Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on a 3-day official visit to Gujarat from January 10 to 12, 2026, to participate in key cultural, developmental and diplomatic programmes.
Exam Hints:
- What? PM Narendra Modi visited Gujarat
- When? January 10 to 12, 2026
- Religious Events: Participated in Somnath Swabhiman Parv, marking 1,000 years since 1026 CE attack
- Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference, Rajkot:
- Announcements: 14 greenfield smart GIDC estates; GIDC Medical Device Park inaugurated.
- Foundation stones: 13 GIDC estates across Amreli, Kutch, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar
- Inauguration of Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Phase 2:
- Final 7.8 km stretch opened;
- 7 stations operational (Mahatma Mandir, Sector-24, Sector-16, Old Secretariat, Akshardham, Secretariat, Sector-10)
- International Kite Festival, Ahmedabad:
- Inaugurated by PM Modi; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as Chief Guest.
Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Gujarat:
Arrival at Somnath: On January 10, 2026, PM Narendra Modi reached Somnath Temple, Prabhas Patan, Veraval in Gujarat to participate in devotional Omkar mantra chanting during the Somnath Swabhiman Parv celebrations.
Somnath Swabhiman Parv: It was observed from January 8 to 11, 2026, marking 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the temple in 1026 Common Era (CE) by Mahmud of Ghazni and coincides with the 75th anniversary of its post-independence reconstruction.
- The year 2026 marks 75 years since the present Somnath Temple was reopened to devotees on 11 May 1951, following India’s Independence.
Shaurya Yatra: On January 11, 2026, PM Narendra Modi led the Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession at the Somnath Temple complex in Gir Somnath.
- The yatra featured 108 horses in a procession, representing valour and sacrifice in defence of the temple over centuries.
Paid Tribute: He also offered prayers and performed puja at the Somnath temple. He also paid floral tributes to Veer Hamirji Gohil, a Hindu warrior who protected the Somnath temple, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Iron Man of India, acknowledging their roles in defending and restoring the temple.
Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference:
Inauguration: On January 11, 2026, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for Kutch and Saurashtra Region, held from 11-12 January 2026, at the Marwadi University in Rajkot (Gujarat) for the Kutch and Saurashtra regions, aimed at boosting investment, industrial growth, and regional development in western Gujarat.
Target sectors: The event targets key sectors, including Engineering, ceramics, ports & logistics, fisheries, petrochemicals, green energy and sustainability, and food processing, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, tourism, and skill development.
Announcements: During the conference, PM Narendra Modi announced the development of 14 greenfield Smart Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation Limited (GIDC) estates and inaugurated the GIDC Medical Device Park in Rajkot.
Industrial estates: He also laid the foundation stone for 13 greenfield smart GIDC estates across seven districts: Amreli, Kutch, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Surendranagar, covering more than 3,540 acres.
Alignment: The conference aligns with the Government of India (GoI)’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Phase 2 Inauguration:
Inauguration: On January 11, 2026, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the final stretch of Phase 2 of the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Rail Project by flagging off metro services from the Mahatma Mandir Metro Station in Gandhinagar.
- The section connects Sector-10A to Mahatma Mandir and includes key stations that improve urban transit in Gandhinagar.
Dignitaries: Some of the dignitaries including Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Deputy CM of Gujarat Harsh Sanghavi, and Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat were also present.
Expansion: The inauguration opened a 7.8-kilometre(km) stretch of the metro corridor to the public, making seven stations: Mahatma Mandir, Sector-24, Sector-16, Old Secretariat, Akshardham, Secretariat, and Sector-10, operational under this phase.
International Kite Festival:
Inauguration: On 12 January 2026, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Kite Festival (IKF) 2026, as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan, at the Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad, with German Chancellor Mr. Friedrich Merz attending as the Chief Guest.
Participation: Organised by Gujarat Tourism, the festival features 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries and 65 participants from 13 Indian states, showcasing kites in a variety of vivid colours and intricate designs.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister (CM) – Bhupendra Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Gandhinagar
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Shoolpaneshwar WLS, Gaga WLS
