Renewable Energy Day (Akshay Urja Diwas) in India Date in the current year: August 20, 2024

Renewable Energy Day was established in 2004 to support the on-going programs of renewable energy development and promote its use instead of traditional sources of energy. The very first event relating to Akshay Urja Diwas was organized in New Delhi. That year Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp and 12,000 schoolchildren formed a human chain to promote renewable energy. The next years the events were organized inn Nagpur, Hyderabad, Panchkula, Haryana.

August 20 wasn't chosen on random to be the date of the observance. This day commemorates birthday anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India from October 31, 1984 to December 2, 1989. He advocated taking the country into the 21st century through application of modern technology and science. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to implement his ideas, because he was assassinated in 1991.