Police Commemoration Day 2025: Why it’s observed on Oct 21, its history, and significance
Ravi Jakhu
New Delhi, October 17, 2025: The nation will observe Police Commemoration Day on October 21 to pay homage to the valiant police personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The day marks the memory of ten brave policemen who laid down their lives on October 21, 1959, during an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh.
Since then, October 21 has been observed every year as Police Commemoration Day to honour the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of police personnel who safeguard the country’s internal security.
In recognition of their unparalleled service, the Prime Minister had dedicated the National Police Memorial (NPM) at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, to the nation on Police Commemoration Day in 2018. The memorial serves as a lasting tribute to the bravehearts of India’s police forces.
The National Police Memorial stands as a symbol of pride, unity, and sacrifice. It features a 30-foot granite monolith cenotaph representing the strength and resilience of police personnel, a ‘Wall of Valour’ engraved with the names of all martyrs since Independence, and a museum that chronicles the evolution and legacy of policing in India. The NPM is open to the public every day except Mondays.
Every Saturday and Sunday evening, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) organize band displays, parades, and retreat ceremonies at the memorial, beginning one hour before sunset.
The main commemoration ceremony on October 21 will be held at the National Police Memorial, New Delhi, and will be presided over by the Union Home Minister. A joint parade of CAPFs and Delhi Police will mark the occasion. Senior dignitaries, including Union Ministers, Members of Parliament with a police background, Heads of CAPFs/CPOs, retired DGPs, and families of martyrs, will pay floral tributes to the fallen heroes.
The Home Minister is expected to address the gathering, recalling the sacrifices of the martyrs and emphasizing the challenges faced by the police in maintaining law and order. The ceremony will conclude with a wreath-laying at the altar dedicated to the martyrs of Hot Springs. The event will be telecast live on Doordarshan and covered extensively by media and All India Radio.
As part of the Commemoration Week from October 22 to 30, CAPFs and police organizations across the country will organize several events, including family visits of martyrs, police band displays, motorcycle rallies, blood donation camps, essay and painting competitions for children, and screenings of short films showcasing the valor and dedication of India’s police personnel.