Uttarakhand’s Three Proposals: IISER, Ayurveda Institute at Kichha and National Highway Status

The news

The Uttarakhand government has received positive responses from the Union government on three major proposals: establishing an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in the state, setting up an All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) at Khurpia Farm in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar district, and declaring the Uttarkashi–Tilwara motor road a national highway. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had submitted the requests to the Centre, and the concerned Union ministers have written back assuring consideration. None of the projects has received final approval yet.

The IISER request, made in October 2026, will be considered during future expansion of central institutions, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said. The state already hosts IIT Roorkee, NIT Srinagar, HNB Garhwal University and IIM Kashipur. The AIIA proposal, submitted in August 2026, follows the Union Budget 2026 announcement of three new AIIAs, after which eligible states were invited to submit proposals. Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav said Uttarakhand’s proposal will be evaluated against the prescribed process and criteria. On the highway proposal, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Uttarakhand’s national highway length has grown from 2,282 km to 3,670 km over the past 12 years, and the road will be considered after the policy for declaring new national highways is finalised.

What is the IISER system and when did it begin?

The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) were created by the Government of India to integrate undergraduate and postgraduate science education with high-quality research. The first IISERs at Kolkata and Pune began functioning in 2006, followed by Mohali in 2007, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram in 2008, Tirupati in 2015, and Berhampur in 2016. They are autonomous institutions established under the Ministry of Education and are declared Institutes of National Importance through the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007. The Act was amended in 2012 to include newer IISERs, and each institute is governed by its own set of statutes framed under the central legislation.

What are the three proposals?

The first proposal is for an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), a specialised institution for science education and research. The second is an All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) at Khurpia Farm in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar district, which would strengthen Ayurveda education and healthcare if approved. The third is to declare the Uttarkashi–Kamad–Ayarkhal–Budhakedar–Chamiyala–Ghansali–Tilwara motor road a national highway, which would improve connectivity in the region.

What has the Centre said and what remains pending?

The Centre has said it will consider the IISER proposal during future expansion of central institutions, the AIIA proposal will be evaluated against prescribed criteria, and the highway proposal will be examined after the national highway declaration policy is finalised. The state must now await decisions on all three requests. The government’s willingness to consider a proposal is distinct from approval, funding and implementation.