The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Monday, 25 May 2026 that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 'Social Media Manthan with CM Dhami' (Social Media Dialogue with CM Dhami) programme held in Haldwani, engaging social media influencers, content creators, digital volunteers, and youth on topics spanning development, employment, culture, and nationalism.

Context

The event, held in Haldwani — Uttarakhand's major commercial hub in Nainital district — drew a large gathering of young participants who posed direct questions to the Chief Minister. CM Dhami responded, in the words of the official post, 'bebaaki, spashtta aur aatmiyata ke saath' ('with candour, clarity, and warmth').

Addressing the gathering, Dhami stated that social media today is 'not merely a medium of entertainment but an influential platform for awakening society, bringing positive change, and participating in nation-building.' He added that Uttarakhand's youth possess 'immense talent' and the digital tools to reach the entire world.

Policy Backdrop

The conclave fits within a broader pattern of Indian state governments organising structured outreach with digital creators to promote government schemes and counter misinformation. CM Dhami explicitly invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's model of using social media as a 'powerful medium of public dialogue,' noting that the Prime Minister has continuously engaged youth directly to make them partners in nation-building.

The Chief Minister used the occasion to highlight several landmark decisions taken by the Uttarakhand government: the anti-copying law (enacted in 2022 to curb examination cheating), the Uniform Civil Code — making Uttarakhand the first Indian state to enact such legislation, passed in February 2024 — along with an anti-conversion law and stricter land laws. He described these as 'historic decisions' taken to secure the future of youth and the state.

The state government's digital engagement strategy also aligns with the Digital India programme launched in 2015, which sought to expand e-governance and direct citizen communication through digital platforms.

Stakeholders and Impact

CM Dhami called on youth to use social media 'for positivity, truth, and the welfare of society,' warning of the need to remain alert to 'fake narratives, misleading information, and forces that seek to divide society.' He urged each young person to treat responsible, fact-based sharing as a personal duty.

The Chief Minister also asked Uttarakhand's youth to become 'brand ambassadors' for the state in the era of Digital India, projecting a positive image of the state to the world. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing employment and self-employment opportunities, and to supporting startups, innovation, sports, culture, and tourism for young people.

Social media influencers and content creators present at the event shared their suggestions and experiences with the Chief Minister, who said the government 'always welcomes the suggestions and positive participation of youth.'

What's Next

Prominent attendees included MP Ajay Bhatt, Cabinet Ministers Pradeep Batra and Ram Singh Kaira, MLA Sarita Arya, BJP District President Pratap Singh Bisht, Mayor Gajraj Singh Bisht, and several other dignitaries — signalling broad political backing for the digital outreach initiative.

With the Uniform Civil Code in its rollout phase and state-backed startup and skilling programmes for rural youth under development, structured digital dialogues of this kind are likely to become a recurring feature of the Dhami government's youth engagement calendar, using Uttarakhand's growing influencer community as a channel for both governance communication and cultural promotion.