The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday (September 15) ratified a proposal to develop 14,429 primary schools under the Basic Education Council as smart schools. The call was made at a meeting led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to a PTI report.
Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna called the proposal a pivotal step towards advancing education and said a budget provision of Rs 300 crore had been made for the initiative.
Under the scheme, each of the 14,429 schools will receive Rs 2.07 lakh, he said.
According to the minister, smart schools would possess facilities including internet connectivity and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) labs.
“Teachers will be able to teach children through internet connectivity and ICT facilities,” Khanna said, adding that the initiative would help advance and modernise education, particularly for children studying in government primary schools.
Cabinet Approves New University in Aligarh
In addition, the Cabinet agreed to a proposal to establish a new university at Sarsaul village in Aligarh district, Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said.
Speaking to the media at Lok Bhawan, Upadhyay said the planned institution would be named Sai Global University and would be financed by the Om Sai Seva Samiti, Aligarh.
“The expansion of higher education and improvement in its quality under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has added another chapter with this decision,” Upadhyay said.
The letter of intent (LoI) to lay the foundation of a new university was approved following completion of prescribed formalities by the sponsoring body and recommendation of the proposal by a panel.
The minister said that Om Sai Seva Samiti has two years to finish the remaining formalities, after which a letter of permission would be granted.
The Cabinet had earlier approved the purchase of 25 lakh tablets for free distribution among eligible youth under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, with the state government earmarking Rs 2,374.60 crore for the scheme in its 2026-27 budget.
(With PTI Inputs)