Uttarakhand gives smartphones to 149 top girl students; Dhami cites 30% job quota

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presented smartphones to 149 girls who excelled in the state board's Class 10 and Class 12 examinations, at the Balika Shiksha Protsahan Programme in Dehradun on Sunday, 11 October 2026, the International Day of the Girl Child. The students came from all 13 districts of the state. At the event, held at the IRTD Auditorium, Dhami highlighted the state's 30 per cent horizontal reservation for women in all government jobs and said funds would soon be transferred to students' bank accounts through direct benefit transfer so that Class 10 and 12 students can buy tablets.

For girls finishing school, support at the right moment can decide whether they go on to college or a job. Recognising toppers publicly and giving them smartphones sends a signal that the state values girls' academic success, and gives the students a practical tool for online learning, applications and exam preparation.

The 30 per cent horizontal reservation is the policy with the widest reach. A horizontal reservation cuts across other categories: women selected under it are counted within their respective general, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or other quotas, rather than forming a separate category. In practice, this means that roughly three in ten government posts in the state are set aside for women. For girls finishing school today, it offers a clearer path into stable public sector careers, from teaching and policing to administration.

The tablet scheme, once funds are released, would widen digital access beyond the toppers to students in Class 10 and 12 more generally. Using direct benefit transfer puts the money into students' own accounts, which can reduce delays and leakage, though it also depends on students having bank accounts and on prices and availability of devices.

Recognition events are only one part of the picture. Whether these steps lead to more girls completing higher education and entering the workforce will depend on what happens after school: access to colleges, safe transport, hostels and jobs close to home.

Short-term: The 149 students gain devices for study and applications, and Class 10 and 12 students can expect tablet funds once the transfer is made.

Long-term: Steady support for girls' education combined with job reservation could raise the number of women in Uttarakhand's government workforce and in higher education.

Who is affected: Schoolgirls and their families across Uttarakhand, Class 10 and 12 students, women seeking government jobs, and the state education department.

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