Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will pay homage to the martyrs on Police Commemoration Day at National Police Memorial in New Delhi on Wednesday, 21st October 2026.
On the occasion, the Home Minister will flag off a motorcycle rally of about 90 Police riders drawn from States/UTs (Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi), Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, CISF, BSF, SSB, ITBP and NSG) and some Central Police Organisations (RPF, NDRF and NIA). The rally forms part of a nationwide ride on the theme ‘Fight Against Drugs’, under which Police riders from every State/UT and the Central Forces will travel to Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, to take part in the Ekta Parade on October 31, 2026.
The day traces back to October 21, 1959, when ten brave Policemen were killed in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh. Ever since, October 21 has been marked each year as Police Commemoration Day. Honouring the sacrifices of Police personnel and their vital role in safeguarding national security and integrity, the Prime Minister dedicated the National Police Memorial (NPM) at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, to the nation on Police Commemoration Day-2018.
The Memorial instils in Police Forces a sense of national identity, pride, shared purpose, common history and common destiny, and strengthens their resolve to defend the nation even at the cost of their lives. It has three parts: a Central Sculpture, the ‘Wall of Valour’ and a Museum. The Central Sculpture, a 30 feet high granite monolith cenotaph, represents the strength, resilience and selfless service of Police personnel. The Wall of Valour carries the engraved names of martyrs and serves as a lasting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Police personnel who have died on duty since Independence. The museum has been designed as a historical and evolving exhibition on policing in India. For Police personnel and citizens alike, the Memorial is a place of pilgrimage and reverence. The NPM remains open to the public on every day except Monday. Every Saturday and Sunday evening, starting one hour before sunset, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) hold a band display, parade and retreat ceremony there.
As in earlier years, Police Commemoration Day, i.e., October 21, will be marked throughout the country to honour police martyrs. The main ceremony will take place at the National Police Memorial, New Delhi, featuring a joint parade of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Delhi Police. In keeping with tradition, the Union Home Minister will preside. The Union MoS (Home), MPs with a Police background, Heads of CAPFs/CPOs and others will also lay wreaths in tribute to the martyrs. Retired DGs, members of the Police fraternity and other dignitaries will also be present.
Besides paying tribute to the Police martyrs, the Union Home Minister will address the gathering. The programme will end with the Union Home Minister laying a wreath at the altar dedicated to the martyrs of Hot Springs. Doordarshan will telecast the event live, it will be webcast on Police websites, and AIR and the media will cover it.
To mark the remembrance, CAPFs/CPOs will hold a series of Commemorative Events at NPM from October 22 to 30. These will include visits by families of martyrs, Police Band Displays, motorcycle rallies, a Run for Martyrs, blood donation camps, essay/painting competitions for children and screenings of video films on the sacrifice, valour and service of Police personnel. All Police Forces across the country will hold similar programmes during this period.