Special Days in January 2024 – Important, National and International

As we approach the year 2024, we understand the importance of staying informed about national and international events taking place in January. To assist you with this, we have carefully compiled a comprehensive list of all significant dates happening during the month. Whether it is an important public holiday or a significant cultural event, our list will help you stay up-to-date with everything that is happening around the world. We hope that this information will be of use to you in planning your events or keeping track of important dates during January 2024.

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List of Important Days in January 2024

January 1 – Global Family Day

Every year January 1 is celebrated in the United States as a global day of peace and sharing. Global Family Day grew out of the United Nations Millennium celebration, “One Day In Peace”. This day is celebrated to spread a message of peace by considering and promoting the idea that Earth is one Global Family so as to make the world a better place to live for everyone.

January 4 – World Brailles Day

World Braille Day is celebrated every year to bring awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and visually impaired people. Also this day was chosen so as to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille — the inventor of Braille for persons with visual disabilities. Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France.

January 9 – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day)

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen to celebrate, since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, returned to India from South Africa and led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.

January 11-17 – National Road Safety week

National Road Safety week is celebrated in order to make the streets safer. The Road Safety Week is  celebrated by conducting several activities to spread awareness about road safety across India from 11th January 2020 to 17th January 2020.

January 12 – National Youth Day

In 1984, the Government of India declared 12^th of January as National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated every year  across India. Government of India decided to celebrate National Youth Day  on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, i.e. 12 January because the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth Day. Theme of 2020 is “Channelizing Youth Power for Nation Building.

January 13 – Lohri

Lohri is is a popular Punjabi winter folk festival. Lohri is celebrated to mark the end of the winter season and is traditionally believed to welcome the sun to the northern hemisphere.. It is observed the night before Makar Sankranti.

January 14 – Armed Forces Veterans Day, Makar Sankranti, Pongal

• Makar Sankranti is a religious celebration as well as a seasonal observance and marks the winter season, when the shift of the sun leads to ever-lengthening, longer days. Makar Sankranti is the first day of the sun’s transition into the sun sign Capricorn or Makara in Hindi.
• The Armed Forces Veterans’ Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the sacrifices of the veterans and also to salute those who served the Indian Armed Forces.
• Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and by Tamilians all over the world. It is their most important festival of the year.  Pongal is also referred to as Thai Pongal

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January 15 – Army Day

• Army Day is celebrated on 15th January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa’s (then a Lieutenant General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949. The day is celebrated in the form of parades and other military shows in the national capital New Delhi as well as in all headquarters.
• On 15th January 2020, India celebrated its 72nd Indian Army Day in New Delhi. Gallantry awards and Sena medals are awarded on this day.

January 19 – National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Raising Day

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a specialized multi-skilled, humanitarian force of the country, came into existence on January 19th, 2006. NDRF has been playing a vital role in Disaster Management and Community awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the country.

January 20 – Guru Govind Singh Jayanti

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is a festival celebrated by Sikhs. This day is celebrated in commemoration of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. On this day special prayer gatherings are held at places of worship known as Gurudwaras.

January 24 – International Day of Education, National Girl Child Day

• The National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India every year on January 24. It was started in 2008, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Government of India. The day is celebrated to spread awareness among people about all the inequalities girls face in the Indian society. The day is celebrated by organizing various programs including awareness campaigns on Save the girl child, child sex ratios, and creating a healthy and safe environment for a girl child.
• International Day of Education is an annual international observance day held on January 24 and is dedicated to education. On December 3, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education.

January 25 – National Voters Day, National Tourism Day

• Government of India decided to celebrate January 25^th as “National Voters’ Day”  to encourage more young voters to take part in the political process.
• National Tourism Day is celebrated on 25^th of January every year to spread awareness of the importance of tourism for the country’s economy.  World Tourism Day is celebrated each year on 27^th

January 26 – International Customs Day (ICD), Republic Day

• India celebrates January 26 as Republic Day. The Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic. The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950.
• International Customs Day (ICD) is celebrated to honor the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security. It focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs.

January 27 – International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

Every year on 27^th January, UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945. It was officially proclaimed, in november 2005, International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by the United Nations General Assembly.

January 30 – Martyrs’ Day/Shaheed Diwas

January 30 is observed as Martyrs’ Day in India. The date was chosen such that it marks the assassination of Mahathma Gandhi in 1948, by Nathuram Godse. On Martyr’s Day the president, the vice president, the prime minister, the defence minister, and the three Service Chiefs gather at the samadhi at Raj Ghat memorial and lay wreaths decorated with multi-colour flowers. A two-minute silence in memory of Indian martyrs is observed throughout the country at 11 am.

January 31 – World Leprosy Day

Every year World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on the last Sunday of January to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease. This date was chosen by French humanitarian Raoul Follereau as a way to raise global awareness of this deadly ancient disease and call attention to the fact that it can be prevented, treated, and cured. It is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world.

Above mentioned are the National and International important Days coming in January 2024. Having knowledge about these important days may  help in the preparation for competitive exams and also enhance your knowledge.