Commonwealth Day is traditionally observed in India and some other member countries on which date linked to the birthday of Queen Victoria?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 24 May

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Commonwealth Day is an observance that celebrates the shared values, history, and cooperation among the member states of the Commonwealth. While many countries now mark Commonwealth Day on the second Monday in March, some member countries, including India in traditional general knowledge references, have historically observed it on 24 May, the birthday of Queen Victoria. This question specifically focuses on that traditional date pattern.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The observance is Commonwealth Day for member countries.
  • The question is framed in the context used in Indian general knowledge and exam material.
  • The options provide both fixed calendar dates and a weekday based pattern.
  • Only one of these options matches the traditional date associated with India's observance of Commonwealth Day.



Concept / Approach:
Historically, Commonwealth Day (earlier known as Empire Day) was celebrated on 24 May to coincide with Queen Victoria's birthday. Over time, many countries shifted the observance to the second Monday in March, but examination syllabi and several question banks in India still refer to 24 May when asking about Commonwealth Day as observed in India. Therefore, the correct strategy here is to answer according to the conventional exam standard rather than the more recent global practice.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Indian general knowledge references often treat 24 May as Commonwealth Day because of its link with Queen Victoria's birthday.Step 2: Note that while the second Monday of March is the modern Commonwealth pattern, the question mentions member countries in a way that reflects older exam style usage.Step 3: Look at the options and identify 24 May as option B.Step 4: Recognise that the other fixed dates such as 25 January or 24 October correspond to unrelated observances.Step 5: Choose 24 May as the correct answer for this question.



Verification / Alternative check:
Many Indian competitive exam guides explicitly state that Commonwealth Day in India is observed on 24 May, referencing the former Empire Day tradition. Complementing this, current affairs articles sometimes clarify that globally the official Commonwealth Day is now the second Monday in March but also acknowledge that India historically observed it on 24 May. Since this question mirrors the style of such exam questions, 24 May is the expected and scoring answer.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
25 January: This date is not linked with Commonwealth Day and is more relevant to Indian national observances like National Tourism Day in some contexts.


24 October: This is the date for United Nations Day, not Commonwealth Day.


14 November: Known in India as Children Day, this date is unrelated to Commonwealth Day.


Second Monday of March: While this reflects the modern Commonwealth pattern in many countries, the framing of the question and the use of options suggest that the answer expected in Indian exam style general knowledge is 24 May.



Common Pitfalls:
Students may be aware of both the traditional date (24 May) and the modern pattern (second Monday of March) and feel confused when both appear in the options. In such cases, it is important to pay attention to how exam materials used in preparation treat the topic. For most Indian competitive exams that still follow the older convention, the correct answer remains 24 May, especially when the question is framed in a general way without emphasising the recent shift.



Final Answer:
24 May

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