The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Schemea new initiative aimed at encouraging higher education among women by providing free petrol-powered scooters to meritorious female students. The scheme is designed to improve mobility, reduce commuting challenges and promote greater participation of young women in colleges and universities across the state.
The government expects around 50,000 students to benefit from the scheme during its first phase.
Who Is Eligible For The Scheme?
The benefit will be available to meritorious undergraduate girl students studying in state universities, private universities, government colleges, aided colleges and self-financed institutions affiliated with state universities.
Eligible students will be selected from the top 5% of female graduates from each institution who completed their undergraduate studies during the 2025-26 academic session. The annual family income of beneficiaries must generally be below ₹12 lakh.
Special Provisions For Certain Students
The scheme includes special provisions for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students with disabilities, daughters of martyrs and girls from destitute families will be eligible even if they do not meet the standard merit criteria.
The government says these relaxations are intended to ensure that deserving students facing social or financial challenges also receive support to continue higher education.
More Than Just A Free Scooter
Apart from providing a petrol-powered scooter, the state government will bear the cost of vehicle registration and insurance. Beneficiaries will also receive a helmet, essential accessories and a small quantity of petrol to help them begin using the vehicle immediately.
Officials stated that petrol-powered scooters were chosen because fuel stations and servicing facilities are more widely available across Uttar Pradesh than charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Boosting Women’s Education And Independence
The government believes the scheme will improve access to higher education, particularly for students travelling from rural and semi-urban areas where public transport options are limited. Easier transportation is expected to reduce dropout rates, improve attendance and provide greater independence and safety for female students.
Officials also see the initiative as part of the state’s broader women empowerment strategy by encouraging more girls to pursue higher studies without transportation becoming a barrier.
Transparent Selection And Procurement
The scooters will be procured through a transparent selection process, while eligible students will be identified through institutional records and dedicated government portals. Authorities say the digital process is intended to ensure fairness and efficient implementation of the scheme.
The initiative was approved alongside several other proposals during the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Summary
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana to provide free petrol-powered scooters to around 50,000 meritorious college girls. The scheme covers registration, insurance, helmets and accessories, aiming to improve access to higher education, strengthen women’s mobility and encourage greater educational participation across the state.
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