In a major push to bridge the digital divide across classrooms and campuses in Uttar Pradesh, the state government is launching a massive new phase of its flagship Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme (Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana) today, Sunday, November 15, 2026, under which 25 lakh (2.5 million) additional students will receive free tablets. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is inaugurating the statewide distribution drive at a mega ceremony at Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, where around 50,000 students from Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, and Unnao are participating in the opening phase. Backed by a dedicated budgetary allocation of ₹2,374.60 crore for the 2026–27 financial year, the state administration has already commenced dispatching the 25 lakh tablets to districts across Uttar Pradesh. Notably, this phase places exclusive focus on tablets rather than smartphones following an impact assessment by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, which found that the initiative substantially widened digital access and student confidence while recommending larger-screen tablets for deeper academic engagement. Since the scheme's launch on December 25, 2021, nearly 60 lakh tablets and smartphones have already been distributed to youth statewide—and this new round will expand the total reach to roughly 85 lakh beneficiaries. For college students, technical trainees, parents, and educators across Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Agra, Meerut, Bareilly, and Noida, the rollout brings direct access to online study portals, digital libraries, and competitive exam preparation tools.

Mega Launch at Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow for 50,000 Students

The inaugural ceremony at Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow marks the formal start of the 2026–27 tablet rollout across Uttar Pradesh. Around 50,000 eligible youth representing roughly 300 educational and training institutions across Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, and Unnao have been invited to receive their devices directly as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flags off the campaign.

In a statement ahead of the launch, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that modern youth seek opportunities and contemporary technological resources to succeed on merit, adding that the state government is committed to ensuring that a lack of digital tools never holds back any student's talent. Simultaneously, bulk consignments of the 25 lakh tablets have started reaching district administrations so that colleges, universities, and training centers across all 75 districts can distribute devices smoothly in phased camps.

Eligibility Criteria, Courses Covered, and Pre-Installed Learning Portals

To ensure inclusive access across rural and urban households, the Uttar Pradesh government has kept the eligibility framework broad—imposing no family income ceiling and no upper age limit for enrolled students. Instead, selection is determined strictly by verified enrollment in recognized academic, technical, or skill-training programs:

Each tablet comes pre-configured through Mobile Device Management with dedicated learning and career applications, including Infosys Springboard—granting free access to nearly 18,000 structured courses—alongside Adhyayan and the state's single-window Yuva Sathi portal.

How Students Receive Tablets via DigiShakti Portal and Aadhaar e-KYC

Students do not need to fill out any separate online application form or pay any fee to receive a tablet. Instead, respective colleges, universities, and training institutes verify enrolled students' records and upload their details directly onto the state's DigiShakti portal (digishakti.up.gov.in). Once verified by the affiliating university or department, students simply complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC through the MeriPehchaan link on the DigiShakti portal using their enrollment number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number, after which distribution schedules are notified by their respective institutions. Equipped with these tablets, millions of young learners across Uttar Pradesh will gain seamless access to online classes, digital libraries, skill certifications, competitive examination portals, and employment updates.