Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

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International Day of Older Persons is observed on 1 October every year. On this day in 2025, HelpAge India, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), launched the campaign ‘AdvantAge60: Powering Aspirations – Active, Enabled and Empowered’. The campaign aims to challenge ageing stereotypes and promote active, purposeful life after 60 years. A 2022 HelpAge report showed 40% of elders want to continue working and contributing. A 2025 study revealed youth see elders as dependent (48%), but also wise (51%) and respected (43%).

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India celebrates Air Force Day every year on October 8, marking the establishment of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1932. In 2025, India celebrated its 93rd Air Force Day on Wednesday, October 8, honouring the IAF’s courage, sacrifice, and bravery. The 2025 theme focused on the IAF’s role in Operation Sindoor. The IAF’s first operational flight took off on April 1, 1933. It has grown from a small unit into the world’s fourth-largest air force, contributing to defence and humanitarian missions. The main parade was held at Hindon Air Base, while the flypast is scheduled in Guwahati in mid-November.

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World Anaesthesia Day is observed every year on 16 October, also known as Ether Day. It marks the first public use of ether anaesthesia in 1846, which revolutionized surgery by enabling pain-free operations. The day highlights the importance of safe and accessible anaesthetic care, still lacking in many regions even after nearly 180 years. The 2025 theme is “Anaesthesiology in Health Emergencies.” It emphasizes the vital role of anaesthesiologists during pandemics, natural disasters, and mass casualty events. The theme calls for improved training, preparedness, infrastructure, and global collaboration to strengthen emergency anaesthesia services worldwide.

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World Iodine Deficiency Day is observed every year on 21st October to raise awareness about the importance of iodine for good health. It is also known as World Iodine Deficiency Disorder Day. The day highlights the need to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), which can cause goitre, mental retardation, and other health issues. Major organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF organise campaigns, workshops, and educational programs globally. The initiative began after the 1990 World Summit for Children, where iodine’s significance was recognised. By 2002, global awareness programs expanded, leading to the formal observance of World Iodine Deficiency Day.

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Every year, World Stroke Day is observed on October 29 to raise awareness about stroke prevention, treatment, and its serious impact. It was established in 2004 during the World Stroke Congress in Vancouver, Canada, and formally recognized for public awareness in 2006. The World Stroke Organization (WSO), formed in 2006 by merging the World Stroke Federation and the International Stroke Society, manages global observance of this day. The 2025 theme is “Every Minute Counts.” The theme stresses the importance of early recognition and quick action to save lives and reduce disability by encouraging people to #ActFAST during a stroke emergency.

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World Psoriasis Day (WPD) is observed every year on October 29 to raise awareness about psoriatic disease and advocate for the rights of affected individuals. It is supported by local, national, and international organisations through campaigns promoting early diagnosis, effective treatment, and patient support. Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disorder causing red, scaly plaques on the skin and significantly impacts mental health and quality of life. The 2025 theme is “Psoriatic Disease and Comorbidities – Understanding the Domino Effect,” highlighting the link between psoriasis and other physical and mental health conditions.

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The Government of India (GoI), in partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), hosted the 8th Session of the ISA Assembly from October 27–30, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The assembly was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, who emphasized inclusive and sustainable growth. The theme for 2025 is “One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG).” The assembly also unveiled five ISA knowledge reports showing the latest solar trends.

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In November 2025, the Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) was inaugurated at Thimphu, Bhutan. The 16-day festival is a global initiative dedicated to world peace and healing of humanity amid global conflicts. It is the first-ever Global Peace Prayer Festival bringing together leaders from Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana branches of Buddhism. A key ritual, Jabzhi, is performed to cleanse negative karma and dispel destructive forces. India gifted Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha from the National Museum, New Delhi, symbolizing goodwill. The festival strengthens India–Bhutan spiritual ties and promotes global harmony.

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The Watershed Mahotsav was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Agriculture in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on November 11, 2025. It celebrated community participation in sustainable watershed management and highlighted the role of citizens, policymakers, and local bodies in soil and water conservation. The event formed part of the National Watershed Conference 2025, organised by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development. It aimed to promote Jan Bhagidari (public participation), restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthen rural livelihoods through efficient water and soil management practices.

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Bharat-Sri Lanka Sanskrit Mahotsav was inaugurated at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event was inaugurated by High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Madhura Senevirathna. The festival celebrates Sanskrit as a timeless language of wisdom, harmony, and knowledge. It is jointly organised by Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, Central Sanskrit University, and India-Sri Lanka Foundation.