UP Scholarship Bonanza: CM Yogi Transfers ₹148 Crore to 4.60 Lakh Students
In a massive welfare push for secondary and intermediate education across Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday morning disbursed ₹148 crore in scholarship funds directly into the bank accounts of over 4.60 lakh students. The statewide rollout was executed with a single digital click during a state-level ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan auditorium in Lucknow. Because commercial banks were closed on October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti, the transfer was initiated on October 3 to ensure zero administrative delays. Interacting with young scholars, the Chief Minister urged them to dedicate their first earnings and financial grants toward academics, advising students to buy books and establish personal book banks in their homes.
Budget Doubled from ₹2,900 Cr to ₹6,200 Cr: Clamping Down on Corrupt Intermediaries
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted the contrast between the current scholarship mechanism and the pre-2017 administrative landscape. He noted that previous regimes allocated barely ₹2,900 crore annually for student scholarships, while funds were routinely delayed, siphoned off, or reduced by corrupt clerical staff taking commissions. Today, the Uttar Pradesh government has more than doubled the allocation to ₹6,200 crore, routing every rupee straight through seamless Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) channels to verified student accounts without intermediate intervention. Emphasizing total inclusivity, Chief Minister Yogi directed educational departments to ensure no eligible candidate is excluded, even approving compensation and relief for students who missed out in previous years due to institutional clerical errors or late application submissions.
Zero Identity Crisis: How Educational Infrastructure Transformed School Retention
Reflecting on social and educational progress, CM Yogi remarked that the youth of Uttar Pradesh no longer suffer from an identity crisis or social discrimination when traveling across the country. Prior to 2017, frequent communal unrest and institutional neglect resulted in alarming student dropout rates. Official surveys revealed that the absence of functional drinking water and private sanitation facilities was the single largest factor driving young girls out of schools. Under the state’s flagship Operation Kayakalp, public campuses were overhauled with dedicated boys' and girls' restrooms, running water, electricity, and sports infrastructure. Today, over 1.6 crore children in the basic education system receive free textbooks, stationery kits, school uniforms, and footwear. Additionally, the government has set up modern residential Atal Residential Schools to provide free education to orphans and underprivileged children, while expanding Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas to offer schooling up to the intermediate level.
Track Record of Transparency: Over ₹4,793 Crore Disbursed to 65 Lakh Students
The current DBT disbursement builds upon the massive welfare milestones achieved in the preceding financial year 2025-26, when the state government successfully credited ₹4,793 crore in scholarship stipends and complete tuition fee reimbursements to 65.95 lakh students. By linking every scholarship application directly to institutional enrollment records and verified banking networks, the administration has established a leak-proof financial support system that guarantees students from all socio-economic backgrounds complete their education without monetary hardship.
