The longest day of 2021 for those living north of the Equator is June 21. This day is referred to as the summer solstice, the longest day of the summer season. It occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or more specifically right over 23.5 degree north latitude. This happened around 9:02 am on June 21 (Indian Standard Time). Since Earth rotates on its axis, the Northern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight between March & September over the course of a day, which also means people living in the Northern Hemisphere experience summer during this time. The rest of the year, the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. During the solstice, the Earth’s axis, around which the planet spins, completing one turn each day, is tilted in a way that the North Pole is tipped towards the sun & the South Pole is away from it. Therefore, the solstice, as NASA puts it, is that instant in time when the North Pole points more directly toward the sun that at any other time during the year. Solstice means “sun stands still” in Latin. The amount of light received by a specific area in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice depends on the latitudinal location of the place. Watch the video to know more.