The International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms is marked every year on 12 July. It seeks to build awareness about sand and dust storms (SDS), which damage health, agriculture, transport and infrastructure, and to reduce their impact through early warning systems and international cooperation. The theme for 2026 is "From Source to Impact: Protecting Land and Life from Sand and Dust Storms". Land degradation and drought are major drivers of such storms, making the issue relevant to arid parts of India.