Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 3 Jan: A total of 977 meritorious students from 207 PM-SHRI schools of the State will be sent on an inter–state educational tour. Under this programme, students will visit scientific research centres, space research centres, sports training institutes, technology institutes, cultural and heritage sites, as well as music and art academies.
The State Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 3.06 crore for the educational tour. The programme will be organised between January 15 and 20. Necessary instructions have been issued to the Chief Education Officers of all districts to ensure proper preparations.
Officials of the School Education Department stated that, with the objective of promoting the intellectual, academic and all-round development of students, the State Government organises educational tours to different states every year. Under this initiative, a total of 1,048 participants from 207 PM-SHRI secondary and higher secondary schools across the state will take part in the inter–state tour. This includes 977 students, 13 nodal officers, and 58 teachers (male and female) who will accompany the students as escorts.
District-wise participation includes: Almora (104), Bageshwar (36), Chamoli (96), Champawat (56), Dehradun (66), Haridwar (76), Nainital (104), Pauri (51), Pithoragarh (81), Rudraprayag (31), Tehri (71), Udham Singh Nagar (144), and Uttarkashi (61) students. From each district, two male and two female teachers will be nominated as escorts. In districts where the number of participating students exceeds 100, three male and three female teachers will be appointed as escorts.
Departmental officials further informed that for the inter–state tour, two boys and two girls will be selected from each PM-SHRI school. The selected students must be studying in Classes 9 and 11 and should have secured the highest marks in the annual examination of the academic year 2024–25. In addition to co-educational schools, four students will be selected from boys’ or girls’ schools. Students who have previously participated in the Bharat Darshan programme will not be eligible.
The inter–state educational tour will be conducted between January 15 and January 20, 2026. During the programme, students will visit educational and research institutions in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Goa, including National Science Centres, IITs, space research centres, sports training institutes, and cultural and heritage sites, as well as art academies. The tour groups will be flagged off at the district level by the local Member of Parliament, MLA, and the District Magistrate.
Officials stated that a total amount of ₹3.06 crore has been sanctioned district-wise for the implementation of the programme. All Chief Education Officers have been directed to nominate a senior Principal/Headmistress of a PM-SHRI school as the nodal officer in their respective districts and to ensure all necessary arrangements. Mandatory photography and videography of the tour will be conducted, and a detailed report will be submitted to the State project office.
“The objective of the State Government is not only to provide quality education to students in schools, but also to familiarize them with the scientific, cultural, and educational heritage of the country, so that a spirit of innovation, self-confidence, and a broad perspective can be developed among them. Under this objective, meritorious students of 207 PM-SHRI schools are being sent on an inter–state educational tour. Necessary instructions have been issued to departmental officials.”
— Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Minister of School Education, Uttarakhand.
