Children's Day 2026: Nehru's 137th birth anniversary

13 November 2026 · English Important Days

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Current affairs of 13 November 2026 (Shanmugam IAS Academy) – explained for UPSC, TNPSC and other competitive exams

News

14 November, the birthday of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is celebrated every year as Children's Day (Bal Diwas). 14 November 2026 (Saturday) is his 137th birth anniversary (born 14 November 1889 at Allahabad, now Prayagraj). His affection for children earned him the name 'Chacha Nehru'. A Business Standard report notes that India earlier marked Children's Day on 20 November, the UN's Universal Children's Day, and that after Nehru's death in 1964 a parliamentary resolution moved it to his birthday. Schools hold art, sports and essay events, and the day raises awareness about children's education, health, safety and rights. It is different from 'Veer Baal Diwas' on 26 December (since 2022), which honours the sons of Guru Gobind Singh.

Key facts for the exam

Background

• History – Nehru: a front-rank leader of the Indian National Congress who was jailed many times. Held at Ahmednagar Fort after the 1942 Quit India arrests, he wrote 'The Discovery of India' (published 1946). He was Prime Minister from 1947 until his death in 1964 – India's longest-serving PM.
• Foreign policy: the five principles of 'Panchsheel' appeared in the 1954 agreement with China (on trade with the Tibet region). He was an architect of non-alignment and, with Tito, Nasser, Sukarno and Nkrumah, played a key role at the 1961 Belgrade NAM summit.
• Economy – planned development: first chairman of the Planning Commission (1950); he laid foundations of Five-Year Plans, the public sector, heavy industry, IITs and science institutions. He called dams 'temples of modern India' and dedicated the Bhakra dam on the Sutlej to the nation in 1963.
• Constitution – child rights: Article 21A (free and compulsory education, 6–14), Article 24 (no employment of children below 14 in factories, mines or hazardous work), Article 39(e),(f) (protecting childhood from exploitation), Article 45 (early childhood care and education below 6). Laws: POCSO Act 2012, Juvenile Justice Act 2015, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 (amended in 2016 and renamed the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act).

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Sources: Business Standard (14 Nov 2023); Tribune / PTI (15 Sep 2022); ThePrint / PTI (26 Aug 2025); Constitution of India; MEA – Panchsheel; Britannica – Jawaharlal Nehru. Compiled by Shanmugam IAS Academy.

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