GK05 — Important Days and Dates

📚 CDS GK Section · GK05 ⚔️ CDS Level : High Priority

📌 CDS Pattern (GK05): Important Days and Dates is guaranteed static GK in every CDS paper — 3–5 questions. The exam tests: national observance days, military/defence days, international days (UN observances), and the specific reason behind each date. CDS loves the “why this date” angle — always learn the event/person the date commemorates, not just the date itself.

PART A — NATIONAL DAYS & DEFENCE DAYS

1. National Days of India — Complete List

Date	Day	Why This Date
26 January	Republic Day	Constitution of India came into effect (1950). India became a republic. Parade at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. Chief Guest from another country (tradition).
30 January	Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas)	Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse (1948). PM leads two-minute silence.
28 February	National Science Day	C.V. Raman announced the Raman Effect on this day (1928). Nobel Prize followed in 1930.
23 March	Shaheed Diwas (Bhagat Singh)	Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged (1931).
14 April	Ambedkar Jayanti / Equality Day	Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891). Father of Indian Constitution; first Law Minister.
15 August	Independence Day	India became independent from British rule (1947). PM hoists flag at Red Fort.
5 September	Teachers’ Day	Birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1888) — philosopher, 2nd President of India.
2 October	Gandhi Jayanti / International Non-Violence Day	Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (1869). Also UN International Day of Non-Violence.
31 October	National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas)	Birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875) — “Iron Man of India”; first Home Minister; integrated 562 princely states.
12 January	National Youth Day	Birthday of Swami Vivekananda (1863). Addressed World Parliament of Religions, Chicago (1893).
14 November	Children’s Day	Birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889). “Chacha Nehru” — loved children. National Children’s Day.
26 November	Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas)	Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution (1949). Comes into effect: 26 January 1950.
29 August	National Sports Day	Birthday of Major Dhyan Chand (1905) — “The Wizard”; India’s greatest hockey player; 3 Olympic golds (1928, 1932, 1936). Khel Ratna renamed after him (2021).
19 November	National Integration Day	Birthday of Indira Gandhi (1917) — also called Quami Ekta Diwas.

2. Military & Defence Days — Crucial for CDS

Armed Forces Days

15 January — Army Day: Gen. K.M. Cariappa became first Indian C-in-C (1949). Parade at Delhi Cantt.
8 October — IAF Day (Air Force Day): Indian Air Force established (1932). Parade at Hindon Air Base. 2023: first Air Force Day outside Delhi (Prayagraj).
4 December — Navy Day: INS Vikrant and Indian Navy operations against Karachi during 1971 War (4 Dec 1971). Greatest naval triumph.
7 December — Armed Forces Flag Day: Fund collection for welfare of war widows and veterans. Since 1949.
26 July — Kargil Vijay Diwas: Commemorates India’s victory in Kargil War (1999). Operation Vijay officially declared complete by PM on 26 July 1999. Dras, Ladakh.
16 December — Vijay Diwas: Surrender of Pakistani forces in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered — largest since WW2.
27 February — Indian Coast Guard Day: Coast Guard established (1977).
14 February — CRPF Raising Day: Central Reserve Police Force raised as Crown Representatives Police (1939).

War Commemoration Days

1971 War: 16 December = Vijay Diwas (India’s decisive victory)
1999 Kargil: 26 July = Kargil Vijay Diwas
1965 War: No specific day — ceasefire on UN terms
1962 China War: Galwan recalled (2020 clash); Rezang La — Major Shaitan Singh (PVC) gave his life; 13 Kumaon
Param Vir Chakra Day: 26 January & 15 August (announced both dates)
National War Memorial Day: 25–26 February (War Memorial inaugurated 2019)

PART B — INTERNATIONAL OBSERVANCES

3. UN International Days — Most Tested in CDS

Date	International Day	Significance / Why This Date
8 March	International Women’s Day	Celebrates women’s social, economic, cultural achievements. Since 1975 officially by UN.
22 March	World Water Day	Freshwater conservation; UN since 1993. India’s “Jal Jeevan Mission” context.
24 March	World Tuberculosis (TB) Day	Robert Koch announced discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (1882). India aims to eliminate TB by 2025.
7 April	World Health Day	WHO founded (1948). Theme changes annually.
22 April	Earth Day	Environmental protection. First Earth Day 1970 (USA). Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed it.
1 May	International Labour Day (May Day)	Chicago Haymarket affair (1886) — workers’ rights for 8-hour workday.
5 June	World Environment Day	UN Environment Programme (UNEP) founded; Stockholm Conference 1972.
21 June	International Yoga Day	Proposed by PM Narendra Modi at UNGA (2014). First observed 2015. 21 June = Summer Solstice (longest day).
26 June	International Day against Drug Abuse	UN, since 1988. India: Narcotics Control Bureau awareness campaigns.
11 July	World Population Day	World population reached 5 billion (11 July 1987). UN, since 1989.
12 August	International Youth Day	UN, since 1999. Theme changes annually.
21 September	International Day of Peace (World Peace Day)	UN, since 1982. Non-violence and ceasefire worldwide.
2 October	International Day of Non-Violence	Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. UN, since 2007.
16 October	World Food Day	FAO founded (1945). Highlights hunger and food security globally.
10 December	Human Rights Day	UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948.
18 December	International Migrants Day	UN, since 2000.

4. Health Days — Complete for CDS

Key Health Days

4 February — World Cancer Day
24 March — World TB Day (Koch’s discovery, 1882)
7 April — World Health Day (WHO birthday)
25 April — World Malaria Day
31 May — World No Tobacco Day (WHO)
14 November — World Diabetes Day (Frederick Banting birthday; discovered insulin)
1 December — World AIDS Day (since 1988; red ribbon symbol)

Indian Observances Not to Miss

23 August — National Space Day (Chandrayaan-3 landing, 2023)
11 November — National Education Day (Maulana Abul Kalam Azad birthday, 1888; 1st Education Minister)
19 August — World Humanitarian Day
21 November — World Television Day
25 December — National Good Governance Day (Atal Bihari Vajpayee birthday)
22 December — National Mathematics Day (Srinivasa Ramanujan birthday, 1887)

📝 CDS PYQImportant Days and Dates — CDS Static GK Pattern

Q1. National Sports Day in India (29 August) is celebrated to honour the birthday of which personality? (CDS I 2024)

(a) Milkha Singh
(b) P.T. Usha
(c) Major Dhyan Chand
(d) Saina Nehwal

Answer: (c) Major Dhyan Chand (29 August 1905)
National Sports Day commemorates the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand — the greatest hockey player in India’s history. He won Olympic gold in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles), and 1936 (Berlin). Nicknamed “The Wizard” for his dribbling ability. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was renamed “Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award” in August 2021.

Q2. International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21 June every year. Why was 21 June chosen specifically? (CDS II 2023)

(a) PM Modi’s birthday
(b) It is the Summer Solstice — the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
(c) Patanjali composed Yoga Sutras on this day
(d) It is the UN’s anniversary

Answer: (b) Summer Solstice — longest day of the year in Northern Hemisphere
PM Narendra Modi proposed International Yoga Day at the UN General Assembly in September 2014, suggesting 21 June because it is the Summer Solstice — the longest day and therefore has special significance in many cultures worldwide. The UNGA adopted the resolution on 11 December 2014, with a record 177 co-sponsoring nations. First Yoga Day observed: 21 June 2015.

Q3. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July. What event does this date commemorate? (CDS I 2023)

(a) The start of Operation Vijay
(b) The fall of Tiger Hill
(c) India declaring victory in the Kargil War (1999)
(d) Ceasefire with Pakistan signed

Answer: (c) India declaring victory in the Kargil War (Operation Vijay) — 26 July 1999
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared Operation Vijay successfully complete on 26 July 1999, after Indian forces recaptured all Pakistani-occupied positions in the Kargil-Dras sector of Ladakh. Tiger Hill (one of the most strategic peaks) was recaptured on 4 July 1999. The Kargil War lasted from May to July 1999. Key PVC: Captain Vikram Batra (“Sher Shah”), Lt. Manoj Kumar Pandey, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.

Q4. World Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December. This date marks the anniversary of: (CDS II 2022)

(a) Establishment of the United Nations (1945)
(b) Signing of the Geneva Conventions
(c) UN adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
(d) First Nobel Peace Prize (1901)

Answer: (c) UN adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948
The UDHR was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (Resolution 217A). It is a milestone document in the history of human rights — 30 articles outlining fundamental rights of all humans. Eleanor Roosevelt chaired the drafting committee. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded on 10 December — the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death (not the prize itself).

Q5. Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4 December. The significance of this date is: (CDS I 2022)

(a) Commissioning of India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant
(b) Indian Navy’s missile attack on Karachi harbour during the 1971 War
(c) Indian Navy Day established by Parliament
(d) Birth anniversary of Admiral Ram Dass Katari

Answer: (b) Indian Navy’s missile attack on Karachi harbour during the 1971 India-Pakistan War
On the night of 4–5 December 1971, Indian Navy missile boats (Operation Trident) attacked Karachi harbour, destroying Pakistani naval vessels and oil tankers. INS Nipat, INS Nirghat, and INS Veer launched Styx missiles. This was the first use of anti-ship missiles in the Indian Ocean. Pakistan’s fuel storage facilities burned for days. This decisive naval operation is commemorated as Navy Day every 4 December.

Q6. National Science Day (28 February) commemorates the discovery of which phenomenon? (CDS II 2021)

(a) Photoelectric Effect by C.V. Raman
(b) Raman Effect — scattering of light — by C.V. Raman
(c) Discovery of neutron by James Chadwick
(d) Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein

Answer: (b) Raman Effect — inelastic scattering of light — announced by C.V. Raman on 28 February 1928
C.V. Raman and his student K.S. Krishnan discovered that when light passes through a transparent medium, a small fraction is scattered at a different wavelength (Raman Scattering/Raman Effect). Raman publicly announced it on 28 February 1928. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for this discovery — making him the first Indian to win a Nobel in science. National Science Day has been celebrated on 28 February since 1987.

⚡ Quick Reference — GK05

National Days (Must Know)

26 Jan = Republic Day (Constitution 1950)
15 Aug = Independence Day (1947)
2 Oct = Gandhi Jayanti / Non-Violence Day
26 Nov = Constitution Day (adopted 1949)
28 Feb = National Science Day (Raman Effect 1928)
29 Aug = National Sports Day (Dhyan Chand birthday)

Defence Days (CDS Specific)

15 Jan = Army Day (Cariappa, 1949)
8 Oct = IAF Day (IAF est. 1932)
4 Dec = Navy Day (Karachi attack, 1971)
26 Jul = Kargil Vijay Diwas (1999)
16 Dec = Vijay Diwas (1971 War victory)
7 Dec = Armed Forces Flag Day

International Days (UN)

8 Mar = Women’s Day
22 Apr = Earth Day
5 Jun = World Environment Day
21 Jun = International Yoga Day (Summer Solstice)
21 Sep = World Peace Day
10 Dec = Human Rights Day (UDHR 1948)

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