people in over 193 countries.
The official theme for World Earth Day 2023 is "Invest in our Planet".
The idea of Earth Day was proposed by peace activist John McConnell at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco in 1969.
The first Earth Day was celebrated on March 21, 1970, and later changed to April 22, 1970 by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson.
World Earth Day was initially focused on the United States, but became an international event in 1990 with events held in 141 countries.
The landmark Paris Agreement was signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, China and 120 other countries on Earth Day 2016.
World Earth Day 2021 theme - 'Restore our Earth'
4. Civil Services Day: 21 April
Tags: Important Days
Every year, on 21st April, National Civil Services Day is celebrated in India as a mark of appreciation to all the officers engaged in various public departments of the country, who work tirelessly to run the administrative machinery of India.
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The theme of Civil Services Day for the year 2023 is Viksit Bharat aimed at 'Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile'.
The theme underlines the resolve and unwavering commitment of the government to achieve a more equitable and prosperous India for all its citizens by engaging in inclusive growth.
The purpose of Civil Services Day is to remind civil servants to work cooperatively and prioritise the welfare of citizens while managing government affairs.
The Central Government of India uses this day to evaluate the performance of various civil service departments, to recognize and reward best performers and organisations, and to honour the efforts of civil service employees.
On this day, the Indian Prime Minister honours civil servants of both the central and state governments for their outstanding contribution to public administration.
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions organises the event in association with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
Civil Services Day is an occasion to reflect on the progress made by civil servants in shaping India's development.
History of National Civil Service Day
The term "civil service" originated during the British era, and referred to employees of the British East India Company who held administrative positions.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the first Home Minister of India after independence, addressed the Administrative Service Officer Probationers on April 21, 1947 at Metcalfe House in Delhi. Hence, this date was chosen to celebrate Civil Services Day.
The first event was organised on 21 April 2006 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi and since then 21 April is celebrated as National Civil Service Day.
5. Chinese Language Day - 20th April
Tags: Important Days
Every year, on April 20, the United Nations Chinese Language Day is observed.
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Its purpose is to celebrate the Chinese language, one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
The day also aims to create a platform for people around the world to learn the Chinese language.
The day creates general awareness about the Chinese language and promotes multilingual culture and diversity among the people.
Significance of the day
The day also aims to remember the contribution of Cangzi, a mythological figure who is believed to have invented Chinese characters.
Background of the day
The date for Chinese Day was chosen from Gayu ("Rain of Millet"), the sixth of the 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendar.
This day has been chosen to pay tribute to Kangxi. Cangzi is a very important figure in ancient China, claiming to be an official historian of the Yellow Emperor and the inventor of Chinese characters.
In 2010, the United Nations Department of Public Information (now the Department of Global Communications) announced the launch of United Nations Language Day.
It aims to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity and to promote the equal use of the six official languages.
Chinese Language Day was celebrated for the first time on 12 November 2010 and since 2011 the United Nations Chinese Language Day is celebrated on 20 April.
Official languages of the united nations
There are six official languages of the United Nations.
These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish and the United Nations has established language days for its six official languages.
United Nations Other Languages Day
March 20 - French Day
April 23 - English Day (birthday of William Shakespeare)
April 23 - Spanish Language Day
June 6 - Russian Language Day (Alexander Ruskin's birthday)
18 December - Arabic Language Day
6. World Liver Day: 19 April
Tags: Important Days
World Liver Day is observed every year on 19 April to raise awareness about liver health and related diseases.
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World Liver Day aims to educate people about the importance of early detection, prevention and treatment of liver diseases.
The theme of World Liver Day 2023 is "Be alert, do regular liver check-ups, fatty liver can affect anyone,"
The day is celebrated in partnership with various local and international organisations that focus on promoting liver health.
Liver is the second largest and most important organ in the human body, responsible for functions such as metabolism, digestion, immunity, toxin filtration, and nutrient storage.
Recent studies in India have shown that 75% of cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are seen in patients who consume little or no alcohol and have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/sq. less than a metre.
According to the World Health Organisation, liver disease is the 10th leading cause of death in India.
About World Health Organization (WHO)
It is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
Formation - 7 April 1948
Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland
Head - Tedros Adhanom (Director General)
Parent Organization - United Nations Economic and Social Council
7. World Heritage Day: 18 April
Tags: Important Days
18 April is observed as World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, to raise awareness of the importance of protecting cultural heritage around the world.
It aims to celebrate the diversity of World Heritage and promote recognition of the value of preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
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The theme of World Heritage Day 2023 is "Heritage of Change", which addresses issues related to traditional knowledge and knowledge systems in the context of climate action.
The day is celebrated to promote appreciation and understanding of cultural heritage through various activities, such as exhibitions, cultural programs and guided tours of heritage sites.
The day emphasises the role of cultural heritage in supporting appropriate protections for vulnerable communities in climate action and responding to the United Nations Decade of Action.
History of World Heritage Day
The idea of celebrating World Heritage Day was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982.
The resolution was later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1983.
The date of 18 April was chosen for World Heritage Day by UNESCO in 1982 to commemorate the adoption of the Convention relating to the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The convention was created to preserve and protect important cultural and natural sites around the world, recognizing their universal value and importance to humanity.
About ICOMOS
Established - 1965
President - Teresa Patricio
Headquarters - Paris
8. World Hemophilia Day: 17 April
Tags: Important Days
World Hemophilia Day is observed every year on 17 April to mark the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, who founded the World Federation of Hemophilia.
The main purpose of this day is to raise awareness and provide information about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
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The theme for World Haemophilia Day 2023 is "Access for All: Partnership, Policy, Progress - Engaging Governments to Integrate Inherited Bleeding Disorders into National Policy."
The theme emphasizes the importance of partnership and collaboration between various stakeholders, including governments, in ensuring access to appropriate care and treatment for individuals with hemophilia and other hereditary bleeding disorders.
The theme also highlights the need to integrate these conditions into national policies to improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of these disorders.
The first World Hemophilia Day was observed in 1989 with the aim of raising awareness about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
The World Federation of Hemophilia encourages people around the world to wear red on World Hemophilia Day as a symbol of solidarity with those affected by hemophilia.
Hemophilia is a rare medical condition in which the blood does not clot properly due to a lack of specific clotting factors. This leads to prolonged bleeding, which can be dangerous and life-threatening in some situations.
9. Save The Elephant Day: 16 April
Tags: Important Days
Save the Elephant Day is observed every year on 16 April and the day aims to promote awareness of the issues faced by elephants and inspire efforts to protect these majestic animals.
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The day provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of elephants, the challenges they face and the actions that can be taken to protect their existence.
The theme of Save the Elephant Day 2023 is "Protecting Elephant Habitats for a Sustainable Tomorrow".
The theme highlights the importance of conserving the environment on which the survival of elephants depends and underlines the important role they play in promoting a sustainable future for elephants and their habitat.
History of Save The Elephant Day
The event was first celebrated on 16 April 2012 and is now celebrated every year.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a non-profit organisation in Kenya, inspired the creation of Save the Elephant Day.
The organisation recognized the need for a global awareness campaign to highlight the threats faced by elephants, such as poaching, habitat loss and conflict with humans.
Save the Elephant Day aims to educate people about the importance of protecting elephants and encourage actions that support their conservation efforts.
In 1992, the Government of India launched Project Elephant, a centrally sponsored scheme with the goal of protecting elephants and their habitat, addressing the issue of man-animal conflict, and promoting the welfare of captive elephants.
10. World Chagas Disease Day: 14 April
Tags: Important Days
World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on 14 April to raise awareness about the deadly disease caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite.
An Overview of the News
- The theme for World Chagas Disease Day 2023 is "Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care" to encourage universal care and surveillance at the most decentralised level of the health system.
- The disease is commonly known as American trypanosomiasis, the silent disease and mainly affects people living in rural areas with poor sanitary conditions, especially those who are poor.
- In humans, the disease is transmitted by the triatomine bug, commonly known as the kissing bug.
- Without treatment, Chagas disease can cause severe heart and digestive changes and can be fatal.
- Chagas disease can be transmitted to humans through various means such as consumption of contaminated food, blood transfusions, or contact with infected wild animals.
