National Youth Day is observed in India every year on January 12 to honour the teaching and ideals of Swami Vivekananda who was born on January 12, 1863, The decision to celebrate Vivekananda's birthday as National Youth Day was taken in 1984, and it was first marked on January 12, 1985. The government had then said that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked "could be a great source of inspiration" for the Indian youth.