Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday inaugurated the Deeksharambh Session 2026–27 and Youth Dialogue Programme at Doon University. Welcoming the new students admitted to the university, he wished them a bright future. The Chief Minister said that university life is not limited to classrooms and examinations; rather, it is an important opportunity for personality development, developing new ideas and deciding the direction of one’s life.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Biological Sciences Laboratory Building constructed at a cost of ₹11.20 crore and the Central Library Building constructed at a cost of ₹17.39 crore. He also launched Doon University Community Radio Station 88.4 FM. He said these facilities would provide fresh momentum to the university’s academic and research activities and also contribute to the overall development of students.
The Chief Minister announced that the Central Library of Doon University would henceforth be known as the Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Central Library. Two posts—Programme Coordinator and Technical Assistant—will be created for the operation of the community radio station. Two electric buses will also be arranged for students.
He said that foreign language departments at Doon University would be further strengthened. Necessary posts would be created for Spanish, German, French, Chinese and Japanese languages, enabling students from other educational institutions in the state to also receive skill-based education through these departments and gain access to new employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister said that the greatest strength of any nation is its youth. A country whose young people have the courage to dream big, the determination to fulfil those dreams and the capacity for hard work cannot be stopped from progressing. India’s large youth population is a strong foundation for a developed India. He said that alongside various initiatives of the Central Government for youth, the state government is also working to expand opportunities for employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship.
The Chief Minister said that the present era is one of innovation and technology. In accordance with the National Education Policy, modern subjects such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data are being promoted in universities and research institutions. Projects such as Science City and Astro Park are also being developed in the state to promote scientific research.
He said the state government is strengthening higher education infrastructure while paying special attention to the quality of education and research. Facilities such as new colleges and model colleges, women’s hostels, information technology laboratories and examination buildings are being expanded. New recruitments are being undertaken to address the shortage of teachers. Under the Chief Minister’s Research Promotion Scheme, grants of up to ₹18 lakh are being provided to faculty members for research.
The Chief Minister said that the government is also providing necessary support to young people preparing for competitive examinations. Youth who qualify in the written examinations of the Union Public Service Commission, National Defence Academy and Combined Defence Services are being provided assistance of up to ₹50,000 for interview preparation.
He said the government’s priority is to establish a transparent system in which the hard work of young people is not compromised in any way. A strict anti-copying law has been implemented in the state to ensure transparency in recruitment examinations. He said that as a result of this system, more than 34,000 young people have been appointed to government services over the past five years.
The Chief Minister said that the government’s approach to youth development is not limited to government jobs. Efforts are being made to make young people self-reliant through various schemes, including the Chief Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme. Employment and self-employment opportunities are being created at the village and local levels by promoting homestays, organic farming, tourism and local enterprises. He said the government is committed to ensuring that both the youth and the water resources of Uttarakhand benefit Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister urged young people to make maximum use of the opportunities available at the university, recognise their capabilities and move forward with new ideas. Referring to the message of Swami Vivekananda, he appealed to the youth to continue making efforts until they achieve their goals. He said that the role of young people is extremely important in the resolve to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country.
MLA Vinod Chamoli, Doon University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Surekha Dangwal, Chairman of the Media Advisory Committee Prof. Govind Singh, Additional Secretary Manmohan Mainali, along with university faculty members and other dignitaries, were present at the programme.
