Uttarakhand has emerged as a preferred destination for defence personnel, with institutions like IMA, RIMC, etc., and a growing creative ecosystem. What gives Uttarakhand a special status is its glory as a state of defence, holding a fundamental value for national defence.

The Times Group proudly presented ‘Times Samman 2026 – A Tribute to India’s Defence Forces & Importance of AI in Drone Technology’, an initiative dedicated to honouring the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of India’s armed forces. The grand felicitation ceremony was hosted in June 2026 in Dehradun, and brought together distinguished dignitaries, defence personnel, gallantry awardees, industry leaders, and young aspirants.Families of 32 brave hearts who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty from Uttarakhand were felicitated at a special ceremony organised by the Optimal Media Solutions (OMS) division of Times of India on Monday evening, honouring the state’s deep-rooted legacy of military service.As the event was centred around the felicitation of fallen heroes from Uttarakhand, Chief Guest, in his address, said that Uttarakhand plays a significant role in defence services and that the people of the state have made immense contributions to the armed forces. He highlighted prominent personalities from Uttarakhand who hold key posts such as CDS and NSA, and acknowledged the deep-rooted devotion of the people towards the armed forces, a sentiment that inspired PM Narendra Modi to address the Himalayan state as ‘Sainya Bhoomi.’The event was attended by families of the fallen heroes and ex-servicemen. It commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker, Ritu Khanduri Bhushan and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology Director General Durgesh Pant.Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan praised the initiative, noting that virtually every family in the state has contributed members to the defence forces, spanning all ranks from jawans to the Chief of Defence Staff. She also recalled the discipline of her late father, Major General B. C. Khanduri, and highlighted Uttarakhand’s identity as a land of brave hearts who consistently lead from the front.

Soldier Welfare Minister, Ganesh Joshi referred to Uttarakhand as ‘Sainya Bhoomi’(Land of Soldiers) due to its massive contribution to the armed forces.“I understand the hardships faced by soldiers as well as their families. We salute their contribution to safeguarding the country,” Joshi said.

Panel Discussion: Implementation of AI in defence technology

The session was moderated by Saurabh Saxena, a tech professional, ecosystem builder, and Managing Partner, Gorkha Ventures.

Col. Kothiyal, spoke about not losing sight of human intelligence in the age of AI, and emphasized the need to keep investing in human capital despite the AI wave.Prof. Durgesh Pant stressed the importance of building a complete indigenous tech infrastructure. “We can never be truly safe if our entire country runs on international infra which can be disrupted at any time.”Ashish Kumar Upadhyay (DGM, ITDA) talked about building security at every layer and training young engineers in the importance of building safeguards within government systems.Shubham Pandey, an AI Expert, emphasised the importance of training local talent while building an ecosystem that promotes reverse migration, inviting locals who had moved out seeking opportunities.The event was supported by Centurion Defence Academy as the Presenting Sponsor, MDDA Dehradun as the Powered By Partner, Hamdard as the Wellness Partner, Yugen Infra as the Luxury Golf Resort Living Township Partner, UCOST Dehradun as the Technology Partner, Trust Toyota as the Auto Partner, Saigrace Academy International as the Education Partner, and Quantum University and IMS Unison University as Associate Partners. Disclaimer – The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.