U.P. committed to skilling youth for self-reliant India, says Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) inaugurated a two-day Skill Fair and Exhibition in Lucknow on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day. In his address, Mr. Adityanath emphasised that the double-engine Bharatiya Janata Party government is committed to providing jobs and self-employment opportunities to the youth, describing skilled youth as the backbone of a self-reliant India.

“I extend my best wishes on World Youth Skills Day. Skilled youth are the backbone of a self-reliant India, and our double-engine government is committed to providing jobs and self-employment opportunities to all of you. Jobs are aplenty, we must skill youth to meet market needs,” Mr. Adityanath said, addressing the gathering.

The Chief Minister added that Uttar Pradesh, being the most populous State with a working-age population comprising 56 to 60% of its 25 crore residents, holds immense potential, with the government making rigorous efforts to match youth talent with suitable employment opportunities.

“In the last eight years, our State revived many traditional enterprises and has taken decisive steps to transform scale into skill. As part of this digital empowerment mission, we are distributing tablets and smartphones to two crore youth, with 50 lakh beneficiaries already reached. Additionally, in partnership with Tata Technologies, 150 government-run Industrial Training Institutes have been upgraded with modern technologies to ensure industry-relevant training,” he said.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s investment-driven growth, Mr. Adityanath said that in the past eight years, improved law and order and investor-friendly policies had led to the implementation of investment proposals worth several lakh crore rupees, creating lakhs of new jobs across sectors.

During the event, Mr. Adityanath handed over the ‘Youth Icon’ award to 15 outstanding youths and distributed appointment letters to 11 candidates. He also flagged off five Skill Chariots to spread awareness about skill development across the State.