Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

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The 22nd Divya Kala Mela was organized at India Gate, New Delhi. The 11-day event, organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, features 100 artisans, entrepreneurs, and artists from 20 states and union territories. It promotes the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement with handicrafts, eco-friendly products, and cultural performances. The event helps Divyangjan achieve economic independence and affirms their place in India’s progress.

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December 18 is celebrated as Minority Rights Day to commemorate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to Minorities, adopted in 1992. This day raises awareness about minority rights, highlights their contributions to society, and promotes their protection and empowerment. The non-binding Declaration ensures the right to culture, religion, and language for minorities, shaping global human rights discussions. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights for all citizens, promoting equality and protecting minorities from discrimination.

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WHO declared January 10 as “Ayush Medical Coding and Records Day,” starting next year. The announcement was made at the 10th World Ayurveda Congress in Dehradun, India. Ayush represents traditional practices like yoga, naturopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) will lead the observance. The Hyderabad-based National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), WHO’s collaboration center in India, will work with CCRAS. Their goal is to develop a roadmap for capacity building and global classification of traditional health interventions. The initiative promotes evidence-based traditional medicine and global integration of ancient systems.

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Farmers’ Day, or Kisan Diwas, is observed annually on 23 December. The day marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India’s fifth Prime Minister, known as the “Champion of India’s Farmers.” It honors farmers’ contributions to the Indian economy and raises awareness about their challenges. Farmers’ Day was first celebrated in 2001 as an initiative by the Government of India. Chaudhary Charan Singh introduced impactful agricultural policies to empower farmers and address rural challenges. He advocated sustainable practices and aimed to create a self-reliant agrarian economy.

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The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and UNDP, in partnership with Citi Foundation, launched the 7th Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge for 2024-2025. Youth Co:Lab, co-created by UNDP and Citi Foundation in 2017, focuses on empowering youth to drive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation and entrepreneurship. In India, it began in 2019 in collaboration with AIM, NITI Aayog, and has conducted six theme-specific youth innovation dialogues by 2024. The 2024-2025 edition, in partnership with AssisTech Foundation, emphasizes solutions enhancing opportunities for persons with disabilities in assistive technology, education, skilling, and inclusive care models.

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The Scientific Aptitude Assessment Exercise under Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR’s) JIGYASA program was held online on December 20, 2024. 550 students from 37 CSIR laboratories participated in simultaneous experiments. CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) organized the event, with participation certificates distributed to the students after the experiment.

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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 Indian High Commission launched Sri Lanka’s first Hindi Certificate Course through open and distance learning on World Hindi Day 2025. The launch occurred during the Bharat-Sri Lanka Hindi Sammelan, organized by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC). The initiative marks the 50th anniversary of World Hindi Day celebrations. A collaboration between the Open University of Sri Lanka and SVCC, the course aims to make Hindi learning accessible across the country. This programme highlights the growing demand for Hindi as a global language and strengthens academic ties between India and Sri Lanka.

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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.