The CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon–2026, a flagship national public outreach and awareness initiative, was flagged off from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the capital earlier today. This is the second edition of the Coastal Cyclothon.
New Delhi: CISF Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon–2026. (IANS)
The CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon–2026, a flagship national public outreach and awareness initiative, was flagged off from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi earlier today. This is the second edition of the Coastal Cyclothon.
The Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, inaugurated the event as the Chief Guest of the occasion. The event marks the formal beginning of a 25-day-long national movement.
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The Cyclothon initiative aims to motivate citizens to adopt physical fitness as well as a spirit of service to the nation.
As part of the movement, two CISF cycling teams have set out from Bakkhali (West Bengal) and Lakhpat (Gujarat) for a 6,500-kilometre-long travel along the eastern and western coastlines. They will cover nine coastal states and two union territories during their journey and end the cycle tour in Kochi on 22 February 2026. Notably, 50 per cent of the participating cyclists are women.
Many prominent dignitaries attended the flag-off ceremony and showed their support to the cyclists.
The initiative is a result of a strong inter-ministerial and inter-agency cooperation, and conveys a unified message of vigilance, solidarity and shared national resolve.
The Director General (CISF) also participated in the ceremony and stated that the Cyclothon is being organised as part of the commemoration of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, the iconic song symbolising national unity, sacrifice and collective resolve. The celebrations involved choral singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ and a CISF Band performance.
Speaking at the event, the MoS Home stated that the Coastal Cyclothon has been organised to commemorate 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram.’
While stressing on the importance of coastal security, the Minister called for active public participation, particularly by coastal communities, to strengthen it.
He also highlighted that it is a matter of national pride that CISF has been designated as the Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, placing the Force at the core of India’s maritime and port security architecture.
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