1. International Women Day
Tags: Important Days
Why in the news?
- The Prime Minister hands over his social media platforms to Women Achievers on International Women’s Day.
Important points:
- In an inspiring tribute to women’s power and achievement, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has handed over his social media platforms to women who are making a mark in diverse fields
- International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, celebrates women's accomplishments across various fields.
- It serves as a platform to advocate for gender equality and highlight challenges faced by women worldwide.
- This day recognises progress while emphasising the need for continuous efforts to create an inclusive, fair, and empowering society for women.
- The theme for International Women's Day 2025, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights,Equality,Empowerment," emphasises the importance of achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls globally.
2. Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
Tags: Important Days
Why in the news?
- On the 7th day of the week-long celebrations, PMBI (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India) celebrated the 7th Jan Aushadhi Diwas, on March 7,2025.
Important points:
- The Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrated with the theme of “जन औषधि: दाम कम, दवाई उत्तम”by organizing week-long events in different states/UTs across the country from 1st of March 2025 to 7th March 2025
- More than 350 different events conducted across the country in which approx. 50,000 people participated in week long celebrations on the occasion of 7th Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
- More than 200 new Jan Aushadhi Kendras open taking tally to a total of 15291.
About Jan Aushadhi Kendras:
- Jan Aushadhi Kendras sell WHO-certified generic medicines drugs that contain the same active ingredient as branded ones at affordable prices.
3. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, selected for Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2025
Tags: Important Days
Why in the news?
- The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2025, in the Institutional Category, for its excellent work in Disaster Management.
About Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar:
- The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has instituted an annual award known as Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organizations in India in the field of disaster management.
- The award is announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual.
- Under the guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the country has significantly improved the disaster management practices, preparedness, mitigation and response mechanisms resulting in significant reduction in casualties during natural calamities.
- For the award of year-2025, nominations were solicited from 1st July, 2024 onwards.
- The award scheme for the year 2025 was given wide publicity through print, electronic and social media. In response to the award scheme, 297 nominations were received from institutions and individuals.
About Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) was established in 1999, Hyderabad, Telangana.
- The INCOIS is integral to India’s disaster management strategy, specializing in early alerts for ocean-related hazards.
- It established the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) which provides tsunami alerts within 10 minutes, serving India and 28 Indian Ocean countries.
- It has been recognized by UNESCO as a top Tsunami Service Provider.
- Supported by a network of seismic stations, tide gauges and other ocean sensors, it also provides high-wave, cyclone, and storm surge forecasts, helping to safeguard coastal areas and maritime operations.
- The INCOIS assisted during the 2013 Phailin and 2014 Hudhud cyclone with advisories which led to timely evacuations and reduced risks to coastal populations.
- INCOIS has developed the Search and Rescue Aided Tool (SARAT) to assist the Indian Coast Guard, Navy and Coastal Security Police, in locating individuals or objects lost at sea. INCOIS has also established the SynOPS visualization platform which integrates real-time data to strengthen response coordination during extreme events.
- The INCOIS received the Geospatial World Excellence in Maritime Services Award in 2024 and the Disaster Risk Reduction Excellence Award in 2021.
4. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacts with students on Parakram Diwas
Tags: Important Days
Why in the news?
- On the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose,commemorated as Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a special interaction with the young friends in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi today.
PARAKRAM DIWAS:
- Government of India has decided to celebrate the 125th Birth Anniversary year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a befitting manner at national and international level, beginning from 23rd January 2021.
- A High Level Committee, headed by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has been constituted for deciding the programs, and to supervise and guide the commemoration.
- In order to honour and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, Government of India has decided to celebrate his birthday on the 23rd day of January every year as “PARAKRAM DIWAS” to inspire people of the country,especially the youth, to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour.
5. NIEPVD Dehradun celebrates World Braille Day
Tags: Important Days
Why in the news?
National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun, celebrated World Braille Day, on the occasion of his 216th birth anniversary.
Key points:
- The event aimed to highlight the significance of Braille script and raise awareness about empowering the visually impaired Divyangjans.
A significant highlight of the event was the release of the book ‘Standard Bharati Braille Codes’, virtually by the Chief Guest, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
The book ‘Standard Bharati Braille Codes’ symbolizes a significant step towards promoting accessibility and empowerment for persons with visual disabilities.
About World Braille Day:
World Braille Day is celebrated on January 4th every year.
It was established by the United Nations (UN) in 2018 to raise awareness of the importance of braille.
The day also marks the birthday of Louis Braille, who invented the braille systemwhen he was 15 years old.
6. ‘MARTYRDOM DAY’ OF GURU TEG BAHADUR JI
Tags: Important Days
‘MARTYRDOM DAY’ OF GURU TEG BAHADUR JI
Why in news?
- The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmupays tributes on the eve of ‘Martyrdom Day’ of Guru Tegh Bahadur .
Who was Guru Tegh Bahadur ?
- Guru Tegh Bahadur was theninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion and was the leader of Sikhs from1665 until his beheading in 1675.
- He was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India in 1621and was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru.
- Tegh Bahadur was executed on the orders of Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, in Delhi,India.
- His day of martyrdom (Shaheedi Divas) is commemorated in India every year on 24 November.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji sacrificed his life for the cause of humanity and for the protection of religion.
- He was a great spiritual guide and a true patriot.
- He promoted love and unity in society. He encouraged people to fight for truth and justice.
7. Antyodaya Diwas - 25 September 2024
Tags: Important Days
Antyodaya Diwas is celebrated every year on 25 September to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, one of the prominent personalities in the history of Indian politics.
An Overview of the News
Antyodaya means "uplifting the poorest of the poor" or "rise of the last person".
The day was declared by the Government of India on September 25, 2014, and has been officially celebrated since the year 2015.
2024 Significance: Marks the 108th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Background:
2014 Declaration: On 25 September 2014, during the 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government declared the day as Antyodaya Diwas.
First Observance: The first Antyodaya Diwas was observed on 25 September 2014.
About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya
He was born on September 25, 1916, in Chandrabhan village near Farah town in Mathura district, now known as Deendayal Dham.
His father's name was Bhagwati Prasad and he was an astrologer, mother's name was Rampyari.
The philosophy presented by him is called 'Integral Humanism'.
Its objective was to present an 'indigenous socio-economic model' in which human beings are at the centre of development.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay opposed Western 'capitalist individualism' and 'Marxist socialism' and welcomed modern technology and Western science.
8. World Pharmacists Day - 25 September 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Pharmacists Day is observed globally every year on 25 September.
An Overview of the News
It recognizes and celebrates the vital role of pharmacists as drug information specialists.
Pharmacists are acknowledged as accessible healthcare providers in their communities.
World Pharmacists Day highlights their contribution to building healthier societies around the world.
Marks the anniversary of the establishment of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global organization for pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and education, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The theme for 2024: "Pharmacists: Meeting global health needs".
Background of World Pharmacists Day
Proposal: World Pharmacists Day was proposed in 2009 by the Turkish Pharmacists Association (TPA) during the FIP Congress in Istanbul (now Türkiye).
Approval: The FIP Council unanimously approved the annual observance of WPD on 25 September.
First Observance: The inaugural World Pharmacists Day took place on 25 September 2010.
About the International Pharmaceutical Federation
Established: 1912
Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
CEO: Dr. Catherine Duggan
9. Indian Army Celebrates 198th Gunners Day
Tags: Important Days
The Indian Army celebrates the 198th Gunners Day on 28 September.
An Overview of the News
This day marks the raising of the first Indian Artillery Unit, the 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery, on September 28, 1827.
Modernisation Efforts
The drive aligns with the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat and aims to create a technologically advanced and combat-ready force.
Key modernisation initiatives include:
Standardisation of the 155mm artillery gun
Integration of advanced systems such as Ultra-Light Howitzers, K9 Vajra, and Sharang guns
Historical Significance of Artillery
Artillery was first used in India in the 14th century by the Bahmani Kings during the Deccan War against the Vijaynagar Kingdom.
Throughout history, artillery has been a crucial force multiplier during the Mughal Period and under various leaders, including the Marathas, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The Regiment of Artillery has demonstrated its strength during major operations in 1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1999.
Following the Kargil conflict, artillery gained further prominence and is recognized as a significant 'Arm of Decision' in modern warfare.
Director General of Artillery - Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar
10. World Maritime Day - 26 September 2024
Tags: Important Days
World Maritime Day is celebrated annually to highlight the importance of shipping and maritime activities.
An Overview of the News
The event provides an opportunity to focus on the critical role of international shipping in global trade and sustainable economic growth.
It was first held in 1978 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention’s entry into force.
World Maritime Day 2024
Theme: "Navigating the future: safety first!" focusing on the importance of safety in maritime activities.
A special event, the WMO-IMO Symposium on Extreme Maritime Weather, was held from 23-26 September 2024 in London, addressing 'Bridging the Knowledge Gap Towards Safer Shipping.'
Celebrations and Significance
Celebrations are held worldwide, usually during the last week of September, focusing on maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
Since 2005, an official Parallel Event is hosted by an IMO Member State in addition to celebrations at IMO Headquarters in London.
