Principal Secretary Meenakshi Sundaram shares details of Economic Survey with media
By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Mar: Principal Secretary, Planning, R Meenashi Sundaram addressed a press conference at the Secretariat here, today, at which he shared the details of the latest Economic Survey of Uttarakhand with the media. As per the survey, Uttarakhand’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has reached Rs 3.818 lakh crores in FY 2024–25, registering more than one and a half times increase compared to Rs 2.54 lakh crores in FY 2021–22. It may be recalled that the survey will be tabled in the upcoming budget session of Uttarakhand Assembly to be held between 9 and 13 March at Gairsain. It is customary in the country and the state that the economic survey is released and tabled in the House before presenting the Budget in the Parliament or the state assemblies during the budget session.
Meenakshi Sundaram confirmed that the Economic Survey report, prepared by the Planning Department, would be tabled in the forthcoming Budget Session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. He reminded that the Economic Survey serves as an important direction document for the Finance Department as it provides guidance regarding the sectors where the government should focus and the direction in which the state’s economy should move.
He informed media that, this year, the Economic Survey has been prepared with the assistance of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), whereas in previous years it used to be compiled through an in-house exercise by the Department of Economics and Statistics. The collaboration with NCAER has enabled a more comprehensive and analytical assessment of the state’s economic indicators.
According to the report, as shared by Sundaram, the state has recorded a growth rate of 7.23 per cent during FY 2024–25. The per capita income of the state has also increased significantly from Rs 1,94,670 in FY 2021–22 to Rs 2,73,921 in FY 2024–25. Sundaram added that the Multidimensional Poverty Index has declined from 9.7 per cent in FY 2021–22 to 6.92 per cent in FY 2024–25. He claimed that the figure indicates a significant reduction in poverty levels in the state. In addition, the report also suggests that the Labour Force Participation Rate has increased from 60.1 per cent in FY 2021–22 to 64.4 per cent in FY 2024–25, reflecting an improvement of 4.3 per cent in employment participation.
The Human Development Index (HDI) has also shown steady progress over the years. It stood at 0.247 in 2001, rose to 0.684 in 2017, further improved to 0.718 in 2021–22 and has now reached 0.722 in 2024–25. The report estimates that the state’s economy is expected to grow at a rate of 8.2 per cent during 2026–27.
Providing details about industrial development, Meenakshi Sundaram said the number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state has increased from 59,798 in FY 2021–22 to 79,394 in FY 2024–25. Employment generated through MSMEs has also risen from 3,43,922 persons in 2022 to 4,56,605 in 2025. The number of large industries in the state has grown from 107 in FY 2021–22 to 128 in FY 2024–25.
The start-up ecosystem in the state has also expanded significantly. While there were no recognised start-ups in the state until 2017, their number had increased to 702 in FY 2021–22 and has now risen to 1,750 in FY 2024–25.
Sundaram also claimed that infrastructure indicators have also shown significant improvement. The total length of roads in the state has increased from 50,393 kilometres in FY 2021–22 to 51,278 kilometres in FY 2024–25. The number of heliports in the state has grown from two in 2022 to seven in 2025, while the number of helipads has increased from 60 in 2021–22 to 118 in FY 2024–25.
The report also highlights some improvements in the education sector. The dropout rate in primary schools has declined from 1.64 per cent in FY 2021–22 to 1.41 per cent in FY 2024–25, while the dropout rate in secondary schools has fallen from 7.65 per cent to 4.59 per cent during the same period. As per the report, the number of government and private degree colleges in the state has increased from 124 in FY 2021–22 to 139 in FY 2024–25. Similarly, the number of engineering colleges, both government and private, has risen from 20 in FY 2021–22 to 52 in FY 2024–25. Gross enrolment in primary schools has increased from 91.19 per cent in 2022 to 103 per cent in 2025, while in secondary schools it has risen from 88.23 per cent to 93.54 per cent.
Sundaram added that, in the energy sector, the state has witnessed a substantial rise in power generation. Electricity generation has increased from 5,157 million units in FY 2021–22 to 16,500 million units in FY 2024–25. Electricity consumption has also grown from 12,518 million units in 2022 to 17,192 million units in FY 2024–25. Significant progress has also been achieved in solar power generation, which has increased from 439 megawatts in FY 2021–22 to 1,027 megawatts in 2025.
Health indicators have also improved over the years. The Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 22 in FY 2021–22 to 20 in FY 2024–25, while the Maternal Mortality Ratio has decreased from 103 to 91 during the same period. The average life expectancy in the state has increased from 71.7 years to 73 years.
The Principal Secretary also underlined improvements in sanitation, and agricultural productivity. The proportion of households with toilet facilities has increased from 97 per cent in FY 2021–22 to 100 per cent at present. The productivity of rice and wheat has risen from 28.23 quintals per hectare in FY 2021–22 to 32.47 quintals per hectare in FY 2024–25.
He shared that the area under medicinal and aromatic plants has witnessed a major expansion, increasing from 900 hectares in FY 2021–22 to 10,000 hectares in FY 2024–25. Milk production in the state has increased from 50.92 lakh litres per day in FY 2021–22 to 54.59 lakh litres per day in FY 2024–25. Fish production has also risen significantly from 7,325 tonnes per year in FY 2021–22 to 10,487 tonnes per year in FY 2024–25.
Sundaram asserted that tourism-related infrastructure has also expanded during the period. The number of hotels and other accommodation facilities in the state has increased from 8,225 in FY 2021–22 to 10,509 in FY 2024–25. Similarly, the number of homestays has grown from 3,935 in 2021–22 to 6,161 in FY 2024–25.
Sundaram further reminded that Uttarakhand had secured the fourth position in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index in 2021–22, and later achieved the first position in the SDG Index rankings in 2023–24, adding that this reflects the state’s progress across multiple development parameters.
Online Registration for Char Dham Yatra 2026 begins today
Dehradun, 5 Mar: Online registration for the Char Dham Yatra 2026 will begin on 6 March at 7:00 a.m. to facilitate pilgrims visiting the sacred shrines.
Opening dates of the temple portals for 2026 are as follows:
Yamunotri Temple – April 19, 2026
Gangotri Temple – April 19, 2026
Kedarnath Temple – April 22, 2026
Badrinath Temple – April 23, 2026
Hemkund Sahib – The opening date will be announced officially later.
Pilgrims can complete their registration through the following online platforms:
Weblink: registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
Mobile App: Tourist Care Uttarakhand
Indian pilgrims can register using their Aadhaar card, while foreign pilgrims can register using an email ID.
For pilgrims who do not have an Aadhaar card, physical registration centres will also be available, similar to previous years. Physical registration services will start two days before the opening of the temple portals, from April 17, 2026.
Physical registration centres will be set up at the following locations:
Yatra Registration Centre and Transit Camp, Rishikesh
Registration Centre, Rishikul Ground, Haridwar
Registration Centre, Vikas Nagar, Dehradun
Pilgrims can also seek assistance or information by calling the 24×7 toll-free helpline: 0135-1364.
All pilgrims planning to undertake the Char Dham Yatra are requested to complete their registration in advance to ensure a smooth and well-organised pilgrimage.
