The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Saturday, 25 July 2026 that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a Sainik Samman Samaroh (Soldiers' Honour Ceremony) and poetry conclave organised on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, paying tribute to martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War and honouring serving soldiers, veterans, veeranganas (war widows), and families of the fallen.

Context

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed every year on 26 July, marks India's victory in the 1999 Kargil conflict in which Indian armed forces recaptured strategic heights in the Kargil sector from Pakistani intruders. Uttarakhand holds a place of particular significance in this commemoration: the state contributed 75 soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the war. CM Dhami described the day as 'a glorious chapter of the Indian Army's unparalleled valour, unbreakable resolve, firm will and indomitable courage — one that will always be inscribed in golden letters in India's history.'

Addressing the gathering, Dhami said the sacrifice of these 'immortal sons' would remain 'an eternal source of inspiration for the people of the state and the nation.' He also underlined that honouring soldiers and securing the nation is 'not a matter of politics but a matter of national duty (rashtra dharma).'

Policy Backdrop

CM Dhami credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with transforming India's security posture, citing the surgical strikes of September 2016, subsequent air strikes, and Operation Sindoor as evidence that 'India is no longer a country that limits itself to condemnation after terrorist attacks, but a nation that delivers a decisive response to the enemy.' He added that under Modi's leadership, the armed forces are being equipped with modern and indigenous weapons, and that border roads, tunnels, and bridges are being developed at an accelerated pace.

At the central level, the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme — implemented in 2015 after years of agitation by ex-servicemen — was cited as a landmark step in delivering justice to veterans and their families. The National War Memorial, inaugurated in New Delhi in 2019, and steady increases in the defence budget were also highlighted as proof of the Centre's commitment to soldiers' welfare.

Uttarakhand's Welfare Announcements

The Chief Minister outlined a series of state-level measures for soldiers and their families. The ex-gratia amount for martyrs' dependants has been raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The ex-gratia for Param Vir Chakra awardees has been enhanced from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. One-time and annual assistance for soldiers decorated with various gallantry awards has also been increased.

On employment, the government has decided to absorb one family member of a martyr into government service, and the application window for such posts has been extended from two years to five years. Pre-employment training programmes and daughter-marriage assistance schemes are already operational for martyr families. Gallantry award recipients and veterans will receive free travel on state government buses, and serving and retired soldiers purchasing property worth up to Rs 25 lakh will receive a 25 per cent stamp duty concession.

The Sainya Dham — being developed as the state's fifth dham (sacred site) at Guniyaal village, Dehradun — is in its final construction phase. A grand military memorial between Khatima and Tanakpur has also been pledged. For Agniveers (short-service recruits under the central Agnipath scheme launched in 2022), Uttarakhand has decided to establish the country's first Agniveer Employment Cell to address post-service livelihood concerns. Discharged Agniveers will be given priority in police, forest department, and other government recruitments, and free skill training will be provided to those seeking self-employment. Veterans and Agniveers will also receive special grants for setting up homestays in hill areas. The CM added that the long-standing demand of ex-servicemen regarding arms licences is being examined seriously and a decision will be taken shortly.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the operationalisation of the Agniveer Employment Cell — the first of its kind in India — and the formal inauguration of the Sainya Dham in Dehradun, both of which were flagged as near-term deliverables. The state government's pending decision on arms licence norms for ex-servicemen is also expected in the coming weeks, and the proposed military memorial between Khatima and Tanakpur will be watched by veteran communities across the state.