LIST OF IMPORTANT DATES, DAYS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF A YEAR FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

LIST OF IMPORTANT DAYS 

 

 

To mark the importance of some significant events, we celebrate the days on which these events took place. Other than this, certain days are celebrated to create awareness among people about important things in the world like awareness against any disease, poverty, etc. Such events along with their dates are especially important for those who are preparing for competitive exams.

JANUARY

 

1 January – English New Year, Army Medical Corps Establishment Day,                                  Global Family Day

4 January – World Braille Day

6 January – World War Orphans Day, National Technology Day

8 January – African National Congress Foundation Day

9 January – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day)

10 January – World Laughter Day, World Hindi Day

11 January – Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, National Human                                     Trafficking Awareness Day

12 January – National Youth Day (Birth of Swami Vivekanand), National                                     Vision Board Day

13 January – Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

14 January – Lohri

15 January – Indian Army Day, Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Wikipedia Day

23 January – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary

25 January – International Customs Duty Day, India Tourism Day,                                                 National Voters Day

26 January – Republic Day (India), Australia Day

27 January – Family Literacy Day, International Holocaust Remembrance                                 Day (International Day of Commemoration)

28 January – Birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

30 January – Mahatma Gandhi’s Martyrdom Day (Martyr’s day)

Last Sunday of January – World Leprosy Eradication Day

 

FEBRUARY 

 

1 February – Indian Coast Guard Day

2 February – World Wetlands Day

4 February – World Cancer Day, Independence Day of Sri Lanka

6 February – International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

7 February – International Safer Internet Day

11 February – World Day of the Sick

12 February – Darwin Day, International Day of Women’s Health

13 February – Sarojini Naidu’s Birth Anniversary

14 February – Saint Valentine’s Day

15 February – International Childhood Cancer Day

18 February – Taj Mahotsav

20 February – World Day of Social Justice

21 February – International Mother Language Day

22 February – World Scout Day

24 February – Central Excise Day

27 February – World Sustainable Energy Day

28 February – National Science Day

 

MARCH 

 

1 March – Zero Discrimination Day, World Civil Defence Day, Self-Injury Awareness Day

2 March – Employee Appreciation Day

3 March – World Wildlife Day, World Hearing Day

4 March – National Safety Day

8 March – International Women’s Day, Ramakrishna Jayanti

10 March – CISF Raising Day

12 March – Mauritius Day

14 March – Pi Day, International Day of Action for Rivers

15 March – World Consumer Rights Day, World Sleep Day

16 March – National Vaccination Day

18 March – Ordnance Factories Day (India)

20 March – International Day of Happiness, World Oral Health Day

21 March – World Forestry Day, World Down Syndrome Day, World Poetry Day, Human Rights Day (South Africa), International Day of Forests

22 March – World Water Day

23 March – World Meteorological Day

24 March – World Tuberculosis (TB) Day

25 March – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, International Day of the Unborn Child

26 March – Purple Day for epilepsy

27 March – World Theatre Day

Second Wednesday of March – No Smoking Day

 

APRIL 

 

1 April – Orissa Day, Prevention of Blindness week

2 April – World Autism Awareness Day, International Children’s Book Day

4 April – International Day for Mine Awareness

5 April – National Maritime Day

6 April – International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

7 April – World Health Day (On this very day in the year 1948, WHO was formed, however, the first World Health Day was observed in the year 1950)

10 April – World Homeopathy Day

11 April – National Safe Motherhood Day, National Pet Day

12 April – Equal Pay Day

13 April – Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre Day (1919)

14 April – B.R. Ambedkar Remembrance Day

17 April – World Hemophilia Day

18 April – World Heritage Day

21 April – National Civil Service Day, Secretaries’ Day

22 April – World Earth Day

23 April – World Book and Copyright Day

24 April – National Panchayati Day

25 April – World Malaria Day

26 April – World Intellectual Property Day

28 April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work, World Veterinary Day

30 April – Ayushman Bharat Diwas

 

MAY 

1 May: International Labour Day or May Day, Maharashtra Day

3 May: Press Freedom Day

4 May: Coal Miners Day, International Firefighter’s Day

7 May: World Athletics Day, Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti

8 May: World Red Cross Day, World Thalassaemia Day

11 May: National Technology Day

12 May: International Nurses Day

15 May: International Day of Families

17 May: World Telecommunication Day, World Hypertension Day

18 May: World AIDS Vaccine Day, International Museum Day

21 May: National Anti-Terrorism Day

22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity

31 May: Anti-Tobacco Day

First Sunday of May: World Laughter Day

First Tuesday of May: World Asthma Day

Second Sunday of May: Mother’s Day

Third Friday in May: National Endangered Species Day

Third Saturday of the May: Armed Forces Day

Last Monday of May: National Memorial Day

 

JUNE 

 

1 June: World Milk Day, Global Day of Parents

2 June: International Sex Workers Day, Telangana Formation Day

3 June: World Bicycle Day

4 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

5 June: World Environment Day

7 June: World Food Safety Day

8 June: World Brain Tumour Day, World Oceans Day

12 June: World Day Against Child Labour

14 June: World Blood Donor Day

15 June: World Wind Day, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

16 June: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev

17 June: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (International)

18 June: Autistic Pride Day, International Picnic Day

19 June: World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, World Sauntering Day

20 June: World Refugee Day (International)

21 June: World Music Day, World Hydrography Day, International Yoga Day

23 June: International Olympic Day, United Nations Public Service Day, International Widow’s Day

26 June: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

30 June: Asteroid Day

Third Sunday of June: World Father’s Day

 

JULY

 

1 July – Doctor’s Day, National Postal Worker Day, Canada Day, Chartered Accountant’s Day (India), National U.S. Postage Stamp Day, National Gingersnap Day

2 July – World UFO Day, National Anisette Day

3 July – National Fried Clam Day

4 July – Independence Day USA

6 July – World Zoonoses Day

11 July – World Population Day, National 7-Eleven Day

12 July – National Simplicity Day, Paper Bag Day, Malala Day

14 July- Bastille Day

17 July – World Day for International Justice

18 July – International Nelson Mandela Day

22 July – Pi Approximation Day

24 July – National Thermal Engineer Day

26 July – Kargil Vijay Diwas (Kargil Victory Day)

28 July – World Nature Conservation Day, World Hepatitis Day

29 July – International Tiger Day

Fourth Sunday of July – National Parent’s Day (US)

Fourth Thursday in July – National Refreshment Day

Last Friday in July – System Administrator Appreciation Day

 

AUGUST 

 

1 August – Yorkshire Day

6 August – Hiroshima Day

9 August – Quit India Movement Day, Nagasaki Day, Day of the World’s Indigenous People

12 August – International Youth Day

13 August – International Lefthanders Day

14 August – Youm-e-Azadi (Pakistan Independence Day)

15 August – National Day of Mourning (Bangladesh), Independence Day (India), Victory over Japan Day (UK), Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

16 August- Bennington Battle Day

17 August – Indonesian Independence Day

19 August – World Photography Day, World Humanitarian Day

20 August – World Mosquito Day

20 August- Sadbhavna Divas, Indian Akshay Urja Day

23 August – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism

26 August – Women’s Equality Day

29 August – National Sports Day

30 August – Small Industry Day

31 August – Hari Merdeka (Malaysia National Day)

First Friday of August – International Beer Day

First Sunday of August – Friendship Day

 

SEPTEMBER 

 

2 September – Victory over Japan Day (USA), World Coconut Day

3 September – Skyscraper Day

5 September – International Day of Charity, Teachers’ Day (India)

7 September – Brazilian Independence Day, Forgiveness Day

8 September – International Literacy Day

10 September- World Suicide Prevention Day

11 September – Patriot Day

14 September – Hindi Diwas, World First Aid Day

15 September – Engineer’s Day (India), International Day of Democracy

16 September – Malaysia Day, World Ozone Day, International Day of Preservation

19 September – International Talk Like a Pirate Day

21 September – International Day of Peace and Non-Violence, World Alzheimer’s Day

22 September – Rose Day (Welfare of Cancer patients)

23 September – International Day of Sign Languages

26 September – European Day of Languages, World Contraception Day, World Maritime Day

27 September – World Tourism Day

28 September – World Rabies Day

29 September – World Heart Day

30 September – International Translation Day

Fourth Sunday of September – World Rivers Day

Last week of September – World Day of Deaf

 

OCTOBER 

 

1 October – International Day of the Elderly (UN), International Coffee Day, World Vegetarian Day

2 October – Gandhi Jayanti, International Day of Non-Violence

3 October – German Unity Day

4 October – World Animal Welfare Day

5 October – World Teachers’ Day

6 October – German-American Day

8 October – Indian Air Force Day

9 October – World Postal Day or World Post Office Day

10 October – World Mental Health Day

11 October – International Girl Child Day

13 October – World Calamity Control Day (UN) or UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

14 October – World Standards Day

15 October – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Global Hand washing Day, World White Cane Day (guiding the blind), World Students Day

16 October – World Food Day

17 October – International Poverty Eradication Day

20 October – National Solidarity Day (China attacked India on that Day)

23 October – Mole Day

24 October – United Nations Day, World Development Information Day

30 October – World Thrift Day

31 October – Halloween, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

First Monday of October – World Habitat Day

Second Thursday of October – World Sight Day

 

NOVEMBER 

 

1 November – World Vegan Day, All Saints’ Day

2 November – All Souls’ Day

5 November – World Tsunami Day

7 November – Infant Protection Day, World Cancer Awareness Day

9 November – Iqbal Day, National Legal Services Day

10 November – Transport Day

11 November – Armistice Day (also Remembrance Day), Veterans Day (US)

12 November – World Pneumonia Day, Guru Nanak Dev’s Birth Anniversary

13 November – World Kindness Day

14 November – World Diabetes Day, Children’s Day

17 November – National Epilepsy Day

19 November – International Men’s Day, World Toilet Day

20 November – Universal Children’s Day, Africa Industrialization Day

21 November – World Television Day

25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

26 November – Law Day (India)

29 November – International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People

30 November – Saint Andrew’s Day (Scotland)

First Tuesday in November – Melbourne Cup Day

Fourth Thursday of November – Thanksgiving Day (US)

 

DECEMBER 

 

1 December – World AIDS Day

2 December – National Pollution Control

3 December – World Day of the Handicapped

4 December – Indian Navy Day

5 December – International Volunteer Day, World Soil Day

7 December – Indian Armed Forces Flag Day, International Civil Aviation Day

9 December – International Anti-Corruption Day

10 December – Human Rights Day

11 December – UNICEF Day, International Mountain Day

14 December – World Energy Conservation Day

15 December – International Tea Day

16 December – Victory Day of Bangladesh

18 December – Minorities Rights Day (India), International Migrants Day

19 December – Goa’s Liberation Day

20 December – International Human Solidarity Day

22 December – National Mathematics Day

23 December – Kisan Divas (Farmer’s Day in India)

24 December – National Consumer Rights Day

25 December – Christmas Day, Good Governance Day (India)

31 December – New Year’s Eve

 

 

PONGAL- FOUR DAYS OF PONGAL- PONGAL RECIPES

PONGAL FESTIVAL

 

 

Pongal is a four-days-long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. For as long as people have been planting and gathering food, there has been some form of harvest festival. Pongal, one of the most important popular Hindu festivals of the year. This four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes its name from the Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai (January-February) during the season when rice and other cereals, sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil cooking) are harvested.

Mid-January is an important time in the Tamil calendar. The harvest festival, Pongal, falls typically on the 14th or the 15th of January and is the quintessential 'Tamil Festival'. Pongal is a harvest festival, a traditional occasion for giving thanks to nature, for celebrating the life cycles that give us grain. Tamilians say 'Thai pirandhaal vazhi pirakkum', and believe that knotty family problems will be solved with the advent of the Tamil month Thai that begins on Pongal day. This is traditionally the month of weddings. This is not a surprise in a largely agricultural community - the riches gained from a good harvest form the economic basis for expensive family occasions like weddings.

THE FIRST DAY-BHOGI PONGAL

 

 

 

This first day is celebrated as Bhogi festival in honor of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. Homage is paid to Lord Indra for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to the land. Another ritual observed on this day is Bhogi Mantalu, when useless household articles are thrown into a fire made of wood and cow-dung cakes. Girls dance around the bonfire, singing songs in praise of the gods, the spring and the harvest. The significance of the bonfire, in which is burnt the agricultural wastes and firewood is to keep warm during the last lap of winter.

THE SECOND DAY - THAI PONGAL

 

 

 

On the second day of Pongal, the puja or act of ceremonial worship is performed when rice is boiled in milk outdoors in an earthenware pot and is then symbolically offered to the sun-god along with other oblations. All people wear traditional dress and markings, and there is an interesting ritual where husband and wife dispose of elegant ritual utensils especially used for the puja. In the village, the Pongal ceremony is carried out more simply but with the same devotion. In accordance with the appointed ritual, a turmeric plant is tied around the pot in which the rice will be boiled. The offerings include the two sticks of sugar-cane in background and coconut and bananas in the dish. A common feature of the puja, in addition to the offerings, is the kolam, the auspicious design which is traditionally traced in white lime powder before the house in the early morning after bathing.

THE THIRD DAY -  MATTU PONGAL

 

 

 

The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. Multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands are tied around the neck of the cattle and they are worshiped. They are fed with Pongal and taken to the village centers. The resounding of their bells attract the villagers as the young men race each other's cattle. The entire atmosphere becomes festive and full of fun and revelry. Arati is performed on them, so as to ward off the evil eye. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plow the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle.

 

THE FOURTH DAY - KANNUM PONGAL 

 

 

 

The Fourth day is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal day. On this day, a turmeric leaf is washed and is then placed on the ground. On this leaf are placed, the leftovers of sweet Pongal and Venn Pongal, ordinary rice as well as rice colored red and yellow, betel leaves, betel nuts, two pieces of sugarcane, turmeric leaves, and plantains. In Tamil Nadu, women perform this ritual before bathing in the morning. All the women, young and old, of the house assembled in the courtyard. The rice is placed in the center of the leaf, while the women ask that the house and family of their brothers should prosper. Arati is performed for the brothers with turmeric water, limestone and rice, and this water is sprinkled on the kolam in front of the house.

HISTORY OF PONGAL

Pongal is an ancient festival of people in South India particularly Tamils. The history of the festival can be traced back to the Sangam Age i.e. 200 B.C. To 300 A.D. Although, Pongal originated as a Dravidian Harvest festival and has a mention in Sanskrit Puranas, historians identify the festival with the Thai Un and Thai Niradal which are believed to have been celebrated during the Sangam Age.

OBSERVANCE OF PONGAL DURING THE SANGAM ERA (THAI NIRADAL)

The celebrations of Sangam Era led to today's Pongal celebrations. As part of the festivities, maidens of the Sangam era observed 'Pavai Nonbu' at the time of Thai Niradal which was a major festival during the reign of the Pallavas (4th to 8th Century AD). It was observed during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January).During this festival young girls prayed for rain and prosperity of the country. Throughout the month, they avoided milk and milk products. They would not oil their hair and refrained from using harsh words while speaking. Women used to bath early in the morning. They worshiped the idol of Goddess Katyayani, which would be carved out of wet sand. They ended their penance on the first day of the month of Thai (January-February). This penance was to bring abundant rains to flourish the paddy. These traditions and customs of ancient times gave rise to Pongal celebrations.

Andal's Tiruppavai and Manickavachakar's Tiruvembavai vividly describe the festival of Thai Niradal and the ritual of observing Pavai Nonbu. According to an inscription found in the Veeraraghava temple at Tiruvallur, the Chola King Kiluttunga used to gift lands to the temple specially for the Pongal celebrations.

PONGAL STORY RELATED TO LORD SHIVA AND INDRA

Some legendary stories are also associated with Pongal festival celebrations. The two most popular legends of Pongal are stories related to Lord Shiva and Lord Indra.

According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle.

Another legend of Lord Indra and Lord Krishna also led to Pongal celebrations. It is said when Lord Krishna were in his childhood, he decided to teach a lesson to Lord Indra who became arrogant after becoming the king of all deities. Lord Krishna asked all the cowherds to stop worshiping Lord Indra. This angered Lord Indra and sent forth his clouds for thunder-storms and 3 days continuous rains. Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan to save all the humans. Later, Lord Indra realized his mistake and divine power of Krishna.

PONGAL CELEBRATIONS

According to Hindu mythology, this is when the day of the gods begins, after a six-month long night. The festival is spread over three days and is the most important and most fervently-celebrated harvest festival of South India. A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal before the cutting of the paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandal wood paste. It is with these consecrated tools that the newly-harvested rice is cut.

Each of the three days are marked by different festivities. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is offered to the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship of the cattle known as Mattu. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, and garlands of flowers placed around their necks. The Pongal that has been offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds to eat.

PONGAL RECIPES

The best of South Indian dishes are relished during the harvest festival of Pongal making the occasion a gourmet's delight. To help you participate in Pongal and zestfully enjoy the festival here are ...

•  Ven Pongal                             Rava Pongal     
•  Sakkarai Pongal                     Khara Pongal
•  Chackra Pongal                      Rice Pongal
•  Sweet Pongal Recipe             Other Pongal Recipes

REGIONAL NAMES OF PONGAL

Regional Names of Pongal
Place	Name
South India	Pongal
North India	Makar Sankranti
Punjab	Lohri
Assam	Bihu / Bohaggiyo Bhishu
Maharashtra	Hadaga Festival

 

 

SHARKS' EVANDER KANE FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY

SAN JOSE SHARKS FORWARD EVANDER KANE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY, ACCORINNG TO MULTIPLE REPORTS, TWO YEARS AFTER SIGNING A SEVEN YEAR, $49 MILLION CONTRACT!

Per The Athletic, the 29-year-old’s Chapter 7 filing list liabilities of $26.8 million. It also lists payment of $1.5 million to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for unpaid gambling debt and a $1.88 million counterclaim of a 2016 battery charge. He also claims seven dependents living with him: his 6-month-old daughter, 27-year-old sister, his mother, father, two uncles and his grandmother.

The filing also noted that Kane may opt out of the NHL season “because of health concerns given the recent birth of his first child.” If he does so, he would not be paid — though he pointed to the shortened 56-game season as a potential issue for paying off his debts, as well.

“Debtor understands that even if all scheduled games are played, his salary will be adjusted based upon the reduced number of games,” the filing read. “To the extent some of the games do not go forward because of the pandemic (or any other reason), Debtor’s salary will be further reduced. Moreover, Debtor understands that under the current collective bargaining agreement between the players’ union and the owners, 20% of his salary will be withheld and will be released to the owners under the ‘profit sharing’ structure of the agreement due to the anticipated significant reduction in revenues across the league.”

In total, Kane noted 47 creditors in the petition, including Centennial Bank, which brought a suit against the winger and the Sharks for $8.3 million last week, according to San Jose Hockey Now.

Kane has played for three NHL franchises over his 11 seasons in the league. He was the No. 4-overall pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009 and moved with the team to Winnipeg. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, and dealt to the Sharks in 2018. Per capfriendly.com, he’s earned $52.9 million in his career

BITCOIN AND HOW BITCOIN WORKS

WHAT IS BITCOIN

 

Bitcoin is a new currency that was created in 2009 by an unknown person using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Transactions are made with no middle men – meaning, no banks! Bitcoin can be used to book hotels on Expedia, shop for furniture on Overstock and buy Xbox games. But much of the hype is about getting rich by trading it.

WHO INVENTED BITCOIN

No one knows who invented Bitcoin, or at least not conclusively. Satoshi Nakamoto is the name associated with the person or group of people who released the original Bitcoin white paper in 2008 and worked on the original Bitcoin software that was released in 2009. In the years since that time, many individuals have either claimed to be or have been suggested as the real-life people behind the pseudonym, but as of May 2020, the true identity (or identities) behind Satoshi remains obscured. 

WHY BITCOIN

Bitcoins can be used to buy merchandise anonymously. In addition, international payments are easy and cheap because bitcoins are not tied to any country or subject to regulation. Small businesses may like them because there are no credit card fees. Some people just buy bitcoins as an investment, hoping that they’ll go up in value.

BUYING BITCOINS

Many marketplaces called “bitcoin exchanges” allow people to buy or sell bitcoins using different currencies. Coinbase is a leading exchange, along with Bitstamp and Bitfinex. But security can be a concern: bitcoins worth tens of millions of dollars were stolen from Bitfinex when it was hacked in 2016.People can send bitcoins to each other using mobile apps or their computers. It’s similar to sending cash digitally.

BITCOIN WALLET

Bitcoins are stored in a “digital wallet,” which exists either in the cloud or on a user’s computer. The wallet is a kind of virtual bank account that allows users to send or receive bitcoins, pay for goods or save their money. Unlike bank accounts, bitcoin wallets are not insured by the FDIC.

RISKS

Wallet in cloud

Servers have been hacked. Companies have fled with clients’ bitcoins.

Wallet on computer

You can accidentally delete them. Viruses could destroy them. 

THE ANONIMITY OF BITCOIN

Though each bitcoin transaction is recorded in a public log, names of buyers and sellers are never revealed – only their wallet IDs. While that keeps bitcoin users’ transactions private, it also lets them buy or sell anything without easily tracing it back to them. That’s why it has become the currency of choice for people online buying drugs or other illicit activities.

HOW BITCOIN WORKS

Bitcoin is one of the first digital currencies to use peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments. The independent individuals and companies who own the governing computing power and participate in the Bitcoin network, are comprised of nodes or miners. "Miners," or the people who process the transactions on the blockchain, are motivated by rewards (the release of new bitcoin) and transaction fees paid in bitcoin. These miners can be thought of as the decentralized authority enforcing the credibility of the Bitcoin network. New bitcoin is being released to the miners at a fixed, but periodically declining rate, such that the total supply of bitcoins approaches 21 million. As of July 2020, there are roughly 3 million bitcoins which have yet to be mined.3 In this way, Bitcoin (and any cryptocurrency generated through a similar process) operates differently from fiat currency; in centralized banking systems, currency is released at a rate matching the growth in goods in an attempt to maintain price stability, while a decentralized system like Bitcoin sets the release rate ahead of time and according to an algorithm.

Bitcoin mining is the process by which bitcoins are released into circulation. Generally, mining requires the solving of computationally difficult puzzles in order to discover a new block, which is added to the blockchain. In contributing to the blockchain, mining adds and verifies transaction records across the network. For adding blocks to the blockchain, miners receive a reward in the form of a few bitcoins; the reward is halved every 210,000 blocks. The block reward was 50 new bitcoins in 2009 and is currently 12.5. On May 11th, 2020 the third halving occurred, bringing the reward for each block discovery down to 6.25 bitcoins.5 A variety of hardware can be used to mine bitcoin but some yield higher rewards than others. Certain computer chips called Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and more advanced processing units like Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) can achieve more rewards. These elaborate mining processors are known as "mining rigs."

One bitcoin is divisible to eight decimal places (100 millionths of one bitcoin), and this smallest unit is referred to as a Satoshi.6 If necessary, and if the participating miners accept the change, Bitcoin could eventually be made divisible to even more decimal places. 

WHO IS SATOSHI NAKAMOTO

Satoshi Nakamoto is the name used by the creator or creators of the protocol used in the bitcoin cryptocurrency. The physical person that the name represents has never been found, leading many people to believe that it is a pseudonym  for a person with different identity or a group of people. Satoshi Nakamoto may not be a real person.

HISTORY OF SATOSHI NAKAMOTO

The persona Satoshi Nakamoto was involved in the early days of bitcoin, working on the first version of the software in 2009. Communication to and from Nakamoto was conducted electronically, and the lack of personal and background details meant that it was impossible to find out the actual identity behind the name.

Nakamoto’s involvement with bitcoin ended in 2010. The last correspondence anyone had with Nakamoto was in an email to another bitcoin developer saying that they had "moved on to other things." The inability to put a face to the name has led to significant speculation as to Nakamoto’s identity, especially as cryptocurrencies increased in number, popularity, and notoriety.

While the identity of Nakamoto has not been ascribed to a provable person or persons, it is estimated that the value of bitcoins under Nakamoto's control—which is thought to be about 1 million—may exceed $5 billion in value. Given that the maximum possible number of bitcoins generated is 21 million, Nakamoto's stake of 5% of the total bitcoin holdings has considerable market power. Several people have been put forward as the "real" Satoshi Nakamoto, though none have been definitely proven to be Nakamoto.

BEFORE SATOSHI

Though it is tempting to believe the media's spin that Satoshi Nakamoto is a solitary, quixotic genius who created Bitcoin out of thin air, such innovations do not typically happen in a vacuum. All major scientific discoveries, no matter how original-seeming, were built on previously existing research. There are precursors to Bitcoin: Adam Back’s Hashcash, invented in 1997,8 and subsequently Wei Dai’s b-money, Nick Szabo’s bit gold and Hal Finney’s Reusable Proof of Work. The Bitcoin whitepaper itself cites Hashcash and b-money, as well as various other works spanning several research fields. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the individuals behind the other projects named above have been speculated to have also had a part in creating Bitcoin.

WHY IS SATOSHI ANONYMOUS

There are a few motivations for Bitcoin's inventor keeping his or her or their identity secret. One is privacy. As Bitcoin has gained in popularity – becoming something of a worldwide phenomenon – Satoshi Nakamoto would likely garner a lot of attention from the media and from governments.

Another reason could be the potential for Bitcoin to cause major disruption of the current banking and monetary systems. If Bitcoin were to gain mass adoption, the system could surpass nations' sovereign fiat currencies. This threat to existing currency could motivate governments to want to take legal action against Bitcoin's creator.

The other reason is safety. Looking at 2009 alone, 32,489 blocks were mined; at the then-reward rate of 50 BTC per block, the total payout in 2009 was 1,624,500 BTC, which is worth $13.9 billion as of October 25, 2019. One may conclude that only Satoshi and perhaps a few other people were mining through 2009 and that they possess a majority of that stash of BTC. Someone in possession of that much Bitcoin could become a target of criminals, especially since bitcoins are less like stocks and more like cash, where the private keys needed to authorize spending could be printed out and literally kept under a mattress. While it's likely the inventor of Bitcoin would take precautions to make any extortion-induced transfers traceable, remaining anonymous is a good way for Satoshi to limit exposure.

RISK OF BITCOIN FRAUD

While Bitcoin uses private key encryption to verify owners and register transactions, fraudsters and scammers may attempt to sell false bitcoins. For instance, in July 2013, the SEC brought legal action against an operator of a Bitcoin-related Ponzi scheme.13 There have also been documented cases of Bitcoin price manipulation, another common form of fraud. 

BITCOIN'S TAX RISK

As bitcoin is ineligible to be included in any tax-advantaged retirement accounts, there are no good, legal options to shield investments from taxation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird Flu in India 2021 Latest Updates: Cases reported in Kerala, Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

The bird flu outbreak has been reported from some parts of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan:

 

Bird Flu cases have been reported from several places in the country. In Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra Kangra District Magistrate today issued order, completely prohibiting sale/purchase/export of any poultry/birds/fish of any breed/age and their related products (eggs, meat, chicken etc) in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora areas of Kangra. No movement of humans shall be allowed within one km radius of Pong Dam or alert zone declared by Kangra district administration, said the official order.

Samples of five dead bar-headed goose birds at Wildlife Sanctuary, Pong Dam, Himachal Pradesh have been found positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus, ANI reported. Dr Vikram Singh, a senior veterinary pathologist of State Animal Husbandry Department, said that for the last 3-4 days, there has been large-scale mortality among bar-headed goose (migratory birds). As per the latest records, around 1,775 birds have died in the last few days.

BIRD FLU IN KERALA

The bird flu outbreak has been reported from some parts of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts in Kerala. The authorities have ordered culling of ducks, hens and other domestic birds in and around one km radius of the affected areas.

According to a PTI report, Kottayam district authorities said bird flu was reported from a duck farm in Neendoor. Around 1,500 ducks have died in the farm. Similarly, bird flu outbreak was also reported from some farms in Kuttanad region of Alappuzha district.

The State Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju said in Thiruvananthapuram that the government would compensate farmers whose domestic birds will be culled. According to the state officials, some 40,000 birds will have to be culled to check the spread of the H5N8 virus.

The Kerala government confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza in the Alappuzha and Kottayam districts January 4, 2021. Hundreds of ducks have died during the last 10 days in both districts.

Five of eight samples sent for testing at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, were found to be positive for the H5N8 strain of bird flu. Kerala’s forest and animal husbandry minister K Raju confirmed this January 4.

Raju said as many as 12,000 ducks had died due to the infection in parts of Alappuzha and Kottayam. He added that emergency control rooms led by district veterinary officers had been opened in both districts.

As many as 36,000 birds may have to be culled to prevent the spread of the virus infection based on the guidelines from the central government. The state government will decide the compensation for farmers who have lost their flocks because of the infection.

Rapid response teams have been constituted to begin culling of birds within a one-kilometre radius from where the H5N8 strain was confirmed, according to the district animal husbandry officer, Alappuzha,

The culling operations to prevent the spread of H5N8 strain would continue for a week or more.

Mass deaths of ducks were reported from the Nedumudi, Thakazhi, Pallipad and Karuvatta areas in the coastal Alappuzha district.

“About 1,650 ducklings belonging to a single farmer’s flock had died at Neendur town,” M Anjana, district collector, Kottayam said.

As many as 8,000 birds in a nearby farm also need to be culled as a result of these deaths. The collector added that local fishing in a limited area had been temporarily banned as part of the surveillance and preventive measures.

About eight rapid response teams have been formed in Kottayam to undertake surveillance and preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Experts have said that unless a mutated strain emerges, the possibility of the infection’s transmission to humans can be ruled out. They pointed to the arrival of migratory birds as the likely cause of the infection.

Kerala had reported H5N8 infections in 2016 too. That had led to the mass culling of birds.

Various state departments, including the health department have stepped up their surveillance measures to prevent the spread of the infection. A state-wide alert has been issued following the confirmation of the presence of the avian influenza virus.

BIRD FLU IN MADHYAPRADESH

Bird flu cases have been confirmed in dead crows in Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

The Madhya Pradesh government sounded Bird flu alert after the dreaded virus was found in dead crows in Indore. Notably, crows were also found dead in Mandsaur, Agar-Malwa, Khargone and Sehore.

Nearly 400 crows have died due to viral infection so far in 7-8 districts of Madhya Pradesh. The virus is not found in poultry, it is airborne and there is no vaccine for it. We believe it came from Rajasthan, said Dr RK Rokde, director of Animal Husbandry Department, MP.

From December 23, 2020, to January 3, 2021, 142 crows were found dead in Indore, 100 in Mandsaur, 112 in Agar-Malwa, 13 in Khargone and 9 in Sehore district.

The administration has asked the officials to keep a strict watch on markets selling poultry and poultry products, farms, reservoirs and sites of migratory birds.

"Nearly 50 crows were found dead on the campus of Daly College. Some of the carcasses were sent for tests to Bhopal. They were found to be carrying the H5N8 virus," Indores acting Chief Medical and Health Officer Poornima Gadaria said.

BIRD FLU IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bird flu has been detected in the state in the migratory birds found dead at Pong Dam Lake in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. Himachal is the fourth state to report cases of the dreaded avian influenza in recent days. As many as 1,800 migratory birds, most of them bar-headed geese, were found dead in the lake sanctuary so far. PTI reported Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Archana Sharma as saying that the laboratory at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly detected avian influenza in the samples of dead birds.

BIRD FLU IN RAJASTHAN

Officials in the state said on Monday (January 4, 2021) that over 170 new bird deaths were reported in Rajasthan today. As per the Animal Husbanry department, over 425 deaths of crows, herons and other birds have been reported in the state so far, PTI reported. 

The officials said that in Jhalawar, carcass samples sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) confirmed bird flu recently. However, the death report of birds in other districts is yet to come.  Deaths of over 425 birds, mostly corws, have been reported in parts of the state so far. Bird flu has been confirmed only in Jhalawar, report of other deaths is yet to come, PTI quoted the officials as saying.

The Rajasthan government has also sounded bird flu alert after confirmation of avian influenza in crows that died in Jhalawar district last week. Over 250 crows were found dead in half a dozen districts in the state.

In Rajasthan, bird deaths have been reported in 15 districts of the state. 80 bird deaths were reported in Bikaner on January 3, 42 in Sawai Madhopur, 12 in Kota, 12 in Baran, eight each in Pali and Jaipur, six in Dausa, five in Jodhpur and two in Jhalawar

Dausa Collector Piyush Samariya said that five dead birds have been found dead. Animal husbandry and forest officials have taken samples and sent them for testing. We are closely monitoring the situation, he said.

When asked whether the administration will order the culling of the birds, Samariya said as of now the tests are being awaited and there has been no order to kill the birds.

 

 

 

 

 

JALLIKATTU _ A TRADITIONAL SPORT _ BREEDING _ HISTORY _ PREPARATION

JALLIKATTU - A TRADITIONAL SPORT 

 

 

Jallikattu (or sallikkattu), also known as eru thazhuvuthal and mañcuvirattu , is a disputed traditional event in which a bull called Bos Indicus, such as the Pulikulam or Kangeyam breeds, is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull's horns.

Jallikattu is typically practised in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day, which occurs annually in January.

As there were incidents of injury and death associated with the sport, both to the participants and to the animals forced into it, animal rights organizations have called for a ban to the sport, resulting in the court banning it several times over the past years. However, with protest from the people against the ban, a new ordinance was made in 2017 to continue the sport.

ETYMOLOGY

Ancient Tamil Sangams described the practice as yeru thazhuvuthal literally 'bull embracing'. The modern term jallikattu or sallikattu is derived from salli ('coins') and kattu ('package'), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve. Manju virattu literally means 'bull chasing'.

HISTORY

Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BCE). It was common among the Ayar people who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery, and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement. A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi. A cave painting in white kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 1,500 years old.

BREEDING

 

 

Bos Indicus bulls are breed specifically by people of the village for the event. Bulls that are able to participate successfully in the Jallikattu event are used as studs for breeding. These bulls also fetch higher prices in the markets. 

 

PREPARATION

With the introduction of the Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, by the Tamil Nadu legislature, the following activities were done in preparation of the event:

1. A written permission is obtained from the respective collector, thirty days prior to conduct of event along with notification of the event location.
2. The arena and the way through which the bulls pass through is double-barricaded, in order to avoid injuries to the spectators and by-standers who may be permitted to remain within the barricades.
3. The necessary gallery areas are built up along the double barricades.
4. The necessary permissions are obtained from the collector for the participants and the bulls fifteen days prior.
5. Final preparation before the event include a complete testing by the authorities of the Animal Husbandry Department, to ensure that performance enhancement drugs, liquor or other irritants are not used on the bulls.

 FAMOUS JALLIKATTU LOCATIONS IN TAMILNADU

1.  Alanganallur
   
2.  Avaniapuram
   
3.  Tiruvapur near Pudukottai
   
4.  Thammampatti in Salem, Tamil Nadu
   
5.  Palemedu near Madurai
   
6.  Sravayal near Karaikudi
   
7.  Kanduppatti near Sivagangai
   
8.  Venthanpatti near Ponnamaravathy, Pudukottai (Dist)
   
9.  Pallavarayanpatty near Cumbum

IMPORTANCE OF JALLIKATTU

Jallikattu is important to every rural armer o the state as it is an opportunity to launt the strength of the bulls and love they have for their cattle. Tamilians do not consider it as a leisure sport. It is a tradition that never fails to establish the self sufficient, hard working, powerful Tamil culture. It also symbolises the amazing man and animal relationship as a farmers consider these bulls to be a member of their family. 

 

JALLIKATTU PROTEST

The Animal Welfare Board of India filed a case in Supreme Court of India for an outright ban on jallikattu because of the cruelty to the animals and the threat to public safety involved. On 7 May 2014, the Supreme Court of India struck down the State law and banned jallikattu altogether.

1)PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) first filed a plea against Jallikatu in the year 2004. In 2010, the apex court allowed cultural sport to be played for a period of five months in a year. However, it completely banned Jallikattu in 2014.

2) In June, 2016, the issue once again came in front of  Supreme Court. A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra issued an order warning the Tamil Nadu government, for carrying out the sports. “Jallikattu cannot be merely allowed just because it was a century-old tradition. Whether it shall be continued will be decided legally,” Justice Mishra said.

3) However, O Panneerselvam who took over as the Chief Minister after Jayalalithaa’s death, had vowed to start Jallikattu again on the auspicious day of Pongal. The state once again filed a fresh appeal to allow Tamilians organise Jallikattu.

4) However, in a setback to O Paneerselvam’s intensions,  the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Banumathi on January 12, 2017, declined to issue an interim order to allow Jallikattu just before Pongal.  The bench remarked, “Though the draft of the judgment is ready, it’s not possible to pass the verdict before Saturday when it is to be held. We also want to say that it is unfair of the petitioner to ask the bench to pass an order.”

5) At this point, Supreme Court’s deferring of the much-awaited verdict led to the mass protests. Thousands of protestors, mostly students, thronged Chennai’s Marina beach angered by the apex court’s stance.

6) In wake of mass protests, state government, led by Chief Minister O Pannerselvam, approached centre requesting promulgate an ordinance allowing Jallikattu.

7)The centre,  led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,  cleared an ordinance on Thursday which legalised Jallikattu was cleared by the centre. PM Modi, after clearing the ordinance, said that all efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people.

8) The state government, after receiving Centre’s assurance on its support for efforts to conduct the sport,  followed constitutional route and issued an ordinance amending the relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The AIADMK regime called a special assembly on January 23 to replace ordinance with a bill.

9) Scenes on January 23: Weeks long protests demanding leagalisation of bull-taming sports turned violent. The agitators went on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire at a few places, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach.

10) Bill Passed: Jallikattu Bill passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously. Bull-taming in the state of Tamil Nadu has been legalised. Supreme Court ban overturned and the ban removed on 23rd January 2017.