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Important Days 2026
National and international days, month by month, with the history and facts most often asked in competitive exams.
Important days in January
4 January · International
World Braille Day
Marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille (1809), inventor of the Braille script; recognised by the UN.
9 January · National
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Marks Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa on 9 January 1915.
10 January · International
World Hindi Day
Commemorates the first World Hindi Conference, held in Nagpur in 1975.
12 January · National
National Youth Day
Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (born 1863).
15 January · National
Indian Army Day
In 1949, K. M. Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
23 January · Anniversary
Parakram Diwas
Birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (born 1897).
24 January · National
National Girl Child Day
Observed since 2008 to raise awareness of the rights and education of girls.
25 January · National
National Voters' Day
The Election Commission of India was established on 25 January 1950. Also National Tourism Day.
26 January · National
Republic Day
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950.
30 January · National
Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas)
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948.
Important days in February
2 February · International
World Wetlands Day
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
4 February · International
World Cancer Day
Led by the Union for International Cancer Control to raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.
13 February · International
World Radio Day & National Women's Day
UNESCO's World Radio Day marks UN Radio's founding (1946); India's National Women's Day marks Sarojini Naidu's birth anniversary (1879).
20 February · International
World Day of Social Justice
A UN day promoting efforts against poverty, exclusion and unemployment.
21 February · International
International Mother Language Day
Proclaimed by UNESCO; observed since 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
24 February · National
Central Excise Day
Marks the enactment of the Central Excise and Salt Act on 24 February 1944.
28 February · National
National Science Day
C. V. Raman announced the discovery of the Raman Effect on 28 February 1928.
Important days in March
3 March · International
World Wildlife Day
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) was signed on 3 March 1973.
4 March · National
National Safety Day
Marks the founding of India's National Safety Council in 1966.
8 March · International
International Women's Day
A global day celebrating women's achievements and calling for gender equality.
15 March · International
World Consumer Rights Day
Inspired by US President John F. Kennedy's 1962 address on consumer rights.
20 March · International
International Day of Happiness & World Sparrow Day
The UN's Day of Happiness has been observed since 2013.
21 March · International
International Day of Forests & World Poetry Day
Both are UN-recognised observances held on 21 March.
22 March · International
World Water Day
A UN observance since 1993 focusing on freshwater.
23 March · National
Shaheed Diwas & World Meteorological Day
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were executed on 23 March 1931; the WMO Convention came into force on 23 March 1950.
24 March · International
World Tuberculosis Day
Robert Koch announced the discovery of the TB bacterium on 24 March 1882.
27 March · International
World Theatre Day
Initiated by the International Theatre Institute in 1961.
Important days in April
2 April · International
World Autism Awareness Day
Designated by the UN General Assembly in 2007.
5 April · National
National Maritime Day
SS Loyalty, owned by Scindia Steam Navigation Company, sailed to London on 5 April 1919.
7 April · International
World Health Day
Marks the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948.
11 April · National
National Safe Motherhood Day
Observed on the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi.
14 April · Anniversary
Ambedkar Jayanti
Birth anniversary of Dr B. R. Ambedkar (born 1891), chairman of the Constitution's Drafting Committee.
18 April · International
World Heritage Day
International Day for Monuments and Sites, proposed by ICOMOS.
21 April · National
National Civil Services Day
Sardar Patel addressed the first batch of administrative service officers at Metcalfe House, Delhi, in 1947.
22 April · International
Earth Day
First observed in 1970.
23 April · International
World Book and Copyright Day
Organised by UNESCO; 23 April is linked to Shakespeare and Cervantes.
24 April · National
National Panchayati Raj Day
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act came into force on 24 April 1993.
Important days in May
1 May · National
Labour Day; Maharashtra & Gujarat Day
Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed on 1 May 1960 from the bilingual Bombay State.
3 May · International
World Press Freedom Day
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.
8 May · International
World Red Cross Day
Birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross.
11 May · National
National Technology Day
Marks the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 11 May 1998.
15 May · International
International Day of Families
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.
17 May · International
World Telecommunication & Information Society Day
Marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1865.
21 May · National
Anti-Terrorism Day
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21 May 1991.
22 May · International
International Day for Biological Diversity
Marks the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on 22 May 1992.
31 May · International
World No Tobacco Day
Created by the World Health Organization in 1987.
Important days in June
1 June · International
World Milk Day
Established by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2001.
5 June · International
World Environment Day
Led by UNEP; first held in 1973.
8 June · International
World Oceans Day
Officially recognised by the UN in 2008.
12 June · International
World Day Against Child Labour
Launched by the International Labour Organization in 2002.
14 June · International
World Blood Donor Day
Birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood group system.
20 June · International
World Refugee Day
Designated by the UN; first observed in 2001.
21 June · International
International Day of Yoga
Proposed by India and adopted by the UN; first observed in 2015.
29 June · National
National Statistics Day
Birth anniversary of P. C. Mahalanobis, founder of the Indian Statistical Institute.
Important days in July
1 July · National
National Doctors' Day, CA Day & GST Day
Birth (and death) anniversary of Dr B. C. Roy; ICAI was set up on 1 July 1949; GST was rolled out on 1 July 2017.
11 July · International
World Population Day
Established by the UNDP Governing Council in 1989.
18 July · International
Nelson Mandela International Day
Observed on Nelson Mandela's birthday; declared by the UN in 2009.
26 July · National
Kargil Vijay Diwas
India declared victory in the Kargil conflict (Operation Vijay) on 26 July 1999.
28 July · International
World Hepatitis Day & World Nature Conservation Day
World Hepatitis Day marks the birthday of Nobel laureate Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus.
29 July · International
International Tiger Day
Agreed at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010.
Important days in August
6 August · International
Hiroshima Day
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima took place on 6 August 1945.
7 August · National
National Handloom Day
The Swadeshi Movement was launched on 7 August 1905.
9 August · National
Quit India Movement Day
The Quit India Movement was launched on 9 August 1942 (August Kranti). Also International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
12 August · International
International Youth Day
Designated by the UN General Assembly; first observed in 2000.
15 August · National
Independence Day
India became independent on 15 August 1947.
19 August · International
World Photography Day & World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day marks the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
20 August · Anniversary
Sadbhavana Diwas
Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (born 1944).
23 August · National
National Space Day
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander touched down near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023.
29 August · National
National Sports Day
Birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand (born 1905).
Important days in September
5 September · National
Teachers' Day
Birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India's second President.
8 September · International
International Literacy Day
Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966; first observed in 1967.
10 September · International
World Suicide Prevention Day
Organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention with WHO since 2003.
14 September · National
Hindi Diwas
On 14 September 1949 the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union.
15 September · Anniversary
Engineers' Day
Birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya (born 1861). Also International Day of Democracy.
16 September · International
World Ozone Day
The Montreal Protocol was signed on 16 September 1987.
21 September · International
International Day of Peace
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1981.
27 September · International
World Tourism Day
Marks the adoption of the UN World Tourism Organization's statutes in 1970.
28 September · Anniversary
Bhagat Singh Jayanti
Birth anniversary of revolutionary Bhagat Singh (born 1907).
Important days in October
1 October · International
International Day of Older Persons
Designated by the UN General Assembly in 1990.
2 October · Anniversary
Gandhi Jayanti & International Day of Non-Violence
Birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi (1869) and Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904). The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on this day in 2014.
4 October · International
World Animal Day
Observed on the feast day of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
5 October · International
World Teachers' Day
Marks the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
8 October · National
Indian Air Force Day
The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932.
9 October · International
World Post Day
The Universal Postal Union was established in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.
10 October · International
World Mental Health Day
First observed in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health.
11 October · International
International Day of the Girl Child
Declared by the UN General Assembly; first observed in 2012.
15 October · Anniversary
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's Birth Anniversary
India's 11th President and 'Missile Man' was born on 15 October 1931. Also Global Handwashing Day.
16 October · International
World Food Day
Marks the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945.
24 October · International
United Nations Day
The UN Charter came into force on 24 October 1945.
31 October · Anniversary
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
National Unity Day marks Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary (born 1875).
Important days in November
7 November · National
National Cancer Awareness Day
Observed on the birth anniversary of Marie Curie.
9 November · National
National Legal Services Day
The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 came into force on 9 November 1995.
10 November · International
World Science Day for Peace and Development
Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001.
11 November · Anniversary
National Education Day
Birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India's first Education Minister.
14 November · National
Children's Day & World Diabetes Day
Birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru (born 1889); World Diabetes Day marks Frederick Banting's birthday.
19 November · International
International Men's Day & World Toilet Day
Also the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (born 1917).
26 November · National
Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas)
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949.
Important days in December
1 December · International
World AIDS Day
First observed in 1988.
2 December · National
National Pollution Control Day
Remembers the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy of 2–3 December 1984.
3 December · International
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1992.
4 December · National
Indian Navy Day
Commemorates Operation Trident against Karachi harbour during the 1971 war.
7 December · National
Armed Forces Flag Day
Observed since 1949 to raise funds for the welfare of armed forces personnel and veterans.
10 December · International
Human Rights Day
The UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948.
11 December · International
International Mountain Day
Designated by the UN General Assembly; observed since 2003.
14 December · National
National Energy Conservation Day
Organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power.
16 December · National
Vijay Diwas
Pakistan's forces surrendered in Dhaka on 16 December 1971, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.
22 December · Anniversary
National Mathematics Day
Birth anniversary of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (born 1887).
23 December · Anniversary
Kisan Diwas (Farmers' Day)
Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.
25 December · Anniversary
Good Governance Day
Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (born 1924).