New Delhi, Oct 24 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive a ceremonial salute from sixteen Border Security Force (BSF) personnel who were awarded gallantry medals for their bravery during Operation Sindoor at the National Unity Day parade in Gujarat. Officials confirmed on Friday that the event will take place on October 31 at Kevadia, in Narmada district, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
As per agency report, the parade will be held against the backdrop of the 182-metre Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2018. The event marks the annual celebration of National Unity Day, recognizing Patel’s pivotal role in the integration of India after independence.
BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary said the 2025 celebration would be particularly special, describing it as a symbol of India’s unity and harmony. He announced that along with the 16 BSF personnel from Operation Sindoor, five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans who were awarded the Shaurya Chakra will also participate in the parade.
Officials stated that the gallantry awardees will be seated in a moving vehicle during the parade. The BSF personnel had received the Police Medal for Gallantry on Independence Day for displaying exceptional courage and valor during Operation Sindoor — a joint military offensive conducted by the three armed forces in collaboration with the BSF along the western border from May 7 to 10. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Two other BSF soldiers were posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for their bravery during the operation.
The parade will feature contingents from BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and police forces from several states including Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, along with the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
Highlighting the spirit of “Unity in Diversity,” the parade will include performances by various police brass bands and ten thematic tableaux representing different states and union territories. A women-led contingent will present the Guard of Honour to Prime Minister Modi.
A key attraction of the event will be the demonstration by two indigenous Indian dog breeds trained by the BSF—Riya, a Mudhol Hound, and Lily, a Rampur Hound—both trained for high-risk operations such as helicopter descents with commandos and river rafting missions. The parade will conclude with a grand cultural performance featuring 900 artists presenting Indian classical dance forms.
Chaudhary said the objective of the National Unity Day celebration is to promote national integration, harmony, and patriotism among citizens and to inspire them to embrace these values. A government statement added that the event will also feature mounted contingents on horses and camels, along with an aerial display by the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran team and demonstrations of unarmed combat techniques.
