21st Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress Begins in Dehradun

The 21st Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress (USSTC-2026) was inaugurated on Sunday at Science City in Dehradun. According to reports, the event is organised by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) with a focus on addressing regional and national challenges through scientific research, innovation, and sustainable approaches.

उत्तराखंड मुख्यमंत्र उत्तराखंड मुख्यमंत्र

Inaugural Addresses and Key Officials

• Chief Minister's Address: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the gathering via a video message during the inaugural session.
• Chief Guest: Cabinet Minister for Science and Technology Pradeep Batra attended the event as the chief guest.
• Remarks: Batra stated that Uttarakhand is developing rapidly in science and technology and emphasized working toward identifying regional problems to find scientific and practical solutions.

Key Initiatives and Highlights

UCOST Director General Prof. Durgesh Pant outlined the objectives of the Science and Technology Policy 2026 and introduced the "Vigyan Setu" initiative aimed at enhancing coordination between science and society.

• Research Presentations: On the first day, participants presented over 260 research papers across 13 technical divisions, including biotechnology, environmental science, emerging technologies, and health sciences.
• Special Sessions and Exhibitions: The congress featured a brainstorming session titled "STI Policy: Developed India, Empowered Uttarakhand 2047" and hosted the second Science and Technology Premier League, with Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi attending as the chief guest.
• Exhibition: An exhibition showcased research and technical solutions from over 60 institutes and startups.

Attendance

Reports indicate that around 1,000 scientists, researchers, academics, and policymakers attended the event in Dehradun.