1. 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.
2. 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".
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. World Rabies Day
Tags: Important Days
World Rabies Day is observed every year on 28 September to raise awareness about the effects of rabies virus disease and ways to prevent it.
Important facts
This day is celebrated on 28 September on the occasion of the death anniversary of the famous French biologist Louis Pasteur.
The theme of this day for the year 2022 is 'Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths'.
Louis Pasteur developed the first rabies vaccine and laid the foundation for the prevention of rabies.
World Rabies Day was first observed on 28 September 2007.
The event was organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Alliance for Rabies Control and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA.
About Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease. This virus is present in the saliva of animals suffering from rabies such as dog, cat, monkey etc.
According to statistics, about 99 percent of cases in humans are caused by dog bites.
The time period between bites of an animal infected with rabies and the appearance of symptoms of rabies can range from four days to two years, or sometimes more.
9. NDMA 18th Foundation Day
Tags: National Important Days National News
28 September, 2022 is NDMA's 18th Foundation Day. Addressing the 18th Foundation Day of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in New Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah said that India has significantly reduced the damage caused by disasters in recent years.
Important facts
Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai said, since 2014 the government has taken practical steps in disaster response.
He said that Aapda Mitra Scheme is being implemented which has helped in involving the local people in disaster management.
India has achieved great success in the direction of overall strengthening of disaster management and several schemes are being implemented in this direction.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
NDMA was established through the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and was constituted in Dec 2006.
The aim of the National Disaster Management Authority is to build a safer and disaster-resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management.
Organisational Structure
The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of the NDMA.
The Cabinet Minister is the Vice-Chairman.
The NDMA Secretariat, headed by a Secretary, is responsible for providing secretarial support and continuity.
Along with this, NDMA has 8 Ministers of State as its Members.
Steps taken by indian government in Disaster Management
India is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
India is working closely with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).
India has formulated the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP).
NDMA has taken an initiative on Earthquake Disaster Risk Indexing (EDRI) for 50 important cities and 1 district in seismic zone IV and V zones.
30 most flood affected districts of 25 states have been included in NDMA's Aapdamitra scheme.
The government has constituted a National Crisis Management Committee and a Crisis Management Group.
10. Sixth anniversary of Surgical Strike
Tags: National Defence Important Days National News
The nation celebrates the sixth anniversary of surgical strike on 28 September.
Important facts
On 28 September 2016, the Indian Army launched surgical strikes against terrorist camps situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Eleven days after the Uri attack, in which 18 soldiers lost their lives, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on the intervening night of 28 and 29 September 2016, in which terrorists inflicted heavy losses.
The Indian Army, including commandos of various units of the Para (Special Forces) stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, raided several positions across the border.
With this action, India gave a befitting message that if needed, it can cross the border and attack terrorist hideouts.
What is a Surgical Strike?
A surgical strike or surgical operation is a military attack carried out only for the purpose of destroying a designated military target.
In a surgical strike, every effort is made to cause less damage to the surrounding construction, vehicles, buildings or other public.
Such an action requires tremendous coordination between the government, intelligence agencies and security forces.
India has conducted surgical strikes against insurgent groups in Myanmar in 2015 and terror launch pads along the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2016.
