1. 157th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai
Tags: Person in news Important Days
On 28 January 2022, the 157th birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai has been celebrated across the country.
An overview of the news
Introduction
Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1865 in Punjab.
He is also known as 'Punjab Kesari' and 'Lion of Punjab'.
Lala Lajpat Rai, along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra and Bipin Chandra Pal of Bengal, was a member of the trinity called 'Lal Bal Pal'.
Political and social contribution
Home Rule League of America (New York) founded in 1917.
Presided over the special session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta in 1920. In 1920 itself, the first president of the All India Trade Union Congress was also elected.
In 1928, a resolution was introduced in the Legislature against the Simon Commission.
Servants of Society was founded in 1921.
Played an important role in co-founding the Punjab National Bank in 1894.
Important literary works
England Debt to India
Open Letter to The Right Honourable David Lloyd George: Prime Minister of Great Britain
The Message of the Bhagavad Gita
Unhappy india
The Political Future of India
Young India: The Interpretation and the History of the Nationalist Movement from within
Death
Due to injuries sustained in the lathicharge by James Scott during a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore on 17 November 1928.
2. Data Privacy Day
Tags: Important Days
Data Privacy Day is observed across the world on 28 January every year.
An overview of the news
This year's theme is "Think Privacy First".
The primary objective of organising this day is to sensitise the general public about data privacy and promote the dissemination of privacy practices and principles.
The day encourages all stakeholders to fulfil their responsibility to develop a culture of privacy.
Efforts made to ensure data privacy and security in India
Right to privacy was upheld as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court in KS Puttaswamy vs Union of India in 2017, following which the central government appointed a Justice BN Srikrishna committee to propose legislation to discipline data protection Was.
The committee submitted its report and draft to the government in the form of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018.
It was amended by the Parliament in the year 2019 and this new bill was named as 'The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019'.
Security measures available on apps like WhatsApp
Two-Step Verification: This provides an additional layer of security to their end-to-end encrypted messaging account.
Touch ID or Face ID Lock: This feature is available in various types of phones manufactured by Apple, Samsung, Google etc. Some phones also offer an under-screen fingerprint sensor, which uses ultrasound to image the fingerprint.
Forward Limit: Applications like WhatsApp have set a limit of forwarding messages on five chats at a time. Thus, it restricts the exchange of information and prohibits the spread of misinformation.
3. International Customs Day
Tags: Important Days
On the occasion of 74th Republic Day, another important day is being celebrated all over the world on 26 January which is called International Customs Day.
An overview of the news
The role and contribution of customs agencies is remembered on this day.
The day marks the contribution of officers as well as their challenging working conditions.
Customs agencies play an important role in the smooth flow of goods across borders.
The theme of 2023 International Customs Day is- ‘Nurturing the next generation: promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and professional pride in Customs’.
Background of the day
The day was first established in 1953 and ratified by the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) for the first time.
The session was inaugurated in Brussels, Belgium. Many delegates from 17 European countries participated in it.
Later in the year 1994, CCC was renamed as World Customs Organization (WCO).
Presently, WCO consists of 182 member states around the world.
Significance of the day
It is the customs department that establishes a strong bond between the countries.
The Customs Department is the agency that collects tariffs and manages the flow of goods across borders.
The day is a reminder of the hard work done by customs agents to hold government securities.
4. Himachal Pradesh Foundation Day
Tags: State News Important Days
January 25 is celebrated as Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day, Himachal Pradesh was granted full statehood on January 25, 1971.
An overview of the news
Background of the State
After India's independence, Himachal Pradesh was formed on April 15, 1948 by uniting 30 hill princely states of the region.
It was granted the status of a Union Territory on November 1, 1956.
After this, in the year 1966, the hilly areas of Punjab were included in Himachal Pradesh.
On December 18, 1970, the Parliament passed the Himachal Pradesh Act, and on January 25, 1971, Himachal Pradesh came into existence as a full-fledged state and became the 18th state of India.
Himachal Pradesh State
The state is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Punjab to the west and southwest, Haryana to the south, Uttarakhand to the southeast, and China to the east.
Capital: Shimla
Chief Minister - Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
State Symbol
State Animal: Snow Leopard
State Bird: Western Tragopan
State Flower: Pink Rhododendron
5. 13th "National Voter's Day"
Tags: Important Days
On January 25, 2023, the country's 13th "National Voters' Day" is being celebrated.
An overview of the news
The theme of this year's National Voters' Day (NVD) is 'Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure'.
Background Of The Day
It was started in the year 2011 in the context of the establishment of the Election Commission of India.
The Election Commission came into existence on January 25, 1950, on the eve of the first Republic Day of independent India.
Purpose
The main objective of National Voters' Day is to create electoral awareness among the citizens and encourage them to participate in the electoral process.
Organising Events
A national function will be organised by the Election Commission in New Delhi in which President Draupadi Murmu will attend as the chief guest and present the National Awards for the year 2022.
The first copy of the book 'Electing the First President - An Illustrated Chronicle of India's Presidential Election', published by ECI, will be presented to the President by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on the occasion.
The song “Main Bharat Hoon – We are the Voters of India” produced by ECI in association with Subhash Ghai Foundation will also be launched.
6. International Education Day
Tags: Important Days
International Day of Education is celebrated every year on 24 January to spread awareness about education globally and to make education accessible to all.
An overview of the news
The theme of the International Day of Education for the year 2023 is 'To Invest in People, Prioritise Education'.
This year is the fourth edition of International Education Day.
It was announced by the United Nations General Assembly on 3 December 2018 to celebrate International Education Day on 24 January every year.
This proposal of International Education Day was prepared by 58 countries including Nigeria.
UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education for the year 2023 to Afghan girls and women.
National Education Day
National Education Day in India is celebrated every year on 11 November.
National Education Day in India is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the country's first education minister.
National Education Day was started in the year 2008.
7. National Girl Child Day
Tags: Important Days
National Girl Child Day is celebrated across the country on 24 January.
An overview of the news
National Women Child Day aims to highlight the prejudice and injustice towards girls.
The day also encourages awareness of women's rights in our country.
The main objective of this day is to change the attitude of the society towards the girl child, reduce female feticide and create awareness about the declining sex ratio.
The Government of India has not officially announced the theme of National Girl Child Day 2023.
An event is being organised with the theme "Self Defence Training for Girls".
'Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow' was the theme of 2019.
In 2020, the theme was 'My voice, our common future'. The theme of National Girl Child Day in 2021 was 'Digital Generation, Our Generation'.
Background of the day
National Girl Child Day was first started in the year 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The main objective of this day is to raise awareness about the inequalities that girls face in education, employment, dress and various other fields.
To mark the occasion this year, the Department of Women and Child Development is celebrating National Girl Child Week from 24 to 30 January.
8. Parakram Diwas : 126th Birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Tags: Important Days
The birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose on 23 January is celebrated every year as Parakram Diwas to inspire the people of the country, especially the youth.
An overview of the news
Its aim is to work with patience in the face of adversity like Netaji and to inculcate the spirit of patriotism.
It was on this day in 1897, that Neta Ji was born in Cuttack, Odisha.
What is Parakram Diwas and why is it celebrated?
To honour and remember Netaji's indomitable courage and selfless service to the nation, the Government of India decided to celebrate his birthday on 23 January every year as Parakram Divas.
Subhash Chandra Bose and his Role in Indian Independence Struggle
Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose.
In 1919, he passed the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination. Later he resigned from this post.
He was deeply influenced by the teachings of Vivekananda and regarded him as his spiritual master. His political mentor was Chittaranjan Das.
He worked with Jawaharlal Nehru and became the Congress Party’s young leaders gaining popularity among the people.
He advocated complete Swaraj and was in favour of using force to achieve it.
Bose's ideology was inclined towards socialism and leftist authoritarianism. He formed the All India Forward Bloc in 1939 as a faction within the Congress.
He arrived in Singapore from Germany in July 1943, from where he issued his famous slogan 'Delhi Chalo' and announced the formation of the Azad Hind government and the Indian National Army on 21 October 1943.
Bose inspired the soldiers with his fiery speeches. His famous quote is, "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom!"
9. UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education 2023 to Afghan girls, women
Tags: Important Days International News
UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education to be celebrated on January 24, 2023, to Afghan girls and women.
An overview of the news
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that no country in the world should prevent women and girls from getting education and it is a universal human right that should be respected.
The international community has a responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay.
UNESCO and other international organisations should take concrete steps to address the issue of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
According to UNESCO, currently around 80 percent of Afghan girls and young women of school-age are out of school under Taliban rule, as they are denied access to secondary schools and universities.
Since 15 August 2021, Afghanistan has barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted the freedom of movement of women and girls, and excluded women from most areas of the workforce.
About UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), a coalition of UN agencies and organisations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Headquarters: Paris, France
Director General: Audrey Azoulay
Founded: 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom
The organisation has 193 members and 11 Associate members.
10. Foundation Day of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura
Tags: State News Important Days
The foundation day of the three northeastern states Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya is being celebrated on 21st January.
An overview of the news
Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya were granted full statehood on January 21, 1972 under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
Merger of Manipur with India:
Manipur became a part of India from 15 October 1949 after the merger treaty on 21 September 1949.
Manipur was made a Union Territory in 1956.
Merger of Tripura with India:
Tripura was a princely state until its merger with the Indian Union on 15 November 1949.
After the death of Bir Bikram Singh, the last Maharaja of Tripura on 17 May 1947, Maharani Kanchan Prabha (wife of Maharaja Bir Bikram) represented the state of Tripura and merged it with India.
Merger of Meghalaya with India:
The rulers of the Garo and Khasi regions acceded to the Indian Union in the year 1947.
Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within Assam under the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969.
