Himachal Pradesh Government

President and Governor confers degrees on first graduating batch of AIIMS Bilaspur

· AIIMS playing vital role in strengthening healthcare, medical education and research in state: Governor

· Governor hails PM for strengthening healthcare & medical education in state

President Droupadi Murmu today conferred degrees on the first graduating batch of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bilaspur, at the institute’s first Convocation, marking a landmark milestone in the journey of the premier medical institution and its contribution to medical education and healthcare in Himachal Pradesh.

Governor Kavinder Gupta, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, Rajya Sabha Member Harsh Mahajan, Chairman of AIIMS Bilaspur Prof. Narendra Kumar Arora and Executive Director Lt. Gen. Daljit Singh were also present on the occasion.

Congratulating the first graduating batch and the gold medallists, President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her best wishes to the students, their parents, guardians and teachers. She said that the Convocation marked an important milestone in the growth of AIIMS Bilaspur and its expanding role in medical education, healthcare and research.

A total of 92 students received degrees, comprising 43 MBBS, 26 BSc Honours Nursing, 9 B.Sc., Allied Healthcare and 14 MD/MS students. The President also presented Gold Medals to meritorious students across disciplines in recognition of their academic performance. The awardees included Sagarika and Rakshit Vashishth in MBBS, Bhawna Thakral in BSc Allied Healthcare Science, Bhavya Malhotra in BSc Honours Nursing and Prateek Goel in MD, Community & Family Medicine.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Kavinder Gupta congratulated AIIMS Bilaspur on its first Convocation and extended best wishes to the graduating students and their parents. He said the presence of the President had added special significance and dignity to the historic occasion. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and commitment to strengthening healthcare and medical education in Himachal Pradesh. He said the establishment of AIIMS Bilaspur had provided the state with a premier institution offering advanced healthcare services while also promoting medical education and research.

He said the institution was benefiting not only the people of Himachal Pradesh but also those from neighbouring States, including people living in remote and tribal areas. The availability of advanced healthcare facilities at Bilaspur was helping address a long-standing challenge faced by people in the hill State.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to AIIMS Bilaspur on 5^th October, 2022, when the institute was dedicated to the nation the Governor said the Prime Minister had highlighted Himachal Pradesh’s significant contribution to national defence and with the establishment of AIIMS Bilaspur, the state would also make an important contribution towards ‘saving lives’.

The Governor said the first Convocation was a significant milestone in translating this vision into reality, as the institution’s first batch of graduates was now ready to carry its values of knowledge, skill and service into their professional lives. He also appreciated the faculty members, doctors, officers and staff of AIIMS Bilaspur for their contribution towards developing the institution into a strong centre of medical education, healthcare and research within a short period.

Conveying his best wishes to the graduates, the Governor reminded them that their degrees carried a responsibility towards society and the nation. He urged them to place compassion, sensitivity and service at the centre of their professional journeys and expressed hope that they would utilize their knowledge and spirit of service to contribute to the nation. He said the graduates of AIIMS Bilaspur with their talent, knowledge and spirit of service in various fields across the country and will definitely make an important contribution towards the realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also extended his best wishes to the graduating students and AIIMS Bilaspur on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda expressed happiness and pride at witnessing the inaugural batch of AIIMS Bilaspur complete its academic journey.

Highlighting the expansion of the AIIMS network under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sh. Nadda said that while the country had only one AIIMS for several decades, 16 new AIIMS had been established in the last 12 years. He urged the graduating students to uphold the reputation of AIIMS Bilaspur and carry forward its values of excellence and service throughout their professional journeys.

Faculty members, graduating students and their parents were also present on the occasion.

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Education and health top priorities of state government: CM

• Government committed to taking quality healthcare services to remote areas

• CM attends first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Bilaspur, congratulates graduates

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today attended the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Bilaspur and congratulated the graduating students on receiving their degrees, wishing them a bright and successful future.

Welcoming President Droupadi Murmu to the state, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh is not only a Dev Bhoomi but also a Veer Bhoomi. He said the state’s temples, folk traditions and centuries-old cultural heritage have given the state a distinct identity. He said that the people of Bilaspur had also endured the pain of displacement as part of the price paid for nation-building and development. Built in accordance with the development vision of the country’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Bhakra Dam is not only a symbol of development and economic prosperity but also reflects the sacrifice and contribution of the people of Bilaspur, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has accorded the highest priority to education and health during the last three-and-a-half years. The government’s objective is to provide the people of Himachal Pradesh with quality and advanced healthcare services within the state itself.

He said that advanced diagnostic facilities, including 3-Tesla MRI, PET scan, high-end X-ray and ultrasound machines, have been made available in the state on the lines of AIIMS Delhi. The government is committed to ensuring that world-class healthcare services are not confined to cities but also reach people living in remote and far-flung areas. Efforts are therefore being made to continuously expand these facilities across the state, he added.

Sh. Sukhu said that robotic surgery has been introduced in medical colleges of the state. Advanced procedures that were earlier largely accessible only at expensive private hospitals are now being made available in government healthcare institutions as well. He said that this initiative would particularly benefit common people and economically weaker sections of society.

The Chief Minister further said that Himachal Pradesh earlier had only 277 postgraduate medical seats, and the state government is now making efforts to increase this number by 320 additional PG seats. He sought the support of Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in this regard. He said that the state has also started North India’s first college offering paramedical and allied courses, aimed at creating a pool of trained technical manpower for the healthcare sector. In addition, efforts are underway to establish an Ayurvedic hospital on the lines of AIIMS, he added.

Sh Sukhu said that strengthening the healthcare system and ensuring access to modern treatment for people across the state remains a key priority of the government.

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, MP Harsh Mahajan, MLAs Randhir Sharma, Jeet Ram Katwal and Trilok Jamwal, AIIMS Chairman N.K. Arora, Executive Director, AIIMS Bilaspur, Lieutenant General Daljit Singh, Secretary Health Ashish Singhmar and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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CM launches t-shirt for ‘Nashe Nu Lalkaar, Naujawani Di Pukaar’ campaign

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today launched the t-shirt for the ‘Nashe Nu Lalkaar, Naujawani Di Pukaar’ campaign, under which a Marathon and Cultural Programme will be organised on 9th October, 2026 at Nalagarh in Solan district.

Appreciating the initiative, the Chief Minister extended his congratulations and best wishes for the successful organisation of the event. He said that collective efforts by all sections of society were essential to protect the youth from the menace of drugs and channelize their energy towards sports, creativity and other constructive activities.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was making concerted efforts under the Anti-Chitta Campaign to combat drug abuse and create greater awareness about its harmful impacts. He emphasised that the objective was not only to curb the drug trade but also to encourage young people to adopt a healthy, active and positive lifestyle.

The Marathon and Cultural Programme to be held on 9th October will convey a strong message of collective resolve against drug abuse and highlight the positive role of youth in the fight against drugs.

MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa and Chaudhary Ram Kumar were also present on the occasion.

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Job trainee doctors to be allowed to pursue PG courses: CM

• CM presides over review meeting of Health Department

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Health Department to allow job trainee doctors to pursue postgraduate (PG) courses. Presiding over a meeting of the Health Department here today, the Chief Minister said that doctors seeking permission to pursue super-speciality courses would also be granted permission, while the duration and amount of their bonds would be enhanced to ensure that they return to the state after completing their courses and continue to serve the people of Himachal Pradesh. This would ultimately benefit patients in the state.

Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was taking several steps to provide world-class healthcare facilities within the state and the initiatives were yielding positive results. He said that strengthening diagnostic facilities remained a key focus of the government. He directed all Government Medical Colleges to digitise end-to-end data relating to all MRI, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound examinations being conducted in their respective Radiology Departments by 20th October. He said that adequate manpower would be provided by the state government for the purpose. He also directed all medical colleges to submit department-wise requirements of nurses and technicians so that the recruitment process could be expedited.

The Chief Minister said that the state government had constituted an expert committee to examine the proposal for establishing Centres of Excellence with specialised departments in all Government Medical Colleges of the state, including the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiana. The Committee would identify two to four departments in each Government Medical College, including AIMSS Chamiana, that have the potential to be developed as Centres of Excellence. These specialised centres would be envisaged to provide advanced multidisciplinary treatment for complex, rare and critical diseases requiring specialised expertise, advanced technology and facilities beyond the scope of conventional departmental services.

Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was planning to send medical students on exposure visits to abroad so as to enable them to learn global best practices and gain valuable experience, which could subsequently be utilised for the benefit of patients in the state. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite the selection process for these exposure visits.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary Health Ashish Singhamar, Director Medical Education Dr. Gopal Beri and Mission Director NHM Pradeep Kumar Thakur were present in the meeting. Principals of the Medical Colleges also participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

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CM announces Rs. 1 crore each for Himachali Kabaddi gold medallists

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced that three Himachali players of the Indian women’s kabaddi team-Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhawna Thakur-who won the gold medal in Kabaddi at the Asian Games, would be awarded prize money of at least Rs. 1 crore each by the state government. The players called on the Chief Minister here today.

Congratulating the players on their outstanding achievement, the Chief Minister honoured them by presenting Himachali caps and shawls. He said that the state government would soon organise a felicitation ceremony in their honour, where they would also be presented with the announced prize money.

The Chief Minister said that the three players would also be provided employment in government service. Those who do not wish to join the Police Department would be offered appointments in the Youth Services and Sports Department, enabling them to continue pursuing their sporting careers while contributing to the promotion and development of sports in the state, he added.

Sh. Sukhu said that the state government had made historic enhancements in prize money by revising its sports policy. He said special emphasis was also being laid on strengthening sports infrastructure across the state.

The Chief Minister further announced that Indian women’s cricket team player Renuka Thakur would also be awarded Rs. 1 crore by the state government in recognition of her achievements.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil and Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan were also present on the occasion.

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47 students from Odisha call on Chief Minister

As part of the Youth Exchange Programme, a group of 47 students from 32 districts of Odisha, currently visiting Himachal Pradesh, called on Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today. The students, aged between 18 and 30 years, are pursuing various undergraduate, postgraduate and other courses in Odisha. Their visit to Himachal Pradesh commenced on 3rd October and will continue till 8th October. During their stay, they have visited NIT Hamirpur, Shimla and will visit other prominent destinations in the state, including IIT Mandi, Atal Tunnel and Jwalamukhi Temple.

Welcoming the students to Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister enquired about their experiences during their visit. He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh are peace-loving and deeply rooted in the state’s rich ‘Dev Sanskriti’. He encouraged the students to work hard with dedication and sincerity to achieve their goals.

The students also honoured the Chief Minister by presenting him with a traditional ‘Sambalpuri Uttariya’ and a Dhokra art painting, representing Odisha’s rich cultural and handicraft heritage. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the students and appreciated the traditional gifts presented by them.

The Youth Exchange Programme aims to familiarise students with the rich culture and history of Himachal Pradesh, as well as the state’s development journey. The programme also provides an opportunity for interaction and cultural exchange among youth from different states, thereby strengthening the spirit of national unity and integration.

As part of the same programme, around 50 students from Himachal Pradesh will visit Odisha from 12 to 19th October.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil and Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan were also present on the occasion.

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