Over the past five years, the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government has sought to reshape Uttarakhand through a combination of legislative reforms, administrative continuity and infrastructure expansion. Unlike earlier periods marked by frequent political changes, the state has experienced sustained governance, enabling the administration to pursue long-pending policy initiatives while focusing on improving public service delivery, transparency, connectivity, healthcare, education, tourism and industrial growth. According to the government, this continuity has accelerated policy implementation and laid the groundwork for the state’s long-term development.
One of the government’s most significant legislative initiatives has been the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which came into effect on January 27, 2025. With its rollout, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to introduce a common civil framework governing matters such as marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships. Replacing religion-specific personal civil laws in these areas, the government says the legislation promotes legal uniformity and gender justice while addressing practices including child marriage, polygamy, triple talaq, halala and iddat. Members of the drafting committee have described the UCC as an effort to modernise civil laws through a common legal framework applicable to all citizens.
The administration has also focused on strengthening the integrity of recruitment processes. Following multiple recruitment examination paper leak incidents, Uttarakhand enacted the Uttarakhand Public Examinations (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2023, which the government describes as one of the country’s strictest anti-copying laws. The legislation provides for life imprisonment and fines of up to ₹10 crore for organised cheating networks involving coaching centres, service providers and printing presses. Candidates found using unfair means can face imprisonment, monetary penalties and disqualification from competitive examinations for up to ten years. The government says the law aims to restore confidence in recruitment systems by ensuring merit-based selection.
Law and order reforms have also formed a key part of the government’s agenda. The Uttarakhand Public (Government) and Recovery of Damage to Private Property Ordinance, 2024, empowers authorities to recover the cost of damage caused to public and private property during riots, protests, strikes and bandhs from those held responsible. The law also allows recovery of expenses incurred by police and other agencies while managing such incidents and prescribes penalties of up to ₹8 lakh. To facilitate implementation, the government has approved the establishment of a dedicated Claims Tribunal headed by an officer of the rank of Additional District Magistrate to adjudicate compensation claims. Officials say the legislation is intended to discourage vandalism, safeguard public assets and strengthen accountability.
The government also amended Uttarakhand’s anti-conversion law in August 2024 by expanding its ambit to include social media platforms, messaging applications and other digital platforms, making the state the first in the country to specifically address online platforms within such legislation. The amendments increased the maximum punishment for illegal religious conversions from ten years to up to fourteen years, with provisions extending to twenty years or life imprisonment in certain cases. District magistrates were authorised to arrest accused persons without a warrant and seize properties allegedly acquired through offences linked to illegal religious conversions. The definition of inducement was also broadened to include promises of money, employment, gifts, free education, marriage and improved lifestyles. According to the government, these amendments are intended to prevent conversions through fraud, coercion or allurement while protecting religious freedom and maintaining social harmony.
Alongside legislative reforms, the administration intensified its drive against illegal encroachments on government and forest land. The campaign has focused on removing unauthorised structures, reclaiming encroached land and strengthening oversight of public property. According to the government, hundreds of illegal structures have been demolished and thousands of acres of land recovered. District administrations have also been directed to monitor land transactions and verify new settlers to prevent unlawful transfers and encroachments. Officials say the initiative is aimed at improving land governance, protecting ecologically sensitive areas and ensuring transparent land records.
Technology has increasingly become central to the state’s governance model. The wider adoption of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), digital verification systems and technology-enabled monitoring has been accompanied by efforts to improve the last-mile delivery of welfare schemes. Under the Uttarakhand Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, nearly ₹11 crore was recently transferred directly into the bank accounts of more than 4,400 beneficiaries through DBT under schemes covering maternity assistance, education support, post-marriage assistance and death grants. Over the past year, the board has disbursed more than ₹93 crore to over 24,000 registered workers. The government has also expanded welfare camps and promoted digital verification to improve transparency and accessibility.
Women’s economic empowerment has remained another major focus area. Through the Lakhpati Didi initiative, women associated with self-help groups are being provided interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh to support income-generating activities. According to the government, one lakh women have already crossed the scheme’s prescribed income benchmark. In addition, the administration has introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in cooperative societies to strengthen their participation in grassroots institutions.
Infrastructure development has continued alongside governance reforms, with investments in highways, railways, air connectivity, border infrastructure, religious tourism and industrial projects aimed at improving connectivity and creating employment opportunities. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is nearing completion, with the 12-kilometre elevated corridor between Ganeshpur and Asharodi and the 340-metre tunnel near Datkali Temple already completed. Once operational, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to approximately two-and-a-half hours. The state has also received two Vande Bharat trains, further enhancing rail connectivity with major urban centres.
Healthcare expansion has also remained a priority. Under the Atal Ayushman Yojana, more than 59.74 lakh Ayushman cards had been issued by the end of April 2025, while over 15 lakh beneficiaries had received cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals. The scheme provides annual health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh for every eligible family, reducing the financial burden of medical treatment. Alongside expanding insurance coverage, the government has increased investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in remote hill and border districts where access to specialised medical services has historically remained limited.
