Uttar Pradesh Govt Disburses ₹2,475 Crore Scholarships To 30 Lakh OBC Students; Expands Digital Upskilling, Hostel Support

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Department has provided scholarships to 30 lakh students for the 2024–25 academic year, with Rs 2,475 crore disbursed via direct benefit transfer. Pre-matric students receive up to Rs 2,250 annually, while post-matric scholars are eligible for as much as Rs 50,000.

In addition to financial aid, the department has been implementing digital upskilling initiatives. A total of 53,466 OBC youth have been trained in computer literacy under the 'CCC' and 'O-Level' programs since 2022. For 2024–25 alone, Rs 2.52 crore has been allocated to support 23,697 new trainees.

Infrastructure support remains a key pillar of the program. The department operates 105 hostels across Uttar Pradesh to provide free lodging for rural students. An annual budget of Rs 2 crore has been assigned for their maintenance this year.

Backward Classes Welfare Minister Narendra Kashyap confirmed that the government will expand skill development offerings to include AI and other emerging technologies, aiming to boost long-term employment outcomes.