Union Home Minister inaugurates and lays foundation stones for 62 development projects worth Rs 1,475 crore at Uttarakhand State Foundation Day celebrations
Dehradun, November 2026 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Uttarakhand would be the first milestone in India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Addressing the Uttarakhand State Foundation Day celebrations at Parade Ground in Dehradun, Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 62 development projects worth Rs 1,475 crore. He also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award announced under the Uttarakhand Film Policy, the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman to distinguished personalities and the Chief Minister's State Children's Bravery Award.
Beginning his address with slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Shri Ram', Shah said he came from Gujarat, where it is traditionally believed that a person cannot attain salvation without visiting the Char Dham shrines.
He said he was fortunate to visit the sacred land of Uttarakhand, home to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, as well as Hemkund Sahib, the revered pilgrimage site of the Sikh community, and Haridwar, the city of the Kumbh.
Paying tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah said it was Vajpayee who created Uttarakhand and fulfilled the aspirations of those who had fought for a separate state. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards transforming and developing the state, he added.
Shah said Uttarakhand's development journey would serve as the first milestone in India's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
He described the State Foundation Day celebrations as an occasion of pride, achievement and resolve. Pride stems from Vajpayee's contribution to the creation of the state, while the achievements reflect the efforts being made under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to build a developed Uttarakhand. The resolve, he said, is to preserve the state's rich cultural heritage and environment.
Highlighting Uttarakhand's legacy of valour, Shah urged the younger generation to draw inspiration from legendary figures such as Veerangana Teelu Rauteli, Veer Madho Singh Bhandari, Victoria Cross awardees Darwan Singh Negi and Gabbar Singh Negi, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali and General Bipin Rawat.
GSDP rises 50 per cent compared to 2022
Shah said Uttarakhand had witnessed a significant acceleration in its development journey over the past decade. He noted that the state government was honouring personalities from different fields, reflecting its recognition of the contributions made by individuals towards the state's progress.
Compared to 2022, Uttarakhand's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has increased by 50 per cent, while per capita income has risen by 40 per cent, he said.
At the Global Investors Summit held in 2023, investment agreements worth Rs 3.56 lakh crore were signed. Of this, investments exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore have already reached the implementation stage.
Shah said Uttarakhand had achieved this significant milestone within a short period despite several challenges associated with industrial development.
15 states moving towards implementing UCC
The Union Home Minister said Uttarakhand had become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He said the legislation would prevent practices such as polygamy and triple talaq.
He added that 15 other states were now moving towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code on the lines of Uttarakhand.
Praising the state's stringent anti-copying law, Shah said it had helped ensure that those involved in examination-related malpractices were brought to justice. Following its implementation, around 35,000 young people had secured government jobs without political recommendations or additional expenses, he said.
He also highlighted the state's anti-conversion law, describing it as an important step towards preventing religious conversions.
Shah said several major infrastructure projects were transforming Uttarakhand's development landscape. These include the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, Char Dham All-Weather Road, Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line, Tanakpur-Bageshwar railway line, ropeway projects connecting Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib, and the Saung, Jamrani and Kishau dam projects.
Shah praises Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
Highlighting the state government's initiatives, Shah said women had been provided 30 per cent reservation in government jobs and 33 per cent reservation in cooperative societies. A 10 per cent reservation had also been introduced in government services for those who participated in the Uttarakhand statehood movement.
He said the number of Lakhpati Didis in the state had crossed three lakh, while thousands of homestays were now operating in rural areas.
The state government had increased the ex-gratia assistance provided to the families of soldiers who died in the line of duty from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, he said.
Shah also highlighted the construction of an AIIMS satellite centre at Kichha and the development of 51 villages in border areas under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Recalling the contributions of former chief ministers, Shah said the foundations of Uttarakhand's development were laid by the late B.C. Khanduri and Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank prepared a development roadmap for the state, which was subsequently carried forward by former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and the present Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Taking a swipe at previous governments, Shah alleged that development in Uttarakhand had been held back due to fears relating to China. In contrast, under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the Centre had expanded road connectivity to the state's remote border areas.
He asserted that no one now had the courage to attempt an intrusion into Indian territory, adding that those who had tried to do so had been taught a lesson through surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor.
Shah concluded his address by congratulating Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for taking forward development initiatives in Uttarakhand.
