Param IAS

1st July 2020 - 15th July 2020 (Part I )

Part of: Current Affairs 2020

Important Days

1. National Doctors’ Day

  • In India, the National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on July 1 all across India to honour the legendary physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.
  • National Doctors’ Day is a day celebrated to recognise the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities.
  • Doctor’s Day in India was established by the Government of India in 1991 in honour of Dr Roy as a great physician.
  • Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on July 1, 1882 and died on the same date in 1962, aged 80 years.
  • He donated his home to be converted into a nursing home named after his mother Aghorkamini Devi, who was an ardent Brahmo Samaji and a dedicated social worker.
  • Every year, the theme for Doctor’s day is announced by Indian Medical Association.
  • The theme of National Doctor’s Day 2020 is "Lessen the mortality of COVID-19".

2. Successful 5 years of Digital India

  • The digital journey has focused on empowerment, inclusion and digital transformation and its positive impact is being felt in all aspects of the lives of Indian citizens.
  • However, the Digital India journey in the past 5 years has centred around empowerment, inclusion, digital transformation.
  • It has positively impacted all aspects of the lives of Indian citizens identity management through Aadhaar, Direct Benefit Transfer, Common Services Centres, DigiLocker, mobile based UMANG services, participatory governance through MyGov, Jeevan Pramaan, to UPI, Ayushman Bharat, e-Hospital, PM-Kisan, e-NAM, Soil Health Cards, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, National Scholarship Portal, e-Pathshala, and so on.
  • A 'National AI Portal' and 'Responsible AI for Youth' has also been launched to lay the foundation for an AI-powered future.
  • Digital India's initiatives have also played a pivotal role during the CoVID-19 situation, such as Aarogya Setu, E-Sanjeevani, sensitisation through MyGov and Social media platforms etc.
  • Daily average electronic transactions have increased from 66 lakh in 2014 to 16.3 crore in 2020.
  • Jan Dhan Accounts have reached 38.73 crore beneficiaries, with a total of Rs 1.33 lakh crore in beneficiaries bank accounts.
  • Mobile and internet connections are being used by 117 crore and 68.8 crore users, respectively.
  • Emphasizing the Digital India’s initiatives during the COVID-19 situation, such as Aarogya Setu for its ground-breaking development time of 3 weeks and localisation in 12 Indian languages with 13 crore downloads, with additional 3 crores for Kai OS, he informed that it has helped identify over 350 COVID-19 hotspots.
  • Hence, the India’s talent pool of skilled people, technology prowess and geo-political advantages are poised to make India an inspiring country in the 21st Century for the welfare of Indians and the world.
  • Regarding public digital platforms "Building Digital Government Platforms for the Digital Economy of the Future" on the successful implementation of Digital India in the country.

3. Dhamma Chakra Day

  • Dharma Chakra Day is celebrated Asadha Poornima this year dated July 4, 2020.
  • The auspicious day of Asadha Poornima which falls on the first full moon day of the month of Asadha.
  • It is a annual flagship event of International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
  • Royalties, Supreme heads of the Buddhist Sanghas and Eminent Masters and Scholars from around the world and IBC chapters, member organizations are participating.
  • As per Indian sun calendar is also known as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in Thailand.
  • It is the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Poornima or Vesak.
  • The day marks Buddha’s first teaching after attaining Enlightenment to the first five ascetic disciples (pañcavargika) on the full-moon day of Asadha at ‘Deer Park’, Ṛiṣipatana in the current day Sarnath, near Varanasi, India.
  • This teaching of Dhamma Cakka- PavattanaSutta (Pali) or Dharma chakra Pravartana Sutra (Sanskrit) is also known as the First Turning of Wheels of Dharma and comprised of the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path.
  • The Rainy Season retreat (Varsha Vassa) for the Monks and Nuns also starts with this day lasting for three lunar months from July to October, during which they remain in a single place, generally in their temples dedicated to intensive meditation.
  • The day is also observed as Guru Poornima by both Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark reverence to their Gurus.