Pariksha SaathiPM attends Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at Ekta Nagar marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on 31 October 2026. He noted the shift from the traditional morning schedule to an evening ceremony, and recalled the showcase at the Bharat Parv Pavilion the previous evening and the morning's Run for Unity, which drew lakhs of citizens. Paying tribute to Sardar Patel, he said that after independence Patel united more than 550 princely states, and that Independence Day, Republic Day and Unity Day are now all celebrated as national festivals. This year's National Unity Parade was dedicated to the valour of police and security forces. The Prime Minister said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple, and spoke of the ongoing Somnath Swabhiman Parv across the country. Recalling his vow, made during the 150th birth anniversary, not to rest until Naxalism was eradicated, he said the number of Naxal-affected districts has come down from 126 in 2015 to zero by March 2026; families from formerly Naxal-affected regions attended the celebrations as special guests. Citing a World Bank report, he said 50 crore Indians overcame poverty in the 10 to 12 years before 2024, and that social security coverage has expanded from under 25 crore people before 2014 to nearly 100 crore citizens. He reiterated the resolve to build a strong and Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
PIB's backgrounder of 30 October 2025 explains that Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, also known as National Unity Day, is observed annually on 31 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and to honour his role in fostering national and political integration and unity. The day was first celebrated in 2014, following a declaration by the Government of India, and during the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas held on 31 October 2015, Sardar Patel's 140th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, which pairs States and Union Territories for linguistic, cultural and educational exchanges. The backgrounder describes Sardar Patel as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, and says he created the All-India Services as the 'Steel Frame' that would continue to protect the country's unity and integrity. The year 2025 marked his 150th birth anniversary.
Reference: PIB Backgrounder, 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: A Pillar of National Cohesion', 30 October 2025
Check yourself: in which year was Rashtriya Ekta Diwas first celebrated, and which initiative did the Prime Minister announce on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2015?
In 2014; the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative.
Revision task: from this release, note the venue, which birth anniversary was marked, the number of princely states the PM credited Patel with uniting, the Somnath anniversary, the Naxal-affected district figures and the poverty and social security figures the PM cited; from the note, when the day was first celebrated, when Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was announced and what the 'Steel Frame' refers to.
Test yourself
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, celebrated at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on 31 October 2026, marked which birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Show the answer
Answer: 151st
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. He recalled the two-year nationwide celebrations of Patel's 150th birth anniversary and said that after independence Patel united more than 550 princely states.
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