December

• World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988.

• It's an International day dedicated to raising awareness by the spread of HIV infection.

HIV & AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus & Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

• HIV is a virus that affects the immune system.

• AIDS refer to a set of symptoms & illness that occur at the very final stage of HIV infection.

National Pollution Control Day is observed on December 2 to instill awareness among people about environmental pollution and its disastrous consequences.

The National Pollution Control Day is observed every year on this day in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy when the deadly gas methyl isocyanate leaked out of the Union Carbide plant on the intervening night of December 2-3 in 1984. The effects of that disaster are felt even now after more than 35 year.

The key objectives are to educate people about the importance of pollution control acts and making them aware about industrial disasters. The day aims to bring awareness to people about prevention of air, soil, noise, and water pollution.

The International Day of People with Disability is held on December 3 every year.

• It is a UN recognized day, which is observed all throughout the world.

• World Disability Day aims at increasing public awareness, understanding and accepting people with disability and celebrating their achievements and contributions.

For the year 2019, the theme is ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’. This year’s theme focuses on empowerment of persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as mentioned in 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• It is being celebrated since 1992, when World Disabled Day was recognized officially to promote compassion and acceptance of disability issues and provide support for the self-respect, rights and better living of disabled persons.

• The United Nations General Assembly notified 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons.

• The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly in 1992 by resolution 47/3.

• The day aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development.

• This aims at making the society more aware about the political, social, economic and cultural life of people with disabilities.

Every year on 4th December, Chemical Disaster Prevention Day is observed to emphasize the importance of chemical safety

It was on 3.12.1984 the World's Worst Industrial Disaster took place in Bhopal from M/S Union Carbide India Limited. By accident, about 40 Metric Tonnes of Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) was leaked into the atmosphere in a short span of time.

MIC is a gas used for making pesticides, which is stored in liquid form under the freezing condition in huge spherical tanks. As the freezing mechanism failed due to many reasons, the liquid MIC turned to gas and leaked due to the build-up pressure. The poisonous gas killed more than 3000 people and leaving about 2,50,000 people permanently disabled. Some families completely got destroyed. Indian government amended many rules and regulations to constrict the industry after that terrible accident.

After 10 years of the accident, on 4th December 1998, The Ministry of Environment and forest planned a meeting and announced this 4th December as Chemical Disaster Management Day. Even after the amendments of so many acts still, we see many industrial accidents happening. Along with that, the pollution problem is also increasing day by day. As the responsible citizens of India, we should work towards improving the environment and keep this earth as a safe place to stay for the future.

Major Dhyan Chand

Born: 29 August 1905

Died: 3 December 1979

The National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August, on the birth anniversary of Hockey Legend Major Dhyan Chand.

03

Olympic Gold Medals

(1928,1932,1936)

400+

International Goals Scored

22 Years

Played for The Indian Team (1926 - 1948)

INDIAN NAVY DAY

It is observed to celebrate the achievement & role of the naval force to the nation

The Indian navy is led by The President of India as Commander-in-Chief.

It is celebrated to commemorate Operation Trident, the courageous attack on the Karachi harbor during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971 by the Indian Naval Missile boats.

World Soil Day is being observed today to raise awareness on the importance of sustaining healthy ecosystems by addressing the challenges in soil management and encouraging all stakeholders to proactively engage improving soil health.

Context :-

The World Soil Day was endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2013. It was officially adopted through a resolution at the 68th UN General Assembly.

Since then every year, the World Soil Day is marked on December 5 by the United Nations all over the world.

Theme: Stop Soil Erosion, Save our Future

Sustainable Development Goals :

The day is marked focusing on the Sustainable Development Goal 15 which is “Life on Land”. The goal aims at protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, combat desertification, manage forests, reverse land degradation.

Issues :

According to the United Nations, Desertification, Land Degradation are the two major issues of soil loss.

According to UNCCD, desertification is defined as degradation of dry land eco systems by human activities due to overgrazing, unsustainable farming, clear cutting of land, mining and climate change.

International Union of Soil Sciences :

The concept of World Soil Day was first introduced by the IUSS in 2002 to celebrate the importance of soil.

The IUSS was founded in 1924.

There are more than 86 national and regional members. It acts as a hub of soil scientists and a platform to promote all branches of soil science and its applications.

Significance :

• The World Soil Day highlights on the problems of population expansion. It aims at reducing soil erosion and maintain soil fertility.

• The theme of 2019 focuses on challenges in soil management.

• It encourages organizations, communities and governments to work towards improving soil health

Why was December 5 chosen?

The late king of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the main proponent of the initiative. Therefore, his birthday December 5 was chosen as World Soil Day.

Soil Conservation :

• The day also stresses on the importance of Soil Conservation.

• The FAO recommends Terrace farming, Contour ploughing, windbreaks, crop rotation, Agrostological measures, green manures, no-till farming, earthworms to conserve soil and prevent soil erosion.

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated on 5 December every year. This day provides a chance for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, values and promote their work among their communities, etc.

ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY

7th December is a day dedicated to India towards collection of funds from people of India for the welfare of the Indian Armed Forces personnel.

Armed Forces primarily consists of three professional uniformed services

INDIAN ARMY

INDIAN NAVY

INDIAN AIRFORCE

THEY ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY:

Indian Coast Guard & paramilitary organisations (Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Force) and Strategic Forces Command, the Andaman & Nicobar Command and the Integrated Defence Staff.

International Civil Aviation Day

Dec 7th also marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in Chicago in 1944.

Aims to promote the safety and efficiency of air transportation around the world.

International Civil Aviation Day is observed on Dec 7 every year towards safer skies

Indian Civil aviation industry is the 9th largest in the world worth $16bn; projected to become the third largest by 2020.

International Anti-Corruption Day

Say NO to CORRUPTION

International Anti-Corruption Day has been observed annually, on 9 December.

More than 50% Indians have bribed government officials

More than US$ 1-2 Billion has been recovered around the world

More than US$ 1.5 Trillion in bribes are paid each year

CORRUPTION BEGETS MORE CORRUPTION, & FOSTERS A CORROSIVE CULTURE OF IMPUNITY. THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION IS AMONG OUR PRIMARY TOOLS FOR ADVANCING THE FIGHT.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December every year.

Human Rights Day is the day in 1948 the united Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Deceleration of Human Rights

According to UNICEF 22,000Childern Worldwide die each day due to poverty

1948 Universal Deceleration on Human Rights is adopted.

1980 Calls on all states to respect actors defending human rights

1985 UN Commission establishes a working group to draft a Declaration on HRDs

1998 After 13 years, on 9 December, the declaration is adopted

2018 Abuses against HRDs continue, and the need to implement the declaration becomes more crucial.

International Day of Neutrality

In 2017, The UN general assembly declared December 12 as the International Day of Neutrality.

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 February 2017.

• Neutrality defined as the legal status arising from the abstention of a state from all participation in a war between other states.

• UN promotes the neutrality of states as a means to strengthening of Peace and Security

• Turkmenistan has been recognized by the UN as Permanently Neutral State since December 1995.

• In Neutrality Day across the Central Asian republic are mass festivities and holiday concerts.

• Neutrality helped to strengthen Turkmenistan's reputation as a country

• Neutrality Day was celebrated country wide by concerts and exhibitions devoted to this significant date.

Birth: 11 December 1935

13th PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Mukherjee was a teacher & then a journalist before running for public office in 1969.

AUTHORED BOOKS

Beyond Survial: Emerging dimensions of Indian Economy, 1984

Challenges before the Nation, 1993

AWARDS

• Padma Vibhushan

• Bangladesh Liberation War Honor

• Grand Cross of the Ivory Coast

• Bharat Ratna

1980-1984 LEADER OF RAJYA SABHA

1982-1984,2009-2012 MINISTER OF FINANCE

1995-1996,2006-2009 MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

1991-1996 DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF PLANNING COMMISSION

2004-2006 MINSTER OF DEFENCE

2004-2012 LEADER OF LOK SABHA

2004-2012 MEMBER OF LOK SABHA FOR JANGIPUR

2012-2017 13th PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Education Empower and enables a nation. A sound education system is the bedrock of an enlightened society - Pranab Mukherjee

Dr. Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar

(13 Dec 1955 - 17 Mar 2019)

1955 - Born in Goa's Mapusa

1978 - Graduate in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

1991 - Parrikar was defeated in his first Lok Sabha polls

1994 - First elected to the second legislative assembly of Goa

1999 - Become Leader of the Opposition from June to November 1999

2000 - Become the Chief Minister for the first time

2002 - Re-elected and become the Chief Minister for a second time

2004 - Goa hosts its first International Film Festival of India

2007 - Parrikar elected as Leader of Opposition in the state assembly

2012 - Parrikar elected Goa Chief Minister with BJP winning simple majority for the first time

2012 - CNN-IBN Indian of the year in politics category

2014 - Parrikar sworn in as Union Defence Minister; Elected as Rajya Sabha MP from Lucknow, UP

2016 - Overseas surgical strikes to destroy military bases within POK

2017 - Resigns as Union Defence Minister, sworn in as Goa Chief Minister

2019 - Parrikar presents state budget in the Goa Assembly

2019 - March 17, 2019 Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away

National Energy Conservation Day

The Energy Conservation Act in India was executed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) at 14th December 2001.

What is the aim of energy conservation?

Energy conservation reduces the need for energy services and can result in increased environmental quality, national security, personal financial security and higher savings. it is at the top of the sustainable energy hierarchy. it also lowers energy costs by preventing future resource depletion.

How do we conserve energy?

• Adjust your day-to-day behaviors

• Reduce your water-heating expenses

• Use smart power strips

• Install a programmable thermostat

How can we help?

• Eliminate off unnecessary use electrical instruments

• Prevents the wasteful expenditure of water

• Discourage use of non-renewable sources & use renewable ones.

The exact means of energy conservation is using less energy by avoiding the unnecessary uses of energy. using energy efficiently is very necessary to save it for the future usage.

International Tea Day is observed annually on December 15

• 3 Billions cups consumed daily worldwide

• 6 Cups per day = less risk of heart disease

• Tea drinkers are 42% less likely to have colon cancer

What are the benefits of drinking all this tea?

Every day, new medical evidence from the international scientific community lends credibility to tea's properties. Not only does tea taste delicious & is easy to make, it's also good for smaller waistlines, sharper minds, stronger bones & healthier hearts.

16 December 1971

VIJAY DIWAS Saluting the undaunting spirit & supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers during the war.

Vijay Diwas on 16 December marks India's victory over Pakistan in 1971 during the war for the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.

Duration of the war - 26 March 1971 to 16 December 1971.

Result of the War

• Decisive Bangladeshi- Allied Victory.

• Collapse of the Eastern Command of Pakistani in Eastern Front

• Establishment of the sovereignty of Bangladesh

93,000 Pakistani Troops that belonged to General Niazi, surrendered to the Indian Army & Mukti Bahini led by Jagait Singh Aurora

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day in 2000.

Migrants have grown from 2.8% to 3.4% of the World's population.

96.5% People remain within their countries of birth.

30% of migrants worldwide are highly skilled workers with a university degree.

Top 5 Countries of origin in 2019

01 India

02 Mexico

03 China

04 Russian Federation

05 Syrian Arab Republic

This day is celebrated every year to promote the rights of all minority communities in India and to create awareness about minority rights

The United Nations, on 18th December 1992, promulgated the "Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorites" to discourage the countries to discriminate amongst people worldwide on the basis of religion, language, nationality or ethnicity

Minorities in India include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.

States with minorities in Majority

1. J&K

2. Meghalaya

3. Punjab

4. Nagaland

5. Mizoram

6. Manipur

7. Lakshadweep

Daring, audacious and swift operation by India Armed Forces on 19 Dec 1961, liberated goa from the Portuguese.

In 1510 the Portuguese colonised India, conquering many parts of the western coast and establishing several colonies in the east.

On 21 July 1954, the United Front of Goans (led by Francis Mascarenhas) forced the Portuguese to retreat from the colonial enclave of Dadra.

After failure of diplomacy with the Portuguese, Government of India ordered the Indian Armed Forces to take Goa by force.

In 1987, Goa was separated from Daman and Diu and made a full-fledged state.

THE UN AND THE CONCEPT OF SOLIDARITY

The organization was founded on a basic premise of unity & harmony among its members expressed in the concept of collective security that relies on the solidarity of its members to unite "to maintain international peace and security"

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY:

• a day to celebrate our unity in diversity

• a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements

• a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity

• a day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

• a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication

"An equation has no meaning for me unless it expresses a thought of God"

SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN

22 DEC 1887 - 26 APR 1920 (AGED:32)

One of India's Greatest Mathematical Geniuses

• Awarded the Degree by research of Cambridge University in 1916

• Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in Feb. 1918.

Made Extraordinary Contributions

• Mathematical Analysis

• Number Theory

• Infinite Series

• Continued Fraction

PV NARASIMHA RAO

FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

BORN: 28 JUN 1921, NEAR KARIMNAGAR

DIED: 23 DEC 2004, NEW DELHI

Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao, was an Indian Lawyer and politician who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India.

POLITICAL CARRER

9th Prime Minister of India 21 June 1991 - 16 May 1996

Minister of Defence

6 March 1993 - 16 May 1996

31 December 1984 - 25 September 1985

Minister of External Affairs

31 March 1992 - 18 January 1994

25 June 1998 - 2 December 1989

14 January 1980 - 19 July 1984

Minister of Home Affairs

12 March 1986 - 12 May 1986

19 July 1984 - 31 December 1984

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

30 September 1971 - 10 January 1973

Farmer's Leader

CHAUDHARY CHARAN SINGH

Born: 23 December 1902

Died: 29 May 1987

5th Prime Minister of India in 1979

His Birthday is celebrated as Kisan Diwas across the country.

In 1938, introduced the Agriculture Produce Market Bill to protect the interest of farmers from the greed of traders.

• Abolished zamindari from UP through the zamindari abolition act, 1950 & brought about the land holding act, 1960.

• Authored several books including abolition of zamindari, co-operative farming X-rayd & India's poverty & its solution.

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow

Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut have been named after him.

Good Governance Day in India is observed on 25 December to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his personality as a poet, humanist, statesman, and a great leader.

He died at the age of 93 on 16 August, 2018. The Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to pay tribute to the former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to raise awareness about the accountability in governance among the people of India.

His Samadhi namely 'Sadiav Atal' was dedicated to the nation

A LOOK AT FORMER FINANCE MINSTER'S POLITICAL JOURNEY

A lawyer by profession and a veteran Rajya Sabha MP, the senior BJP leader served as India's Finance Minister from 2014-19

Born:28.12.1952 Death: 24 August 2019

KEY OFFICIAL POSITIONS HELD:

Minister of Corporate Affairs 26 May 2014 - 30 May 2019

Minster of Defence 26 May 2014 - 9 November 2014, 13 March 2017 - 3 September 2017

Minster of Information and Broadcasting 9 November 2014 - 5 July 2016

Leader of the Opposition, Rajaya Sabha 3 June 2009 - 26 May 2014

Minster of Law and Justice 29 July 2003 - 22 May 2004