Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 8 Dec: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today flagged off a contingent of 240 students, all toppers of the High School (Class 10) examination in the Uttarakhand Board Exam 2025, for a ‘Bharat Darshan’ Educational Tour. These students are scheduled to travel to various states in separate groups as part of the initiative. Addressing the programme organised at SCERT, Nanurkheda, on this occasion, the CM said the tour offers talented students a unique opportunity to directly observe and understand India’s progress in science, technology, history and culture. He urged them to record their travel experiences and note the innovations and achievements that have taken place in Uttarakhand for the first time.
Citing several examples, Dhami reminded that Uttarakhand has presented a model for the entire country by implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the first time. A strict anti-copying law had also been introduced for the first time in the state. He also reminded that Uttarakhand has secured first position for the first time in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, while its tableaux won first place in the 2023 parade held at Kartavya Path. He added that 27,000 youth have been given government jobs for the first time and the National Games had also been organised in the state for the first time.
The CM announced that based on the diaries which the students would maintain during the tour, two talented students from each district would be rewarded upon their return. He shared that in the first phase of the programme, launched in 2024-25, 156 students visited major scientific and technical institutions across the country, and this year the number had increased to 240. The students will visit institutions such as ISRO, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, the Professor UR Rao Satellite Centre and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
Addressing the students, Dhami commented that they would witness how far New India has advanced in the field of technology. While knowledge from textbooks is essential, direct exposure significantly enhances understanding and broadened perspective. He added that the tour would foster teamwork, social skills and self-confidence, and the students would cherish the experience throughout their lives while sharing Uttarakhand’s culture, nature, cuisine and tourism as the state’s Brand Ambassadors.
On the occasion, Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat reminded that, under the CM’s guidance, the Education Department had organised the collective singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ in 23,000 schools on Constitution Day, marking 150 years of the iconic song, with a record participation of 21 lakh people. He added that the CM has approved sending one thousand talented students on the educational tour from next year onwards. MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, Secretary Ravinath Raman, Additional Secretary Ranjana Rajguru, Director General, Education, Deepti Singh were among those present at the event.
