Important Days & Dates — October 2026 (SSC CGL/CHSL/MTS & RRB NTPC/Group D Special)

October is one of the heaviest months on the exam calendar for "Important Days" questions. Nearly every SSC and RRB static-GK section carries at least one question lifted straight from this month's observances, because October bundles together UN-mandated days (Older Persons, Girl Child, Poverty Eradication), UNESCO/WHO/UPU/ISO thematic days, and purely Indian institutional days (Air Force Day, National Unity Day) in a single 31-day stretch. Treat every date below as a mini case-study rather than a one-line fact: examiners rarely ask only "which date" — they also ask who founded the day, which year it started, which body administers it, and what the current year's theme is. Building that four-part memory (Date → Origin Year → Custodian Body → Theme) is the fastest way to lock in 8–10 marks from a single month. This guide walks through every nationally and internationally significant October date in chronological order, flags the 2026-specific themes verified via official sources, and closes with a quick-reference table and a 12-question practice quiz so you can self-test before moving to the next month.

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Date-by-Date Coverage

October 1 — International Day of Older Persons

International Day of Older Persons is observed every year on October 1. It was formally established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 45/106, adopted on 14 December 1990, and was first observed on 1 October 1991. The day grew out of the UN's broader ageing agenda that began with the 1982 Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, later reinforced by the 1991 UN Principles for Older Persons and the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

About the custodian body: The observance is coordinated by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), working alongside the World Health Organization's healthy-ageing programmes. The day aims to raise awareness of issues affecting the elderly, such as the ageing process itself, and to appreciate the contributions older persons make to society.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Year established: 1990 (UNGA Resolution 45/106); first observed: 1991.
• The related UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) is a linked concept frequently tested alongside this day.
• India's own National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) and the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 are commonly cross-referenced in the same question set.
• The day is distinct from World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, observed on 15 June — a frequently confused pair in SSC MCQs.
• 2026 campaign materials continue to build on the "Age-friendly world" and healthy-ageing themes promoted by WHO regional offices; no single universally-notified UNGA theme phrase is issued for this observance the way WHO issues themes for its own days, so aspirants should focus on the origin year and custodian body as the safest testable facts.

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October 2 — Gandhi Jayanti / International Day of Non-Violence

October 2 carries a double significance: it is Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday in India marking the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (born 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat), and it is simultaneously the International Day of Non-Violence, a UN observance.

In 2026, India marks Gandhi's 157th birth anniversary. Gandhi Jayanti is one of only three national holidays in India (alongside Republic Day and Independence Day) and is marked with prayer services, tributes at Raj Ghat (his memorial in Delhi), and the singing of his favourite bhajan "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram."

About the International Day of Non-Violence: This was established by the UN General Assembly on 15 June 2007 through Resolution A/RES/61/271, at the initiative of India, to disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness, reaffirming the "universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence."

Exam-relevant facts:

• Gandhi's birth year: 1869; assassination: 30 January 1948.
• International Day of Non-Violence established: 2007, proposed by India.
• Gandhi is often called "Father of the Nation" — the title was first used by Subhas Chandra Bose in a 1944 radio address.
• Key Gandhian movements for exam recall: Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), Dandi/Salt March (1930), Quit India Movement (1942).
• Gandhi Jayanti is also linked to the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on 2 October 2014.

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October 4 — World Animal Welfare Day

Also known as World Animal Day, this observance falls on October 4 each year, chosen because it is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. The day originated from a 1931 convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy, aimed at highlighting endangered species, and was later adopted more broadly to promote animal welfare standards worldwide.

About the custodian body: There is no single UN agency running this day; it is promoted globally by animal-welfare organisations, with World Animal Protection and national SPCA/humane-society networks as the leading coordinators. In India, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body set up in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, actively participates in awareness drives on this day.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Chosen date connection: Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October).
• Origin: 1931 international ecologists' convention, Florence.
• Objective: improve animal welfare standards, celebrate animal life in all forms, and strengthen the human-animal bond.
• Distinguish from World Wildlife Day (3 March), which is UN-mandated and species-conservation focused, whereas World Animal Welfare Day is broader and includes companion/farm animals.
• India-specific body to remember: Animal Welfare Board of India, headquartered in Ballabgarh, Haryana, and Chennai (secondary office).

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October 5 — World Teachers' Day

World Teachers' Day is observed on 5 October, commemorating the anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, adopted at a special intergovernmental conference in Paris. The day was formally established by UNESCO in 1994, and 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of that founding 1966 Recommendation — a milestone the 2026 campaign is built around.

2026 Theme: The 2026 observance focuses on "protecting and advancing the status of the teaching profession in a rapidly changing world." It examines pressures on teachers from digital technologies, climate change, and issues of inclusion, migration, and displacement, while renewing calls to strengthen recognition, support, and working conditions for educators globally.

About the custodian body: World Teachers' Day is jointly organised by UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF, UNDP, Education International (EI), and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) — a rare instance of a day backed by five to six different global bodies.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Established: 1994 by UNESCO, commemorating the 1966 Recommendation.
• 2026 is the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation.
• India separately observes National Teachers' Day on 5 September, marking the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan — a commonly confused pair (5 September = national; 5 October = international/UNESCO).
• The 1966 Recommendation was supplemented by the 1997 Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel.

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October 8 — Indian Air Force Day

Indian Air Force Day is celebrated every year on 8 October, marking the founding of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire under the Indian Air Force Act of 8 October 1932. The IAF flew its first operational sortie in April 1933.

In 2026, the IAF completes 94 years of service. The main parade and flypast is traditionally held at the Air Force Station, Hindon (Ghaziabad) or other designated air bases, showcasing frontline aircraft such as the Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, and the Sarang and Surya Kiran aerobatic display teams.

About the institution: The IAF is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces, headquartered in New Delhi, and its current motto is "Nabhah Sprasham Deeptam" (Sanskrit, drawn from the Bhagavad Gita, meaning "Touch the Sky with Glory"). The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) heads the force, holding the rank of Air Chief Marshal.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Founded: 8 October 1932; Royal prefix dropped in 1950 after India became a republic.
• 2026 anniversary count: 94th Air Force Day.
• IAF motto: "Nabhah Sprasham Deeptam."
• IAF is the fourth largest air force in the world by personnel and aircraft strength (commonly cited ranking in current-affairs digests).
• Related dates to not confuse: Indian Army Day — 15 January; Indian Navy Day — 4 December.

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October 9 — World Post Day

World Post Day is celebrated annually on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. The day was declared by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969, and has been observed globally since 1970.

About the custodian body: The Universal Postal Union, headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, is a specialised agency of the United Nations that coordinates postal policies among member countries, ensuring a single postal territory for the reciprocal exchange of mail. It is one of the oldest international organisations in the world.

Exam-relevant facts:

• UPU founded: 1874, Bern, Switzerland (via the Treaty of Bern).
• World Post Day declared: 1969 Tokyo Congress; first observed: 1970.
• UPU is a UN specialised agency — remember this alongside other UN specialised agencies (WHO, ILO, FAO, UNESCO, UPU, WMO) for "match the agency to its founding year/headquarters" questions.
• India's own postal history fact frequently paired here: India Post operates the largest postal network in the world.
• Recent themes have centred on the role of postal networks in connecting people, businesses, and countries; 2026-specific UPU campaign wording had not been separately verified beyond the continuing "connecting the world" service-network framing at the time of writing — aspirants should note the origin year (1874) and custodian body (UPU) as the safest testable facts if an exact 2026 slogan is not yet confirmed in your source material.

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October 10 — World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year. It was first observed in 1992, as an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), a global mental-health organisation founded in 1948. The World Health Organization (WHO) also actively supports and promotes the day, but the observance itself is owned by the WFMH.

2026 Theme: The World Federation for Mental Health has announced "Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change" as the theme for World Mental Health Day 2026, emphasising the centrality of first-person testimony from people with mental health conditions in shaping policy and care.

About the WFMH: Founded in 1948, the World Federation for Mental Health is the oldest international mental health advocacy organisation and works in official relations with the WHO and the UN.

Exam-relevant facts:

• First observed: 1992, by WFMH (founded 1948).
• 2026 theme: "Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change."
• India context: National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) launched in 1982; the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalised suicide attempts and enshrined the right to mental healthcare.
• The "Tele-MANAS" national tele-mental-health helpline (launched 2022) is a frequently tested current-affairs adjunct fact.
• Distinguish from World Health Day (7 April), which is broader and run directly by WHO to mark its own founding anniversary.

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October 11 — International Day of the Girl Child

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed on 11 October, established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 66/170, adopted on 19 December 2011, with the first observance held on 11 October 2012. The day grew directly out of the momentum generated by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), which was the first global policy framework to specifically articulate girls' rights.

2026 Theme: The UN has designated "End child marriage and invest in girls' rights" as the 2026 theme, developed through consultations with girls, girl-led networks, and civil society organisations, and it underscores that child marriage affects more than 12 million girls worldwide every year.

About the custodian body: The observance is led by UN Women and UNICEF, with support from UNFPA, and is aimed at recognising girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face globally, including access to education, freedom from violence, and protection from child marriage and gender-based discrimination.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Established: 2011 (UNGA Resolution 66/170); first observed: 2012.
• 2026 theme: "End child marriage and invest in girls' rights."
• India's flagship linked scheme: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, launched 22 January 2015.
• Also compare with National Girl Child Day (India), observed on 24 January, launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development — a frequently confused date pair (11 October = international; 24 January = national/Indian).

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October 13 — International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

This day is observed on 13 October each year to promote a global culture of disaster risk awareness and reduction. It originated from a UN General Assembly designation in 1989, and was later re-designated to its current date and title through Resolution 64/200 in 2009. The day is anchored to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan, in March 2015.

2026 Theme: The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has announced "Resilience Starts at Home" as the official theme for the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, emphasising household- and community-level preparedness as the foundation of broader resilience.

About the custodian body: The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), headquartered in Geneva, coordinates this observance and tracks global progress against the Sendai Framework's seven targets.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Original UNGA designation: 1989; current date/title fixed by Resolution 64/200 (2009).
• 2026 theme: "Resilience Starts at Home."
• Governing framework: Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–2015).
• India's nodal disaster-management body: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, chaired by the Prime Minister.

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October 14 — World Standards Day

World Standards Day is celebrated on 14 October to honour the collaborative efforts of experts worldwide who develop voluntary technical standards through standards-development organisations. The date commemorates the day in 1946 when delegates from 25 countries first met in London to establish the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which formally began operations on 23 February 1947.

About the custodian bodies: The day is jointly promoted by three global standards bodies: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Exam-relevant facts:

• Commemorates: the 1946 London meeting of 25 nations that founded ISO.
• Jointly run by: ISO, IEC, and ITU.
• India's national standards body: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), established under the BIS Act, 1986 (replacing the earlier Indian Standards Institution, 1947), headquartered in New Delhi. BIS is India's ISO member body.
• ISO headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Where a specific annual theme phrase has not been separately confirmed for 2026 in official ISO/IEC/ITU material available at research time, aspirants should anchor on the founding year (1946) and the three-body custodianship (ISO–IEC–ITU) as the reliably testable facts.

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October 15 — World Students' Day (Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's Birth Anniversary)

October 15 marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen (A.P.J.) Abdul Kalam, born in 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and it is observed in India and internationally as World Students' Day. The United Nations formally designated this day as World Students' Day in 2010, in recognition of Dr. Kalam's lifelong commitment to the empowerment of young people through education.

About Dr. Kalam: Known as the "Missile Man of India", Dr. Kalam was a distinguished aerospace scientist who played a pivotal role in India's civilian space programme and military missile development, including leadership roles in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and India's 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. He served as the 11th President of India (2002–2007) and passed away on 27 July 2015 while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Birth year: 1931; Presidency term: 2002–2007 (11th President).
• World Students' Day designated by the UN in 2010.
• Also linked: Kalam's book "Wings of Fire" (autobiography, 1999) and the Bharat Ratna, conferred on him in 1997.
• Kalam's death anniversary, 27 July, is observed in some circles as "Reading Day" or a tribute day — a useful cross-reference, though not a UN-designated day.

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October 16 — World Food Day

World Food Day is observed globally on 16 October, marking the founding date of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945 in Quebec City, Canada. The observance was formally established at the 20th session of the FAO Conference in November 1979, with the first World Food Day celebrated in 1981.

2026 Theme: FAO has announced "Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow" as the theme for World Food Day 2026, highlighting how forward-looking innovation combined with traditional knowledge and inclusive approaches can secure access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food while protecting the planet for future generations.

About the FAO: Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the FAO is a UN specialised agency working to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security worldwide; it also co-publishes the annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.

Exam-relevant facts:

• FAO founded: 1945, Quebec City; World Food Day established: 1979 (first observed 1981).
• 2026 theme: "Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow."
• FAO headquarters: Rome, Italy.
• Related days for comparison: World Food Safety Day — 7 June; International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste — 29 September.

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October 17 — International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

This day is observed annually on 17 October, established by the UN General Assembly in 1992 through Resolution 47/196, following the original call to action made by Father Joseph Wresinski on 17 October 1987, when over 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris to honour victims of extreme poverty, hunger, and violence — an event that inspired a commemorative stone unveiled there, now replicated worldwide.

About the day's purpose: The observance promotes dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities, and society at large, and supports efforts to eradicate poverty and destitution — directly tied to UN Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty).

Exam-relevant facts:

• Founding call: 17 October 1987, by Joseph Wresinski at Trocadéro, Paris.
• Formally adopted by the UN: 1992.
• Linked SDG: Goal 1 — No Poverty.
• India's relevant poverty-line/measurement bodies to recall alongside this day: NITI Aayog (Multidimensional Poverty Index reports) and the erstwhile Planning Commission's Tendulkar and Rangarajan Committee poverty estimates.

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October 20 — World Statistics Day (Not Observed in 2026 — Exam Trap Alert)

World Statistics Day is a genuine UN observance, but it is not celebrated every year — this is one of the most commonly misused "trap" facts in SSC/RRB papers. The UN General Assembly, through Resolution 69/282 (2015), decided that World Statistics Day should be celebrated once every five years, on 20 October.

Verified observance years: The First World Statistics Day was held on 20 October 2010; the Second on 20 October 2015; the Third on 20 October 2020; and the most recent, the Fourth World Statistics Day, on 20 October 2025. Following the five-year cycle, the next World Statistics Day will fall on 20 October 2030 — meaning there is no official UN World Statistics Day in October 2026.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Observed only in years ending in 0 or 5 (2010, 2015, 2020, 2025, 2030…).
• Governing resolution: UNGA Resolution 69/282 (2015).
• Custodian: UN Statistics Division (UNSD), part of UN DESA.
• Do not confuse with India's National Statistics Day, observed annually on 29 June, marking the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (father of Indian statistics, born 1893) — this Indian day IS observed every year, unlike the UN's five-yearly World Statistics Day.

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October 24 — United Nations Day

United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October every year, marking the date in 1945 when the UN Charter came into force after being ratified by a majority of its original 51 signatories, including the five permanent Security Council members. The UN General Assembly designated this date as UN Day in 1947.

About the UN: Headquartered in New York City, the United Nations was founded following the San Francisco Conference (April–June 1945), where the Charter was signed on 26 June 1945, coming into legal force on 24 October 1945. The week surrounding this date is often observed as UN Week (24–30 October).

Exam-relevant facts:

• Charter entry into force: 24 October 1945; UN Day designated: 1947.
• Original signatory members: 51 (India was a founding member).
• Current total UN member states: 193 (most recent addition: South Sudan, 2011).
• 2026 falls within the continuing post-UN80 reform and reflection period following the UN's 80th anniversary in 2025, a theme aspirants should recognise if it appears in current-affairs digests referencing UN institutional reform.

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October 24 — World Polio Day

World Polio Day is also observed on 24 October, commemorating the birth of Dr. Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis, using an inactivated (killed) virus, first successfully tested in 1955. The day was established by Rotary International in 1985.

About Rotary International's role: Rotary launched its PolioPlus programme in 1985, becoming the first organisation to spearhead the drive to eradicate polio worldwide through mass vaccination, and remains a core partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), alongside WHO, UNICEF, the US CDC, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Established by: Rotary International, 1985.
• Commemorates: birth of Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the inactivated polio vaccine (1955).
• India was declared polio-free on 27 March 2014 by the WHO, after the last wild poliovirus case was recorded in January 2011 in West Bengal.
• India's national immunisation programme against polio: Pulse Polio Programme, launched in 1995.
• Only two countries remain endemic for wild poliovirus as of recent WHO data: Afghanistan and Pakistan — a frequently tested current-affairs fact.

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October 31 — National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) / Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti

National Unity Day is observed on 31 October, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born in 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat, and popularly known as the "Iron Man of India." The day was instituted by the Government of India in 2014 to commemorate Patel's pivotal role in the political integration of over 562 princely states into the Indian Union after independence.

About Sardar Patel: India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel is credited with orchestrating the accession of princely states, including the complex integration of Hyderabad (Operation Polo, 1948) and Junagadh. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1991.

Exam-relevant facts:

• Instituted: 2014, by the Government of India.
• 2026 marks his 151st birth anniversary.
• The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue (182 metres) commemorating Patel, is located at Kevadia, Gujarat, on the Narmada river, and was inaugurated on 31 October 2018 — his 143rd birth anniversary.
• National Unity Day activities typically include the "Run for Unity" organised across India.
• Distinguish from National Integration Day, observed on 19 November (Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary) — a commonly confused pair in SSC papers.

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Quick-Reference Table: October 2026 Important Days

Date / Observance	Custodian Body / Origin Year
Oct 1 — International Day of Older Persons	UNGA Resolution 45/106 (1990); first observed 1991
Oct 2 — Gandhi Jayanti / International Day of Non-Violence	Gandhi born 1869; UN Day established 2007 (UNGA Res. 61/271)
Oct 4 — World Animal Welfare Day	Origin: 1931 Florence convention; feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Oct 5 — World Teachers' Day	UNESCO, 1994; commemorates 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation
Oct 8 — Indian Air Force Day	Indian Air Force Act, 1932 (94th anniversary in 2026)
Oct 9 — World Post Day	Universal Postal Union (UPU), founded 1874; day declared 1969
Oct 10 — World Mental Health Day	World Federation for Mental Health (founded 1948); day since 1992
Oct 11 — International Day of the Girl Child	UNGA Resolution 66/170 (2011); first observed 2012
Oct 13 — International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction	UNGA (1989); re-designated by Resolution 64/200 (2009); UNDRR
Oct 14 — World Standards Day	ISO, IEC, ITU; commemorates 1946 founding meeting of ISO
Oct 15 — World Students' Day	UN designation, 2010; Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary (b. 1931)
Oct 16 — World Food Day	FAO, founded 1945; day established 1979, first observed 1981
Oct 17 — International Day for the Eradication of Poverty	UNGA, 1992; origin event 1987 (Joseph Wresinski, Paris)
Oct 20 — World Statistics Day	Not observed in 2026 — UN 5-yearly cycle (Res. 69/282); next in 2030
Oct 24 — United Nations Day	UN Charter in force 24 Oct 1945; day designated 1947
Oct 24 — World Polio Day	Rotary International, 1985; commemorates Jonas Salk's birth
Oct 31 — National Unity Day (Sardar Patel Jayanti)	Government of India, 2014; Patel born 1875 (151st anniversary in 2026)

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Quiz: Test Yourself (12 Questions)

1. In which year was International Day of Older Persons established by the UN General Assembly, and under which resolution? Answer: 1990, under UNGA Resolution 45/106 (first observed in 1991).

2. Which UN resolution established the International Day of Non-Violence, and which country proposed it? Answer: UNGA Resolution A/RES/61/271 (2007), proposed by India.

3. World Animal Welfare Day is observed on 4 October because it coincides with the feast day of which saint? Answer: St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology.

4. What milestone does World Teachers' Day 2026 mark, and what is its 2026 theme? Answer: The 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers; the 2026 theme focuses on "protecting and advancing the status of the teaching profession in a rapidly changing world."

5. In which year was the Indian Air Force established, and how many years does it complete on Air Force Day 2026? Answer: Established 8 October 1932; completes 94 years in 2026.

6. Which organisation was founded in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland, whose anniversary is marked by World Post Day? Answer: The Universal Postal Union (UPU).

7. What is the 2026 theme of World Mental Health Day, and which organisation announced it? Answer: "Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change," announced by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH).

8. What is the UN's 2026 theme for the International Day of the Girl Child? Answer: "End child marriage and invest in girls' rights."

9. What is the theme of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026, and which UN body announced it? Answer: "Resilience Starts at Home," announced by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

10. Why will there be NO official UN World Statistics Day observed in October 2026? Answer: Because UNGA Resolution 69/282 (2015) fixed World Statistics Day to be celebrated only once every five years (2010, 2015, 2020, 2025, next in 2030) — 2026 falls outside this cycle.

11. Rotary International established World Polio Day in 1985 to commemorate the birth of which scientist? Answer: Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the inactivated (killed-virus) polio vaccine.

12. National Unity Day (31 October) marks the birth anniversary of which leader, and in which year was the day instituted by the Government of India? Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (born 1875); the day was instituted in 2014.

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This post is part of Pareeksha's monthly "Important Days & Dates" series for SSC (CGL/CHSL/MTS) and RRB (NTPC/Group D) aspirants. Themes and dates were verified via official UN, UNESCO, FAO, UNDRR, and WFMH sources as of August 2026; where an official 2026 theme had not yet been separately confirmed for a given day (World Post Day, World Standards Day), the post flags this explicitly rather than guessing.