The Indian government has decided to launch a new national unity award as part of its efforts to recognize and honor outstanding contributions to national unity and integrity. The inaugural ceremony will take place on October 31, 2024, coinciding with the conclusion of the two-year celebrations to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary.

A committee will be notified once the selections are made, and the candidates will undergo verification before being announced as winners.

Selection Process

The selection process for the award is based on nominations received from June 1 to July 31 this year, with over 150 names learnt to have been received so far.

The award will comprise a medal and a citation, but no monetary grant or cash award will be attached to it. The medal is expected to be in the form of a lotus leaf made of gold and silver, with Patel's portrait embossed on one side and the national emblem on the other.

The notification for the award states that the candidate “should have made outstanding efforts and notable contribution to promote and further the cause of national unity and integrity in a manner that may serve as an inspiration to others, and reinforce the value of a strong and united India”. The award is not expected to be conferred posthumously, except in very rare and highly deserving cases.

Award Composition

The MHA had also sent letters to all state chief secretaries and Union secretaries, asking them to send nominations ahead of opening up the portal for public entries.

According to sources, a committee is set to be notified once the selections are made, and the candidates would be subjected to verification before being announced as winners.

The nominations for the Padma Awards are also managed

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Over 150 names learnt to have been received so far, indicating a high level of interest in the award.

The Padma Awards are one of India's highest civilian honors, and the national unity award is expected to be equivalent in status.

The awards will serve as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy and contributions to national unity and integrity.

Seven years after it was instituted While the award was instituted in September 2019, and over one hundred nominations are learnt to have been received each year, sources said none of them were considered “deserving” so far. With no “befitting” selection, no award winners were announced until now.

However, according to sources, a series of deliberations have been held to announce the first tranche of awards this year, coinciding with the conclusion of the two-year celebrations to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary which began on October 31, 2024. Sources said the award will be given According to those aware of the developments, it will be considered equivalent to the Padma Vibhushan, and there may be two or three recipients this time.

While nominations were invited from June 1 to July 31 this year, over 150 names are learnt to have been received so far. Ahead of opening up the portal for public entries, the MHA had also sent letters to all state chief secretaries and Union secretaries, asking them to send nominations.

Sources said a committee is set to be notified Once the committee makes its selection, the candidates would be subjected to verification According to the 2019 notification announcing the award, the candidate “should have made outstanding efforts and notable contribution to promote and further the cause of national unity and integrity in a manner that may serve as an inspiration to others, and reinforce the value of a strong and united India”. The notification said that “the award committee would be constituted The award is set to comprise a medal and a citation, but no monetary grant or cash award would be attached to it.

According to sources, it would not be conferred posthumously, except in very rare and highly deserving cases. The medal will be in the form of a lotus leaf, made of gold and silver, with Patel's portrait embossed on one side and the national emblem on the other. The nominations for the Padma Awards are also managed