November 2026 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday honoured six children with the first Chief Minister's State Bravery Awards at a ceremony held at Parade Ground in Dehradun.
The children were recognised for displaying extraordinary courage, bravery and presence of mind in challenging and life-threatening situations. Each award recipient was presented with a medal and a certificate of appreciation. A cash reward of ₹51,000 was also transferred directly into the bank account of each winner through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
The Chief Minister's State Bravery Awards have been introduced for the first time by the Women Empowerment and Child Development Department for the financial year 2026-27. Following a state-level selection process involving applications received from different districts, six children were chosen for the inaugural awards. Three awardees belong to Chamoli district, while one each is from Champawat, Dehradun and Tehri Garhwal.
Three Children from Chamoli Honoured for Bravery During Bear Attack
Divya, Deepika and Aarav Singh from Chamoli district were honoured for their courage and presence of mind during a bear attack at their school.
On December 22, 2025, at around 9.30 am, a bear entered the premises of GIC UPS Harishankar in Chamoli and attacked Aarav Singh, a Class 6 student.
Aarav fought to protect himself, while Divya, a Class 8 student, courageously chased the bear and attempted to rescue him. She helped Aarav reach the safety of the school building. Meanwhile, Deepika immediately guided nine other students into a Class 7 classroom, ensuring their safety.
The three children demonstrated exceptional courage and quick thinking during the frightening incident, helping prevent further casualties.
Champawat Girl Saves Child from River
Maya from Champawat district received the award for rescuing a girl who was caught in the strong current of a river.
On August 5, 2025, heavy rainfall caused the river's water level to rise sharply. A girl was swept away by the powerful current. Without worrying about her own safety, Maya jumped into action and managed to rescue the girl from the dangerous flow.
Maya herself sustained injuries during the rescue operation. Nevertheless, her courage and determination helped save another child's life.
Dehradun Girl Alerts 17 Family Members During Cloudburst
Aaradhya from Dehradun was honoured for displaying exceptional alertness and presence of mind during a cloudburst-related incident.
On the evening of June 2, 2026, heavy rainfall triggered a sudden flow of water and debris in the area. Recognising the danger, Aaradhya immediately alerted all 17 people present in her house, enabling them to move to a safer location.
She also rescued a three-year-old girl from the strong flow of water. Her timely intervention and quick response helped avert a major tragedy.
Tehri Girl Saves Elderly Man from Oncoming Vehicle
Shweta from Tehri Garhwal received the bravery award for saving the life of an elderly man.
On January 30, 2025, an elderly man was walking along a road with the support of a walking stick when a vehicle approached at high speed from the opposite direction.
Noticing the imminent danger, Shweta immediately caught hold of the elderly man's hand and moved him safely to the roadside. Her prompt action prevented a potentially fatal accident.
The Chief Minister's State Bravery Awards have been instituted to recognise and encourage children who demonstrate exceptional courage, bravery and presence of mind in difficult circumstances.
Through this initiative, the Uttarakhand government aims to highlight inspiring acts of bravery and motivate other children to display courage, compassion, alertness and a sense of responsibility when confronted with challenging situations.
