May 11: National Technology Day

National Technology Day is being observed across India on May 11 to glorify the importance of science in day-to-day life and motivate students to adopt science as a career option. 

• The theme of the year 2016 is ‘Technology enablers of Startup India’. 
• The day is being commemorated to celebrate the anniversary of first of the five tests of Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) nuclear test, held on 11 May 1998 in Pokhran, Rajasthan. 
• India also conducted successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day.

May 3: World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is being observed on 3 May every year across the world to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press.

•  This day also seeks to remind governments their duty to respect and uphold right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
•  2016 Theme: “Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms – This Is Your Right!”

About World Press Freedom Day :

• World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 1993, following the recommendation adopted at 26th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. 
• This recommendation was a response to a call given by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence. 
• Since then 3 May, is observed as anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek and is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

28 April: World Day for Safety and Health at Work

2016 theme  'Workplace Stress: a collective challenge'

The day 28 April  is being observed worldwide and promotes a safe and healthy work environment for employees across the world. It  is the brainchild of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

• Every year, as per United Nations reports, two million men and women lose their lives through accidents and diseases linked to their work. Fatalities, accidents and illness at work are highly preventable and this initiative aims to spread awareness on that.
•  This year's theme is 'Workplace Stress: a collective challenge', to tackle the stress levels in today's stress induced environment

In addition to those deaths, there are:

• Over 270 million occupational accidents
• 160 million occupational diseases each year
• US$ 2.8 trillion in costs is lost worldwide in terms of working time and expenses for treatment, compensation and rehabilitation

International Labour Organisation (ILO) :

• Headquarter - Geneva, Switzerland
• Head-  Guy Ryder
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all.

26 April: World Intellectual Property Day

  World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. 

• The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe". 
• 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.

2016 – Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined

Intellectual property (IP) :

Intellectual property (IP) is a term referring to creations of the intellect for which a monopoly is assigned to designated owners by law.

World Immunization Week 2016

   World Immunization Week 2016  is being organised across the globe between 24 April and 30 April 2016.

• World Immunization Week is a global public health campaign to raise awareness and increase rates of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases around the world.
•  It takes place each year during last week of April.

Immunization :

Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogen).

• When this system is exposed to molecules that are foreign to the body, called non-self, it will orchestrate an immune response, and it will also develop the ability to quickly respond to a subsequent encounter because of immunological memory. This is a function of the adaptive immune system. Therefore, by exposing an animal to an immunogen in a controlled way, its body can learn to protect itself: this is called active immunization.

25 April: World Malaria Day

   World Malaria Day (WMD) is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria.

History :

• World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, WHO's decision-making body.
•  The day was established to provide "education and understanding of malaria" and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas.

2016 Theme: “End Malaria For Good”.

 It reflects the vision of a malaria-free world set out in the Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030.

Goals of the strategy are: 

1. Reduce rate of new malaria cases by at least 90% .
2.  Reduce malaria death rates by at least 90%.
3.  Eliminate malaria in at least 35 countries.
4.   Prevent a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.