Year 1939
Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday celebrated as a public holiday in Germany.
APRIL 20
Daily Historical Chronicle
UPSC CSE • State PSC • SSC CGL Matrix
20 April: What Happened On This Day in History
Curated historical timeline of momentous political pacts, freedom struggle uprisings, constitutional developments, scientific breakthroughs, and prominent birthdays recorded on 20 April.
Observances & Special Days
UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)
Year 1946
The League of Nations, the erstwhile institution of the United Nations, was disbanded.
Year 1972
The Apollo-16 expedition landed on the moon after battling for six hours. The team of John Young and Charles Duke became the fifth team in history to land on the moon.
Year 1997
Indra Kumar Gujral became the 12th Prime Minister of India.
Year 2006
India announced to establish its first foreign military base in Tajikistan.
Year 2008
Danica Patrick became the first female driver to win an indie car race.
Year 2011
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) satellite launch vehicle ‘PSLV’ successfully placed three satellites into space.
Year 1888
246 reported killed by an hail storm in Moradabad, India.
Year 1938
The Viceroy imposes an ordinance for the suppression of terrorism, following a series of attacks.
Year 1954
Panchsheel agreement between China and India.
Year 1965
First Indian team led by M. S. Kohli ascends the Everest.
Year 1971
Air India started Boing 707 Jumbo Jet flight between Bombay and London.
Year 1973
Rioting over food shortages ends after three days in Nagpur.
Year 1989
R. S. Pathak, Chief Justice of India, elected to the World Court.
Year 1989
Launching of IRBM `Agni' fails.
Year 1989
President's rule imposed in Karnataka.
Year 1993
Jharkhand Movement suspends its 36-days old economic blockade.
Year 1997
Sheri Bamboat and Hamshad Bamboat win National sea-bird sailing title.
Year 2000
A full bench of the Madras High Court quashes the Tamil Nadu Government order making Tamil (or mother tongue) as the compulsory medium of instruction in all schools in the State up to Standard V.
Born 1808
Napoleon III, the first president of France.
Born 1889
Adolf Hitler, a German politician, and leader of the Nazi Party.
Born 1914
Gopinath Mohanty, an Indian novelist.
Born 1939
Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar, an Indian classical vocalist.
Born 1950
N. Chandrababu Naidu, an Indian politician and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Born 1966
David Filo, an American billionaire businessman and the co-founder of Yahoo! with Jerry Yang.
Born 1972
Mamta Kulkarni, a former Indian actress, and model.
Born 1887
Padmabhushan Jemini Roy, famous painter, was born.
Born 1950
N. Chandrababu Naidu, Indian politician, 13th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Born 1980
Arin Paul, Indian director and screenwriter
Born 1914
Gopinath Mahanti, famous Oriya novelist and Gyanpeeth awardee, was born.
Died 1918
Karl Ferdinand Braun was a German electrical engineer, inventor, and physicist.
Died 1960
Pannalal Ghosh, an Indian flute player, and composer.
Died 1970
Shakeel Badayuni, an Indian Urdu poet, lyricist, and songwriter.
Died 1236
Iltutmish, father of Rajiya Sultan, died in Delhi.
Died 1938
Bhartacharya Chintamanrao Vinayak Vaidya, omnicient research scientist and expert of Marathi and English languages, passed away.
Died 1960
Pannalal Ghosh, famous flute player, passed away.
Died 1991
Ganesh Sadashiv Bhat, famous Marathi film director and President's Award winner of 1963, passed away.
Died 1992
U. K. Kanitkar, famous scientist, and professor, passed away.