Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat

Cabinet Minister for School Education, Higher Education, Health & Medical Education, Cooperatives, Uttarakhand

• Background and Early Life: Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat was born on 7 October 1972 in a small village in Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, and completed his early education at the village school. He went on to earn a master's degree and a doctorate in History from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna (HNB) Garhwal University.
• Political Career: Dr. Rawat's political journey began through his long association with the Bharatiya Janata Party, where he served as a party secretary in Uttarakhand. After an unsuccessful attempt to win the Srinagar Garhwal assembly seat in 2012, he was elected as MLA from the same constituency in 2017 and has represented it since.
• Role as Minister of Education: Since becoming a Cabinet Minister in 2017, Dr. Rawat has held key portfolios including School (Basic and Secondary) Education, Higher Education, Sanskrit Education, Health and Medical Education, and Cooperatives. Following the March 2026 cabinet portfolio reallocation, he continues to oversee School Education, Higher Education, Health, and Medical Education.
• Initiatives and Policies in Education: Under his tenure, Uttarakhand's higher education Gross Enrolment Ratio reached around 50% by 2025, and state board results showed a four-year high pass percentage in 2025. He has also driven curriculum reforms in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and outlined a 2025–2026 higher education roadmap at the Shiksha Samvad Chintan Shivir in Dehradun.
• Challenges and Vision for the Future: Dr. Rawat continues to focus on strengthening rural education infrastructure, expanding healthcare access through district hospitals and medical colleges, and improving enrolment and learning outcomes across the state.
• Personal Life and Values: Dr. Rawat is known for his long-standing commitment to education and public health administration, having served continuously as a Cabinet Minister in the Uttarakhand government since 2017.