The Uttar Pradesh Budget 2026-27 places the state’s youth at the heart of its development strategy. Finance Minister’s speech highlighted a shift from traditional employment to tech-enabled entrepreneurship. Here are the key highlights:

• Digital Empowerment: Under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme, ₹2,374 crore has been allocated to distribute 40 lakh smartphones and tablets. This aims to bridge the digital divide for students in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Interest-Free Loans: The ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana’ features a ₹1,000 crore fund designed to help young people set up 1 lakh micro-enterprises annually with zero interest and no-guarantee loans.
• Recruitment Drive: The government highlighted over 10 lakh job opportunities created so far. The Police department alone is currently processing recruitment for over 83,000 non-gazetted posts.
• Free Coaching & Fellowship: The ‘Abhyudaya Scheme’ continues to provide free coaching to 23,000 aspirants across 163 centers. Additionally, young minds are being involved in policy-making through the CM Fellowship program in 108 aspirational blocks.