Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, hosted the third edition of the “Viraasat Sari Festival 2024” from 15th to 28th December at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. The event, which gained significant popularity in 2022-23 and 2023-24, saw around 20,000 visitors across age groups. The festival showcases unique handloom products like Paithani, Pochampally, Banarasi Brocade, Pashmina, and more. India’s handloom sector employs over 35 lakh people, mostly women, preserving cultural traditions. Government initiatives promote high-quality, eco-friendly handloom products with distinct identities and authenticity guarantees. The festival aims to boost market opportunities and earnings for the handloom community.

Notes:
December 19 is celebrated as Goa Liberation Day, marking Goa’s freedom from 451 years of Portuguese rule in 1961. The Indian Army liberated Goa, Daman, and Diu, integrating them into the Indian Union. While influenced by India’s independence movement in the 1940s, Goa remained under Portuguese control until 1961. Goa Liberation Day is observed annually with enthusiasm, highlighting its historical importance and liberation from colonial rule.

Notes:
World Hindi Day is celebrated on 10 January every year to highlight the importance of Hindi globally. It was first commemorated in 2006, marking the first World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur, India. The aim is to promote Hindi as a global language and encourage its use worldwide. The theme for World Hindi Day 2025 is “A Global Voice of Unity and Cultural Pride,” emphasizing linguistic and cultural exchange. National Hindi Day, observed on September 14, marks the recognition of Hindi as India’s official language in 1949. World Hindi Day focuses on international promotion, while National Hindi Day celebrates its national significance.

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India celebrates National Youth Day on January 12, honoring Swami Vivekananda’s legacy of youth empowerment. The National Youth Festival (NYF) 2024, held on January 10-12 at Bharat Mandapam, is reimagined as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. It is organized under the National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD) by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, with shared costs between the Centre and the host state/UT. The festival includes cultural events, youth conventions, exhibitions, and adventure activities, involving around 7,500 delegates.

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The Lokpal of India has declared January 16 as “Lokpal Day,” with the first observance on January 16, 2025. The decision was made during a meeting on March 14, 2024. Lokpal Day highlights the establishment of the Lokpal and aims to raise awareness about its role in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

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Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the registration portal for the 3rd edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS). KTS 3.0 will start on 15th February 2025 and run until 24th February 2025 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The event aims to celebrate and reaffirm the historical connection between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, two ancient centers of learning. KTS is an initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, focusing on celebrating the civilizational link between these two regions.

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The 2nd edition of ‘Lok Samvardhan Parv’ is organized from January 27 to February 2, 2025, by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in New Delhi. 90 artisans from across India showcases diverse crafts, such as Ajrak Print, Banaras Brocade, Cane & Bamboo, Channapatna Toys, Kantha Stitch, and more. The event demonstrates the Ministry’s inclusive development program benefiting minority communities.

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Indian Newspaper Day is observed on January 29 to mark the introduction of India’s first newspaper. Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, the first printed newspaper, was launched on January 29, 1780, by James Augustus Hicky in Kolkata. The day highlights the role of newspapers in shaping India’s socio-political landscape, promoting freedom of expression, and advocating public rights.

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New Delhi hosted the 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias from 5-7 February 2025. The event brought together global pharmacopoeial leaders, regulators, and industry experts to enhance cooperation in pharmaceutical standards. Key discussions focused on pharmaceutical harmonization, regulatory convergence, and improving public health. The first meeting was held in Geneva in 2012, and the 10th in Strasbourg in 2020. WHO defines pharmacopeia as a legally binding collection of quality standards for medicines. The meeting was organized by WHO and hosted by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).

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The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 77/243 to address the global threat of violent extremism. February 12 is now observed as the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism. The day aims to raise awareness about the dangers of violent extremism. It promotes international cooperation to counter extremist ideologies. The focus is on peaceful solutions and preventive measures against radicalization. The UN emphasizes that violent extremism should not be linked to any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group.