Uttarakhand CM announces 1 crore for science and AI integration

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the fifth Frontier Mountain District Child Science Festival at Vivekananda Vidya Mandir Inter College in Bageshwar. Organized by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), the two-day event features approximately 240 to 250 young scientists from six frontier districts: Chamoli, Champawat, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh.

To promote research and innovation, the Chief Minister announced a grant of 1 crore rupees to UCOST. He also outlined several initiatives to modernize technical education in the state, including integrating STEM labs with Artificial Intelligence (AI), establishing ‘Lab on Wheels’ in every development block, and developing science and innovation centers in every district.

The festival’s theme is ‘Climate Change and Disaster Management.’ Participants are engaging in scientific model demonstrations, quizzes, poetry, and plays, while receiving information on AI, cybersecurity, and safe internet usage to foster scientific thinking and prepare students for future technological challenges.