November 2026 Important Dates and Days – National & International Days List

November 2026 combines major Indian festivals like Diwali, Chhath and Guru Nanak Jayanti with important national and international observances on climate risk, legal aid, education, diabetes, tolerance, sanitation, children’s rights and gender‑based violence. For competitive exams, it is one of the most question‑rich months, mixing static‑GK days (Children’s Day, Constitution Day, National Education Day) with evolving UN awareness days.[3][4][2][1]

India‑focused 2026 calendars show that 1 November is a Sunday and Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday, 8 November; Guru Nanak Jayanti is on Tuesday, 24 November.[4][5][6][7][8]

Quick list – Important days and festivals in November 2026

Date (2026)DayImportant day / event
1 NovemberSundayWorld Vegan Day; All Saints’ Day; Rajyotsava Day / Karnataka Formation Day; Haryana Day; Puducherry Liberation Day (regional)
2 NovemberMondayAll Souls’ Day
5 NovemberThursdayWorld Tsunami Awareness Day
6 NovemberFridayInt’l Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict; Dhanteras / Yama Deepam
7 NovemberSaturdayInfant Protection Day; National Cancer Awareness Day; Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)
8 NovemberSundayDiwali / Deepavali (Lakshmi Puja – main Diwali day in 2026)
9 NovemberMondayLegal Services Day (India); Govardhan Puja / Annakut
10 NovemberTuesdayWorld Science Day for Peace and Development; Bhai Dooj / Yama Dwitiya
11 NovemberWednesdayArmistice Day / Remembrance Day; National Education Day (India)
12 NovemberThursdayWorld Pneumonia Day; World Usability Day 2026 (second Thursday of November)
13 NovemberFridayWorld Kindness Day
14 NovemberSaturdayChildren’s Day (India – Nehru Jayanti); World Diabetes Day
15 NovemberSundayChhath Puja (main day)
16 NovemberMondayInternational Day for Tolerance
17 NovemberTuesdayNational Epilepsy Day (India)
19 NovemberThursdayInternational Men’s Day; World Toilet Day
20 NovemberFridayUniversal Children’s Day / World Children’s Day; Africa Industrialisation Day
21 NovemberSaturdayWorld Television Day; World Fisheries Day; World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (often marked this week)
24 NovemberTuesdayGuru Nanak Jayanti (Guru Nanak Gurpurab); Kartik Purnima / Karthigai Deepam (many Hindu calendars)
25 NovemberWednesdayInternational Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
26 NovemberThursdayConstitution Day of India (Samvidhan Diwas)
29 NovemberSundayInternational Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
30 NovemberMondaySaint Andrew’s Day

Dates and weekdays are based on 2026 India calendars, holiday lists and UN/awareness‑day references.[7][9][10][11][12][3][4][1]

1–2 November – Vegan, saints, state formation and remembrance

World Vegan Day on 1 November promotes veganism as a lifestyle that avoids animal products for health, environmental and ethical reasons; exam tables frequently pair it with vegetarian‑ and animal‑welfare themes. The same date is also listed as All Saints’ Day, a Christian feast commemorating all saints, and as Rajyotsava Day (Karnataka Formation Day), marking the creation of the unified state of Karnataka on 1 November 1956; several calendars also show Haryana Day and Puducherry Liberation Day on this date.[2][1][7]

All Souls’ Day on 2 November commemorates the faithful departed, especially in Christian communities, and appears in generic international‑days compilations used in Indian GK material. For most Indian competitive exams, however, 1 November is more important due to Karnataka Formation Day and World Vegan Day.[1][7]

5–7 November – Tsunami awareness, environmental protection and cancer awareness

World Tsunami Awareness Day on 5 November was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to promote tsunami‑risk awareness, early‑warning systems and disaster‑preparedness, inspired by the Japanese story of “Inamura‑no‑hi” (burning of rice sheaves to warn villagers of a tsunami). For exams, it is linked with disaster‑management topics and the Sendai Framework.[2][1]

On 6 November, the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict highlights how warfare damages ecosystems and calls for stronger environmental‑protection measures even during armed conflict. The same date also marks Dhanteras / Yama Deepam, the start of the Diwali cycle in 2026, with Indian calendars placing Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November 2026.[5][13][14][4][1]

7 November is listed as Infant Protection Day and National Cancer Awareness Day in exam‑oriented tables, highlighting infant‑health programmes and the importance of early cancer detection; Indian notes often emphasise screening and lifestyle factors. In 2026, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) also falls on Saturday, 7 November, one day before the main Diwali.[13][14][15][4][5][1][2]

8–11 November – Diwali, legal services and National Education Day

In 2026, Diwali / Deepavali (Lakshmi Puja) is celebrated on Sunday, 8 November, as confirmed by multiple panchang‑based festival guides and holiday lists. It is one of India’s most important festivals, symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, and is a national gazetted holiday across most states.[16][14][3][4][5][13]

Govardhan Puja / Annakut follows on Monday, 9 November, remembering Krishna’s lifting of Govardhan hill and featuring offerings of food to deities and community feasts. Indian law and polity compilations also mark 9 November as Legal Services Day, created to spread awareness about free legal aid and the role of legal services authorities in providing access to justice.[17][4][5][13][1][2]

On 10 November, World Science Day for Peace and Development promotes the role of science in sustainable development and peacebuilding and encourages public engagement with science and scientific responsibility. The same date in the Diwali sequence is Bhai Dooj / Yama Dwitiya in some festival lists, although several Indian calendars place Bhai Dooj on 10 November while some show 11 November; the table from an India‑calendar consolidation puts Bhai Dooj on 10 November 2026.[4][5][13][1][2]

11 November is observed in many countries as Armistice Day / Remembrance Day, marking the end of the First World War in 1918. In India, the same date is National Education Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the country’s first Minister of Education and an important freedom‑fighter and education reformer.[1][2]

12–14 November – Pneumonia, kindness, Children’s Day and diabetes

World Pneumonia Day on 12 November raises awareness of pneumonia as a major cause of child mortality and promotes vaccination, nutrition and access to treatment. Many technical and IT‑oriented lists also mention World Usability Day, observed on the second Thursday of November to advocate for user‑centred design; in 2026 the second Thursday is 12 November, so some sources explicitly note 12 November 2026 as the World Usability Day date.[18][19][2][1]

World Kindness Day on 13 November encourages acts of kindness and is used in banking and SSC‑level GK as a relatively easy date‑and‑name pair to remember.[20][1]

On 14 November, India observes Children’s Day to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first Prime Minister, who was known for his affection towards children. The same date is also World Diabetes Day, the world’s largest diabetes‑awareness campaign, established by the International Diabetes Federation and WHO and held on 14 November in honour of Sir Frederick Banting’s birthday. In 2026, 14 November falls on a Saturday, and Indian calendars combine Nehru Jayanti / Children’s Day with regional festivals like Meghalaya’s Wangala Festival.[7][4][2][1]

15–17 November – Chhath Puja, tolerance and epilepsy awareness

Bihar‑ and eastern‑India‑focused calendars list Chhath Puja’s main day (Suryodaya Arghya) on Sunday, 15 November 2026, following Diwali and Kartik Shukla Sasthi. It is a major regional festival in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, featuring rigorous fasting and offerings to the Sun God on riverbanks.[4][7]

The International Day for Tolerance on 16 November was proclaimed by UNESCO and the UN General Assembly to promote mutual understanding, respect for diversity and peaceful coexistence. In India, National Epilepsy Day is observed on 17 November to raise awareness about epilepsy, reduce stigma and encourage early diagnosis and treatment.[2][1]

19–21 November – Men’s Day, sanitation, children’s rights and fisheries

International Men’s Day on 19 November focuses on men’s health, positive male role models, gender relations and highlighting discrimination faced by boys and men in some contexts. The same date is also World Toilet Day, a UN‑designated day to draw attention to the global sanitation crisis and the need for safe toilets and wastewater management.[1][2]

Universal Children’s Day / World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20 November, marking the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. UNICEF uses this date as a global day of action for children’s rights and welfare, and many exam lists call it “Universal Children’s Day (UN) – 20 November”. The same day is also Africa Industrialisation Day, focusing on industrial development in African countries, though this is less frequently asked in Indian exams.[21][22][23][24][25][1]

On 21 November, several observances coincide: World Television Day, recognising television’s role in information and communication; World Fisheries Day, highlighting the importance of sustainable fisheries and the livelihoods of fishing communities; and in some lists, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is also referenced around this period. World Fisheries Day in particular has strong Indian links, as the World Fisheries Forum was first convened in New Delhi in 1997 and India remains a major fisheries producer.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][1]

24–26 November – Guru Nanak Jayanti, ending violence against women and Constitution Day

In 2026, Guru Nanak Jayanti (Guru Nanak Gurpurab) falls on Tuesday, 24 November, which is also Kartik Purnima according to many Indian lunar calendars. The day marks the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism, and is celebrated with Akhand Path, nagar kirtan (processions), langar (community kitchens) and meditation on his teachings of equality, honest living and service. Official holiday lists treat it as a nationwide gazetted holiday, with some state‑specific exceptions.[6][8][3][17][7][4]

25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, established by UN General Assembly resolution 54/134 to raise awareness of gender‑based violence, from domestic abuse to sexual violence and harmful practices. It also marks the start of the “16 Days of Activism” campaign leading up to Human Rights Day on 10 December.[33][34][35][36][37]

India observes Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) on 26 November to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949. The day is used to promote constitutional values, fundamental rights and fundamental duties; many government offices and schools organise pledge‑taking and awareness programmes.[2][1]

29–30 November – Solidarity with the Palestinian people and Saint Andrew’s Day

On 29 November, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the UN to mark the 1947 UN General Assembly resolution on the partition of Palestine and to highlight the unresolved question of Palestinian self‑determination and rights. It offers an opportunity for the international community to reiterate support for Palestinian rights and a two‑state solution.[38][39][40][41]

Saint Andrew’s Day on 30 November is the national day of Scotland, commemorating Saint Andrew the Apostle, the country’s patron saint. While not central to Indian exams, it appears in some international‑days tables and can be paired with its easy‑to‑remember date of 30 November.[42][43][11][12][1]

How to use the November 2026 list for exam preparation

For November 2026, candidates can structure revision around three clusters:

  • Indian festivals and national observances: Diwali cycle (6–10 November), Chhath (15 November), Guru Nanak Jayanti (24 November), Children’s Day (14 November), National Education Day (11 November), Legal Services Day (9 November), National Epilepsy Day (17 November), National Cancer Awareness Day (7 November), Rajyotsava Day (1 November) and Constitution Day (26 November).[3][17][7][4][1][2]
  • Health and social‑sector awareness: World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November), World Science Day (10 November), World Pneumonia Day (12 November), World Diabetes Day (14 November), World Toilet Day (19 November), World Fisheries Day (21 November), International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November), World Children’s Day / Universal Children’s Day (20 November).[22][24][35][44][26][33][1][2]
  • UN and global‑governance days: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (6 November), International Day for Tolerance (16 November), Africa Industrialisation Day (20 November), International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November).[39][40][41][45][1][2]
  1. https://pwonlyias.com/list-of-international-national-days/                       
  2. https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/important-days-in-2026/                
  3. https://paytm.com/blog/holiday-list/holidays-in-november/    
  4. https://calendarindia.co.in/november/            
  5. https://www.goodreturns.in/news/when-is-diwali-in-2026-check-diwali-dhanteras-govardhan-pooja-bhai-dooj-date-other-info-1479316.html     
  6. https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/events/guru-nanak-jayanti-2026-date-muhurat-rituals-significance-guru-nanak-teachings-aa-ws-kl-9794786.html  
  7. https://www.bankbazaar.com/indian-holiday/november-holidays.html       
  8. https://www.calendarr.com/india/guru-nanak-jayanti/ 
  9. https://www.india.gov.in/calendar?date=2026-11
  10. https://conservefish.org/2018/11/21/world-fisheries-day-november-21-2018/
  11. https://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/st-andrews-day.html 
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Andrew’s_Day 
  13. https://www.winni.in/article/when-is-diwali    
  14. https://www.odynovotours.com/india/festival-of-light-diwali.html  
  15. https://www.4to40.com/public-awareness/important-days-in-october/
  16. https://news.abplive.com/religion/diwali-2026-date-festival-to-be-celebrated-in-november-amid-cold-weather-1807482
  17. https://www.bankbazaar.com/indian-holiday-calendar.html  
  18. https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/international/world-sight-day-second-thursday-in-october
  19. https://happymind.co/inclusion-calendar/world-sight-day/
  20. https://www.careerpower.in/important-days.html
  21. https://www.gov.za/WorldChildrensDay2026
  22. https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/united-nations/universal-childrens-day 
  23. https://nationaltoday.com/universal-childrens-day/
  24. https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/universal-childrens-day/ 
  25. https://www.unicef.org.au/world-childrens-day
  26. https://nationaltoday.com/world-fisheries-day/ 
  27. https://www.drishtiias.com/state-pcs-current-affairs/world-fisheries-day-2025
  28. https://www.mpeda.gov.in/indianseafood/?p=1026
  29. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-news-analysis/world-fisheries-day-21st-november
  30. https://2025.cedare.org/event/world-fisheries-day/
  31. https://vajiramandravi.com/upsc-daily-current-affairs/mains-articles/world-fisheries-day/
  32. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/leadership-message/world-fisheries-day-message-alexa-cole-director-noaa-fisheries-office-international
  33. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_for_the_Elimination_of_Violence_Against_Women  
  34. https://wrd.unwomen.org/engage/events/international-day-elimination-violence-against-women
  35. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_for_the_Elimination_of_Violence_against_Women  
  36. https://www.unesco.org/en/days/elimination-violence-against-women
  37. https://www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day
  38. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Solidarity_with_the_Palestinian_People
  39. https://www.unesco.org/en/days/international-day-solidarity-palestinian-people 
  40. https://www.internationaldays.org/november/international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people 
  41. https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people 
  42. https://publicholidays.co.uk/saint-andrews-day/
  43. https://guidely.in/blog/st-andrews-day
  44. https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-day-for-the-preservation-of-the-ozone-layer/
  45. https://www.fao.org/platform-food-loss-waste/flw-events/international-day-food-loss-and-waste/en
  46. https://www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/sikh/guru-nanak-birthday.php
  47. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2075160
  48. https://www.internationaldays.org/november/world-fisheries-day
  49. https://uscpr.org/international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people-2024/
  50. https://www.scotland.org/events/st-andrews-day

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