Dr Abdul Kalam's birthday (15 Oct) – Tamil Nadu's 'Youth Awakening Day' since 2015; 'World Students' Day' 2026
14-10-2026 · English
Topics: Important Days · 14 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
Tamil Nadu observes 15 Oct, the birthday of former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as 'Youth Awakening Day', as announced by CM J. Jayalalithaa on 31 July 2015, four days after his death. The same announcement instituted the 'Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award' (₹5 lakh, an 8-gram gold medal and a citation), presented on Independence Day (15 Aug) – in 2026 CM Vijay gave it to diabetologist Dr V. Mohan. Though 15 Oct is widely celebrated as 'World Students' Day', the UN has not officially declared it.
Key facts
| TN day | 15 Oct – Youth Awakening Day (since 2015; 'Youth Inspiration Day' in the English release) |
| Kalam Award | ₹5 lakh + 8 g gold medal + citation; on 15 Aug; for science, student welfare, humanities |
| 2026 awardee | Dr V. Mohan – diabetologist, Chennai (presented by CM Vijay) |
| World Students' Day | Not declared by the UN (confirmed by UN India); the UN day on 15 Oct is the International Day of Rural Women |
Background
- Kalam: born 15 Oct 1931, Rameswaram; India's 11th President (2002–07); 'Missile Man of India'; died 27 July 2015 while lecturing at IIM Shillong; memorial at Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram.
- Honours: Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), Bharat Ratna (1997). Project Director of SLV-3 – Rohini satellite, 18 July 1980; Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (Agni, Prithvi); Pokhran-II (May 1998).
- Books: 'Wings of Fire' (1999, with Arun Tiwari), 'India 2020', 'Ignited Minds'.
Tamil Nadu link: Kalam was born in Rameswaram and studied at Schwartz School, Ramanathapuram, St Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, and MIT, Chennai. Youth Awakening Day and the Kalam Award are both Tamil Nadu Government initiatives.
Source: The News Minute (2015); UNI (2026 award); FACTLY (World Students' Day); Wikipedia
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