Father’s Day 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, June 21, offering families an opportunity to honour fathers and father figures for their love, support, guidance and sacrifices. In India, as well as in several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, the occasion is observed on the third Sunday of June every year.

The day is dedicated not only to fathers but also to grandfathers, stepfathers, guardians and mentors who play an important role in shaping lives and supporting families.

When is Father’s Day 2026?

Father’s Day 2026 falls on June 21, which is the third Sunday of June. The date changes each year, but the tradition of celebrating it on the third Sunday of June remains the same in many countries, including India.

History of Father’s Day

The modern observance of Father’s Day is widely linked to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Inspired by Mother’s Day celebrations, she wanted to honour her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children as a single parent after his wife’s death. Her efforts led to one of the earliest Father’s Day celebrations in Spokane on June 19, 1910.

Over the following decades, support for the observance grew across the United States. Father’s Day was officially recognised as a national holiday in 1972 when then-US President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation establishing it as an annual celebration.

Significance of Father’s Day

Father’s Day serves as a reminder to acknowledge the contribution of fathers and father figures in family life. The occasion recognises their role in providing emotional support, guidance, protection and encouragement. It is also an opportunity for families to express gratitude and strengthen their bonds through meaningful interactions and shared experiences.

How is Father’s Day celebrated?

People celebrate Father’s Day in different ways, depending on family traditions and personal preferences. Common celebrations include:

• Spending quality time with family
• Organising a special meal or outing
• Giving greeting cards and gifts
• Sharing heartfelt messages and memories
• Planning activities based on a father’s hobbies and interests

Many families are increasingly choosing experiences such as dining outings, creative workshops and family gatherings over traditional gifts.

Budget-friendly Father’s Day gift ideas

You do not need to spend a large amount of money to make Father’s Day special. Some thoughtful and affordable gift options include:

• A handwritten letter expressing gratitude
• A personalised photo frame or photo collage
• A notebook, planner or quality pen
• A customised coffee mug
• A favourite book
• Homemade snacks or a special meal
• A keychain with a personal message
• A DIY greeting card
• A playlist featuring your father’s favourite songs
• A family memory scrapbook

Personalised and heartfelt gifts often carry more emotional value than expensive presents and can become cherished keepsakes.

Father’s Day 2026, which falls on June 21, is an occasion to celebrate the love, sacrifices and guidance provided by fathers and father figures. Whether through a thoughtful gift, a heartfelt message or simply spending time together, the day offers a meaningful opportunity to show appreciation and create lasting memories.

Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has sought to downplay the impact of a rebellion by six Lok Sabha MPs from the party, asserting that the organisation will continue to move forward despite the latest political setback.

Speaking as Shiv Sena marked its 60th foundation year, Raut said the party’s future does not depend on elected representatives and that it has overcome several challenges during its long history. He remarked that people may come and go, but the party continues its journey forward.

The comments come amid growing turmoil within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction after six MPs signalled their intention to break away. According to reports, the rebel lawmakers are dissatisfied with the leadership style of Uddhav Thackeray and have also expressed concerns over the party’s closeness to the Congress.

Among those seeking to leave the party are MPs Omraje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Bhausaheb Vakchaure. Reports indicate that the lawmakers recently met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and cited concerns about the party’s political direction.

Party can rebuild after setbacks, says Raut

Referring to the latest round of defections, Raut maintained that Shiv Sena (UBT) has faced betrayals and internal challenges before and has always managed to recover. He stressed that the party remains cadre-based and is not dependent on MPs or MLAs for its existence.

The Rajya Sabha MP also accused the ruling BJP of attempting to weaken regional political parties across the country. According to Raut, efforts have been made over the past decade to diminish the role of regional forces, and a healthy democracy requires a strong opposition.

The rebellion has intensified speculation about another split within the Thackeray camp, which has already faced major political upheaval in recent years. However, the party leadership has indicated that it intends to continue its organisational work and focus on rebuilding support despite the current crisis.

Delhi High Court issues notice to the Centre but does not stay the temporary restriction imposed ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

Messaging platform Telegram has not received interim relief from the Delhi High Court in its challenge to the Centre’s temporary restriction on the app ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

The court issued notice to the Union government and agreed to hear the matter, but did not pass any immediate order suspending the restriction. The temporary curbs were imposed until June 22 as part of measures aimed at preventing exam-related fraud and the circulation of fake paper leak claims before the June 21 re-test.

Telegram has argued that the restriction affects millions of users and is disproportionate to the alleged misuse by a small number of individuals. The company has also questioned the legality and procedure followed while imposing the restriction.

During the proceedings, the Centre defended its decision, maintaining that the measure was necessary to protect the integrity of the high-stakes medical entrance examination. Government representatives argued that Telegram had been used to spread leaked exam material, misinformation and fraudulent claims linked to the examination process.

The court sought the Centre’s response and scheduled further consideration of the matter. Until a final decision is reached, the temporary restriction remains in effect.

The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of examination security following the cancellation of the original NEET-UG 2026 exam and the decision to conduct a re-examination for affected candidates.