UP Cabinet Clears Over 30 Proposals, Approves Free LPG Refills, 1,725 AC Electric Buses

The Cabinet took these decisions during a meeting on Friday, with measures also covering Anganwadi workers, employment opportunities, and changes to the names of Bhadohi district and Noida International Airport.

Under the LPG scheme, eligible beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will receive one free cylinder refill each during Diwali and Holi in the 2026-27 financial year. The state government has allocated Rs 2,142.78 crore for the initiative.

The first refill is scheduled for October to December 2026, while the second will be available between January and March 2027. Beneficiaries must have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts and complete the prescribed Aadhaar authentication process to qualify.

The Cabinet also approved arrangements for operating 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses across 18 urban areas, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Prayagraj, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Meerut, Noida and Ayodhya.

The buses will also serve Aligarh, Bareilly, Firozabad, Jhansi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Moradabad, Shahjahanpur and Saharanpur, with Noida's service area including Jewar. Private operators will manage the buses under 12-year contracts beginning from the commencement of commercial operations.

Another major decision was the approval of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Skill Training and Employment Zone development scheme, which aims to strengthen vocational training and connect young people with employment opportunities in India and abroad.

The initiative envisages an integrated skill development and employment network across nine zones covering all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. According to the state government, the programme is intended to align training with industry requirements and establish Uttar Pradesh as a major source of skilled manpower for domestic and international markets.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to rename Bhadohi district as **Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi**. The decision restores the name Sant Ravidas to the district's official name while retaining its historical association with Bhadohi.

In another decision, the state government approved an increase in the annual allocation of sarees for Anganwadi workers and helpers from two to three per person. The revised provision is expected to benefit approximately 3,80,290 workers and helpers across the state.

Following the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced the approval of a proposal to rename Noida International Airport as **Narendra Modi International Airport**.

The decisions cover a range of welfare, public transport, employment and administrative measures, with implementation timelines and operational arrangements varying across the approved proposals.