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

September is one of the heaviest months on the exam calendar for "Important Days" static GK — SSC and RRB papers regularly lift one or two questions straight from this list. What makes September questions tricky is that each date is really a mini case-study: the setters test not just "what is observed" but who observes it (UN, UNESCO, WHO, IMO, Government of India), when it originated, and the theme for the current year. Treat every date below as a fact-triangle of Date + Custodian Body + Origin Year, because that is exactly the angle SSC/RRB questions come from. Floating dates (last Sunday, last Thursday) are especially high-yield because aspirants often memorise only the fixed dates and get caught out. Read through chronologically, note the bolded facts, and use the quick-reference table and quiz at the end for rapid revision.

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Date-by-Date Coverage

September 5 — Teachers' Day (India)

Teachers' Day is observed every year in India on September 5, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (born 1888), India's first Vice President and second President, and a noted philosopher and academic. The observance began in 1962 when, on becoming President, Dr. Radhakrishnan requested that instead of a personal celebration of his birthday, the day be observed as Teachers' Day to honour teachers across the country. Schools traditionally have senior students take over teaching duties for the day, and the Government of India confers the National Awards to Teachers on this date every year, given by the Ministry of Education to teachers for their contribution to school education.

Commonly tested facts:

• Dr. Radhakrishnan was President of India from 1962–1967.
• He also served as Vice President from 1952–1962, and was the first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1953.
• World Teachers' Day (a separate, distinct observance) is marked internationally on October 5, established by UNESCO in 1994 to commemorate the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers — do not confuse the two dates in MCQs.
• Radhakrishnan authored works such as Indian Philosophy and received the Bharat Ratna in 1954.

September 5 — International Day of Charity

The UN General Assembly designated September 5 as the International Day of Charity through resolution A/RES/67/105, adopted in 2012. The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1997, in recognition of her work in charity and humanitarian activities.

About the UN's rationale: The day aims to sensitize and mobilize people, NGOs, and stakeholders worldwide to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities, promoting solidarity as a means of eradicating poverty and human suffering.

Commonly tested facts:

• Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was canonised by the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta in 2016.
• She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950.
• The resolution establishing the day was adopted on 17 December 2012.

September 8 — International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 (declared at the 14th session of the UNESCO General Conference in November 1965), and has been observed since 1967. The date commemorates the opening of the World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, held in Tehran, Iran, in September 1965.

2026 theme: "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity." The global celebration for 2026 is being hosted in Mexico on September 8–9, which also marks the 60th anniversary of the observance since its founding.

About UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, headquartered in Paris, France, was established in 1945; it is the UN specialized agency responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication, and is the nodal body for International Literacy Day and the associated UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.

Commonly tested facts:

• India's literacy rate figures (from Census/PLFS/NSS data) are frequently paired with this day in current-affairs MCQs.
• The day inaugurates International Literacy Week/Day activities globally each September 8.

September 10 — World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day has been observed since 2003, an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health.

2026 theme: The current triennial (2024–2026) theme set by IASP is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide," with the call to action "Start the Conversation." This same theme runs across 2024, 2025 and 2026 as a three-year campaign cycle — a detail examiners like to test because aspirants often assume every "day" gets a brand-new theme annually.

About IASP: The International Association for Suicide Prevention was founded in 1960 and is in official relations with the WHO; it promotes global suicide-prevention research, advocacy, and awareness activities and organizes the "Light a Candle" initiative near 8 pm local time on September 10 each year.

Commonly tested facts:

• WHO's associated flagship report on suicide prevention is titled "Live Life."
• India's National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022) is often cross-referenced with this day.

September 14 — Hindi Diwas

Hindi Diwas is observed on September 14 every year, commemorating the day in 1949 when the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as one of the official languages of the Union of India under Article 343 of the Constitution. The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953.

About the significance: The day is distinct from World Hindi Day, observed internationally on January 10 (commemorating the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur on 10 January 1975). Hindi Diwas is a national/domestic observance run by India's Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Official Language), while World Hindi Day is India's outreach observance for promoting Hindi globally.

Commonly tested facts:

• Article 343(1) of the Constitution declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union.
• The Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar and Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar are conferred around this period for excellence in the use of Hindi in official government work.
• Hindi is one of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

September 15 — Engineer's Day (India)

National Engineer's Day (Abhiyanta Diwas) is observed in India on September 15, the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (born 1861, died 1962), a globally renowned civil engineer and statesman. The day has been observed since 1968, instituted by the Government of India.

Historical background: Visvesvaraya served as the Diwan (Chief Minister) of Mysore from 1912–1918, designed the automatic flood-gates used at the Khadakwasla Reservoir near Pune, and was chief engineer for the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and was knighted by the British as Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in 1915.

Commonly tested facts:

• Visvesvaraya's expertise led to him being called the "Father of Modern Mysore."
• His flood-protection/automatic weir-gate system for Pune was later adopted for the Tigra Dam (Gwalior) and Krishna Raja Sagara Dam (Mysore).
• No official annual "theme" is issued for this day; SSC/RRB questions usually focus on his birth year, honours, and engineering works rather than a yearly slogan.

September 15 — International Day of Democracy

The UN General Assembly established the International Day of Democracy through resolution 62/7, adopted on 8 November 2007, with the first observance in 2008. The day encourages governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy.

About the origin: The date follows the anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy, adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 1997.

Commonly tested facts:

• The Inter-Parliamentary Union, founded in 1889, is the world's oldest international political organization and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The day is often paired in exams with related democracy indices (e.g., the V-Dem or EIU Democracy Index) reported around this time of year.

September 16 — World Ozone Day

World Ozone Day, formally the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed on September 16 to commemorate the date in 1987 when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed. The UN General Assembly proclaimed the observance through resolution 49/114 in 1994, with the first Ozone Day observed in 1995.

2026 theme: Not officially confirmed at the time of writing; the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Ozone Secretariat typically announces the year's theme closer to the observance date. (2025's theme was "From Science to Global Action.") Aspirants should verify the exact 2026 wording nearer September from UNEP's Ozone Secretariat.

About the Montreal Protocol: Signed under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985), the Montreal Protocol (1987) is considered the most successful environmental treaty in history, having led to the phase-out of over 99% of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs.

Commonly tested facts:

• The Montreal Protocol entered into force on 1 January 1989.
• The Kigali Amendment (2016) to the Montreal Protocol addresses the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• 2026 marks the 32nd World Ozone Day.

September 21 — International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 and was fixed to a permanent date, September 21, by resolution 55/282 in 2001, to be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

2026 theme: "Invest in Peace — For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day," which honours the "everyday architects of peace" who drive local action and community-level peacebuilding.

About the observance: The UN Peace Bell, cast from coins donated by children from around 60 countries and gifted to the UN by the United Nations Association of Japan, is rung at UN Headquarters in New York every year on this day.

Commonly tested facts:

• The day is also called "Peace Day" and calls for a 24-hour global ceasefire.
• The Nobel Peace Prize is a separate, unrelated award — do not confuse the two in MCQs.

September 24 — World Maritime Day (last Thursday of September, 2026)

World Maritime Day is observed on the last Thursday of September each year (falling on September 24 in 2026), under the aegis of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN specialized agency headquartered in London, established in 1948 (originally as IMCO, renamed IMO in 1982).

2026–2027 theme: "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence" — notably the first time an IMO World Maritime Day theme has been designed to run across two consecutive years (2026 and 2027).

Commonly tested facts:

• World Maritime Day was first observed in 1978.
• The IMO is responsible for treaties such as SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and MARPOL (Marine Pollution).
• Since the date is a "floating" one (last Thursday), always recompute it for the exam year rather than memorising a fixed calendar date.

September 27 — World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day is observed on September 27 each year, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on 27 September 1970. It has been celebrated since 1980, an initiative of the UNWTO.

2026 host country & theme: El Salvador will host the official World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations, with the 2026 theme centred on artificial intelligence's role in transforming tourism (digital agenda and AI for smarter travel).

About UNWTO: The UN World Tourism Organization (renamed "UN Tourism" in 2023), headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is the UN specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism.

Commonly tested facts:

• The host country changes every year and is a frequently tested current-affairs point.
• UNWTO membership includes 160-plus member states.

September 27 — World Rivers Day (last Sunday of September, 2026)

World Rivers Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of September every year (falling on September 27 in 2026, which is also the fourth Sunday of the month). It was founded in 2005 by Mark Angelo, a Canadian river conservationist, and grew out of the earlier "British Columbia Rivers Day" that Angelo had championed since 1980. The observance is now supported by the United Nations as part of the "Water for Life" decade initiatives.

Commonly tested facts:

• The day promotes public awareness of river conservation and encourages improved stewardship of the world's waterways.
• Because it shares its date with World Tourism Day in many years (including 2026), examiners sometimes test whether candidates can distinguish the two same-date observances and their separate custodian bodies (UNWTO vs. river-conservation movement/UN).

September 28 — World Rabies Day

World Rabies Day is observed on September 28 each year, the date on which French scientist Louis Pasteur died in 1895; Pasteur, along with Émile Roux, developed the first rabies vaccine in 1885. The day was launched in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), in partnership with the WHO, FAO, and WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health).

2026 theme: "Stronger Together" — emphasising that rabies elimination requires coordinated action across governments, veterinarians, healthcare workers, researchers, and communities, in line with the One Health approach.

Commonly tested facts:

• The global target (WHO/FAO/WOAH "United Against Rabies" initiative) is to achieve zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
• Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus and is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear, though entirely preventable through vaccination.

September 28 — International Day for Universal Access to Information

This day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2019 (resolution A/RES/74/157) after having first been recognized by UNESCO's General Conference in 2015. It builds on the "International Day for Universal Access to Information" first observed in 2016 and marks the importance of access to information and fundamental freedoms in strengthening peace, and sustainable development (linked to SDG 16.10).

About UNESCO's role: UNESCO continues to be the UN lead agency coordinating this day, promoting the right to access government-held information as a pillar of freedom of expression and press freedom.

Commonly tested facts:

• Also referred to by the acronym IDUAI.
• Frequently linked in current affairs with India's Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

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Quick-Reference Table

Date / Observance	Custodian Body / Origin Year
Sep 5 — Teachers' Day (India)	Govt. of India; began 1962 (birth anniv. of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan)
Sep 5 — International Day of Charity	UN General Assembly resolution (2012); marks Mother Teresa's death (1997)
Sep 8 — International Literacy Day	UNESCO, proclaimed 1966; observed since 1967
Sep 10 — World Suicide Prevention Day	IASP with WHO; observed since 2003
Sep 14 — Hindi Diwas	Govt. of India (Dept. of Official Language); marks 1949 Constituent Assembly decision; first observed 1953
Sep 15 — Engineer's Day (India)	Govt. of India, since 1968 (birth anniv. of Sir M. Visvesvaraya)
Sep 15 — International Day of Democracy	UN General Assembly resolution 62/7 (2007); first observed 2008
Sep 16 — World Ozone Day	UN General Assembly resolution 49/114 (1994); marks 1987 Montreal Protocol
Sep 21 — International Day of Peace	UN General Assembly; established 1981, fixed date since 2001 (resolution 55/282)
Sep 24, 2026 — World Maritime Day (last Thursday)	IMO (UN specialized agency, est. 1948); observed since 1978
Sep 27, 2026 — World Tourism Day	UNWTO/UN Tourism, since 1980; marks UNWTO Statutes adoption (1970)
Sep 27, 2026 — World Rivers Day (last Sunday)	Founded by Mark Angelo, 2005
Sep 28 — World Rabies Day	GARC with WHO/FAO/WOAH, since 2007; marks Louis Pasteur's death (1895)
Sep 28 — International Day for Universal Access to Information	UN General Assembly (2019), building on UNESCO recognition (2015)

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Quiz — Test Yourself (12 Questions)

1. Teachers' Day in India is celebrated on September 5 in honour of which former President? Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

2. The International Day of Charity (September 5) marks the death anniversary of which humanitarian figure? Mother Teresa (died 1997).

3. Which UN body proclaimed International Literacy Day, and in which year? UNESCO, in 1966 (first observed in 1967).

4. What is the 2026 theme for International Literacy Day? "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity."

5. World Suicide Prevention Day is jointly observed by IASP and which UN health agency? World Health Organization (WHO).

6. Hindi Diwas commemorates the adoption of Hindi as an official language by the Constituent Assembly in which year? 1949 (first Hindi Diwas celebrated in 1953).

7. Engineer's Day in India (September 15) marks the birth anniversary of which engineer, and which award did he receive in 1955? Sir M. Visvesvaraya; Bharat Ratna (1955).

8. Which UN General Assembly resolution established the International Day of Democracy, and in what year was it adopted? Resolution 62/7, adopted in 2007 (first observed 2008).

9. World Ozone Day commemorates the signing of which international treaty, and in which year? The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987.

10. What is the theme of the International Day of Peace 2026? "Invest in Peace — For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day."

11. World Maritime Day 2026 falls on which date, and what is its 2026–2027 theme? September 24, 2026 (last Thursday of September); theme: "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence."

12. World Rabies Day (September 28) marks the death anniversary of which scientist, and what is its 2026 theme? Louis Pasteur (died 1895); 2026 theme: "Stronger Together."