By The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has cleared 23 proposals covering agriculture, transport, education, employment and public services. Among the key decisions are concessional long-term loans for small and marginal farmers, 20% horizontal reservation for former Agniveers in selected state government recruitments, and a new policy for setting up automated vehicle testing stations across the state.
The Cabinet also approved the revised proposal for the Chitrakoot Link Expressway, the Uttar Pradesh Toy Manufacturing Promotion Policy-2025 and a plan to turn primary schools under the Basic Education Council into smart schools. Other decisions include cashless healthcare for PRD volunteers and their dependants, changes to the tenancy fee structure and a new framework for automated vehicle fitness testing.
Farmers to Get Loans of Up to ₹6 Lakh at 6% Interest
Under the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, small and marginal farmers will be eligible for long-term loans at a concessional interest rate. The Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Village Development Bank will provide loans of up to ₹6 lakh at an annual interest rate of 6%.
The decision is aimed at improving access to institutional credit for farmers and reducing the financial burden associated with long-term borrowing.
Tenancy Registration Made Simpler
The Cabinet has also approved changes aimed at making tenancy and lease arrangements more affordable. The revised system will apply to rental agreements involving annual rent of up to ₹10 lakh and leases or tenancy deeds for periods of up to 10 years.
Stamp duty and registration charges will now be based on a simplified fixed-fee structure instead of the earlier system, under which charges were calculated with reference to the circle rate.
Stamp and Registration Minister Ravindra Jaiswal said the revised structure would reduce the financial burden on people renting or leasing houses, shops and warehouses.
Under the new arrangement, an annual rent of up to ₹2 lakh will attract a fee of ₹1,000. For annual rent of up to ₹6 lakh, the fee will be ₹3,000, while agreements involving annual rent of up to ₹10 lakh will carry a yearly fee of ₹4,500.
Ex-Agniveers to Get 20% Horizontal Reservation
One of the major employment-related decisions concerns former Agniveers. The Cabinet has approved 20% horizontal reservation for ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment for jail warders under the Prison Administration and Reforms Department and enforcement constables in the Transport Department.
Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said former Agniveers would receive the benefit within the social category to which they belong.
The government has also approved a special relaxation of up to three years in the maximum age limit for those who have completed four years of military service. Their four-year service period will also be taken into account while determining eligibility.
The move is expected to allow more former Agniveers to participate in recruitment for these posts. The government has also cited their military training, discipline and security-related experience as relevant to duties in prisons and transport enforcement.
New Policy for Automated Vehicle Testing Stations
The Cabinet has approved the State Policy-2026 for establishing Automated Testing Stations (ATS) in Uttar Pradesh. Under the proposed system, vehicle fitness tests will be conducted through automated equipment rather than relying primarily on manual inspection.
Transport Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dayashankar Singh said up to three ATS centres could be established in each district. Each centre will have the capacity to test up to 24,000 vehicles.
The government has also relaxed some of the earlier requirements for setting up these centres. The minimum land requirement has been reduced from 2.5 acres to one acre, while the earlier requirement of a minimum net worth of ₹6 crore has been removed. Operators will also receive a six-month relaxation period to facilitate the smooth commencement of operations.
Policy Updated in Line With Central Rules
The revised state policy incorporates subsequent central notifications and guidelines issued under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. These include directions issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in September 2021, October 2022, March 2024 and May 2024 concerning the regulation and functioning of Automated Testing Stations.
The earlier state policy, issued on August 2, 2023, has been replaced with the updated framework. The new policy will come into force from the date it is notified and, according to the government, will not create any additional financial burden for the state.
ATS Expansion Could Open Door to Private Investment
The new framework is expected to make it easier to establish automated testing facilities across districts and encourage greater participation from the private sector.
The government expects the expansion of ATS centres to generate both technical and non-technical employment. Automated fitness testing is also intended to make the inspection process more transparent by reducing human intervention.
The broader objective is to ensure that vehicles operating on Uttar Pradesh roads meet prescribed fitness standards, with the government linking the system to improved road safety and better enforcement.
Alongside these decisions, the Cabinet also approved the revised Chitrakoot Link Expressway project, the Uttar Pradesh Toy Manufacturing Promotion Policy-2025 and the development of Basic Education Council primary schools as smart schools. PRD volunteers and their dependants will also be covered under a cashless medical treatment facility.
The 23 decisions together span infrastructure, agriculture, recruitment, education, transport and public welfare, with several of the measures aimed at changing existing administrative and service-delivery systems in the state.
