The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Affairs announced a national level padyatra to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which will commence from the 26th of November till the 6th of December. 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, Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that Sardar@150 Unity March is the heartbeat of a united nation.

He added that over 10 lakh people participated in 842 padyatras across India in the run-up to the National March. Mr Mandaviya also noted that the message of Swachhata, Swadeshi and Aatmanirbharta is at the heart of the padyatra. The Minister informed that this march will begin from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s ancestral village, Karamsad and cover 150 km before reaching the Statue of Unity.