The World Youth Skills Day in Uttar Pradesh state was a grand success this time with more than 20,000 youths being presented with job offer letters during a grand series of the job fairs held across all 75 districts. All these events were included in the celebrations of July 12-16 for the Skill Week organized by Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The event not only empowered thousands of youths with job opportunities but also highlighted the state’s increasing inclination towards technological innovations, especially towards the application of artificial intelligence in skill development.

The curtain raiser to Skill Week was hosted with a state-level event held on July 15 and 16 in Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was the Chief Guest for the event, underlining the government’s intention to skill and place every youth. The Chief Minister also gave appointment letters to the shortlisted candidates and appreciated the work of the training centers and skill icons for their outstanding work for the cause.

Total of 20,997 youth received job offers through the week-long job fairs, as per official data released by the Information and Public Relations Department. The top districts among the 75 were Kaushambi with 2,001 placements. The top-performing districts also included Lucknow (1,240), Jalaun (732), Farrukhabad (644), and Jhansi (611). The unwavering efforts on the part of district-level skill mission teams, employers, and training centers were credited with ensuring that such large numbers were attained.

The celebrations also saw a series of motivational and educational programs lined up to mark the state’s achievement of developing the skills of the youth. A Skill Exhibition, showcasing some of the finest technical work done by talented youth, saw record footfalls and provided a chance to voice out the innovative thinking of the youth. A batch of youth, representing each district, who were selected to high-paying jobs, were bestowed with the honor at the event. On July 15, 11 of these high-performing children were given appointment letters by the Chief Minister and on July 16, 18 more chosen children from six districts, including Lucknow, were given appointment letters at the state headquarters.

The theme for this year’s World Youth Skills Day was “Utilization of Artificial Intelligence in Skill Development,” which was based on the state’s focus on incorporating latest technologies in training programs. Under the ambit of the function, there was a national-level panel discussion on the role of AI to revolutionize skill development programs. Tech companies, top experts, policymakers, and successful youth engaged in debates that discussed how AI can impact learning outcomes, take training to the doorstep of all, and make skilling strategies of the state congruent with the needs of future industry requirements.

The Skill Fair and Skill Olympics, organized simultaneously in Lucknow, had thousands of youth participating in different skill development courses on display. Students competed under different categories, highlighting their vocational and technical expertise in electronics and mechanical engineering all the way to fashion design and cooking. In addition to fostering a culture of healthy competition, such competitions also gave employers a chance to directly interact with bright talent.

Speaking to the youths during the valedictory function, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath once again reiterated the government’s vision of “Har Haath Ko Hunar, Har Hunar Ko Kaam” (Skill in Every Hand, Job for Every Skill). He reiterated that skill provide to the youth is one of the main planks of the state’s development agenda and reaffirmed his government’s determination to provide every youth from Uttar Pradesh a gainful employment based on their skill.

With unwavering emphasis on digitalisation, inclusive development, and industry partnerships, Uttar Pradesh is leading the nation in youth empowerment. The seamless conduct of Skill Week and the sheer number of youth, employers, and training organizations participating only affirm a new narrative—a one in which skilling is no longer a government endeavor but an adjudicated vision of prosperity.

As the state matures, artificial intelligence and other new-age technologies being applied in training modules will certainly continue to disrupt the skilling ecosystem. The vision articulated on this year’s World Youth Skills Day celebrations will ensure that Uttar Pradesh moves towards a future where every skill is verified, appreciated, and rewarded through opportunity.