Lucknow, December 1: The Uttar Pradesh government is working to build a strong digital foundation for the state as part of the Vision 2047 roadmap. In line with this goal, a stakeholder consultation meeting was held on Monday in Lucknow, bringing together senior government officials, technology experts, and representatives from the private sector to discuss strategies for developing a technology-driven economy.
Speaking at the event, Anurag Yadav, Principal Secretary, IT & Electronics Department, said that UP will hold a crucial position in the making of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He added that the inputs received from this consultation would help the government refine its priorities as the state rapidly advances towards a digital governance model and a technology-led economy.
A major part of the discussion focused on digital agriculture and rural empowerment. Experts suggested creating an integrated digital ecosystem for farmers so that they can easily access market information, financial support, and real-time advisory services. Technology-enabled logistics and digital traceability systems, they noted, would minimize wastage across the agricultural supply chain and help increase farmers’ income. Strengthening rural digital infrastructure, improving internet availability, and promoting the use of modern agricultural technologies were also highlighted as essential steps.
Digital UP
The discussions also emphasised the importance of digital transformation in UP’s MSME sector, considered the backbone of the state’s economy. Participants recommended expanding digital tools, training programmes, and simple digital platforms to help small businesses adopt modern practices at a larger scale. A state-level market linkage platform was proposed to ensure that products manufactured in UP can access global markets with greater ease. Another important suggestion was the creation of a demand-forecasting system for industrial clusters, which would enable scientific and more accurate planning of production across sectors.On the infrastructure front, participants welcomed the recent investment proposals of nearly ₹500 crore in data centers, IT City, and digital infrastructure. They also highlighted the need to improve urban facilities and overall quality of life to attract global technology anchors to UP.
Talent nurturing and youth empowerment formed another major theme of the meeting. Participants recommended making digital education mandatory in all schools in the state. The government plans to expand skill development centers focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Strengthening IIT-BHU and various engineering institutions as hubs for deep-tech talent creation was also recommended.
Strengthening the startup ecosystem was identified as a priority area. Proposals included expanding market access for startup products, providing special provisions for innovative companies in government procurement, and promoting research laboratories to boost patenting and technology transfer. Representatives from IT companies, startups, and technology-driven industries praised the Yogi government’s technology-centric approach and said that UP is well-positioned to offer digital leadership in India’s development journey.
The broader concept of a “Digital UP” is based on three core strengths. The first is economic strength, which focuses on accelerating transformation across agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and other major sectors. The second is creative strength, which aims to expand physical and green infrastructure and support sustainable development in urban services, logistics, utilities, and clean energy. The third is the life force, centered on the people of UP. It aims to enhance quality of life through improved healthcare, education, skills, gender empowerment, and cultural resurgence.
During the consultation, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister, encouraged participants to share detailed suggestions that could help the government take more effective steps in IT, electronics, startups, and emerging technology sectors.
UP’s economic growth was also highlighted. The state’s GDP has grown from ₹14 lakh crore in 2017 to ₹30 lakh crore in 2025. The government has set a target of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2029 and a $6 trillion economy by 2047.
