Every year, World Standards Day, also called International Standards Day, is celebrated across the globe on October 14. The day is observed to create an awareness about the importance of standardization in the global economy among the consumers, regulators and industry. From the capability to travel efficiently, to an access to fresh water, cleaner energy and ensuring standard safety and security measures, the day is dedicated towards the importance of implementation of globally acceptable technical standards.
History of the day
In 1946, World Standard Day was first created in London on October 14 in the presence of well-known experts and delegates from around 25 countries. The event was attended by international standards bodies like ISO (the International Organization for Standardization), IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission), and ITU (the International Telecommunication Union). In 1970, the day was first celebrated by Faruk Sunter, the then President of IES (International Organization for Standardization) to facilitate standardization in the industrial sectors.
Theme of the day
In 2020, the theme of the day was 'Protecting the Planet with Standards', while in the year 2019, the theme for World Standards Day was 'Video standards create a global stage'. The theme for World Standards Day in 2021 is 'Standards for sustainable development goals- a shared vision for a better future'.
Significance of the day
The day is celebrated worldwide in order to appreciate the efforts of the technical communities who contribute to creating internationally acceptable standards.