Important Days and Events Current Affairs MCQs

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The 3rd Session of the Council of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) was recently inaugurated virtually in Mumbai by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Its motto is “Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet.” It aims to improve and standardise aids to navigation worldwide, promote safe and efficient vessel movement, support new technological developments and strengthen international cooperation.

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The Tamil Nadu government has approved the first Jallikattu event of 2026 on 3 January at Thatchankurichi village, Pudukkottai district. Approval was issued by the Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as amended in 2017. The event must follow the state-prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for animal welfare, public safety, and crowd management. Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport celebrated primarily in Tamil Nadu.

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Third Technical Hindi Symposium “Abhyuday-3” was held at IIT Indore on 6 January 2026. It was jointly organised by IIT Indore, IIT Jodhpur, and CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR). The event aimed to promote the use of Technical Hindi and strengthen the outreach of science and technology to wider sections of society.

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The Ministry of Mines organised Rashtriya Khanij Chintan Shivir–2026 from 8–10 January 2026 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It aims to strengthen Centre–State coordination on mining regulation and development. A key focus is the Critical Minerals Mission for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.

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World Hindi Day is observed on January 10 every year. The date marks the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference, held in Nagpur in 1975. The day is officially observed by the Government of India, primarily through Indian embassies and missions abroad. The day highlights how Hindi connects people across borders, especially Indian communities living abroad.

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The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026, the world’s largest book fair, has begun at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi and will continue until January 18, 2026. Entry is free for the first time to promote a strong reading culture across India. It is the 53rd edition, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The fair features participation from over 35 countries, more than 1,000 publishers, 3,000+ stalls, 600 events, and over 1,000 speakers. The theme is “Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @ 75”, with Qatar as Guest of Honour and Spain as Focus Country.

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National Voters’ Day is observed on 25 January across India to honour voters, encourage youth participation, strengthen democratic values, and promote universal adult suffrage. The theme for 2026 is “My India, My Vote” with the tagline “Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy.” The day also marks the foundation of the Election Commission of India (ECI), established on 25 January 1950 under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution. ECI is a constitutional authority responsible for supervising and conducting elections in India, the world’s largest democracy.

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The International Day of Human Fraternity is observed every year on 4 February and was established by the United Nations (UN) in 2020. The 2026 theme is “Dialogue Over Division,” urging people to choose conversation instead of conflict. Dialogue means listening with care, speaking responsibly, and recognising shared humanity, not forced agreement. The observance calls individuals, communities, and nations to embrace diversity through understanding.

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World Radio Day is observed every year on 13 February to mark the establishment of United Nations Radio in 1946. The theme for 2026 is “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a tool, not a voice.” India’s first Community Radio Station was inaugurated on 1 February 2004 by Bharat Ratna Shri Lal Krishna Advani. Ram Singh Bouddh from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, known as the “Radio Man of India,” was recognised by Guinness World Records in 2025 for owning 1,257 radios, the world’s largest collection.

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Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed every year on February 17 to highlight the tourism sector’s resilience and adaptability. On 17 February 2023, the world observed the first Global Tourism Resilience Day, created by a United Nations resolution led by Jamaica, promoting tourism that “bounces forward.” Tourism resilience focuses on strong systems, diversification and crisis-readiness, not just tourist numbers or foreign exchange earnings. India treats tourism as national infrastructure—economic, ecological and cultural—to prevent collapse during crises. Dekho Apna Desh promotes domestic travel across regions and seasons, reducing dependence on international visitors.