Kavinder Gupta was sworn in as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh at a simple yet impressive ceremony held at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Gupta took the oath in Hindi.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including Ashim Kumar Ghosh along with his wife Mitra Ghosh, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Lady Governor Bindu Gupta.
For the first time at Lok Bhavan, the ceremony began with the singing of Vande Mataram, followed by the Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem. After the oath-taking, Vande Mataram was sung again and the Governor was accorded an impressive Guard of Honour.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta read out the warrant of appointment issued by the President of India, while Secretary to the Governor C. P. Verma obtained the Governor’s signature on the charge certificate.
Among those present on the occasion were Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and several ministers, legislators, senior civil and police officers, and other prominent personalities.
Earlier in the morning, the Governor performed a traditional pooja with his family before proceeding for the ceremony.
Interacting with the media later, Governor Gupta expressed gratitude to the President of India for appointing him to the constitutional office. He said he would work strictly in accordance with the Constitution and maintain close coordination with the State Government, adding that the Governor’s office works for the overall development of the state beyond political affiliations.
He said he would continue initiatives started by previous Governors and focus on key sectors such as education, environmental protection, tourism and skill development. Stressing the importance of quality education, he highlighted the effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 by combining Indian values with modern learning.
Referring to his earlier experience as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, he said the geographical conditions of Himachal Pradesh are similar to those of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and he was familiar with the challenges faced by hill states.
The Governor also emphasised priorities such as tribal development, promotion of natural farming, youth welfare, environmental conservation, religious tourism and the fight against drug abuse. He said central initiatives like the Vibrant Village Programme would be promoted to strengthen development and connectivity in border areas.
He further stressed the need for tuberculosis elimination, expansion of sports initiatives like Khelo India, and stronger awareness campaigns against drug abuse to engage youth positively.
Expressing confidence in collective efforts, the Governor said that with cooperation from the State Government, political parties and social organisations, Himachal Pradesh would continue to progress towards inclusive and sustainable development.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
