Around 200 cadets from 22 states, including Gujarat, are preparing alongside BSF, CISF, SSB and other Central Armed Police Forces for the 31 October celebration in Kevadia.

Ahmedabad, 10 October 2026: Around 200 cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), representing 22 states, including Gujarat, have begun intensive drill training in Ahmedabad ahead of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia on 31 October.

The training is being organised under the NCC Directorate Gujarat. During the sessions, cadets are practising their marching movements alongside contingents from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The cadets will take part in the national event held to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and the country’s first Home Minister after Independence. The occasion is observed every year as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day.

The preparations include 10 days of integrated training. Cadets from different states will work together before travelling to Kevadia for the celebrations.

The joint drill sessions require the young participants to match their steps and movements with personnel from security forces. Marching in a large group calls for regular practice, close attention to commands and coordination among participants.

For the NCC cadets, working alongside BSF, CISF, SSB and other CAPF contingents provides an opportunity to take part in preparations for a national-level ceremony.

The participation of young people from 22 states also brings together students from different parts of India. They will meet fellow cadets with different languages, customs and regional traditions while preparing for the same event.

The programme is part of the Special National Integration Camp (SNIC), which places national unity and interaction among young people at the centre of the activities.

According to the information released about the preparations, the camp will conclude with the cadets participating in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at Kevadia on 31 October.

The event is expected to allow the participants to represent their states while marching alongside personnel from the country’s security forces.

India observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31 October each year to remember Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was born on that date in 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.

The 2026 observance marks his 151st birth anniversary.

Patel played a key role in bringing the princely states into the Indian Union after Independence in 1947. More than 560 princely states existed during the period surrounding Independence, and their integration was a major task in the formation of the country as a united nation.

As Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel led efforts to bring these territories into the Union through negotiations, political agreements and administrative action. His work helped establish the territorial unity of independent India.

He is widely known as the Iron Man of India because of his role in the country’s integration.

The Government of India introduced Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014. Since then, 31 October has been marked through programmes that remember Patel’s contribution and promote national unity.

Activities associated with the observance have included public pledges, marches, the Run for Unity and events involving students and youth organisations.

The NCC cadets’ participation in the parade forms part of this wider annual observance.

The celebrations will take place at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, in Gujarat’s Narmada district. The monument, which stands 182 metres tall, was dedicated to the nation on 31 October 2018.

Built in Patel’s memory, the statue has become the main site for the annual national unity celebrations.

Its location also connects the event with Gujarat, the state where Patel was born. The monument draws visitors from across India and abroad and forms part of a wider tourism area that includes museums, gardens and other visitor attractions.

For cadets travelling from different states, the gathering offers an opportunity to learn more about Patel’s contribution to India’s history while taking part in a public ceremony at a site associated with his legacy.

The presence of security force contingents and NCC participants also reflects the role of organised public events in remembering national leaders and their contribution to the country.

The SNIC programme will bring cadets from different states together for activities that allow them to experience India’s regional cultures, traditions and heritage.

Living and training with participants from other parts of the country can help young people better understand differences in language, customs, and ways of life. The camp’s stated purpose includes building friendship and mutual understanding among cadets.

For students, such interaction can provide experience beyond their usual school, college or home environment. It also gives participants the chance to represent their states before a national audience.

The NCC’s role in the programme places young people alongside members of the country’s security forces during event preparations.

The 10-day training period in Ahmedabad will lead to the cadets’ participation in the 31 October celebrations at Kevadia. Their marching performance will form part of the programme commemorating Patel’s birth anniversary.

The NCC has described the central message of its participation as “Nation First”, reflecting the programme’s stated focus on national unity and service to the country.