Important Days and Dates is a regularly tested topic in all competitive examinations. Questions typically ask about the theme for the current year, the organisation that designated the day, or the significance of the date. This comprehensive list covers major national and international days.
January: Republic Day Month
| Date | Day | Theme / Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | New Year / Global Family Day | International Day of Peace for Families |
| 9 Jan | NRI Day (Pravasi Bharatiya Divas) | Gandhi returned from South Africa (1915) |
| 12 Jan | National Youth Day | Swami Vivekananda birthday; NYKS founded |
| 15 Jan | Army Day | Gen. K.M. Cariappa took command (1949) |
| 25 Jan | National Voters Day / Tourism Day | Election Commission founded 25 Jan 1950 |
| 26 Jan | Republic Day | Constitution enacted (1950) |
| 28 Jan | Data Privacy Day | International data protection awareness |
| 30 Jan | Martyrs Day / World Leprosy Day | Gandhi assassination (1948) |
February to April
| Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Feb | World Cancer Day | UICC; goal: reduce cancer deaths |
| 14 Feb | Valentine Day / World Radio Day (13 Feb) | UNESCO designated World Radio Day |
| 21 Feb | International Mother Language Day | UNESCO; Bangladesh language movement 1952 |
| 28 Feb | National Science Day | C.V. Raman discovered Raman Effect (1928) |
| 8 Mar | International Women Day | Theme changes annually |
| 22 Mar | World Water Day | UN; theme changes annually |
| 23 Mar | World Meteorological Day | WMO founded 1950 |
| 7 Apr | World Health Day | WHO founded 7 April 1948 |
| 22 Apr | Earth Day | Environmental protection; first observed 1970 |
May to August
| Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May | International Labour Day / Maharashtra Day | Workers rights; Maharashtra state formed 1960 |
| 3 May | World Press Freedom Day | UNESCO; press independence |
| 12 May | International Nurses Day | Florence Nightingale birthday |
| 17 May | World Telecommunications Day | ITU founded 1865 |
| 31 May | World No Tobacco Day | WHO anti-tobacco campaign |
| 5 Jun | World Environment Day | UNEP; theme changes annually. 1st Earth Summit 1972 |
| 21 Jun | International Yoga Day | UN designated 2015; India proposed |
| 11 Jul | World Population Day | UNFPA; global population awareness |
| 15 Aug | Independence Day | India independence 1947 |
September to December
| Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep | Teachers Day | Dr S. Radhakrishnan birthday. International Teachers Day: 5 Oct |
| 16 Sep | World Ozone Day | Montreal Protocol signed 1987 |
| 21 Sep | World Alzheimer Day / International Peace Day | UN Peace Day; no hostilities observed |
| 2 Oct | Gandhi Jayanti / World Non-Violence Day | UN designated; Gandhis birthday 1869 |
| 10 Oct | World Mental Health Day | WHO; theme changes annually |
| 16 Oct | World Food Day | FAO founded 16 Oct 1945 |
| 24 Oct | United Nations Day | UN Charter came into force 1945 |
| 14 Nov | Children Day | Nehru birthday; World Diabetes Day |
| 10 Dec | Human Rights Day / Nobel Prize Day | UDHR adopted 1948; Nobel ceremony |