Important Days in March 2026
March 2026 has 39 days that exams ask about: 33 international and 6 national. Each date comes with a one-line fact and the official source it was checked against. Days fixed by a weekday, such as World Kidney Day, are shown on their 2026 date.
| Date | Day | Important day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March | Sunday | World Civil Defence Day · World Seagrass Day · Zero Discrimination Day |
| 3 March | Tuesday | World Hearing Day · World Wildlife Day |
| 4 March | Wednesday | World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development · World Obesity Day · National Safety Day |
| 5 March | Thursday | International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness |
| 7 March | Saturday | Jan Aushadhi Diwas |
| 8 March | Sunday | International Women's Day |
| 10 March | Tuesday | International Day of Women Judges · CISF Raising Day |
| 12 March | Thursday | World Kidney Day |
| 14 March | Saturday | International Day of Mathematics |
| 15 March | Sunday | International Day to Combat Islamophobia · World Consumer Rights Day |
| 16 March | Monday | National Vaccination Day |
| 18 March | Wednesday | Ordnance Factories Day |
| 19 March | Thursday | International Day for Digital Learning |
| 20 March | Friday | French Language Day · International Day of Happiness · World Oral Health Day |
| 21 March | Saturday | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination · International Day of Forests · International Day of Nowruz · World Day for Glaciers · World Down Syndrome Day · World Poetry Day · World Puppetry Day |
| 22 March | Sunday | World Water Day |
| 23 March | Monday | World Meteorological Day · Shaheed Diwas |
| 24 March | Tuesday | International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims · World Tuberculosis Day |
| 25 March | Wednesday | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade · International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members |
| 27 March | Friday | World Theatre Day |
| 30 March | Monday | International Day of Zero Waste |
(Sunday)
World Civil Defence Day
Celebrated by the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), which became an intergovernmental organisation on 1 March 1972.
International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) · Source: icdo.org
World Seagrass Day
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in May 2022 (resolution 76/265) to promote the conservation of seagrasses.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
Zero Discrimination Day
Observed by UNAIDS every 1 March to uphold everyone's right to live a full and productive life with dignity.
UNAIDS · Source: unaids.org
(Tuesday)
World Hearing Day
Held by WHO every 3 March to raise awareness on preventing deafness and hearing loss and to promote ear and hearing care.
World Health Organization · Source: who.int
World Wildlife Day
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 2013; marks the adoption of CITES, the wildlife trade convention, on 3 March 1973.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
(Wednesday)
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development
Marked by UNESCO to highlight engineering's role in tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
World Obesity Day
Convened by the World Obesity Federation; since 2020 it is held on 4 March instead of its earlier date, 11 October.
World Obesity Federation · Source: worldobesity.org
National Safety DayNational
Marks the foundation of the National Safety Council, set up by the Ministry of Labour on 4 March 1966; the NSC leads a national safety campaign.
National Safety Council (Ministry of Labour and Employment) · Source: nsc.org.in
(Thursday)
International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness
Established through UN General Assembly resolution 77/51 to deepen public understanding of how disarmament strengthens peace and security.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
(Saturday)
Jan Aushadhi DiwasNational
First celebrated on 7 March 2019 to create awareness about generic medicines under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Sunday)
International Women's Day
The UN began celebrating 8 March in 1975, International Women's Year; the day grew out of early 20th-century labour movements.
United Nations · Source: un.org
(Tuesday)
International Day of Women Judges
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly (resolution 75/274) to promote women's full and equal participation at all levels of the judiciary.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
CISF Raising DayNational
Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force, which started in 1969 with a strength of about 3,000 personnel.
Central Industrial Security Force (Ministry of Home Affairs) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Thursday)
World Kidney Day
A joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations, started in 2006.
Date: every year on the second Thursday of the month
International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations · Source: theisn.org
(Saturday)
International Day of Mathematics
A UNESCO day led by its International Basic Sciences Programme and the International Mathematical Union to celebrate mathematics.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
(Sunday)
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
Designated by the UN General Assembly in 2022 through a resolution sponsored by 60 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Consumer Rights Day
First observed in 1983; recalls US President John F. Kennedy's address to Congress on consumer rights on 15 March 1962.
Consumers International · Source: pib.gov.in
(Monday)
National Vaccination DayNational
Marks the first dose of oral polio vaccine given under the Pulse Polio Programme in 1995; India's last polio case was reported in 2011.
Government of India (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Wednesday)
Ordnance Factories DayNational
Foundation day of India's ordnance factories; the first, now the Gun and Shell Factory at Cossipore, Kolkata, dates back to 1801.
Government of India (Ministry of Defence) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Thursday)
International Day for Digital Learning
Designated by UNESCO Member States in 2023 to share how digital technology can improve education while reducing its risks.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
(Friday)
French Language Day
One of six UN language days introduced in 2010; the date recalls the creation of the ACCT, forerunner of La Francophonie, on 20 March 1970.
United Nations · Source: un.org
International Day of Happiness
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 12 July 2012 (resolution 66/281); the resolution was initiated by Bhutan.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Oral Health Day
An initiative of FDI World Dental Federation, held every 20 March to help reduce the burden of oral diseases worldwide.
FDI World Dental Federation · Source: worldoralhealthday.org
(Saturday)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 in South Africa, when police killed 69 people protesting against apartheid pass laws.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
International Day of Forests
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2012; the inaugural observance was held at FAO headquarters in Rome in 2013.
United Nations General Assembly (FAO) · Source: fao.org
International Day of Nowruz
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2010 (resolution 64/253); India was among the countries that introduced the draft.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Day for Glaciers
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly (resolution 77/158); glaciers store about 70% of the world's freshwater.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Down Syndrome Day
Declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2011 (resolution 66/149) and observed every year since 2012.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Poetry Day
Adopted by UNESCO at its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999 to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
World Puppetry Day
Launched in 2003 by UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) to promote the art of puppetry around the world.
UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) · Source: unima.org
(Sunday)
World Water Day
Declared by UN General Assembly resolution 47/193 and held every year since 1993 as an annual United Nations observance.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
(Monday)
World Meteorological Day
Commemorates the coming into force, on 23 March 1950, of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) · Source: wmo.int
Shaheed DiwasNational
Remembers Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who were hanged by the British in Lahore on 23 March 1931.
Government of India · Source: pib.gov.in
(Tuesday)
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 21 December 2010 to honour victims of gross human rights violations and their right to the truth.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Tuberculosis Day
Marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB.
World Health Organization · Source: who.int
(Wednesday)
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Designated by UN General Assembly resolution 62/122 as an annual day of remembrance, observed since 2008.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members
Marks the anniversary of the 1985 abduction of Alec Collett, a journalist working for the UN agency UNRWA.
United Nations · Source: un.org
(Friday)
World Theatre Day
Initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) and celebrated since 1962; Jean Cocteau wrote the first message.
International Theatre Institute (ITI) · Source: world-theatre-day.org
(Monday)
International Day of Zero Waste
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 14 December 2022; Türkiye and 105 other countries put forward the resolution.
United Nations General Assembly · Source: un.org
Frequently Asked Questions
How many important days are there in March 2026?
This list has 39 days in March 2026: 33 international and 6 national. Each was checked against an official page of the UN, a UN agency, the Government of India or the body that runs the day.
Which national days of India fall in March 2026?
National Safety Day (4 March); Jan Aushadhi Diwas (7 March); CISF Raising Day (10 March); National Vaccination Day (16 March); Ordnance Factories Day (18 March); Shaheed Diwas (23 March).
Which days in March change their date every year?
These are held on a fixed weekday, so the date moves: World Kidney Day (every year on the second Thursday of the month; 12 March in 2026).
Are the themes of these days given?
No. Themes change every year, so this list keeps to the lasting facts: who declared the day, whose memory or which event it marks, and since when. A given year’s theme is in that day’s current affairs story.