Maj Gen BC Khanduri (1934-2026): Uttarakhand Ex-CM, AVSM, Architect of NHDP

AVSM, NHDP & Parliamentary Standing Committee Framework

• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM): Instituted 26 January 1960; awarded for ‘distinguished service of an exceptional order’.
• National Highways Development Project (NHDP): Launched 1998, executed by NHAI (set up under the NHAI Act, 1988); Golden Quadrilateral (Phase I, 5,846 km — Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata) and NSEW Corridor were Khanduri-era milestones.
• Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000 as the 27th State, under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.
• Parliamentary Standing Committees on Defence were created in 1993 to deepen executive accountability — Khanduri’s panel’s 41st Report (2018) became a benchmark critique of force-modernisation pacing.
• Article 102 sets MP disqualification grounds; Article 84 sets eligibility — relevant to Khanduri’s long Lok Sabha tenure.

CLAT Angle — Civilian Honours, Federalism & Parliamentary Oversight

Likely question hooks: (a) ranking of military gallantry vs distinguished service medals (Param Vir → Maha Vir → Vir Chakra; PVSM → AVSM → VSM); (b) the carving-out of Uttarakhand and its constitutional basis under Article 3; and (c) the role of Departmentally-Related Standing Committees as oversight institutions. Comprehension passages may treat Khanduri’s soldier-administrator-legislator arc as a case study in public service ethics.

Key Facts — BC Khanduri (1934-2026)

Mnemonic — “B-C-K”

Built the Golden Quadrilateral · CM of Uttarakhand twice · Khanduri chaired Defence Standing Committee.

Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions

Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.