The Digital India programme will organise a one-day State Awareness Workshop in Gangtok, Sikkim, on September 3, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen awareness of digital initiatives and services among state government departments.

The workshop will be held at ITC Hotels – Denzong Residency, Gangtok. The official Digital India event listing confirms that the programme is being conducted in collaboration with the Department of IT, Sikkim. 

Focus on Digital India Initiatives

The state awareness workshop is intended to familiarise participating government departments with key initiatives under the Digital India programme. Such programmes are aimed at improving awareness of technology-enabled governance and citizen-centric digital services.

Digital India is a flagship Government of India programme under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with the broader objective of building a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. 

Sikkim Government Departments to Participate

The Gangtok programme is specifically described by Digital India as an awareness workshop for State Government Departments. Collaboration with the Department of IT, Sikkim, is expected to provide a state-level platform for discussing digital initiatives and their implementation.

The workshop comes as governments increasingly rely on digital platforms for public services, information delivery and administrative processes.

One-Day Programme in Gangtok

The workshop is scheduled as a one-day programme on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The event listing places the programme in Gangtok, Sikkim, with Denzong Residency identified as the venue.

The Digital India website has listed the Gangtok workshop among its scheduled events for September 3, alongside other programmes related to digital governance and awareness. 

Digital Governance and Citizen Services

Digital India initiatives cover a wide range of areas connected with digital infrastructure, governance and public services. Awareness programmes at the state level can help government officials understand available digital platforms and initiatives and support their adoption within departments.

The emphasis on state government departments also reflects the role of state-level institutions in taking digital public services closer to citizens.

Digital India’s Wider Objective

The Digital India programme seeks to use technology to improve access to government services, strengthen digital infrastructure and promote digital empowerment. The official programme describes its vision as transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. 

The Gangtok workshop will therefore provide a state-level platform for awareness and engagement around these broader objectives, with participation from government departments in Sikkim.

PM Modi Inaugurates Six BCCI Indoor Cricket Academies in Northeast

Prime Minister virtually launches modern indoor facilities across six northeastern states, giving a major push to year-round cricket training in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated six state-of-the-art indoor cricket academies developed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) across the Northeast, marking a significant boost to the region's emerging cricket ecosystem.

The event took place as Modi was in Gangtok, Sikkim, where he was on an official visit. From there, he formally opened the facilities located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland). Senior BCCI officials and ICC Chairman Jay Shah attended the ceremony, with state cricket administrators joining through video link.

Major Infrastructure Push

These academies come as part of the BCCI’s sustained effort to strengthen cricket infrastructure in the Northeast, a region long affected by challenging weather conditions, particularly heavy monsoons that disrupt outdoor training for months. Officials familiar with the project said the indoor facilities will allow players to train throughout the year without having to travel outside their states.

In Manipur, the new academy at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium in Luwangsangbam, Imphal, has drawn particular attention. Funded by the BCCI, the facility includes three indoor practice pitches, a gymnasium, an administrative office, and temperature-controlled swimming pools. Manipur Cricket Association secretary Lairenjam Geetranjan Singh called it a “historic moment” for cricket in the state. He thanked Jay Shah for his support during his earlier tenure as BCCI Secretary and noted that the Board will handle maintenance and operational costs for the next two years.

Year-Round Training Benefits

Speaking about the practical impact, Singh highlighted how the indoor setup will help local players, especially during the rainy season. Training camps and coaching sessions can now continue uninterrupted. He also pointed to Manipur’s recent domestic success — reaching finals in five BCCI tournaments in the 2025 season and winning two Under-19 titles — as a sign of growing talent that these facilities can further nurture.

Similar benefits are expected in the other states. The BCCI has positioned these academies as high-performance centres that will provide better access to quality training for young cricketers across the region. Sources in the board indicated the project was conceptualised under Jay Shah’s leadership as BCCI Secretary, with foundation stones laid in May 2024.

PM’s Emphasis on Sports Talent

During the virtual inauguration, Prime Minister Modi underscored the role of such infrastructure in tapping into the sporting potential of the Northeast. He said these facilities would help nurture local talent and create stronger opportunities for young players, contributing to a more vibrant sports culture in the area.

Later in the day, Modi shared a lighter moment from his Gangtok visit. He posted on X a video of himself playing football with youngsters on a pleasant morning. “Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!” he wrote, drawing warm reactions online. The visuals showed the Prime Minister engaging playfully with the children, highlighting his personal connect with sports and youth.

Building a Regional Cricket Ecosystem

The inauguration of these six academies is being seen as a step towards building a more cohesive cricket ecosystem in the Northeast. For years, talented players from these states have often faced limitations due to inadequate facilities and seasonal disruptions. The new indoor infrastructure aims to bridge that gap by offering modern, weather-proof training environments.

BCCI office-bearers, including President Mithun Manhas, Secretary Devajit Saikia, and others, were present during the event, reflecting the board’s commitment to grassroots development beyond traditional cricket strongholds.

Cricket administrators in the Northeast have welcomed the development, viewing it as validation of the growing interest and potential in the region. With better facilities now in place, expectations are rising for improved performances in domestic tournaments and, eventually, greater representation at higher levels.

As one official noted, consistent training is key to producing quality players. These academies could prove crucial in that journey, especially for states where outdoor grounds often remain waterlogged for extended periods.

The BCCI is expected to monitor the utilisation of these facilities closely in the coming months. While the board will support operations initially, long-term success will depend on how effectively state associations integrate them into their talent development programmes.

For the young cricketers of the Northeast, Tuesday’s development brings tangible hope — the chance to train seriously, stay competitive, and dream bigger without the usual constraints of geography and weather.