Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a program organized at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office on Tuesday to mark the 79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Chief Minister said that in the past eight decades, the Bureau of Indian Standards has done remarkable work in the direction of quality, reliability, and consumer protection, realizing the mantra that quality is identity.
The Chief Minister said that this journey, which began in 1947 as the Indian Standards Institution, has today been established as a strong foundation for the industrial, scientific, and economic progress of the country. He said that through standardization, certification, and quality testing, BIS has not only made industries capable of global competition but has also strengthened the sense of trust and security in the lives of consumers. The Chief Minister said that today the field of standardization is no longer limited to the industrial sector, but has expanded to agriculture, health, road safety, energy, water conservation, disaster management, and digital services. He said that the Bureau of Indian Standards is playing a crucial role in shaping the future by setting timely standards in areas such as digital security, medical devices, drones, electric vehicles, recycled materials, and green energy.
The Chief Minister said that the Bureau of Indian Standards is making a commendable contribution towards establishing a balance between ecology and economy in line with the goals of sustainable development. In the state, BIS is coordinating with various departments, including the Public Works Department, Disaster Management, MDDA, and UPCL, to carry out standardization-related awareness and collaborative work. The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigns like Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Make in India have become the pillars of the country’s economic and technological progress. He said that it is the clear vision of the Prime Minister that Indian products should become a benchmark of quality in the world, and the role of BIS in achieving this goal is extremely important.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is also working towards establishing high-quality standards for its local products, handicrafts, organic agricultural products, medicinal herbs, and local food products. He said that the “House of Himalayas” brand has been established with the objective of giving global recognition to the state’s traditional products. He said that it is essential to make quality not just a standard but a habit, so that a quality-based culture can develop into a mass movement. He expressed confidence that the Bureau of Indian Standards, under the One Nation, One Standard policy, will make the country a leader in global standards and will continue to play a crucial role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to make India a developed nation by 2047.
The Chief Minister said that the government has taken several historic steps to strengthen scientific thinking and technological innovation in the state. He said that for the first time in the state, the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2025 has been implemented. Approximately 180 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based laboratories have been established in 95 blocks across all 13 districts of the state. A Science and Technology Premier League has been started in all districts, benefiting hundreds of students. One ‘Lab-on-Wheels’ is being operated in each district. 60 Patent Information Centers have been established in various universities and centers. A ‘Border Area Development Council’ has been formed for science-based development in border areas. Science festivals have now been extended to the hilly districts; this year the festival was held in Rudraprayag. A budget has been allocated for the establishment of Science, Technology and Innovation Centers in each district to promote scientific innovation. Science and innovation-based broadcasting will soon be started in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the construction work of the country’s fifth Science City, being built in Dehradun, has gained significant momentum. This project is taking shape with a joint collaboration of the Government of India and the State Government at a cost of Rs. 175 crore. The establishment of Women’s Technology Centers has also been started. Science and innovation dialogue with central institutions has been given new impetus in the state. The science and technology-based rescue model adopted in the Silkyara operation has received international recognition, and a World Disaster Management Conference is being organized based on it. Today, every corner of the state is connected through science and technology.
Present on this occasion were MLA Mr. Khajan Das, Mr. Umesh Sharma Kau, Mrs. Savita Kapoor, Director of the Bureau of Indian Standards Mr. Saurabh Tiwari, Director General of U-COST Prof. Durgesh Pant, Brigadier K.G. Behl (Retd.), and representatives of industry and trade associations.
