Indian Army Day, which honours the soldiers and leadership of the Indian Army, is celebrated on which of the following dates each year?

Introduction / Context:
Indian Army Day is a national observance that commemorates the moment when the first Indian Commander in Chief took charge of the Indian Army, symbolising the transfer of command from British to Indian leadership after independence. On this day, the nation pays tribute to the bravery, sacrifice, and service of army personnel. For competitive examinations, defence related observances like Army Day, Navy Day, and Air Force Day are standard static GK topics, and candidates are often tested on their exact dates.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers specifically to Indian Army Day, not to Republic Day or Independence Day.
• The options give four dates: 16 October, 19 November, 26 December, and 15 January.
• We assume the accepted standard that Army Day is linked with the change in army leadership after independence.
• The observance occurs annually on a fixed date in January.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is factual knowledge of defence commemorative days. Indian Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January, marking the day in 1949 when General K. M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander in Chief of the Army. The approach is to recall this historical association and then match it to the correct date in the options. This also helps you differentiate Army Day from other patriotic days like Republic Day on 26 January and Independence Day on 15 August.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is asking about Indian Army Day.Step 2: Recall from defence GK that Army Day is observed on 15 January every year.Step 3: Check the options: 16 October, 19 November, 26 December, and 15 January.Step 4: Identify 15 January as the matching date.Step 5: Select 15 January as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a quick check, remember the pattern of forces days: Army Day on 15 January, Air Force Day on 8 October, and Navy Day on 4 December. This distribution across the year makes each day distinct and easier to recall. By placing 15 January early in the year as Army Day, you can clearly separate it from other important dates in October, November, or December that may be used as distractors in exam questions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
16 October and 19 November are not associated with Army Day in India and may relate to other events or observances. 26 December also does not correspond to Army Day and may be confused with 26 January, which is actually Republic Day. None of these dates match the historic event of General Cariappa assuming command of the Indian Army, so they are all incorrect in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent pitfall is confusing Army Day with other patriotic or defence related dates such as Republic Day, Independence Day, or the anniversary of a particular war. Candidates also sometimes misplace Army Day into October or December because Air Force Day and Navy Day fall in those months. To avoid this, memorise the trio clearly and practise them together: Army 15 January, Air Force 8 October, and Navy 4 December. This grouped revision significantly reduces the chance of error.

Final Answer:
Indian Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January.