Contents

1. Republic Day
2. Family Planning 2020: Celebrating Progress, Transforming for the future
3. Bharat Parv 2021

REPUBLIC DAY

Focus: GS 1; Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

Why in News?

PM greets nation on Republic Day

About Republic Day

• Republic Day is a national holiday in India. It honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic.
• India recently celebrated its 72nd Republic Day which is celebrated every year on 26th January 2021.
• The word republic is derived from the Latin phrase- RES PUBLICA meaning ‘public affair’ which is the root of the word republic.
• This year on the Republic Day parade, India will not have a chief guest due to the global situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In over five decades, this will be the first time that India will not have a foreign head of state as Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade.
• On 15 August 1947, India got independence, and that time India was headed by King George VI till the Constitution of India came into force that is on 26 January, 1950.
• This is the day when India declared itself a democratic republic nation.
• The first President of India was Dr. Rajendra Prasad. 

About Significance of choosing January 26th

• The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, a date specially chosen to coincide with the anniversary of ‘Purna Swaraj Diwas’.
• January 26, 1930 was marked as ‘Purna Swaraj Diwas’, or the day the nation would attain complete freedom from its colonizers by the Congress.
• The members of the drafting committee felt that the birth of the constitution should be observed on a day that held some significance in their fight for independence.
• When India was ultimately granted freedom by the British in 1947, but on August 15 and not January 26, the date was instead assigned to celebrating India’s Republic Day.
• This was the day the Indian Independence Act was consequently repealed and India was established as a democratic republic, no longer a dominion of the British Crown.
• Ever since the remarkable day, 26th January is distinguished with festivities & patriotic zeal all around the nation.
• The day owes its significance to the Indian constitution that was espoused on this day.

About States display their rich culture with colorful tableaux at the annual parade

• Every year, the Ministry of Defence shortlists a few tableaux to showcase at the annual Republic Day parade at New Delhi’s Rajpath.
• Each year, tableaux, a group of figures or models displaying a scene or story from history or depicting culture is showcased. Usually, different states, departments and ministries present their achievements or culture that are represented by their respective tableau. 
• Every display brings out the diversity and rich heritage of India.
• Three winners are also selected after the parade. Last year, Assam, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh were declared the winners for their tableaux..

1. Ladakh= The display of cultural tableaux began with Ladakh’s first-ever tableau which depicted the culture & communal harmony besides art & architecture, languages & dialects, customs & costumes, fairs & festivals, literature, music.
2. Gujarat = A replica of the Sun Temple at Modhera was displayed on the Gujarat tableau.
3. Punjab = The tableau of Punjab showcased the glory of 9th Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur. The tableau had the theme ‘400th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur’. The end of the trailer showcased Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib, the site of cremation of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
4. Uttar Pradesh = Designed with the theme ‘Ayodhya: Cultural Heritage of Uttar Pradesh’, the tableau of Uttar Pradesh also displayed Ram Mandir. The forepart of the middle tableau showcased Deepotsava of Ayodhya in which millions of earthen lamps were lit. 
5. Uttrakhand = Uttarakhand presented its tableau with theme Kedarkhand! The tableau also showcased the state’s animal ‘Mrig Kasturi’.
6. WestBengal = West Bengal displayed it’s theme ‘Sabooj Sathi- Wheels of Change’ during the parade.
7. Assam = Assam through its tableau exhibited its geographical beauty and the famous Assam tea.
8. Chhattisgarh = Chhattisgarh depicted its folk music produced by dhankul, Tori & Turahi alongside its rich tribal culture and togetherness.
9. Tamilnadu = Tamil Nadu presented its tableau showcasing the Shore Temple and other monuments of Pallava Dynasty.
10. Kerala = With its theme as – ‘Coir of Kerala’, the tableau displayed the state animal elephant with the rich flora of coconut and palm.
11. Andhra Pradesh = Andhra Pradesh showcased its tableau with theme Monolithic Marvels by displaying Lepakshi Temple from ancient Vijayanagara Empire.
12. Arunachal Pradesh = Arunachal Pradesh exhibited their tableau with theme East meets West showcasing the beautiful folk tradition and handicrafts.

FAMILY PLANNING 2020: CELEBRATING PROGRESS, TRANSFORMING FOR THE FUTURE

Focus: GS 2; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Why in News?

Dr. Harsh Vardhan addresses the event “Family Planning 2020: Celebrating Progress, Transforming for the future”. “We have witnessed an Impressive Decline in Fertility and Maternal Mortality in the last few years”.Dr. Harsh Vardhan spells out India’s vision: “Every Child is Wanted, Every Birth is Safe, and Every Girl and Woman is treated with Dignity”

About Family Planning 2020: Celebrating Progress, Transforming for the Future

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare today digitally addressed a high-level virtual event titled “Family Planning 2020: Celebrating Progress, Transforming for the future”, through Video Conference.
• The purpose of this event was to celebrate the FP-2020 partnership, the release of the Annual Progress Report for 2019-2020, and kick off the commitment process for the next phase of the partnership.
• Speaking on India’s commitment to Family Planning, he said, “Today marks the 72nd Republic Day of my beloved motherland, India. What also makes me proud is that India was one of the first countries in the world to formulate a National Family Planning Program way back in 1952. This program was later expanded to cover maternal and child health as well as adolescent health and nutrition. Since then, India has made significant progress in ensuring healthier lives for its citizens.”
• The partnership has played a fundamental role in facilitating exchange of knowledge among member states about latest contraceptives as well as best practices being followed to accelerate adoption of family planning services by the general population.
• India achieved its Family Planning 2020 goal for improving contraceptive access in the country with adoption of modern contraceptive use having reached an estimated 55%, the country surpassed its commitment of investing more than 3 billion US Dollars by 2020 for strengthening Family Planning services, the basket of contraceptives has been greatly enhanced with the addition of injectables and the drug ‘Centchroman’ with around 4 million doses of Injectable contraceptive having been administered  cumulatively till now more than 10 million pregnant women are also benefitting from Post-partum Intra-uterine contraceptive device.
• Summing up India’s achievements, he noted, “Improving the quality of contraceptives, augmenting contraceptive demand through comprehensive IEC campaigns, and focused interventions in high fertility districts through Mission Parivar Vikas, have been few of the country’s notable achievements.
• As a result, we have witnessed an impressive decline in fertility and maternal mortality in the last few years.
• As mentioned by Health Minister that government continue to strive to substantially reduce the unmet need for contraception by 2030.

BHARRAT PARV 2021

Focus: GS 1; Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Why in News?

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla inaugurates ‘Bharat Parv 2021’ in presence of Tourism Minister Sh Prahlad Singh Patel. We are working to connect the whole country through tourism and culture: Lok Sabha Speaker. Positive attitude and effective planning of the government is helping tourism industry to rebound from Covid effects in a magnificent way: Tourism Minister.Bharat Parv showcases the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’

About Bharat Parv 2021

• The annual event Bharat Parv that celebrates the spirit of India is being organised virtually from January 26, 2021 till January 31, 2021.
• Bharat Parv is being organised with the overall theme focusing on the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.
• Under the virtual event, themed pavilions of States and Union Territories will showcase their tourism destinations, handicrafts, cuisine and other features.
• The Bharat Parv is organized by the Ministry of Tourism every year.
• It was started in the year 2016.
• This 6-day patriotic fair at Red Fort celebrates Indian cultural traditions with crafts stalls, music & dance performances & food vendors galore.
• The events are organised with the aim of generating patriotic fervor.
• It also showcases the rich and varied cultural of India.
• The handicrafts, music, dance, handlooms, paintings, literary material and other features from across the country are showcased by Central Ministries and other organizations such as Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Ayush, media units of I&B Ministry etc.,

About Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing.
• The states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connect in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.
• The initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• To celebrate the idea of India as a nation wherein different cultural units across varied geographies coalesce and interact with each other, this glorious manifestation of diverse languages, cuisine, music, dance, theatre, movies & films, handicrafts, sports, literature, festivals, painting, sculpture etc.
• Will enable people to imbibe the innate chord of binding and brotherhood

Objectives of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat 

• The broad objectives of the initiative are as follows

1. To CELEBRATE the Unity in Diversity of our Nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our Country;
2. To PROMOTE the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States;
3. To SHOWCASE the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State for enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity
4. TO ESTABLISH long-term engagements and,
5. TO CREATE an environment which promotes learning between States by sharing best practices and experiences.