Chief Minister honours 63 meritorious students and six principals at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Educational Excellence Awards ceremony
State government committed to integrating education with modern technology, innovation and Indian values: Chief Minister
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Educational Excellence Awards ceremony held at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan at the Chief Minister’s residence on Thursday. On the occasion, he honoured 63 meritorious students who secured positions in the top 10 in the Uttarakhand Board of School Education’s Class 10 and Class 12 examinations in 2026, along with the principals of six schools that delivered outstanding examination results.
A total of 38 Class 10 students and 25 Class 12 students were felicitated at the ceremony. In the Class 10 examination, Akshat Gopal secured the first position in the state with 98.20 per cent marks. In the Class 12 examination, Geetika Pant and Sushila Mehandiratta jointly secured the first position with 98 per cent marks each.
In addition, the principals of three schools each at the Class 10 and Class 12 levels, recognised for their excellent examination results, were honoured with certificates of appreciation and the Chief Minister’s Trophy.
Congratulating the award recipients, Dhami wished the students and principals a bright future. He said the students’ achievements reflected their hard work, discipline and determination, while also acknowledging the significant contributions of teachers and parents.
The Chief Minister noted that Uttarakhand recorded a pass percentage of 92.10 per cent in the Class 10 examinations and 85.11 per cent in the Class 12 examinations in 2026. Describing the results as commendable, he expressed confidence that students from the state would continue to bring recognition to Uttarakhand and the country through their talent and dedication.
Recalling Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Dhami said he was a great thinker, educationist and social worker who championed Integral Humanism and Antyodaya. Upadhyaya believed that education should extend beyond textbook knowledge and incorporate patriotism, ethical values, social harmony and practical learning.
His ideas, the Chief Minister said, continue to inspire efforts to build an educated, empowered and self-reliant society.
Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Education Policy 2020 had introduced significant measures to make India's education system modern, practical and quality-oriented. Uttarakhand is among the leading states to implement the policy, he added.
The state government is focusing on educational innovation, digital learning and Indian values, while giving priority to the all-round development of students.
Highlighting various educational initiatives, the Chief Minister said eligible girls who pass Class 12 are being provided an incentive of Rs 51,000 under the Nanda Gaura Yojana.
To improve access to quality education for students in remote areas, virtual classrooms and a central studio facility are being developed for 500 schools. The state has also established 189 Atal Utkrisht Vidyalayas, while NCERT textbooks have been made mandatory in government schools.
The government is also prioritising the modernisation of school laboratories to strengthen practical learning and familiarise students with emerging technologies.
Dhami said the Mukhyamantri Balashray Yojana aims to ensure free education for orphaned children. The government’s objective is to provide every child in the state with quality education and equal opportunities to develop their talents.
Referring to Uttarakhand’s achievement of becoming a fully literate state, the Chief Minister described it as a matter of pride. He appreciated the contributions of teachers, officials, volunteers and residents who participated in the literacy campaign.
However, he emphasised that the achievement should be viewed as the beginning of a new phase rather than the final destination.
The next priority, he said, is to equip every citizen with digital literacy, financial literacy, health awareness and practical life skills. Collective efforts are necessary to ensure that people can use modern technologies to improve their lives, strengthen their livelihoods and contribute to social progress.
Addressing the students, Dhami said the state government was continuously working towards making Uttarakhand the best state in the country. Quality education and the contribution of the younger generation would be crucial to achieving this goal.
He expressed confidence that the state’s meritorious students would set new benchmarks through their knowledge, skills and hard work and make a significant contribution to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India.
Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, MLA Savita Kapoor, Education Secretary Jyoti Yadav, Additional Education Secretary Namami Bansal and officials of the Education Department were present at the ceremony.
