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.

23 May 1947 The British Cabinet agreed to the partition of India What happened? The British Cabinet agreed to Lord Mountbatten’s plan of...
22 May 1772 Birth of Raja Ram Mohan Roy What happened? One of the greatest social and religious reformers of India, Raja Ram Mohan Roy was...
21 May 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination What happened? Former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated in a suicide bombing...
20 May 1498 Vasco da Gama arrived in India What happened? On 20th May 1498, two years after he set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, Vasco da Gama...
18 May 1974 “Smiling Buddha” What happened? India conducted its first successful test of a nuclear bomb on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran. The secret...
The Treaty of Salbai, which ended the First Anglo-Maratha War, was signed on 17 May 1782 between the British East India Company and the Marathas....
On 16 May 1975, the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim became the 22nd state of India, ending the monarchy ruling there from the 17th century. This...
15 May 1907 Birth of revolutionary Sukhdev What happened? Sukhdev Thapar, the revolutionary freedom fighter who was hanged along with Bhagat...
The second ruler of the Maratha Empire and the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Bhonsale was born on 14 May 1657 at Purandar...
Rajya Sabha’s first sitting was held on 13th May 1952. It is the Upper House of the Parliament of India. This article will provide you with some...
 INS Viraat, a Centaur-class aircraft carrier, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987. It served in the Indian Navy until its...
11 May 1998 Pokhran-II What happened? India conducted a series of nuclear bomb tests at the Pokhran Test Range of the Indian Army starting 11...
10 May 1857 The First War of Indian Independence What happened? The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the First War of Indian...
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born on May 9th, 1866. He was a renowned social reformer of India and was one of the leaders of the moderate bloc of...
Eight CRPF jawans were killed when a Maoist group blew up a vehicle near Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh on this day. In this edition of This...
On 7 May 1924, Freedom fighter and leader of the ‘Rampa Revolt’ Alluri Sitarama Raju was killed by the British. Inspired by the Revolutionaries...
06 May 1861 Birth of Motilal Nehru What happened? Motilal Nehru, independence activist and member of the Indian National Congress was born on...
05 May 1911 Birth of revolutionary freedom fighter Pritilata Waddedar What happened? Pritilata Waddedar, the young revolutionary freedom...
04 May 1799 Siege of Seringapatam What happened? [caption id="attachment_50826" align="alignright" width="146"] Tipu Sultan[/caption] The...
The first World Press Freedom Day or simply, World Press Day was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation...