National Solidarity Day is annually observed across India on 20th October to pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty to the nation during the 1962 Indo-China War, which began on 20th October 1962 and ended on 21st November 1962.
- The day also honours the bravery and strength of the personnel of the Indian armed forces.
- 20th October 2024 marks the 62nd Anniversary of the 1962 Indo-China War.
Background:
i.In 1966, a committee elected by then Prime Minister(PM) Indira Gandhi declared the 20th October of every year as National Solidarity Day to honour soldiers and their families who sacrificed in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
ii.The first National Solidarity Day was observed on 20th October 1966.
1962 Indo-China War:
i.Indo-China War or Sino-Indian War was the conflict between India and China centred on the disputed Aksai Chin region.
ii.The war of 1962 happened in two regions, one was in Ladakh in the area of Aksai Chin and the second in Arunachal Pradesh(AR).
iii.The conflict ended when China unilaterally declared a ceasefire on 20 November 1962 and announced its withdrawal to its pre-war position, the effective China–India border (also known as the Line of Actual Control).
iv.The war is considered a defeat for the Indian Armed Forces.
Result of the 1962 War:
i.Around 7,000 soldiers of the Indian force were killed or captured.
ii.India lost a portion of territory in Aksai Chin and the lowlands of Assam lay open to the invaders.
Param Vir Chakra:
i.The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) winners of the Sino-India war of 1962 are Major Shaitan Singh (Posthumously); Major Dhan Singh Thapa; and Subedar Joginder Singh (Posthumously).
ii.The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime.The PVC has been awarded 21 times since its inception in 1950. 14 of the 21 were awarded posthumously.
