U.P.’s population is not a challenge, but a great possibility, says CM Adityanath

In his address to young entrepreneurs and industry leaders in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh highlighted the state's large population of young people as a "demographic dividend" rather than a burden. Uttar Pradesh boasts the world's most talented and energetic young workforce, and it is the government's responsibility to equip them with necessary skills and platforms to transform their numbers into an economic asset, Adityanath emphasized.

The Chief Minister distributed over Rs 5.21 crore in incentives to 107 startups and nine incubators under the state's Startup Policy, while unveiling the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2026 booklet and launching the Startup Mission portal. Twelve new incubators were recognized during the event. Adityanath countered foreign delegations' view that Uttar Pradesh's 25 crore population posed a challenge, stating that the demographic advantage could be harnessed by connecting the scale with skilling.

The state has witnessed a surge in startups from just around 120 in 2017 to over 24,000, with eight becoming unicorns. The expansion is partly credited to the state's startup policy and institutional support, including the establishment of a Fund of Funds with SIDBI and expanded assistance for startups and incubators. Adityanath also commended the participation of women in the ecosystem, noting that "Aadhi Aabadi" constitutes half of the startups.

He urged universities and higher educational institutions to transition from traditional courses to foster innovation and research and development, providing separate funds for innovation and research and backing Centres of Excellence in emerging areas. Adityanath stressed the need for the state to further expand its share of India's startup ecosystem, given that Uttar Pradesh accounts for around one-sixth of India's population but currently holds only about one-tenth of the country's startups.