Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya along with Union Minister of State, Smt. Raksha Khadse, today announced the launch of the Sardar@150 Unity March, a nationwide campaign led by MY Bharat to commemorate the Sardar’s enduring legacy. The initiative, spanning two months, seeks to inspire unity, patriotism, and civic responsibility among youth, honoring Sardar Patel’s legacy of uniting India and encouraging them to embody the ideals of ‘Ek Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in daily life.

Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Jan Bhagidari in Rashtranirman, through MY Bharat, the Viksit Bharat Padyatras organised being organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are nationwide initiatives aimed at fostering national pride, strengthening the spirit of unity, and deepening civic engagement among the youth through commemorative and participatory programmes. The Sardar@150 Unity March is also a part of this overarching vision. The campaign underscores the pivotal role of the you, particularly the Amrit Peedhi, in the nation-building process and serves as a tribute to the timeless contributions of India’s great leaders.

The year 2025 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India. To honour his legacy, the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will observe two year-long celebrations starting from 2024 - 2026, to commemorate Sardar Patel’s monumental contributions to the country.

Addressing the media at the event in New Delhi, Dr. Mandaviya said that the Sardar@150 Unity March is not merely a commemoration but a national movement to engage youth in nation-building and advance the vision of a Viksit and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He urged the youth to imbibe the ideology and spirit of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in their lives. He emphasized that the Sardar@150 Unity March would be “by the youth and for the youth,” with all preparations and arrangements led by young volunteers from NSS and MY Bharat.

Union Minister called upon the youth to take the lead in all initiatives, embodying the ideals of selfless service, unity, and nation-building exemplified by Sardar Patel. Drawing inspiration from Sardar Patel’s role in uniting over 560 princely states to forge a strong and united India, he said today’s youth must come together to build a Viksit Bharat, spreading the message of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” through this padyatra.

He also expressed confidence that on the occasion of Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, every young Indian would draw inspiration from his life and leadership, carrying forward his vision of a strong and self-reliant India.

Addressing the media at the event, Smt Vandita Pandey, Director (Youth Affairs) explained the various phases of the campaign and detailed out the activities being undertaken in each phase starting from District to National level, each aimed at reaching for maximum engagement.

Phase I: Digital Phase:

The digital phase of the Sardar@150 Unity March begins on October 6, 2025, with activities such as Social Media Reel Competitions, Essay Writing, and the Sardar@150 Young Leaders Program Quiz for youth aged 15–29 years. This phase is aimed at engaging young people across the nation and generating momentum for the padyatras that follow. The guidelines and registration details are available on MY Bharat platform. The Top winners of these competitions will be announced before the start of the National Padyatra i.e., 26th November.

Phase II: District Level Padyatras

The first phase of the campaign will be the district-level padyatras, held from October 31 to November 25, 2025. These padyatras will be held for three consecutive days in every parliamentary constituency, covering all districts across the country with walks of 8-10 km each day. Led by State Cabinet Ministers, and Members of Parliament from Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha in each Parliamentary Constituency, these padyatras will reflect the true “Mini Bharat” on the streets, as the richness of local cultures and traditions is showcased, highlighting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

In the run-up to these padyatras, activities such as health camps, Swachhata drives, lectures on the life and vision of Sardar Patel, youth debates on unity and nation-building, and a collective pledge for a drug-free India will be organised. Volunteers from MY Bharat, NSS and NCC will play an active role in supporting these activities. Retired civil servants, athletes, prominent scholars will be invited to be a part of this initiative at district level.

During the padyatra days, participants will pay tribute to statues and portraits of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and take the Atmanirbhar Bharat pledge. Cultural performances celebrating the theme of Ek Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat will be organized, followed by the distribution of participation certificates. Alongside, awareness stalls highlighting the Modi Government’s welfare schemes will be set up along the route of the padyatra.

Phase III: National Level Padyatras:

The National-level padyatra will begin on November 26, 2025, i.e. Constitution Day, and conclude on December 6, 2025. This historic padyatra will cover 152 km commencing from Karamsad, the birthplace of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and culminate at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia. Union Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will take part in this padyatra.

As part of the pre-event activities, social development activities will be undertaken in every village along the route with active participation from MY Bharat volunteers, NSS volunteers, NCC cadets and young leaders. A group of 150 outstanding young leaders, selected through the Sardar@150 Young Leaders Program Quiz, will walk alongside the Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, symbolising youth leadership in nation-building. At the end of each padyatra day, Sardar Gatha sessions will be organized, where eminent scholars will narrate inspiring stories from Patel’s life, highlighting his important role in uniting India.

Registrations and details of all activities are being hosted on the MY Bharat Portal at Sardar@150 - Unity March. Youth across the nation are encouraged to register and actively participate in this historic campaign, embodying the ideals of Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat in their everyday lives and civic responsibilities.

Let us all take this pledge together: One India, Self-Reliant India, United India, Developed India!

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Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander