Health and Environment Days: Dates and Their Reasons
Health and environment days for competitive exams: the date of each day, the treaty, discovery or founding that fixed it, and the body that leads the observance.
By GK24 Editorial Team· Published · 5 min read
Important days are among the cheapest marks in any general awareness paper, and the days devoted to health and to the environment form the largest group of them. What makes these particular days easy to hold in memory is that almost every one of them was placed on its date for a reason: the birthday of a discoverer, the day a treaty was signed, or the day an international organisation came into being. Learn the reason and the date follows on its own.
Health days and the reason behind each date
| Date | Day | Why this date |
|---|---|---|
| 4 February | World Cancer Day | Adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer held at Paris in 2000 |
| 24 March | World Tuberculosis Day | Robert Koch announced his discovery of the tuberculosis bacillus on this day in 1882 |
| 7 April | World Health Day | The World Health Organization came into being on this day in 1948 |
| 25 April | World Malaria Day | Instituted by the World Health Assembly in 2007 |
| 8 May | World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day | Birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, born in 1828, the first Nobel Peace Prize winner |
| 12 May | International Nurses Day | Birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, born in 1820 |
| 31 May | World No Tobacco Day | Begun by the World Health Organization in 1988 |
| 14 June | World Blood Donor Day | Birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood groups |
| 1 July | National Doctors' Day in India | Birth and death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy |
| 28 July | World Hepatitis Day | Birth anniversary of Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus |
| 10 October | World Mental Health Day | Begun by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992 |
| 14 November | World Diabetes Day | Birth anniversary of Frederick Banting, a discoverer of insulin |
| 1 December | World AIDS Day | The first such day anywhere, observed from 1988 |
Four more health days complete the list. World Heart Day falls on 29 September, Global Handwashing Day on 15 October, World Toilet Day on 19 November and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December. The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is on 26 June and World Food Day on 16 October, the day the Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in 1945. India observes Anti-Leprosy Day on 30 January and National Cancer Awareness Day on 7 November. The International Day of Yoga, observed on 21 June, the longest day in the northern hemisphere, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly after India proposed it, and it has been observed since 2015.
Environment days and the reason behind each date
| Date | Day | Why this date |
|---|---|---|
| 2 February | World Wetlands Day | The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed at Ramsar in Iran on this day in 1971 |
| 3 March | World Wildlife Day | CITES, the convention on trade in endangered species, was adopted on this day in 1973 |
| 21 March | International Day of Forests | Declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 |
| 22 March | World Water Day | Recommended by the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 |
| 23 March | World Meteorological Day | The convention creating the World Meteorological Organization took effect in 1950 |
| 22 April | Earth Day | First observed in the United States in 1970 |
| 22 May | International Day for Biological Diversity | The text of the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted in 1992 |
| 5 June | World Environment Day | Marks the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment of 1972; first held in 1974 |
| 17 June | World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought | The convention on desertification was adopted in 1994 |
| 29 July | International Tiger Day | Agreed at the tiger summit held at Saint Petersburg in 2010 |
| 16 September | World Ozone Day | The Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances was signed in 1987 |
| 14 December | National Energy Conservation Day in India | Marks the passing of the Energy Conservation Act |
The remaining environment days are easy to add to this list. World Oceans Day falls on 8 June, World Population Day on 11 July, marking the day in 1987 when world population was reckoned to have crossed five billion, World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July, World Elephant Day on 12 August and World Animal Welfare Day on 4 October. India observes Wildlife Week from 2 to 8 October and celebrates Van Mahotsav, the festival of tree planting begun by K. M. Munshi in 1950, in the first week of July. National Safety Day falls on 4 March, the founding day of the National Safety Council.
The pairs that are most often confused
Three confusions account for most wrong answers. The first is Earth Day on 22 April against World Environment Day on 5 June; the first began in the United States as a citizens' movement, the second came out of the Stockholm Conference and is led by the United Nations Environment Programme. The second is the cluster of dates in late March, where World Water Day on 22 March, World Meteorological Day on 23 March and World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March sit on three consecutive days. The third is World Wetlands Day on 2 February against World Wildlife Day on 3 March, both of which take their dates from treaties, Ramsar for the first and CITES for the second.
The organisations behind the days
An examiner may ask which body leads a day rather than its date. World Health Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World Tuberculosis Day are led by the World Health Organization, which has its headquarters at Geneva. World Environment Day and World Ozone Day are led by the United Nations Environment Programme, based at Nairobi. World Food Day belongs to the Food and Agriculture Organization at Rome. World Meteorological Day belongs to the World Meteorological Organization at Geneva, and World Wetlands Day to the secretariat of the Ramsar Convention. The theme of most of these days changes every year, so the safe thing to carry into the examination hall is the date and the founding reason rather than a theme.
Exam Point of View
Four kinds of question come from this chapter. The commonest gives the name of a day and asks for the date, so the whole list must be learnt by heart. The second reverses it and gives a date, usually one that carries two observances, such as 14 November for World Diabetes Day and Children's Day in India. The third asks the reason behind a date, which is where the treaty and birthday links pay off: Ramsar for 2 February, CITES for 3 March, the Montreal Protocol for 16 September, the World Health Organization for 7 April and the solstice for 21 June. The fourth asks which organisation leads a day, so remember the World Health Organization for the health days, the United Nations Environment Programme for environment days and the Food and Agriculture Organization for World Food Day. Avoid questions on the current year's theme; themes change, dates do not.
Important Facts
| World Cancer Day | 4 February |
|---|---|
| World Tuberculosis Day | 24 March, the day Koch announced the bacillus in 1882 |
| World Health Day | 7 April, founding of the World Health Organization in 1948 |
| World Malaria Day | 25 April |
| World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day | 8 May, birthday of Henry Dunant |
| International Nurses Day | 12 May, birthday of Florence Nightingale |
| World No Tobacco Day | 31 May |
| World Blood Donor Day | 14 June, birthday of Karl Landsteiner |
| National Doctors' Day in India | 1 July, for Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy |
| World Hepatitis Day | 28 July, birthday of Baruch Blumberg |
| World Mental Health Day | 10 October |
| World Diabetes Day | 14 November, birthday of Frederick Banting |
| World AIDS Day | 1 December, observed since 1988 |
| World Wetlands Day | 2 February, Ramsar Convention of 1971 |
| World Wildlife Day | 3 March, adoption of CITES in 1973 |
| World Water Day | 22 March |
| Earth Day and World Environment Day | 22 April and 5 June |
| World Ozone Day | 16 September, Montreal Protocol of 1987 |
| International Tiger Day | 29 July, agreed at Saint Petersburg in 2010 |
| Van Mahotsav | First week of July, begun by K. M. Munshi in 1950 |
Practice MCQs on this topic
World Environment Day is observed every year on
- A.22 April
- B.5 June
- C.8 June
- D.16 September
Show answer
World Environment Day marks the opening of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in 1972, and it has been observed since 1974 under the lead of the United Nations Environment Programme, with a fresh theme and a host country each year.
Read the full explanation →World Health Day is observed on 7 April because on that day in 1948
- A.The Red Cross was founded
- B.The World Health Organization came into being
- C.Penicillin was discovered
- D.The first vaccine was given
Show answer
The constitution of the World Health Organization took effect on 7 April 1948, and the anniversary of that day has been kept as World Health Day since 1950, with a theme chosen by the organisation; its headquarters are at Geneva in Switzerland.
Read the full explanation →World Wetlands Day, observed on 2 February, marks the signing of which convention?
- A.Basel Convention
- B.Ramsar Convention
- C.CITES
- D.Convention on Biological Diversity
Show answer
The Convention on Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shore of the Caspian Sea, and the wetlands listed under it are still called Ramsar sites; the day has been observed on this date since 1997.
Read the full explanation →World Ozone Day is observed on
- A.16 September
- B.5 June
- C.23 March
- D.22 May
Show answer
The day marks the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 16 September 1987, an agreement to phase out chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone destroying chemicals, and it is often called the most successful environmental treaty.
Read the full explanation →World AIDS Day is observed every year on
- A.1 December
- B.3 December
- C.10 December
- D.14 November
Show answer
World AIDS Day has been observed on the first of December since 1988 and was the first global health day of its kind, its symbol being the red ribbon; the theme changes every year and the day is used to press for testing, treatment and an end to stigma.
Read the full explanation →The International Day of Yoga is observed on
- A.21 March
- B.21 June
- C.1 July
- D.12 May
Show answer
India proposed the day at the United Nations General Assembly, which adopted the resolution in December 2014, and the first observance was held in 2015; the date was chosen because 21 June is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Read the full explanation →World Water Day is observed on
- A.22 March
- B.23 March
- C.2 February
- D.8 June
Show answer
World Water Day was recommended by the Earth Summit held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and has been observed since 1993 to draw attention to fresh water, its scarcity and the target of water and sanitation for all.
Read the full explanation →World No Tobacco Day is observed on
- A.31 May
- B.31 March
- C.26 June
- D.10 October
Show answer
The World Health Organization began this observance in 1988 to draw attention to the health harm caused by tobacco in every form and to the industry's marketing, and each year it carries a theme, often aimed at young people.
Read the full explanation →International Nurses Day, observed on 12 May, marks the birth anniversary of
- A.Mother Teresa
- B.Florence Nightingale
- C.Marie Curie
- D.Elizabeth Blackwell
Show answer
Florence Nightingale was born on 12 May 1820 and became famous for organising nursing care for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, where her rounds at night earned her the name the Lady with the Lamp; she later founded the first professional school of nursing, and the highest international honour…
Read the full explanation →World Blood Donor Day, observed on 14 June, marks the birth anniversary of the scientist who discovered
- A.Insulin
- B.The ABO blood groups
- C.Penicillin
- D.The hepatitis B virus
Show answer
The day falls on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, born on 14 June 1868, who classified human blood into the groups A, B and O and thus made safe transfusion possible; he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work.
Read the full explanation →International Tiger Day is observed on
- A.29 July
- B.12 August
- C.3 March
- D.4 October
Show answer
International Tiger Day was agreed at the tiger summit held at Saint Petersburg in Russia in 2010, where the countries that still have wild tigers pledged to work towards doubling their numbers, and it has been observed on this date since then.
Read the full explanation →National Doctors' Day in India is observed on 1 July in memory of
- A.Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy
- B.Dr Jivraj Mehta
- C.Dr Rajendra Prasad
- D.Dr Hargobind Khorana
Show answer
Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on 1 July 1882 and died on the same date in 1962, and since both fall on one day India keeps 1 July as National Doctors' Day; he was a distinguished physician, served as Chief Minister of West Bengal and was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Read the full explanation →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Earth Day and World Environment Day?
Earth Day, on 22 April, began in the United States in 1970 as a citizens' movement for cleaner air and water and is now marked in many countries. World Environment Day, on 5 June, was created by the United Nations after the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, was first held in 1974, and each year it has a theme and a host country. Exams often put both dates in the same question.
Why is World Wetlands Day observed on 2 February?
Because the Convention on Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, a town on the Caspian coast of Iran. Wetlands of international importance listed under the treaty are therefore called Ramsar sites, and the day is used to press for their protection; it has been observed on this date since 1997.
Which health days are placed on the birthdays of scientists?
Four are asked most often. International Nurses Day on 12 May is Florence Nightingale's birthday, World Blood Donor Day on 14 June is Karl Landsteiner's, World Hepatitis Day on 28 July is Baruch Blumberg's and World Diabetes Day on 14 November is Frederick Banting's. In India, National Cancer Awareness Day on 7 November falls on Marie Curie's birthday.
Which three important days fall on consecutive dates in March?
World Water Day on 22 March, World Meteorological Day on 23 March and World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March. The International Day of Forests on 21 March sits just before them, so four days run from the twenty-first to the twenty-fourth of March, and this cluster is a favourite place for examiners to set a trap.
Which environment days does India observe on its own?
Van Mahotsav, the tree planting festival begun by K. M. Munshi in 1950, is held in the first week of July. Wildlife Week runs from 2 to 8 October. National Energy Conservation Day falls on 14 December and National Safety Day on 4 March, the founding day of the National Safety Council. India also keeps Anti-Leprosy Day on 30 January and National Cancer Awareness Day on 7 November.
Should the yearly theme of a day be memorised for the exam?
It is not worth the effort for static general knowledge. Themes are changed every year by the organising body, so a theme learnt now may be out of date by the examination, whereas the date and the reason behind it never change. Learn the date, the founding event and the organisation that leads the day, and treat the theme as current affairs only if the paper is known to ask it.
Sources
- International Days and Weeks — United Nations
- The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed at Ramsar in 1971 — Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention
- World Health Day and other campaign days — World Health Organization
