BharatNotes
Static GK
Important Days & Dates
Month-wise national and international days — India's national holidays, UN observances, and founding context for UPSC Prelims.
Exam relevance: UPSC Prelims regularly asks about the founding reason for an international day, the year it was first observed, and its associated theme. Focus on days proposed by India (Yoga Day), days linked to key events (National Technology Day, National Science Day), and frequently confused pairs (Teachers' Day India vs. World Teachers' Day).
🇮🇳 India's Three National Holidays
| Date | Holiday | Significance | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 January | Republic Day | Constitution of India came into force, 1950 | Parade on Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath), New Delhi. Chief Guest tradition from foreign heads of state. 77th Republic Day on 26 Jan 2026. |
| 15 August | Independence Day | India's independence from British rule, 1947 | PM hoists flag at Red Fort, Delhi. 79th Independence Day on 15 Aug 2025. |
| 2 October | Gandhi Jayanti | Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (1869) | Also observed as International Day of Non-Violence by the UN (adopted 2007). Dry day across India. |
📅 January
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) | National | Marks Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915. Convention held biennially since 2003. |
| 10 Jan | World Hindi Day | International | Commemorates first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur on 10 January 1975. Declared by PM Manmohan Singh in 2006. (Note: Hindi Diwas is 14 September — different day.) |
| 12 Jan | National Youth Day | National | Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (1863). Observed since 1985. Theme of 2025: "Viksit Yuva — Viksit Bharat". |
| 15 Jan | Army Day | National | Gen. K.M. Cariappa (later Field Marshal) took over as first Indian Commander-in-Chief from last British C-in-C Gen. Sir F.R.R. Bucher on 15 January 1949. |
| 24 Jan | National Girl Child Day | National | Launched by Ministry of Women & Child Development in 2008 to address inequality faced by girls in India. |
| 25 Jan | National Voters' Day | National | Election Commission of India Foundation Day (25 Jan 1950). Observed since 2011 to encourage voter participation. |
| 25 Jan | National Tourism Day | National | Observed to promote tourism and awareness of its importance to India's economy. Different from World Tourism Day (27 Sep). |
| 24 Jan | International Day of Education | International | UN (A/RES/73/25, 2018). Celebrates education's role in peace and development. 2025 theme: "AI in Education: Preserving Human Agency". |
| 27 Jan | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | International | UN. Marks liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau (27 Jan 1945). Adopted 2005. |
📅 February
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | World Wetlands Day | International | Marks signing of Ramsar Convention on 2 February 1971. Became a UN observance in 2021. India has 85 Ramsar sites (as of 2024, one of the highest globally). |
| 4 Feb | World Cancer Day | International | Led by UICC (Union for International Cancer Control). 2025 theme: "United by Unique". Not a UN observance but widely observed. |
| 11 Feb | International Day of Women and Girls in Science | International | UN (A/RES/70/212, 2015). Promotes full and equal access to science for women. |
| 13 Feb | World Radio Day | International | UNESCO (2011); UN (2013). Marks founding of UN Radio on 13 February 1946. 2025 theme: "Radio: A Century of Informing, Entertaining and Educating". |
| 20 Feb | World Day of Social Justice | International | UN (2007). 2025 theme: "Bridging Gaps, Building Coalitions: Winning the Fight Against Poverty and Exclusion". |
| 21 Feb | International Mother Language Day | International | UNESCO (1999); UN (2000). Commemorates Language Movement Day in Bangladesh (1952) when students were killed demanding Bengali as official language. 2025 theme: "Multilingual Education: A Pillar of Learning and Intergenerational Learning". |
| 28 Feb | National Science Day | National | C.V. Raman announced the discovery of the Raman Effect on 28 February 1928. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for this. Observed since 1987. 2025 theme: "Science for Social Progress". |
📅 March
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar | National Security Day | National | Foundation Day of National Safety Council of India (4 March 1966). A week-long campaign follows. |
| 8 Mar | International Women's Day | International | UN (1977). Roots in the labour movement (1908, New York). 2025 theme: "Accelerate Action". 2026 theme: "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." |
| 15 Mar | World Consumer Rights Day | International | Marks US President Kennedy's 1962 speech to Congress on consumer rights. Led by Consumers International since 1983. |
| 21 Mar | International Day of Forests | International | UN (A/RES/67/200, 2012). 2025 theme: "Forests and Innovation". |
| 22 Mar | World Water Day | International | UN (A/RES/47/193, 1992); first observed 1993. 2025 theme: "Glacier Preservation". 2026 theme: to be announced. Key for GS3 — water scarcity, interlinking rivers. |
| 23 Mar | Martyrs' Day (Bhagat Singh) | National | Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were executed on 23 March 1931. Also observed as Shaheed Diwas. (Note: 30 January is also Martyrs' Day — Gandhi's assassination.) |
| 23 Mar | World Meteorological Day | International | Commemorates entry into force of WMO Convention on 23 March 1950. 2025 theme: "Closing the Early Warning Gap". |
| 24 Mar | World Tuberculosis Day | International | Dr. Robert Koch announced discovery of TB bacillus on 24 March 1882. India's target: TB-free by 2025 (Nikshay mission). 2025 theme: "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver". |
| 30 Jan | Martyrs' Day (Gandhi) | National | Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948. Two-minute silence observed at 11:00 AM. (Listed here for reference; falls in January.) |
📅 April
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr | World Health Day | International | WHO founding day (7 April 1948). First celebrated 1950. 2025 theme: "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures". Key for GS2 — health governance, NHM. |
| 14 Apr | Ambedkar Jayanti | National | Birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891). Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution. Gazetted holiday since 2015. |
| 22 Apr | Earth Day | International | First Earth Day: 22 April 1970 in the US (Senator Gaylord Nelson). UN: International Mother Earth Day. 2025 theme: "Our Power, Our Planet". Over 1 billion people participate annually. |
| 23 Apr | World Book and Copyright Day | International | UNESCO (1995). Coincides with death anniversaries of Cervantes, Shakespeare, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (23 April 1616). |
| 25 Apr | World Malaria Day | International | WHO (2007). India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030. 2025 theme: "Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite". |
| 26 Apr | World Intellectual Property Day | International | WIPO (2000). Date marks entry into force of WIPO Convention (1970). 2025 theme: "IP and Music". |
📅 May
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | International Workers' Day (Labour Day) | International | Commemorates 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. Officially Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day (states formed 1 May 1960). |
| 3 May | World Press Freedom Day | International | UN (A/RES/48/432, 1993). Established following UNESCO's Windhoek Declaration (1991). 2025 theme: "Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media". |
| 11 May | National Technology Day | National | India conducted Pokhran-II nuclear tests on 11 May 1998 (Operation Shakti). Simultaneously, first indigenous aircraft Hansa-3 flew and Trishul missile was tested. Day instituted by PM Vajpayee in 1999. |
| 15 May | International Day of Families | International | UN (A/RES/47/237, 1993). Celebrates family as basic unit of society. 2025 theme: "Family-oriented Policies for Sustainable Development". |
| 22 May | International Day for Biological Diversity | International | UN. Marks entry into force of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992). India is a mega-biodiversity country (12th in list). 2025 theme: "Be Part of the Plan". |
| 31 May | World No Tobacco Day | International | WHO (1987). 2025 theme: "Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference". India has COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003). |
📅 June
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun | World Environment Day | International | UN Environment Programme (UNEP), first held 1974. Marks opening of Stockholm Conference (1972). 2025 theme: "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience" (hosted by Saudi Arabia). 2024: "Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience" — host: Saudi Arabia. One of the most widely observed environment days. |
| 8 Jun | World Oceans Day | International | Proposed at Earth Summit (Rio, 1992); officially recognised by UN in 2008. 2025 theme: "Protecting Coral Reefs". India has 7,516 km of coastline and exclusive EEZ of 2.37 million sq km. |
| 12 Jun | World Day Against Child Labour | International | ILO (2002). India: Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 prohibits child labour below 14; hazardous work below 18. |
| 14 Jun | World Blood Donor Day | International | WHO. Marks birthday of Karl Landsteiner (discovered ABO blood groups, 1900). 2025 theme: "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often". |
| 20 Jun | World Refugee Day | International | UN (A/RES/55/76, 2000). Marks Africa Refugee Day; anniversary of 1951 Refugee Convention. 2025 theme: "Solidarity with Refugees". |
| 21 Jun | International Day of Yoga | International | Proposed by PM Narendra Modi at UNGA in September 2014. UNGA declared 21 June as International Day of Yoga in December 2014 (A/RES/69/131); first celebrated 21 June 2015. 21 June is the Summer Solstice (longest day in Northern Hemisphere). 2025 theme: "Yoga for One Earth, One Health". |
| 26 Jun | International Day against Drug Abuse | International | UN (A/RES/42/112, 1987). 2025 theme: "Together We Can Act: The Time Is Now". India: NDPS Act, 1985 governs narcotic drugs. |
📅 July
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul | National Doctors' Day | National | Birth (and death) anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (1 July 1882 / 1 July 1962), physician and Chief Minister of West Bengal. Observed since 1991. |
| 11 Jul | World Population Day | International | UNDP (1989); UN (1990). Marks when world population reached 5 billion (11 July 1987). India surpassed China as most populous nation in 2023. 2025 theme: "Counting Every Life: The Case for Universal Civil Registration". |
| 18 Jul | Nelson Mandela International Day | International | UN (A/RES/64/13, 2009). Mandela's birthday. 67-minute service encouraged (representing 67 years of public service). Mandela received Bharat Ratna in 1990. |
| 26 Jul | Kargil Vijay Diwas | National | India declared victory in Kargil War (Operation Vijay) on 26 July 1999, after Pakistan-backed forces were evicted from strategic heights. Observed since 1999. |
| 29 Jul | International Tiger Day | International | Established at Saint Petersburg Declaration (2010) by tiger range countries. India hosts ~75% of world's wild tigers. India's tiger count (2022 All India Tiger Estimation, 5th cycle): 3,682 — highest ever recorded; annual growth rate 6.1%. |
📅 August
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug | Hiroshima Day | International | First atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan (1945). Observed globally to promote nuclear disarmament. India is a signatory to the NPT (1970) and advocates for CTBT ratification. |
| 9 Aug | Nagasaki Day / Quit India Movement Day | International National | Second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki (1945). Also: Quit India Movement launched by Gandhi on 9 August 1942 at Gowalia Tank, Mumbai ("Do or Die"). |
| 9 Aug | International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples | International | UN (A/RES/49/214, 1994). Marks first meeting of UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations (1982). India has ~700 Scheduled Tribes. |
| 12 Aug | International Youth Day | International | UN (A/RES/54/120, 1999). Established following 1998 World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. 2025 theme: "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development". |
| 29 Aug | National Sports Day | National | Birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand (1905), legendary hockey player who won 3 Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936). Observed since 2012. National Sports Awards announced on this day. |
| 29 Aug | International Day against Nuclear Tests | International | UN (A/RES/64/35, 2009). Marks closure of Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (29 Aug 1991). India conducted Pokhran-II on 11 May 1998. |
📅 September
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep | Teachers' Day (India) | National | Birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888), 1st VP and 2nd President of India. Observed since 1962. Note: World Teachers' Day is 5 October (different date). |
| 8 Sep | International Literacy Day | International | UNESCO (1966). Marks UNESCO's inaugural meeting (1965). India's literacy rate: ~77.7% (Census 2011 data; estimated ~90%+ by 2024). 2025 theme: "Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace". |
| 14 Sep | Hindi Diwas | National | On 14 September 1949, Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as official language of the Union (Article 343). Observed since 1953. (Note: World Hindi Day is 10 January — different day.) |
| 15 Sep | International Day of Democracy | International | UN (A/RES/62/7, 2007). India is the world's largest democracy. 2025 theme: "Safeguarding Democracy in the Age of AI". |
| 15 Sep | Engineer's Day | National | Birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya (1861), renowned engineer and statesman. Bharat Ratna recipient (1955). Observed since 1968. |
| 16 Sep | International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer | International | UN (A/RES/49/114, 1994). Marks signing of Montreal Protocol (16 September 1987). 2025 theme: "Montreal Protocol: Healing the Past, Protecting the Future". |
| 21 Sep | International Day of Peace | International | UN (A/RES/36/67, 1981); moved to 21 September in 2001. Ceasefire observed globally. 2025 theme: "Cultivating a Culture of Peace". |
| 27 Sep | World Tourism Day | International | UNWTO (1980). Marks adoption of UNWTO Statutes (27 September 1970). 2025 theme: "Tourism and Biodiversity". (Note: National Tourism Day is 25 January — different.) |
📅 October
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Gandhi Jayanti / Int'l Day of Non-Violence | National International | UNGA adopted A/RES/61/271 in 2007, declaring 2 October as International Day of Non-Violence — coinciding with Gandhi's birthday. India's only national holiday that is also a UN observance. |
| 5 Oct | World Teachers' Day | International | UNESCO (1994). Marks signing of UNESCO Recommendation on Status of Teachers (1966). Not to be confused with India's Teachers' Day (5 September). |
| 10 Oct | World Mental Health Day | International | World Federation for Mental Health (1992). India: Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (replaces 1987 Act); recognises right to mental healthcare. 2025 theme: "It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace". |
| 11 Oct | International Day of the Girl Child | International | UN (A/RES/66/170, 2011). First observed 2012. 2025 theme: "Girls' Vision for the Future". India: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme (2015). |
| 16 Oct | World Food Day | International | FAO founding day (16 October 1945). 2025 theme: "Innovate. Adapt. Thrive: Building a better food future". India: National Food Security Act, 2013 (covers ~67% of population). |
| 24 Oct | United Nations Day | International | Entry into force of UN Charter on 24 October 1945. India was a founding member of the UN. UN established with 51 original member nations (now 193). |
| 31 Oct | National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) | National | Birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875), "Iron Man of India" who integrated 562 princely states. Observed since 2014 (instituted by PM Modi). Run for Unity held annually. |
📅 November
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov | World Tsunami Awareness Day | International | UN (A/RES/70/203, 2015). Japan's Inamura-no-Hi legend. 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami killed ~2.28 lakh people; India among worst hit. 2025 theme: "Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future". |
| 10 Nov | World Science Day for Peace and Development | International | UNESCO (2001). 2025 theme: "Science for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future". |
| 11 Nov | National Education Day | National | Birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888), first Education Minister of independent India. Observed since 2008 (MHRD). India's NEP 2020 aims for 100% GER in school education by 2030. |
| 14 Nov | Children's Day (India) | National | Birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889), first PM of India. Called "Chacha Nehru" for his love of children. Observed since 1964 (changed from 20 November after Nehru's death). World Children's Day: 20 November. |
| 14 Nov | World Diabetes Day | International | IDF and WHO (1991). Marks birthday of Sir Frederick Banting (co-discoverer of insulin, 1922). UN recognised in 2006. India has the 2nd highest number of diabetics globally. 2025 theme: "Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps". |
| 20 Nov | World Children's Day | International | UN. Marks adoption of Declaration on Rights of Child (1959) and Convention on Rights of Child (1989). India: Ratified UNCRC in 1992. POCSO Act, 2012 protects children from sexual offences. |
| 26 Nov | Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) | National | Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 (came into force 26 January 1950). Government of India formally declared it Constitution Day in 2015 on the Constitution's 66th anniversary. Samvidhan Divas 2025 (76th anniversary) observed with national ceremony at Samvidhan Sadan. |
📅 December
| Date | Day | Type | Significance / Founding Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | World AIDS Day | International | WHO (1988); first global health day. 2025 theme: "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right". India: NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) manages response; India 3rd most HIV-burdened country globally. |
| 3 Dec | World Day of Persons with Disabilities | International | UN (A/RES/47/3, 1992). India: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (increased disability categories from 7 to 21). 2025 theme: "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future". |
| 4 Dec | Indian Navy Day | National | Commemorates Operation Trident (4 December 1971) — Indian Navy's missile attack on Karachi harbour during 1971 India-Pakistan War. |
| 9 Dec | International Anti-Corruption Day | International | UN (A/RES/58/4, 2003). Marks adoption of UNCAC (UN Convention Against Corruption). India: CVC, CBI, Lokpal Act 2013. 2025 theme: "Uniting the World Against Corruption". |
| 10 Dec | Human Rights Day | International | UN. Marks adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948. India: NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) established 1993 under Protection of Human Rights Act. 2025 theme: "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now". |
| 14 Dec | National Energy Conservation Day | National | Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under Ministry of Power. Celebrates Energy Conservation Act enacted on 14 December 2001. India's target: 45% reduction in emission intensity by 2030 (NDC). |
| 16 Dec | Vijay Diwas | National | Pakistan's armed forces surrendered to India on 16 December 1971, ending the 1971 India-Pakistan War. Bangladesh was liberated. Pakistan General A.A.K. Niazi signed instrument of surrender to Indian General J.S. Aurora. ~93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered — one of the largest surrenders since WWII. |
| 22 Dec | National Mathematics Day | National | Birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887). Declared by PM Manmohan Singh in 2012 (Ramanujan's 125th birth anniversary). Ramanujan: self-taught genius; worked with G.H. Hardy at Cambridge; contributions to number theory, infinite series, continued fractions. |
| 23 Dec | Kisan Diwas (Farmers' Day) | National | Birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh (1902), 5th Prime Minister of India, who championed farmers' rights. Observed since 2001. |
⚠️ Commonly Confused Days — Prelims Traps
| Pair | Day 1 | Day 2 | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachers' Day | India: 5 September (Radhakrishnan's birthday) | World: 5 October (UNESCO, 1966 Recommendation) | Different dates; same name. A common Prelims trap. |
| Children's Day | India: 14 November (Nehru's birthday) | World: 20 November (UN, UNCRC) | India moved its date from 20 Nov to 14 Nov after Nehru's death in 1964. |
| Hindi Diwas vs World Hindi Day | Hindi Diwas: 14 September (CA adopted Hindi, 1949) | World Hindi Day: 10 January (First World Hindi Conference, 1975) | Two different days; both about Hindi but different origin and scope. |
| Tourism Day | National Tourism Day: 25 January | World Tourism Day: 27 September (UNWTO, 1980) | India has its own date; world date coincides with UNWTO founding. |
| Martyrs' Day | 30 January (Gandhi assassinated, 1948) | 23 March (Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru executed, 1931) | India observes two Martyrs' Days. January 30 is the official national observance with 2-minute silence. |
| Non-Violence Day | 2 October — International Day of Non-Violence (UN, 2007) | Gandhi Jayanti is also on 2 October | UN observance was set on Gandhi's birth anniversary — the only national holiday that doubles as a UN day. |
Current affairs link: Each year's themes for international days (World Environment Day, World Health Day, etc.) are frequently asked in Prelims. Since themes change annually, check Ujiyari.com for the latest year's themes closer to your exam. The dates and founding notes above are static and permanent.