General Awareness

DAYS AND EVENTS - March 2021

Mar 2021

Aug 20, 2024

Akshay Urja Day

Every year on August 20, Akshay Urja Day is celebrated in India to underscore the significance of renewable energy sources and to highlight the strides India has made in advancing the same.
Initiated in 2004 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the observance provides an opportunity to showcase India's commitment to renewable energy transition as it aims at achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel by 2030.
The date also marked the birth anniversary of India's former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who played a pivotal role in promoting and supporting sustainable development and renewable energy initiatives.

World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day is observed every year on August 20 across the globe. This day serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to safeguard our communities and ourselves against the potentially fatal diseases spread by the insects that are frequently found in houses all over the world.
It honours the discovery made by Sir Ronald Ross in 1897 that Anopheles mosquitoes carry the malaria parasite, which infects people. Since the 1930s, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has been commemorating the British physician's contributions with an annual ceremony.
Dr. Ross named this day as 'Mosquito Day'. This was the first time a medical professional linked malaria to a mosquito.
The purpose of World Mosquito Day is to raise awareness of the various diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya that mosquitoes can transmit. The day also honours the contributions made by social service providers, medical professionals, and other individuals in the fight against diseases spread by mosquitoes.
The theme for the 2024 World Mosquito Day is 'Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world'.

Sadbhavna Diwas

Sadbhavna Diwas (Communal Harmony Day) is observed on August 20 every year, it is a significant day for promoting peace, harmony, and goodwill among all communities in India. For UPSC aspirants, understanding the essence of Sadbhavna Diwas is crucial as it ties into key concepts of communal harmony, national integration, and social justice.
This day not only commemorates the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi but also reflects on the values he advocated during his life, such as unity, compassion, and the need for a harmonious society.
Sadbhavna Diwas was first observed on August 20, 1992, to honour the memory of Rajiv Gandhi, who served as India's youngest Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi, known for his forward-thinking vision and efforts to modernise India, was also deeply committed to fostering communal harmony and national unity.

Aug 19, 2024

Sanskrit Diwas

World Sanskrit Day, also known as International Sanskrit Day, Sanskrit Diwas, and Vishwa Samskrita Dinam, is observed on the day of Shravana Poornima in the Hindu calendar, which coincides with the celebration of Raksha Bandhan. This year (2024), Sanskrit Diwas was celebrated on Monday, August 19. The primary objective of this day is to increase awareness and promote Sanskrit, one of India's most ancient languages. Sanskrit holds immense significance as it forms the bedrock for classical texts in various fields such as Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Science.
The history of World Sanskrit Day dates back to 1969, when the Government of India declared August 19 as Sanskrit Day to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the birth of Pāṇini, a Sanskrit grammarian.
Pāṇini is considered the father of Sanskrit grammar. His work, the Ashtadhyayi, is a comprehensive treatise on Sanskrit grammar that is still used today.

World Photography Day

World Photography Day commemorates the invention of the Daguerreotype, one of the earliest photographic processes, which was announced as a gift to the world by the French government on August 19, 1839. The Daguerreotype, developed by Louis Daguerre and Joseph Niépce, marked a significant milestone in the history of photography, revolutionising how images were captured and preserved.
This global event honours all forms of photography and each year carries an optional theme. The theme for World Photography Day 2024 is 'An Entire Day'.

World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognise humanitarian personnel and those who have died working for humanitarian causes. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as part of a Swedish-sponsored GA Resolution A/63/L.49 on the Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Assistance of the United Nations, and set as the 19th of August. It marks the day on which the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 of his colleagues were killed in the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad.
The designation of August 19 as World Humanitarian Day is the outcome of the relentless efforts of the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Foundation and his family working closely with the Ambassadors of France, Switzerland, Japan and Brazil in both Geneva and New York to table and steer the draft Resolution through the General Assembly.
The theme for World Humanitarian Day 2024 is 'Act For Humanity'.

Aug 17, 2024

Gabon Independence Day

Gabon Independence Day is observed every year on the 17th of August. This day honours the country's independence in 1960. It is a national holiday in Gabon and is celebrated in numerous ways including parades, concerts and fireworks.
Parades feature marching bands, floats, and traditional dancers. Concerts feature a variety of musical genres, from traditional Gabonese music to international pop music.
Gabon Independence Day is an event for all Gabonese people to come together and celebrate the sacrifices of people who gained freedom for the country. It is a day for all the Gabonese people to be proud of their heritage.

Indonesian Independence Day

The Independence Day of Indonesia (in Indonesian formally known as Hari Ulang Tahun Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia shortened "HUT RI", or simply Hari Kemerdekaan, and colloquially referred by the people as Tujuhbelasan, meaning "the Seventeenth") is a national holiday in Indonesia commemorating the anniversary of Indonesia's proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945. It was made a national holiday by government decree in 1946.
Ceremonies and festivities are held throughout the country to celebrate this national day, including the flag hoisting ceremony conducted nation-wide and at Indonesian diplomatic installations abroad, local community competitions, with patriotic and cultural parades.

Aug 16, 2024

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Death Anniversary

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary on August 16.
They were joined by other dignitaries, including Union ministers, and leaders from different parties in paying homage to Vajpayee at his memorial 'Sadaiv Atal'.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (December 25, 1924 –August 16, 2018) was an Indian politician and poet who served three terms as the Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004. He was the first non-Congress prime minister to serve a full term in the office.
His stewardship of the country between 1998-2004 is known for reforms and boost to infrastructure sectors. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 93 years.

Aug 15, 2024

Bangladesh's Interim Government Cancels Holiday on National Mourning Day

The interim government of Bangladesh cancelled a national holiday on August 15 that marks the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, former PM and the father of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The decision was approved at the advisory council meeting of the interim government in Dhaka. Several parties, including Hasina's Awami League attended the meeting. The parties backed the interim government's decision to cancel the holiday on August 15.
August 15 is remembered as the National Mourning Day in Bangladesh, marking Mujibur Rahman's assassination in 1975. Mujib, the founder of Bangladesh, was popularly known as 'Bangabandhu', meaning 'friend of Bengal'.

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