UP logs investment proposals of Rs 2.92 trillion at Davos

Expanding its wings for global investments, Uttar Pradesh has logged investment proposals to the tune of Rs 2.92 trillion at the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 during January 19–23 at Davos in Switzerland.

Led by UP finance minister Suresh Khanna, the state inked 31 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across key sectors viz. data centers, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI).

These partnerships align with UP’s vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy, Khanna told newspersons recently after arriving in Lucknow from Davos.

Discussions were held with global tech firms including Google, Uber, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra, Cisco, Deloitte, Google Cloud, Automation Anywhere, and SA Technologies.

“The focus areas covered Global Capability Centers (GCCs), AI, data centers, digital governance, skill development, and mobility solutions,” he added.

An MoU with AM Green Group pertained to the establishment of a 1 GW AI-focused data centre in Greater Noida, with a proposed investment kitty of nearly Rs 2.10 trillion by 2028.

Ride hailing service Uber evinced interest in expanding mobility partnerships, and in establishing a potential GCC in Noida.

Rashmi Metallurgical committed an investment of Rs 4,000 crore for a 1 MTPA integrated steel plant.

AB InBev, Godrej, Philip Morris International, Kübler Group, Schneider Electric etc discussed manufacturing, smart factories, Industry 4.0, supply chains etc.

Moreover, discussions were held with Grundfos, Ramky Group, and Schneider Electric on partnerships in water management, irrigation, solar pump solutions, sewage and waste management, microgrids, and smart villages.

Grundfos is exploring for the solarization of 50,000–60,000 pumps annually in Uttar Pradesh, and proposed pilot projects in Lucknow, Noida, and Varanasi.

Bayer Consumer Health and Agilent Technologies explored opportunities in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, research and development and life sciences.

Besides, engagements with BlackRock, Deloitte, Marsh McLennan, Adecco, and Wealthdoor focused on long-term capital investment, FDI/FPI, institutional capacity building, risk management, skill development, and global talent.

Adecco is keen to establish a centre in Lucknow to leverage Uttar Pradesh’s progressive services sector and employment ecosystem.

Khanna said the Yogi Adityanath government showcased UP’s development and investment potential through participation for the third consecutive year at the WEF.

“This participation reaffirmed the state’s commitment to accelerating economic transformation and positioning UP as a globally competitive investment hub,” he underscored.

Now, Invest UP will strengthen policy support, infrastructure, skilled human resources, regulatory facilitation, and inter-departmental coordination to translate investment intentions into outcomes.

UP invites entries for Best Tourism Village

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Tourism has announced the State Tourism Awards aimed at recognising villages, rural homestays and farm stays that are strengthening tourism through culture, community participation and responsible practices.

The awards invite entries under three categories viz. Best Tourism Village 2026, Best Homestay (Rural) and Best Farm Stay. Winners will be honoured in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

The initiative is designed from a people centric perspective, encouraging villages, families, farmers and rural hosts to step forward and showcase their work in creating authentic tourism experiences rooted in local culture, crafts, cuisine, agriculture and nature.

All eligible stakeholders can apply, including those who are not currently registered with Uttar Pradesh Tourism.

Speaking on the initiative, UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said Uttar Pradesh is steadily emerging as a national model for agri and rural tourism.

"We have already registered over 800 'rural' homestays with the Tourism Department, and our effort is now to bring many more villages, families and farm stay operators into this ecosystem," he added.

Regions such as Gorakhpur, Awadh and Braj are witnessing strong growth in rural tourism experiences, with visitors coming not only from across India but also from countries like Sri Lanka, Spain and Germany.

"Through these awards, we want to recognise those who are preserving local culture, creating livelihoods and offering meaningful hospitality,” he added.

Tourism is no longer about sightseeing, it is about soul seeing. Rural tourism is India’s ‘soft power’.

The Yogi Adityanath government aims to to connect travellers with rural life so their visit goes beyond a day or two at monuments and becomes a longer pause rooted in culture and simplicity.

Under the Best Tourism Village 2026 category, villages will be assessed on tourism assets such as heritage, nature, culture, festivals and unique experiences, along with community participation, sustainability measures, visitor facilities and overall readiness to host tourists.

The Best Homestay (Rural) category focuses on authentic rural living experiences, guest comfort, transparency of operations and actual tourist stays, while the Best Farm Stay category recognises farm based experiences that integrate agriculture, local produce, nature and professionally managed rural hospitality.

Applications are to be submitted online through category wise registration forms, and stakeholders can also apply by scanning the QR codes shared on official website of Uttar Pradesh Tourism. 

The last date for registration and submission is 20 January 2026.

Ashok Leyland's electric bus plant inaugurated in Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

Hinduja Group's flagship company Ashok Leyland has commissioned its integrated electric bus manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

The greenfield unit was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Heavy Industries minister D H Kumaraswamy on Friday (January 9).

On the occasion, Adityanath said the plant is a key milestone in the state's industrial development journey and commitment towards environment conservation.

"Today, Uttar Pradesh is not merely a state of 'unlimited potential' but a state converting potential into actual achievements," he said, adding that UP now tops the 'Industry First' and 'Investor First' matrices.

The CM noted that UP does not suffer from the erstwhile policy paralysis of the previous governments, but contributes to India's industrial growth story.

"UP accounts for 9.5 percent to India's GDP and the state's economy is expected to touch Rs 36 trillion by the end of the current financial year," he claimed.

Adityanath alleged while investors were fleeing the state during the earlier regimes, UP had logged investment proposals to the tune of Rs 45 trillion of which projects worth Rs 15 trillion had been launched in the groundbreaking ceremonies.

"Now, we are ready to launch projects worth Rs 6 trillion next month, while another basket of projects totalling Rs 5 trillion are in the pipeline," he added.

He maintained that UP had become a preferred destination for domestic and global investors, and the Ashok Leyland plant would further catalyse its investment ecosystem.

Ashok Leyland has committed to invest Rs 1,000 crore in the Lucknow plant, which has an initial capacity to produce 2,500 vehicles per annum. It would be ramped up to 5,000 vehicles per year in the next phase depending upon the market demand.

On September 15, 2023, an memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Ashok Leyland and the Uttar Pradesh government for the setting up of the Lucknow plant.

Therefore, the new plant has been commissioned in less than 16 months since the signing of the MoU.

The company has already announced plans to convert its entire fleet of diesel buses and commercial vehicles into electric and other alternative fuels in the coming years.

Interestingly, UP is among India's leading electric vehicles (EVs) market even as the UP State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) is keen to convert its fleet of nearly 12,000 buses to EVs in the coming years.

In his address, Rajnath Singh observed that the Ashok Leyland plant would bolster UP's economic and industrial development roadmap and provide mass employment opportunities.

UP is also emerging as a major defence industry hub with the UP Defence Corridor spread over 6 nodes including Lucknow, he added.

He said UP, which was once considered to be a BIMARU state, has emerged as a preferred investment destination owing to the proactive policies of the Yogi government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision.

"The path to a developed India passes through a developed Uttar Pradesh," Rajnath Singh underlined.

Canadian entrepreneurs to invest in Uttar Pradesh

A 24-member delegation of the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) today met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.

Led by the organisation’s Founder President, Naresh Kumar Chawda, the delegation expressed keen interest in investing in Uttar Pradesh in the MSME, religious tourism and hospitality sectors.

Yogi assured of all possible support from the state government even as he invited them to visit the religious sites in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Prayagraj.

He emphasised the need to promote new initiatives in trade, technology and tourism in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.

He said that 8–9 years ago, markets during festivals were flooded with Chinese products, but in 2018 the state promoted traditional enterprises through the One District–One Product initiative.

These products were provided with design support, technology and platforms, and are showcased at the UP International Trade Show held in September 2025.

The CM claimed Chinese products have now disappeared from the UP markets.

The UP government is supporting all 9.6 million MSME units in the state and ensuring social security for them, benefiting the livelihoods of around 25 million families.

Through One District–One Product (ODOP), these products have been branded and are now being presented as official gifts on major platforms.

Yogi informed the delegation that India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy and also the fastest-growing major economy.

UP ranks among the top three states in terms of economic contribution and is home to the country’s largest population.

He acquainted the delegation with UP’s rapid progress, stating that the state offers immense opportunities with improved security, law and order, and a strong investment environment.

At the Global Investors Summit 2023, investment proposals worth Rs 40 trillion were received, of which projects worth Rs 15 trillion have already witnessed ground-breaking ceremonies.

Further, proposals worth Rs 5 trillion are being prepared for the next round of implementation.

He added that members of the Chambers can play a significant role in bringing investment, technology and FDI to UP. Separate policies have been framed for FDI and Fortune 500 companies.

The CM said Uttar Pradesh also represents India’s rich heritage. The world’s largest cultural and spiritual gathering, the Maha Kumbh, was organised in the state last year, witnessing participation of over 660 million devotees. He also highlighted the state’s abundant water resources and fertile land.

He said that special focus has been given to infrastructure development in recent years.

Uttar Pradesh accounts for 55 per cent of the country’s expressway network, with significantly improved connectivity, including greenfield expressways.

The state has the largest rail network, metro services in the highest number of cities, a rapid rail system, and the country’s first operational waterway.

Yogi noted that UP currently has 11 domestic and four international airports in operation, with Asia’s largest airport at Jewar set to become operational soon.

He said UP is a land of opportunities, with projects such as a film city and apparel park in Noida, logistics hubs, and the state emerging as a new data centre hub. Four data centres are currently operational, with six more in the pipeline.

He further said Uttar Pradesh has witnessed more than eight-and-a-half years of stable law and order. Mentioning the upcoming AI City in Lucknow, he highlighted the state’s potential in advanced technologies.

The CM said Canadian entrepreneurs and others could contribute to the export of agricultural produce grown by farmers in UP.

He said the most important sites associated with Buddha and Jain Tirthankars are also located in Uttar Pradesh, offering vast potential for tourism development.

The Chamber can play a major role in promoting these destinations globally and informing visitors about the best times to visit. He noted air and road connectivity to all major pilgrimage sites in UP is excellent.

Meanwhile, Chawda said while Invest India–Invest Canada is organised every year in Canada, in 2026 it will be held three times, with two events focused on Uttar Pradesh.

He informed the Chief Minister that his team will work in UP across MSMEs, religious tourism and hospitality sectors.

He said during July–August and December–January, children of the Indian diaspora born in Canada will be brought to Uttar Pradesh to visit major religious sites. In addition, the Chambers plan to establish a 50-bed hospital and senior citizen homes in the state.

UP to build sports colleges at divisional headquarters

Reaffirming his strong commitment to the promotion of sports and sportspersons, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today announced the government will build sports colleges at every divisional headquarters.

This will be in addition to developing playgrounds in every gram panchayat, mini stadiums at the block level, and large stadiums at the district level.

He was addressing the award distribution ceremony of the MLA Sports Competition 2025 for the Gorakhpur City Assembly constituency.

Speaking at the Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College, the CM said the government is strengthening the sports infrastructure.

An international stadium is coming up near Beliapar in Gorakhpur, while the regional stadium of Gorakhpur is undergoing renovation at a cost of Rs 63 crore.

A state-of-the-art stadium is also being developed at Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College.

In Meerut, the academic session has already commenced at the sports university named after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, where world-class construction work is progressing rapidly.

Explaining the importance of sports, Yogi said when youth plays, the nation blossoms. He emphasised that success in life is possible only with a healthy body, which can be achieved through sports and yogic practices.

He said over the past 11 years, there has been a significant transformation in sports and sporting activities across the country.

The world now looks towards India in sports such as kabaddi, hockey, badminton, and athletics, the CM noted.

IIT Kanpur concludes phase-I placements for 2025-26

The Students’ Placement Office (SPO) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has successfully concluded Phase I of the campus placements for the 2025–26 graduating batch.

Continuing last year’s flexible approach, hiring was conducted in on-campus, virtual, and hybrid modes to maximize accessibility for recruiters and students.

This initial phase saw robust participation from over 250 organizations across diverse sectors, extending a total of 1,202 offers.

Students accepted 1,079 of these offers, which include Pre-Placement Offers. A notable highlight was 15 students securing international offers from companies based in Europe, Japan, Korea, and the United States.

The institute anticipates a further expansion of global opportunities in Phase II placements, which are scheduled to commence from mid-January 2026.

The phase featured leading domestic and international companies, including Accenture, Airbus, American Express, BlackRock, Boeing, Databricks, Deutsche Bank, ICICI Bank, Mastercard, Meesho, Navi, PwC, Qualcomm, Samsung, InMobi, and Square Point Capital, and many more.

Several Public Sector Undertakings, such as BPCL, BEL, MIDHANI, and EIL, also participated actively.

On the completion of Phase-I of the campus placements, Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “The successful conclusion of Phase-I placements reflects the academic rigor, adaptability, and industry-readiness of our students, as well as the institute’s strong and enduring engagement with leading organizations in India and abroad.

I commend the Students’ Placement Office for efficiently managing a flexible and inclusive placement process.

We remain committed to nurturing talent that is capable of contributing meaningfully to global and national growth, and we look forward to continued success in the upcoming phases.”

Prof Ashwani Kumar Thakur, Chairperson, SPO, IIT Kanpur, said, “We sincerely thank all participating recruiters for their continued support and confidence in the talent pool of IIT Kanpur.

Their partnership plays a vital role in shaping the careers of our students. As the placement season unfolds, the SPO remains dedicated to guiding students toward promising and enduring professional pathways.”

Prof Manjesh Kumar Singh, Vice-Chairperson, SPO, IIT Kanpur, added, “The advancements we see today are a result of the dedicated efforts of the entire SPO team and the constant support of our faculty.

Our recruiting partners continue to be instrumental in nurturing the ambitions of our students, and we are truly grateful for this sustained collaboration.”

Building on the success of Phase I, IIT Kanpur looks forward to an even more productive Phase II, which begins next month, to provide opportunities for the remaining students.

UP top gears defence projects of Rs 23,000 crore

To put Uttar Pradesh firmly on India's defence manufacturing map, the Yogi Adityanath government is speeding up defence and military-ware projects totalling Rs 23,000 crore.

These 110 projects pertain to different categories of defence hardware such as drones, arms, ammunition, missiles, propellant systems, parachutes, defence textiles etc.

The mega Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) spans six nodes viz. Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Agra and Chitrakoot.

The UPDIC is a critical part of the 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) themes to reduce the country's dependency on costly foreign defence imports.

So far, nodal agency UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority #UPEIDA has signed 197 memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with leading defence and aerospace companies for setting up production units in the UPDIC nodes.

The UP Defense Corridor will not only transform UP’s industrial landscape but also position India as a global defence manufacturing hub.

Major investors in the UPDIC include Adani Defence and Aerospace, BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tata Technologies, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) etc.

Lucknow-based BrahMos Aerospace is an Indo-Russia joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM to develop next generation supersonic missiles.

He said the UPDIC has been strategically aligned with major initiatives such as 'One District, One Product' (ODOP) and 'Make in UP'.

Interestingly, the Corridor is among the key projects of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who regularly monitors its progress to realise its full potential for industrial growth and job creation.

With the overarching objective of boosting India’s defence and aerospace self-reliance, about 62 UPDIC projects have so far been allotted 977 hectares of land.

These projects involve investments of almost Rs 12,000 crore. Together with additional 110 projects worth Rs 23,000 in the pipeline, the UPDIC has amassed investment proposals to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore with a job creation potential of over 52,000.

Meanwhile, UPEIDA has approved 2,100 hectares of land across the six nodes, while 1,600 hectares are currently available for allotment to industry.

Aligarh tops with the allotment of land to maximum 24 companies while Kanpur ranks first in total land allotment of 210 hectares allocated to five companies.

In Jhansi, 17 companies have been allotted 571 hectares; in Lucknow 16 companies have received 131 hectares of land. The allotment process will soon begin in Chitrakoot.