Campus Times | Lucknow

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the implementation of the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at improving mobility for women pursuing higher education. Under the scheme, around 50,000 meritorious female graduates from the academic session 2025–26 will receive free petrol powered scooters to support their educational and career aspirations.

The state government has allocated nearly Rs 400 crore for the programme, which also covers essential expenses such as vehicle registration, insurance, a helmet, and five litres of petrol, ensuring that beneficiaries receive a ready to use vehicle without additional financial burden.

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is exclusively available to female students who are permanent residents of Uttar Pradesh. To qualify, the annual family income of the applicant must not exceed Rs 12 lakh.

Eligible students must have completed the final year of their undergraduate programme during the 2025–26 academic session from any recognised institution in the state, including:

• State universities

• Private universities

• Government colleges affiliated with state universities

• Government-aided colleges

• Self-financed colleges

Merit based selection with special category benefits

The primary selection process will be based on academic merit, with the top 5 percent of undergraduate graduates chosen for the benefit.

However, the government has also extended the scheme to certain special categories, who will receive scooters without the merit criterion. These include:

• Differently abled female graduates

• Destitute (orphaned/unsupported) girls

• Daughters of martyrs

This provision aims to ensure equitable access to higher education and mobility support for students facing social or physical challenges.

Why petrol scooters instead of electric vehicles?

The state government has opted for petrol powered scooters after considering infrastructure limitations in several rural and remote regions, where charging facilities for electric vehicles remain limited.

Officials believe petrol scooters will offer greater convenience and uninterrupted mobility for students commuting to colleges, coaching centres, and workplaces across the state.

Over nine lakh final year students in focus

Uttar Pradesh has a vast higher education network comprising 36 state universities, 50 private universities, 465 government colleges, and 7,827 self-financed institutions.

According to official estimates, more than nine lakh female students are currently enrolled in the final year of undergraduate courses during the 2025–26 academic session, making the scheme one of the state largest student mobility initiatives.

Expected impact on women education

The government expects the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Scheme to reduce transportation barriers, particularly for students from rural and semi-urban areas. Improved access to reliable transport is expected to encourage higher education, increase attendance, and enable young women to prepare for competitive examinations and employment opportunities with greater ease.

The initiative is also seen as a step towards strengthening womens empowerment by enhancing their independence and improving access to educational and professional opportunities across Uttar Pradesh.