Odisha CMO Staff Take Unity Pledge on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Synopsis
Officers at Odisha's Chief Minister's Office joined the nationwide Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observance on 31 October 2026, taking the solemn pledge to uphold national unity, integrity, and internal security on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CMO officers and staff took the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge on 31 October 2026 .
The pledge reaffirms commitment to national unity, territorial integrity, and internal security.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has been observed annually since 2014 , instituted by the Government of India.
The day marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel , born 31 October 1875 .
Patel integrated over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after 1947.
Pledge ceremonies are held uniformly across central and state offices every year.
On Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary, officers and staff of Odisha's Chief Minister's Office gathered on 31 October 2026 to take the solemn Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge — a national reaffirmation of unity, territorial integrity, and internal security that echoes across every state secretariat in India on this date.
The pledge and what it stands for
The CMO's post, written in both Odia and English, captured the moment: 'ଏକତ୍ରିତ ହୋଇ ଦେଶର ଏକତା, ଅଖଣ୍ଡତା ଏବଂ ସୁରକ୍ଷାକୁ ବଜାୟ ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ ସତ୍ୟନିଷ୍ଠ ଶପଥ ପାଠ କରିଛନ୍ତି' — 'officers and officials took the solemn pledge to uphold and preserve the unity, integrity, and internal security of the nation.' The pledge ceremony is not ceremonial theatre. It is the same standardised observance instituted by the Government of India in 2014, repeated uniformly across central and state offices every year regardless of which party holds power.
Patel's legacy and why 31 October still carries weight
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, is credited with integrating more than 500 princely states into the Union after 1947 — a political feat of compression that defined the country's modern borders. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was established to keep that achievement in public memory, particularly among those who govern. The date is not incidental: Patel was born on 31 October 1875, and the annual pledge links living administrators directly to that founding act of national consolidation.
Point of View
Now in its thirteenth year, has become a routine but symbolically consistent instrument of administrative culture — embedding a constitutional value into the annual calendar of every government office in India. Odisha's CMO participation reflects the standard state-government template established in 2014, signalling institutional continuity rather than a fresh political initiative. The longevity of the observance across successive central and state governments of differing political affiliations underscores its status as a settled civic ritual rather than a partisan gesture. Patel's legacy as the architect of territorial consolidation gives the pledge a substantive historical anchor that distinguishes it from purely ceremonial exercises.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and why is it celebrated on 31 October?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed on 31 October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was born on 31 October 1875. It was instituted by the Government of India in 2014 to promote national integration.
What pledge do government offices take on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas?
Government officers and staff take a solemn pledge to uphold and preserve the unity, integrity, and internal security of the nation. The pledge follows a standardised format used across central and state offices.
Who was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. He is most celebrated for integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947, earning him the title 'Iron Man of India'.
Did the Odisha CMO observe Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2026?
Yes. On 31 October 2026, officers and officials of the Chief Minister's Office of Odisha gathered to take the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge, reaffirming their commitment to national unity and integrity.
When was Rashtriya Ekta Diwas first started?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was first instituted by the Government of India in 2014, and has been observed annually on 31 October in government offices across the country every year since.
