UP Govt Launches Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Chevening Scholarship For UK Studies

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved the "Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Chevening Uttar Pradesh State Government Scholarship Scheme." This initiative is a collaboration between the state government and the UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to provide higher education opportunities for talented students in the UK.

According to Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, the scheme will award scholarships to five meritorious students from Uttar Pradesh each year for a one-year Master's degree program at a prestigious UK university. The scholarship will cover academic fees, examination and research fees, a monthly living allowance, and a round-trip economy class airfare. The selection process will be fair and transparent, as per the MoU between the state government and the FCDO.

The scheme will be implemented starting from the 2025-26 academic year and will run for three years. The state government will contribute approximately ₹23 lakh (£19,800) per student, with the remaining costs of roughly £38,000–£42,000 being covered by the FCDO.

The cabinet also approved two significant policies to boost industrial growth and create employment. Minister for MSME and Export Promotion Rakesh Sachan announced that the "UP Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Estates Management Policy" and the "UP Footwear, Leather and Non-Leather Sector Development Policy-2025" have been approved.

Under the industrial policy, the allocation of industrial plots will now be done through e-auctions on a lease/rent basis. The reserved prices for these plots have been set region-wise: ₹3,000 per sq meter in Paschimanchal, ₹2,500 in Madhyanchal, and ₹2,000 in Purvanchal/Bundelkhand, with a 5% annual increase. The footwear and leather policy aims to boost exports, promote technological upgrades, and create jobs through special incentives and training programs for skilled workers.

The cabinet has also approved the "Uttar Pradesh Rural Population Records Bill-2025," which will simplify the process of updating and amending property documents (gharaunis) prepared under the Swamitva Yojana. This will make it easier to transfer ownership based on inheritance, sales, court orders, or family agreements. Revenue officials will be empowered to update these records for straightforward cases.

Additionally, two new private universities, K.D. University in Mathura and Bodhisattva University in Barabanki, have been approved under the Uttar Pradesh Private University Act, 2019. K.D. University will be established on 50.54 acres of land in Mathura, while Bodhisattva University will be built on 25.31 acres in Barabanki. These new institutions are expected to expand access to higher education in the state.