Important Days April 2021

Topic: Important Days

National Maritime Day 2021: April 05

Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways celebrated the 58th National Maritime Day (5th April).

National Maritime Day is celebrated every year on 5th April to commemorate the maiden voyage of the first Indian flag merchant vessel ‘S.S LOYALTY’ from Mumbai to London, on April 5th, 1919.

2021 Theme: ‘Sustainable Shipping beyond Covid-19’.

World Earth Day: April 22

Every year, the World Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. The first World Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. In 1969, the Peace Activist John McConnell proposed to celebrate World Earth Day to honour the earth. It was first proposed to be celebrated on March 21, 1970, which is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.

On the World Earth Day, in 2016, the landmark Paris Agreement was signed by China, United States and other 120 countries.

World Book and Copyright Day: April 23

Every year the World Book and Copyrights Day is celebrated on April 23 by UNESCO. UNESCO is United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. This year, to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO has created “Bookface Challenge”.

About World Book and Copyrights Day:

The first World Book and Copyrights Day was celebrated in 1995. The UNESCO Prize for Children’s and Young People’s Literature in the Service of Tolerance is awarded on this day. Also, the day will increase the understanding of copyright laws and other measures that protect intellectual properties.

Why on April 23?

The UNESCO decided to celebrate the World Book and Copyrights Day on April 23 as it is the death anniversary of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilasco de la Vega.

National Panchayati Raj Day: April 24

Every year, the National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on April 24. The first National Panchayati Raj day was declared by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 24, 2010. It is celebrated on April 24 as the Panchayati Raj System of India came into effect on April 24, 1993.

World Malaria Day: April 25

Every year, the World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25 by the World Health Organisation and several other international organisations. This year, the World Malaria Day is to be celebrated under the following theme:

Theme: “Reaching the Zero Malaria Target”.

The World Malaria Day was established by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly. Earlier it was widely known as the African Malaria Day.

World Intellectual Property Day: April 26

Every year, the World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26. The day is celebrated to highlight the importance of Intellectual Property. The day is celebrated by the World International Property and several other international organisations.

Theme: “IP and SMEs: Taking your ideas to market”.

The day was established by the World Intellectual Property Organisation in 2000. It aims to increase awareness on how copyright, patents, designs and trademarks impact on daily life.

Civil Services Day: April 21

Every year, 21st April is celebrated as the Civil Services Day by the Government of India.

Key facts:

It is celebrated as an occasion for the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the causes of citizens and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.

The date is chosen to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.

He referred to civil servants as the ‘Steel Frame of India’.