History, Art & CultureImportant2025-10-31

150th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Patel

Why focus: GS1 History/NCERT Class 12. 150th anniversaries are highly tested. Sets up Assertion-Reason on integration of princely states.

In News

What Happened

On October 31, 2025, the Government of India celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed annually as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day). The Prime Minister led the main celebrations at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity. The tribute included a ceremonial parade, the nationwide 'Run for Unity', the launch of the 'Sardar@150 Unity March', and the release of a ₹150 commemorative coin and postal stamp.

Why It Matters

This milestone anniversary reinforces the critical importance of national integration and internal cohesion in India. By honoring the 'Iron Man of India', the nation acknowledges his unparalleled diplomatic and administrative efforts that prevented the fragmentation of the newly independent country.

Background

History & Context

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born in 1875, served as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. Following the Mountbatten Plan of 1947, the subcontinent faced the threat of Balkanization due to the presence of 565 semi-autonomous princely states. Utilizing the 'Instrument of Accession' and strategic maneuvers like Operation Polo in Hyderabad (1948), Patel masterminded the political integration of India. In 2014, the Government officially declared October 31 as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to memorialize his contributions.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Previous anniversaries involved standard annual tributes and regional 'Run for Unity' marathons. NOW: The 150th milestone escalated the tribute with the launch of the nationwide 'Sardar@150 Unity March' and grand-scale military and cultural parades at Ekta Nagar.
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BEFORE: Commemorative numismatic and philatelic releases for Patel were limited to past milestones (like his centenary). NOW: The government released a specific ₹150 commemorative coin and a dedicated 150-year postal stamp to mark this exact milestone.
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BEFORE: Historically (prior to Patel's intervention), the Indian subcontinent was politically fractured into British provinces and hundreds of independent princely states. NOW: The legacy celebrated during this anniversary represents a singular, cohesive Republic bound by one Constitution.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This anniversary directly links to Class 12 Political Science, Chapter 1: 'Challenges of Nation Building'. The national celebrations serve as a real-world application of the chapter's core historical concepts, particularly the integration of princely states, the signing of the 'Instrument of Accession', and the avoidance of the Balkan Plan.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements regarding the integration of princely states and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is/are correct? 1. Sardar Patel initiated 'Operation Polo' to successfully integrate the princely state of Junagadh into the Indian Union. 2. The 'Instrument of Accession' was the standard legal document executed by princely states to accede to the Dominion of India.

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