Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) approved the guidelines for the implementation of the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana, under which free scooters will be provided to meritorious undergraduate girl students.
The scheme will play a significant role in ensuring easier access to higher education for girl students while making them self-reliant and confident, said the State government. Eligible female students will be selected based on merit from the list comprising the top 5% of female graduates.
“The primary objective of this ambitious scheme of the State Government is to reduce the dropout rate among girl students, increase their retention in higher education, ensure their mobility and ease of transportation to higher educational institutions, and improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). Along with this, special emphasis has also been laid on developing a sense of confidence and independence among girl students,”said Yogendra Upadhyay, Higher Education Minister.
Under the scheme, benefits will be extended during the academic session 2025-26 to girl students who are domiciles of Uttar Pradesh and have completed their graduation from State Universities, Private Universities, and Government, Government-Aided and Self-Financed colleges affiliated with State Universities in the State. Eligible female students will be selected based on merit from the list comprising the top 5 percent of female graduates.
According to the Cabinet decision, petrol-powered scooters will be provided under the scheme. The Government has taken this decision keeping in view the better availability of petrol pumps and service centres in remote rural areas of the State. “The scooters will be procured through the Government e-Marketplace [GeM] portal to ensure transparency and quality. The scooter package will include not only the vehicle but also registration charges, comprehensive vehicle insurance, an ISI-marked helmet, 4 litres of petrol, and all necessary accessories, ensuring that the beneficiaries do not have to bear any additional financial burden,” added the government.
U.P. government said that this scheme will increase the participation of daughters in higher education, particularly by making it easier for female students from rural and remote areas to access colleges and universities.
Published – July 22, 2026 04:00 am IST
