Dehradun: With the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Elections 2027 approaching, the Uttarakhand government has placed a strong emphasis on youth empowerment, education, skills, and entrepreneurship in the 2026–27 state budget.
Presenting the budget in the state assembly, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government is prioritizing women, farmers, the poor, and youth through targeted policies and financial allocations. A major focus of the budget is to strengthen young people through education, training, sports, and skill development programs.
The aim is to enable the state’s youth not only to secure jobs but also to become entrepreneurs and job creators.
Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme Encouraging Startups
The state government is already implementing the Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme to promote innovation and startups among students.
Under this initiative, college campuses are being transformed into innovation and startup laboratories, encouraging students to develop entrepreneurial ideas and launch ventures.
Key achievements under the scheme include:
- More than 300 students have launched quality startups
- 20 student startups received seed fund support
- 1,240 students formally registered their enterprises
- Students are receiving branding and marketing assistance
- Several students have also applied for patents
According to CM Dhami, the initiative is not just a government scheme but a larger movement that encourages innovation, technology adoption, and risk-taking among young people.
Read also: Uttarakhand Budget 2026: Govt Boosts Road and Infrastructure Development in Remote Hill Villages
Modern Technology Training in Polytechnics
To strengthen technical education, the state government has established Emerging Technology Laboratories under the technical education department.
Around 5,000 students studying in polytechnic institutes in cities such as Dehradun, Rani Pokhri, Narendranagar, Srinagar, Dwarahat, Nainital, Kashipur and Lohaghat are benefiting from modern training facilities.
The government has also initiated exposure visits for faculty members and students to premier institutions like Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to enhance their practical knowledge and innovation capabilities.
Hub and Spoke Model for Skill Development
The Chief Minister emphasized that improving employability among students is a key priority. To achieve this, the government has proposed the Chief Minister Hub and Spoke Model in the new budget.
Under this model, institutions such as:
- Polytechnics
- Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
- Higher education institutions
- Secondary schools
will be integrated to create a coordinated skill development ecosystem.
This system aims to ensure that students gain industry-relevant training and employment-oriented skills.
Technology to Improve Governance and Revenue
The government is also leveraging modern technology to increase state revenue and curb illegal activities.
Under the Mining Digital Transformation and Surveillance System (MDTSS), technologies such as drones, CCTV surveillance, digital gates, and real-time data monitoring are being used to control illegal mining and strengthen revenue collection.
The state has allocated ₹24.5 crore for the mining surveillance scheme in the budget.
Science Education Reaches Remote Areas
To promote scientific learning in rural and mountainous regions, the government has introduced the Lab on Wheels initiative, which brings mobile science laboratories to remote schools.
Currently, every district in Uttarakhand has a Lab on Wheels facility, helping students conduct scientific experiments even in remote areas.
The government has allocated ₹4 crore in the new budget for expanding the scheme.
Exposure Programs and Higher Education Initiatives
Students studying in higher education institutions are also benefiting from the Bharat Darshan Scheme, which provides exposure visits across India.
Building on this initiative, the government plans to introduce a new Uttarakhand Darshan program in the upcoming budget to enhance students’ understanding of the state’s culture and heritage.
Additionally, the government has decided to create positions for a Hindu Studies Centre at Doon University.
New Sports Policy to Promote Young Athletes
The state has introduced a new sports policy to encourage sporting culture and support young athletes.
Under the Chief Minister Udiyman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana, 300 students aged 8–14 in each district are selected and provided a monthly scholarship of ₹1,500.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Protsahan Scheme provides ₹2,000 monthly scholarships to 200 selected athletes aged 14–23 in each district, benefiting around 2,600 students across the state.
These initiatives aim to identify and nurture sports talent at an early stage.
Major Budget Allocations for Youth Development
The state government has made several financial provisions for youth-related initiatives:
- ₹7.11 crore for entrepreneurship, skill, and innovation schemes
- ₹7.60 crore grant for Doon Library and Research Centre
- ₹7 crore for establishing e-libraries in government colleges
- ₹1 crore for research and development initiatives
- ₹15 crore scholarships under the school education department
- ₹15 crore scholarships under the higher education department
- ₹4 crore for expansion of the Lab on Wheels initiative
- ₹13.5 crore sports scholarships under the sports department
- ₹60 crore under the Chief Minister Self Employment Scheme
- ₹10 crore under the Chief Minister Migration Prevention Scheme
- ₹62.29 crore for the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Gramin Kaushal Yojana
- ₹155.38 crore assistance for non-government colleges
- ₹10 crore honorarium for education volunteers
- ₹10 crore for the Chief Minister Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Scheme
- ₹3.34 crore for the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Literacy Programme
Strengthening Youth for Future Growth
Through these initiatives, the Uttarakhand government aims to create a strong ecosystem for education, entrepreneurship, sports, and employment opportunities.
