Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves free scooty scheme for college girls
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved the 'Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana' to provide free petrol-powered scooters to the top 5% of meritorious female undergraduate students. The initiative aims to improve mobility, reduce dropout rates, and foster independence among young women in the state.
Why it matters
This policy addresses gender-based barriers to education by providing tangible transportation support to students in rural and urban areas.
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.
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