Youth Talent, Hard Work and Dedication Will Realise the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047: Chief Minister
True Identity Is Defined by Conduct, Humility and Values; Youth Must Become Job Providers, Not Just Job Seekers
Dehradun, October 2026 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 24th convocation ceremony of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) at Bidholi in Dehradun on Thursday. On the occasion, he presented Silver Plate Awards to six students of the university.
Congratulating the graduating students, Dhami said a new chapter in their lives was beginning as they prepared to leave the university and face real-world challenges. He emphasised that hard work, dedication and a willingness to keep learning were essential for success. He urged students to achieve their goals through perseverance and by making the best use of their abilities.
The Chief Minister said genuine happiness and satisfaction came from doing good deeds and helping others. A person's true identity, he added, was reflected in their conduct, humility and values. He encouraged students to maintain a lifelong learning attitude and use their knowledge and capabilities for the progress of society and the nation.
Dhami said UPES had established a distinct identity in the field of higher education and had made several significant contributions to education over the past two decades.
Youth Will Play a Key Role in Building Viksit Bharat
The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. Young people would play the most important role in realising this vision, he said, expressing confidence that their talent, hard work and dedication would help achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat.
He added that UPES graduates would bring pride to Uttarakhand and the country through their talent, professional capabilities and achievements, wherever they worked in India or abroad.
Dhami also referred to a recent essay competition in which more than 2.5 lakh students participated and shared their views and suggestions on various subjects. Their contributions demonstrated that the youth of Uttarakhand were aware of a wide range of issues and had a positive outlook on matters concerning society and the country, he said.
Awareness and talent among young people, he added, formed the foundation of a bright future for any state or nation.
Focus on AI, Green Energy and Innovation
Dhami said the present era was being shaped by artificial intelligence, data science, green energy and digital technology. The state government was working continuously to position Uttarakhand as a leading state in education, science, technology and research.
The National Education Policy 2020 has been implemented in the state. To promote a balance between modern education, cultural heritage and traditional values, a Centre for Hindu Studies has also been established at Doon University, he said.
To encourage scientific thinking and innovation among young people, a Science City is being developed in Dehradun.
The Chief Minister said the government wanted young people not merely to seek employment but also to become job creators through self-employment and entrepreneurship. Startups and innovation were being encouraged, and incubation centres had been established to support these efforts.
Over 35,000 Youth Given Government Jobs in Five Years
Dhami said the state government had introduced one of the country's strictest anti-cheating laws to ensure transparency in recruitment processes.
Through a transparent recruitment system, more than 35,000 young people had been provided government jobs in Uttarakhand over the past five years, he said. The government remained committed to ensuring that young people received opportunities to progress on the basis of their merit and hard work.
Chief Minister Interacts with Students and Their Families
During the convocation, Dhami mingled with students and their family members, interacting with them warmly and extending his best wishes for their future.
He also spoke with parents and relatives who had travelled from different parts of the country to attend the ceremony and enquired about their well-being. Students and family members appeared delighted to meet the Chief Minister.
Degrees to Be Awarded to 4,795 Students
A total of 4,795 students are receiving degrees at the 24th UPES convocation this year. The group includes 3,806 students from regular academic programmes and 989 students enrolled in UPES Online.
Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) Director General Professor Durgesh Pant, UPES President Dr Ram K. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor Dr Sunil Rai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Manish Madan, along with university faculty members, officials, students and other dignitaries, attended the ceremony.
