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5 September 2026 marks the 29th death anniversary of Mother Teresa, who died in Kolkata on 5 September 1997 aged 87.
The same date is observed worldwide as the International Day of Charity, designated by UN General Assembly resolution 67/105 on 17 December 2012.
The observance originated in a 2011 Hungarian civil society initiative and was adopted by consensus with 44 co-sponsoring states.
Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950 and won the Nobel Peace Prize (1979) and Bharat Ratna (1980).
She was beatified on 19 October 2003 and canonised as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by Pope Francis on 4 September 2016.
Born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia).
Arrives in India as a member of the Sisters of Loreto and begins teaching in Calcutta.
Takes her final religious vows and adopts the name Teresa.
Leaves the Loreto convent to work directly among Kolkata's poor.
Founds the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
Opens Nirmal Hriday, a home for the terminally ill and destitute.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
Dies in Kolkata at the age of 87.
Beatified by Pope John Paul II as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
UN General Assembly adopts resolution 67/105 declaring 5 September the International Day of Charity.
Canonised by Pope Francis as Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Catholic religious congregation founded by Mother Teresa in 1950 to serve the destitute, sick and dying; runs homes, hospices, schools and mobile leprosy clinics.
Adopted resolution 67/105 in December 2012 designating 5 September as the International Day of Charity; it is the UN organ that declares international days.
The teaching congregation Mother Teresa joined in 1928 and served with in Calcutta until she left the convent in 1948.
GS Paper 2 > Important International Institutions; GS Paper 4 > Ethics, contribution of moral thinkers
General Awareness > Important Days, Awards and Honours
Who was the first musician to be awarded the "Bharat Ratna"?
Answer: M.S. Subbulakshmi
"Pandit Bhimsen Joshi" belongs to which Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music?
Answer: Kirana Gharana
"Ustad Bismillah Khan" was famous for playing which instrument?
Answer: Shehnai
"Pandit Ravi Shankar" was awarded the Bharat Ratna in which year?
Answer: 1999
The Bharat Ratna award was first instituted in which year?
Answer: 1954
The step in the Catholic Church preceding sainthood, conferring the title 'Blessed'; Mother Teresa was beatified on 19 October 2003.
Formal declaration of sainthood; Pope Francis canonised Mother Teresa on 4 September 2016 as Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
The 17 December 2012 resolution designating 5 September as the International Day of Charity.