Police Commemoration Day for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Friday, October 21st. There are until the next observance.

On October 21, India commemorates Police Commemoration Day. It is a national holiday to honor the martyrs who gave their lives in the course of service. It is also a day to thank the officers and families of those who continue to serve and protect us on a daily basis.

📆 When is Police Commemoration Day?

This year, Police Commemoration Day is on October 21st. It is the 3rd Friday in October; in 2023, it is on Saturday.

Countdown to Police Commemoration Day

Did you know: Officers with larger mustaches are paid more in Madhya Pradesh because they are seen to have a stronger command.

You can also discover all fun things you didn’t know about and facts about October 21, 2022.

📜 History of Police Commemoration Day

According to official sources at the time, three reconnaissance groups were launched the day before from Ladakh as part of an Indian expedition to Lanak La. Only two of these parties, however, returned. The following morning, D.C.I.O Shri Karam Singh led a search party of 20 officers from the Intelligence Bureau and the C.R.P.F. to look for the missing group. They rode their horses, while the rest of the crew followed on foot. The Chinese forces started fire and tossed grenades at Singh’s party, which was unprotected, about noon. The attack resulted in the deaths of ten men, the capture of seven, and injuries to the other seven, who escaped.

After three weeks, the Chinese finally turned over the martyrs’ corpses to the country. They were then cremated with full police honors in Ladakh’s hot springs. Along with the tremendous wrath that swept the country, there was an outpouring of respect for the valiant warriors who had battled till the bitter end. In January 1960, the annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories decided October 21 to be “Commemoration Day.”

☑️ Police Commemoration Day facts

A skewed ratio
For every 100,000 inhabitants, there are just 130 officers.

The job can take a hefty toll
According to a National Crime Records Bureau survey, Mumbai has the highest incidence of police suicides in India.

Friends through football
Children in Delhi play football with police as part of an effort by a non-government group to make children less afraid of the police.

Things to do on Police Commemoration Day

Watch the parade
Watch the Police Commemoration Day procession on television or the internet if possible. It’s a wonderful way to honor the martyrs from home.

Visit the National Police Memorial
If you’re in the vicinity, go to the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, India. It’s a way of remembering and honoring the brave soldiers who served.

Support the martyrs’ families
There are groups that assist the families of martyrs, particularly those who have lost breadwinners. You may help by donating to these charities.

📅 Police Commemoration Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 October 21 Saturday
2024 October 21 Monday
2025 October 21 Tuesday
2026 October 21 Wednesday
2027 October 21 Thursday

Discover all October holidays, including Appreciation and other Indian holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and fun facts about Police Commemoration Day. So be sure to check back soon.