1. Parakram Diwas celebrated in Rajasthan on the occasion of 51st anniversary of Longewala battle
Tags: Important Days
To mark the 51st anniversary of India's victory in the Longewala battle during the 1971 war, Parakram Diwas celebrated at Jaisalmer Military Station and Longewala War Memorial in Rajasthan on December 5.
Important facts
Several programs were organised at the Sagat Singh Stadium on the occasion. It included a band display, daredevils motorcycle stunts, mixed martial arts, mallakhamb, show jumping, musical performance, parachute free fall etc.
About Longewala battle between India and Pakistan
The Battle of Longewala was one of the biggest and most decisive battles fought between India and Pakistan in 1971.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 began on 3 December, with the main thrust of the Indian Army focused on East Pakistan (erstwhile Bangladesh).
The Battle was fought between 120 Indian soldiers and 4 Hawker Aircraft and around 2000 to 3000 Pakistani military forces and 30-40 tanks.
This battle is famous as the Battle of Thermopylae in India, which describes the victory of a small army against a much larger military force.
This battle caused heavy losses to the Pakistani army, where around 200 soldiers were killed.
The Pakistani commanders made several questionable decisions which made them surrender the war and lose the battle.
The Thar Desert of Rajasthan became a battleground between the Indian Armed Forces and the Pakistani Army in the Battle of Longewala.
The Battle of Longewala broke out on 3 December and was fought between 4 and 7 December 1971.
2. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated 65th Foundation Day celebrations of DRI in New Delhi
Tags: Economy/Finance Important Days
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the two-day long 65th Foundation Day celebrations of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in New Delhi on December 5.
Important facts
The current edition of "Smuggling in India Report 2021-22" was released by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on the occasion.
The report deals with the trends in the area of anti-trafficking and commercial frauds and the performance and experience of DRI in the last financial year.
As many as 22 Customs administrations covering the Asia-Pacific region along with international organisations are invited to the event this year.
About Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
DRI is the principal intelligence and enforcement agency on anti-smuggling matters under the aegis of the Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) of the Government of India.
It was established on 4 December 1957.
It is headquartered in New Delhi and has 12 zonal units, 35 regional units and 15 sub-regional units, employing approximately 800 officers.
It is tasked with curbing the smuggling of goods including drugs, gold, diamonds, electronics, foreign currency, and counterfeit Indian currency.
It serves to prevent smuggling of goods including drugs, gold, diamonds, electronics, foreign currency, and counterfeit Indian currency.
It also works to combat commercial frauds and evasion of customs duties related to international trade.
3. Navy Day 2022 to be celebrated at Eastern Naval Command Visakhapatnam
Tags: Defence Important Days
Every year since 1972, 4th December has been observed as Navy Day in India. The day is celebrated to honour the Indian Navy's role during the India Pakistan war of 1971. This year for the first time the Navy Day celebration is taking place outside New Delhi at Eastern Naval Command headquarters Visakhapatnam.
The Indian Navy launched Operation Trident on 4-5 December 1971 to block the Karachi port of Pakistan. During the operation the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar, killing hundreds of Pakistani Navy personnel.
Background to the Day
Navy Day was first celebrated on 21 Oct 1944 by the Royal Indian Navy, which coincided with the Royal Navy's Trafalgar Day of the British navy.
Until 1972 the Navy Day was celebrated on 15 December and the week in which 15 December fell was observed as Navy Week.
At the Senior Naval Officers’ Conference in May 1972, it was decided that Indian Navy Day would be celebrated on December 4 to recognise the efforts and achievements of the Indian Navy during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Navy Day 2022
This year the Navy Day celebration will be held in Visakhapatnam. This is for the first time that the Navy Day celebration is being held outside Delhi. Indian Naval ships, submarines, aircraft and Special Forces from Eastern, Western and Southern Naval Command would showcase the capability and versatility of the Indian Navy. The event will culminate with a sunset ceremony and lighting up of ships at anchorage.
The Indian Navy will demonstrate India’s combat prowess and capability through an ‘Operational Demonstration' during the celebration.
President of India and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Droupadi Murmu would witness the event as the Guest of Honour.
The event will be hosted by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar.
Indian Navy
The modern Indian Navy was founded on 26 January 1950.
It comes under the Union Ministry of Defence
President is the supreme commander of the Indian Navy.
Current Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R.Hari Kumar
Navy Day: 4 December
The Headquarters of the Indian Navy is at New Delhi
Naval Command and its Headquarters
Operational Naval Commands | Headquarters |
Western Naval Command | Mumbai |
Southern Naval Command | Kochi |
Eastern Naval Command | Visakhapatnam |
4. World Computer Literacy Day
Tags: Important Days
Every year on December 2, 'World Computer Literacy Day' is celebrated across the world to raise awareness about computer literacy and promote digital literacy.
Important facts
With the invention of computers, tasks have become much easier and more convenient for mankind.
It is extremely important for humans to get to know the technological developments happening across the world.
Hence, it is known as World Computer Literacy Day dedicated to highlighting the importance of attaining literacy in computers.
The day aims to promote technological help by uplifting women and children to get skilled in understanding computer language.
Background of the day
The day started to help women and children learn computers.
The day was first celebrated by NIIT on 2 December 2001.
The concept of celebrating this day was first started by the leading Indian computer company NIIT. This year the 22nd anniversary of the day is being celebrated.
5. International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Tags: Important Days
Every year on 3rd December 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities' is celebrated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the fortitude and accomplishments of Divyangjan.
Important facts
The day is celebrated to promote the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities at all levels of society and development and to raise awareness of the status of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life.
The theme of 2022 is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.”
Background of the day
The day was initiated in the year 1992 by resolution 47/3 of the 'United Nations General Assembly'.
It aims to work towards providing equal opportunities for persons with disabilities through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, more than 1 billion people worldwide are affected by disability.
What is disability?
Disability refers to a condition in which a person is unable to perform a number of activities in comparison to the normal standard of a particular individual.
The term 'disability' is often used to refer to individual functioning, which includes physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment, mental illness etc.
6. National Pollution Control Day
Tags: Important Days
National Pollution Control Day is observed on December 2 every year.
Important facts
The main purpose of organising this day is to spread awareness about the management and control of industrial disasters and to promote efforts towards preventing pollution arising due to industrial or human activities.
The day is dedicated to encourage the adoption of pollution control acts to prevent environmental pollution caused by human negligence and industrial emissions.
The day is observed in the memory of those who died in the Bhopal gas disaster in 1984 on 2 and 3 December.
On the night of December 2, 1984, there was a leakage of 'Methyl Isocyanite' gas from the plant of the American company Union Carbide India Limited, which converted the city of Bhopal into a giant gas chamber.
More than 15,000 people died due to the leakage of about 30 tonnes of methyl isocyanite gas and lakhs of people were affected by this horrific tragedy.
Significance of the day
This day is celebrated to create awareness among people to prevent any industrial disaster.
According to the National Health Portal of India, air pollution causes more than 7 million deaths worldwide every year, of which about 4 million are due to household air pollution.
7. Prime Minister Modi greets BSF on its 58th raising Day
Tags: Defence Important Days
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the Border Security Personnel and their families on BSF (Border Security Force) 58th raising day. Every year December 1 is observed as BSF day because the force was raised on this day in 1965.
BSF was set up after the 1965 India Pakistan war. It is a border force which is deployed along the International border with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
BSF is also known as the nation’s ’first line of defence'.
It is the world’s largest border force in the world.
It is one of the 7 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) which comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The other CAPF are Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema BAL (SSB).
The BSF is the only force in the country to have the Camel Contingents and the Camel Mounted Band.
It is the only force in the world which has a female camel riding squad.
It is the only CAPF to have a full-fledged Water Wing, Air Wing and even an Artillery Regiment of its own.
- Motto of BSF : Duty Unto Death,
- Headquarters: New Delhi,
- Director General: Pankaj Kumar Singh (IPS)
- First Director General : K F Rustamji
8. World AIDS Day
Tags: Important Days
World AIDS Day is observed every year on 1 December.
Important facts
It is an opportunity for people around the world to unite in the fight against HIV, support people living with HIV, and remember those who have died from AIDS-related illness.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is caused by the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), has so far claimed the lives of 40.1 million people.
At the end of 2021, there were 38.4 million HIV-positive persons worldwide, of whom 25.6 million were from the African region.
HIV remains a serious public health concern affecting millions of people globally.
The theme of the 2022 World AIDS Day
"Equalize" is this year's World AIDS Day theme.
It's a rallying cry to get serious about addressing disparities and doing everything we can to end AIDS.
Therefore, it is important to increase patient access to HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services by improving the availability, quality, and usability.
Background of the day
The day was first observed in 1988 by WHO.
The day was conceived by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two information officers for the Global Program on AIDS.
These officers worked for the World Health Organization in the Global Program on AIDS.
James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter took their proposal for a World AIDS Day to Jonathan Mann, director of the Global Program on AIDS, who liked the idea and recommended starting the first World AIDS Day on December 1, 1988.
9. International Jaguar Day
Tags: Important Days
International Jaguar Day is observed every year on 29 November worldwide to raise awareness about the increasing threats facing the jaguar and the critical conservation efforts ensuring its survival from Mexico to Argentina.
Important facts
The day is celebrated as a symbol of biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and the centuries-old cultural heritage of Central and South America.
International Jaguar Day was celebrated on 29 November by the National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) in India.
Jaguar is the third largest Cat Predator in the World and an important species of the Amazon Rainforest.
It is the largest wild cat in America.
The day aims to draw attention to the need to conserve jaguar corridors and their habitats as part of efforts to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Background of the day
In March 2018 representatives from 14 range countries gathered in New York at United Nations’ Headquarters for the Jaguar 2030 Forum.
The Forum resulted in the Jaguar 2030 Statement, which outlined a wide range of internationally collaborative jaguar conservation initiatives.
Several countries, including Brazil, are also celebrating National Jaguar Day, which has recognized the jaguar as a symbol of biodiversity.
Among those seeking to celebrate Jaguar Day were Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, co-founder and former CEO and chief scientist of Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organisation.
10. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022
Tags: Summits Important Days International News
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 concluded on November 25, with the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Important facts
The two-day summit, which began on November 24 in Oman's capital Muscat, follows two high-level summits held in the Netherlands in 2014 and 2019.
The theme of the meeting was - The AMR Pandemic: From Policy to One Health Action.
The Manifesto has been endorsed by 34 of the 45 countries that participated at the conference.
Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR - three global targets
Reduce the total amount of antimicrobials used in the agri-food system at least by 30-50% by 2030 from the current level.
Zero use of Critically important antimicrobials (CIA).
Ensuring that 'access' group antibiotics (a class of antibiotics that are cheaper, safer and have a lower AMR risk) represent at least 60 per cent of total antibiotic consumption in humans by 2030.
About World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
It is a global campaign observed annually to improve awareness and understanding related to AMR.
It encourages best practices among the public, health stakeholders and policy makers to reduce the emergence and spread of AMR.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance?
It is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.
As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, the infection persists and can spread to others.
