Uttar Pradesh Approves 25 Lakh Free Tablets for Students and Youth
The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the purchase of 25 lakh tablets under its youth empowerment scheme, with eligible students set to receive devices for digital learning.
Students and young people in Uttar Pradesh could soon receive free tablets as the state government moves ahead with a fresh round of distribution under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana.
The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the purchase of 25 lakh new tablets during its meeting on August 25. The government has allocated ₹2,374.60 crore for the scheme during the financial year 2026 to 2027.
The approval marks the next step in the programme, although the tablets will not be distributed immediately. The government will first complete the procurement process before eligible beneficiaries receive the devices through participating institutions.
Who Can Get the Free Tablet?
The scheme is aimed at eligible students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, diploma courses and various professional courses. Students pursuing technical education and medical education may also benefit.
Young people involved in skill development programmes and ITI training are included as well. However, enrolment in one of these courses does not automatically guarantee a free tablet.
Beneficiaries will be identified according to the eligibility conditions set by the government and the records maintained by the concerned educational institutions. Students will therefore need to meet the applicable criteria before being selected.
Tablets to Support Digital Education
The government wants the scheme to give young people easier access to digital resources for education, training and employment. A tablet can help students attend online classes, access study material, participate in training programmes and look for employment or self employment opportunities.
The devices are also expected to be useful for everyday academic work, particularly where students need access to productivity software and online resources.
Procurement Process Comes First
With the cabinet approval now in place, the state will proceed with the tablet procurement process. Orders will be placed with selected institutions as the programme moves through the tender and purchasing stages.
This means students waiting for the devices should not treat the cabinet decision as an immediate distribution announcement. Procurement needs to be completed first, followed by the process of identifying and distributing tablets to eligible beneficiaries.
Why the Government Shifted to Tablets
The scheme previously provided both smartphones and tablets to students and young people. However, the state government changed the programme in July 2025 and decided to focus on distributing tablets going forward.
The larger screen was cited as one of the practical advantages for education and other tasks. Tablets can also make it easier to work with applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Google Sheets.
With the latest approval, the government is now preparing for another large scale distribution under the youth empowerment programme. The exact distribution schedule will depend on the completion of procurement and the subsequent beneficiary selection process.
