1. Global Family Day
Tags: Important Days
Global Family Day is celebrated every year on January 1 to start the year positively and to promote peace, love and unity among people.
Important facts
The Aim of the day is to strengthen familial ties.
The day creates a sense of unity and brotherhood among nations and cultures through families.
To maintain peace in the world, it is necessary to build a family, so that along with establishing peace in the world, violence can also be reduced.
Background of the day
The Global Day of Families had its origins in two books. The first was 'One Day in Peace, January 1, 2000', written for children in 1996 by American authors Steve Diamond and Robert Alan Silverstein.
Whereas, the other book was the 1998 utopian novel 'Tree Island: A Novel for the New Millennium' by American peace activist and author Linda Grover.
Based on the ideas of these books, in 1997, the United Nations General Assembly declared January 1 to be a day of peace.
In 1999, the United Nations and its member states celebrated the Global Day of Families for the first time.
Seeing the success of this day, in the year 2001, the United Nations General Assembly established this day as an annual event. Since then, every year January 1 has been celebrated as Global Family Day.
2. DRDO celebrated its 65th foundation day
Tags: Important Days
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 65th foundation day on 1st January 2023.
Important facts
DRDO Chairman Dr S V Kamat addressed the DRDO fraternity on the occasion.
He reaffirmed DRDO's commitment towards R&D excellence and briefed about the development of cutting edge technologies for self-reliance in defence.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It is working on several cutting-edge military technology areas, including aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation, engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation, cyber, hypersonic technology, quantum computing and communications
DRDO's first project for the Indian military was in surface-to-air missiles (SAM) known as Project Indigo.
Since inception, DRDO has made several breakthroughs in developing key systems and critical technologies such as aircraft avionics, UAVs, small arms, artillery systems, EW systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, sonar systems, command and control systems and missile systems
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
3. International Year of millets 2023
Tags: Important Days
The year 2023 is being observed all over the world as the International Year of the millets. The Government of India aims to make the International Year of the millets a ‘People’s Movement’ and position India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’. India is the largest producer of millets in the world.
Background to the International Year
The Government of India proposed to the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2023 as the International Year of the Millets.
The proposal was accepted and passed by the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021 and 2023 was declared as the International Year of Millets.
Celebration of the International Millet Year in India
In the month of January 2023 the government of India and its ministries in collaboration with the state government will undertake a series of events to celebrate the International Years of Millets.
The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries which will be organizing Millet Fair-cum-exhibitions in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare along with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will participate in a trade show on millets in Belgium.
The External Affairs Ministry through its embassy in Azerbaijan and Belarus will conduct Business to Business meetings and participate in food festivals in these countries to promote Indian millets.
The Indian High Commission in Nigeria has planned a Millets Food Festival and a Millets Food preparation competition in January 2023.
In the month of January Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Punjab will be conducting millet centric activities including Mahotsav/ meals and food festivals, training of farmers, awareness campaigns etc.
Importance of Millets
Millet is one of the oldest known foods to humans. However its consumption in the world has declined due to the emphasis given to wheat and rice by the governments.
It is also called coarse cereals or nutri cereals due to its high nutritive value. To increase the consumption of millets in India the government of India declared millets as nutri-cereals and 2018 was declared as the National Millets Year in India.
The Government of India has set a target of production of 205 lakh tonnes of Nutri Cereals in the country by 2022-23.
Rajasthan is the largest producer of nutri-cereals in India followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.
4. International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Tags: Important Days
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed every year on December 27.
Important facts
The purpose of this day is to create awareness about the pandemic.
The day aims to facilitate exchange of information, dissemination of scientific knowledge and ensure exchange of best practices at the international level.
This will help prevent pandemics like COVID-19 in future as it has had a devastating impact on human lives.
Background of the day
A resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 7, 2020 declared December 27 as the International Day for Pandemic Preparedness.
The coronavirus outbreak in China began in late 2019. As the infection rate started rising and the number of infected people increased, many parts of the city were sealed.
In light of this, the first International Day of Pandemic Preparedness was observed on December 27, 2020.
The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to emphasize pandemic prevention, preparedness and cooperation.
5. Good Governance Day 2022
Tags: Important Days
Every year 25 December is observed as Good Governance Day to mark the birth anniversary of the 10th Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The day is celebrated so as to ensure that the citizens of the country are treated fairly by the government and the various government services shall be made available to them fairly.
The purpose of Good Governance Day is to increase public access to various government programmes and services via good governance. It was established with the slogan "Good Governance through e-Governance."
Background to the day
In 2014 the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that from now on 25 December will be observed as ‘Good Governance Day’ in the memory of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
He has been the prime Minister of India three times.
He became the Prime Minister for the first time on 16 May 1996 and had to resign on 1 June 1996. He was the Prime Minister for the second time from 19 March 1998 – 13 October 1999.
He became the Prime Minister for the third time from 13 October 1999 – 22 May 2004.
Unique facts about Vajpayee
He was the first person to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in Hindi. As an External Affairs Minister he spoke in Hindi at the 32nd Session of the UNGA in 1977.
He also holds the distinction of being the prime minister of India for the shortest time, 16 days in 1996.
He was the first Prime Minister against whom a no- confidence motion was passed in the Lok Sabha. He lost the no confidence vote by 1 vote in 1999.
He was awarded India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on 27 March 2015.
6. PM Modi to participate in the historic programme marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ in Delhi on 26 December
Tags: place in news National Person in news Important Days
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a historic programme marking the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi on 26th December 2022.
On the Prakash Purab()birth anniversary) of the 10th Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh on 9th January 2022 the Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh.
They were brutally murdered by Wazir Khan the Mughal Governor of Sirhind on this day in 1705. .
During the programme, the Prime Minister will attend a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by Baal Kirtanis. On this occasion, Mr Modi will also flag off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi.
7. National Consumer Day
Tags: Important Days
Every Year 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day in India.
Important facts
- Its objective is to make the consumers aware of their rights and prevent them from the prevalent malpractices.
- A large population of India is uneducated, who is not aware of their rights and duties, but in the matter of consumer rights, even educated people seem indifferent to their rights.
Background of the day
- The day was established in 1986 as part of the Consumer Protection Act.
- The day was established to promote and protect the rights of consumers.
- The main objective of the Consumer Protection Act is to provide protection to the consumers against various forms of exploitation such as defective goods, unsatisfactory services and unfair trade practices.
- This day was celebrated for the first time in the year 2000.
- It is noteworthy that World Consumer Rights Day is organized globally on 15 March every year.
8. National Farmers Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year 23 December is observed as National Farmers day or Kisan Diwas in India. The day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the 5th Prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh. The day is observed to recognise and honour the contribution farmers make to our economy and society.
Background to the Day
In 2001 the government of India declared to observe 23 December as the National Farmers day or Kisan diwas to honour the kisan leader and the 5th prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh. Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on 23 December 1902 in Noorpur village of Meerut District, Uttar Pradesh.
He was the Prime Minister of India for 170 days, from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980. He is the only Prime Minister who never faced parliament while being the Prime Minister.
He was made the deputy Prime Minister of India in 1979 when Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister of India.
He was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh twice. He became the chief minister for the first time, 3 April 1967- 25 February 1968. He again became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 18 February 1970- 1 October 1970.
9. World Minority Rights Day
Tags: Important Days
International Minority Rights Day is celebrated every year on 18 December across the world.
Important facts
The purpose of this day is to maintain the right to freedom and equality for minorities and to create awareness about the respect of minorities.
The day focuses on the challenges and issues faced by minority communities of different ethnic origins.
The government on this day ensures efforts to guarantee their rights of non-discrimination and equality.
The theme of 2022 is "All in 4 Minority Rights".
In India, this day is organised by the National Commission for Minorities.
The National Commission for Minorities was established in the year 1992 by the Central Government under the National Commission for Minorities Act.
Background of the day
The United Nations on December 18, 1992, adopted and broadcast the Statement on the individual's Rights belonging to Religious or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities.
Who are Minorities?
According to the definition of the United Nations, a community that does not have any influence socially, economically and politically and whose population is negligible, will be called a minority.
The word 'minority' has been used in Articles 29, 30, 350A and 350B of the Indian Constitution but its definition has not been given.
In India, minority applies to Muslim, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist, Parsis (Zoroastrian) and Jain religions.
10. Goa Liberation Day
Tags: Important Days
Goa Liberation Day is celebrated annually on 19th December to mark the success of ‘Operation Vijay’ undertaken by the Indian armed forces to defeat Portuguese colonial forces and liberate Goa in 1961.
Important facts
It was on 19 December 1961 that Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule.
It is an important day for the people of Goa and the entire country as it was after the freedom that Goa attained its statehood.
History of Goa Liberation Day
The Portuguese colonial presence in Goa began in 1510, when Afonso de Albuquerque defeated the ruling Bijapur king with the help of a local ally, Timayya.
The Portuguese fought frequent battles with the Marathas and the Deccan Sultanates. Goa was briefly occupied by the British between 1812 and 1815. In 1843, the capital was shifted from Velha Goa to Panaji.
Goa was Portugal’s most prized possession in India and the biggest territory in Estado da India Portuguesa or the Portuguese empire in India.
Leaders such as Tristão de Bragança Cunha, known as the father of Goan nationalism, founded the Goan National Congress in 1928 at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.
In 1946, socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia led a historic rally in Goa which became a landmark moment in the freedom struggle of Goa.
How was independence achieved?
After 1947, Portugal refused to negotiate with independent India on the transfer of sovereignty of its Indian enclaves.
The Indian government finally declared that Goa should join India “either with full peace or with full use of force”.
On 18 and 19 December 1961, a full-scale military operation called 'Operation Vijay' was launched, which led to the annexation of Goa by India.
As a result, Goa, Daman, and Diu became Union Territories of India.
Goa remained a Union Territory until 1987 and was then given the status of India's 25th state.
