Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026: Sardar Patel's 151st Birth Anniversary, Ekta Parade on End of Armed Naxalism

What happened

On 31 October 2026, India observed Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the main celebrations at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, home of the Statue of Unity.

• Morning: The PM paid floral tributes at the Statue of Unity and inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 400 crore in Ekta Nagar (PMIndia). Across the country, the Run for Unity was held; Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged it off at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi (AIR).
• Evening: The PM witnessed the Ekta Parade and addressed the gathering. For the first time, the parade and performances were held in the evening instead of the morning; the Union Home Secretary said this was because of high daytime temperatures (PIB).
• Parade theme: The march past celebrated what the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) calls the end of armed Naxalism. The National School of Drama (NSD) staged a theatrical presentation titled "Naxal Mukt Bharat".

Background

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (born 31 October 1875) was India's first Deputy Prime Minister and first Home Minister. He led the integration of the princely states after Independence; PIB puts their number at over 560, while the PM in his speech said "more than 550".
• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has been observed on 31 October since 2014, after a Government of India decision to honour Patel's role in nation-building (PIB). The Run for Unity has been held every year on that day since 2014 (PIB, 2025).
• Statue of Unity: The 182-metre statue of Patel at Ekta Nagar, in Narmada district near the Sardar Sarovar Dam, is the world's tallest statue (PIB; PM's speech).
• 150th anniversary year: 31 October 2025 marked Patel's 150th birth anniversary, celebrated over two years. At that event the PM had said: "Until the country is completely free from Naxalism and Maoist terror, we will not rest" (PM recalling his vow in the 31 Oct 2026 speech; translated from Hindi).

Key details

The parade and cultural programme (Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, PIB, 21 Oct 2026):

What was said about Naxalism (exact words, with speaker):

• Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan (21 Oct): the parade "will lay emphasis on the massive achievement of getting India rid of armed Naxalism in 2026" (PIB).
• PM Modi (31 Oct speech, in Hindi): he said the back of Naxalism had been broken; 126 districts were affected by Left-wing extremism in 2015, and by March 2026 no district remained affected by Naxalism (official English summary, PMIndia).
• The PM added, in the official English rendering: "We have ended Naxalism in remote areas, but the danger of ideological extremists has not yet passed from over the country." The Hindi original uses the phrase "dimagi Naxal" (Naxals of the mind).

Projects at Ekta Nagar (31 Oct): The official itinerary lists projects worth over Rs 400 crore, including a sewage and water treatment plant, facade lighting, Narmada Ghat upgrade, an IRCTC hotel and the Rainforest, Unity and Eco Trail. Foundation stones included the Gora-Bhandra road, a zero-waste smart solid waste management project, Khalwani eco-tourism and the Cactus and Butterfly Garden (PMIndia). As reported by IANS, 23 projects worth Rs 307.83 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid for 8 projects worth Rs 118.88 crore, a total of Rs 426.71 crore.

Linked events: On 30 October the PM opened Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar (open till 15 November 2026) and witnessed Ekta Prakash Parv, a light festival for night tourism (PMIndia).

Why it matters

• Official internal security claim: The government has formally framed 2026 as the year armed Naxalism (Left-Wing Extremism, LWE) ended. Questions on LWE, affected districts and the security forces involved are standard in GS III.
• National integration: The day links Patel's integration of the princely states with present-day unity themes such as Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• People's participation: According to the Home Secretary, the tableaux were designed entirely by the public and the cultural programme was curated by communities instead of the Culture Ministry.
• Tourism in a tribal district: The Home Secretary called Ekta Nagar one of the country's most prominent tourist destinations; it lies in Narmada district, which *The Federal* reports is 87% tribal.

Issues and criticism

• "Ended" needs precise reading: The official claim is about armed Naxalism and affected districts, a government classification. The PM himself said the danger from "ideological extremists" (dimagi Naxal) remains, so the ideological and grievance side is not described as over.
• Sustaining the gains: The PM listed roads, mobile networks, schools and health facilities in former LWE areas. Keeping these gains depends on governance and rights on the ground, not only on security operations.
• Political tone: In the same speech the PM accused the opposition of turning from "virodh" (opposition) into "avrodh" (obstruction), as The Week also reported. The Week's report carried no opposition response.
• Local development: In October 2025, *The Federal* quoted Narmada tribal activist Mahesh Vasava contrasting spending at Ekta Nagar with weak health care elsewhere in the district.

Way forward

1. Publish clear, district-level data on the LWE status so the "Naxal-free" claim can be tracked over time.
2. Speed up rehabilitation of surrendered cadres and compensation for victims' families.
3. Extend roads, telecom, schools and health services in former LWE districts on a fixed timeline.
4. Make sure tourism at Ekta Nagar brings jobs and services to local tribal communities.

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Prelims pointers

• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed on 31 October, Sardar Patel's birth anniversary, since 2014.
• 2026 marked Patel's 151st birth anniversary; 2025 was the 150th.
• Statue of Unity: 182 m, at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Narmada district, Gujarat.
• Ekta Parade 2026 theme: end of armed Naxalism; NSD presentation "Naxal Mukt Bharat" with about 2,000 artists from 126 districts.
• Cultural theme 2026: Vande Mataram (150th year); 15 public-designed tableaux.
• PM: 126 districts were LWE-affected in 2015; none by March 2026.
• Run for Unity: flagged off by Amit Shah at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.

One-liners for SSC, Banking and Railways

• National Unity Day is celebrated on 31 October.
• Sardar Patel was India's first Home Minister and first Deputy Prime Minister.
• The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, is 182 metres high.
• Union Home Secretary who briefed on Ekta Diwas 2026: Govind Mohan.
• Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar runs till 15 November 2026.

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Mains practice question

Q. The government has declared the end of armed Naxalism in 2026. Examine the factors behind the decline of Left-Wing Extremism in India and the steps needed to make the gains lasting. (250 words)

Points to cover:

• Official claims: 126 LWE-affected districts in 2015 to none by March 2026 (PM, 31 Oct 2026).
• Factors: security operations by CAPFs and State Police, roads and telecom, welfare outreach.
• Remaining challenges: "ideological extremists" (dimagi Naxal) as flagged by the PM, tribal grievances, land and forest rights.
• Way forward: rehabilitation, governance under PESA and Forest Rights Act, transparent monitoring.