Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

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International No Diet Day is observed annually on May 6th. International No Diet Day is a global event celebrated to promote body positivity and self-acceptance. It challenges harmful social norms that link beauty only with thinness and fights against fatphobia and weight discrimination. The day also raises awareness about the dangers of extreme dieting and encourages people to focus on overall well-being. It was started in 1992 by British feminist Mary Evans Young, who struggled with anorexia and later founded the Diet Breakers organization.

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India recently took part in the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was created in 2000 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) to support sustainable forest management globally. It includes all UN Member States and related forest organisations, meeting annually for technical or policy-level discussions. India, as a founding member, plays a key role in shaping global forest policy. At UNFF20, India showcased its forest conservation efforts and support for Voluntary National Contributions (VNCs) under the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) 2017–2030.

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National Dengue Day is observed every year in India on May 16 to raise awareness about dengue fever and encourage preventive steps. Dengue is a viral infection spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in stagnant clean water. The day highlights the need for timely treatment and community efforts to control mosquito breeding. Due to rising urbanization and climate change, dengue cases in India are increasing each year. In this context, National Dengue Day 2025 is more important than ever. The 2025 theme is “Act Early, Stop Dengue: Clean Environment, Healthy Life.”

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The National Cooperative Spice Fair 2025 was held at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, Rajasthan. It was organised by the Rajasthan Cooperative Department and Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation. The fair showcased healthy and traditional spices, millet products, and other cooperative goods. This year, products made from millet grains, called Shree Anna, were a special highlight. Many self-help groups, cooperative consumer associations, and local producers participated with diverse products. The fair allows consumers to buy pure, high-quality, and healthy products directly. It also supports local employment and economic empowerment in Rajasthan.

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Commonwealth Day is observed on different dates worldwide and on May 24 in India. It celebrates the shared history and values of countries once part of the British Empire. The day was first linked to Queen Victoria’s birthday on May 24, 1819. The 2025 theme is ‘Together we thrive’, focusing on unity and strong communities. India joined the Commonwealth in 1950 under the London Declaration by Krishna Menon. New Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in October 2010. King Charles III is the current symbolic head after Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign. The day promotes international cooperation for global peace and prosperity.

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Every year on May 29, the United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to honour those who work for peace in difficult areas. India is the fourth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping missions. India currently sends over 5,300 military and police personnel to United Nations peace operations in Abyei and the Central African Republic. Two Indian peacekeepers, Brigadier General Amitabh Jha and Havildar Sanjay Singh will be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. This ceremony takes place at the UN headquarters on May 29, 2025, to mark Peacekeepers Day.

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May 28th is celebrated every year as World Dugong Day, highlighting the need to protect dugongs in marine ecosystems. Dugongs, scientifically called Dugong dugon, are the only herbivorous marine mammals found in India. They are often called sea cows and look like a mix between a seal and a whale. Dugongs are found in warm coastal waters of India including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Gulf of Kutch. They depend on seagrass beds like Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, and Halodule for food. Dugongs can live up to 70 years and are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Singapore is hosting the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) from May 30 to June 1, 2025. The event is organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). This year, 47 countries will participate, including 40 Ministerial-level delegates and 20 Chiefs of Defence Forces, along with over 20 senior defence officials and experts. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan will represent India at the dialogue. The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier defence and security summit, bringing together defence ministers, military chiefs, policymakers, and strategists worldwide. Leaders will discuss Indo-Pacific security challenges and work to strengthen defence cooperation and India’s strategic partnerships.

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World Bicycle Day is celebrated annually on June 3rd. The United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day in April 2018. Recently, the 25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle was celebrated with a special Tiranga Rally in India. The rally paid tribute to Operation Sindoor and also marked the occasion of World Bicycle Day. It highlighted cycling as a symbol of unity, health, and sustainability.

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Every year on June 13, the world observes International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) to support the human rights of people with albinism. Albinism is a genetic condition that affects 1 in 5,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 20,000 in Europe and North America, according to the United Nations (UN). The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared IAAD on December 18, 2014, and the first observance was held on June 13, 2015. The 2025 observance marks the 10th anniversary with the theme “Demanding our rights: Protecting our skin, Preserving our lives”.