The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Friday, 9 October 2026, cleared more than 39 proposals in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, approving measures ranging from free LPG cylinder refills for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries to the deployment of 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses across 18 cities and the launch of a new skill-training initiative named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The decisions collectively affect millions of households, daily commuters, and Anganwadi workers across the state.

Free LPG Cylinders for Ujjwala Beneficiaries

The Cabinet approved the continuation of a scheme that provides two free LPG cylinder refills annually — one each on Diwali and Holi — to eligible Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries for the financial year 2026-27. The state government will spend ₹2,142.78 crore on this initiative. The first free refill will be disbursed between October and December 2026, coinciding with Diwali, and the second between January and March 2027, coinciding with Holi.

Eligibility is restricted to Ujjwala beneficiaries whose bank accounts are Aadhaar-linked and who have completed Aadhaar authentication. This condition, officials indicated, is intended to prevent duplication and ensure direct benefit transfer. Notably, Uttar Pradesh runs one of the largest Ujjwala beneficiary pools in the country, making the financial and logistical scale of the scheme significant.

1,725 AC Electric Buses Across 18 UP Cities

The Yogi Adityanath government will facilitate the operation of 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses across 18 cities, including Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura-Vrindavan, Meerut, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Shahjahanpur, Saharanpur, Varanasi, and Noida (including Jewar).

All buses will be operated by private operators under a 12-year contract commencing from the date of commercial operations. The move aligns with India's broader push toward greener urban mobility and is expected to reduce both emissions and fuel import bills. This comes amid rising urban congestion in UP's tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where public transport infrastructure has historically lagged behind population growth.

Sardar Patel Skill Training and Employment Zone Scheme

The Cabinet also approved the launch of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Skill Training and Employment Zone (SVPSTPZ) development scheme, aimed at transforming Uttar Pradesh into what the government described as an 'ultimate sourcing hub for skilled manpower' and a 'global manpower hub.' The initiative envisages an integrated skill training and employment system across nine zones, covering all 75 districts of the state.

According to the government, the scheme is designed to align youth training with industry demand and link graduates to both domestic and international employment opportunities. With UP accounting for a significant share of India's young workforce, the scheme's scale — if executed — could have national labour market implications.

Renaming of Bhadohi District and Noida Airport

The Cabinet cleared a proposal to rename Bhadohi district to 'Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi', restoring a name that was dropped during the tenure of the previous Samajwadi Party government. The Yogi government framed the decision as preserving both the name of the revered saint and the district's historical identity.

Separately, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced at a post-Cabinet press conference that the Cabinet had passed a proposal to rename Noida International Airport as Narendra Modi International Airport. The airport, located near Jewar in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district, is currently under construction and is expected to serve the Delhi-NCR region.

More Sarees for Anganwadi Workers

In a welfare measure for grassroots health and nutrition workers, the Cabinet decided to increase the annual saree allocation for the state's Anganwadi workers and helpers from two to three per year. The enhanced benefit is set to reach 3,80,290 workers and helpers across Uttar Pradesh.

The decisions announced on Friday reflect a mix of welfare outreach, urban infrastructure investment, and symbolic political moves ahead of future electoral cycles in India's most populous state. Implementation timelines and budgetary allocations for the newer schemes are expected to be detailed in subsequent official orders.