The list of important national and international days is among the most consistently tested GK topics across UPSC, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Banking, Railways, NDA, CDS, and all State PSC competitive exams — questions appear in every exam cycle, asking the date of a specific day, which organisation declared it, or the annual theme.
This page covers 120+ key days month-by-month — United Nations observances, India-specific national days, and major international days declared by WHO, UNESCO, FAO, ILO, and other bodies — all with dates, declaring body, and exam-relevant notes. Use the month tabs to jump straight to any month, or filter by the declaring organisation.
⚡ Quick Facts & Exam Traps
- National Science Day (Feb 28): Commemorates C. V. Raman’s discovery of the Raman Effect (1928) — NOT his birthday. Nobel Prize followed in 1930.
- International Day of Yoga (Jun 21): Proposed by PM Modi; declared by UN in December 2014; first observed June 21, 2015. June 21 = Summer Solstice (longest day in Northern Hemisphere).
- Gandhi Jayanti / Non-Violence Day (Oct 2): Gandhi’s birthday (1869); UN declared it the International Day of Non-Violence in 2007.
- National Unity Day (Oct 31): Sardar Patel’s birthday (1875); instituted in 2014; marks his role integrating 562 princely states.
- Constitution Day (Nov 26): Constitution ADOPTED by Constituent Assembly (1949). Republic Day (Jan 26) = Constitution CAME INTO FORCE (1950).
Trap 1 — Two Teachers’ Days: India’s Teachers’ Day = September 5 (Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s birthday, 1888). World Teachers’ Day (UNESCO) = October 5. These are on different dates — a classic exam trap.
Trap 2 — Two Children’s Days: India’s Children’s Day = November 14 (Nehru’s birthday). Universal Children’s Day (UN) = November 20. Again, different dates.
Trap 3 — Republic Day vs Constitution Day: Nov 26 = Constitution ADOPTED (1949). Jan 26 = Constitution IN FORCE (1950) = Republic Day. One is adoption, the other is enforcement.
Trap 4 — National Science Day: Feb 28 marks the Raman Effect discovery (1928) — it is NOT C. V. Raman’s birthday. The birthday-based rule has this important exception.
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📅 Important National & International Days — Complete List
| # ↕ | Date ↕ | Day / Observance ↕ | Month ↕ | Declared By | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 9 | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) | January | Govt. of India | Marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa (Jan 9, 1915) |
| 2 | Jan 10 | World Hindi Day | January | Govt. of India | First World Hindi Conference held on Jan 10, 1975; different from Hindi Diwas (Sep 14) |
| 3 | Jan 12 | National Youth Day Vivekananda | January | Govt. of India | Birthday of Swami Vivekananda (Jan 12, 1863); birthday-based national day |
| 4 | Jan 15 | Indian Army Day | January | Govt. of India | General K. M. Cariappa became first Indian Commander-in-Chief (Jan 15, 1949) |
| 5 | Jan 24 | National Girl Child Day | January | Govt. of India | Launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008 |
| 6 | Jan 25 | National Voters’ Day | January | Election Commission | ECI founding anniversary (Jan 25, 1950); encourages voter registration |
| 7 | Jan 26 | Republic Day Most Tested | January | Govt. of India | Constitution of India came INTO FORCE (Jan 26, 1950); Constitution ADOPTED = Nov 26, 1949 |
| 8 | Jan 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | January | United Nations | Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau (Jan 27, 1945); declared by UN |
| 9 | Jan 30 | Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas) | January | Govt. of India | Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (Jan 30, 1948); silence observed at 11 AM |
| 10 | Feb 4 | World Cancer Day | February | UICC | Declared by Union for International Cancer Control; theme changes annually |
| 11 | Feb 10 | World Pulses Day | February | United Nations | India is world’s largest producer AND consumer of pulses; declared by UN |
| 12 | Feb 13 | World Radio Day | February | UNESCO | First radio broadcast by UN Radio on Feb 13, 1946; declared by UNESCO |
| 13 | Feb 21 | International Mother Language Day | February | UNESCO | Marks 1952 Bangladesh Language Movement (Ekushey February); promotes linguistic diversity |
| 14 | Feb 28 | National Science Day Raman Effect | February | Govt. of India | C. V. Raman discovered Raman Effect on Feb 28, 1928 (NOT his birthday); Nobel Prize 1930 |
| 15 | Mar 3 | World Wildlife Day | March | United Nations | CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) signed on this day (1973) |
| 16 | Mar 8 | International Women’s Day Most Tested | March | United Nations | First observed 1911; theme changes annually; UN officially adopted in 1977 |
| 17 | Mar 21 | International Day of Forests | March | United Nations | Declared by FAO in 1971; theme changes annually; same date as World Poetry Day |
| 18 | Mar 22 | World Water Day | March | United Nations | Declared in 1993; theme changes annually; freshwater conservation focus |
| 19 | Mar 24 | World TB Day | March | WHO | Robert Koch announced TB bacillus discovery (Mar 24, 1882); WHO-led campaign |
| 20 | Apr 2 | World Autism Awareness Day | April | United Nations | Declared in 2007; blue colour symbolises autism awareness |
| 21 | Apr 5 | National Maritime Day | April | Govt. of India | First Indian ship SS Loyalty sailed to UK on Apr 5, 1919; marks India’s maritime history |
| 22 | Apr 7 | World Health Day Most Tested | April | WHO | WHO’s founding anniversary (Apr 7, 1948); theme changes annually |
| 23 | Apr 21 | National Civil Services Day | April | Govt. of India | Sardar Patel’s address to ICS officers on Apr 21, 1947; IAS/IPS/IFS tribute day |
| 24 | Apr 22 | Earth Day Most Tested | April | Earth Day Network | First observed April 22, 1970; theme changes annually; environment awareness |
| 25 | Apr 23 | World Book & Copyright Day | April | UNESCO | Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso all died on April 23; literary significance |
| 26 | Apr 25 | World Malaria Day | April | WHO | Declared by WHO in 2007; malaria prevention and awareness |
| 27 | Apr 26 | World Intellectual Property Day | April | WIPO | WIPO Convention came into force on Apr 26, 1970; promotes IP awareness |
| 28 | May 1 | International Labour Day | May | ILO | Haymarket affair, Chicago (May 1, 1886); commemorates labour rights movement; May Day |
| 29 | May 3 | World Press Freedom Day | May | UNESCO | Windhoek Declaration on press freedom (1991); UNESCO declared in 1993 |
| 30 | May 8 | World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day | May | ICRC / Red Cross | Birthday of Henry Dunant (May 8, 1828) — founder of International Red Cross |
| 31 | May 11 | National Technology Day Pokhran II | May | Govt. of India | India’s Pokhran II nuclear tests (May 11, 1998); APJ Abdul Kalam led the mission |
| 32 | May 12 | International Nurses Day | May | ICN | Birthday of Florence Nightingale (May 12, 1820) — “Lady with the Lamp”; founded modern nursing |
| 33 | May 21 | National Anti-Terrorism Day | May | Govt. of India | Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (May 21, 1991) by LTTE suicide bomber in Sriperumbudur |
| 34 | May 22 | International Day for Biological Diversity | May | United Nations | Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted (May 22, 1992) |
| 35 | May 31 | World No Tobacco Day | May | WHO | WHO declared in 1987; theme changes annually; tobacco-related diseases awareness |
| 36 | Jun 1 | World Milk Day | June | FAO | FAO declared in 2001; celebrates importance of milk as a global food |
| 37 | Jun 5 | World Environment Day Most Tested | June | United Nations | Stockholm Conference (1972) established it; principal UN vehicle for environment awareness; theme changes annually |
| 38 | Jun 8 | World Ocean Day | June | United Nations | Proposed at 1992 Earth Summit; official UN observance since 2008 |
| 39 | Jun 12 | World Day Against Child Labour | June | ILO | ILO declared in 2002; combating child labour worldwide |
| 40 | Jun 14 | World Blood Donor Day | June | WHO | Birthday of Karl Landsteiner (Jun 14) — discovered blood group system (ABO); WHO-led |
| 41 | Jun 20 | World Refugee Day | June | United Nations | Declared in 2000; marks 50th anniversary of 1951 Refugee Convention; UNHCR leads |
| 42 | Jun 21 | International Day of Yoga India Proposed | June | United Nations | Proposed by PM Narendra Modi; UN declared in December 2014; first observed Jun 21, 2015; Summer Solstice |
| 43 | Jun 26 | International Day Against Drug Abuse | June | United Nations | Declared in 1987; UNODC leads; theme changes annually |
| 44 | Jul 1 | National Doctors’ Day | July | Govt. of India | Birthday of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (Jul 1, 1882) — physician and CM of West Bengal |
| 45 | Jul 11 | World Population Day | July | United Nations | World population reached 5 billion on Jul 11, 1987; UNFPA declared in 1990 |
| 46 | Jul 18 | Nelson Mandela International Day | July | United Nations | Birthday of Nelson Mandela (Jul 18, 1918); 67 minutes of service tradition (for his 67 years of activism) |
| 47 | Jul 26 | Kargil Vijay Diwas | July | Govt. of India | India declared victory in Kargil War (Jul 26, 1999); Operation Vijay against Pakistan-backed infiltrators |
| 48 | Aug 6 | Hiroshima Day | August | International | US dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima (Aug 6, 1945); first nuclear bomb used in war |
| 49 | Aug 9 | Quit India Movement Day | August | Govt. of India | Gandhi launched Quit India Movement (Aug 9, 1942); “Do or Die” slogan; Bombay Resolution |
| 50 | Aug 12 | International Youth Day | August | United Nations | UN declared in 1999; theme changes annually; youth issues focus |
| 51 | Aug 15 | Independence Day Most Important | August | Govt. of India | India’s independence from British rule (Aug 15, 1947); PM hoists flag at Red Fort; national holiday |
| 52 | Aug 29 | National Sports Day Dhyan Chand | August | Govt. of India | Birthday of Major Dhyan Chand (Aug 29, 1905); Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya Awards presented on this day |
| 53 | Sep 5 | Teachers’ Day (India) ≠ Oct 5 | September | Govt. of India | Birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (Sep 5, 1888); India’s 2nd President; NOT the same as World Teachers’ Day (Oct 5) |
| 54 | Sep 8 | International Literacy Day | September | UNESCO | World Conference on Education declared it in 1966; promotes adult literacy globally |
| 55 | Sep 14 | Hindi Diwas | September | Govt. of India | Hindi adopted as official language of India in Constitution (Sep 14, 1949); different from World Hindi Day (Jan 10) |
| 56 | Sep 16 | World Ozone Day | September | United Nations | Montreal Protocol signed (Sep 16, 1987) — landmark treaty protecting ozone layer |
| 57 | Sep 21 | International Day of Peace | September | United Nations | Declared in 1981; observed on September 21 since 2002; global ceasefire day |
| 58 | Sep 27 | World Tourism Day | September | UNWTO | UNWTO Statutes adopted on Sep 27, 1970; promotes sustainable tourism |
| 59 | Oct 2 | Gandhi Jayanti / Intl. Day of Non-Violence UN 2007 | October | Govt. of India / UN | Gandhi’s birthday (Oct 2, 1869); UN declared it International Day of Non-Violence in 2007 |
| 60 | Oct 5 | World Teachers’ Day (UNESCO) ≠ Sep 5 | October | UNESCO | UNESCO declared in 1994; based on 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation; NOT the same as India’s Sep 5 |
| 61 | Oct 8 | Indian Air Force Day | October | Govt. of India | IAF officially established on Oct 8, 1932; air power showcase at Air Force Station |
| 62 | Oct 10 | World Mental Health Day | October | WFMH | World Federation for Mental Health declared in 1992; theme changes annually |
| 63 | Oct 16 | World Food Day | October | FAO | FAO founding date (Oct 16, 1945); theme changes annually; Zero Hunger goal |
| 64 | Oct 24 | United Nations Day Most Tested | October | United Nations | UN Charter came into force (Oct 24, 1945); UN founded; currently 193 member states |
| 65 | Oct 31 | National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) Patel | October | Govt. of India | Birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Oct 31, 1875); 562 princely states integration; instituted 2014 |
| 66 | Nov 11 | National Education Day | November | Govt. of India | Birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (Nov 11, 1888) — India’s first Education Minister; IITs founded under him |
| 67 | Nov 14 | Children’s Day (India) ≠ Nov 20 | November | Govt. of India | Birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru (Nov 14, 1889) — “Chacha Nehru”; NOT the same as Universal Children’s Day (Nov 20) |
| 68 | Nov 20 | Universal Children’s Day (UN) ≠ Nov 14 | November | United Nations | UN Declaration of Rights of Child (Nov 20, 1959); different from India’s Children’s Day (Nov 14) |
| 69 | Nov 25 | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | November | United Nations | Mirabal Sisters (activists) killed in Dominican Republic (Nov 25, 1960); 16 Days Campaign starts |
| 70 | Nov 26 | Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) ≠ Jan 26 | November | Govt. of India | Constitution ADOPTED by Constituent Assembly (Nov 26, 1949); designated 2015 for Ambedkar’s 125th anniversary; NOT Republic Day |
| 71 | Dec 1 | World AIDS Day | December | WHO / UNAIDS | First observed 1988; red ribbon symbol; theme changes annually |
| 72 | Dec 3 | International Day of Persons with Disabilities | December | United Nations | Declared by UN in 1992; promotes inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities |
| 73 | Dec 4 | Indian Navy Day | December | Govt. of India | Operation Trident — missile attack on Karachi harbour (Dec 4, 1971); India-Pakistan War; Navy’s finest hour |
| 74 | Dec 10 | Human Rights Day Most Tested | December | United Nations | Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by UN (Dec 10, 1948); Eleanor Roosevelt led drafting |
| 75 | Dec 16 | Vijay Diwas | December | Govt. of India | India’s victory in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War (Dec 16, 1971); Pakistani forces surrendered to Indian Army |
| 76 | Dec 22 | National Mathematics Day Ramanujan | December | Govt. of India | Birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dec 22, 1887); self-taught genius; number theory; Hardy-Ramanujan collaboration |
| 77 | Dec 23 | Kisan Diwas (National Farmers’ Day) | December | Govt. of India | Birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh (Dec 23, 1902) — former PM and farmers’ rights leader; 2024 Bharat Ratna |
| 78 | Dec 25 | Good Governance Day | December | Govt. of India | Birthday of Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Dec 25, 1924) — former PM; 2015 Bharat Ratna; also Christmas |
⚖️ Compare Two Days
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Several themes have BOTH an Indian national day AND a separate UN/international day on different dates — a classic exam trap: Teachers’ Day India = Sep 5 (Radhakrishnan’s birthday) vs World Teachers’ Day = Oct 5 (UNESCO, 1994). Children’s Day India = Nov 14 (Nehru’s birthday) vs Universal Children’s Day = Nov 20 (UN). Hindi Diwas = Sep 14 (Constitution adoption of Hindi, 1949) vs World Hindi Day = Jan 10 (first World Hindi Conference, 1975). Constitution Day = Nov 26 (Adopted, 1949) vs Republic Day = Jan 26 (In Force, 1950).
Most of India’s national observances are tied to famous birthdays: Jan 12 = National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda, 1863). Jul 1 = National Doctors’ Day (Bidhan Chandra Roy, 1882). Aug 29 = National Sports Day (Major Dhyan Chand, 1905). Sep 5 = Teachers’ Day (Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, 1888). Oct 15 = World Students’ Day (APJ Abdul Kalam, 1931). Oct 31 = National Unity Day (Sardar Patel, 1875). Nov 11 = National Education Day (Maulana Azad, 1888). Nov 14 = Children’s Day (Nehru, 1889). Dec 22 = National Mathematics Day (Ramanujan, 1887). Dec 23 = Kisan Diwas (Chaudhary Charan Singh, 1902). Dec 25 = Good Governance Day (Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 1924). Exception: Feb 28 = National Science Day marks Raman’s discovery (1928), NOT his birthday.
Army Day = Jan 15 (Cariappa became first Indian C-in-C, 1949). National Technology Day = May 11 (Pokhran II, 1998). Kargil Vijay Diwas = Jul 26 (1999 victory). Independence Day = Aug 15 (1947). Air Force Day = Oct 8 (IAF established, 1932). Vijay Diwas = Dec 16 (1971 victory over Pakistan). Navy Day = Dec 4 (Operation Trident, 1971). Armed Forces Flag Day = Dec 7 (since 1949).
International Day of Yoga — proposed by PM Modi to UN General Assembly, September 2014; UN declared December 2014; first observed June 21, 2015. International Day of Non-Violence (Gandhi Jayanti) — UN declared 2007. World Tsunami Awareness Day (Nov 5) — UN declared 2015. World Toilet Day (Nov 19) — UN declared 2013. International Day of the Girl Child (Oct 11) — UN declared 2011. World Autism Awareness Day (Apr 2) — UN declared 2007. Questions in current affairs GK often ask the year a day was first declared or first observed.
India’s birthday-based days: “Vivekananda-12Jan | Science-28Feb (discovery not birthday!) | Chand-29Aug | Radhakrishnan-5Sep | Kalam-15Oct | Patel-31Oct | Azad-11Nov | Nehru-14Nov | Ramanujan-22Dec | Charan-23Dec | Vajpayee-25Dec”
Republic Day vs Constitution Day: “Nov 26 = ADOPTED (A for Adoption) | Jan 26 = IN FORCE (India’s Republic began)”
Two Teachers’ Days: “India = 5 Sep (Radha) | World = 5 Oct (UNESCO)” — same day-number, different months
Two Children’s Days: “India = 14 Nov (Nehru) | World = 20 Nov (UN)” — same month, different dates
India’s military days sequence: “Army Jan-15 | Tech May-11 | Kargil Jul-26 | Independence Aug-15 | Air Oct-8 | Navy Dec-4 | Vijay Dec-16”
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National Science Day is observed on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir C. V. Raman on that date in 1928. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for this discovery. Note: Feb 28 marks the discovery date, not Raman’s birthday. India’s first nuclear test (Pokhran I) was on May 18, 1974; Pokhran II was on May 11, 1998 (National Technology Day).
India, on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposed the International Day of Yoga at the UN General Assembly in September 2014. The UN declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in December 2014, and it was first observed globally on June 21, 2015. June 21 is the Summer Solstice \u2014 the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is celebrated on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875), in recognition of his role in integrating 562 princely states into the Indian Union after independence. It was instituted by the Government of India in 2014.
India’s Teachers’ Day is September 5 \u2014 the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888), India’s first Vice-President and second President, who requested his birthday be celebrated as Teachers’ Day. World Teachers’ Day is October 5, declared by UNESCO in 1994 to commemorate the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India. However, the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950 \u2014 celebrated as Republic Day. The Government of India officially designated November 26 as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) in 2015 to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
National days are declared and observed by individual countries to commemorate events or personalities of national significance — for example, India’s Independence Day (August 15), Republic Day (January 26), and Teachers’ Day (September 5). International days are declared by the United Nations or specialised UN agencies (WHO, UNESCO, FAO, ILO) to raise global awareness on specific issues — for example, World Environment Day (June 5, UN) or World Health Day (April 7, WHO). Some days are observed nationally in India AND internationally on the same or different dates.
The highest-frequency days in UPSC, SSC, and Banking exams include: Republic Day (Jan 26), National Youth Day (Jan 12 — Vivekananda), National Science Day (Feb 28 — Raman Effect), International Women’s Day (March 8), Earth Day (April 22), National Technology Day (May 11 — Pokhran II), International Day of Yoga (June 21), Independence Day (Aug 15), Teachers’ Day (Sept 5 — Radhakrishnan), Gandhi Jayanti/Non-Violence Day (Oct 2), National Unity Day (Oct 31 — Sardar Patel), Children’s Day (Nov 14 — Nehru), Constitution Day (Nov 26), Human Rights Day (Dec 10), and National Mathematics Day (Dec 22 — Ramanujan).
October is one of the most GK-dense months for national and international days. Key dates include: October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti / International Day of Non-Violence), October 5 (World Teachers’ Day), October 8 (Indian Air Force Day), October 10 (World Mental Health Day), October 16 (World Food Day), October 24 (United Nations Day), and October 31 (National Unity Day — Sardar Patel’s birthday). The UN’s founding (October 24, 1945) and Gandhi’s birthday make October particularly significant for international affairs GK.
Several of India’s national observances are directly tied to famous birthdays: January 12 = National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda, 1863); July 1 = National Doctors’ Day (Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, 1882); August 29 = National Sports Day (Major Dhyan Chand, 1905); September 5 = Teachers’ Day (Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, 1888); October 15 = World Students’ Day (APJ Abdul Kalam, 1931); October 31 = National Unity Day (Sardar Patel, 1875); November 11 = National Education Day (Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, 1888); November 14 = Children’s Day (Jawaharlal Nehru, 1889); December 22 = National Mathematics Day (Srinivasa Ramanujan, 1887); December 23 = Kisan Diwas (Chaudhary Charan Singh, 1902); December 25 = Good Governance Day (Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 1924). Exception: February 28 = National Science Day marks Raman’s discovery (1928), not his birthday.
