1. National Handloom Day
Tags: Important Days
National Handloom Day is celebrated every year on 7 August to honor the handloom weavers in the country and to raise awareness about the handloom industry of India.
Important facts
The 8th National Handloom Day was celebrated across the country under the coordination of the Ministry of Textiles through an exhibition planned at National Centre for Heritage Textiles (NCHT), Janpath, New Delhi.
Background
The Central Government in July 2015 had declared August 7 as National Handloom Day.
The day aims to create awareness about the importance of the handloom industry for the socio-economic development of the country.
August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched on this day at the Calcutta Town Hall in 1905 to protest the partition of Bengal by the British Government.
The aim of this movement was to revive domestic products and production processes.
Government programmes for development of handloom
Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
The programs mentioned above are aimed at promoting the handloom sector by helping it to gain international recognition.
Some of the well known handlooms
Tamil Nadu’s famous Kanchipuram sarees
Paithani weaves of Maharashtra
Muga Silk of Assam
Mysore Silk of Karnataka
Telangana CM launches Nethanna Bima scheme for weavers
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on 7 August launched the Nethanna Bima scheme on the occasion of National Handloom Day.
This is a one of its kind scheme for weavers in the country and about 80,000 weavers' families will be benefitted by this insurance scheme.
The scheme will provide an insurance cover of ₹ 5 lakh to the families of weavers in case of unfortunate death of the eligible beneficiary.
2. Chabahar Day conference
Tags: Important Days National News
On July 31, 2022, the Chabahar Day convention was launched in Mumbai by Sarbananda Sonowal (Union Minister of Shipping) and Shripad Naik (Minister of State for Shipping).
Important facts
The inaugural ceremony was attended by dignitaries from Kazakhstan, Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
In May 2016, India and Iran signed a bilateral agreement, in which India agreed to renew a berth at Shahid Beheshti port.
India also agreed to rebuild a 600-metre long container handling facility at this port.
In October 2017, India sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar port.
About Chabahar Port
Chabahar Port is located in the Gulf of Oman. It is at a distance of 72 km from Gwadar port in Pakistan. Gwadar Post was developed by China.
It serves as the only port in Iran consisting of two separate ports named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari, each with 5 berths.
It is an important pillar of India's Indo-Pacific vision, in its endeavour to connect Eurasia with the Indian Ocean region.
It is a part of the International North South Transport Corridor network connecting India.
Iran has given special impetus to enhance trade cooperation activities between India and Iran through Chabahar Port.
Importance of Chabahar Port for India
Alternate Route - Chabahar Port provides India with an alternative supply route, thus reducing the importance of Pakistan in relation to trade.
Connectivity - In future the Chabahar Project and the North South Transport Corridor will complement each other by optimising Indian connectivity with Russia and Eurasia.
Strategic Needs - China is aggressively pursuing its Belt and Road Initiative under the One Belt One Road project.
Chabahar port is important for India to enhance connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
3. Muslim Women's Rights Day
Tags: Important Days
On August 1, 2019, Muslim women got freedom from the social evil called 'triple talaq', hence August 1 has been recorded in the history of India as 'Muslim Women's Rights Day'.
Important facts
Muslim Women's Rights Day is celebrated on 1st August in the backdrop of Triple Talaq Bill which was approved in Parliament on 1st August 2019.
The Triple Talaq Bill was a major milestone in freeing Muslim women from the shackles of social evil of the conditions of divorce.
Shah Bano Begum & Ors Vs Mo Ahmed Khan', 'Shayra Bano Vs Union of India and Others' laid the foundation stone for this move.
In her writ petition, Shayra Bano had sought the Supreme Court to declare the three practices talaq-e-biddat, polygamy, nikah-halala unconstitutional.
Cases were being registered citing violation of Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 of the Constitution.
About triple talaq law
Triple talaq is called 'Talaq-e-bidat'.
In this, the husband says three times in one go... Divorce-divorce-divorce. It is valid only if both the husband and wife agree to divorce each other.
But it has been seen that in almost 100 percent of the cases, only the husband has the consent.
The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in December 2017, but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha.
After this, in September 2018, the government issued an ordinance to ban triple talaq.
Declaring triple talaq as an offence in this ordinance, there is a provision for imprisonment of up to three years and fine for the husband.
The Supreme Court called it a violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which give equal rights to all citizens.
According to Section 3 of this bill, it will be illegal and unlawful to pronounce triple talaq in writing or by any electronic means.
Success of law
Ever since the law was passed, the cases of triple talaq have come down by 82%.
Which countries have banned triple talaq?
Egypt was the first country to ban triple talaq in 1929.
Egypt is followed by Sudan, Pakistan (in 1956), Malaysia (in 1969), Bangladesh (in 1972), Iraq (in 1959) and Syria (in 1953).
In recent years, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Iran, Cyprus, Qatar, Jordan, Brunei, Algeria, as well as India, have banned the practice.
4. International Friendship Day
Tags: Important Days
International Friendship Day is celebrated every year on 30 July to celebrate friendship as well as promote the idea of meeting new people and making friends.
Important facts
Countries of the world celebrate friendship day twice.
Countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, including India, celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August every year.
History of International Friendship Day
The day was first proposed in 1958 by an international civil organisation - the World Friendship Crusade.
In the 65th United Nations session held in the year 2011, July 30 was officially fixed for International Friendship Day.
International Day of Friendship is an initiative taken by UNESCO to spread the culture of peace.
Theme of International Day of Friendship 2022: Sharing the human spirit through friendship.
Significance of International Friendship Day
It is a celebration of the bond of friendship between people.
Many people use the phrase 'friends like family' to describe friends who are very close to their family.
This phrase is an expression of the feeling of appreciation towards dearest friends.
5. World Tiger Day
Tags: Important Days
International Tiger Day is celebrated every year on 29 July to raise awareness about the declining tiger population and efforts to conserve them.
Important facts
Its goal is to promote a global system for protecting tiger habitats and to increase public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.
The first World Tiger Day was celebrated in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia, in which a total of 13 countries with a tiger zone set a global target of doubling the population of wild tigers by 2022.
Significance of International Tiger Day
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there were approximately 100,000 tigers at the beginning of the 20th century.
In the year 2010, it was observed that this number has come down considerably to 3,200.
Therefore, International Tiger Day plays an important role in creating and spreading awareness for the conservation of tigers.
About Tiger
Scientific name of the tiger is "Panthera tigris".
It is the national animal of India.
Union - Chordata
Its age is about 19 years.
Tiger is the largest species of cat in the whole world.
The Siberian tiger is the largest tiger in the world.
The tiger found in Sumatra (an island of Indonesia) is the smallest tiger in the world.
Tiger population in India
According to the 2018 All India Tiger Estimation Report, the tiger population in India is 2967.
70% of the world's tigers are found in India.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest number of tigers.
After that live in Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
Tiger conservation projects in india
Project Tiger
Project Tiger was started by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the year 1973.
Under this program, central assistance is provided to the states having tiger populations for conservation of tigers.
At the time of the launch of Project Tiger in the year 1973, there were only 9 Tiger Reserves in the country, at present the total number of Tiger Reserves in the country has increased to 50.
National Tiger Conservation Authority
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
It was established in the year 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
6. World Hepatitis Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year on 28 July the world observes "World Hepatitis Day" to raise awareness about this deadly liver infection.
Important facts
The theme for the year 2022 - “Bringing hepatitis care closer to you”.
It aims to highlight the need to bring hepatitis care closer to primary health care facilities and communities, to ensure better access to treatment and care.
About Hepatitis
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It is an infectious disease caused by hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E.
The other causes of the disease are medicines, toxins, drugs, and alcohol.
Hepatitis is the only communicable disease with increasing mortality.
Treatment
Hepatitis A and E are limited types of disease (i.e. they go away on their own) and do not require any specific antiviral medications.
Effective drugs are available for hepatitis B and C.
Effect of Hepatitis
Southeast Asia accounts for 20% of the global morbidity burden of hepatitis.
About 95% of all hepatitis-related deaths are due to cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses.
Viral hepatitis, caused by the hepatitis virus, remains a major public health problem in India.
A global target has been set to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
An Integrated Regional Action Plan for Viral Hepatitis, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) 2022-2026 is being developed by WHO.
7. Kargil Vijay Diwas
Tags: Important Days
Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated across India on 26 July every year to remember the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in Operation Vijay against the infiltration of Pakistani troops in 1999.
Important facts
The objective of celebrating Kargil Vijay Diwas is to inculcate the spirit of nationalism and patriotism especially among the youth through nationwide campaigns and to pay tribute to the brave soldiers.
It was fought between May–July 1999 along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir (now a district in the Union Territory of Ladakh) in which India won.
Operation Vijay (Kargil War)
The Kargil War, popularly known as 'Operation Vijay', began on 3 May 1999 and ended on 26 July 1999.
It was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place in the Kargil district of Ladakh and other places along the Line of Control (LoC).
It was fought for over 60 days (between May and July 1999) and finally India regained control of all its territories.
In the 60-day long struggle, the victory of Tiger Hill was one of the significant achievements.
8. 163rd anniversary of Income Tax Day observed by CBDT
Tags: Economics/Business Important Days
The 163rd anniversary of Income Tax Day was celebrated across India on 24 July by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and all its regional offices.
Important facts
Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the reforms introduced by the government in recent years have ensured a trust-based tax system.
Taxpayers have also reaffirmed the faith-based approach, as evidenced by the trend towards better tax collection and increase in the number of income tax returns filed.
Sitharaman lauded the Income Tax Department for successfully implementing the policy reforms.
He lauded the Income Tax Department for achieving the highest ever revenue collection of over Rs 14 lakh crore in the last financial year.
On this occasion the field formations held a number of events and activities.
About Income Tax Day
This day has been celebrated in India since 2010.
In 2010, the Income Tax Department decided to observe 24 July as an annual festival day, marking 150 years of Income Tax.
Income tax was first levied as a tax on July 24, 1860.
Therefore, July 24 holds a lot of importance for the Income Tax Department.
It was introduced by Sir James Wilson in 1857 to compensate for the loss suffered by the British Government during the First War of Independence.
Significance of the day
It is celebrated to appreciate the Income Tax Department for its immense service to the nation.
The agency administers direct taxes and serves as a source of revenue for the government.
It is also an effective tool for achieving socio-economic objectives.
The Income Tax Department adapts to sudden changes in the economy and enjoys a healthy growth in tax collection.
About Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
CBDT i.e. Central Board of Direct Taxes is a part of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance.
CBDT is empowered by the Board of Revenue Act 1963.
CBDT provides necessary inputs for direct tax policies and schemes in India. Also it is responsible for the administration of direct tax laws through the Income Tax Department.
All matters relating to direct taxes in India were entrusted to the Central Board of Direct Taxes with effect from 1 January 1964.
The CBDT is headed by the Chairman and can have six members, who are of the rank of Special Secretary.
It is the administrative body for the Income Tax Department.
9. World Brain Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year, on 22 July, World Brain Day is observed to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis.
Important facts
This year the theme of World Brain Day is Brain Health for all.
The World Brain Day 2022 campaign will focus on these five key messages globally:
Awareness: Brain health is important for mental, social and physical health.
Prevention: Many brain diseases can be prevented.
Advocacy: Optimal brain health requires global efforts.
Education: Education is the key to brain health for all.
Access: Equal access to resources, treatment and rehabilitation is essential to brain health.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and spine.
Multiple sclerosis disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
In this condition myelin, a protective layer around nerve fibres, is attacked by the immune system.
This causes swelling and temporary sores.
According to the WFN, multiple sclerosis is a debilitating neurological disease that affects a person's life, with effects ranging from cognitive impairment to physical disability.
The progression of multiple sclerosis can be slowed by disease-modifying therapies.
10. International Moon Day 2022
Tags: Important Days
International Moon Day is observed annually on 20 July.
Important facts
On December 9, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly recognized a resolution submitted by the Moon Village Association and other groups.
The application was submitted to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to celebrate International Moon Day.
This day is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of the first human landing on the surface of the Moon.
Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission.
The moon day of 2022 was the first lunar day celebrated by the global community.
Theme of 2022
‘Lunar Exploration Coordination & Sustainability’
It aims to educate people about the importance of sustainable moon exploration.
