December 15, 2020 - December 10, 2021

     December 2020

Prime Minister lights up ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashal’ to mark the beginning of the 50th anniversary celebrations of 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Goa celebrates its 60th Liberation Day.

Centenary celebrations are held for Aligarh Muslim University and Vishva- Bharati, Shantiniketan.

Four film media units, namely Films Division, Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Archives of India, and Children’s Film Society, India are to be merged with the National Film Development Corporation Ltd.

Vigyanika – international science literature festival held to mark the birth anniversary of S. Ramanujan.

     January 2021

Indian Air Force to get 83 Light Combat Aircrafts ‘Tejas’ from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Ministry of Coal launches Single Window Clearance Portal, a unified platform that facilitates grant of clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India.

January 23 is to be celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ every year, in order to honour and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation.

India rolls out world’s largest Covid-19 vaccination drive.

The ‘Ayushman CAPF’ scheme for personnel and dependents of the Central Armed Police Forces is launched.

‘Shramshakti’, a national migration support portal, to aid formulation of state and national level programmes for migrant workers is launched.

     February 2021

India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon, 2021 is held.

Bhoomi Pujan (ground breaking ceremony) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel sports complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is done. The world’s largest sports stadium ‘Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium’, which is a part of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel sports complex is also inaugurated.

The second edition of Khelo India Winter Games held in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir from February 26- March 2, 2021.

National Tribal Festival- Tribes India Aadi Mahotsav held at Dilli Haat, New Delhi.

First “India Toy Fair-2021” organised virtually from February 27- March 2, 2021.

Shramik Shakti Manch and Seaweed Mission launched. India’s first-ever diesel tractor converted to CNG launched.

FASTag declared mandatory from midnight of February 15th/16th , 2021.

Aakashvani Sangeet Sammelan renamed as Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan.

Bhoomi Poojan Ceremony of Central Vista Avenue performed at India Gate, New Delhi.

Asia’s largest Aerospace and Defence Exhibition ‘Aero India 2021’ held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

     March 2021

Prime Minister arrives in Dhaka for his visit to Bangladesh.

PM inaugurates the curtain-raiser activities of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

First Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit takes place.

Tirath Singh Rawat takes over as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

‘Maitri Setu’ also called Gateway to North-east between India and Bangladesh inaugurated.

Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh gets a new airport.

Central Scrutiny Centre and Investor Education and Protection Fund’s mobile app to leverage digital solutions launched.

‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain’ Campaign launched.

Yogasana sport for both male and female categories included in Khelo India Youth Games 2021.

     April 2021

Legendary actor Rajinikanth to get the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes launches ‘Online Grievance Management Portal’ for persons from Scheduled Castes.

The distribution of e-property cards under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (Svamitva) scheme launched.

India becomes the fastest country in the world to administer 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Sushil Chandra assumes charge as the 24th Chief Election Commissioner of India, succeeding Sunil Arora.

e-SANTA (Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers’ Trade in Aquaculture), an electronic marketplace providing a platform to connect aqua farmers and the buyers, inaugurated.

     May 2021

Ayush Clinical Case Repository portal and the third version of Ayush Sanjivani app launched.

Countrywide dedicated community support helpline ‘Ayush Covid-19 Counselling Helpline’ (toll free number 14443) operationalised.

Postal department in collaboration with Customs authorities starts helpline to facilitate speedy delivery of Covid related emergency shipments.

National Gallery of Modern Art launches Audio-Visual Guide app on the occasion of International Museum Day.

First batch of women military police inducted into the Indian Army.

‘Services e-Health Assistance and Tele-consultation’ SEHAT OPD portal, to provide tele-medicine services to the serving armed forces personnel, veterans and their families, launched.

Indian Navy develops Mobile Oxygen Generation Plants, termed ‘Oxygen on Wheels’.

Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab develops India’s first-of-its-kind Internet of Things device ‘AmbiTag’, a temperature data logger which records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable products, vaccines and even body organs and blood.

Cyclone Tauktae and Cyclone Yaas affect various parts of India.

    June 2021

M-Yoga App launched on the 7th International Day of Yoga 2021.

India gets 8 new Flying Training Academies under the liberalised Flying Training Organisation (FTO) policy of the Airports Authority of India.

Relief package of ₹ 6,28,993 crore to support Indian economy in fight against Covid-19 pandemic announced.

Senior care Ageing Growth Engine initiative and its portal to support India’s elderly launched.

July 2021

Eight new routes bolstering the aerial connectivity from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra and Gujarat launched under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016.

Rudreswara Temple (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in Telangana and Dholavira, the Harappan City in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Digital Platform ‘Kisan Sarathi’ launched to facilitate farmers to get “right information at right time” in their desired language.

Finance Ministers of India and Bhutan jointly launch BHIM–UPI in Bhutan.

24/7 helpline for women affected by violence launched.

Web-based portal pmcaresforchildren.in to facilitate submission of applications, identification of children launched.

Basavaraj Bommai takes oath as the 23rd Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Indian team wins 13 medals, including 5 golds, at World Cadet Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Government creates ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ for realising the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’.

August 2021

India finish 48th on the medal tally in the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020 with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

e-Shram portal for unorganised workers launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Prime Minister inaugurates renovated complex of Jallianwalla Bagh Smarak in Amritsar .

Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh passes away at 89.

Prime Minister declares 14th August as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.

Khel Ratna Award renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards.

September 2021

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission launched. Under this, every citizen will get a digital health ID and their health record will be digitally protected.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Auto and Drone Industry to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities approved.

Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel and Charanjit Singh Channi take over as chief ministers of Gujarat and Punjab, respectively.

The 1st Himalayan Film Festival inaugurated at Leh.

India finish 24th at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 with five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals. [Refer to Chapter 30 for the list]

Country’s first pan-India helpline for senior citizens Elder Line (Toll-Free No- 14567) launched.

October 2021

India emerges on top of the medal tally at the International Shooting Sport Federation Junior World Championships 2021 with 40 medals, including 16 gold.

PM Gati Shakti—National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity launched.

The cumulative Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country surpasses 100-crore milestone.

Anshu Malik bags silver and Sarita Mor wins bronze medal at World Wrestling Championship 2021.

Department of Posts launches the digital version of the Postal Life Insurance policy bonds, “ePLI bond”. ePLI bond is the Department of Posts’ first digital integration with DigiLocker.

Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, aimed at addressing the different gaps in the health sector of the country launched.

November 2021

Fifth edition of Ganga Utsav, ‘Ganga Utsav 2021 – The River Festival’ held from November 1-3, 2021.

November 15 declared as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, dedicated to the memory of brave tribal freedom fighters.

40th India International Trade Fair held from November 14-27, 2021 in New Delhi.

Foundation stone of Noida International Greenfield Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh laid.

Border Roads Organisation bags the Guinness World Records certificate for constructing and black topping the world’s highest motorable road at Umlingla Pass in Ladakh.

Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi renamed as Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

India successfully launched the 41st Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.

52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India held in Goa in a hybrid mode from November 20-28, 2021, showcasing

more than 300 films including 148 international films from 73 countries.

For the first time, the BRICS Film Festival held alongside the International Film Festival of India in Goa.

The National Sports Awards 2021 announced. [Refer to Chapter 33 for the list]

President presents the Padma and Gallantry Awards for the years 2020 and 2021.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana extended from December 2021 to March 2022.

December 2021

India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Bipin Rawat passes away in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.

The Dam Safety Bill (2019) passed in the Rajya Sabha.