Important days
National Civil Services Day observed on April 21
- The day is celebrated to acknowledge the work of officers who are engaged in various public service departments in the country.
History:
- Civil Service word dates back to the British time when British East India Company civilian staff were involved in administrative jobs and were known as ‘Public Servants’. Its foundation has been laid by Warren Hastings.
- Later, more reforms were done by Charles Cornwallis and so he was known as the “Father of Civil Services in India”.
- The date of April 21 was chosen to commemorate the day in 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of Independent India, addressed probationers of Administrative Services Officers at Metcalf House in Delhi. He referred to civil servants as the ‘steel frame of India’.
- Theme 2023: “Viksit Bharat (Developed India)”
Defence
Exercise INIOCHOS 23
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS 23, a multinational air exercise hosted by the Greece Air Force from April 24 to May 4.
- This will be the third exercise that the IAF will be taking part simultaneously.
- The Exercise Cope India with the U.S is under way at Kalaikunda and four Rafale fighters are taking part in multilateral exercise Orion hosted by France. The exercise will be conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece and the IAF will be participating with four Su30 MKI and two C17 aircraft.
- The objective of the exercise is to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability amongst the participating Air Forces.
Awards & Honours
National Panchayat Awards
- President Draupadi Murmu gave away the Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar award to the winners
- This award is given to carbon neutral Panchayats by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Meenangadi grama Panchayat of Tamil Nadu bagged the 1st prize while Bagmara (Tripura), Patoda (Maharashtra) came 2nd, 3rd respectively
- It is the first such award constituted by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj.
This award carries an Medal, a citation and sum of ₹1 crore.
