UP CM Yogi Adityanath Launches Distribution Of 25 Lakh Free Tablets Ahead Of 2027 Assembly Polls; ₹2,374 Crore Earmarked

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a distribution of 25 lakh free tablets under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana on Sunday, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The program was held at Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, attended by approximately 50,000 students from about 300 educational institutions in Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur and Unnao.

Yogi described Uttar Pradesh as the youngest state in India and emphasized the potential of its youth to achieve the seemingly impossible. He cited historical examples of young heroes such as Rani Lakshmibai, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Maharana Pratap to reinforce his point. The government has earmarked ₹2,374.60 crore in the budget for the tablet distribution program, which aims to equip students with digital tools for learning, skill development and career advancement.

The scheme covers a wide range of students, including those pursuing higher education, technical education, medical studies, agriculture, skill development and vocational training, as well as those from marginalized communities. The government hopes that the tablets will enable students, especially those from rural areas, to access online courses, digital libraries, e-books and virtual laboratories.

The initiative also aims to help students explore emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, cyber security and cloud computing.