Dr. Jitendra Singh takes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge at PMO
Synopsis
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh joined Principal Secretaries Dr. P.K. Mishra and Shri Shaktikanta Das at PMO SevaTeerth on 30 October 2026 to take the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge, reaffirming commitment to national unity and 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' ahead of Sardar Patel's birth anniversary.
Key Takeaways
Jitendra Singh participated in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge ceremony at PMO SevaTeerth, New Delhi, on 30 October 2026 .
Mishra (Principal Secretary to PM) and Shri Shaktikanta Das (Principal Secretary-2 to PM) were among the senior officials present.
National Unity Day is observed on 31 October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel .
The day was formally instituted by the Government of India in 2014 .
Sardar Patel is credited with integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union after 1947 .
The Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme, launched in 2015 , channels Patel's legacy into an active cultural-exchange framework between Indian states.
On the eve of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — the annual tribute to the architect of a united India — Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh joined senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office at SevaTeerth, New Delhi, on 30 October 2026 to take the National Unity pledge and reaffirm a collective commitment to the nation's integrity.
The ceremony brought together Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Shri Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister, alongside officers and staff of the PMO — a gathering that mirrored similar events unfolding across central government offices ahead of 31 October.
Why 31 October carries such weight
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born on 31 October 1875, served as independent India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. His singular achievement was the integration of over 560 princely states into the Indian Union in the months immediately following 1947 — a feat of diplomatic and political will that shaped the geographical reality Indians inhabit today.
To institutionalise that legacy, the Government of India formally established Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014, designating 31 October as National Unity Day. Since then, the pledge ceremony has become a recurring annual ritual across ministries, central departments, and public institutions, anchoring the occasion in civic action rather than mere commemoration.
'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' — the living programme behind the slogan
Dr. Singh specifically invoked the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' — 'One India, Supreme India' — a cultural exchange programme launched in 2015 to foster bonding between states and regions by encouraging cross-cultural interaction among citizens. The programme translates Patel's political legacy into an ongoing, participatory framework rather than a historical footnote.
With state-level pledge events and commemorations at the iconic Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadia scheduled for 31 October, today's PMO ceremony marks the opening note of a day-long national exercise in reaffirming unity.
Point of View
The ceremony visibly aligns the executive machinery with a post-independence national-integration narrative. Dr. Singh's participation at the PMO, alongside its two principal secretaries, signals the continued centrality of this tradition at the apex of governance. The invocation of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' is also a reminder that the government has chosen to operationalise Patel's legacy through a living programme, not merely calendar observance. For a minister who straddles the PMO and multiple science portfolios, the joint ceremony underscores the institutional, cross-portfolio character of the occasion.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and when is it observed?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed every year on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was formally instituted by the Government of India in 2014 .
Why is Sardar Patel remembered on National Unity Day?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, is credited with integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 , making him the symbol of national unity and integration.
What is 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'?
Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat is a cultural exchange programme launched in 2015 to foster greater understanding and bonding between different states and regions of India, translating Sardar Patel's vision of unity into an active citizen-level initiative.
Where did Dr. Jitendra Singh take the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge?
Dr. Jitendra Singh took the pledge at PMO SevaTeerth in New Delhi on 30 October 2026 , alongside Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P.K. Mishra and Principal Secretary-2 Shri Shaktikanta Das.
What is the Statue of Unity and its connection to Rashtriya Ekta Diwas?
The Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat , is the world's tallest statue, built in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It serves as a key site for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas commemorations held on 31 October each year.
