Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami listened to the 134th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat programme on Sunday, 31 May 2026, at his official residence in Dehradun, accompanied by students of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential Girls' Hostel. Following the broadcast, he engaged the students in a direct conversation, inviting them to share their thoughts on the programme's themes.

Context

In his post, CM Dhami noted that Mann Ki Baat — the Prime Minister's monthly radio outreach programme — highlighted 'desh ki yuva shakti, khel pratibhaon aur janabhagidari ki bhavna' ('the country's youth power, sporting talents and the spirit of public participation') during today's episode. He added that PM Modi specifically mentioned athletes who performed well at the National Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and spoke directly with sprinters Animesh and Gurinderveer.

The gathering at the Chief Minister's official residence brought together students from the hostel named after independence leader Subhash Chandra Bose, alongside MLA Mahant Dilip Rawat and other dignitaries.

Policy Backdrop

Mann Ki Baat was launched by Prime Minister Modi in October 2014 as a direct-to-citizen communication platform broadcast on All India Radio. Over more than a decade, it has consistently spotlighted youth achievements in sports, innovation and grassroots citizen initiatives, while reinforcing central campaign messages around Swachh Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat and environmental conservation.

The Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, announced in May 2020, emphasised self-reliance, local manufacturing and innovation — themes CM Dhami underscored as central to today's episode. His post noted that the Prime Minister's recurring messages on 'atmanirbhar Bharat, paryavaran sanrakshan, swachhata, navachar, sthaniya utpadon ko protsahan' ('self-reliant India, environmental protection, cleanliness, innovation, promotion of local products') are forming the basis of positive social change.

Stakeholders and Impact

The students of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential Girls' Hostel represent a key demographic that BJP-led state governments have sought to engage with central government messaging around the Viksit Bharat ('Developed India') vision. By hosting the listening session at his official residence, CM Dhami positioned Uttarakhand's youth — particularly young women — as active participants in the national development narrative.

Young athletes Animesh and Gurinderveer, whose national-level performances at Ranchi were cited by the Prime Minister, illustrate the programme's broader pattern of using Mann Ki Baat to amplify state-level sporting achievements on a national platform. For the students present, the interactive session after the broadcast offered direct exposure to policy priorities framed around innovation and public participation.

What's Next

CM Dhami's post signals continued state-level alignment with the Prime Minister's communication priorities ahead of future Mann Ki Baat episodes, which may reference Uttarakhand-specific youth or sports initiatives. As the Viksit Bharat agenda advances, state governments in BJP-ruled states are expected to deepen such participatory formats, potentially feeding local success stories — particularly in women's education and athletics — into the national broadcast narrative.