Accession Day: Jammu and Kashmir marks 79th anniversary of accession
Why in the news
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir celebrated its 79th Accession Day on 26 October 2026, marking the day the princely state joined the Indian Union in 1947.
Key facts
- Instrument of Accession: signed by Maharaja Hari Singh, then ruler of the princely state, on 26 October 1947.
- Effective date: the accession took effect on 27 October 1947.
- Context: the signing came during the turmoil after Partition, when tribal raiders from Pakistan attacked the state.
- Holiday: government offices and educational institutions stayed shut under the holiday calendar issued by the General Administration Department; emergency services kept running.
- Significance: the day is observed as a symbol of unity and of the region’s formal integration with India.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 26 October 1947 | Instrument of Accession signed |
| 27 October 1947 | Accession took effect; Indian infantry reached Srinagar airport |
| 26 October 2026 | 79th Accession Day |
About Infantry Day
Infantry Day, also called Shaurya Diwas, is observed on 27 October every year. It commemorates the arrival of Indian Army infantrymen at Srinagar airport in 1947, the first troops to land there, whose operations pushed back the Pakistan-backed tribal invasion. It is marked with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
Exam angle
- Signatory of the Instrument of Accession: Maharaja Hari Singh.
- Accession Day: 26 October; Infantry Day: 27 October.
- 2026 marks the 79th anniversary.