1. National Teachers' Day - 5 September 2024
Tags: Important Days
Teachers' Day is celebrated annually on September 5 in India.
An Overview of the News
It commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned educator and former President of India.
National Awards Ceremony
President Draupadi Murmu presented National Awards to 82 teachers on September 5 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
The Department of School Education and Literacy organizes this event to honor outstanding teachers.
Purpose of the Awards
The National Awards recognize teachers who have significantly contributed to improving school education and enriching students' lives.
It celebrates the dedication and efforts of teachers in enhancing the quality of education.
Historical Context
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, and was the first Vice President and second President of India.
Since 1962, September 5 has been celebrated as Teachers' Day to honor his contributions to education.
World Teacher's Day, recognized by UNESCO, is celebrated on October 5 each year to acknowledge teachers' contributions globally.
2. International Day for People of African Descent - 31st August 2024
Tags: Important Days
The International Day for People of African Descent is observed globally every 31st August.
An Overview of the News
The day honors the significant contributions of the African diaspora worldwide.
It aims to eradicate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.
31st August 2024 will mark the 4th observance of this day.
Background:
Resolution Adoption: On 16th December 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/170, establishing 31 August as the International Day for People of African Descent.
First Observance: The inaugural observance took place on 31 August 2021.
Initiative: The creation of the International Day for People of African Descent was driven by Costa Rica.
3. India’s First National Space Day: August 23, 2024
Tags: Science and Technology Important Days
August 23, 2024 is celebrated as the first National Space Day, marking the historic achievement of the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon, which took place on this day in 2023.
An Overview of the News
India became the fourth nation to land a rover on the moon and the first to reach the moon’s southern polar region.
2024 Theme and Celebrations
Theme: “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga” - emphasizing the impact of space exploration on daily life.
Events: Celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with live streaming on ISRO’s website and YouTube to engage a national audience.
Mission Background
Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Lander and Rover: The Vikram Lander carried the Pragyaan Rover, which landed near the moon’s southern pole.
National Space Day Declaration
Prime Minister’s Announcement: Narendra Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day to honor this significant achievement.
Government Commitment: Reflects India’s dedication to advancing space science and technology.
4. World Senior Citizens Day - 21st August 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Senior Citizens Day is celebrated every year on 21st August with the aim of honouring the elderly around the world.
An Overview of the News
This day acknowledges the contributions of senior citizens and raises awareness about the global issues they face.
Growing Elderly Population in India:
India's elderly population is rapidly increasing, projected to reach 193.4 million by 2031 (Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections, July 2020).
This marks a significant rise from the 103.8 million senior citizens recorded in the 2011 Census, which constituted 8.6% of the total population.
Importance in India:
The observance of World Senior Citizen Day in India is particularly important due to these demographic shifts, which are reshaping the nation's social landscape.
The growing elderly population underscores the need to address critical issues such as healthcare, economic security, and social integration for older adults.
Government Initiatives:
The Indian government has implemented various initiatives to enhance the well-being of senior citizens.
These efforts reflect a growing recognition of the challenges and opportunities presented by an aging population in India.
History of the day :
The United Nations General Assembly had announced to celebrate this day on 14 December 1990.
International Senior Citizens Day was celebrated for the first time on 1 October 1991.
In the US, President Ronald Reagan signed this resolution on 19 August 1988, and on 21 August 1988, International Senior Citizens Day was celebrated for the first time in the United States.
Ronald Reagan was the first person to introduce Senior Citizens Day.
5. World Humanitarian Day - 19th August 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Humanitarian Day is celebrated every year on 19th August in honor of those who have sacrificed their entire lives in the service of humanity.
An Overview of the News
It's aim is to spread awareness about the need for humanitarian aid around the world.
The day is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Humanitarian Partners.
This year's World Humanitarian Day theme, "Act for Humanity," is a call to action.
We must act to protect civilians and humanitarian workers from violence.
We must act against impunity for those responsible for attacks on humanitarian workers and civilians.
#ActForHumanity Campaign 2024:
Address the normalization of attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers.
Oppose the culture of impunity linked to violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Mobilize public support to pressure conflict parties and global leaders.
Call for decisive actions to protect civilians and aid workers in conflict zones.
Background:
On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers.
The special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, was also killed in the attack.
In 2008, five years after the attack, the General Assembly passed a resolution to designate 19 August as World Humanitarian Day.
6. World Water Week - 20 to 24 August 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Water Week, a global event organized annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute since 1991, will take place at the Waterfront Congress Center from 20 to 24 August.
An Overview of the News
This non-profit event serves as a platform to address the global water crisis and various related challenges.
It aims to develop solutions to the international water crisis (along with many other problems).
World Water Week 2024 will occur from August 20–24, 2024, in Stockholm, Sweden, and online.
Theme 2024: The conference theme is "Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future," focusing on water cooperation, peace, and security.
Sessions: Topics will include innovation, behavioral change, technology, and governance related to water issues.
Venue: The in-person event will be held at the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre, a prominent 14,000 square meter venue on the water’s edge.
History of World Water Week
World Water Week is a recurring global event that has taken place every year since its inception in 1991.
The event is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), a non-profit organization committed to advocating for sustainable water solutions.
The first World Water Week was held in 1991 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The theme of the opening ceremony was "Water: An Imminent Crisis."
The event brought together water experts and professionals from around the world to discuss and address challenges related to water scarcity and pollution.
Since its inception, World Water Week has been held continuously in Stockholm.
The event serves as an important platform for international stakeholders to engage in discussion, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative efforts to tackle various water-related issues.
7. World Photography Day - 19 August 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Photography Day is celebrated every year on 19 August.
An Overview of the News
The day is an annual, worldwide celebration of the art, craft, science and history of photography.
Photography is one of the most important art forms, it is a means of expressing one's feelings and personal expression by pictures.
The first permanent photograph of an object was taken in year 1826 by the Frenchman Joseph Nicephore Niepce.
Theme 2024 -
This year's theme,"An Entire Day," invites you to capture the diverse aspects of life around the world within a single day.
History of World Photography Day:
World Photography Day celebration started in Franceon January 9, 1839.
At that time a photography process was announced which was called the dagorotype process and this process is today considered to be the world's first photography process.
It was invented by Joseph Nicephore and Louis Douger, who were the native of France.
On August 19, 1839, the French government announced this invention and got its patent.
To remember this forever, 'World Photography Day' is celebrated every year on 19th August.
8. World Organ Donation Day - 13 August 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on 13 August across the globe.
An Overview of the News
The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
It encourages people to become organ donors and promote organ donation to save lives.
The theme/slogan for World Organ Donation Day 2024 is "Be the Reason for Someone's Smile Today!"
History of World Organ Donation Day
The first temporarily successful transplant of a human kidney was performed by Jean Hamburger in Paris in 1953.
A kidney was transplanted from the mother to a 16-year-old child.
However, the first long-term successful kidney transplant was performed in the US in 1954.
This successful transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray.
For this, Dr. Joseph Murray received the "Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine" in the year 1990.
History of Indian Organ Donation Day
Indian Organ Donation Day was originally celebrated on the 27th of November from 2010 to 2022.
The day was initiated by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
In 2023, the date was shifted to August 3rd.
The change commemorates the success of the first deceased heart transplant in India, which took place on August 3rd, 1994.
9. United Nations (UN) International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) - 9 August
Tags: Important Days
United Nations (UN) International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) observed annually on 9 August to promote and protect the rights, cultures, and identities of Indigenous populations globally.
An Overview of the News
Aimsto raise awareness of the specific needs and unique challenges faced by Indigenous peoples worldwide.
2024 Highlights:
Theme: "Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact."
Equator Prize: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the winners of the 15th Equator Prize, recognizing 11 Indigenous Peoples and local communities from 8 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Background
In December 1994, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/49/214, declaring the period from 1995 to 2004 as the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.
As part of this resolution, 9 August of each year during the decade was designated as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
On 22 December 2004, the UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/59/174, proclaiming a second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, running from 1 January 2005 to December 2014.
The first-ever International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples was observed on 9 August 1995.
10. Manipur Commemorates Patriots' Day
Tags: Important Days
Manipur observed Patriots' Day on August 13 to honor the martyrs of the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.
An Overview of the News
The day was commemorated across various locations within and outside the state, with district administrations also participating on August 13.
State-Level Ceremony
The state-level ceremony was held at Bir Tikendrajit Park in Imphal.
Manipur Governor Sushri Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh led the tributes.
A gun salute was performed by a contingent of Manipur Rifles.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh paid floral tributes at the last rites memorial sites of Yubaraj Tikendrajit and Thangal General, who were executed by the British on August 13, 1891.
About Manipur
Statehood: Became a state in 1972
Capital: Imphal (Executive Branch)
Rajya Sabha: 1 seat
Lok Sabha: 2 seats
Chief Minister: N. Biren Singh
Governor: Lakshman Acharya
