π
Chapter 03 Β· Topic 05 Β· Important Days
UN Designated Years & Decades
International Years declared by the United Nations, UN Decades, and their significance for UPSC & PSC exams.
π Recent UN International Years
| Year | Theme | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | International Year of Indigenous Languages | Promote and preserve indigenous languages |
| 2020 | International Year of Plant Health | FAO; protect plants from pests and diseases |
| 2021 | International Year of Peace and Trust; International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development; International Year of Fruits and Vegetables | Multiple themes |
| 2022 | International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture; International Year of Glass; International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development | Multiple themes |
| 2023 | International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) | India proposed; FAO declared; promotes millet cultivation and consumption |
| 2024 | International Year of Camelids; International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation | Camelids = camels, llamas, alpacas; glaciers = climate change |
| 2025 | International Year of Quantum Science and Technology; International Year of Cooperatives | 100 years since quantum mechanics; cooperative movement |
β International Year of Millets 2023: India proposed the declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) at the UN General Assembly. The proposal was adopted in March 2021. India is the world’s largest producer of millets (about 41% of global production). Millets include sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), foxtail millet, and others. They are nutritious, drought-resistant, and climate-resilient crops. The IYM 2023 aimed to raise awareness about millets’ nutritional benefits and promote their cultivation globally.
π UN Decades
| Decade | Period | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration | 2021β2030 | Restore degraded ecosystems worldwide |
| UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development | 2021β2030 | Advance ocean science for sustainable development |
| UN Decade of Healthy Ageing | 2021β2030 | Improve lives of older people |
| UN Decade of Action on Nutrition | 2016β2025 | End malnutrition in all its forms |
| UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All | 2014β2024 | Universal access to modern energy |
| International Decade for People of African Descent | 2015β2024 | Recognition, justice, development |
| UN Decade of Family Farming | 2019β2028 | Strengthen family farming globally |
π Important Theme-Based Days
| Day | Theme Significance |
|---|---|
| World Environment Day (5 Jun) | Theme announced by UNEP annually; host country changes each year |
| World Health Day (7 Apr) | Theme announced by WHO annually; focuses on a specific health issue |
| International Women’s Day (8 Mar) | Annual theme focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality |
| World AIDS Day (1 Dec) | Annual theme focuses on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention |
| World Water Day (22 Mar) | Annual theme focuses on a specific water-related issue |
π India’s Proposals at UN: India has successfully proposed several UN designations: (1) International Day of Yoga (21 June) β proposed by PM Modi in 2014, adopted by UN in 2015; (2) International Year of Millets 2023 β proposed by India, adopted 2021; (3) International Day of Non-Violence (2 October) β proposed by India, adopted 2007. These reflect India’s soft power and cultural diplomacy at the United Nations.
β Revision Checklist β UN Years & Decades
β
2023 = International Year of Millets = India proposed = FAO declared
β 2024 = International Year of Camelids + Glaciers’ Preservation
β 2025 = International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
β 2021β2030 = UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration
β 2021β2030 = UN Decade of Ocean Science
β 2021β2030 = UN Decade of Healthy Ageing
β International Day of Yoga = India proposed 2014 = UN adopted 2015
β International Day of Non-Violence = India proposed = UN adopted 2007
β World Environment Day theme = announced by UNEP annually
β 2024 = International Year of Camelids + Glaciers’ Preservation
β 2025 = International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
β 2021β2030 = UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration
β 2021β2030 = UN Decade of Ocean Science
β 2021β2030 = UN Decade of Healthy Ageing
β International Day of Yoga = India proposed 2014 = UN adopted 2015
β International Day of Non-Violence = India proposed = UN adopted 2007
β World Environment Day theme = announced by UNEP annually