Skill Development Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal inaugurates

Mega Job Fair-2026, MoU signed between UPSDM and IBM

Connecting youth power with employment and self-reliance top

priority of Yogi Govt

Do not underestimate any job; adopt habit of continuous

learning: Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal

Lucknow, August 03 (HS): Under the leadership of Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath, a grand Mega Job Fair 2026 was organized on Monday at

the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, in collaboration with IBM India CSR,

giving new impetus to the campaign to connect the state's youth with

employment, skills, and self-reliance. Kapil Dev Agarwal, Minister of State

(Independent Charge) for Vocational Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship,

inaugurated the program as the chief guest.

On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was

exchanged between the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) and IBM.

This partnership will expand artificial intelligence (AI), digital skills,

industry-oriented training, and employment-oriented courses at the state's

training institutions, enabling millions of youth to become proficient in

modern technologies.

In his address, Kapil Dev Agarwal said that connecting the

youth with employment and self-reliance is the top priority of the Yogi

government. He said that today is the era of artificial intelligence and new

technologies. In such a situation, youth should not limit themselves only to

degrees but should also pay equal attention to new technologies, digital

skills, effective communication skills and self-confidence. He said that only

those youth who continuously update themselves with changing technology will

get better opportunities in the future. Do not consider any job small; work

with complete dedication, discipline and honesty. For the person who becomes a

necessity of the organization through his work, opportunities for advancement

automatically arise for him.

Minister Agarwal urged the youth to adopt a continuous

learning approach and maximize the benefits of skills training. He stated that

there are ample opportunities in the private sector for rapid advancement based

on talent and performance, and the government is continuously organizing such

job fairs to connect youth with industries. He stated that the central

government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Uttar

Pradesh government under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are

continuously working to give new direction to education, skill development,

employment, and entrepreneurship. The state government's goal is to realize the

resolve of a developed Uttar Pradesh and a developed

India by providing training and employment to every youth according to

their abilities.

At the event, Principal Secretary Dr. Hari Om briefed on

various initiatives under the Skill Development Mission. Shipra Sharma, CSR

Lead, IBM India/South Asia, stated that this partnership will play a vital role

in providing cutting-edge technical training and AI-based education to the

youth of Uttar Pradesh. Following the exchange of the MoU, the job fair was

formally inaugurated with a ceremonial bell ringing. UPSDM Joint Director

Mayank Gangwar, representatives from IBM, officials from various companies, and

a large number of students were present on the occasion.

More than 2,000 youth from various polytechnics, ITIs,

engineering, and degree colleges across the state enthusiastically participated

in the program. More than 20 prestigious companies, including Airtel Payments

Bank, Nykaa, Tata Motors, and Suzuki, participated, providing diverse

employment opportunities to the youth.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi