Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

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National Girl Child Day is observed across India on 24 January to promote awareness about the rights, education, health, safety, and overall welfare of girls. It highlights India’s commitment to gender equality and the need to address issues like gender bias, child marriage, and unequal opportunities. The day was first observed in 2008 after being initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Its objective is to draw attention to challenges faced by girls and promote awareness about education, nutrition, health, and legal rights.

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The 12th edition of Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) has begun in New Delhi. The seven-day festival is organised by Smile Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) 2026 focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging children and youth to engage with personal, social, moral, and global issues. The festival showcases films highlighting disability inclusion, equity, and diversity, including productions made by disabled children for the first time.

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World Leprosy Day (WLD) is a global health awareness event observed on the last Sunday of January for over 72 years. In 2026, World Leprosy Day is observed on 25 January. The 2026 theme is “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma.” In India, it is observed as Anti-Leprosy Day on 30 January, coinciding with Martyr’s Day (Shaheed Diwas). This date honours Mahatma Gandhi’s lifelong commitment to the cause of people affected by leprosy. Global and local organisations conduct awareness campaigns on prevention, early diagnosis, and complete treatment. The aim is to reduce stigma, educate society, and support persons affected by leprosy.

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World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed every year on 30 January by the World Health Organization. It highlights the impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases on poor and underserved communities. Neglected Tropical Diseases affect about one billion people worldwide but are preventable and treatable. In 2024, around 1.4 billion people needed interventions, showing a 36 percent decline since 2010. By early 2026, 58 countries eliminated at least one Neglected Tropical Disease.

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Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under NITI Aayog, organised AIM SUMVAAD, its annual incubator conclave, at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The event brought together over 100 Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), policymakers, industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, mentors, and ecosystem stakeholders. AIM has nearly 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs and supports over 2 lakh startups, generating 21,000+ jobs. The conclave highlighted incubators as strategic institutions for startup scale-up, technology commercialisation, and entrepreneurship, including deep-tech and AI-driven innovation.

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PLASTINDIA 2026 begins on 5 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi and will run till 10 February. It is supported by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The theme “Bharat Next” aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat vision. More than 2,000 global exhibitors will display innovations in plastics, machinery, raw materials, and circular economy solutions. PLASTINDIA 2026 is India’s first Zero Waste exhibition with full recycling of solid waste.

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The inaugural edition of the Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) was held on 5 March 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It was organised as part of the Raisina Dialogue. The initiative was jointly launched by Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and Observer Research Foundation (ORF). It aims to create a global platform focused on the growing role of science and technology in international diplomacy and policy-making.

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Ministry of Textiles launched Bharat Tex 2026, India’s flagship global textile event, showcasing the entire textile value chain from fibres and yarns to fabrics, garments, technical textiles, and sustainable innovations. The event will be held 14-17 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, building on the success of 2024 and 2025 editions. Bharat Tex 2026 aims to strengthen India’s position as a reliable sourcing and investment destination, enable strategic partnerships, and support policy reforms for textile growth.

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The Maharashtra Goseva Commission, in collaboration with the Global Confederation of Cow-Based Industries and other service-oriented organizations, is organizing ‘Gau-Tech 2026’, a grand exhibition. The event is held from March 20 to 23, 2026, at the Agriculture College, Pune, and citizens have been encouraged to visit in large numbers. The primary objective of the exhibition is to promote cow-based agriculture, strengthen the rural economy, and boost village-based industries. It also aims to enhance market opportunities for products and enterprises related to cow-based resources.

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International Day of Forests is observed annually on 21 March, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, to raise awareness about the importance of forests. The theme for 2026 is “Forests and Economies”, highlighting the role of forests in livelihoods, income generation and economic sustainability. Forests are vital ecosystems that help in climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and supporting communities. More than 1.6 billion people depend on forests for livelihood, and the sector provides 13 million formal jobs and 45–50 million informal jobs globally. Forests provide food, fuel, shelter and income, especially during economic shocks, conflicts and climate crises, but are often underrepresented in economic planning.