'The Clock is Ticking' is the theme of which of the following days ?
- (a)International Yoga Day, 2021
- (b)International Women's Day, 2021
- (c)World Tuberculosis Day, 2021
- (d)World Malaria Day, 2021
Correct — C, World Tuberculosis Day, 2021. The theme of World TB Day 2021, observed on 24 March, was 'The Clock is Ticking' — a message that the world is running out of time to deliver on its commitments to end TB, made more urgent because the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted TB diagnosis and treatment. World TB Day marks 24 March 1882, the day Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- (a)International Yoga Day, 2021 — The 2021 International Day of Yoga (21 June) was observed under the theme 'Yoga for Well-being', not 'The Clock is Ticking'.
- (b)International Women's Day, 2021 — International Women's Day 2021 (8 March) used the campaign theme 'Choose to Challenge' (UN observance: 'Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world') — not this phrase.
- (d)World Malaria Day, 2021 — World Malaria Day (25 April) in 2021 was centred on reaching the zero-malaria target, not 'The Clock is Ticking'.
World TB Day is observed every 24 March, commemorating Robert Koch's 1882 announcement of the TB bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). The WHO sets an annual theme; for 2021 it was 'The Clock is Ticking', stressing that time is short to meet the global goal of ending TB — a message sharpened because COVID-19 set back TB services worldwide. India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) targets ending TB by 2025, ahead of the global SDG target of 2030.
A slogan about a deadline — 'The Clock is Ticking' — fits an elimination target far better than a yoga, women's or malaria observance. Link the date to the discovery of the pathogen: 24 March 1882, Robert Koch. That association makes World TB Day easy to place among current-affairs 'day and theme' questions.
- World TB Day 2021 theme = 'The Clock is Ticking' (observed 24 March).
- 24 March marks Robert Koch's 1882 announcement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- The urgency reflects the WHO/SDG target to end the TB epidemic by 2030.
- India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) targets TB elimination by 2025.
- Matching an urgency-themed slogan to the wrong day.
- Confusing World TB Day (24 March) with World Health Day (7 April) or World Malaria Day (25 April).
UPPSC leans on current-affairs 'theme of Day X in year Y' matching; keep a running list of that year's WHO/UN observance themes.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
World Tuberculosis Day is observed on which date?
- (a)24 March
- (b)7 April
- (c)25 April
- (d)1 December
Answer(a) 24 March — marking Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of the TB bacterium.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis was discovered by which scientist?
- (a)Louis Pasteur
- (b)Robert Koch
- (c)Alexander Fleming
- (d)Edward Jenner
Answer(b) Robert Koch — announced on 24 March 1882, now commemorated as World TB Day.