75TH INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY 2021
Commemorating the 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister announced a slew of measures/initiatives and called for making the next 25 years a glorious one for India. A day before Independence day, the Prime minister also declared 14th August would now be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.
INITIATIVES ON 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY
Gati Shakti Master Plan: It is a Rs.100 lakh-crore project for developing ‘holistic infrastructure’. It will help raise the global profile of local manufacturers and help them compete with their counterparts worldwide. It also raises possibilities of new future economic zones. It will be a source of employment opportunities for the youth in future.
National Hydrogen Mission: The National Hydrogen Mission and the green hydrogen sector will give India a quantum jump in meeting its climate targets. Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer powered by electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. It will also help India to become energy independent. Today India spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on importing energy.
Rice Fortification Plan: The rice distributed under various government schemes will be fortified by 2024. It includes the Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meals in schools and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). It is a significant initiative as the country has high levels of malnutrition among women and children. According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, every second woman in the country is anaemic and every third child is stunted. India ranks 94 out of 107 countries and is in the ‘serious hunger’ category on the Global Hunger Index (GHI). Six states, including Maharashtra and Gujarat, have started distributing fortified rice as part of the pilot scheme. Food fortification or enrichment is the process of adding micronutrients to food.
Vande Bharat Trains: 75 Vande Bharat’ trains will connect different parts of the country in 75 weeks to mark the ongoing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Vande Bharat, the indigenous semi-high speed train set, is being given a boost, with the Railways gearing to roll out at least 10 of them, linking around 40 cities, by August 2022 to commemorate 75 years of Independence.
Sainik Schools for Girls: All Sainik Schools in the country will now be open for girls also. At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country. Sainik schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. The aim of establishing Sainik schools was to prepare the students from an early age for their entry into the Indian armed forces.
E-commerce platform for Self-Help Groups: This digital platform will connect the products of women Self-Help Groups with people in far flung areas of the country as well as abroad and it will have far-reaching consequences. The government will create an e-commerce platform to ensure a huge market in the country and abroad for their products.
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day: 14th August would now be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. This day will remind Indians of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment.
THEME OF INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY 2021
The theme of India's Independence Day 2021 celebrations at the Red Fort is 'Nation First, Always First'. The Prime Minister will address the nation on 15th August, 2021. Special invitations have been sent to the Olympians who won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games. This year's event will also be restricted for the public like 2020 and no cultural performance will be staged by children. No doubt it was not easy for India to get freedom from British rule. But our political leaders, freedom fighters, and people together participated in the freedom struggle and were determined to gain independence. On 15 August i.e. Independence Day is a gazetted holiday that means the national, state, and local government offices, post offices, and banks remain closed. Even stores and other businesses and organisations reduced their opening hours or may be closed.
INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: HISTORY
In 1757, British rule began in India which was followed by the victory of the English East India Company at the Battle of Plassey and gained control over the country. East India Company took control in India for almost 100 years and then the British crown replaced it via Indian Mutiny in 1857-58. During World War I, the Indian Independence movement was started and it was led by Mahatma Gandhi who advocated the method of nonviolent, non-cooperation movement which was followed by the Civil Disobedience movement. In 1946, the Labour Government, the exchequer of Britain thought of ending their rule over India because of their capital loss during World War II. Then, the British Government in early 1947 announced to transfer all powers to the Indians by June 1948. But the violence between Hindu and Muslims was not decreased basically in Punjab and Bengal. In fact, in June 1947 several leaders like Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Abul Kalam Azad, B.R Ambedkar, etc. agreed to the partition of India. Millions of people from different religious groups started finding places to reside. And due to this approx 250,000 to 500,000 people died. On 15 August, 1947 at midnight India got independence and was concluded by the Jawahar Lal Nehru speech "Tryst with destiny".
WHAT IS THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE ACT 1947?
The British Prime Minister Clement Atlee on 20 February, 1947 declared that the British rule in India would end by 30 June, 1948 after which the powers would be transferred to responsible Indian hands. This announcement was followed by the agitation by the Muslim League and the demand for the partition of the country. Then, on 3 June, 1947, British Government declared that any Constitution framed by the Indian Constituent Assembly which was formed in 1946 cannot apply to those parts of the country which were unwilling to accept it. And so on the same day that is on 3 June, 1947, Lord Mountbatten, the viceroy of India put forth the partition plan which is known as Mountbatten Plan. Congress and the Muslim League accepted the plan. The immediate effect was given to the plan enacting the Indian Independence Act 1947. On 14-15 August, 1947, midnight, the British rule came to an end, and power was transferred to the two new independent Dominions of India and Pakistan. Lord Mountbatten became the first governor-general of the new Dominion of India. Jawahar Lal Nehru became the first prime minister of Independent India. The Constituent Assembly that was set up in 1946 became the Parliament of Indian Dominion.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Which of the following is/are correct regarding the theme for Independence Day celebrations 2021?
- Self-reliant India
- Promote India's culture
- Nation First, Always First: ANSWER
- None of the above
Q.2 Which of the following statements is/are correct in the reference to the ratio of the national flag?
- The ratio of the length to the height of the flag shall be 3:2
- The ratio of the length to the width of the flag shall be 3:2
- The ratio of the length to the height of the flag shall be 2:3
- Both (A) and (B): ANSWER
Q.3 Five nations along with India also celebrates it's Independence Day on 15th of August along with India, Which of the following is/are correct regarding the same?
- North & South Korea
- Qatar: ANSWER
- Bahrain
- None of the following
Q.4 Which of the following was the Prime Minister of Britain at the time of Independence of India in 1947?
- Clement Attlee: ANSWER
- Lord Mountbatten
- Winston Churchill
- Ramsay MacDonald
Q.5 Consider the given options & state which of the following is/are matched incorrectly?
- Champaran Satyagraha - 1917
- Kheda Satyagraha - 1918
- Ahmedabad Mill Strike - 1918: ANSWER
- Rowlatt Act Satyagraha - 1919
