Important Days Observed in May 2025 and their Themes

Various exams ask questions regarding days and their themes. At the global level, the United Nations and its various agencies designate a year, specific days, and weeks to mark particular events or topics and promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the United Nations and its various organisations.

The Government of India or its Ministries also designate a year, specific days, and weeks with a particular theme.

2025 as a Year 

The United Nations has designated 2025 as the Year as follows;

International Year of Quantum Science and Technology

• 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the development of the methods of quantum mechanics that have led to its prominence in both science and technology today. 

International Year of Peace and Trust

• Before 2025, the  United Nations observed 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

International Year of Glaciers

• The United Nations has also decided to observe the 21st of March every year as the World Day for Glaciers.
• The first World Day for Glaciers will be observed on 21st March 2025.

International Years of Cooperatives 

• Theme: "Cooperatives Build a Better World" 
• The year-long celebration of the International Day of Cooperatives started in India.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi started it on 25 November 2024 in New Delhi at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024.

Union Ministry of Defence 

• The Union Ministry of Defence has decided to celebrate 2025 as the “Year of Reform”

Important Day in May 2025

Some Important events are observed on a particular day of a week and they do not have a fixed day..Some of the important events in May are as follows.

World Asthma Day 

Observed on the first Tuesday of May.

• In 2025, it was observed on 6th May.
• Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects children and adults.
• World Asthma Day is celebrated by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)
• First World Asthma Day - 1998
• 2025 Theme - Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for All

Mothers Day 

Observed on the second Sunday of May

• In 2025, it was celebrated on 11 May 2025.
• Credit is given to American  Anna Jarvis, who held the first official celebration in 1908.
• American President Woodrow Wilson made it official in 1914.

Global Accessibility Day 

Observed on the third Thursday of May every year.

In 2025, it was celebrated on 15 May.

• The goal was to generate awareness amongst people and technology companies about the difficulties faced by people suffering from disabilities/impairments in accessing digital content through digital products. 
• In 2012, American Joe Devon and Canadian Jennison Asuncion jointly launched the Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

United Nations Day of Vesak 

Observed on the first Full Moon in May (Buddha Purnima day)

• The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 1999 to observe the Day of Vesak or the Day of the Full Moon in May.
• It is calculated as per the Hindu calendar.
• First - Observed in 2000 by the United Nations in its headquarters in New York.
• 2025 - 12th May 2025 (Buddha Purnima).
• Significance- Gautam Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and died on Buddh purnima day.

1st May   

International Labour Day/May Day 

At the International Congress of Socialist Parties in Paris in 1889, leaders of around twenty countries decided to observe 1 May as International Labour Day.

• 1 May was chosen to commemorate the strike by the labour union in the American industrial city of Chicago on 1 May 1886.
• First - on 1 May 1890.
• The first Labour Day in India was observed in Chennai in 1923.
• However, in the United States of America and Canada, the first Monday of September is observed as Labour Day.
• 2025 Theme- Safety and Health of Workers 

3rd May 

World Press Day 

On the recommendation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 1993 to observe 3 May as Press Freedom Day. 

• First- on 3rd May 1994.
• Theme 2025: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.

4th May 

Coal Miners Day 

Coal Miners Day is observed on 4th May every year after the passage of the Mines Act 1952.

• On 4 May, the first underground coal mine was inaugurated in Raniganj, West Bengal, in 1907.

8th May

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

At the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross held in London, England, in 1938, the delegates decided to observe 8 May as the International Red Cross Day. 

• 8 May was chosen in honour of Jean Henri Dunant, born in 1828 in Switzerland.
• Jean Henri Dunant founded the Red Cross( now known as the International Red Cross)..
• First -on 8 May 1948.
• In 1984, the name was changed to ‘World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day'.
• 2025 Theme- Keeping Humanity Alive 

World Thalassemia Day /International Thalassaemia Day 

Every year, on the 8th of May, is observed as World Thalassaemia Day or International Thalassaemia Day. 

• Panos Ennglezos, founder of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF), established World Thalassaemia Day in 1994 in memory of his son George, who died due to the disease.  
• First - 8 May 1994 
• Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder passed from parents to their children. In patients with thalassemia, the body does not produce the required haemoglobin, resulting in anaemia in the patient.
• 2025 Theme -“Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritising Patients

11th May  

National Technology Day 

Observed in India on 11th May to celebrate its technological and scientific prowess.

• First - 11 May 1999, commemorating the anniversary of the Pokhran nuclear test conducted on 11 May 1998.
• 2025 Theme - YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research & Acceleration.

12th May  

International Nurses Day 

The International Council of Nurses celebrated the first International Nurses Day on 12 May 1974 to raise policymakers' and the public's awareness of nurses' important role in modern health care.

• Significance- It is a tribute to the British nurse Florence Nightingale, born on 12 May 1860 in Italy. She is also known as Lady with the Lamp.
• 2025 Theme- Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies. 

15th May 

International Day of Family 

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 1993, following the recommendation of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, to observe 15 May as the International Day of Family.

• First -15 May 1994.
• 2025 Theme - Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development

16th May  

International Day of Living Together in Peace

In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace.

• First- 16 May 2018.

International Day of Light

Every year, 16 May is observed as the International Day of Light. 

• On 16 May 1960, Physicist and EngineerTheodore Maiman of the United States of America created the first working LASER ( Light Amplification by Stimulated Radiation).
• To mark the momentous discovery, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) passed a resolution in 2017 to observe 16 May as the International Day of Light. 
• First- on 16 May 2018.
• No theme is announced for the International Day of the Light.

17th May 

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations' oldest specialised agency, first celebrated World Telecommunications Day on 17 May 1969. 

• The ITU was founded on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union after signing the first International Telegraph Convention.
• In 2005, the World Summit on Information Society recommended that the United Nations declare 17 May as World Information Society Day.
• The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 2006 declaring 17 May as World Information Society Day.
• First - on 17 May 2007.
• 2025 Theme - Gender Equality in Digital Transformation 

 World Hypertension Day

The World Hypertension League observed the first World Hypertension Day on 14 May 2005. 

• From 2006 onwards, World Hypertension Day has been observed on 17 May every year. 
• 2025 Theme - “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer

18th May 

International Museum Day 

• In 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) declared May 18 as International Museum Day (IMD),
• 2025 Theme - The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities 

Ordnance Factory Day 

It is observed to acknowledge the contribution made by the Ordnance companies in India’s defence by making arms and munitions for the armed forces.

• On this day in 1802, India's oldest Ordnance factory, Gun Carriage Agency India, started production.
• The East India Company established the oldest ordnance factory, ‘Gun Carriage Agency’ in Cassipore, in Calcutta.
• The factory is now known as the Gun and Shell Factory.

20th May

World Bee Day 

In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution sponsored by Slovenia with the support of Apimondia to observe 20 May as World Bee Day.

• Anton Jansa, pioneer of modern apiculture, was born on 20 May 1773 in Slovenia.
• Apiculture is the scientific raising of bees for commercial or agricultural purposes, primarily for producing honey and wax. 
• First-20 May 2018
• 2025 Theme - Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish Us All

World Sparrow Day 

It was started by the Nashik, Maharashtra-based NGO, Nature Forever Society, in 2010.

• The day is observed to protect and raise awareness about the declining population of the Sparrow (Passer domesticus).
• Sparrow is also known as Goriya, Kuruvi in Tamil.
• In 2012, the Sparrow was declared the state bird of Delhi.

21st May

National Anti Terrorism Day 

On 21 May 1991, the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, was killed by a woman suicide bomber of the  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, during an election campaign.

• First - 21 May 1992

International Tea Day 

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2019 to observe 21st May as International Tea Day.

• Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Tea is the world’s most consumed drink, after water. 
• First - 21 May 2020 
• 2025 Theme - Tea for Better Lives

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

In December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare 21 May as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

• First- 21 May 2003

International Day for Biological Diversity 

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2000 to observe 22 May as International Day for Biological Diversity 

• The day is significant because, on 22 May, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted. 
• First -22 May 2001. 

25th  May

World Football Day

The 193-member United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on 7 May 2024 to observe 25 May every year as World Football Day.

• On 25 May 1924, teams from all the regions of the world participated for the first time in any world event. This happened in the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics football event.
• 2025 Theme - Football Unites the World 

Africa Day 

Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now known as the African Union) on 25 May 1963.

• First - 25 May 1963
• The Organisation of African Unity was changed into the African Union in 2002.
• Africa is the world’s second-largest and most populous continent after Asia. It has 54 countries.

29th May 

 International Day of the UN Peacekeepers

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2002 to observe 29 May as the International Day of the UN Peacekeepers. 

• 29 May was chosen by the United Nations as on this day in 1948, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to authorise the first United Nations peacekeeping operation in West Asia.  
• First- 29 May 2003.
• 2025 Theme- The Future of Peacekeeping

30th May

International Day of the Potato

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on 8 December 2023 to observe 30 May as the International Day of the Potato.

• First- 30 May 2024.
• Potato is a tuber(underground stem) whose scientific name is Solanum tuberosum.
• Potatoes are the world's third most available food crop after rice and wheat.
• Potatoes were brought to India by the Portuguese. 
• India is the second-largest producer of potatoes after China in the world.

Hindi Journalism Day 

Every year, 30 May is observed as Hindi Journalism Day in India.

• The first Hindi-language newspaper, Udant Martnad, was published in India on 30 May 1826. 
• Udant Martand was started by Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla in Kolkata (then Calcutta). 
• Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla is considered to be the father of Hindi Journalism in India.

31st May 

World No Tobacco Day

The World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO) passed a resolution in 1988 to observe 31 May as World No Tobacco Day. 

• First- 31 May 1988
• 2025 Theme- Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products
• Introduced to India by the Portuguese in 1605.
• India is the second-largest producer of tobacco in the world after China.