dates

Important Days

January
Army Corsp Establishment Day	January 1
Infant Protection Day	Januray 7
African National Congress Foundation Day	January 8
NRI Day	January 9
National Youth Day	January 12
Army Day	January 15
International Custom Duty Day, Indian Tourism Day	January 25
Republic Day (India), International Customs Day;Law Day	January 26
International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian	January 29
Martyrs' Day (India), World Leprosy Eradication Day	January 30
Sarvodaya Day	January 30
February
Rose Day	February 12
Sarojini Naidu's Birth Anniversary	February 13
World Marriage Day	Second Sunday of Februrary. (February 13)
Valentine Day	February 14
Delhi Police Day, National Day, Lithuania	February 16
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram Day	Feburary 20
Mother Tongue Day (World)	February 21
Central Excise Day	February 24
National Science Day	February 28
March
National Safety Day	May 4
International Women's Day International Literacy Day	March 8
World Kidney Day	May 9
CISF Foundation Day	May 12
World Consumer Day	May 14
World Disabled Day World Consumer Rights Day	March 15
World Forestry Day International Day for Elimination of Racial	March 21
World Day for Water	March 22
World Meteorological Day	March 23
Ram Manohar Lohia's Birth Day (Anniversary)	March 23
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru's Martyrdam Day	March 23
World TB Day	March 24
Rural Postal Life Insurance Day	March 24
National Day of Bangladesh	March 26
World Threatre Day	March 27
April
National Day, Senegal	April 4
National Maritime Day	April 5
SPG(Special Protection Group)	April 7
World Health Day	April 7
CRPF Valour Day	April 9
Water Resources Day/National Survey Day	April 10
World Homeopathy Day (Birth day of Samuel Hanimen)	April 10
B.R. Ambedkar Remembrance Day, Fire Extinguishing Day	April 14
National Day, Syria World Haemophilia Day	April 17
World Heritage Day National Day Zimbabwe	April 18
Secretaries's Day,Indian Civil Service Day	April 21
Earth Day	April 22
World Books and Copyright Day	April 23
Panchayat Divas	April 24
National Day, Tanzania	April 26
South Africa Freedom Day	April 27
May
Worker's Day (International Labour Day)	May 1
World Asthma Day	First Tuesday of May
World Press Freedom Day	May 3
Coal Miner's Day	May 4
World Red Cross Day	May 8
World Migratory Birds Day	May 8
World Laughter Day	First Sunday of May
World Mother's Day	Second Sunday of May
World Thalassaemia Day	May 9
National Technology Day	May 11
International Nurses day	May 12
Natioanl Solidarity Day	May 13
International Day of the Family	May 15
World Telecommunication Day	May 17
Anti-Terrorism Day	May 21
National Day, Yemen	May 22
Africa Day	May 23
Commonwealth Day	May 24
National Day, Argentina	May 25
Death Anniversary of Jawahar Lal Nehru	May 27
National Day, Ethiopia	May 28
Everest Day	May 29
Anti-Tobacco Day (No Smoking Day)	May 31
June
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression	June 4
World Environment Day	June 5
National Day, Sweden	June 6
National Day, Portugal	June 10
National Day, Seychelles	June 14
World Blood Donation Day	June 14
World Consumer Rights Day World	June 15
National Day, Iceland	June 17
Father's Day	Third Sunday of June
World Refugee Day	June 20
U.N. Charter Signing Day	June 25
International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking	June 26
Poor's Day	June 28
National Day, Congo	June 30
July
Doctor's Day (Birth of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy)	July 1
State Bank of India Foundation Day	July 1
American Independence Day	July 4
World Zoonosis Day	July 6
World Population Day	July 11
Kargil Memorial Day	July 26
August
World Breast Feeding Day	August 1-7
International Friendship Day	August 3
World Peace Day, Hiroshima Day	August 6
World Senior Citizen's Day	August 8
Quit India Day Nagasaki Day	August 9
World Youth Day	August 12
Indian Independence Day	August 15
International Day of the World's Indigenous People	August 18
Photography Day	August 19
Sabdhavna Divas	August 20
National Sports Day (Birth Day of Dhyanchand)	August 29
Small Industry Day	August 30
September
World Yoga Day	September 2
Coconut Day	September 2
Teacher's Day (Birth Day of S.Radhakrishan)	September 5
Sanskrit Day	September 5
Forgiveness Day	September 7
World (International) Literacy Day	September 8
Hindi Day	September 14
All India Flag Day	September 15
Engineer's Day	September 15
World Ozone Day	September 16
RPF(Railway Protection Force) Foundation Day	September 20
Alzheimer's Day	September 21
Day for Peace & Non-Violence (UN)	September 21
Rose Day (Welfare of Cancer Patients)	September 22
World Heart Day, Social Justice Day International Tiger Day	September 25
Day of the Deaf	September 26
World Tourism Day	September 27
October
International Day of the Elderly	October 1
Gandhi Jayanti, International Day of Non-Violence	October 2
Lal Bahadur Shastri's Birth Anniversary	October 2
World Animal Day	October 2
World Vegetarian Day	October 2
World Habitat Day	October 3
World Animal Welfare Day	October 4
World Teacher's Day	October 5
World Wild Animal Day	October 6
Indian Air Force Day	October 8
World Post Office Day	October 9
National Post Day	October 10
World Sight Day	Second Thrusday of October
UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction	October 13
World Standards Day	October 14
World White Cane Day (guiding the blind)	October 15
World Food Day	October 16
World Allergy Awareness Day	October 16
Police Commemoration Day	October 21
UN Day	October 24
World Development Information Day	October 24
Infants Day	October 27
World Thrift Day	October 30
National Rededication Day	October 31
National Integration Day	October 31
Death Anniversary of Indira Gandhi	October 31
November
Legal Services Day	November 9
Children's Day	November 14
World Diabetes Day	November 14
International Day for Endurance	November 16
National Journalism Day	November 17
World Adult Day	November 18
World Citizen's Day, “Water Conservation Day" on 19th November 2012 , national integration day	November 19
Universal Children's Day	November 20
Africa Industrialisation Day	November 20
World Television Day	November 21
National Law Day	November 26
World Environment Protection Day	December 26
International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People	November 29
December
World AIDS Day	December 1
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery	December 2
World Disabled Day	December 3
Chemical Accidents Prevention Day	December 4
Navy Day	December 4
International Volunteers Day	December 5
Armed Forces Flag Day	December 7
International Civil Aviation Day	December 7
Girl Child Day (Balika Divas), India	December 9
International Human Rights Day	December 10
World Children's Fund Day	December 11
Natioinal Energy Conversation Day	December 14
Liberation Day of Goa	December 19
Farmer's Day (Kisan Day, Birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh)	December 23
X-mass Day	December 25
CPRF Foundation Day	December 26

5th International Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) Day celebrated in Nepal.

Objective:

To mark the first successful climb to the world’s highest peak Mount

Everest. The day is celebrated every year to propagate the message of Nepal across the world not only as a heart of mountaineering but also a centre of adventure activities.

Mount Everest is locally known as Sagarmatha in Nepal.

On May 29, 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa

Tenzing reached the zenith of the mountain.

1991---2000-------DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT OF FIGHT AGNT DRUG ABUSE

2002------INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ECO TOURISM
2004----INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY AND ITS ABOLITION
2005------INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MICRO CREDIT
2005------PHYSICS YEAR
2008----INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET EARTH

2010---YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
2011----YEAR OF FOREST



JAN 25----NATIONAL VOTER'S DAY


FEB 28----NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY


MARCH 15 -----WORLD CONSUMER DAY


2011-2020 is declared as the ‘Decade of Innovation’ by the Government of India

SEPTEMBER 08-----WORLD LITERARCY DAY



NOVEMBER 17-----WORLD PEACE DAY

NOV 14---WORLD DIABETES DAY

JULY 11---WORLD POPULATION DAY

AUGUST 12-----WORLD YOUTH DAY









international year of microcredit---2005


NATIONAL EDUCATION DAY------BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD



INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR TOLERANCE-----NOV 16TH




march 21st--VERNAL EQUINOX
JUNE 21ST----SUMMER SOLSTICE
SEPTEMBER 21ST---AUTUMNAL EQUINOX
DECEMBER 22ND----WINTER SOLSTICE




NATIONAL EDUCATION DAY---NOV 11


WORLD HABITAT DAY -----FIRST MONDAY OF OCTOBER



AUGUST
29---NATIONAL SPORTS DAY(DYAN CHAND B DAY)




JANUARY 30 ----LEPROSY DAY



march

16--------world disabled day



SEPTEMBER
16----OZONE DAY

27----world tourism day


october

3 RD-----ANIMAL WELFARE DAY
10TH--- WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
11th----international girl child day





The UN marked the first ’International Day of the Girl Child’ on 11th October , with a
focus on ending child marriages and highlighting challenges in countries like India,
Bangladesh and Somalia to combat this fundamental human rights violation that
impacts a girl’s life.




the following day is being observed as the
International Day of Rural Women across the globe
15th October In December 2007 the UN General Assembly decided that the
particular role of rural women should be highlighted by making 15th October 2008
the first International Day of Rural Women






DECEMBER


1---AIDS DAY

10----human rights day

13----attack on parliment


23------national farmers day

24-----national consumer day


Water Expo 2012 inaugurated
“Water Expo 2012” inaugurated at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
Water Expo 2012, the exhibition demonstrates a broad range of water technologies and
facilities for development and management of water resources. Water Expo 2012 being
organized by the Ministry of Water Resources is a key feature of the India Water
Weekcelebrations.
Exhibitors from the field of water storage reservoirs, hydropower, desalination plants, water harvesting, irrigation
water purification, water testing equipments, pumps and filters etc. are presenting their products at the Water Expo
2012.
Objective of the event: To showcase the latest in technology; project capabilities at India’s Consultancy, construction
and manufacturing sector to an International audience and provide a platform for exchange of ideas on policy and
technology in water sector.
Theme of the event: “Water, Energy and Food Security call for Solution”.



April 7, 2012: World Health Day
April 7, 2012 being celebrated as the World Health Day.
Significance: The day is being observed to mark the anniversary of founding of World Health
Organisation (WHO) in the year 1948.
Theme of 2012: Ageing and Health: Good Health Adds Life to Years.
The focus of the day is to how a good health all over life can aid older men and women lead full
and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities.
The Indian Govt on the occasion formulated a new policy to set up of a National Centre for the elderly suffering from
dementia and other mental diseases. Objective of this initiative: Keeping with the growing population of the elderly,
the new policy would take care of the need for dedicated health care facilities to the elderly. Geriatric units at even the
primary health centres would be set up in 100 districts in 21 states.






The World Autism Awareness Day: April 2, 2012
The World Autism Awareness Day being observed on April 2, 2012.
Objective: To create awareness about autism, particularly in children.
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorders affect the way the brain processes information and prevents
individuals from properly understanding what they see and hear, resulting in difficulties in
communication and behaviour.
There are around 10 million people in India suffering from Autism and 80% of them are boys.








World Sparrow Day: March 20
House Sparrow: Passer domesticus
The World Sparrow Day (WSD) celebrated on 20th March every year worldwide to raise public
awareness about the decline of the house sparrow and throw light on the problems faced by the
species in its daily fight for survival.
WSD theme: “CHIRP FOR THE SPARROW! TWEET FOR THE SPARROW!”
The sparrow count in India has declined sharply in recent times.
The "Common Bird Monitoring Program", a pioneer project and first of its kind in India launched to monitor and carry
out detailed mapping of 18 common bird species found across India. Under this programme, birds like house sparrows,
house crow, rock pigeon, rose-ringed parakeets, Ashy Prinia and Hoopoes shall be monitored, mapped and counted
around the country as well the entire Indian Subcontinent, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. There is
currently no scientific data available on these common species in India. This data then will be statistically analysed for
launching conservation efforts.
Alike programmes of counting birds are already running in many western countries with more than 100 years old viz.
the Christmas Bird Count in the US is running since 1900.












International “Glaucoma Day”
March 12, 2012: “International Glaucoma Day”
Theme of 2012 was – "Don’t let glaucoma darken your life!”
Observed across the world in order to raise awareness about
the prevalence of glaucoma.
Glaucoma – It is often referred to as a silent eye disease is the
second most common cause of blindness in the world. It is an
eye disease that causes progressive damage to the optic nerve
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
at the point where it leaves the eye to deliver information to the brain.
Causes:
There are several causes for glaucoma. Ocular hypertension (increased pressure within the eye) is the most important
risk factor in most glaucomas, but in some populations, only 50% of people with primary open angle glaucoma actually
have elevated ocular pressure. There is no clear evidence that vitamin deficiencies cause glaucoma in humans. It
follows, then, that oral vitamin supplementation is not a recommended treatment for glaucoma.
There is a need to raise awareness about glaucoma is greater now than ever. By the year 2020, it is predicted that over
11 million people in the world could suffer from the disease. A series of functions and awareness programmes are
being organised across the country to create awareness about the disease.


March 23, 2012: Nation pays tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru
and Sukhdev
India paid tribute to country’s great martyrs, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their 81st
martyrdom day. It was on March 23, 1931 that they were hanged by the colonial rulers of the
day in Lahore central jail in a conspiracy case. Their bodies were cremated on the banks of river
Sutlej in Ferozepur district on the same night without informing their relatives. The place is now near Indo-Pak border
at Hussaini wala.
23 march 1931 is regarded as the “Shaheedi Diwas” for the great sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for
Indian independence.




March 24, 2012: World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day is being observed on March 24, 2012 across the globe to raise awareness about
the devastating effects of the disease and efforts being made to prevent it.
Theme of 2012: ‘Stop TB in My Lifetime’.
Tuberculosis also known as TB is a silent killer disease. Over a million people die of the disease annually.



'28th July' is observed as _________ every year. [A]World
Hepatitis Day






World Consumer Rights day being observed on March 15, 2012
World Consumer rights day is observed on March 15. The objective is to create awareness among consumers about
their rights. The Theme of this year 2012 was- “Is Our money, our rights: campaigning for real choice in financial
services”.
The Consumer Right’s Day is an occasion to endorse basic rights of the consumers, demand those
rights are valued and protected. It also aims to protest against market abuses and social injustices
undermining the rights.
The day was first celebrated in 1983 and since then it became a significant yearly occasion for
mobilizing citizens action and solidarity within the international consumer movement.





June 12: World Day against Child Labor
June 12, observed as “World Day Against Child Labor” worldwide to draw
attention to the need to defend Child Rights.
Objective: To eradicate child labour and other violations of fundamental rights of
children, in all forms.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with UNICEF and ILO, organized several
programmes to address the issue
Theme of the year: “Justice for children – end child labour”
 As per ILO reports there are 218 million child labourers worldwide.
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
 As per Government’s 2001 census 12.7 million are entangled in child labour and children constitute 3.6% of the
total labor force in India




March 22: ‘World Water Day’
March 22: World Water Day being celebrated worldwide.
The International World Water Day held every year on March 22 in order to create awareness about
the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater
resources.
The theme for 2012 was “The World is Thirsty because we are Hungry”. UN highlighted the
dependence of food and agriculture on water.





June 5: World Environment Day
 “World Environment Day” is being observed across the globe
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
 Theme for this year: “Green Economy: Does it include you?”
 Government flagged-off the ‘Science Express-Biodiversity Special’ train in New Delhi to mark the day. The train
highlights the bio-diversity zones in the country will also focus on a range of Biological diversity and livelihood.
The train will stop at 100 stations during two years travelling almost 18000 Km.
 The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar awards conferred upon two organizations that made substantial
contribution in the protection of environment.











Delhi celebrates Indian Broadcast Day July 23, 2011
July 23, 2011: A symposium and cultural programmes are being organized in New Delhi to mark the
Indian Broadcast Day







National Youth Day observed
 On 12 January, National Youth Day was observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
 Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 and died on 4 July 1902.
 He was born Narendranath Dutta and was chief disciple of the 19th century saint Ramakrishna Paramhamsa and
the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
 He was one of the most prominent figures of India who introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to
the “Western” World
 When this shy genius disciple of Swami Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Swami Vivekananda rose to address the first
“World Parliament of Religions” in Chicago on September 11, 1893, he created a sensation. His opening line
“Sisters and Brothers of America…” was greeted by a three minute standing ovation from the audience of 7000.
His first message after this opening was
“I thank you in name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of
religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.”
So sensational was his ending-
“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have
filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole
nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is
now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may
be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings
between persons wending their way to the same goal.”









Nation remembers Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
 The nation remembered Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23rd January on his birth anniversary.
 He was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa to Janakinath Bose and Prabhabati Devi.
 He was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in
India today.






National girl child day Observed on January 24
 National Girl Child Day is celebrated on 24 January every year since 2009. The theme for the National Girl Child
Day 2012 was “Declining Child Sex Ratio: Issues and Challenges”




40th Manipur Day celebrated
 Manipur was a princely state under the suzerenity of British India and existed as such until 1947 as Kanglapak
Kingdom.
 The Kanglapak King wilfully acceded to the newly independent Union of India.
 In 1956, Manipur was made a union territory and it became a full-fledged state in 1972 with Muhammad
Alimuddin becoming the first state Chief Minister.
 On 21 January 2012, Manipur its 40th statehood day.
 The ceremony was held at the Secretariat in capital Imphal attended by Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh and officials
of the state government.






40th Meghalaya Day Observed: 21st January
 Meghalaya , the “Abode of Clouds” was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United
Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, and the Garo Hills on 21 January 1972. Prior to attaining full statehood, Meghalaya
was given a semi-autonomous status in 1970.
 The state government celebrates this day as Meghalaya Day.
 On 21 January 2012, Meghalaya has completed 40 years of its existence as a state in the Union of India.
 Meghalaya Day Excellence Awards 2012 was awarded in the ceremony and an Information booklet – A
compendium of Government Schemes, a Literature on Tourism Schemes and the launching of e-services of
Taxation Department, was launched.





National Voters day celebrated
 2nd National Voters Day was celebrated on 25th January, 2012.
 Every year National Voters’ Day (NVD) is observed on 25th January, a practice that was initiated in 2011 to
commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India and also to enhance the participation of
the voters, especially the youth, in the democratic process.
 The Election Commission’s objective behind National Voters’ Day is to increase enrolment of voters, especially of
the newly eligible ones, by using this occasion to make universal adult suffrage a complete reality, and thereby
enhance the quality of Indian democracy. The day is also utilized to spread awareness among voters regarding
effective participation in the electoral process.
 National Voters Day is celebrated with the aim and objective to create awareness among the people and educate
the youths who has attained 18 years of age to enroll their names into the electoral roll.


















• The Quami Ekta Week (National Integration week) is observed every year from 19th to 25th November to foster and reinforce the spirit of Communal Harmony and National Integration.
• The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH) an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Home Affairs also organizes a Communal Harmony Campaign week coinciding with the Quami Ekta Week.

United Nations declares November 10 as ‘Malala Day’

November 12th, 2012

UN has declared November 10 as ‘Malala Day’ in honor of  Ms Malala Yousafzai.

Malala Yousafzai: A school student and education activist from the town of Mingora in the Swat District ofPakistan’s North-West Frontier Province. She is famous for her education and women’s rights activism in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban has at times opposed girls from attending school. Yousafzai gained prominence by giving interviews in print and on television. She was appointed as chairperson of the District Child Assembly Swat.

• She was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize by Desmond Tutu, and has won Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize.

Yousafzai was recently shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. She is currently in critical condition and is under intensive care at a hospital in the United Kingdom for intensive rehabilitation.