Uttar Pradesh presented its 2026-27 budget , totaling over Rs 9.12 lakh crore, with significant increases for vocational and medical education. The budget, presented by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, marks a 12.9% increase from the previous year.
Education Sector Focus
Basic education received the largest share with Rs 77,622 crore. Medical education was allocated Rs 14,997 crore. The budget includes funding for 14 new medical colleges, with Rs 1,023 crore designated for their establishment. A cancer institute in Lucknow will receive Rs 315 crore.
The state will establish two Chief Minister Model Composite Schools in all 75 districts. Teachers in non-government secondary schools will receive cashless medical facilities under a new Rs 89-crore scheme. A student mental health policy for higher education institutions was also announced.
Secondary education funding increased by 15% to Rs 22,167 crore. Higher education saw a 7% increase, with an allocation of Rs 6,591 crore.
School Infrastructure and Supplies
Rs 580 crore is allocated for establishing Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in areas where they are absent. Rs 300 crore will convert primary schools into smart schools under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
An additional Rs 300 crore is for maintaining non-government aided schools in substandard condition. Free uniforms, school bags, shoes, socks, and stationery for students in Classes 1-8 will receive Rs 650 crore.
Teachers and staff in council schools will benefit from a new Rs 358-crore scheme for cashless medical facilities.
Higher and Technical Education Investments
Basic facilities in secondary schools will receive Rs 520 crore. Rs 10 crore is designated for non-government aided secondary schools. Scholarships for government Sanskrit school students get Rs 20 crore.
Dream Skill Cab Clusters will be established in government secondary schools with Rs 150 crore. The Rani Lakshmi Bai Scooty Scheme for meritorious girl students receives Rs 400 crore.
New universities are planned: Swami Shukdevanand University (Shahjahanpur) and Kashi Naresh University (Bhadohi) each get Rs 21 crore. Maa Vindhyavasini University (Mirzapur), Guru Jambheshwar University (Moradabad), and Maa Pateshwari University (Balrampur) each receive Rs 50 crore.
The Chief Minister Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is allocated Rs 40 crore.
Vocational and Skill Development Boost
Vocational education funding increased by 88% to Rs 3,349 crore. This aims to strengthen skill-based training and youth employability.
The Skill Development Mission receives Rs 1,000 crore for training and Rs 836 crore for artisan training. Project Praveen is allocated Rs 500 crore. The Chief Minister Apprenticeship Training Scheme gets Rs 20 crore.
The state operates 286 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with over 1.9 lakh seats. Phase-1 upgrades are underway for 149 ITIs in partnership with Tata Technologies Ltd. Phase-2 will upgrade 62 more ITIs.
Technical Education Enhancements
Technical education funding rose 72% to Rs 2.365 crore. This includes Rs 714 crore for upgrading Centres of Excellence in government polytechnics.
Upgrading government polytechnics and infrastructure facilities will receive Rs 254 crore. Rs 50 crore is for establishing new government polytechnics.
AI labs will be set up in 19 ITIs, along with an AI Centre of Excellence and India AI Data Labs. This initiative is funded by Rs 32.82 crore under the India AI Mission.