Over the past eight years, the education landscape of Uttar Pradesh has undergone a profound and comprehensive transformation. A sustained policy focus initiated in 2017 has driven measurable advancements across all levels, from primary schools to universities, successfully aligning learning outcomes with employability and long-term developmental objectives.
Digital Leap and Infrastructure Overhaul in Schools
One of the most significant shifts has been the massive push towards digital education and the modernization of school infrastructure. Thousands of council schools across the state have been revitalized with smart classrooms, ICT labs, and enhanced learning resources, effectively bridging the digital gap between rural and urban areas.
Key achievements in this digital expansion include:
- Establishment of smart classrooms in more than 25,000 council schools.
- Operational ICT labs in over 5,800 schools.
- Distribution of more than 2.6 lakh tablets to teachers for instructional use.
- A notable increase of nearly 27 percent in schools with computer access in 2023–24 compared to the 2015–16 baseline.
Furthermore, the Operation Kayakalp initiative has achieved saturation of basic infrastructure facilities in primary and upper primary schools, leading to improved classroom environments and better student retention rates.
Boosting Enrolment and Empowering Girls' Education
Targeted campaigns like the School Chalo Abhiyan and the Sharda Programme have been instrumental in driving enrolment. These efforts have brought nearly four million additional children into the education system, accompanied by a substantial decline in dropout rates.
The Sharda Programme alone facilitated the admission of 7.77 lakh children to council schools in the 2024–25 academic year. Enrolment under the Right to Education (RTE) Act has seen explosive growth, jumping from 22,040 children in 2016–17 to over 4.3 lakh in 2024–25. The state has reimbursed more than Rs 638 crore in fees to unaided recognized schools under RTE provisions between 2022–23 and 2024–25.
Girls' education has received dedicated attention. All 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas have been upgraded to offer free residential education up to Class 12 for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. New institutions like Atal Residential Schools, now functional in 18 divisions, and Chief Minister Model Composite Schools are further expanding access to quality schooling.
Skill Development and Higher Education Reforms Take Center Stage
Skill development has emerged as a cornerstone of Uttar Pradesh's education strategy. The state has witnessed rapid growth in technical institutions, adding 668 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) between 2017 and 2025. The number of polytechnic institutions surged from 526 in 2016–17 to over 2,100 in 2024–25.
The Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission has delivered impressive outcomes, training over 14 lakh youth and facilitating employment for more than 5.3 lakh youth between 2017–18 and 2023–24. The annual averages during this period nearly doubled compared to the years before 2017.
In higher education, reforms accelerated with the adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from 2021–22. Universities and colleges have introduced multidisciplinary education, credit-based systems, flexible entry-exit options, and uniform academic calendars. Digital empowerment is evident with over 41 lakh students registered under the Academic Bank of Credit, alongside the widespread implementation of smart classrooms and e-libraries.
From a system once hampered by limited access and weak infrastructure, Uttar Pradesh's education sector is now steadily transitioning towards a future-ready, digital, skill-oriented, and employment-linked framework. This eight-year journey reflects a concerted long-term effort to harness education for innovation, self-reliance, and inclusive growth, positioning the state to meet future demographic and economic challenges effectively.
