Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

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World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20 to raise awareness about the declining sparrow population. It was initiated by “Nature Forever” in 2010 and has spread to over 50 countries. In 2012, the house sparrow was declared Delhi’s state bird. Sparrows control insect populations, aid in pollination, and enhance biodiversity. Known as “Goraiya” (Hindi), “Kuruvi” (Tamil), and “Chirya” (Urdu), they hold cultural significance in India. People celebrate by planting greenery, reducing pesticides, and creating nesting spaces to protect sparrows.

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World TB Day is observed on March 24 to raise awareness about Tuberculosis (TB) and its impact. The United Nations’ SDG goal is to end TB by 2030 with a 90% reduction in incidence, 95% reduction in mortality, and zero catastrophic costs. The Global TB Report 2024 warns that these targets may not be met due to complex diagnostics, drug-resistant TB, and lack of healthcare access. India’s TB Treatment Coverage reached 92.4% (global target: 90% by 2027). Treatment Success Rate in 2022 was 87.6% (target: 92%). India accounts for 26% of global TB cases, with 195 cases per 100,000 population. 2.552 million TB cases were reported, missing the 2.762 million target.

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India Habitat Centre (IHC) organized special performances to celebrate World Puppetry Day on March 21. The day recognizes puppetry as a global art form and honors puppeteers worldwide. Puppetry involves making and manipulating puppets for theatrical performances on stage, television, or film. A puppet is a human, animal, or abstract figure moved by human effort, not mechanical aid. In India, puppetry is an ancient performing art used for storytelling, entertainment, and social commentary.

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The International Day of Happiness is celebrated every year on March 20 to promote happiness and well-being as universal goals. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to highlight that progress should focus on human well-being, not just economic growth. The 2025 theme is “Caring and Sharing”, focusing on building stronger communities and improving overall well-being.

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World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March every year since 1993 to highlight the importance of freshwater. It focuses on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. The theme for World Water Day 2025 is “Glacier Preservation.” This theme raises awareness about the crucial role glaciers play in providing freshwater for drinking, agriculture, industry, and energy production. Glaciers also support healthy ecosystems and are essential for global water security.

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World Down Syndrome Day is observed globally on 21 March to raise awareness and support affected individuals and families. Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to developmental differences. Normally, a newborn has 46 chromosomes, but an extra chromosome 21 results in Down syndrome. The theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2025 is “Improve Our Support Systems.” The theme focuses on strengthening inclusive support systems to ensure better care, education, and opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome.

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The United Nations has declared March 21 as the World Day for Glaciers. The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 highlights the urgent need to protect glaciers from climate change. Glaciers are vast ice and snow formations that shape landscapes and serve as vital freshwater sources. They regulate sea levels and support biodiversity but are melting rapidly due to global warming. The 2025 initiative aims to promote scientific research, enhance global cooperation, mobilize resources for mitigation, and encourage community-led adaptation strategies.

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India recently hosted the 8th Meeting of the Joint Committee on ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to boost regional trade. AITIGA was signed in 2009 and came into force in 2010, aiming to ease trade between India and ASEAN nations. The agreement ensures National Treatment for goods of each party, as per General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1994. India-ASEAN trade reached USD 121 billion in 2023–24, forming 11% of India’s global trade. The next meeting will be held in June 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and is one of the largest global movements for environmental protection. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “OUR POWER, OUR PLANET,” calling for a major shift to renewable energy. It urges individuals, businesses, and governments to triple clean energy production by 2030. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, led by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues. Around 20 million Americans joined that day, making up 10% of the U.S. population. In 1990, Earth Day became a global event with over 200 million people from 141 countries participating. It reminds us of our shared duty to care for nature and tackle climate change.

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Maharashtra’s Nashik hosts the ‘Yoga Mahotsav 2025’ as part of the countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. It was organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush). The event took place at Gauri Maidan, Panchavati, celebrating India’s Yoga heritage and launching the Yoga Sangam Portal for online registrations. Yoga Sangam is a major initiative under International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 to enable synchronized Yoga practice at 1,00,000 locations across India on June 21. The event promoted the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), focusing on practices like Pranayama and Dhyana to improve health and harmony.