Important Days in January 2026: January is the first month of both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. January begins with New Year’s celebrations on January 1, followed by Global Family Day and Army Medical Corps Day, which set the tone for national and worldwide observances. World Braille Day, World War Orphans Day, and Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti all take place in early January, celebrating inclusion, peace, and social awareness. The middle of the month celebrates India’s rich cultural legacy with Lohri, Makar Sankranti, and Pongal, as well as Indian Army Day and National Youth Day. The last weeks are centred on democracy and history, including National Voters Day, Republic Day, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Data Protection Day, Indian Newspaper Day, Martyrs’ Day, and World Leprosy Eradication Day.
For aspirants preparing for competitive examinations such as UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS), SSC, UPPSC, banking, and railway exams, mastery over important days becomes crucial for the General Awareness and Current Affairs sections.
List of National and International Days in January 2026 Overview
| Observance Category | Important Dates and Highlights |
|---|---|
| National Celebrations | Republic Day (26 Jan) – India’s Constitution adoption; National Voters Day (25 Jan) – Electoral participation; Indian Army Day (15 Jan) – Military leadership; National Youth Day (12 Jan) – Youth empowerment through Swami Vivekananda’s legacy |
| International Observances | World Braille Day (4 Jan) – Accessibility for visually impaired; International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 Jan) – Historical atrocity remembrance; World Leprosy Day (30 Jan) – Disease awareness |
| Commemorative Occasions | Martyrs Day (30 Jan) – Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination; Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti (23 Jan) – Freedom fighter legacy; Birth anniversaries of Lala Lajpat Rai, K.M. Cariappa |
| Cultural and Religious Festivals | Lohri (13 Jan), Makar Sankranti (14 Jan), Pongal (15 Jan) – Harvest festivals; Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti (6 Jan); Mahayana New Year (7 Jan) |
| Awareness and Empowerment Days | National Girl Child Day (24 Jan) – Gender equality; National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (11 Jan); National Startup Day (16 Jan); Data Protection Day (28 Jan) |
Important Days in January 2026
| Date | Name of Day | Category | Established Year | Theme (2026 if available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | English New Year | National & International | 1582 (Gregorian Calendar adoption) | New beginnings, unity, fresh resolutions |
| 1 January | Global Family Day | International | 1987 | One Global Family |
| 3 January | International Mind-Body Wellness Day | International | January 3, 2020 | 2024 theme: “Holistic Wellness: Mind, Body, and Soul” |
| 3 January | Savitribai Phule Jayanti | National | Laid the foundation for girls’ education in India | |
| 4 January | World Braille Day | International | 2019 (UN) (Commemorates Louis Braille’s birth – 4 Jan 1809) | Celebrating Accessibility and Inclusion for the Visually Impaired |
| 5 January | National Bird Day | International/US-based | Started in 2002, founded by the Avian Welfare Coalition (AWC) and Born Free USA | Raise awareness about bird conservation |
| 6 January | World War Orphans Day | International | 1990s | War-affected children protection |
| 6 January | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | National | 1666 (Guru’s birth year) | Sikh spiritual heritage |
| 7 January | Mahayana New Year | Cultural/Religious | First full moon of January | |
| 8 January | Earth’s Rotation Day | International | 8 January 1851 | |
| 9 January | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) | National | 2003 | Recognizing Indian diaspora contributions to national development |
| 10 January | World Hindi Day Vishwa Hindi Diwas Ki Hardik Shubhkamnaye | International | 2006 (First observed by Ministry of External Affairs) | Promoting Hindi language globally; India’s cultural identity |
| 11 January | Lal Bahadur Shastri Death Anniversary | National | 1966 (Death in Tashkent) | Honoring second Prime Minister; “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” philosophy |
| 11 January | National Human Trafficking Awareness Day | National | United States Senate in 2007 | |
| 12 January | National Youth Day | National | 1984 (Commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s birth – 12 Jan 1863) | Youth empowerment through spiritual and intellectual development |
| 13 January | Lohri Festival | Cultural/Religious | Ancient (Punjabi agricultural festival) | Harvest celebration; Winter solstice transition |
| 14 January | Makar Sankranti | Cultural/Religious | Ancient (Hindu astronomical festival) | Sun’s northward journey; seasonal harvest celebration |
| 15 January | Indian Army Day | National | 1949 | Bravery & Service |
| 15 January | Pongal | National & Cultural | Ancient | Agricultural prosperity recognition |
| 16 January | National Startup Day | National | 2016 (Government initiative) | Entrepreneurship promotion; Innovation encouragement |
| 21 January | Tripura, Manipur & Meghalaya Foundation Day | State Festival | ||
| 23 January | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti (Parakram Diwas) | National | 1897 (Birth year) / 2021 (Renamed Parakram Diwas) | Freedom fighter legacy; Courage and sacrifice |
| 24 January | National Girl Child Day | National | 2008 | Beti Bachao Beti Padhao |
| 24 January | International Day of Education | International | 1967 (UNESCO) | |
| 25 January | National Voters Day | National | 2011 | Proud to be a Voter |
| 25 January | National Tourism Day | National | Heritage and cultural promotion | |
| 25 January – 2 February | Kala Ghoda Festival | Festival | A 9 day long festival | |
| 26 January | Republic Day | National | 1950 | Unity in Diversity |
| 26 January | International Customs Day | International | Trade and border security | |
| 27 January | Intl. Holocaust Remembrance Day | International | 1945 (Auschwitz liberation by Soviet forces) 2005 (UN) | Holocaust victim remembrance; Promoting peace and tolerance |
| 27 January | National Geographic Day | International | January 13, 1888 | Focuses on supporting conservation, sustainability, and fostering global awareness. |
| 28 January | Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Anniversary | National | 1865 (Birth year) | Freedom struggle legacy |
| 28 January | K. M. Cariappa Jayanti | National | Birth in 1899 | |
| 28 January | Data Protection Day | International | 2007 | Digital privacy protection |
| 29 January | Indian Newspaper Day | National | 1780 (First Indian newspaper publication) | Press freedom; Democratic governance acknowledgment |
| 30 January | Martyrs’ Day | National | 1948 | Shaheed Diwas |
| 30 January | World Leprosy Eradication Day | International | 1991 | Disease elimination and stigma reduction |
| 31 January | International Zebra Day | International | UK in 1951 |