Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami listened to the 136th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat in Dehradun on Sunday, 26 July 2026, coinciding with Kargil Vijay Diwas. The Chief Minister shared highlights of the address on X, underlining the Prime Minister's tributes to fallen soldiers and his calls for water conservation, promotion of local crafts, and reduced plastic use.

Context

In his post, CM Dhami noted that PM Modi paid homage to India's armed forces on Kargil Vijay Diwas, honouring what he described as their 'indomitable courage, valour, and supreme sacrifice' (adamya sahas, shaurya evam sarvochch balidaan). Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on 26 July to mark India's victory in the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the occasion has been a consistent feature of Mann Ki Baat addresses that fall on or near the date.

The Mann Ki Baat programme was launched by PM Modi in October 2014 as a direct-to-citizen radio broadcast on All India Radio. It airs on the last Sunday of each month and covers themes ranging from governance and social campaigns to science, culture, and national security.

Policy Backdrop

According to CM Dhami's account of the episode, PM Modi highlighted India's achievements in the defence and space sectors, specifically citing the growing participation of the private sector as a symbol of 'New India's progress.' This framing aligns with the government's sustained push under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to indigenise defence production and open space activities to private players.

The Prime Minister also invoked the 'Catch the Rain' campaign — launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to promote rainwater harvesting — and called on citizens to actively contribute to environmental protection by avoiding single-use plastic. The 'Vocal for Local' campaign, another pillar of the Atmanirbhar Bharat economic package announced in 2020, was cited as a vehicle for encouraging Indians to buy indigenous products.

With National Handloom Day approaching on 7 August, PM Modi praised the contribution of the country's weavers and urged citizens to adopt and promote indigenous handloom products, according to CM Dhami's summary.

Stakeholders and Impact

The episode's themes touch several distinct constituencies. Defence personnel and veterans are acknowledged through the Kargil tribute, while the space and defence sectors — increasingly populated by private-sector firms — receive a direct endorsement. Weavers and artisans across states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Uttarakhand itself stand to benefit from renewed public attention ahead of National Handloom Day.

Calls for water conservation through 'Catch the Rain' are particularly relevant for hill states like Uttarakhand, where erratic monsoon patterns and glacier retreat have intensified water-stress concerns. Indian youth who excelled at various international competitions were also acknowledged in the address, as noted by CM Dhami, reinforcing a recurring Mann Ki Baat theme of celebrating young achievers.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to National Handloom Day on 7 August, when state governments and the Union government typically organise events to showcase weaver communities and handloom products. Uttarakhand, under CM Dhami, may be expected to align state-level activities with the Centre's messaging on Vocal for Local and handloom promotion. Progress on the 'Catch the Rain' campaign at the district level in the state will also be worth monitoring as the monsoon season advances.