Six Young Artists Selected to Represent Uttarakhand at National Finals in New Delhi; Participation Rises Significantly to 2,52,981 Students from 423 Schools
Rishikesh, : Highlighting the importance of energy conservation and sustainable development among the younger generation, THDC India Limited (THDCIL) organised the Uttarakhand State-Level Painting Competition 2026 at Rasmanjari Auditorium, THDC Colony, Rishikesh.
The competition was conducted under the aegis of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India, with THDCIL serving as the designated nodal agency for organising the state-level event in Uttarakhand.
This year’s initiative focused on encouraging schoolchildren to understand the importance of responsible electricity consumption, energy-efficient technologies and their contribution towards strengthening the country’s energy security.
THDCIL Managing Director Sipan Kumar Garg highlighted that conserving energy was no longer merely an environmental responsibility but an essential requirement for securing a sustainable future. Referring to the two themes selected for this year’s competition — “Save Power, Secure the Future” and “BEE Star Labels Shine, Energy Security is Divine” — he urged students to become ambassadors of energy conservation.
He observed that even small changes in everyday habits, when adopted consistently by millions of people, could generate substantial savings in electricity consumption. He also emphasised the importance of understanding BEE star labelling while selecting electrical appliances, as energy-efficient products help reduce power consumption and support national energy security.
CTO Felicitates Winners, Encourages Students to Promote Energy Awareness
L. P. Joshi, Chief Technical Officer, THDCIL, attended the programme as the Chief Guest and honoured the winners in both competition categories.
Congratulating the successful participants and appreciating the efforts of all students, Joshi said that paintings offered a powerful medium for communicating socially relevant messages, particularly those concerning environmental protection and energy conservation.
He encouraged students to incorporate electricity-saving practices into their daily routines and take the message beyond their schools by motivating family members, friends and neighbourhood communities.
Emphasising that energy conservation was a collective responsibility, he said every individual had an important role in ensuring the responsible use of available resources.
The programme began with a welcome address by D. P. Patro, General Manager (HR and A&CC), THDCIL, who welcomed the dignitaries, participating students, teachers and other guests. He highlighted the importance of engaging schoolchildren in creative activities to develop awareness about energy efficiency and sustainable living from an early age.
Cash Prizes Worth ₹50,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000 for Top Three Winners
The competition was organised in two categories, Group A for students of Classes V to VII and Group B for Classes VIII to X.
L. P. Joshi and D. P. Patro distributed cash awards to the top three performers in each category. The first, second and third prize winners received ₹50,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000 respectively. Additionally, 10 consolation awards of ₹7,500 each were presented to recognise other outstanding entries.
In Group A, Varsha Rani of Class VII from Acharyakulam, Haridwar, secured the first position. Jyoti Yadav, also from Class VII at Acharyakulam, Haridwar, finished second, while Avani Kapuria of Class VII from St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Haridwar, secured third place.
In Group B, Kunal Kunj of Class X from Acharyakulam, Haridwar, emerged as the first-prize winner. Diksha Kutiyal of Class X from Ascent Public School, Haldwani, Nainital, secured second position, while Rucha Ravi Phulware of Class X from DSB International Public School, Gumaniwala, Rishikesh, finished third.
The six students securing the top three positions in both categories will now have the opportunity to represent Uttarakhand at the National-Level Painting Competition Finals scheduled to take place in New Delhi.
Participation Jumps to Over 2.52 Lakh Students Across 423 Schools
Highlighting the growing popularity of the initiative, Vimal Durgapal, Deputy General Manager (HR) and Nodal Officer for Uttarakhand State, shared impressive participation figures from the school-level rounds.
He informed that a cumulative 2,52,981 students from 423 schools across Uttarakhand participated in the competition this year across both categories.
This marked a substantial increase compared with the previous edition, which recorded participation from 1,90,241 students representing 242 schools.
The significant rise in participation reflects the growing engagement of educational institutions and students with issues relating to energy efficiency, environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
Through this initiative, THDCIL and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency are seeking to make energy conservation a part of everyday life by encouraging children to become active advocates of responsible energy use.
The competition also reinforced the message that securing the country’s energy future requires not only technological advancement and increased generation capacity but also greater public awareness, efficient consumption and responsible behaviour at the individual and community levels.
