Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday, 25 May 2026, called on the state's youth to harness social media as a force for positivity, factual information, innovation, social service, and the promotion of Uttarakhand's rich culture and folk traditions to the world.

Context

In his post on X, CM Dhami issued a direct appeal to young digital users: 'yuvaon se aahvan hai ki ve social media ka upyog sakaratmakata, tathyapurna jankari, navachar, samaj seva aur pradesh ki samridh sanskriti evam lok paramparaon ko duniya tak pahunchane ke liye karen' ('I call upon the youth to use social media for positivity, factual information, innovation, social service, and to take the state's rich culture and folk traditions to the world'). He added that responsible participation on digital platforms would become the foundation for building an empowered society and a developed India.

The post was accompanied by four images, signalling an organised outreach effort rather than an off-the-cuff remark. The appeal reflects a growing emphasis by state governments on shaping how young citizens engage with online spaces.

Policy Backdrop

The message aligns closely with two major national frameworks. The Digital India programme, launched in 2015, set out to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, with responsible online behaviour as a core pillar. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, further institutionalised accountability norms for social media platforms and their users.

At the national level, the Viksit Bharat vision — the Central government's roadmap for a developed India by 2047 — explicitly positions youth contribution through technology and culture as central to nation-building. CM Dhami's appeal maps directly onto this framework, translating the national ambition into a state-level call to action.

Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state with a distinct cultural identity encompassing folk music, festivals, and artisan traditions, has particular stakes in digital cultural promotion. The state's tourism economy and diaspora connections mean that online visibility of local heritage carries tangible economic and soft-power value.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary audience is Uttarakhand's youth demographic — a segment that is both a heavy consumer of social media and a potential ambassador for the state's cultural heritage on global platforms. By framing responsible digital use as a civic duty tied to 'Viksit Bharat', CM Dhami attempts to elevate routine online activity into a form of nation-building participation.

For digital platform users more broadly, the message reinforces the state government's stance against misinformation and negative content online. Cultural organisations, folk artists, and local entrepreneurs who depend on digital reach to promote Uttarakhand's heritage stand to benefit if the appeal translates into tangible content-creation activity by young residents.

What's Next

Observers will watch whether this appeal is followed by concrete state-level initiatives such as digital literacy workshops, content-creation grants for youth, or updates to Uttarakhand's IT or social media guidelines. The BJP-led state government has previously linked governance communication with cultural outreach, and this post may signal a forthcoming structured campaign. The broader test will be whether the call for 'responsible participation' is backed by institutional support or remains an exhortation.