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India’s National Unity Day and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of modern India, were commemorated in Turkmenistan’s capital. The event was organized by the Indian Embassy in Ashgabat.
The Indian Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Bandaru Wilsonbabu, gave the welcoming speech. He reminded the audience that Sardar Patel was a key figure in India’s non-violent struggle for independence and served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs after the country gained independence.
"Sardar Patel, affectionately called the ‘Iron Man of India,’ played a pivotal role in integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union," the ambassador stated. He also emphasized Patel’s legacy as the "father of the Indian Civil Service" due to his groundbreaking role in establishing a unified civil administration system.
Wilsonbabu reminded the audience that since 2014, India has been celebrating Sardar Patel's birthday (October 31) as National Unity Day. In 2018, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 182-meter-tall ‘Statue of Unity’ in honor of Patel near the town of Kevadia in Gujarat.
The ambassador highlighted that India and Turkmenistan share ancient cultural and civilizational ties. "As the world’s fourth-largest economy and the fastest-growing major economy, India is ready to share its expertise and knowledge in development to meet Turkmenistan’s needs and priorities," Wilsonbabu said.
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The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan has officially approved the work and rest schedule for 2026. In Turkmenistan, there will be a total of 12 official public holidays across all regions.
Workweek formats are as follows:
Five-day workweek — 40 hours
Six-day workweek (7 hours/day) — 40 hours
Six-day workweek (6 hours/day) — 36 hours
The public holidays in Turkmenistan in 2026 are:
January 1 — New Year
March 8 — International Women’s Day
March 20 — Oraza Bayram
March 21–22 — National Spring Holiday
May 18 — Constitution and State Flag Day of Turkmenistan
May 27–29 — Gurban Bayram
September 27 — Independence Day
October 6 — Day of Remembrance
December 12 — International Neutrality Day
On the workday preceding a public holiday, working hours are reduced by one hour. The same applies to night shifts, and in continuous production, the schedule is equivalent to a normal day. The average monthly working time is 166.9 hours for a 40-hour workweek and 150.5 hours for a 36-hour workweek. This ensures a balanced labor schedule throughout Turkmenistan in 2026.
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