In a landmark move to promote equitable access to education, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has initiated early distribution of scholarships for the 2025–26 financial year — the earliest rollout to date.

Over ₹188 crore will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of nearly 4.8 lakh students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) across the state in two phases.

The first phase, already completed, saw ₹62.13 crore disbursed to benefit over 2.5 lakh OBC students from Classes 9 to 12. In the second phase, scheduled for Friday, an additional ₹126.68 crore will be deposited into the bank accounts of 4.83 lakh students.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will personally oversee the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) process at a ceremony hosted by the Backward Class Welfare Department at the Lok Bhavan Auditorium in Lucknow.

Education access and transparency at the core

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backward Class Welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment, Narendra Kashyap, said the initiative embodies the government’s vision of “Viksit Bharat–Viksit Uttar Pradesh.”
“Our priority is to ensure that no talented student is deprived of education due to financial hardship,” Kashyap said, adding that the scholarship and fee reimbursement system has been made fully digital, faster, and transparent.

This year also marks the first time scholarships are being distributed in September, significantly streamlining the process to provide students early access to financial support.

Sharp rise in welfare spending

Reflecting a strong focus on inclusive growth, the budget for the Backward Class Welfare Department has surged from ₹1,295 crore in 2016–17 to ₹3,124.45 crore in 2025–26 — a rise of more than 2.5 times.

Allocations for scholarship and fee reimbursement schemes have also expanded dramatically. Under the previous Samajwadi Party government, the allocation stood at ₹1,092.36 crore in 2016–17; today, the state has adopted a digital, Aadhaar-linked DBT system to ensure transparency and eliminate leakages.

The initiative underscores the Uttar Pradesh government’s growing emphasis on education-driven empowerment — ensuring every deserving student, regardless of background, gets the financial backing to pursue their ambitions.