Published: 11 March 2026PIB / Business StandardGeneral
96th Anniversary of Dandi March: India Commemorates Salt Satyagraha as PM Modi Pays Tribute
March 12, 2026 marked the 96th anniversary of the historic Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha), launched by Mahatma Gandhi on March 12, 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Gandhi and 78 chosen satyagrahis walked 241 miles (approximately 388 km) over 24 days to reach the coastal village of Dandi in Navsari district, Gujarat, where he broke the British salt law on April 6, 1930.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and all participants of the Dandi March, sharing reflections on how the movement transformed civil disobedience into a mass national movement. The Salt Satyagraha was a defining moment of India's independence struggle — the first major act of civil disobedience against the British Salt Act of 1882, which imposed a tax on salt and prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt independently. It galvanised the masses and earned international attention, bringing new participants — particularly women and peasants — into the independence movement.
The Dandi March's Rajasthan connection is significant: several freedom fighters from Rajasthan's princely states participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement it triggered. Rajasthan's own Praja Mandal movements across states like Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur were directly inspired by Gandhi's call for satyagraha. The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi, inaugurated by PM Modi in January 2019, stands as a permanent tribute to this movement. March 12 is observed as Dandi March Day annually across India.
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What was the approximate distance covered by Mahatma Gandhi during the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi?
Explanation · Correct answer AMahatma Gandhi and 78 chosen satyagrahis walked 241 miles (approximately 388 km) over 24 days from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Navsari district, Gujarat, where Gandhi broke the British salt law on April 6, 1930. The Dandi March galvanised the masses into the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Dandi March and when did it take place?
The Dandi March was a 388 km protest walk led by Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad to Dandi village, Gujarat, over 24 days from March 12 to April 5, 1930. Gandhi led 78 satyagrahis to defy the British Salt Act (1882) by making salt at Dandi on April 6, 1930.
What was the significance of the Dandi March for India's freedom struggle?
By breaking the British salt law at Dandi on April 6, 1930, Gandhi ignited the Civil Disobedience Movement — a major phase of India's independence struggle. It also led to the Gandhi–Irwin Pact (March 1931) and India's participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
How did the Dandi March influence Rajasthan's freedom movement?
The Civil Disobedience Movement triggered by the Dandi March directly inspired the Praja Mandal movements in Rajasthan's princely states including Bikaner, Jaipur, and Jodhpur, which pushed for democratic rule against feudal authority.
Which anniversary of the Dandi March was observed in 2026 and how was it commemorated?
March 12, 2026 marked the 96th anniversary of the Dandi March. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and the 78 satyagrahis; the date is commemorated as 'Salt Satyagraha Day' in Indian history.
What was the Gandhi–Irwin Pact and how was it connected to the Dandi March?
The Gandhi–Irwin Pact of March 1931 was a political agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and the British Viceroy Lord Irwin, reached as a direct consequence of the Civil Disobedience Movement triggered by the Dandi March. It led to India's participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
