Youth Power is the Greatest Strength for a Developed India and a Developed Uttarakhand: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
Roorkee, June 28, 2026
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the “Yuva Shakti Samvad” (Youth Dialogue) programme in Roorkee, stating that the youth of Uttarakhand are the strongest pillar of both a Developed India (Viksit Bharat) and a Developed Uttarakhand. He said that India is the youngest nation in the world, and the energy, innovation, talent, and aspirations of its youth are the driving force behind the country’s future growth.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, young people are viewed not as a vote bank but as the foundation of a developed India. He highlighted flagship initiatives such as Startup India, Stand-Up India, Digital India, Skill India, Khelo India, and the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, which are empowering youth to become entrepreneurs and job creators rather than job seekers.
Dhami said the state government’s vision is to build an Uttarakhand where young people do not have to migrate in search of employment but can find ample opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship, and innovation within the state.
He noted that schemes such as the Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme, Youth Promotion Scheme, Deendayal Upadhyay Scheme, One District-Two Products (ODOP), and House of Himalayas are helping local entrepreneurs and products gain recognition at the national and global levels.
He added that initiatives including the State Millet Mission, Apple Mission, Kiwi Mission, New Tourism Policy, Homestay Scheme, Wed in Uttarakhand campaign, and Solar Self-Employment Scheme are creating new avenues for livelihood and entrepreneurship across the state.
The Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand’s unemployment rate has declined by 4.4 percent due to the state’s effective policies, placing it ahead of the national average. He also stated that Uttarakhand has secured the top position in NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) rankings.
He said the state is witnessing a positive trend of reverse migration, with many young professionals returning to Uttarakhand to establish businesses and promote entrepreneurship using their skills and experience.
Emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of young people, Dhami said that Uttarakhand’s stringent anti-cheating law has ensured transparency and fairness in recruitment examinations.
He informed that more than 33,000 youth have been appointed to government services over the past four and a half years through transparent and merit-based recruitment processes.
He further said that the government is strengthening higher education by establishing 20 model colleges, constructing women’s hostels, modern IT laboratories, examination buildings, and expanding educational infrastructure across the state.
Additionally, over 20,000 new industries have been established during the past four and a half years, generating fresh employment opportunities and attracting significant investment.
Call to Dream Big
The Chief Minister urged young people to set ambitious goals, embrace innovation, and move forward with confidence. He assured them that the state government stands firmly with every youth in realizing their dreams.
He expressed confidence that Uttarakhand’s youth would play a vital role in transforming the state into one of India’s leading states through excellence in science, technology, research, and innovation.
Interactive Session with Youth
During the programme, Chief Minister Dhami held an interactive session with participants and responded to a wide range of questions raised by the youth.
Employment and Youth Empowerment
The first question was asked by Bhunesh Goyal, who sought information about government initiatives related to youth empowerment, security, and participation in governance.
The Chief Minister described Roorkee as a hub of science, research, and innovation and reiterated that the government is actively promoting startups by providing financial assistance and implementing various self-employment schemes. He once again highlighted that transparent recruitment under the anti-cheating law has resulted in over 33,000 government appointments.
Tackling Social Media Misinformation
Riya Vandana asked about the government’s strategy to deal with fake news and misinformation spreading through social media.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that social media has become a powerful communication platform where information spreads instantly. He said that the Cyber Cell is actively monitoring misuse of digital platforms and that strict legal action is being taken against individuals who spread rumours or attempt to disturb social harmony.
Preparations for the 2027 Kumbh Mela
Sonalika sought details about preparations for the 2027 Kumbh Mela.
Responding to the query, the Chief Minister said the state government is making comprehensive arrangements to ensure that the Kumbh Mela is grand, divine, safe, and well-organized. Preparations include crowd management, traffic planning, expansion and development of ghats, enhanced security arrangements, and the deployment of modern technologies such as drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based surveillance systems to ensure smooth management of the mega event.
The programme concluded with organizer Gaurav Kaushik welcoming the Chief Minister with a bouquet and expressing gratitude to all dignitaries and participants.
Among those present were Rajya Sabha MP Kalpana Saini, Transport Minister Pradeep Batra, District Panchayat Chairperson Kiran Chaudhary, BJP District President Madhu Singh, Roorkee Mayor Anita Agrawal, BJP OBC Morcha State President Rakesh Giri, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar, Joint Magistrate Deepak Ramchandra Seth, Additional District Magistrate Jitendra Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Shekhar Suyal, HRDA Secretary Pratyush Singh, Bhagwanpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Devendra Singh Negi, along with a large gathering of youth.
