Nav Nirman Ke 9 Varsh: Youth moving from capability to prosperity

Trust strengthened through government recruitments and a transparent hiring system

Lucknow, March 2026 : Healthy, educated and capable youth will form the foundation of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh. To realize this vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state government has taken consistent and concrete steps over the past 9 years.

As a result, significant transformation has been witnessed in the fields of youth empowerment and employment generation. Through transparent government initiatives, the youth of the state are becoming economically stronger and self-reliant.

The government aims not to limit youth to jobs alone, but to connect them with skills, technology and entrepreneurship so that they can drive the state’s economy forward.

Large scale training programmes are being conducted to link skill development with employment. More than 25.80 lakh youth have been trained in various trades through ITIs and the Skill Development Mission. A majority of them have already secured employment.

Under the Chief Minister Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, more than 1 lakh youth have been registered and are being trained in industries and institutions. This initiative is helping align youth skills with industry requirements.

Considering the rapidly evolving global economy, efforts are also being made to train youth in modern technologies. Training in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, advanced computing and robotics is being provided to prepare students in line with Industry 4.0. This will enable the youth of the state to compete at the global level in the future.

Experts believe that the large youth population of Uttar Pradesh is its greatest strength. The government aims to equip youth with skills that provide opportunities not only at the national level but also internationally.

Through the convergence of investment, skill development and technical training, efforts are being made to develop the state as a global skill hub. If this momentum continues, Uttar Pradesh can emerge as the largest youth workforce and a major centre of industrial growth in the coming years.

Before 2017, youth in Uttar Pradesh faced several challenges. The unemployment rate was high and local employment opportunities were limited. In February 2016, the unemployment rate was around 18 percent. Recruitment in government jobs was marked by nepotism and corruption.

These recruitments often remained pending for years, and there was a lack of focus on training youth according to industry needs. Industrial investment was either stagnant or too slow, leading to a growing number of unemployed youth. As a result, many had to migrate outside the state in search of jobs.

The Yogi Government is also focusing on making youth technologically empowered. Under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, more than 49.86 lakh tablets and smartphones have been distributed. The target is to provide digital devices to 2 crore youth. Access to digital resources is helping youth connect with new opportunities in education, training and employment.

Under the strict directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, several reforms have been implemented to ensure transparency and fairness in government recruitment. More than 9 lakh youth have been provided government jobs through various commissions and recruitment boards. To maintain the integrity of examinations, the Public Examination Unfair Means Prevention Law has been implemented.

Additionally, a One Time Registration system has been introduced in the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission to simplify the application process. Interviews have been eliminated for direct recruitment to Group B non gazetted and Group C posts, further strengthening transparency.

The impact of increased employment opportunities is reflected in the unemployment rate. While it was around 18 percent in February 2016, it has now declined to 2.21 percent. This reduction indicates that the policies related to employment generation and skill development in the state have been effective.

Nav Nirman ke 9 Varsh: Solar Capacity Increased from 400 MW to 5000 MW

By stepping into emerging areas like green hydrogen, state is steadily moving toward energy self-reliance

Over the past 9 years, Uttar Pradesh has made remarkable progress in the field of solar energy, establishing itself as one of the leading green energy states in the country.

Before 2017, solar capacity in state was limited to around 400 MW, but today it has increased to more than 5000 MW. With effective policies, large-scale solar projects and public participation, over 4 lakh rooftop solar installations have been completed, promoting clean and affordable energy.

Initiatives like ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’ have accelerated this transformation by bringing solar energy to the masses. Additionally, by entering emerging sectors like green hydrogen, state is progressing strongly toward energy self-reliance and its goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy.

Before 2017, development of solar energy in UP was limited. Total installed solar capacity was around 400 MW. Due to lack of policy clarity, limited investment and absence of large projects, the sector struggled to gain momentum. Rooftop solar programs were in their early stages and public awareness was low, resulting in minimal participation in clean energy.

After 2017, implementation of solar energy policies completely transformed the state’s energy landscape. With effective execution of Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policies of 2017 and 2022, solar capacity has now exceeded 5000 MW.

Large solar parks, ground-mounted projects and especially rooftop solar programs have been key drivers of this transformation. Over 4 lakh rooftop solar systems have been installed, placing Uttar Pradesh among leading states in the country.

‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’ has played a significant role in turning this sector into a mass movement. With attractive subsidies under the scheme, lakhs of consumers have installed solar systems on their rooftops. These systems are helping consumers save approximately ₹1500 to ₹3000 per month and through net metering, they can also earn additional income by selling surplus electricity.

Under the Solar Energy Policy-2022, state government has set an ambitious target of developing 22,000 MW solar capacity. To achieve this, focus is being given to large solar parks, ultra-mega projects and solarization of government buildings. At the same time, innovation in green energy is being encouraged, with work already underway on green hydrogen projects.

A 0.5 MW green hydrogen pilot project is being set up in Gorakhpur by Torrent Power, with a production capacity of approximately 9 kg per hour. Similarly, Zero Footprint Industries Pvt. Ltd. is establishing a 22.5 kg per hour capacity green hydrogen plant in Rampur.

The expansion of solar energy has led to a reduction in carbon emissions and promoted clean energy production in the state. It has also generated employment opportunities for thousands of youth in installation, operation and maintenance of solar systems.

At the household level, solar energy has transformed lifestyles. Its use is no longer limited to lighting and appliances but has expanded to induction cooking, charging electric scooters and electric cars, reducing dependence on petrol, diesel and gas. With advancements like green hydrogen, Uttar Pradesh is steadily moving forward to meet future energy demands.