In a landmark achievement for modern policing, the Uttar Pradesh Police has secured national acclaim by winning the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award 2025. The honour recognises two of its flagship, technology-powered initiatives: the Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC) built for Maha Kumbh-2025 and the innovative Meta Suicidal Alert system.
A Double Honour at the National Stage
The awards were conferred during the 105th SKOCH Summit, held in New Delhi under the theme ‘Governance with Bharat’. Known as one of India's most respected independent accolades, the SKOCH Awards celebrate outstanding contributions in government and public administration. Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna was the named recipient, with the award physically collected by nominated officers including former Mahakumbh ICCC in-charge Amit Kumar, DGP's PRO Rahul Srivastava, and Meta's Director of Outreach for South Asia, Satya Yadav.
This dual victory marks a historic first, making the Uttar Pradesh Police the only police force in the country to win SKOCH awards in two distinct categories simultaneously. Officials highlighted that this also positions the UP Police as the world's first law enforcement agency to successfully operationalise a social media-based suicide prevention system on such a massive scale.
Visionary Leadership Behind the Tech Push
A senior officer credited the success to the state's leadership and strategic vision. "These initiatives were rolled out under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has consistently advocated for technology-backed, citizen-centric policing," the officer stated. "This vision was operationalised by DGP Rajeev Krishna, who prioritised the integration of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and real-time response mechanisms into our core operations."
The Nerve Centre: Maha Kumbh 2025 ICCC
Designed as the central nervous system for the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, the Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC) is a marvel of modern governance technology. Functioning as a 24x7 nerve centre, it is tasked with comprehensive crowd management, ensuring public safety, coordinating disaster response, and seamless inter-agency collaboration.
Powered by advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools, the ICCC enables authorities to monitor situations in real-time, make data-driven decisions, and ensure swift on-ground responses to any incident, setting a new benchmark for managing mega-events in India.
A Lifesaving Partnership: The Meta Suicidal Alert Initiative
Equally groundbreaking is the recognition of the Meta Suicidal Alert program, a collaborative effort between the UP Police and Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). This humane tech initiative proactively identifies users expressing suicidal thoughts on Meta's platforms and alerts the police for rapid intervention.
The impact of this system has been profound and measurable. In the three-year period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, the UP Police received a total of 1,802 alerts through this channel. These alerts led to the successful intervention and saving of 1,805 lives—comprising 1,389 men and 416 women.
A particularly concerning trend was observed among the youth, who accounted for the largest share of cases. The data reveals:
- 623 cases were in the vulnerable 13-18 age group.
- 905 cases were in the 19-25 age bracket.
This initiative underscores how technology, when applied with empathy and efficiency, can become a powerful tool for social good and life preservation, redefining the role of police in community mental health support.
