
CM opens Spectrum 2026
my uttarakhand news Bureau
NAINITAL, 11 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the three‑day technical and cultural festival ‘Spectrum 2026’ at the Birla Institute of Applied Sciences in Bhimtal, Nainital district here on Saturday. He also announced a package of new development and education‑related schemes for the region. On the occasion, he also inaugurated the newly-constructed building of the institute’s computer science and engineering department, saying it would provide students with modern facilities for education, research and innovation. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced Sub–Tehsil status for Bhimtal.
Dhami asserted the students that the country’s future rests with talented and determined youth, and recalled former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s view that India is rich in talent but needs proper guidance and platforms. He praised the institute’s management for providing quality education to bright and needy students from remote hill areas and for upholding excellence, discipline and value‑based learning. After viewing student‑made models, he commended their innovative thinking and creativity, and said the campus fosters an environment for holistic development.
The CM added that the Birla Institute has helped Uttarakhand’s youth move into technical careers, with many alumni serving in government services, the Indian Army and start‑ups. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi‑led initiatives such as Start‑up India, Digital India, MUDRA, Atal Innovation Mission and the PM‑YUVA scheme, he said youth are being turned from job seekers into job creators. The state government, he said, is strengthening higher education by introducing artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data as subjects, and by setting up 20 model colleges, women’s hostels, modern IT labs and new examination complexes.
Dhami claimed that the ‘Shiksha Sarthi Uttarakhand scholarship’ is enabling students to pursue higher studies abroad while the ‘Infosys Springboard’ programme is bringing advanced computer‑based courses into colleges. Schemes like the Devbhumi Entrepreneurship Scheme and the Chief Minister’s Research Promotion Scheme are promoting innovation and research, with grants of up to Rs 18 lakh being given to faculty for research projects. A strict anti‑cheating law has also been implemented, and more than 32,000 youth have been placed in government jobs in the last four years.
In respect of the local development, Dhami announced the creation of a sub‑tehsil in Bhimtal to ease administrative work for residents, and the establishment of an Ayurvedic hospital at Bhidapani in Oakhalkanda. X‑ray and ultrasound machines will be installed at various health centres, and farmers’ markets will be built at Ramgarh, Dhari and Oakhalkanda to support agriculture. Cold‑storage units are planned at Lethibunga and Satbunga, and mini‑stadiums will come up at Kakodar and Dhadim. For the institute, he announced Rs 50 lakh each for a drone laboratory, upgradation of the computer department and furnishing the auditorium.
Among those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Ram Singh Kaira, block pramukh Dr Harish Bist, BJP district chief Pratap Bist, several legislators and public representatives, District Magistrate Lalit Mohan Rayal, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Manjunath TC, Chief Development Officer Arvind Pandey, institute officials and a large number of students.
