Free tablets, smartphones scheme in UP launched; registration on Digi Shakti Portal

Free tablets and smartphones scheme has been launched by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for youths in the state.

Free tablets and smartphones scheme launched in UP. Check details. (Representative Image) (PTI)

Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, launched "free tablets and smartphone distribution scheme" on Saturday for one crore youths of the state. According to an official statement as quoted by ANI, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched free smartphone and tablet distribution scheme for one crore youth of the state on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna recipients former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya."

Free smartphones and tablets were distributed to 60,000 youth present in the rally in Lucknow where the announcement regarding the scheme was made. Launching the scheme, the Chief Minister said, "It is not just smartphones and tablets, we are also going to provide the facility of digital access for free. Content will also be available for free. By joining with the new education policy, we will be able to move India towards a superpower in the world."

The smartphones and tablets will be distributed in every district starting within a week, informed the CM Adityanath. As per the reports, more than 38 lakh students have registered themselves on the Digi Shakti Portal to date. The registration is going on and those who have not completed the registration process earlier can still do the same.

Students who are in the final year of MA, BA, BSc, ITI, MBBS, MD, Btech, Mtech, PhD, MSME and skill development etc. will get priority in the first phase. According to the official statement, an order of about ₹2,035 crore has been placed for mobiles and tablets in the first phase. Nearly 10.5 lakh smartphones have been ordered at the rate of ₹10,740 each while 7.20 lakh tablets have been ordered at the rate of ₹12,606.

Free tablets and smartphones scheme - Eligibility: It can be noted that the applicants must be a student and a resident of Uttar Pradesh. They must be studying in the final year of the undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Also, students must have secured 60 percent or above to be eligible to apply for the scheme. And, the annual income of the family should not be more than 2 lakh.