CM Yogi Orders UP Jails Turned Into Rehab, Skill Centres
Synopsis
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 25 May 2026 reviewed Uttar Pradesh's Prison Department in Lucknow and ordered all state jails to be upgraded as centres of reform, rehabilitation, skill development, healthcare and modern technology — moving decisively beyond the custodial model.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath chaired a review of the UP Prison Department in Lucknow on 25 May 2026 .
He directed that all jails in Uttar Pradesh be developed as centres of reform, rehabilitation and skill development — not merely custody.
Five priority areas were identified: security, sanitation, healthcare, technological strengthening and inmate rehabilitation systems.
The directives align with the 2023 Model Prisons Act circulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs , which replaced 1894 -era legislation.
The UP Prison Department is the primary implementing body and will be responsible for upgrades across all state correctional facilities.
Budget allocations and follow-up orders are awaited to operationalise the directives announced at the review meeting.
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh announced on Monday, 25 May 2026, that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a comprehensive review of the state's Prison Department in Lucknow, directing that jails be transformed from purely custodial facilities into active centres of reform, rehabilitation and skill development.
Addressing the review meeting, CM Yogi said that prisons should not be seen merely as places of confinement. In his words (translated from Hindi): 'Jelon ko kewal bandi rakhne ka sthan nahin' — 'Jails must not remain only places to hold prisoners, but must be developed as effective centres for reform, rehabilitation and skill development.'
Context
CM Yogi issued a set of directives covering five priority areas across all jails in Uttar Pradesh: security, sanitation, healthcare services, technological strengthening, and inmate rehabilitation systems. He called for each of these pillars to be upgraded in a coordinated manner. The Chief Minister also stressed that modern technology and reformative activities should give correctional facilities a new identity.
Policy Backdrop
The review aligns with a national policy shift that has been building for several years. In 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs circulated a new Model Prisons Act to states, replacing legislation that dated back to 1894, with an explicit focus on rehabilitation, vocational training and modern prison management. Uttar Pradesh's latest directives track closely with the reformative-justice principles embedded in that model law and in the new criminal procedure codes.
The move also fits a broader national trend in which several states have rolled out vocational and skill-training programmes inside correctional facilities, with the stated goals of reducing recidivism and easing chronic prison overcrowding. UP, as the country's most populous state with one of the largest prison populations, carries particular weight in this national conversation.
Stakeholders and Impact
The directives most directly affect the tens of thousands of inmates housed across Uttar Pradesh's correctional facilities, as well as the prison staff responsible for implementing the upgraded systems. Improved healthcare and sanitation standards would benefit both populations, while skill-development programmes are specifically aimed at equipping inmates for reintegration into society after release.
The UP Prison Department, the state agency overseeing all correctional facilities, will be the primary implementing body. The department is responsible for custody, security and inmate welfare, and the new directives substantially expand its mandate toward active rehabilitation programming.
What's Next
Observers will watch for follow-up orders from the state government detailing budget allocations for prison modernisation and the specific technologies to be deployed. Periodic progress reports from the UP Prison Department on security upgrades, sanitation improvements and rehabilitation outcomes will be the key markers of whether the 25 May 2026 directives translate into measurable change on the ground. The broader test will be whether Uttar Pradesh can establish a replicable correctional model that other large states might adopt.
Point of View
Suggesting the state is positioning itself as an early mover on national prison reform. Politically, it allows the administration to demonstrate governance depth beyond policing and anti-crime drives, appealing to a broader reform-oriented narrative ahead of future electoral cycles. The real test, however, lies in implementation: whether budget commitments and departmental accountability mechanisms follow the rhetoric.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Yogi Adityanath say about UP jails?
CM Yogi Adityanath said that jails in Uttar Pradesh should not be seen merely as places of confinement, but should be developed as effective centres of reform, rehabilitation and skill development. He made these remarks during a review of the UP Prison Department in Lucknow on 25 May 2026.
What changes are planned for Uttar Pradesh prisons in 2026?
CM Yogi directed improvements across five areas in all UP jails: security, sanitation, healthcare services, technological strengthening and inmate rehabilitation systems. He also called for modern technology and reformative activities to give correctional facilities a new identity.
What is the Model Prisons Act 2023?
The Model Prisons Act 2023 is a framework circulated by India's Ministry of Home Affairs to states, replacing the colonial-era Prisons Act of 1894. It prioritises rehabilitation, vocational training and modern prison management over a purely custodial approach.
How many jails does Uttar Pradesh have?
The exact current number of functional correctional facilities in Uttar Pradesh was not specified in the 25 May 2026 review announcement. The UP Prison Department oversees all state jails, which collectively house one of the largest inmate populations in India given UP's status as the country's most populous state.
What is the UP Prison Department?
The Uttar Pradesh Prison Department is the state government agency responsible for managing all correctional facilities in UP, covering inmate custody, security, staff administration and welfare programmes. It is the primary body tasked with implementing CM Yogi's latest reform directives.
