Seven years after its establishment by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the first Sardar Patel National Unity Award is set to be announced on October 31 this year, as reported by The Indian Express. Although the award was instituted in September 2019, sources indicate that none of the over one hundred nominations received each year have been deemed "deserving" until now.

Background

With no suitable candidates selected, no award winners have been announced to date. However, a series of discussions have taken place to finalize the first recipients this year, coinciding with the conclusion of the two-year celebrations marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 150th birth anniversary, which began on October 31, 2024. The MHA did not respond to inquiries regarding this matter.

Award Details

Sources suggest that the award will be presented by the President alongside the Padma Awards next year. It is expected to be considered equivalent to the Padma Vibhushan, with two or three recipients anticipated this time. Nominations were invited from June 1 to July 31 this year, and over 150 names have reportedly been submitted.