Dehradun, October 9, 2025: The two-day Shiksha Samvad – Chintan Shivir on the theme “Reimagining Higher Education for Viksit Bharat and Sammriddh Uttarakhand” successfully concluded today at Hotel Hyatt Centric, Dehradun. Organised by the Department of Higher & Technical Education, Government of Uttarakhand, in collaboration with Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd., the summit brought together an eminent gathering of policy leaders, academicians, and education experts to deliberate on key reforms shaping the future of higher education.
Reflecting on the Journey: Day 1 in Review
Day 1 of the Shivir set an inspiring tone with the lamp lighting ceremony and inaugural addresses by Hon’ble Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan, and Secretary Higher Education Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, among others. The sessions focused on quality education, research, entrepreneurship, industry–academia collaboration, and youth empowerment. Discussions remained action-oriented, emphasizing constructive sujhaav (suggestions) over bhashan (lectures) — echoing the spirit of collaborative progress for higher education transformation in Uttarakhand.
Day 2: Charting the Road Ahead
The second day began with an Opening Keynote by Shri S. Narayanan, IFS, Director General & Secretary (Higher Education), Government of Haryana, who highlighted the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a living, evolving framework, emphasizing continuous dialogue, adaptation, and innovation across states.
“We have not merely created a policy; we have designed a framework for continuous evolution, and we’ve begun implementing it across the country. Many state governments and their institutions have taken it forward at different levels, but the real question is — how effectively are we progressing?”
Thought-Provoking Sessions on Policy, Innovation & Heritage
The day featured a series of thematic sessions designed to provide actionable insights into the modernization of higher education:
- Digital Transformation & Blended Learning in Higher Education
Focused on digitalisation, e-Governance, hybrid learning, and virtual resource access, this session underscored the need to integrate technology to enhance accessibility and quality in higher education. - Examination & Assessment Reforms – Need for a New Approach
Experts deliberated on digital reforms in exams, market-oriented assessment models, and credit mapping under ABC/APAAR (NAD-DigiLocker), emphasizing the transition towards transparent, flexible, and competency-based evaluation systems. - Indian Knowledge System – Blending Past with Present
This session explored ways to integrate India’s ancient wisdom with modern pedagogy, encouraging research, curriculum inclusion, and collaboration among IKS-focused institutions to foster cultural pride and global relevance.
Open House: Voices of Collaboration
An Open House session, led by Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, and Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, provided a platform for free-flowing dialogue among educators, policymakers, and institutional heads. The discussions revolved around issues, concerns, and actionable suggestions to strengthen the quality and inclusiveness of higher education in the state.
Valedictory Session: A Visionary Conclusion
The Shiksha Samvad Chintan Shivir 2025 concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony, marking the culmination of two days of insightful deliberations, idea exchange, and vision sharing toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, opened the session with a comprehensive summary of the two-day discussions, highlighting the key takeaways, recommendations, and the collective vision that emerged from the Shivir. He acknowledged the active participation of academicians, administrators, and policymakers in shaping actionable outcomes for the higher education ecosystem.
Following this, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand, delivered the Guest of Honour Address. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.) for gracing the occasion and inspiring all participants with his presence and vision for education in the state. He also unveiled a forward-looking roadmap for 2025 at the Shiksha Samvad Chintan Shivir in Dehradun.
Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat unveiled a forward-looking roadmap for 2025-2026, outlining transformative initiatives aimed at achieving a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), promoting paperless universities, and introducing industry-linked curricula, entrepreneurship cells, and a renewed emphasis on quality and outcome-based education. He highlighted that Uttarakhand is rapidly emerging as a model state in higher education reform — one that aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Setting the tone for the session’s closing reflections, the Hon’ble Governor shared his deeply inspiring thoughts on the unifying spirit of education, the essence of collective transformation, and the need for continuous dialogue to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century.
He said, “I deeply respect the thought and vision behind this Shivir because, within me, there is a passion to understand how the transformation and modernization happening across our world, nation, society, and families can be meaningfully translated into education — how we can truly prepare ourselves for the 21st century. For this, dialogue and reflection are essential. Without meaningful exchange of ideas, transformation cannot happen — and this indeed is an era of change.”
The ceremony concluded with Shri Manuj Goyal, IAS, Additional Secretary, Higher & Technical Education Department, Government of Uttarakhand, delivering his concluding remarks and vote of thanks. He appreciated the contribution of all stakeholders, partner institutions, and organizing teams, reiterating the state’s commitment to implement the key outcomes of the Shivir to strengthen higher education across Uttarakhand.
A Step Towards Transformative Education
The successful conclusion of Shiksha Samvad – Chintan Shivir marks a milestone in Uttarakhand’s higher education journey, laying a foundation for collaborative policy formulation, academic excellence, and innovation-led growth. The event reinforced the state’s commitment to achieving the dual vision of ‘Sammriddh Uttarakhand’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ through education-driven transformation.
