Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Honourable Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, formally launched the National Knowledge Network in the State, through Video Conferencing, from the NIC VC Studio, Una. Dr. Saurabh Gupta, State Informatics Officer, NIC Himachal Pradesh welcomed the Honourable Chief Minister, who launched the NKN Project by interacting with the Principal Scientific Advisor, GoI, Director General NIC, the Chief Secretary Himachal Pradesh and other dignitaries, who were present at the NKN Conference Venue at CPRI, Shimla.

While the launch of the NKN Project in the State was done from Una, the main function was held at CPRI Shimla. A two day Technical Conference was organized in Shimla for the technical officers of the Participant Institutions who are connected to NKN. More than 200 delegates attended the inaugural function at Shimla.

The Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh, Ms Harinder Hira was the Guest of Honour at Shimla and she addressed the participants for proper utilization of the NKN connectivity in their Institutes.
Dr. R. Chidambram, Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India and Chairman, High Level Committee NKN, Dr. B.K. Gairola, Director General NIC and Prof. Raghavan, Scientific Secretary, GoI interacted with the Participants through VC from their respective offices. Sh. R.S. Mani, Sr. Technical Director, NKN presented an overview of the NKN and its architecture.

The event was attended by Sh. Ajay Mittal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. PC Dhiman Principal Secretary, Information Technology, Dr. Kaushal, Principal, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Sh. Subhashish Panda, Director, HP DIT and other Senior Officers from the State Government. Sh. Shailender Kaushal, Network Administrator, NIC Himachal Pradesh coordinated the event.

The Two day NKN Conference on 12th and 13th April 2012 was attended by about hundred delegates from Himachal Pradesh and other States. The participants included senior officers, technical officers from the 14 NKN Institutes of Himachal Pradesh, State Government officials from DIT, Education, Health departments, NIC officials and Network Coordinators from neighbouring States.

The basic Objective of the NKN goes to the very core of the Indian quest for building quality institutions with requisite research facilities and creating a pool of highly trained professionals. The NKN will enable scientists, researchers and students from different backgrounds and diverse geographies to work closely for advancing human development in critical and emerging areas.

In Himachal Pradesh all four Government Universities have been connected to NKN, along with two Medical Colleges, NIT Hamirpur and IIT Mandi. Four Central Research Institutes have been connected to NKN. Two private Universities are being provided the connected. The HIMSWAN will also be provided with NKN Connectivity for Internet access in State Government offices. Virtual Class Room has been set up in the IIT Mandi and students are attending lectures being delivered in IIT, Roorkee.