National Current Affairs
National Unity Day
- 31 Oct 2025
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas(National Unity Day), observed annually on 31st October to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s role in unifying India, holds special significance in 2025 as it marks his 150th birth anniversary.
Key Points
- National Unity Day:
- It embodies the values of unity, integrity, and inclusiveness championed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- It was first celebrated in 2014, following the Government’s decision to honour Patel’s monumental role in nation-building.
- During the 2015 observance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative to strengthen connections and cultural exchange among people of different regions.
- Events:
- The Sardar@150 Unity March (Yatra), organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the My Bharat platform, aims to promote unity, patriotism, and civic responsibility among youth in line with the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
- The “Run for Unity,” a nationwide marathon symbolising national cohesion, was held on 31st October 2025 across major cities, with a flag-off event in New Delhi.
- Statue of Unity:
- On 31st October 2018, the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 meters (600 feet), was inaugurated at Kevadia, Gujarat, honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- Overlooking the Narmada River and the Sardar Sarovar Dam (the second largest gravity dam worldwide by concrete volume), the statue is situated on Sadhu Bet hillock.
- In 2020 India's Statue of Unity was included in the list of eight wonders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
