Lucknow, 27 Aug (HS): Under the Startup Policy, Uttar

Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holding distribution of incentive

amount, release of the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2026 booklet, and launch of

the Uttar Pradesh Startup Mission Portal, in the program organized in Lucknow

on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering, he stated, “In 2017, there were a

total of 120 startups in Uttar Pradesh, and today more than 24,000 startups are

giving wings to dreams. Uttar Pradesh has the world's youngest workforce, which

is talented and energetic. Higher education institutions should not remain

confined merely to traditional curricula; you will have to create an excellent

environment for innovation and R&D. Our government has made separate

funding available for research activities in all universities. New UP' is not

going to back down now.”

Government stands with startup operators: Chief Minister

Yogi Adityanath has stated that Uttar Pradesh's share in the country's startup

ecosystem must be 20 percent, based on its population. He stated that the

government stands with startup owners in every step taken in the interest of

youth. There is no shortage of land in Uttar Pradesh. There is potential in

every sector here. You just need to recognize the opportunities and identify

them. He also distributed incentives worth Rs. 3.42 crore to 107 startups.

Join the UP Startup Mission and grow: In Lok Bhavan, Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath said that today we have gathered to give wings to the

dreams of startup funds, incubators and the youth of Uttar Pradesh. This is

possible only if we move forward together by joining the UP Startup Mission.

The Chief Minister said that before 2014, there were only 500 startups in

India, which has now increased to more than 2.5 lakh. The same situation was

there in Uttar Pradesh, the state with the largest population of India. Before

2017, there were only 120 startups in the state, whose number has now increased

to more than 24,000.

Stakeholders connected with UP Startup Mission: The Chief

Minister stated that stakeholders are being connected with the UP Startup

Mission. The state's image has been transformed through Uttar Pradesh's

startups. He added that before 2017, the state was in a state of chaos. Having

served as a Member of Parliament for a long time, he also realized that people

from other states did not have a positive perception of the people of Uttar

Pradesh. Riots would erupt before festivals and celebrations. Schools,

colleges, and markets would remain closed for months.

The larger the population, the more opportunities: Uttar

Pradesh used to see over 500 riots every year. Nine years ago, discussing

employment, education, and innovation in Uttar Pradesh was a dream. Previously,

there was no policy, nor was the government's will. As a result, a state with

endless potential was left behind. Our population is as diverse as the

opportunities. Today, Uttar Pradesh has the largest youth workforce in the

world.

Half of the startups are run by women: He said, I am

pleased that today, of the more than 24,000 startups in Uttar Pradesh, nearly

half are run by women. The government stands with startups. We are continuously

encouraging startups. In 2019, we established a collaboration with SIDBI to

encourage startups. We formulated a new startup policy and improved it. We

provided more incentives. We told higher education institutions not to limit

education to curriculum, but to integrate it with innovation. He said,

Our government has tripled the state's economy in nine years. The number

of large industries has increased from 12,000 to more than 36,000. Today, Uttar

Pradesh's economy has become the largest economy compared to other

states.

IIT Kanpur proposes to set up a Meditech Centre: He said

that IIT Kanpur has proposed to build a medtech center. IIT BHU has expressed

its desire to work with UP Agriz. If needed, workspaces will be provided using

a plug-and-play model. He said that Uttar Pradesh has now emerged from the

curfew and a safe environment has been provided to investors and citizens. He

said that the government will provide all possible assistance to advance the

startup ecosystem. The Chief Minister also launched the Startup Mission

website.

Addressing the program, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said

that we are providing three things simultaneously to the youth of the state.

Incentive fund, fund for incubators and creating and encouraging environment

for startups. Before 2017, there were 120 startups in UP, today there are more

than 24000. The state government is providing encouragement and environment for

this. Before 2017, potholed roads and darkness were the identity of UP. Riots

used to happen before festivals and celebrations. Curfew was imposed. 700 riots

took place in five years. In such an environment, talking about studies,

education, employment, startups and development was a dream, there was neither

policy nor the will of the government at that time. People were forced to live

in a strange environment.

CM Yogi said that foreign delegations come and say that the

state's population of 25 crore will be a challenge. We say that Uttar Pradesh

has the world's youngest workforce. Half of the 24,000 startups are run by

women. Today, Uttar Pradesh has moved from the bottom to the top three. Women's

participation in the state has tripled, and large industries have tripled. This

is the new Uttar Pradesh.

Before 2017, there was startup crime in UP: On this

occasion, IT and Electronics Minister Sunil Sharma said that before 2017,

startups were a crime in Uttar Pradesh, but CM Yogi Adityanath controlled the

crime and promoted startups. Today, investment is pouring into Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh can become a powerhouse of startups. A startup is not a business,

but an innovative idea. CM Yogi has increased the state's budget to 9.59 lakh

crore without increasing any taxes on the public.

Research and innovation are vital: State Finance Minister

Suresh Khanna said that research and innovation are crucial for progress. In

2017, there were 120 startups. Now, that number has surpassed 24,000. The

number of incubators in the state has increased from 76 to 88. So far, Rs. 60

crore have been allocated to startups and incubators.

The incentive of Rs 30,000 has been increased to Rs 40,000: Earlier,

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that the incentive of Rs 30,000 in the

Startup Policy has been increased to Rs 40,000. Startups can prove to be a game

changer. IT Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma said that before 2017, startups were a

crime in the state. After 2017, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath started startups

to eliminate crime and provide employment to the youth. A Letter of Comfort

(LOC) was also issued at the program for operating new incubators.

Meanwhile, UP CM mentioned in a post on X, “By providing

opportunities to the ideas of the youth, encouragement to innovation, and

strength to startups, Uttar Pradesh is today accelerating a new culture of

transforming from 'job seeker' to 'job creator'. Today in Lucknow, under the

Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy, funding of more than Rs. 3.42 crore will be

distributed to 107 startups, and Rs. 1.79 crore in incentive funds to 9

incubators. Additionally, the booklet 'Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy-2026' will

be released, and the Uttar Pradesh Startup Mission portal will also be

inaugurated. New ideas leading to new enterprises, and new enterprises leading

to new employment—this is the new identity of the 'New Uttar Pradesh'.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi