Educated unemployed OBC youth will be trained in AI, drone, and cybersecurity technologies

Lucknow : Taking a decisive step toward empowering educated but unemployed youth from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Yogi government is set to upgrade its computer training scheme by incorporating modern, employment-oriented courses such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), drone technology, and cybersecurity. The aim is to align young people’s skills with the demands of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

To facilitate this, the Backward Classes Welfare Department is preparing a comprehensive proposal and initiating the budget approval process. The rollout of this revamped training initiative is planned for the financial year 2025–26. This move will boost technical proficiency, enhance employability, and promote innovation in key sectors like startups, security, agriculture, education, and administration.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backward Classes Welfare and Disabled Empowerment, Narendra Kashyap, emphasized that the Yogi government is committed to inclusive development by ensuring participation from all sections of society. As part of this vision, the free technical training provided to OBC youth will now include advanced and industry-relevant courses.

The new framework involves a complete overhaul of the existing training curriculum—until now focused on O-Level and CCC courses—by introducing modern modules and updating trainer expertise. Training institutes will be freshly empaneled to meet the new requirements and ensure quality delivery.

Additionally, physical verification of beneficiaries has been mandated to ensure transparency and authenticity. A robust monitoring and feedback system is also being implemented to track progress and implementation.

This strategic shift is expected to accelerate Uttar Pradesh’s technological progress and serve as a grassroots initiative to connect OBC youth with genuine employment opportunities. Notably, in the 2024–25 financial year, the scheme trained 29,769 youth, incurring a government expenditure of ₹32.92 crore.