2025 for January 1970

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations of National Unity Day at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Narmada Valley on October 31.

National Unity Day, or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, is observed on October 31st every year.
This significant day commemorates the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a pivotal figure in India's struggle for independence and the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India.
It was introduced by the Government of India in 2014.
Renowned for his exceptional leadership and unyielding commitment to national integration, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is fondly remembered as the "Iron Man of India."
National Unity Day serves as a reminder of his efforts to unite the diverse princely states into a single nation and fosters a spirit of solidarity among the people of India.
This year marks the 150th birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel.
One of the key highlights of the day is the Run for Unity, a nationwide marathon held to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision of a united India.

He was born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
A successful lawyer by profession, his life encountered a turning point when Mahatma Gandhi chose him as his deputy commander to lead the Kheda Satyagraha in 1918.
Patel led the Satyagraha movement in Nagpur in 1923 against the British law of banning the hoisting of the Indian flag.
In 1924, he was elected President of the Ahmedabad Municipal Board.
- Taking charge, he revamped the drainage, sanitation, cleanliness, and water distribution systems of Ahmedabad.
He became increasingly involved with the struggle for independence.
It was his role in the Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 that elevated him to a new pinnacle of national glory. It was here that he earned the title of ‘Sardar’.
At the time of Independence, India consisted of 17 British Indian provinces, and the Princely States-comprising about two-fifths of the geographic territory of the country-numbered more than 560.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stepped in to ensure the accession of the princely states and integrate them into the Union of India.
He was appointed as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India from 1947 to 1950. He also took charge of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Source: ET

National Unity Day FAQs

Q1: When is National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) observed in India?

Ans: October 31

Q2: National Unity Day commemorates the birth anniversary of which prominent Indian leader?

Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Q3: In which year was National Unity Day first introduced by the Government of India?

Ans: It was introduced by the Government of India in 2014.

Q4: What event is commonly organized across India to mark National Unity Day?

Ans: One of the key highlights of the day is the Run for Unity, a nationwide marathon.