Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana is an Uttar Pradesh government scheme that connects students to digital resources and supports digital learning and skill development.Hindustan
The scheme began as a pilot for students in the 2021-22 session and has since moved from tablets and smartphones to tablets only.digishakti.info
Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana (Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme): quick facts
- Launch date
- 25 December 2021, launched at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Responsible body
- Government of Uttar Pradesh; run by the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department, nodal agency UPDESCO, Lucknow
- Devices distributed so far
- About 6 million (60 lakh) tablets and smartphones
Key facts
| Launch date | 25 December 2021, launched at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, LucknowHindustan |
|---|---|
| Responsible body | Government of Uttar Pradesh; run by the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department, nodal agency UPDESCO, Lucknowdigishakti.info |
| Devices distributed so far | About 6 million (60 lakh) tablets and smartphonesHindustan |
| Current device | Tablet only, since GO 463 of 25 July 2025digishakti.info |
| Additional supply 2026-27 | 25 lakh (2.5 million) additional tabletsHindustan |
| Fee | None charged by the UP governmentdigishakti.info |
Key features and how it works
- Gives free tablets to eligible students of government and private universities, colleges and institutes in Uttar Pradesh, covering graduation, post-graduation, diploma, ITI, skill, technical, medical, paramedical, nursing and MSME courses.digishakti.info
- Devices are provided through the student's institute, not a separate application; the institute uploads data on the DigiShakti portal and the student completes Aadhaar e-KYC.digishakti.info
- Devices are bought through GeM by UPDESCO and handed out at the institute itself.digishakti.info
- Devices carry educational and career content through the DigiShakti Adhyayan App.digishakti.info
Eligibility and rules
- Students studying in Uttar Pradesh at government or private universities, colleges and institutes covered by the scheme; the place of residence does not matter, only the place of study.digishakti.info
- No income limit and no age limit.Hindustan
- Students who received a device during one course cannot receive another in a later course (GO 680, 22 August 2024).digishakti.info
- Priority goes first to final-year students and students on courses of one year or less, then to pre-final year and down year by year, as per GO 1862 of 3 January 2024.digishakti.info
Static GK
- UPDESCO, Lucknow, is the scheme's nodal agency; it runs the portal and buys devices through GeM.digishakti.info
- DigiShakti portal: the official portal of the scheme (digishakti.up.gov.in); the digishakti.info site is a private site, not government.digishakti.info
- GeM is the platform through which UPDESCO purchases devices.digishakti.info
Comparison
Uttar Pradesh free device schemes for students
| Basis | Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana | Free laptop distribution scheme (Akhilesh Yadav era) |
|---|---|---|
| Device | Tablet only (since 25 July 2025) | Laptop and computer tablets |
| Eligible students | Students in UP universities, colleges and institutes; no income or age limit | Students who passed 10th and 12th exams from recognised boards, incl. ITI and polytechnic |
| Scale | About 60 lakh devices distributed so far | 1,500,000 laptops distributed between 2012 and 2015 |
| Launch | 25 December 2021 (pilot from 2021-22) | First announced in the Samajwadi Party's 2012 manifesto |
Achievements
- About 60 lakh (6 million) tablets and smartphones have reached students so far.Hindustan
- The scheme gives device access to students from a wide range of backgrounds, since there is no income or age limit.
- The scheme has moved to tablets only and has a priority order for distribution.digishakti.info
Challenges
- Students must complete Aadhaar e-KYC before receiving a device.digishakti.info
- Devices depend on institutes uploading and verifying data, so errors in records can hold back a student's device.
- Device handovers depend on institute-level logistics, so reaching students in remote colleges may be uneven.
Way forward
- Outcome monitoring: track whether devices are actually used for courses and skill content, not just distributed.
- Handholding for institutes in the data upload and e-KYC steps to speed up verification.
- Convergence with skill and digital learning programmes so that tablets link to course content and jobs.
Timeline
15 November 2026
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to distribute about 50,000 tablets at Rashtra Prerna Sthal, Lucknow, covering Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur and Unnao.Hindustan
13 November 2026
Uttar Pradesh announced a tablet handover of about 50,000 devices to students at Rashtra Prerna Sthal, Lucknow, on 15 November 2026, with 2.5 million additional tablets being supplied for 2026-27.
Read the story25 July 2025
GO 463: all beneficiaries switched to tablets; the 25 lakh smartphone purchase cancelled.digishakti.info
27 August 2024
GO 667: Aadhaar e-KYC made compulsory before any device.digishakti.info
22 August 2024
GO 680: one device per student across courses.digishakti.info
3 January 2024
GO 1862 sets the priority order for distribution.digishakti.info
18 July 2022
GO 975 sets the scheme for the next five years with a pledge of 2 crore tablets or smartphones.digishakti.info
6 October 2021
Government order and office memo start the pilot tablet/smartphone scheme.digishakti.info
Every new story on this subject is added here automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an income or age limit for the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme?
No, the scheme sets no income limit and no age limit for eligible students.Hindustan
Does the scheme give laptops?
No, the scheme gives tablets now and earlier gave smartphones; it has never given laptops.digishakti.info
Do students need to apply for the tablet?
No, there is no separate application; the institute uploads the student's data and the student completes Aadhaar e-KYC.digishakti.info
GS paper mapping
- GS-2Government policies and interventions for development in sectors such as education and skill development
- GS-2Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; e-governance and digital initiatives
- GS-3Digital divide and inclusive growth
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages.
