Thakur described the agreement as an example of cooperative federalism, stating that the Central Government had worked towards addressing the concerns of all participating states through dialogue and consensus.

Taking a political swipe at the Himachal government, Thakur said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister was being seen as “credit-hungry” over the project, when the agreement involved six states and was facilitated through discussions led by the Union government.

Expressing confidence in the newly elected representatives, the Chief Minister urged them to accord the highest priority to public service and work with honesty, transparency and sensitivity to build model Panchayats. He said strong Panchayats are the foundation of strong villages, a strong Himachal Pradesh and a developed India.

Pujari Jha shared that the initiative was inspired by his late father's desire to have darshan of the thousand forms of Lord Vishnu described in the Vishnu Sahasranama. Since visiting a thousand Vishnu temples was not practically possible, the family began collecting Shaligrams representing the divine names of Lord Vishnu. Over the years, the collection grew and has now reached 5,508 sacred Shaligrams.

Following this, the Shaligram pilgrimage arrived in the renowned Shaktipeeth town of Jawalamukhi. A special worship ceremony was organized at the residence of Acharya Dinesh Sharma. On this occasion, a large gathering of devotees participated in the rituals, offering prayers and seeking blessings for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of their families amid the chanting of Vedic hymns.

Vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly face a significantly higher risk during heatwaves. Ensuring they remain indoors during peak heat, are dressed in light clothing, and receive adequate fluids is crucial. Special care must be taken never to leave children inside parked vehicles, as temperatures inside can rise rapidly to fatal levels within minutes.

SDM jawalamukhi and Chairman of the Temple Trust Sanjeev Sharma said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to maintain law and order. Special police force and Home Guards will be deployed to prevent theft and pickpocketing, while an Executive Magistrate will remain on duty round the clock.

India’s youth are a force for global good,” quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CNS expressed his faith in the youth to shape Viksit Bharat by 2047. Drawn from his own service experience, he shared five life lessons with cadets to help them realise their full potential in life:

Conducted under the guidance of Minister Bains, the Olympiad saw massive online registration from August 18 to October 31, 2025. Students from government, aided, private, and CBSE schools, from Class 3 to 12, participated with immense enthusiasm. The event also extended participation to students from other Indian states and NRI students abroad, reinforcing Punjabi's global connect.

Explaining the project’s objectives, Shreshta Nand Sharma stated that the primary goal of the Himachal Pradesh JICA Forestry Project is to improve ecosystem services from forest areas to support sustainable socio-economic development in the state. The project is being implemented across seven districts—Kinnaur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kangra—covering nine forest circles, 22 forest divisions, and 72 forest ranges.