This Day in History - What happened today?

The historical events hold a lot of value for aspirants who are sitting for competitive exams including that of IAS Exam. BYJU’S initiative called ‘This Day in History’ covers every day of the calendar and recalls a major event that happened in the history of India and the world on this date which changed the course of history.

This article collaborates all historical days to make IAS Aspirants’ preparation for UPSC Civil Services Exam easy and more effective. The facts given will be helpful for aspirants in UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains exams and many topics are mentioned in UPSC Syllabus too. 

This Day in History for UPSC will help aspirants in the preparation of History subject of UPSC Mains GS 1. To complement This Day in History articles, aspirants can refer to NCERT History notes for the UPSC Exam:

Significance of This Day in History Initiative

While following what has happened on a particular day, IAS aspirants get to know facts about major historical events and the intricacies related to them. ‘This day in History’ segment will bring answers to the following questions:

This Day in History – Features

What famous things happened on this day in history? It will help aspirants to know the significance of a historical date. Whether it was in relation with the history of India, Polity of India or Economy of India.
What is special on today’s date? Each date of the calendar is covered with the information on major happenings. The facts provided in these articles can be used in the UPSC Prelims and Mains exam. 
What happened in the 1800s, 1900s and 2000s? All important details about the historical events that took place in yesteryears and the present will be covered. 
Who in history died today? Death centenaries of imminent personalities are always in the news and hence, This Day in History brings the information about the demise of the famous persons.

This Day in History - What Happened Today? UPSC Preparation

How can UPSC aspirants use ‘This Day in History’ initiative for their preparation?

Candidates can take help from UPSC Previous Years’ Question Papers to see how the information provided in the ‘This Day in History’ segment can be utilized as per the need of the questions.  

This new section incorporates an important event that occurred on this day in history and explains the significance of the day for India and also the world. 

The article will give you important dates of historical events. Check the list of examples of important dates that will be brought out on This Day of History segment below:

  1. Wars breaking out/ending
  2. Peace treaties brokered
  3. Birth of Leading personalities
  4. The demise of national freedom struggle leaders
  5. A new game-changing governmental policy set out
  6. Any historical incident that occurred and gave a complete makeover to India, its people and in the development of the country

This section will go hand-in-hand with your UPSC 2020 preparation as it will enhance your knowledge about Indian history, polity and economy among others and help in improving your memory and associate with it what you have studied for the day. Read on to understand how to approach ‘This Day in History’ for your UPSC preparation:

This Day in History – UPSC Subject-Wise Articles

We are giving you some random dates and examples to help you understand how to utilize the segment, ‘This Day in History.’

#History – This Day in History

1. 19th July – Reformation of Gadgil Formula by Planning Commission 

How to approach 

  • The topics that become important for aspirants from this day in history are ‘Gadgil Formula’ and ‘Planning Commission.’  
  • Candidates should know what Gadgil Formula is and what it is about.
  • Similarly, candidates should know about the Planning Commission & its revamped version – Niti Ayog.

2. 19th August – First Rupee Coin was minted

How to approach

Aspirants should collect the following facts:

  • Where was the first rupee coin minted?
  • Who minted the coin?
  • What was the name given to the first rupee coin?
  • Monetary system prevalent in India under the British Impact. 

#Polity – This Day in History

1. 22nd July–  Adoption of the National Flag of India

How to approach

Aspirants should get the facts about the National Flag of India. Those facts can be used in Mains answers (GS 1, 2, essay and history optional papers.) Afterwards, aspirants can also check ‘National Symbols of India’ article for similar articles. 

2. 9th December – The first meeting of Constituent Assembly

How to approach

Aspirants should complement the historical facts with the evolution of the Indian Constitution which is important for both History (GS 1) and Polity (GS 2). Afterwards, aspirants can read more about the Indian Constitution at the linked article.

#Economy – This Day in History

1. 15th March – Planning Commission was formed

How to approach

Aspirants should know the changes brought in the Indian economy with the five-year plans launched by the Planning Commission. Later aspirants may check the detailed information about the Planning Commission of India at the linked article.

2. 8th November – Demonetization was announced

How to approach

Aspirants should know about the causes, impact and benefits of the demonetization in  India. They can read the detailed Demonetization essay at the linked article.

Reading ‘This Day in History’ regularly will help candidates to remember and recall important dates and events in the history of India easily.

21 January 1945 What happened? On 21 January 1945, Rash Behari Bose, revolutionary leader and founder of the Indian Independence League died...
On 20 January 1948, an assassination attempt was made on Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House in Delhi where he was staying. No one was hurt during this...
19 January 1931 The First Round Table Conference ended. What happened? On 19 January 1931, the first Round Table Conference concluded in...
On 18 January 1968, the Official Language Resolution was passed by both Houses of Parliament. This Resolution was passed to build a comprehensive...
On 17 January 1946, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held its first session in London. Read the relevant facts about the UNSC's first...
On 16 January 1901, Mahadev Govind Ranade, social reformer and one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress passed away in Pune....
15 January 1949 Army Day What happened? On 15 January 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa, who was then a Lieutenant General, took over...
14 January 1761 Third Battle of Panipat What happened? The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on 14 January 1761 between the Maratha Empire and...
On 13 January 1779, the Marathas defeated the British forces on the concluding day of the Battle of Wadgaon. This Battle was part of the First...
On 12 January 1934, revolutionary freedom fighter Surya Kumar Sen was hanged by the British at the Chittagong Jail. He was associated with the...
11 January 1966 Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away What happened? On 11 January 1966, India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri died in...
On 10th January 1966, the Tashkent Declaration was signed between India and Pakistan following the inconclusive war of 1965. This article will...
On 9 January 1915, Father of the Nation, M K Gandhi reached Bombay sailing from South Africa, having lived there for more than two decades. This...
8 January 1884 Social reformer Keshub Chandra Sen passed away. What happened? On 8 January 1884, Hindu philosopher, Brahmo Samajist and social...
On 7 January 2015, two masked gunmen barged into the office of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper office in Paris and shot dead 12 people injuring many...
On 6 January 1885, Bhartendu Harishchandra, the ‘father of modern Hindi literature’ as well as 'Hindi Theatre', passed away aged 34. He wrote...
On 5 January 1592, Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram, later known as Shah Jahan, was born to Mughal Emperor Jahangir and his wife Jagat Gosaini....
4 January 1932 Mahatma Gandhi arrested following the start of the second civil disobedience movement. What happened? On 4 January 1932, Mahatma...
On 3 January 1760, freedom fighter and martyr Veerapandiya Kattabomman was born in Panchalankurichi in Tamil Nadu. The British waged war, as he...
On 2 January 1987, Indian independence activist and former Chief Minister of Odisha ‘Utkal Keshari’ Harekrushna Mahatab passed away aged 87. Read...