UP Free Laptop Yojana: DigiShakti List, eKYC, Eligibility

📖What Is UP Free Laptop Yojana

The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as part of the Uttar Pradesh government's commitment to digital empowerment of youth. It targets students who are already enrolled in recognised universities, colleges, and institutions affiliated to UP state universities.

The primary beneficiaries are students pursuing graduation, postgraduation, diploma, ITI, skill development, technical education, medical, and nursing courses in government or government-aided colleges and universities in Uttar Pradesh. Students studying in Class 10 or Class 12 are not covered under this scheme; it is exclusively for higher education and vocational students.

The DigiShakti portal is the single digital platform for the entire scheme. It stores enrollment data uploaded by institutions, manages eKYC, and tracks device distribution.

Students, institutions, and administrators all interact with the scheme through this portal. Any query, status check, or enrollment issue is resolved through the DigiShakti interface.

Students should be wary of misinformation on social media and unofficial websites claiming registration is open or that a particular application form is needed. The UP government has consistently clarified that there is no separate student registration for the free tablet scheme.

📋More Details and Coverage

Device allocation is based solely on eKYC completion and enrollment verification. Gender, category, or family income play no role in determining who receives a device.

Students who receive the device are encouraged to use it for accessing DIKSHA, SWAYAM, and other national digital education portals in addition to their college coursework. The pre-loaded SIM data allows internet connectivity, particularly in areas where WiFi access may be limited.

Rural students from districts such as Sonbhadra, Chitrakoot, Shravasti, Baharaich, Balrampur, and other aspirational districts of Uttar Pradesh stand to benefit significantly. For these students, a free tablet with internet connectivity represents access to a range of digital services and educational opportunities that were previously unavailable.

✅Who Is Eligible

Students do not need to register on the DigiShakti portal themselves. The institution's nodal officer uploads the enrollment data of eligible students to the portal.

Once the data is uploaded, students only need to complete eKYC through the Meri Pehchaan link on the DigiShakti homepage. This is the sole action required from the student's side.

The eKYC step is mandatory and must be completed before a device can be assigned to a student. Without completed eKYC, the student's name will not appear in the device distribution list even if the enrollment data has been uploaded by the institution.

The Meri Pehchaan portal (meripehchaan.gov.in) is a national identity verification service linked to Aadhaar. When a student completes eKYC there, DigiShakti receives a confirmation and marks the student as verified.

For students who completed eKYC but whose name is still not appearing in the distribution list after several months, the best course of action is to approach the institution's nodal officer. They should confirm whether the enrollment data was correctly uploaded, as data upload errors are a common reason for names missing from the list.

📋UP Free Laptop Yojana (DigiShakti): Key Facts

🔑The eKYC Step Explained

This eKYC step can be completed from any smartphone or computer. It requires only an Aadhaar-linked mobile number to receive the OTP.

After eKYC is complete, the student's name will appear in the DigiShakti distribution list for their institution. The list is approved by the university or college, forwarded to the state government, and then devices are procured and dispatched in batches.

Device distribution happens in phases and not all eligible students receive devices at the same time. The government releases devices in batches based on budget, procurement timelines, and institutional readiness.

Students who completed eKYC early are generally included in earlier distribution batches. Completing eKYC promptly is the best way to secure a spot in an upcoming batch.

The IT and Electronics Department of UP manages the DigiShakti infrastructure. Any technical issues with the portal, eKYC errors, or device delivery complaints can also be routed through the Jansunwai grievance portal at jansunwai.up.nic.in.

📝How to Complete eKYC

Each distributed device comes with a SIM card and pre-loaded internet data, enabling students from rural and remote areas to access online educational resources, e-learning platforms, and digital study materials. The device is meant to bridge the digital divide for students from economically weaker families.

The devices distributed are mid-range Android tablets or smartphones from government-empanelled manufacturers. The specific model varies by procurement cycle.

Students do not get to choose the device model; the scheme distributes whichever model has been procured in the current batch. All distributed models come pre-loaded with educational content and a data-enabled SIM.

The total target for the scheme is over one crore students across Uttar Pradesh. Distribution has been ongoing in multiple phases since the scheme was launched and continues as institutions complete their enrollment data uploads and student eKYC verifications.

The scheme operates on public funds and is subject to annual budget allocations. The pace of distribution in any given year depends on the budget and the procurement process.

📦How Distribution Happens

Students who are enrolled in courses in both government-funded and private affiliated colleges can be covered under the scheme, provided the institution has uploaded their data to DigiShakti. Private unaided colleges without UP university affiliation are not covered.

The DigiShakti distribution list is organised by district and institution. Students should check the list by selecting their institution name and district on the portal.

The list is updated periodically as new batches are approved for distribution. Students whose names do not appear should recheck after the next list update before contacting the nodal officer.

A student who misses the device collection event at their institution due to illness or emergency should inform the nodal officer promptly. Most institutions allow rescheduling of device collection within a limited window.

The government has committed to covering all eligible students across multiple financial years. Students who miss a batch in one year remain eligible and will be included in subsequent batches.

🔎If Your Name Is Not on the List

The free device provided under this scheme belongs to the student and does not need to be returned. It is a one-time benefit per student.

Students who switch courses or institutions should ensure their updated enrollment data is reflected in DigiShakti through the new institution's nodal officer. Failing to update this may delay device allocation in the new institution's batch.

The scheme also benefits students from reserved categories including SC, ST, OBC, and Minority communities who form a large proportion of state university enrollment in Uttar Pradesh. No separate application or proof of category is needed; eligibility is based solely on enrollment in a covered course at a covered institution.

Students pursuing distance education or correspondence courses through IGNOU or similar universities that are not UP state-affiliated may not be covered under this scheme. The scheme is specifically for students enrolled through UP-affiliated universities and institutions.

Medical and nursing students at government medical colleges and nursing institutes affiliated to UPUMS or other state medical universities are also eligible for the scheme. These students should complete eKYC via the DigiShakti portal and coordinate with their institution's nodal officer.

📱What the Device Includes

The UP government also runs the DigiShakti portal to provide academic resources and digital content to students who have received devices. The portal's content section includes study materials, exam preparation resources, and access to government job-related information.

The scheme was designed in recognition of the rapid shift to digital learning, which became particularly important after the COVID-19 pandemic when many colleges moved to online teaching. Students without smartphones or tablets were excluded from this digital learning environment, and the scheme aimed to address that gap.

Parents of eligible students do not need to take any action. The scheme is institution-driven on the data upload side and student-driven only for the eKYC step.

No parent registration, income certificate, or caste certificate is required. The scheme's eligibility is based purely on course enrollment at a covered institution.

ITI and polytechnic students enrolled in government-run institutions under the Technical Education and Skill Development departments of UP are also covered. Trade apprentices and skill development trainees in government-affiliated training centres may also be included depending on institutional data uploads.

A student in a rural UP college who completes eKYC on digishakti.up.gov.in today is doing the only thing required to receive a free tablet with internet connectivity. There is no fee, no application form, and no income certificate needed. The institution handles the rest.

🎓Courses Covered and Graduated Students

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh periodically distributes devices to students in state-level ceremonies, where batches of students from various institutions receive their tablets or smartphones directly. Local-level distribution at individual institutions is more common for the remaining students in the batch.

Students who have already graduated or completed their course but did not receive a device during their enrollment period are generally not eligible to claim the device after completing their course. The benefit applies to currently enrolled students.

The scheme's full official name, Swami Vivekanand Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, reflects its alignment with the values of youth empowerment and access to knowledge. The name is often shortened to DigiShakti Yojana in common usage.

Several lakh devices have already been distributed in multiple rounds since the scheme began. The ongoing distribution continues as the state allocates funds and institutions keep their enrollment data updated on the DigiShakti portal.

The scheme covers both male and female students equally. There is no gender preference or priority in the distribution list.

📑DigiShakti UP: Quick Reference

📒What Else to Know

The UP Free Laptop Yojana, known officially as Swami Vivekanand Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana and implemented through DigiShakti, represents one of the largest state-level device distribution initiatives in India. Students who have not yet completed their eKYC should do so at the earliest to be included in upcoming distribution batches.

Students whose Aadhaar-linked mobile number has changed should first update their mobile number on Aadhaar through an Aadhaar Seva Kendra before attempting eKYC. The OTP required for Meri Pehchaan verification is sent only to the mobile number currently linked to the Aadhaar record.

The pre-loaded content on DigiShakti devices typically includes academic syllabi from UP state universities, NCERT resources, competitive exam preparation material, and government job notification alerts. Students preparing for UP Combined State or UP Police exams can use the device to access study resources they may not have otherwise.

📌Practical Tips and Process

Uttar Pradesh has one of the largest higher education student populations in India, with dozens of state universities and hundreds of affiliated colleges. The DigiShakti scheme, by targeting this population, has the potential to directly benefit millions of students from households that cannot afford digital devices.

Students who use the device for study and also access government scheme information, job portals, and digital banking through it are making the most productive use of the scheme's intent. The government encourages students to explore digital literacy tools and online learning beyond just academic coursework.

For updates on device distribution schedules, new eKYC cycles, and batch approvals, students should regularly check digishakti.up.gov.in and their college notice board. The nodal officer at each institution is the first point of contact for scheme-related queries.

❓Frequently Asked Questions