Lucknow, August 9, 2025 – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Union Cabinet’s recent approval of significant funding for two major schemes: the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) and the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The decision, announced on Friday, is being hailed as a game-changer for education and household welfare across India.
In a post on X, Adityanath called the approval a “welcome step” that will uplift technical education and support millions of families. The MERITE scheme, with a budget of Rs 4,200 crore, will strengthen 275 technical institutions, including 175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnics, benefiting around 7.5 lakh students. The initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, aims to improve the quality of technical education, promote research, and create job-focused programs. It also emphasizes empowering women faculty and modernizing institutions with digital tools. Half of the funding comes as a loan from the World Bank, and the scheme will run from 2025-26 to 2029-30.
On the welfare front, the cabinet extended a Rs 300 per cylinder subsidy for PMUY beneficiaries for the 2025-26 financial year, with a total allocation of Rs 12,000 crore. This move will support over 10.33 crore households, providing affordable LPG connections to women from economically weaker sections. Launched in 2016, the Ujjwala scheme has been a lifeline for rural families, reducing health risks from traditional cooking fuels like firewood. Adityanath highlighted the scheme’s role in promoting women’s health and convenience, especially noting its significance ahead of Raksha Bandhan.
