Uttarakhand’s brand ambassador appointments come from the state government under different Chief Ministers, and — similar to West Bengal — the role has been used both for general state branding/tourism and for specific campaigns (like cleanliness drives), sometimes creating overlapping or layered appointments.
History and Timeline of Brand Ambassador of Uttarakhand
September 2017: Akshay Kumar (Swachh Bharat Mission — Uttarakhand)
- Appointed by then-CM Trivendra Singh Rawat on completion of his six months in office, specifically as brand ambassador for the state’s Swachh Bharat Mission (Swachhata Abhiyan).
- Rawat noted Kumar was proud to represent the campaign for a state where the Chardham pilgrimage sites are located.
- This wasn’t Kumar’s only such role — he’d also been appointed as cleanliness-campaign brand ambassador for Uttar Pradesh the month before, with his film “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha” made tax-free there.
December 2021: Rishabh Pant (first appointment)
- Cricketer Rishabh Pant was appointed as Uttarakhand’s brand ambassador in December 2021, notable because Pant was born in Roorkee, in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district — making him a local son representing his home state.
February 7, 2022: Akshay Kumar (general state brand ambassador)
- Appointed as Uttarakhand’s brand ambassador by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who presented Kumar with a traditional state cap, a shawl, and a painting depicting the gates of all four Chardham pilgrimage sites — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
- This came after Rishabh Pant’s earlier December 2021 appointment, indicating the state maintained multiple ambassadors simultaneously rather than replacing one with the other.
August 11, 2022: Rishabh Pant (reaffirmed/renewed)
- CM Pushkar Singh Dhami again named Pant as the state’s brand ambassador,with Pant’s profile noted as a middle-order wicketkeeper-batter for the Indian team and captain of Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Ambassador Portfolio Summary
| Ambassador | Role/Focus | Appointed | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akshay Kumar | Swachh Bharat Mission (cleanliness) | Sept 2017 | CM Trivendra Singh Rawat |
| Rishabh Pant | State brand ambassador | Dec 2021 | — |
| Akshay Kumar | State brand ambassador (general) | Feb 7, 2022 | CM Pushkar Singh Dhami |
| Rishabh Pant | State brand ambassador (renewed) | Aug 11, 2022 | CM Pushkar Singh Dhami |
Why Uttarakhand’s Picks Make Sense
- Rishabh Pant: home-state pride – a Uttarakhand-born cricket star, directly tying identity and representation together.
- Akshay Kumar: tied to his broader Bollywood association with cleanliness and civic campaigns across multiple states (not just Uttarakhand), and to the symbolism of the Chardham pilgrimage circuit, which is core to Uttarakhand’s tourism identity.
- The state’s core tourism/cultural identity — Himalayan pilgrimage sites, Rishikesh’s yoga and Ganga Aarti culture, and Jim Corbett National Park’s wildlife — shapes why ambassadors are often linked either to spirituality/heritage (Akshay Kumar) or youthful sporting pride (Rishabh Pant).
A note on “ambassador” scams/franchise programs
One search result surfaced a private company running a “State Brand Ambassador Pro Bono Program” in Uttarakhand as of May 2026, unrelated to the government — a marketing/community-engagement initiative by a private aviation-sector firm (Asiatic International Corp), not an official state appointment. Worth flagging so it isn’t confused with the government’s actual ambassador appointments — this looks like an unrelated private-sector “ambassador” recruitment drive, not a government role.
Quick FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is Uttarakhand’s cricketer-ambassador? | Rishabh Pant (appointed Dec 2021, renewed Aug 2022) |
| Who is Uttarakhand’s Bollywood ambassador? | Akshay Kumar (Feb 2022, general; also Sept 2017 for Swachh Bharat) |
| Are there multiple ambassadors at once? | Yes — Pant and Kumar have held roles concurrently |
| Why Rishabh Pant specifically? | He was born in Roorkee, Haridwar district, Uttarakhand |
| Why Akshay Kumar specifically? | Tied to cleanliness campaigns and Chardham pilgrimage symbolism |
| Is there a private “ambassador” program too? | Yes, but unrelated to government — a private firm’s community outreach initiative (2026) |
