UP to offer marketing assistance for service exports

Uttar Pradesh has become India's first state to offer marketing development assistance for service exports under the UP Export Promotion Policy 2025–30.

It is a major step to accelerate the growth of service sector exports from the landlocked state.

The scheme will provide financial support to help service exporters expand their footprint in international markets.

This will enhance the global competitiveness of service exporters from UP< strengthen their marketing capabilities, and improve service quality in line with international standards.

By promoting service exports, the scheme will strengthen the state’s export-oriented economy while generating new employment and investment opportunities.

The scheme will benefit service exporters registered with the UP Export Promotion Bureau (UPEPB) and the UP Export Promotion Council, who are engaged in exporting services under the 12 champion service sectors identified by the Government of India and are promoting services originating from Uttar Pradesh in global markets.

Under the policy, service exporters will be eligible for financial assistance of up to 75 percent, subject to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh, towards stall rental expenses for participation in international trade fairs, exhibitions, and buyer-seller meets held abroad.

Additionally, assistance of up to 75 percent, capped at Rs 1 lakh, will be provided towards economy class air travel for one participant.

For participation in international trade fairs held within the country, assistance of up to Rs 50,000 for stall rental and up to Rs 25,000 for travel expenses will be available.

Organising agencies conducting international trade fairs, exhibitions, and buyer-seller meets abroad will be eligible for financial assistance covering up to 75 percent of the total expenditure, with a maximum limit of Rs 1 crore.

For similar international events held within the country, assistance of up to Rs 75 lakh will be provided. Participation by a minimum of 20 service-exporting units will be mandatory in this category.

In recent years, UP service sector has recorded strong growth in exports and currently contributes nearly 45 percent to the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), underscoring its vital role in achieving the state’s target of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

High-potential sectors include IT-ITES, fintech, tourism, health and wellness, logistics, transportation, supply chain services, and media and audiovisual services.

The entire application process under the scheme will be conducted online.

Exporting units must submit their applications within 120 days from the conclusion of the fair or event. Eligible claims will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with the approved assistance amount transferred directly to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

UP agri policy boosting rural economy

Uttar Pradesh has developed a robust and integrated agricultural value chain from seed to #market to enhance farmers’ income.

Over the past eight and a half years, major decisions have been taken to ensure that farmers have seamless access from cultivation to market.

As a result, a modern, farmer-centric model has taken shape in the landlocked state.

UP Chief Minister #YogiAdityanath has placed special emphasis on ensuring that farmers keep pace with the digital era.

Due to sustained UP government efforts, the state’s agricultural growth rate has risen from 8.6% in 2016–17 to 17.7% in 2024–25.

#UttarPradesh now ranks first in the country, producing 40 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually.

The Yogi government is not only focused on crop cultivation, but consistently introducing new income-generating opportunities for farmers.

Farmers are receiving free soil health cards through a mobile app, providing complete information about their land’s condition.

A major milestone has been the government’s regular revision of the Minimum Support Price #MSP

This year, the MSP for common #paddy has been fixed at ₹2,369 per quintal and for Grade A paddy at ₹2,389 per quintal, an increase of ₹69 from last year.

The price for early variety sugarcane has been raised to ₹400 per quintal, and for the normal variety to ₹390 per quintal. This has provided a significant boost to farm incomes.

UP AGREES Project has been launched to help farmers increase productivity, adopt modern agricultural methods, and create new sources of agriculture-based employment in rural areas.

Under the Chief Minister’s Krishi Samriddhi Yojana, farmers are being provided loans at affordable interest rates.

The scope of the Kisan Credit Card #KCC scheme has also been expanded, with a target of issuing 25 lakh new KCCs this year. Additionally, a 50% subsidy is being offered on tractors, harvesters, drones, and crop-residue management equipment.

The UP government is providing #farmers with free daily information on market prices and weather conditions.

More than 14.5 million Farmer Card IDs have been issued so far. Seedling production through women’s self-help groups is creating employment for nearly 60,000 women.

A Seed Park is also being developed in Lucknow at a cost of ₹251 crore, in honor of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

The establishment of over 4,000 active procurement centers across the state is a transformative achievement of the Yogi government.

Notably, 35–40% of these centers were established in blocks where farmers had lacked permanent procurement facilities for decades.

Now, with procurement centers located closer to villages, farmers benefit from reduced transportation costs, quicker sales, and protection from market price fluctuations.

UP creates landbank of 800 acres in Gorakhpur

Making a pitch for industrial development in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, the state government has created a robust landbank of more than 800 acres in Gorakhpur.

The landbank has been amassed by the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA), which has been gaining traction ever since #YogiAdityanath became the chief minister of UP in March 2017.

Gorakhpur is the traditional turf of Yogi Adityanath, since he is the chief of the much reverred Hindu monastic order of Gorakshnath Peeth, which has tens of millions of ardent followers across India.

In the last eight years, the GIDA has logged nearly 500 investments of more than Rs 11,600 crore across different sectors including food processing, beverages, dairy, industrial products, manufacturing etc.

The prominent investors include PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Ankur Udyog, Kyan Industries, India Auto Wheels, SD International, Tatva Plastics, Kapila Agro Industries, CP Milk and Foods etc.

The Reliance Group is also setting up a Campa unit in Dhuriyapar, Gorakhpur even as Plastic Park and Flatted Factory projects are also proposed in the region.

Recently, Yogi inaugurated and laid the foundation of 114 new development projects worth Rs 408 crore across sectors in GIDA.

The Authority also hosted a three-day UP State Trade Show to mark the occasion.

Between 1989 and 1998, industrial activity declined sharply in the GIDA jurisdiction, and Gorakhpur’s mega fertiliser plant was also shut down.

UP to form welfare board for nomadic tribes

Virendra Singh Rawat

For the composite development of the nomadic tribes, the Uttar Pradesh government will constitute a dedicate welfare board for the community.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced this decision at the Vimukt Jati Diwas celebration yesterday.

“Communities like Nat, Banjara, Bawariya, Sasi, Kanjad, Kalbeliya, Sapera and Jogi are brave tribes who fought as warriors during foreign invasions.” Yogi said.

He noted these tribes fought with indomitable courage against the Mughals and the British.

The CM said in 1871 the British enforced the Criminal Tribes Act and declared these communities as criminals by birth.

Even after independence, this stigma continued until 1952. With the efforts of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, on August 31, 1952, these communities were freed from this social tag.

inding pasture for livestock or traditional occupations.

However, a majority of such tribes are known to have settled at specific places and joined the mainstream of society.

“The Vimukt Jati Diwas reminds us of that historic moment when these communities understood the true meaning of freedom. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the last 11 years the central and state governments have been working with full sincerity for the welfare of Vimukt Jati and nomadic tribes," Yogi added.

He said several schemes have been implemented in the fields of education and housing for these tribes.

Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Schools are being operated in nine districts, and two residential Ashram-style schools have been started, while 101 residential schools are already running.

The UP government is providing facilities ranging from accommodation and food to uniforms for students there.

Apart from this, in 264 government hostels for Scheduled Castes, special facilities are being provided for children of Vimukt Jatis.

Citing the example of the Vantangiya community, the CM said his government gave them the status of revenue villages and the right to vote and also built houses, schools, and hospitals for them.

Similarly, schemes have been implemented for Musahar, Kol, Tharu, Gaur, Chero and Sahariya communities, while communities like Kumhar, Nishad and Rajbhar have also benefited from government schemes.

He said Vimukt Jati and nomadic tribes will also be given land leases and voting rights.

The CM said the youth from nomadic tribes have been selected in police recruitment, which is proof that the UP government is providing equal opportunities to all sections without discrimination.

Yogi targets poverty-free UP by 2027

Virendra Singh Rawat

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has set the target of making the state poverty-free by 2027.

In 10 months alone, the state government has identified 1.332 million of UP’s poorest families under the Zero Poverty Campaign.

Of these, more than 372,000 families are already receiving multi-dimensional benefits, underscoring the Yogi government’s commitment to uplifting the underprivileged.

Yogi first announced the campaign in his Independence Day address on August 15, 2024, and officially launched it on October 2, 2024.

The mission aims to ensure that no family is left deprived of basic needs or social security, with a target to identify at least 25 ultra-poor families in every Gram Panchayat.

Each family is being linked to housing, employment, healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities to secure long-term transformation under the drive.

As of August 2025, Azamgarh leads with 42,082 families identified, followed by Jaunpur (39,374), Sitapur (36,571), Hardoi (30,050), and Prayagraj (28,935).

Special drives with panchayats and voluntary organisations are accelerating outreach in these districts.

Yogi has emphasised that the campaign goes beyond financial aid, and seeks to eliminate poverty entirely by 2027.

Identified families are being integrated with flagship schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and MGNREGA, alongside support for education and women’s empowerment through self-help groups.

With data-driven tracking, close monitoring and grassroots transparency, the Zero Poverty Campaign is fast emerging as a transformative mission to make UP poverty-free, with active participation from society at large, an official said.

Yogi 2.0 to showcase ‘Made in UP’

Virendra Singh Rawat

Amid the tariff conundrum, the Uttar Pradesh government is bracing up to showcase ‘Made in UP’ and ‘Swadeshi’ themes at the forthcoming UP International Trade Show (UPITS).

The 5-day extravaganza will be hosted during September 25-26 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida with the overarching aim of giving the UP MSMEs a global marketing platform.

The UPITS has established itself as a powerful platform to showcase the state’s strength on the global trade map.

The success of the 2023 and 2024 editions has demonstrated that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, UP is making a mark not only in the domestic market but also in international trade, a senior official said.

The third edition is expected to be even larger, with higher participation, greater investment opportunities, and record-breaking export prospects, he added.

Launched as a pilot project, the UPITS made an impressive debut in 2023 with over 2,000 exhibitors, 350 foreign buyers from 60 countries, nearly 300,000 visitors, and business volumes crossing Rs 1,000 crore.

The second edition in 2024 raised the bar further. With Vietnam as the partner country, UPITS hosted 2,122 exhibitors, 350 foreign buyers from 70 countries, and around half-million visitors.

Export orders worth more than Rs 2,200 crore were secured through B2B and B2C interactions, alongside direct exhibition sales exceeding Rs 40 crore.

 Notably, the top 20 entrepreneurs from districts including Meerut, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Mathura, and Greater Noida alone bagged export orders worth over Rs 630 crore.

Beyond trade figures, UPITS has also given global recognition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ initiatives.

The Yogi government’s policies on ODOP (One District One Product), startups, MSMEs, employment and export promotion have infused fresh momentum into the event.

Special strategies are being crafted for UPITS 2025, where along with traditional products, high-tech sectors are also expected to attract significant investment and export opportunities.

With its growing global footprint, the trade show is poised to further cement UP’s position as a leading hub for international business.