Dehradun: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today presented the President’s Colour to Uttarakhand Police in Dehradun. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
A proud moment for the force
Congratulating the force, Shah said Uttarakhand Police has become the 16th in the country to receive this highest honour. He called it a matter of immense pride for every officer and jawan who has served in the force in the 25 years since the state was formed, whether currently serving or retired. He said the personnel have not merely adopted the three principles of “Karm Satyam Shauryam” as ideals but have made them the foundation of their lives and duties, and that these values earned the force the honour in such a short time.
Devbhoomi and its pilgrimages
Shah described Uttarakhand’s natural beauty: snow-clad peaks, lakes, dense forests, elephant safaris, and the origins of the Ganga and Yamuna, all of which draw visitors from around the world. He noted that Lord Badrinath and Baba Kedarnath reside here, and that the goddesses emerging from Gangotri and Yamunotri bring prosperity and spiritual uplift to crores of people. Hemkund Sahib, he added, attracts not only Sikh devotees but pilgrims of all faiths. Ensuring the safety of the lakhs of pilgrims who visit the Kumbh Mela, the Char Dham Yatra, Hemkund Sahib and Kainchi Dham rests with Uttarakhand Police.
Shah said that he comes from the state that sends the largest number of pilgrims to Devbhoomi, yet he has never heard a single complaint about Uttarakhand Police from any of them, which is a matter of pride for the force and for everyone.
Tribute to the fallen
Shah said that receiving the President’s Colour is a moment of great pride for any force, and that everyone present felt it with hope and a sense of responsibility to give citizens, and visitors from across the country, confidence in their security. He recalled that before this day came, 206 brave Uttarakhand Police jawans made the supreme sacrifice, and said that with moist eyes the nation pays homage to them and expresses its gratitude. He said the honour rests on their dedication, discipline and valour, together with the service, commitment, professionalism and discipline of those serving today.
Growth and disaster response
Shah said the force’s journey from 13,000 jawans to over 26,000 personnel has been challenging. Uttarakhand has repeatedly been struck by major natural calamities, and the police, whether as part of the SDRF or in regular duties, have confronted every kind of sudden disaster, from forest fires and landslides to workers trapped in tunnels. He said the force has also managed the pressure of a growing population and the constant movement of lakhs of pilgrims each month with great efficiency.
He added that in remote areas, the first to reach a stranded person is either an ITBP jawan or an Uttarakhand Police jawan, and that this trust gives crores of devotees the courage to visit. He said the force showed indomitable valour in the Silkyara tunnel rescue and in other calamities, including those at Dharali, Tharali, Syanchatti and Maldevta.
Migration and the Vibrant Villages Programme
Shah identified migration from villages on the peaks and in border areas as one of Uttarakhand’s major problems. He said Prime Minister Modi launched the Vibrant Villages Programme to address it, and that Uttarakhand Police, working alongside the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), is fully committed to meeting its standards. As a result, at least 50 villages are seeing people resettle instead of leaving, which he called a ray of hope.
New criminal laws and speedy justice
Shah said that the greatest effort anywhere in the country to implement the new criminal laws (Naveen Nyay Sanhitas) has been made in Uttarakhand. On behalf of the state government, he assured the people that Uttarakhand Police will secure convictions within three years in every FIR registered after May 2027, freeing the residents of Devbhoomi from the endless cycle of court dates.
To achieve this, he said, the police have restructured their administrative framework, issued several notifications, and fully integrated forensic science laboratories and forensic science into their work. Computerisation has been carried out on the ground, and jails, courts, FSLs, prosecution and police are now linked electronically. The force scored 93.46 on the CCTNS/ICJS 2.0 Dashboard, the highest in the country. He expressed confidence that people in the state will soon face no obstacles in getting speedy justice.
From a Naxal-free to a drug-free India
Shah said that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership the country has been freed from Naxalism. Police forces of several states, together with the CRPF, ITBP, BSF and SSB, ended this five-decade-old menace, which had cost lakhs of lives. He recalled declaring in Parliament on 30 March 2026 that the country is Naxal-free, but cautioned against complacency, as the menace of drugs now confronts the nation.
He said the government has resolved to make India completely drug-free by 31 December 2029 and to put those in the drug trade behind bars. He noted that Uttarakhand Police has done excellent work towards this goal and in cyber security, in addition to ranking among the best-performing forces with 93.46 per cent on the CCTNS, ICJS 2.0 and NCRB Dashboard. Since the national resolve is a three-year plan, he said he was confident Devbhoomi would be drug-free within three years.
Achievements in sport
Shah noted that Uttarakhand Police is the first state police force in the country to scale Mount Everest, and that it won 37 medals at the World Police and Fire Games. He urged the force to top the medal tally and break all records at the next edition, scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Development and security
Shah said that under Chief Minister Dhami’s leadership, Uttarakhand is progressing by leaps and bounds, and that the responsibility for security grows along with development. The state wants to attract tourists from across the world and the country, and they are coming in large numbers. It also wants industrial investment so that the state’s youth need not migrate for jobs, which further adds to the responsibility for security. He said the Modi government is resolved to ensure justice for every citizen within three years, which increases the police’s responsibility as well. He expressed confidence that the President’s Colour would raise the force’s morale and give fresh energy to its resolve.
Shah also extended warm Dhanteras and Diwali greetings to the people of the country, especially those of Uttarakhand.