Mann Ki Baat 135th edition: Dhami says Modi gave unsung talents a national stage
Synopsis
At the 135th edition of 'Mann Ki Baat' in Roorkee, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami credited PM Modi's monthly radio programme with turning overlooked achievers — from yoga champions to grassroots innovators — into nationally recognised figures. The milestone edition also doubled as a youth dialogue, with Dhami pitching Roorkee as a rising hub for science and technology.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 135th edition of 'Mann Ki Baat' at an event in Roorkee on 28 June .
The edition covered the World Yoga Asana Championship held in Gujarat on International Yoga Day .
Dhami described PM Modi as the first world leader to have addressed 135 editions of such a programme.
The Chief Minister also participated in the 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Shakti Samvad' youth dialogue in Roorkee on the same day.
Dhami called Roorkee a fast-emerging hub for science, technology, and innovation .
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 28 June praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', saying it has given national recognition to unsung talents and overlooked achievers who would otherwise have remained invisible to mainstream audiences. Dhami attended the 135th edition of the broadcast at an event in Roorkee, alongside several dignitaries.
Key Highlights of the 135th Edition
According to Chief Minister Dhami, the 135th edition covered a range of topics, including the World Yoga Asana Championship held in Gujarat on International Yoga Day. He noted that practitioners who had excelled in yoga asanas had long gone unnoticed before 'Mann Ki Baat' brought them into the national spotlight.
'Mann Ki Baat' is not just a medium of dialogue, but a powerful platform that gives national recognition to the positive efforts happening across the country,' Dhami said at the event.
What Dhami Said About Modi's Record
The Chief Minister described the milestone as historic, stating that PM Modi is the first leader in the world to have delivered 135 editions of such a programme and is expected to continue. Dhami credited the broadcast with inspiring citizens toward yoga and what he termed 'the dignity of labour', adding that many individuals had gained significant recognition after being featured on the show.
'PM Modi has inspired people through the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. Today, many individuals are engaged in Yoga and the dignity of labour. There are talents who previously went unnoticed, but PM Modi brought them to the forefront,' Dhami remarked.
Youth Dialogue at Roorkee
The Chief Minister also participated in the 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Shakti Samvad' (Chief Minister's Youth Power Dialogue) in Roorkee on the same day, interacting directly with young people. He described Roorkee as fast emerging as a significant hub for science, technology, and innovation.
Dhami underlined that India is among the world's youngest nations by median age and that the current central government has been taking continuous steps to expand youth employment, promote startups, and provide new platforms for creative talent.
Broader Context
'Mann Ki Baat' has aired monthly since October 2014 and has been broadcast on All India Radio in multiple languages. This comes amid the government's broader effort to use mass media to amplify grassroots stories and build a narrative around citizen achievement. The programme's reach, according to official estimates, extends to hundreds of millions of listeners across the country.
With the 135th edition now aired, attention will turn to what themes the 136th edition takes up — particularly given the ongoing run-up to several state assembly elections later this year.
Point of View
But the programme's structural role is worth examining separately from the rhetoric. Over 135 editions, the show has functioned as a soft-power instrument — surfacing local stories that reinforce the government's preferred national narrative. The yoga championship spotlight is a case in point: it ties a cultural identity marker to an international stage, a recurring formula. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is that the selection of 'unrecognised talents' is itself an editorial act, and the absence of a transparent nomination or verification process means the programme's reach cannot easily be audited for representational balance. The Roorkee youth dialogue, held on the same day, signals that the government is pairing broadcast outreach with on-ground engagement ahead of electoral cycles — a dual-channel strategy worth watching.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mann Ki Baat and how many editions have aired?
'Mann Ki Baat' is a monthly radio address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, broadcast on All India Radio since October 2014. As of 28 June, the programme has aired 135 editions, making it one of the longest-running direct public communication initiatives by an Indian head of government.
What was discussed in the 135th edition of Mann Ki Baat?
The 135th edition covered several topics, including the World Yoga Asana Championship held in Gujarat on International Yoga Day. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who attended a listening event in Roorkee, said PM Modi highlighted individuals who had excelled in yoga but had previously gone unrecognised.
Why did CM Dhami attend the Mann Ki Baat event in Roorkee?
Chief Minister Dhami attended a public listening event for the 135th edition of Mann Ki Baat in Roorkee on 28 June, alongside various dignitaries. He also participated in the 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Shakti Samvad' youth dialogue at the same venue on the same day.
What is the Mukhyamantri Yuva Shakti Samvad?
The Mukhyamantri Yuva Shakti Samvad, or Chief Minister's Youth Power Dialogue, is a direct interaction programme between the Uttarakhand Chief Minister and young people. At the Roorkee edition, Dhami discussed youth employment, startups, and Roorkee's emergence as a science and technology hub.
What did CM Dhami say about India's youth and employment?
Dhami said India is among the world's youngest nations and that the central government under PM Modi has been continuously working to expand youth employment, support startups, and create new platforms for creative talent. He made these remarks during the Mukhyamantri Yuva Shakti Samvad in Roorkee.
