'Unity March' is a celebration of Sardar Patel's legacy, and a movement of youth power: Mansukh Mandaviya

To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, through MY Bharat, is organising the nationwide Sardar@150 Unity March padyatra with an aim to deepen national pride, civic engagement, and youth participation across the country. Inspired by the ideas of Sardar Patel and the vision of Viksit Bharat articulated by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the campaign encompasses a range of activities guided by the overarching theme of Ek Bharat,

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The initiative was launched on 6 October 2025 by Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse, as part of the Government of India’s two-year celebrations (2024–2026), honouring the monumental contributions and enduring legacy of the Iron Man of India.

Sardar@150 Unity March is the heartbeat of nation: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

The campaign started with digital activities, which included a reel competition, essay writing, and the Sardar@150 Young Leaders Quiz.  As a part of the on-ground initiatives, Padyatras are being conducted at the district level across the country, and at Assembly Constituency level in some states. A yatra of district representatives from all districts to Gujarat is also underway, building up to the national padyatra. The two-month-long campaign will conclude on 6 December 2025.

Message of Swachhata, Swadeshi and Aatmanirbharta at the heart of the padyatra

Briefing the media on the progress of the ongoing district-level padyatras and outlining the key highlights of the National Padyatra at a Press Conference in New Delhi today, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Kutch to Kohima, lakhs of people have walked together for national unity. This is a celebration of the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, while also being a national movement to channel youth energy into nation-building, towards the goal of Viksit Bharat.”

Over 10 lakh people participated in 842 Padyatras across India

He further added, “Over the past few months, the entire nation has been moving in one spirit. From north to south and east to west, a total of 842 padyatras have been organised. This number is not just a statistic; this is the heartbeat of a united nation. The message of Swachhata, Swadeshi and Aatmanirbharta are at the heart of the padyatra."

MoS for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse, was also present at the Press Conference. Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, outlined key highlights of the digital phase, extensive grassroots mobilisation during district-level padyatras, and the roadmap for the forthcoming yatra of district representatives and National Padyatra through a presentation.

Key Highlights from District-Level Padyatras so far:

The district-level padyatras, which commenced on 31 October 2025, are underway nationwide and have received an overwhelming public response. District-level padyatras are actively being conducted across all States/UTs, with 842 padyatras (district and AC level) covering 471 districts and 349 Lok Sabha and 329 Assembly constituencies. Over 10 lakh participants and more than 11,000 institutions, universities, colleges, NGOs, and youth organisations have actively taken part.

In the North East Zone, 96 padyatras have been completed, mobilising over 70,000 participants. In Jammu and Kashmir, 14 padyatras have been held, mobilising over 17,000 people, and in Ladakh, 3 padyatras have been conducted, mobilising over 2,000 people. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 30 and 11 padyatras have been conducted, respectively.

States including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest mobilisation, with major gatherings in Delhi & Junagadh (Gujarat), Keonjhar (Odisha), Jaipur (Rajasthan), with the participation of around 15,000, 12,000, and 10,000, respectively. In States such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, apart from the district-level padyatra, Assembly Constituency-level padyatras were also conducted to ensure maximum outreach and strengthen grassroots engagement.

Yatra of District Representatives to Gujarat:

Following the conclusion of district-level padyatras, district representatives from every district, along the 4 determined Pravah routes namely, Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada and Godavari Pravahs, to be launched from Delhi, Jaipur, Nagpur and Mumbai, respectively, will proceed towards Gujarat for the National Padyatra. Two participants from each district falling under the respective pravah will join the yatra, and all four pravahs will be part of the National Padyatra on different days. This phase will include a series of outreach activities such as youth dialogues, outreach to coaching institutes, market outreach, yoga sessions, tree plantation drives, and cleanliness initiatives.

National Padyatra: 26 November – 6 December 2025:

The National Padyatra will begin on 26th November from Karamsad, the family home of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and conclude on 6th December at the Statue of Unity, covering nearly 190 km in 11 days. Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Ministers of State, Governors, State Ministers and MPs will lead the padyatra each day, with invitations extended to famous personalities from various sectors and fields to be a part of this nationwide movement.

National level padyatra to begin from 26th November

Cabinet Ministers, luminaries, and national leaders will join as speakers each day to address ten themes inspired by the life and legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel through the Sardar Sabhas. Every evening, Gram Sabhas will be conducted, during which village sampark activities will take place and cultural performances will be presented, reflecting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. The padyatra will be entirely Swadeshi, carrying the central message of Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Summary

Registrations and details of all activities are being hosted on the MY Bharat Portal (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.