One of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's great contributions was the creation of the Indian Administrative Service, which was once a 'mission' but had now become a 'commission' for some, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said today.


Many contributions and teachings of Patel have been ignored and remain unrecognised, Naidu said at an event to commemorate the 142nd birth anniversary of India's first home minister at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. The day is being celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.


"His vision for a unified India also saw the creation of the All India Administrative Service which he described as a steel frame. It was one of the great contributions he made to the country," the vice president said. Patel's exhortations to probationers to maintain "utmost impartiality and incorruptibility in administration" were as relevant today as they were then, Naidu said.