The National Youth Day observed every year on January 12 throughout India.
This day marked Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary, also called Swami Vivekananda Jayanti.
In 1984, the government said that "the philosophy of Vivekananda and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian youth".
From 1985 Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day.