UP Cabinet approves free scooter scheme for meritorious college girls

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana, offering free petrol-powered scooters to meritorious girl students. The meeting also cleared key expressway links and set the Monsoon Session from August 3.

In Short

• Vindhya-Purvanchal and Agra-Lucknow link expressways get Cabinet nod
• Monsoon Session of UP Legislature scheduled from August 3 to August 6
• Session to discuss budget, replacement Bills and government business

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana, under which meritorious girl students will receive free petrol-powered scooters to help them pursue higher education and commute to colleges more easily.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, where 16 major proposals across multiple departments, including women's welfare, higher education, transport, home, state tax, stamp and registration, and cooperation, received approval.

The scooter scheme emerged as one of the meeting's biggest announcements, with the government describing it as a step towards improving access to higher education while promoting women's empowerment.

PRIORITY FOR DIVYANG, MARTYRS' DAUGHTERS

The state government said the selection process under the scheme will give preference to specially-abled (Divyang) girl students, daughters of martyrs, and girls from destitute families. Officials said the priority-based approach has been designed to ensure that students from vulnerable backgrounds benefit first from the initiative.

The government believes the scheme will not only reduce transportation challenges faced by students but also encourage more young women to continue their education.

EXPRESSWAY PROJECTS GET CABINET NOD

Apart from the scooter scheme, the Cabinet approved the Vindhya-Purvanchal Link Expressway project, a nearly 117-km corridor that will connect Prayagraj with the Purvanchal Expressway.

The project is expected to improve connectivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh while boosting regional development, investment and industrial activity.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal for a link expressway connecting the Agra-Lucknow Expressway with the Purvanchal Expressway. Both infrastructure projects will be executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.

MONSOON SESSION FROM AUGUST 3

The Cabinet also approved the convening of the third session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature from August 3 to August 6.

According to Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna, both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council will meet from August 3 in accordance with constitutional provisions.

During the four-day Monsoon Session, the government will present the supplementary budget for the 2026-27 financial year, along with supplementary demands for grants. Replacement Bills for ordinances issued after the previous session, as well as other legislative and government business, will also be taken up.

The previous session of the legislature was held on April 30, with both Houses adjourned the same day before the session was formally prorogued on May 7.

Khanna said the decision complies with Article 174 of the Constitution, which mandates that no more than six months should elapse between two sessions of a state legislature. He added that Assembly rules ordinarily require members to be informed about the commencement of a session at least seven days in advance.

The upcoming session is also expected to witness sharp exchanges, with the Opposition preparing to raise several issues while the government pushes ahead with its legislative agenda.

- Ends