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
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
- ▶
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.
- ▶
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.
- ▶
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
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.