Uttar Pradesh Skill Training Scheme: Rs 1725 Crore Sardar Patel Scheme for 75 Districts Launched

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Skill Training and Employment Zone Development Scheme, an ambitious initiative worth Rs 1,725 crore over three years aimed at transforming the state into a global manpower hub. The launch took place in Lucknow on 31 October, coinciding with the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

The scheme, approved by the state cabinet on 9 October, will develop an integrated skill training and employment ecosystem across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, organised into nine zones on a hub-and-spoke model. Training will be tailored to local industries, market demand and employment opportunities in India and abroad, with the aim of developing the state as the ultimate sourcing hub of skilled manpower.

In the first phase, major skill training and employment centres will be established in Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Jhansi, with centres developed on 10 to 25 acres with four-lane road connectivity. Viability Gap Funding may also be provided to private developers and training providers as required.

The launch event also marked the unveiling of the Employment Friend Portal and Blue Dot Shared Digital Infrastructure, designed to connect youth with local job opportunities, along with partnerships with organisations such as the Tata Indian Institute of Skills and the Asian Development Bank to enhance training and employment prospects.

Candidates will receive foundational or technical skill upgrades along with specialised lessons in Indian and foreign languages to match global workforce demands. By linking training directly to employer demand, the scheme aims to bridge the gap between industry requirements and the availability of skilled workers, particularly in a state with around 96 lakh MSME enterprises employing more than three crore people.