CM Dhami at GRACE Hindustan 2.0 in Dehradun
Synopsis
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended GRACE Hindustan 2.0 in Dehradun on 15 July 2026, a national event industry convention organised by the International Convention of Event Industries, reinforcing the state's push to become a leading MICE tourism destination.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the GRACE Hindustan 2.0 programme in Dehradun on 15 July 2026 .
The event was organised by the International Convention of Event Industries , a body focused on conventions, exhibitions, and the MICE sector in India.
This is the second edition of the GRACE Hindustan series, aimed at highlighting India's event-management capabilities.
Uttarakhand's Tourism Policy 2022 formally prioritised MICE tourism to diversify the state economy beyond pilgrimage-based tourism.
The state has linked improvements in road and airport connectivity — including Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport — to its MICE destination ambitions.
Follow-up budget allocations for event venues and convention infrastructure in Dehradun are being watched by industry stakeholders.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the GRACE Hindustan 2.0 programme in Dehradun on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, an event organised by the International Convention of Event Industries to showcase India's event-management capabilities at a national level.
Context
The Chief Minister shared a live broadcast of the event on social media, describing it as 'ग्रेस हिन्दुस्थान 2.0 कार्यक्रम' — the GRACE Hindustan 2.0 programme — hosted in the state capital. The event marks the second edition of a series designed to highlight the depth and scale of India's event-management and conventions industry. Dehradun, as Uttarakhand's capital, served as the backdrop for what the organising body, the International Convention of Event Industries, positions as a platform for sector-wide dialogue and industry promotion.
Policy Backdrop
Uttarakhand's participation in such conventions is rooted in the state's Tourism Policy 2022, which explicitly prioritised MICE tourism — Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions — as a strategic pillar to diversify the state's economic base beyond its traditional pilgrimage circuits. The policy identified convention infrastructure and targeted sector events as tools to attract private investment and generate employment in the hospitality and logistics sectors. At the national level, central schemes such as Swadesh Darshan and guidelines from the Ministry of Tourism have reinforced this direction, encouraging Himalayan states to develop event-hosting capabilities alongside improved physical connectivity.
Uttarakhand has in recent years linked upgrades to road networks and the expansion of Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport with its ambition to position the state as a credible MICE destination. Hosting a nationally recognised event industry convention in the capital city is consistent with that broader strategy.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of events like GRACE Hindustan 2.0 are event organisers, exhibition professionals, hospitality businesses, and ancillary service providers across India who gain a platform for networking, business development, and policy engagement. For Uttarakhand specifically, the convention signals to the private sector that the state administration is actively courting investment in event infrastructure and tourism services. Local hospitality and logistics businesses in Dehradun also stand to benefit from increased footfall generated by such gatherings.
The International Convention of Event Industries, as the organising body, uses such editions to build institutional credibility for the sector and to engage with state governments on enabling policy frameworks.
What's Next
Observers will watch for any follow-up policy announcements or budget allocations from the Uttarakhand government directed at event venues, convention centres, or the ongoing expansion of Dehradun airport. If the GRACE Hindustan 2.0 programme produces formal recommendations or a declaration from industry stakeholders, those outputs could feed into the state's next tourism and infrastructure planning cycle. CM Dhami's visible presence at the event underlines the administration's intent to keep Uttarakhand at the centre of India's emerging MICE economy.
Point of View
The administration signals political will to back the sector with policy and infrastructure, which matters to private investors weighing venue decisions. The choice of Dehradun as host city also reinforces the state's argument that its capital is ready for national-scale events, a claim that gains credibility each time a major convention is held there. Longer term, the success of this strategy will hinge on whether the connectivity upgrades and venue investments materialise at the pace the private sector expects.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GRACE Hindustan 2.0?
GRACE Hindustan 2.0 is the second edition of a national-level programme organised by the International Convention of Event Industries to showcase and promote India's event-management and conventions sector.
Why was GRACE Hindustan 2.0 held in Dehradun?
Dehradun, as Uttarakhand's capital, has been actively promoted as a MICE destination under the state's Tourism Policy 2022, making it a fitting venue for a national event industry convention.
What is Uttarakhand's MICE tourism policy?
Uttarakhand's Tourism Policy 2022 prioritised MICE tourism — Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions — to diversify the state's economy beyond its traditional pilgrimage circuits and attract private investment.
What did CM Pushkar Singh Dhami do at GRACE Hindustan 2.0?
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the GRACE Hindustan 2.0 programme in Dehradun on 15 July 2026 and shared a live broadcast of the event on social media.
What is the International Convention of Event Industries?
The International Convention of Event Industries is an industry body focused on the development of the conventions, exhibitions, and MICE sector in India, and the organiser of the GRACE Hindustan series.
