Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday announced a new Youth Policy aimed at strengthening the skills, innovation capabilities and employment prospects of the state's young population. Addressing the Independence Day ceremony at Vidhan Bhawan in Lucknow, Yogi said the government would adopt an integrated approach to equip young people with skills and create greater opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Yogi described youth as Uttar Pradesh's greatest asset and said the state's young population had the talent and energy to contribute significantly to the country's development. He pointed to opportunities emerging in sectors including artificial intelligence, machine learning, semiconductors, startups, data centres, defence manufacturing, cybersecurity, robotics, electric vehicles, agritech, fintech, deep tech and med-tech. He also referred to the CM Yuva Udyami Yojana, under which interest-free and collateral-free loans are being provided to encourage self-employment and entrepreneurship.

The Chief Minister also outlined his government's broader assessment of Uttar Pradesh's transformation over the past nine years. He pointed to developments in law and order, governance, infrastructure, investment, employment and social welfare, describing the state as having moved from an era of “unrest” to one of “celebration”. He also termed Uttar Pradesh a growth engine of India's economy and said improvements in law and order had helped establish the state as an investment destination.

On employment, Yogi said more than nine lakh young people had secured government jobs through transparent and time-bound recruitment processes over the past nine years. He added that more than four crore employment and self-employment opportunities had been created in the state, while investment proposals worth more than Rs 50 lakh crore had been received. He also said more than 65 lakh youths had gained job and employment opportunities within their districts, regions or the state.

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The Chief Minister linked the new youth-focused approach with efforts to strengthen education, sports and emerging industries. He referred to sports infrastructure being expanded through colleges, stadiums, mini-stadiums and village playgrounds, while the government was also developing Centres of Excellence and other platforms for young people. He said Uttar Pradesh was moving rapidly into technology-driven sectors while attempting to prepare Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha for a changing employment landscape.

Yogi concluded his Independence Day address by linking the state's development goals with the sacrifices of India's freedom fighters. He said the present generation had a responsibility to contribute to building a developed India and that a developed Uttar Pradesh would make a significant contribution to that national objective. He reiterated that the government would focus on skills, employment and innovation for young people while combining development with the preservation of Uttar Pradesh's cultural and spiritual heritage.

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