Published: 11 March 2026DD NewsGovernance
Dandi March Anniversary: India Observes 96th Anniversary of Salt Satyagraha (March 12, 1930)
India observed the 96th anniversary of the historic Dandi March on March 12, 2026. On this day in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began a 387 km march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi with 78 trusted volunteers, launching the Civil Disobedience Movement by breaking the British salt monopoly on April 6, 1930.
PM Modi, speaking at the NXT Summit, drew a parallel between the Dandi March and India's current pursuit of 'Viksit Bharat', noting how the 1930 march united the country in the fight for freedom just as the current mission unites 140 crore Indians toward development. Over 60,000 Indians were jailed during the Salt Satyagraha, making it one of the most significant chapters in India's freedom struggle.
Mains angle
Q: Analyse the significance of the Dandi March in the Indian freedom struggle and its relevance to contemporary nation-building under the Viksit Bharat mission.
Answer (50 words):
On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi led 78 volunteers from Sabarmati Ashram on a 387-kilometre march to Dandi, launching the Civil Disobedience Movement against British salt monopoly. Over 60,000 Indians were jailed during the Salt Satyagraha. PM Modi drew parallels between this unifying movement and the Viksit Bharat development mission.
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Linked questionMedium
Who launched the Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses (Aatmanirbharta in Pulses)?
Explanation · Correct answer APrime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses (Aatmanirbharta in Pulses) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi during a special Krishi programme. The Union Agriculture Minister was associated with the Mission, but the launch was made by the Prime Minister.
Frequently asked questions
What is the historical significance of the Dandi March whose 96th anniversary was observed on March 12, 2026?
The **Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha)** began on **March 12, 1930**, when **Mahatma Gandhi** started a **387 km march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi** with **78 trusted volunteers**, launching the **Civil Disobedience Movement** by breaking the British salt monopoly on **April 6, 1930**.
How far did Mahatma Gandhi march during the Dandi March of 1930 and who accompanied him?
**Mahatma Gandhi** marched **387 kilometres** from **Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi** in Gujarat during the **Salt Satyagraha (1930)**. He was accompanied by **78 trusted volunteers (satyagrahis)**. The march took 24 days, ending on April 5, 1930.
How many Indians were jailed during the Salt Satyagraha and why was it significant for India's freedom struggle?
Over **60,000 Indians were jailed** during the **Salt Satyagraha**. It was significant because it was the first mass civil disobedience movement that brought India's freedom struggle to global attention, demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance, and directly challenged British colonial law.
What parallel did PM Modi draw between the Dandi March and Viksit Bharat at the NXT Summit?
**PM Modi**, speaking at the **NXT Summit** on March 12, 2026 (96th anniversary of Dandi March), drew a parallel between the **1930 Dandi March** which united the country in the fight for freedom, and the current **Viksit Bharat mission** which unites **140 crore Indians** toward the goal of development by 2047.
On which date did Mahatma Gandhi break the salt law at Dandi and formally launch the Civil Disobedience Movement?
**Mahatma Gandhi** broke the salt law at **Dandi on April 6, 1930**, formally launching the **Civil Disobedience Movement**. He picked up a handful of salt from the sea, defying the British monopoly on salt production and taxation, triggering nationwide protests.
