150th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

On 23rd October, 2024, the government announced a two-year-long nationwide celebration, from 2024 to 2026, to honour the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, recognizing his immense contribution to India's unity and democracy.

Key Points

Two-Year Nationwide Programme: The celebrations, announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will take place from 2024 to 2026, highlighting Patel's pivotal role in unifying India.
Patel’s Enduring Legacy: As India’s first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Patel's work in integrating over 550 princely states into the Union remains his defining legacy.
National Unity Day: Since 2014, the government has been observing October 31, Patel's birth anniversary, as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day to promote national unity and security
Honouring the Spirit of Unity: Various programmes across the country will recall Patel's contributions, underscoring the spirit of unity he epitomized and the strong democracy he envisioned.