General Knowledge
Important National & International Days
Essential calendar of historical dates and UN observances for exam aspirants.
Important National & International Days & Dates
High-priority calendar days repeatedly tested in SSC, UPSC, Bank PO, and Railways general awareness sections.
January – April
- Jan 12: National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda)
- Jan 26: Republic Day of India
- Feb 28: National Science Day (Raman Effect)
- Mar 8: International Women's Day
- Apr 7: World Health Day (WHO)
- Apr 22: World Earth Day
May – August
- May 1: International Workers' Day (Labor Day)
- Jun 5: World Environment Day
- Jun 21: International Day of Yoga
- Jul 11: World Population Day
- Aug 15: Independence Day of India
- Aug 29: National Sports Day (Major Dhyan Chand)
September – December
- Sep 5: Teachers' Day (Dr. S. Radhakrishnan)
- Sep 8: International Literacy Day
- Oct 2: Gandhi Jayanti & Non-Violence Day
- Nov 26: Constitution Day of India
- Dec 1: World AIDS Day
- Dec 10: Human Rights Day
Indian Freedom Struggle & History
High Exam Weightage
Landmark Historical Dates of India (1857 – 1950)
| Year | Historic Event / National Milestone | Significance for Competitive Exams |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | First War of Indian Independence (Sepoy Mutiny) | Began at Meerut; end of East India Company rule; Queen's Proclamation (1858). |
| 1885 | Formation of the Indian National Congress (INC) | Founded in Bombay by A.O. Hume; first session presided by W.C. Bonnerjee. |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal & Swadeshi Movement | Announced by Viceroy Lord Curzon; sparked nationwide boycott of foreign goods. |
| 1906 | Establishment of the All India Muslim League | Founded at Dhaka under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah and Aga Khan. |
| 1911 | Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi | Announced during Delhi Durbar by King George V; annulment of Bengal partition. |
| 1915 | Return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa (Jan 9) | Commemorated annually as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day). |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13) & Rowlatt Act | General Dyer ordered firing in Amritsar; Rabindranath Tagore renounced Knighthood. |
| 1920 | Launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement | Led by Mahatma Gandhi alongside Khilafat Movement; boycott of government institutions. |
| 1922 | Chauri Chaura Incident (Gorakhpur) | Violent clash led Gandhiji to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement immediately. |
| 1925 | Communist Party of India & Kakori Train Action | CPI founded in Kanpur; Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan led Kakori action. |
| 1928 | Simon Commission Boycott & Nehru Report | Lala Lajpat Rai martyred following brutal lathi charge during anti-Simon protests. |
| 1929 | Poorna Swaraj Resolution (Lahore Session) | Presided by Jawaharlal Nehru; Tricolor unfurled on banks of River Ravi on Dec 31. |
| 1930 | Dandi March & Civil Disobedience Movement (March 12 – April 6) | Salt Satyagraha from Sabarmati to Dandi coastal village; broke Salt Law. |
| 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact & Martyrdom of Bhagat Singh (March 23) | Suspension of Civil Disobedience; martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. |
| 1932 | Poona Pact (Sept 24) between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar & Gandhiji | Signed at Yerwada Jail; reserved seats for Depressed Classes in provincial legislatures. |
| 1935 | Government of India Act 1935 | Introduced Provincial Autonomy, Federal Court, and established Reserve Bank of India (RBI). |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement (August Kranti) | Launched at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay; Gandhiji gave historic 'Do or Die' call. |
| 1943 | Provisional Government of Free India (INA / Azad Hind Fauj) | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose formed Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind in Singapore. |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission Plan & Constituent Assembly | First meeting of Constituent Assembly held on Dec 9 with Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha as Interim President. |
| 1947 | Indian Independence Act & Partition (August 15) | India achieved freedom; Lord Mountbatten served as first Governor-General of independent Dominion. |
| 1950 | Adoption of the Constitution of India (January 26) | India declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic; Dr. Rajendra Prasad sworn in as first President. |
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