National Science Day 2025

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National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28th February to honour the discovery of the Raman Effect by physicist Sir C.V. Raman.

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Sir C.V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in 1930 for discovering the Raman Effect. Till date, this remains the only science Nobel won by an Indian working in India.

The first National Science Day celebration was held on February 28, 1987, and since then, it has been celebrated every year to inspire people.

The main goal of National Science Day is to spread awareness about the importance of science and how it impacts our daily lives.

Theme for 2025: "Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for VIKSIT BHARAT."

The Raman effect is a basic physics concept that explains how light changes when it passes through a transparent material. 

• The scattered light has different frequencies compared to the original light.

Aadhaar Good Governance Portal 

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Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Aadhaar Good Governance Portal.

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• This initiative aims to streamline the approval process for Aadhaar authentication requests, ensuring seamless access to various public and private sector services. 
• The Aadhaar Good Governance Portal marks a major shift toward digitalization and good governance. 
• With the increasing need for efficient, secure, and seamless access to government services, the portal provides a centralized platform for organizations, both private and public, to implement Aadhaar-based authentication for their users.
• This initiative aligns with the government’s digital inclusion efforts, making Aadhaar a cornerstone of India’s move toward a smart, connected, and secure future.
• The portal may soon support face authentication for seamless, anytime-anywhere identity verification. 
• The portal’s launch follows the amendment of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. 
• This amendment, notified in January 2025, expands the scope of Aadhaar authentication. It allows various entities to use Aadhaar for public interest services, thereby enhancing service delivery.

Exercise Desert Hunt 2025

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The Indian Air Force conducted an integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise.

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• The exercise was conducted at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan from 24 to 28 February 2025
• The exercise involved elite Para (Special Forces) from the Indian Army, the Marine Commandos from the Indian Navy along the Garud (Special Forces) from the Indian Air Force, participating together.
• The exercise included airborne insertion, precision strikes, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism operations, combat free falls and urban warfare scenarios wherein the combat readiness of the forces was tested under realistic conditions.

Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2025

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India is celebrating the 7^th Jan Aushadhi Diwas along with Jan Aushadhi Week.

Jan Aushadhi Diwas 

An entire week from 1st March to 7th March will be celebrated as 'Janaushadhi Week' across the nation to create awareness about Janaushadhi.

The last day of the Janaaushadhi week 2025, which is 7th March is celebrated as the Jan Aushadhi Diwas. 

The theme of the Janaushadhi Week 2025 is “Daam Kam - Dawai Uttam”.

The Central Government has set a target to open 25000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras by 31st March 2027 across the country. 

• Currently, 15,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational.

Health camps were organised at Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country at 500 different locations.

The first Jan Aushadhi Diwas was celebrated in 2019.

World Birth Defects Day (WBDD)

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The United Nations observes World Birth Defects Day annually on 3rd March.

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• World Birth Defects Day (WBDD), is an annual global event first observed on March 3, 2015.
• WBDD recognizes a collective voice in raising awareness for all birth defects.
• The Global theme for WBDD 2025 is “Every Journey Matters,”

Overview of the Birth Defects

• During the past two decades, the contribution of birth defects to the cause of death among under-5 children has increased from 3.9% to 11.5% in the South-East Asia region. 
• In India, more than 1.7 million children are born with birth defects every year.
• As per WHO reports 2023, congenital anomalies are estimated to cause 240,000 newborn deaths within the first four weeks of life, and an additional 170,000 deaths in the following 5 years of life.

Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan

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Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan in a National Workshop of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan

• It is aimed at strengthening the capacity-building interventions for Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the nation.
• It recognises the crucial role of Women Elected representatives in rural local governance
• Over 1,200 Panchayat women leaders from diverse backgrounds will participate in the Abiyan.
• The National Workshop will focus on themes addressing women’s participation in local governance like “Women’s Participation and Leadership in PRIs: Changing the Dynamics in Local Self-Governance” and “Women-Led Local Governance: Sectoral Interventions by WERs.”
• This National Workshop aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, highlighted in the 119th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, emphasizing upon the role of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s power) in nation-building.