1. 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!"
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 18th Raising Day of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Tags: Important Days
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The Raising Day of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is celebrated every year on January 19.
An overview of the news
This year the 18th Raising Day of NDRF has been celebrated.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
NDRF was established in the year 2006 under the 'Disaster Management Act, 2005' with 6 battalions.
It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Presently NDRF has 12 battalions, three each from BSF and CRPF and two each from CISF, SSB and ITBP and each battalion has 1149 members.
Role of NDRF:
Providing prompt assistance in natural and man-made calamities.
To establish coordination between different security agencies involved in relief and rescue operations.
Safe evacuation of people from the disaster area and distribution of relief materials, etc.
Director General of NDRF - Atul Karwal
5. National Startup Day 2023
Tags: Important Days
In order to promote and encourage new businesses in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 15 January 2022 that every year 16 January will be celebrated as 'National Startup Day'.
An Overview of the news
In the year 2022, India celebrated the first 'National Startup Day'.
No specific theme has yet been chosen for the celebration of this day.
This year, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, several events were organised at over 75 locations in the country with an aim to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation by involving the startup community.
These range from dedicated workshops for women entrepreneurs, training for incubators, and mentorship workshops to stakeholder round tables, capacity building workshops, startup pitching sessions, etc.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have organised 'Startup India Innovation Week' from January 10 to 16.
6. Startup India Innovation Week 2023
Tags: Economy/Finance Important Days National News
The 'Startup India Innovation Week' was organised by the 'Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade' (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from January 10 to 16, 2023. 'National Startup Day' is also celebrated on 16 January.
An Overview of the news
The main objective of organising the Startup India Innovation Week is to engage the stakeholders of the startup ecosystem in the country and to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in India.
In this, knowledge sharing sessions are organised for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs.
The sessions also included stakeholders from the startup ecosystem such as government officials, incubators, corporates and investors.
As a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, various startup related events were organised at more than 75 locations across the country to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation by engaging the startup community across the country.
These include dedicated workshops for women entrepreneurs, training of incubators, mentoring workshops, capacity building workshops, startup pitching sessions, etc.
National Startup Awards
To celebrate the National Startup Day, DPIIT organised a felicitation ceremony for the winners of the National Startup Awards, 2022 on January 16.
The felicitation ceremony recognized and rewarded the excellence displayed by startups and ecosystem enablers across various sectors, sub-sectors and categories.
World's 3rd Startup Ecosystem in India
In the last few years, India has emerged as a 'hotspot' for startups. India has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world with 108 unicorns.
There were 471 startups in the country in 2016, which increased to 86,456 in 2023. There has been an astonishing growth of over 15,000% in the number of startups in India in 6 years.
There were more than 100 unicorns in the country as of 5 May 2022, with a total valuation of $332.7 billion.
Startup India Programme
The Startup India campaign was launched on 16 January 2016. DPIIT has recognized more than 75 thousand startups to coincide with the 75th year of independence.
DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently launched the MAARG portal.
In this portal one can get an opportunity to connect with experts, industry experts, successful startup founders, investors as well as world class mentors and experts.
In addition, under India's G20 chairmanship, Startup20 Engagement Group has been established. The establishment of Startup20 Engagement Group will encourage innovations and recognize the role of startups in the changing global landscape.
7. Indian Army Day
Tags: Important Days
Army Day is celebrated in India every year on 15 January in the memory of the soldiers and the Indian Army.
An overview of the news
This year India is celebrating its 75th Army Day.
This year, on the occasion of Army Day, for the first time, a parade has been organised outside Delhi in Bengaluru.
The day provides an opportunity to showcase Indian military capabilities including various weapon systems like K9 Vajra Self-Propelled Gun, Pinaka Rocket, T-90 Tank, BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Tunguska Air Defense System, 155mm Bofors Gun, Swati Radar.
Why is it celebrated on 15 January?
On January 15, 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
M. Cariappa is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Army Day is celebrated every year to honour the soldiers of the country, who have set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood and laid down their lives for the country.
Indian Army
The Indian Army was established about 127 years ago by the British on April 1, 1895.
The Indian Army traces its origins to the armies of the East India Company, which later became the 'British Indian Army' and eventually, after independence, the Indian Army.
The country's last British Commander-in-Chief was Francis Roy Butcher.
The Indian Army is one of the most powerful forces in the world competing with superpowers like Russia, America and China.
8. 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day
Tags: Important Days
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the Armed Forces Veterans Day celebrations on January 14, 2023 at Jaswant Maidan, Dehradun Cantonment.
An overview of the news
He also launched a car sports initiative 'Soul of Steel Alpine Challenge' from Dehradun to Gamshali located in Niti Valley.
He dedicated to the nation the Shaurya Sthal developed by the Uttarakhand War Memorial Trust.
This year the event is being celebrated by the three service headquarters at nine locations across the country – Jhunjhunu, Jalandhar, Panagarh, New Delhi, Dehradun, Chennai, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Mumbai.
During the event, ex-servicemen were honored with medals/souvenirs/certificates of recognition etc.
Armed Forces Veterans Day
Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated on 14 January. On this day in 1953, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa formally retired from service.
Cariappa led the Indian Army in the 1947 war.
This day is celebrated as Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Day and this day is dedicated to the respected ex-servicemen.
The day was first observed on January 14, 2016 and it was decided to celebrate the day every year by hosting such interactive programs in honor of the Armed Forces Veterans and their next of kin.
9. National road safety week
Tags: Important Days
National Road Safety Week is celebrated every year from 11 to 17 January by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
An overview of the news
The purpose of celebrating this week is to make people aware of road safety.
During National Road Safety Week, various organisations and groups come together to educate the public about the consequences of careless or reckless driving.
The National Road Safety Week was started in 1989.
The Central Government had approved the National Road Safety Policy on March 15, 2010, based on the recommendation of the Sundar Committee.
This year the theme of National Road Safety Week has not been announced. Last year its theme was 'Road Safety - Jeevan Raksha'.
Some initiatives taken by the Government of India for road safety
MoRTH participated in the '3rd High Level Global Conference on Road Safety to achieve the Global Goal 2030' held in Sweden in the year 2020 where a target was set to achieve zero road accident death in India by the year 2030.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 has been implemented under which penalties have been increased for traffic violations, faulty vehicles, juvenile driving etc.
10. National Youth Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year January 12 is celebrated as National Youth Day in India. The day is celebrated to mark the birthday of Swami Vivekananda.
An overview of the news
The theme of National Youth Day 2023 is "Developed Youth - Developed India".
The National Youth Festival was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12 in Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka.
National Youth Festival is organised every year to inspire the talented youth of the country towards nation building as well as to provide the message of universal brotherhood of Indian culture at national and international level.
Background of the day
The announcement to celebrate National Youth Day was made by the Government of India in the year 1984.
The celebration of Youth Day in India was started in 1985.
International youth day
International Youth Day was started by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1999. For this, the United Nations General Assembly had passed resolution 54/120.
International Youth Day was celebrated for the first time on August 12, 2000.
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 and his childhood name was Narendra Nath Dutt.
He was a chief disciple and monk of Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
He introduced the Indian philosophy of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world.
He earned global fame at the Chicago World Religion Conference in the year 1893 and it was only through this that Indian spirituality was propagated globally.
Vivekananda had established Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math.
