(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated top-performing students on Thursday by honoring 75 bright young minds who ranked in the top 10 of their High School and Intermediate board exams. The event, called the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Educational Excellence Awards Ceremony, took place at the SCERT Auditorium in Nanurkheda. School principals from high-achieving institutions and leaders of the top 50 schools also received recognition for their strong results.
Dhami kicked off his speech by praising Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, a key figure whose ideas went beyond textbooks. “He believed education should build patriotism, moral values, social harmony, and real-world skills,” Dhami said. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with pushing for a more modern, practical, and high-quality system. In Uttarakhand, the state government is all in on this, focusing on fresh ideas in education, digital tools, and teaching strong values.
The chief minister pointed out practical steps already underway. Schools across Uttarakhand now feature smart classrooms, digital libraries, and online learning platforms to make education more accessible. For younger students in classes 6 to 8, a new book called Hamari Virasat introduces India’s rich culture, folk traditions, and inspiring figures from the state and beyond.
Dhami highlighted big pushes in school upgrades: 226 institutions are turning into PM Shri Schools, and 1,300 schools in all 13 districts run virtual classrooms. To reach kids in far-off areas, five PM e-Vidya channels offer online classes. Plus, every student from class 1 to 12 in government and aided schools gets free textbooks. Under the CM Merit Scholarship Scheme, top students receive monthly awards, and talented 10th and 12th graders enjoy Bharat Darshan tours to boost their growth and experiences. For those aiming high in competitive exams like UPSC, NDA, or CDS, the state offers ₹50,000 in financial help to prepare for interviews after clearing written tests.
Tackling exam fairness head-on, Dhami touted Uttarakhand’s tough anti-cheating law as the strictest in India. “Over the last four years, we’ve hired more than 25,000 young people into government jobs— that’s way more than the 16,000 filled in the state’s first 21 years,” he noted. Since the law passed, over 100 cheating networks have landed in jail. He warned against paper leaks that hurt honest youth, vowing strict action on a recent incident. An SIT is now probing the irregularities, and Dhami promised arrests and punishments for every involved mafia member.
The CM stressed his early pledge to fill job vacancies quickly, leading to record hires through transparent processes. He slammed calls for CBI probes that could delay things, saying the goal is fair, fast recruitments so no young person gets left behind.
On minority education, Dhami announced a fresh law starting July 1, 2026. Madrasas will need to follow the state board’s curriculum to keep running, and only qualified teachers can instruct—no more unqualified ones pushing just religious lessons on kids.
Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat wrapped up by sharing good news: First-division passes in board exams jumped 18% this year. New improvement exam options have also cut down on student stress big time.
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