Gujarat has constituted a state-level committee under Chief Secretary M. K. Das to coordinate National Unity Day celebrations on 31 October 2026, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Events spanning 'Run for Unity', unity pledges and cultural programmes will be held across villages, towns and cities throughout the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to address the nation from the Statue of Unity.

Key Developments

According to a release issued by the General Administration Department on Tuesday, programmes across Gujarat will commence between 5 pm and 5:30 pm with the collective singing of Vande Mataram, an Ekta Parade, patriotic performances by local artists and the felicitation of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society. Certificates will be presented to those honoured.

The Ekta Parade and related events at the Statue of Unity (SoU), held in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, will be telecast live across the country from 5:30 pm. The Prime Minister's address is scheduled to be watched collectively through a live telecast from 7:10 pm, according to the release.

Administrative Structure Put in Place

To oversee arrangements, a state-level committee has been constituted under Chief Secretary M. K. Das, with senior officers from the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Cooperation, Home, Revenue, Finance, Health, Urban Development, Education, Panchayat and General Administration departments as members.

District-level committees will function under respective District Collectors, while taluka-level committees will be headed by Deputy Collectors or Class-I officers. At the municipal corporation level, the Mayor will chair the committee. At the village level, Sardar Patel National Unity Committees have been established, comprising representatives from the Panchayat, the Revenue Talati, the Gram Sevak and village leaders.

Who Will Participate

The celebrations will involve elected representatives, farmers associated with cooperative institutions, women's groups and self-help groups, as well as representatives from the education, healthcare and other sectors. Government institutions and local self-government bodies will also take part across Gram Panchayats, talukas, municipalities and municipal corporations.

Unity rallies and cultural programmes are planned in villages, municipalities and municipal corporations, alongside the Unity Pledge and Run for Unity events statewide.

Significance of the Day

National Unity Day is observed annually on 31 October in honour of Patel, widely regarded as the 'Iron Man of India'. As independent India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel played a central role in integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union following independence in 1947 — a feat historians describe as one of the most consequential acts of modern Indian statecraft.

This year's observance carries forward the tradition of large-scale public participation aimed at reinforcing national unity, integrity, security and social harmony across the country's most populous states.