General Awareness

DAYS AND EVENTS - December 2018

Dec 2018

May 18, 2021

World AIDS Vaccine Day

World AIDS vaccine day is observed each year on May 18 across the globe. The day is commemorated to recognize the efforts of thousands of scientists and health professionals who are tirelessly working to find a vaccine against the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The day is also addressed as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, which is aimed at increasing awareness regarding the need for HIV vaccines to prevent the spread of HIV infection and AIDS.
World AIDS Vaccine Day is a day to honour those healthcare workers, scientists, and volunteers who have contributed their lives in order to obtain an effective and safe AIDS vaccine. The day was celebrated in May 1998 for the first time after President Bill Clinton gave a speech at Morgan State University in 1997 where he stated that a vaccine was the only way to limit the spread and eventually wipe out HIV.

May 17, 2021

World Hypertension Day

World Hypertension Day is a day designated and initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL), which is itself an umbrella to organizations of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues. The day was initiated to increase the awareness of hypertension. This was especially important because of the lack of appropriate knowledge among hypertensive patients. The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD.
While the theme for World Hypertension Day for a period of five years, from 2013 to 2018, has been 'Know Your Numbers' that aimed at increasing high blood pressure awareness in all populations around the world, the theme in 2021 is 'Measure your blood pressure, control it, live longer!' to raise awareness especially in low to middle income areas and promote the accurate blood pressure measurement methods.

World Telecommunication Day

World Telecommunication Day (WTD) is celebrated every year on May 17 to highlight the role of Information and Communication Technology in today's world. The day is also celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865, the occasion on which the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris, France. On this day, a topical theme is chosen and events celebrating that theme take place around the world.
The theme for this year is 'Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times' focusing on the critical role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for continued functioning of societies during COVID-19 pandemic and bringing to the fore the startling digital inequalities between and within countries.
The event was first started in 1969.

6th UN Global Road Safety Week: 17-23 May 2021

The 6th UN Global Traffic Safety Week, which this year is celebrated between 17 and 23 May, call for 30 km/h (20 mph) speed limits to be the norm for cities, towns and villages worldwide. UN Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW) is a biennial global road safety campaign hosted by WHO.
Each UNGRSW has an advocacy theme. The theme for the 6th UNGRSW is Streets for Life, under the tagline #Love30. It brings together individuals, governments, NGOs, corporations, and other organizations from around the world to raise awareness of road safety and make changes that will reduce the number of road deaths.

May 16, 2021

International Day of Light

The United Nations marks the International Day of Light (IDL) — an annual initiative held globally to raise awareness on the critical role played by light-based technologies in everyday life — on May 16. The IDL highlights the contribution of such technologies in various avenues such as science, technology, art, and culture, thus helping achieve the UNESCO goals of education, equality, and peace.
The day selected, May 16, marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman. "The laser is a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can yield revolutionary benefits to society in communications, healthcare and many other fields," the lightday.org website reads.
The IDL is administered from the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO, and its Secretariat is located at the Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP) at Trieste, Italy.

May 15, 2021

4th India-Swiss Financial Dialogue Held Virtually

The fourth India-Swiss Financial Dialogue was held virtually through video conferencing. Ajay Seth, Secretary Economic Affairs led the Indian delegation. The delegation from the Swiss side was led by Daniela Stoffel, State Secretary, and State Secretariat for International Finance, Switzerland.
The dialogue, inter-alia, covered sharing of experiences by both countries for collaboration on various aspects including investments, International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), FinTech, sustainable finance and cross border financial services.
Further, matters relating to G20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy were discussed along with infrastructure financing, read the release.

International Day of Families

International Day of Families is celebrated on May 15 every year. Family' is a single word with many meanings. A family holds a special place in the life of an individual. Taking time every day to appreciate your loved ones and to reconnect as a family can feel very refreshing.
The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.
The theme for the 2021 International Day of Families is 'Families and New Technology'.

May 14, 2021

Shavuot Jewish Holiday

Shavuot in Hebrew means Weeks. It took seven weeks of trekking through the desert to reach Mount Sinai. It is called the "Feast of Weeks". It is a Jewish holiday that occurs in the Hebrew month of Sivan, that is, between May 15 and June 14.
According to Bible, Shavuot marks the wheat harvest in the Land of Israel.
Also, it commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals of Judaism.
It is celebrated traditionally in Land of Israel.
Shavuot, Pesach and Sukkot are the three major pilgrimage festivals in Israel. In the ancient times, the Israelites used to make pilgrimage to the Temple of Jerusalem during these three festivals. After the destruction of the second temple, the pilgrimages are no longer obligatory upon Jews. However, today the Jews living in and around Israel offer prayers at the western wall.

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