July Important Days 2026: National, International & Hindu Tithi Calendar
July is one of the busiest months on the current affairs calendar, it carries India’s own national milestones (Kargil Vijay Diwas, National Flag Day, National Broadcasting Day), major UN and global observances (World Population Day, International Justice Day, International Tiger Day), and just as important for GK and cultural-awareness questions, a full run of Hindu Panchang tithis, from Devshayani Ekadashi to Guru Purnima.
Examiners across UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and State PSCs regularly pick questions straight from this list the date, the organizing body, and the “why” behind each day. Below is a clean, chronological reference covering every major National, International, and Hindu Tithi-based observance in July, built for quick revision and easy recall.
Quick Reference Table
| Date | Observance | Type |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 | National Doctor’s Day | National |
| July 1 | Chartered Accountants Day | National |
| July 1 | GST Day | National |
| July 1 | Canada Day | International |
| July 1 (first Saturday) | International Day of Cooperatives | International |
| July 4 | US Independence Day | International |
| July 6 | World Zoonoses Day | International |
| July 7 | World Chocolate Day | International |
| July 10-11 | Yogini Ekadashi | Hindu Tithi |
| July 11 | World Population Day | International |
| July 12 | Malala Day | International |
| July 12 | Pradosh Vrat & Masik Shivratri | Hindu Tithi |
| July 14 | Bastille Day (French National Day) | International |
| July 14 | Ashadha Amavasya (Darsha Amavasya) | Hindu Tithi |
| July 15 | World Youth Skills Day | International |
| July 16 | Jagannath Rath Yatra | Hindu Tithi |
| July 17 | World Day for International Justice | International |
| July 18 | Nelson Mandela International Day | International |
| July 19 | Skanda Shashthi | Hindu Tithi |
| July 20 | World Chess Day | International |
| July 20 | Moon Day | International |
| July 22 | National Flag Day (India) | National |
| July 22 | Chandrayaan-2 Launch Anniversary | National |
| July 22 | Pi Approximation Day | International |
| July 23 | National Broadcasting Day (India) | National |
| July 24-25 | Devshayani Ekadashi | Hindu Tithi |
| July 26 | Kargil Vijay Diwas | National |
| July 26-27 | Pradosh Vrat (Soma Pradosh) | Hindu Tithi |
| July 28 | World Hepatitis Day | International |
| July 29 | International Tiger Day | International |
| July 29 | Guru Purnima (Ashadha Purnima) | Hindu Tithi |
| July 30 | International Day of Friendship | International |
| July 30 | World Day Against Trafficking in Persons | International |
National Days in July
July 1: National Doctor’s Day
Honours India’s medical professionals; marks the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, physician and second Chief Minister of West Bengal.
July 1: Chartered Accountants Day
Marks the founding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in 1949.
July 1: GST Day
Commemorates the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax across India on July 1, 2017.
July 22: National Flag Day (India)
Marks the Constituent Assembly’s adoption of the tricolour, designed by Pingali Venkayya, as India’s national flag on July 22, 1947.
July 22: Chandrayaan-2 Launch Anniversary
Marks ISRO’s launch of the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission on July 22, 2019.
July 23: National Broadcasting Day (India)
Marks India’s first official radio broadcast by the Indian Broadcasting Company from Bombay on July 23, 1927 — the origin of what became All India Radio.
July 26: Kargil Vijay Diwas
Commemorates India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War and honours the soldiers who defended the Kargil sector.
International Days in July
July 1: Canada Day
Marks the 1867 union of British North American provinces into the Dominion of Canada.
July 1 (first Saturday): International Day of Cooperatives
UN observance recognising the role of cooperative societies in economic and social development.
July 4: US Independence Day
Marks the 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the United States.
July 6: World Zoonoses Day
Raises awareness of diseases that spread from animals to humans, such as rabies; linked to Louis Pasteur’s first rabies vaccination in 1885.
July 7: World Chocolate Day
Celebrated globally to mark chocolate’s introduction to Europe; a popular food-and-culture observance.
July 11: World Population Day
Established by the UNDP in 1989 to raise awareness of population growth, family planning, and reproductive health.
July 12: Malala Day
Designated by the United Nations to honour education activist Malala Yousafzai on her birthday, spotlighting girls’ right to education.
July 14: Bastille Day (French National Day)
Commemorates the 1789 Storming of the Bastille, a turning point of the French Revolution.
July 15: World Youth Skills Day
UN observance highlighting the importance of technical and vocational education and skills training for young people.
July 17: World Day for International Justice
Marks the 1998 adoption of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court.
July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day
Observed on Mandela’s birthday to honour his legacy and promote his values of service and reconciliation.
July 20: World Chess Day
Marks the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1924.
July 20: Moon Day
Commemorates the first human Moon landing by Apollo 11 astronauts on July 20, 1969.
July 22: Pi Approximation Day
Observed because the date 22/7 approximates the value of pi; distinct from Pi Day on March 14.
July 28: World Hepatitis Day
WHO observance raising awareness of viral hepatitis, its prevention, and treatment; marks the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus.
July 29: International Tiger Day
Established at the 2010 St. Petersburg Tiger Summit to raise awareness of tiger conservation.
July 30: International Day of Friendship
UN-designated day promoting friendship between peoples, countries, and cultures as a means to peace.
July 30: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
UN observance raising awareness of human trafficking and the protection of victims’ rights.
Hindu Tithi & Vrat Calendar — July 2026
Dates follow the sunrise-tithi (Suryodaya) convention used by most Panchangs; exact tithi start/end times shift slightly by city, so always cross-check with a local Panchang before a fast or ritual.
July 10-11: Yogini Ekadashi
Ekadashi fast dedicated to Lord Vishnu, observed during Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month; believed to free devotees from sin and hardship.
July 12: Pradosh Vrat & Masik Shivratri
Falls on Trayodashi tithi; a fast dedicated to Lord Shiva, observed in the evening twilight (pradosh kaal) for peace and prosperity.
July 14: Ashadha Amavasya (Darsha Amavasya)
The new moon of Ashadha month; considered auspicious for holy baths, charity, and Pitru Tarpan (ancestor remembrance rituals).
July 16: Jagannath Rath Yatra
Nine-day chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in Puri, Odisha, observed on Dwitiya Tithi of Ashadha Shukla Paksha; also marks Karka Sankranti.
July 19: Skanda Shashthi
Fast dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Skanda), observed on Shashthi tithi of Shukla Paksha for courage, health, and success.
July 24-25: Devshayani Ekadashi
Marks the start of Chaturmas, the four-month period when Lord Vishnu is believed to enter yogic sleep; auspicious ceremonies are generally paused until Vishnu ‘wakes’ in autumn.
July 26-27: Pradosh Vrat (Soma Pradosh)
A second Pradosh fast for the month, dedicated to Lord Shiva; falling on a Monday, it is observed as Soma Pradosh, considered especially auspicious.
July 29: Guru Purnima (Ashadha Purnima)
The full moon of Ashadha month, dedicated to honouring teachers and spiritual gurus; one of the most widely observed Purnimas of the year.
Note: Devshayani Ekadashi (July 24-25) marks the start of Chaturmas, a four-month period of spiritual observance during which many auspicious ceremonies (weddings, griha pravesh) are traditionally paused until Lord Vishnu is believed to ‘wake’ later in the year.
How to Revise This List Effectively
- Group by theme, not just date: health (Doctor’s Day, Zoonoses Day, Hepatitis Day), justice & peace (International Justice Day, Friendship Day, Anti-Trafficking Day), national pride (Flag Day, Kargil Vijay Diwas), and Panchang-based days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya) are common exam clusters.
- Note the organizing body: many MCQs test who established a day (UNDP, WHO, FIDE, ICC) rather than just the date.
- Watch the twin dates: July 1 and July 22 each carry three observances; these are popular for “match the following” and multi-select questions.
- Don’t confuse Tithi dates with fixed dates: Ekadashi, Purnima, and Amavasya shift every year on the Gregorian calendar since they follow the lunar cycle; always verify against the current year’s Panchang.
- Revisit monthly: pair this July list with your June 2026 Current Affairs Quiz for a rolling two-month revision cycle.
FAQs
-
Which National Days fall in July 2026?
Answer: National Doctor’s Day, Chartered Accountants Day, GST Day, National Flag Day, the Chandrayaan-2 launch anniversary, National Broadcasting Day, and Kargil Vijay Diwas.
-
Which International Days are most exam-relevant in July?
Answer: Population Day (July 11), World Youth Skills Day (July 15), World Day for International Justice (July 17), Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18), and International Tiger Day (July 29) are the most frequently tested.
-
When is Guru Purnima in 2026?
Answer: Guru Purnima falls on July 29, 2026, coinciding with Ashadha Purnima — the full moon of the Ashadha lunar month.
-
When does Chaturmas begin in 2026?
Answer: Chaturmas begins with Devshayani Ekadashi on July 24-25, 2026, when Lord Vishnu is believed to enter yogic sleep.
-
Why do July 1 and July 22 have multiple observances?
Answer: Some days share a date because their historical events coincided by chance (e.g., National Flag Day and the Chandrayaan-2 anniversary both fall on July 22), not because of any shared theme.
Bookmark this page for quick revision, and check out our June 2026 Current Affairs Quiz for 200+ practice questions with answers.
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