United Nations Observed International Day of Charity on 5th September 2025.
Important Days
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of Charity every year on 5th September to emphasize the importance of charitable work and humanitarian service in addressing social and economic challenges worldwide. The day also commemorates the death anniversary of Mother Teresa in 1997.
- In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/67/105, officially designating September 5 as the International Day of Charity. The initiative aimed to create global awareness about charity as a universal value and practice.
- The International Day of Charity was celebrated for the first time worldwide on 5th September 2013. Since then, it has been observed annually across nations, bringing together NGOs, civil societies, and individuals to promote humanitarian efforts.
- The date was chosen to honor the anniversary of the passing of Mother Teresa, who died on 5th September 1997 at the age of 87 in Kolkata, West Bengal. She is remembered globally as a symbol of selfless service and compassion.
Main Point :- (i) According to United Nations estimates, global charitable donations amount to nearly USD 2.7 trillion annually, highlighting the scale and importance of philanthropic efforts in reducing poverty, supporting education, and tackling humanitarian crises.
(ii) Born in 1910 in Uskup, Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, North Macedonia), Mother Teresa came to India in 1928. She became an Indian citizen in 1948 and founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950, dedicating her life to the service of the poor and destitute.
(iii) Mother Teresa received several prestigious awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1962), the Templeton Prize (1973), the Nobel Peace Prize (1979), and India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna (1980). In 2016, Pope Francis canonized her as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She also authored books such as Best Gift is Love, My Life for the Poor, and Heart of Joy.
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