Australia Day, the official national day of Australia, is observed on which date each year?

Introduction / Context:
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia and marks a key event in the country history when the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson in present day Sydney. The day is celebrated with ceremonies, community events, and discussions about national identity. In competitive exams, this date is often tested in international GK when questions cover important national days of major countries.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the date of Australia Day.
• All options are late January dates, which means precise recall is necessary.
• Australia Day is a fixed annual observance.
• We assume the candidate has some familiarity with national days of different countries, especially Commonwealth nations.

Concept / Approach:
Australia Day is observed on 26 January every year. While there are debates within Australia about the historical meaning of this date, from an exam perspective the key fact is simply the calendar date associated with the national day. To answer correctly, students should map 26 January with both Republic Day of India and Australia Day of Australia, which share the same calendar date but are unrelated events in different countries.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the national day in question is Australia Day. Step 2: Recall that Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. Step 3: Remember that this event is officially celebrated on 26 January each year. Step 4: Compare the recalled date with the sequence of January dates given in the options. Step 5: Choose option A, 26 January, as it accurately represents Australia Day date.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is simple because Australia Day is widely reported in international news bulletins at the end of January. Many GK books list it alongside other national days such as United States Independence Day on 4 July and French National Day on 14 July. Additionally, exam oriented tables often highlight that Australia Day and India Republic Day both fall on 26 January, which serves as a strong memory aid.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, 27 January, does not correspond to the national day of Australia in standard references.
Option C, 28 January, is close but incorrect because the official postings and celebrations are on 26 January.
Option D, 29 January, likewise has no special national significance as Australia Day.

Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is to confuse Australia Day with ANZAC Day, which is another important day in Australia and New Zealand but falls on a different date in April. Another error is thinking that Australia Day might be celebrated on a weekend near 26 January, but exam questions always refer to the official calendar date, not adjusted long weekend dates. To avoid confusion, students can build a short list mapping each major country to one key date, such as Australia to 26 January, United States to 4 July, and France to 14 July.

Final Answer:
Australia Day is observed each year on 26 January.