National Find a Rainbow Day

 

The month of April brings spring showers. After those showers, the sun comes out and a rainbow often appears. Each year on April 3rd, National Find a Rainbow Day challenges us to look to the sky and find a colourful ray of hope cast across it.

A rainbow is a spectrum of light in the form of a multi-coloured arc, appearing in the sky, that is caused by both reflection and refraction of light in water droplets in the Earth’s atmosphere. Rainbows always appear directly opposite of the sun. The light is refracted (bent) when it enters a droplet of water (which acts as a prism), then is reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.

A rainbow has seven colours because water droplets in the atmosphere break sunlight into seven colours. When light leaves one medium and enters another, the light changes its propagation direction and bends. Red is the colour that is visible on the outer part of a rainbow and violet on the inside of a primary rainbow.

First Human Canonball Launched in 1877

 

The first human cannonball, launched on April 2, 1877 at the Royal Aquarium in London, was the 17-year-old Rossa Matilda Richter, going by the stage name "Zazel". She was launched by a spring-style cannon invented by the Canadian William Leonar Hunt ("The Great Farini"). She later toured with the P.T. Barnum Circus. Farini's cannon used rubber springs to launch a person from the cannon, limiting the distance they could be launched. Richter's career as a human cannonball ended when she broke her back during an unrelated tightrope act.

National Walking Day 2025

Every year, on the first Wednesday of April, we celebrate National Walking Day.  In 2025, National Walking Day falls on April 2.

Walking is considered one of the easiest ways to stay fit and healthy; it has been proven effective in preventing many illnesses including diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, with only as little as 30 minutes a day. So, what makes walking good for your health, and why you should you build it into your daily routine? Read on to find out…

Why walking?

Walking is easy. It does not require any special skills, complex technique or equipment. You can walk pretty much everywhere, be in charge of your pace and time without spending any money (except for some comfy shoes). Regular walks can help to prevent cardiovascular diseases, lower your blood sugar and boost immune function. During a brisk walk, our heart pumps more blood, which makes it stronger. It’s also great for getting those legs toned up!

1.      Instant mood-booster

When we walk our bodies are getting more oxygen, which translates into more energy and puts us in a better mood. Generally, people who walk regularly are physically fitter than those who do not exercise at all. Regular walking also has a positive effect on our immunity, with people who walk daily are less likely to catch a cold. As you walk outdoors, you also get more vitamin D which contributes to higher energy levels, improved immunity, and better bone and muscle health.

2.     Supports maintaining a healthy weight

After only a few weeks of implementing regular walks into a daily routine, those trying to lose weight will begin to notice its effect. Unlike running or jogging, walking does not put pressure on your joints, back or spine. Though it can be a less aerobic exercise, brisk walking for 45 minutes will enable your body to burn around 300 calories (depending on the pace and your weight). This makes it a perfect form of exercise for people with joint injuries or those looking to maintain or lose weight.

3.     Better sleep 

It is said that 10% to 30% of adults suffer from insomnia. While there may be many reasons behind this, one of the solutions to aid better sleep is walking. Even a 20-30 minutes’ walk in the fresh air can help improve the quality of your sleep. Especially for those who prefer working out in the evening, walking is a perfect alternate evening exercise to vigorous activity such as aerobics, which can disrupt your sleep.

4. Discover new parts of your local area

There are plenty of great walks around you if you choose to discover. The list of benefits or regular walks is endless. It gives many physical and mental health benefits and is a great way to go back to regular physical activity. It can prevent serious illnesses and even make you live longer. On top of that, it is free and easy to fit into our daily routines.

So put your walking shoes on and enjoy!

Reserve Bank of India was founded in 1935

The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank of the country. Central banks are a relatively recent innovation and most central banks, as we know them today, were established around the early twentieth century.

The Reserve Bank of India was set up on the basis of the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission. The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (II of 1934) provides the statutory basis of the functioning of the Bank, which commenced operations on April 1, 1935.

The Bank was constituted to

·        Regulate the issue of banknotes

·        Maintain reserves with a view to securing monetary stability and

·        To operate the credit and currency system of the country to its advantage.

The Bank began its operations by taking over from the Government the functions so far being performed by the Controller of Currency and from the Imperial Bank of India, the management of Government accounts and public debt. The existing currency offices at Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Rangoon, Karachi, Lahore and Cawnpore (Kanpur) became branches of the Issue Department. Offices of the Banking Department were established in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Delhi and Rangoon.

Burma (Myanmar) seceded from the Indian Union in 1937 but the Reserve Bank continued to act as the Central Bank for Burma till Japanese Occupation of Burma and later up to April, 1947. After the partition of India, the Reserve Bank served as the central bank of Pakistan up to June 1948 when the State Bank of Pakistan commenced operations. The Bank, which was originally set up as a shareholder's bank, was nationalized in 1949.

An interesting feature of the Reserve Bank of India was that at its very inception, the Bank was seen as playing a special role in the context of development, especially Agriculture. When India commenced its plan endeavours, the development role of the Bank came into focus, especially in the sixties when the Reserve Bank, in many ways, pioneered the concept and practice of using finance to catalyze development. The Bank was also instrumental in institutional development and helped set up institutions like the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India, the Unit Trust of India, the Industrial Development Bank of India, the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Discount and Finance House of India etc. to build the financial infrastructure of the country.

With liberalization, the Bank's focus has shifted back to core central banking functions like Monetary Policy, Bank Supervision and Regulation, and Overseeing the Payments System and onto developing the financial markets.

 

Project Tiger Launched in 1973

 

Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation movement initiated in India to protect the endangered tiger. The project was formed on 1 April 1973 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India. As of March 2025, there are 58 protected areas that have been designated as tiger reserves under the project. As of 2023, there were 3,682 wild tigers in India, which is almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population.

History and objectives

Project Tiger was initiated in 1973 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India. The project was initiated to protect the Bengal Tiger and its habitats and to establish dedicated tiger reserves for sustaining tiger populations. As per the section 38 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 972, the state governments are responsible for preparing a Tiger Conservation Plan which includes planning and management of notified areas and maintaining the requisite competent staff to ensure the protection of the tiger reserve and providing inputs for maintaining a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.

Tiger reserves consist of a core area which includes part(s) of protected areas such as a national park or a wildlife sanctuary and a buffer zone which is a mix of forested and non-forested land. Project tiger is aimed at performing the necessary activities to ensure viability of tiger population in the core area and to promote a balance between the existence of people and animals in the buffer zones. In 2006, National Tiger Conservation Authority was formed to administer the tiger reserves which were set up as a part of Project Tiger with Project Tiger becoming a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to provide funding for the establishment and administration of the tiger reserves.

In 1973, nine protected areas were initially designated as tiger reserves. By the late 1980s, the initial nine reserves covering an area of 9,115 km² (3,519 sq mi) had been increased to 15 reserves covering an area of 24,700 km² (9,500 sq mi). By 1997, 23 tiger reserves encompassed an area of 33,000 km² (13,000 sq mi). As of March 2025, there are 58 protected that have been designated as tiger reserves.

Transfer Day (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Transfer Day is a public holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands observed on March 31st.

The holiday commemorates this day in 1917 when Denmark ceded the islands to the United States.

History of Transfer Day

These Caribbean islands are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago. They are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles and lie west of the British Virgin Islands.

On March 31st 1917, the 133-square-mile island chain comprising the Danish West Indies was ceded to the United States by Denmark, becoming the U.S. Virgin Islands in exchange for $25 million in gold.

The U.S. interest in the islands primarily was their strategic location to improve military positioning during World War I. Later, the islands were a foothold in the Caribbean for the U.S. Navy in World War II.

The islands are an organized, unincorporated United States territory.

Eiffel Tower Day

Eiffel Tower Day is celebrated on March 31, every year. The event is observed to celebrate the inauguration of the monument in history. On this day in 1889, the skyscraper was revealed to the public. 

What is the history of the Eiffel Tower?

A design competition was held in central Paris and more than 100 artists turned in their ideas, for an international fair to display the industrial advancement of France in the 19th century.

Gustave Eiffel proposed 1,000 feet open-lattice iron tower in the heart of Paris and received the contract in the year 1887.  He began work on the project on January 28, 1887, and completed it in two years, two months, and five days despite years of uncertainty, criticism, and even protests. 

Since its opening in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has become one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in Paris but throughout the globe. The magnificent iron tower is surely a great technical achievement and motivating representation of the City of Lights.

What is inside the Eiffel Tower?

There are three floors in the Eiffel Tower: the first floor, the second floor, and the summit (top level). On the first level, there are museums, a glass floor, frequently changing exhibitions, gift shops, and dining establishments. The Jules Verne restaurant, additional shops, and an observation area are all located on the second level.

The summit or top floor is mainly the highest observation deck in Europe at 276 metres (905 feet) above sea level. Along with a champagne bar and a replica of Gustave Eiffel's workplace, the top floor is divided into two levels.

Why the Eiffel Tower is so famous?

Gustave's vision gave Paris a new lease on life and made it into the romantic city we know today, with his creation. He intended the structure to serve as a representation of the "great scientific movement of the eighteenth century and the Revolution of 1789," in his own words.

The most well-known example of a lattice, or free-standing framework skyscraper, Eiffel Tower is constructed of wrought iron. Its delicate shape and economy of design made it quite a daring design at the time it was built.

The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid landmark in the world, with an average of 25,000 visitors per day, and it is unquestionably due to its great artistry.

What are the 7 facts about the Eiffel Tower?

·        Even though Eiffel received credit for the Tower's naming, the initial design was created by his company's two engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier.

·        The Tower was designed to showcase France's manufacturing prowess during the World's Fair, but its intended lifespan was 20 years.

·        The enormous iron construction will sway during a storm despite being wind-resistant. Along with this, the enormous Tower also expands by an additional six inches each summer.

·        About 60 tonnes of paint are applied to the structure every seven years. It not only prevents rusting but also maintains the so-called La dame de fer attraction.

·        The 20,000-bulb sparkling light display that first illuminated the night sky on New Year's Eve 1999 is covered by copyright laws in France.

·        Despite its enduring popularity today, the Eiffel Tower narrowly escaped destruction in World War II.

·        The Eiffel Tower honours 72 French scientists and engineers with their names engraved on its ironwork. 

The Eiffel Tower, which is 1,063 feet tall and overlooks Paris, stands as a testament to the achievements of Western culture and modern engineering. And, the Eiffel Tower Day is an occasion of joy for millions of people worldwide because it is one of the most well-known monuments in the world.