1. World Animal Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year 4 October is observed as World Animal Day.
Important facts
This day is celebrated to respect the rights of animals and to make people aware about their well being.
The day highlights the fact that animals have the same value as humans and at the same time their rights need to be respected.
The purpose of this day is to improve animal welfare standards, to show love towards animals so that their lives can be better and better and to spread awareness in the context of animal welfare.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 has been implemented in India to promote animal protection and to end cruelty to animals.
The theme of the year 2022 - "Shared Planet".
Background of the day
The day was first observed on 24 March 1925 by animal protection activist Heinrich Zimmermann in Berlin, Germany.
At a conference of the world's animal protection organizations in Florence, Italy in May 1931, his proposal to universalize World Animal Day on 4 October was unanimously accepted.
The day is currently being organized by the Naturewatch Foundation, a UK based animal welfare charity.
2. World Habitat Day
Tags: Important Days
World Habitat Day is celebrated annually on the first Monday of every October. In the year 2022, this day is being celebrated on 3rd October.
Important facts
The day aims to highlight people's basic right to shelter and remind them that they are also responsible for the habitat of future generations.
It aims to consider the situation in towns and cities and focus on promoting the basic right to adequate shelter and housing for all.
The theme of 2022 - “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind”.
This day for the year 2022 will focus on the problem of inequality, the challenges facing cities and other human settlements.
World Habitat Day 2022 aims to focus on the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been a result of the triple ‘C’ crises- COVID-19, climate change and conflict.
Background of the day
In 1985, the United Nations declared the first Monday of October every year to be observed as World Habitat Day.
World Habitat Day was first observed in 1986 with the theme "Shelter is my right".
Nairobi hosted the first World Habitat day year.
In 1989, the UN Human Settlements Programme launched “The Habitat Scroll of Honour award”.
It is the world's most prestigious human settlement award.
3. International Day of Non-violence
Tags: Important Days
International Day of Non-Violence is observed across the world on 2 October which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's independence movement and the pioneer of the philosophy of non-violence.
Important facts
The day aims to spread awareness about the idea of non-violence through education.
According to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, the day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness".
What does non-violence mean?
The doctrine of nonviolence, also known as nonviolent resistance, rejects the use of physical violence to achieve social or political change.
According to Mahatma Gandhi "It is more powerful than the most powerful weapon of destruction devised by man."
The famous Sanskrit phrase ahimsa paramo dharma was also popularized by Gandhi during the independence movement.
Background of the day
In January 2004, Iranian Noble Laureate Shirin Ebadi proposed the idea for this special day.
Her idea was appropriate to many Indian National Congress leaders, who later called on the United Nations to adopt it in 2007.
Congress leader and then Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma presented the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors.
On 15 June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution to observe International Day of Nonviolence.
This day was first celebrated in 2007.
4. Swachh Bharat Diwas
Tags: Important Days
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti is celebrating the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October 2022 as Swachh Bharat Diwas.
Important facts
The department is organizing a one-day program on October 2, 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
President of India Draupadi Murmu presided over the function as the chief guest.
The department is implementing two flagship programs of the Central Government - Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Subsequently, SBM-G 2.0 was launched in 2020 to maintain ODF status in villages and improve sanitation levels in rural areas through solid and liquid waste management, making villages ODF plus.
Swachh Bharat Diwas is a culmination of several activities/campaigns for the components of SBM-G phase II. They are-
Swachhta Hi Sewa (SHS) – It is a fortnightly campaign undertaken by the public offering “shramdaan” for sustaining cleanliness in the country.
United India for Swachhata - It is a dedicated week-long intensified campaign for complete cleanliness i,e ‘sampoorna swachhta’ in 9 states across the country.
5. Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri birth anniversary
Tags: Person in news Important Days
The nation is celebrating the 153rd birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October 2022. 2nd October is also the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri who served as the second Prime Minister of India.
Important facts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary.
He urged everyone to purchase khadi and handicrafts products as a tribute to Gandhi.
The Prime Minister also shared some glimpses from his gallery at the 'Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya' in Delhi, which depicts Shastri's life journey and achievements.
About Mahatma Gandhi
Birth - 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar (Gujarat)
Brief Introduction - Lawyer, politician, social activist and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India.
In South Africa (1893–1915), he successfully fought racist rule with a new method of mass movement, which he called satyagraha.
He returned to India from South Africa on 9 January 1915.
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi in India.
In 1918, he went to Ahmedabad to organize a Satyagraha movement among cotton mill workers.
In 1919, he decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act (1919).
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919. Seeing the spread of violence, he called off the movement (April 18, 1919).
The non-cooperation movement was adopted in the Congress session in Nagpur in December 1920.
He was shot dead by Nathuram Godse on 30 January 1948.
His Social Work
He worked for the upliftment of the untouchables and gave them a new name 'Harijan' which means child of God.
His symbol of self-reliance, the spinning wheel, became a popular symbol of the Indian independence movement.
He was instrumental in preventing Hindu-Muslim riots as tensions escalated before and during the country's partition.
Hind Swaraj, My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography) are popular books written by him.
About Lal Bahadur Shastri
He was born on October 2, 1904 in Mughalsarai, a small railway town seven miles from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
He was the second Prime Minister (1964-66) of India and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress.
He led several insurgent campaigns in the Civil Disobedience Movement and spent a total of seven years in British prisons.
He was a minister in various departments in the Union Cabinet from 1951 to 1956.
He resigned from the post of Railway Minister, taking responsibility for a railway accident in which many people lost their lives.
He was the first person to be awarded the Bharat Ratna (1966) posthumously.
He led the country during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He gave the slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan".
6. National Voluntary Blood Donation Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year National Voluntary Blood Donation Day is observed on 1st October. It is observed to raise awareness about Blood donation and promote voluntary Blood donation in the country.
This year the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav, a countrywide mega drive for voluntary blood donation from 17th September to 1st October this year.
When was it started?
The National Voluntary Blood Donation was first observed in 1975. It was started by the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology.
Note
World Blood Donor day is observed on 14 June every year in the world.
The theme of the World Blood Donor day 2022 is: Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives.
7. International Day for Older Persons
Tags: Important Days
International Day of the Elderly is celebrated every year on 1 October across the world.
Important facts
The day is celebrated to spread awareness about the importance of senior citizens in the society and to appreciate their contribution.
Senior citizens carry a lot of responsibility on their shoulders as the leaders of the society.
They also carry forward the traditions, culture of the society and pass on their knowledge and experience to the younger generation.
Older people are also highly vulnerable, with many living in poverty, health problems and discrimination.
This day is also celebrated to focus on the responsibilities of the people to make the life of the elderly people happy.
The theme of International Day of Older Persons, 2022 - "Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World".
Background of the day
On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe 1 October every year as the International Day of Older Persons.
International Day of Older Persons was celebrated for the first time on 1 October 1991.
Other facts
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the elderly population currently stands at 600 million.
It is poised to double by 2025 and touch 2 billion by 2050.
According to the United Nations Population Fund's 2019 report, India had a population of 1.36 billion elderly people and 6% of the population was 65 years of age or above.
8. PFRDA observe 1 October as the National Pension System Diwas
Tags: Economy/Finance Important Days National News
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is observing 1st October as the National Pension System Diwas (NPS Diwas) to promote pension and retirement planning among the citizens of India.
Important facts
PFRDA is promoting this campaign on its social media platforms.
PFRDA is organizing this campaign under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.
The objective of the pension regulator, PFRDA is to encourage every citizen, be it working professionals or self-employed professionals, to plan for building a pension corpus after retirement to ensure a financially sound future.
NPS subscribers will get the benefit of tax deduction on their contributions and regular income after retirement.
About PFRDA
It is the regulatory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India for overall supervision and regulation of pension system in India.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act was passed on 19 September 2013 and was notified on 1 February 2014.
It regulates the National Pension System (NPS), subscribed by employees of Govt of India, State Governments and by employees of private institutions/organizations and unorganized sectors.
As on 24 September, 2022, total number of subscribers under NPS is 571.86 lakhs (5.72 crores) and total Assets Under Management (AUM) is 7,99,467 crore (7.99 trillion).
9. International Translation Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year 30 September is celebrated as International Translation Day.
Important facts
The day gives an opportunity to honour the work of language professionals who play a vital role in bringing nations together.
Language Translators play a vital role in maintaining good communication, professionalism and understanding between the peoples of the world by overcoming linguistic boundaries.
The day is celebrated in honour of the biblical translator Saint Jerome, who is considered the patron of translators.
Saint Jerome was a priest from north-eastern Italy who translated the Bible into Latin from Greek manuscripts.
The theme of International Translation Day 2022 - "A World Without Barriers."
Background of the day
On 24 September 2017, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring 30 September as 'International Translation Day'.
September 30 has been chosen as a tribute to St. Jerome on his death anniversary.
The celebration of this day was initiated by the International Federation of Translators- FIT.
FIT was established in 1953.
In the year 1991, this federation started the idea of officially recognizing this day to unite translators around the world.
10. World Heart Day
Tags: Important Days
World Heart Day is observed every year on 29 September to raise public awareness about cardiovascular diseases, their prevention and their global impact.
Important facts
Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of mortality.
An estimated 17.9 million people died due to CVD in 2019, which is 32 percent of the total deaths globally.
Of all the people who died from CVD, 85 percent had a stroke and heart attack.
According to the World Health Organization, a quarter of these CVD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
With these statistics in mind, experts stress the great need for awareness of heart disease prevention.
World Heart Day is an incredible platform to spread awareness about how people can prevent cardiovascular problems.
Theme of 2022
Theme of 2022 -“Use Heart for Every Heart".
The theme highlights the goal of bringing people around the world together to fight heart diseases.
Background of the day
World Heart Day was launched by the World Heart Federation (WHF), a non-governmental organisation established in 1972 in Geneva in Switzerland.
This day was first organised in the year 2000.
