Yogi Adityanath Opens Eastern UP’s First Tech CoE at Maharana Pratap Institute with TCS Foundation

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated eastern Uttar Pradesh’s first Centre of Excellence in emerging technologies at the Maharana Pratap Institute of Technology (MPIT), Gorakhpur, in collaboration with the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Foundation. The centre will focus on AI, cybersecurity, data science, drones, and 3D printing, aiming to boost skill development, research, and startup activity in the region.

The CoE has been built at a cost of approximately ₹50 crore. This investment underscores the state’s commitment to advancing skill development and emerging technologies in eastern Uttar Pradesh.  

• Location: Maharana Pratap Institute of Technology (MPIT), Gorakhpur
• Partnership: Developed with support from TCS Foundation
• Focus Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Drones, 3D Printing
• Objective: Strengthen technical education, foster industry-linked skills, and encourage startup ecosystems in eastern UP
• Dignitaries Present: Tata Sons Chairperson N. Chandrasekaran and TCS CEO K. Krithivasan

Significance	Impact
Skill Development	Training youth in cutting-edge technologies for global opportunities
Research & Innovation	Infrastructure for advanced research projects and industry collaboration
Startup Ecosystem	Support for entrepreneurial ventures in emerging tech fields
Regional Growth	Accelerates digital and industrial growth in eastern UP

Broader Context: Over the past nine years, Uttar Pradesh has positioned itself as not just an infrastructure state but also a manufacturing and innovation hub. CM Yogi emphasized that initiatives like this will empower students, farmers, and women by equipping them with digital skills.

Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has established multiple Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across different regions, focusing on emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and sector-specific innovation. The newly inaugurated Gorakhpur CoE is the first in eastern UP, but several others already exist in Lucknow, Noida, and other hubs.

• Regional Balance: Earlier, most CoEs were concentrated in Lucknow and Noida, but Gorakhpur’s inauguration signals a push toward equitable tech growth in eastern UP.
• Startup Ecosystem: CoEs provide incubation, mentorship, and funding opportunities for AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and clean-tech startups.
• Skill Development: They train students and professionals in cutting-edge technologies, preparing a workforce for global demand.
• Industry Collaboration: Partnerships with TCS, Tata Group, IIT Kanpur, and STPI ensure strong industry-academia linkages.
• Government Vision: Aligned with UP’s Digital India and Make in UP initiatives, these centres are part of the state’s ambition to become a manufacturing and innovation hub.

Location	Focus Area(s)	Partners/Support	Key Highlights
Lucknow (StartinUP, IT & Electronics Dept.)	AI, Blockchain, IoT, Robotics, Big Data, Clean-tech, Defense, Edu-tech, Agri-tech, Health-tech	Government of UP, StartinUP initiative	Designed to incubate 100 product-based startups; world-class infrastructure for R&D and entrepreneurship.
Noida (STPI & Industry Collaborations)	Electronics design, IT services, fintech, cybersecurity	STPI, private industry	Serves as a startup incubation hub for IT and electronics, with strong links to NCR’s tech ecosystem.
Greater Noida (Galgotias University)	AI, Data Science, Cloud Computing	Academic-industry partnerships	Focused on skill development and applied research in advanced computing.
Kanpur (IIT Kanpur CoEs)	Aerospace, Materials Science, AI, Cybersecurity	IIT Kanpur, Govt. of India	Includes National Centre for Flexible Electronics and AI & Cybersecurity labs.
Gorakhpur (MPIT)	AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Drones, 3D Printing	TCS Foundation, Tata Group	First CoE in Eastern UP, inaugurated by CM Yogi Adityanath in April 2026; aims to boost regional skill development and startups.

Eastern UP’s first CoE (Gorakhpur) complements existing hubs in Lucknow, Noida, and Kanpur, ensuring statewide coverage. Together, these centres form a networked innovation ecosystem that supports startups, research, and skill development across diverse domains.

850 Coins, 300 BCE–300 CE: Yogi Adityanath Releases India’s Ist Comprehensive Study of Ancient North Indian Coins

• India’s first comprehensive, illustrated study of early North Indian coinage
• The largest documented assemblage of indigenous coins spanning republics, tribes, and monarchies
• The book reflects the contemporary religious, cultural and geopolitical context that shaped these coins

‘Early North India and Its Coinage’, a book published in English and Hindi by the Hinduja Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the 110-year-old Hinduja Group was today unveiled by Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh in the presence of Shri Jaiveer Singh, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Mr. Prakash P. Hinduja, Trustee, Hinduja Foundation and Mr. Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Foundation and at a distinguished ceremony attended by scholars, historians and dignitaries from across the spectrum.

The publication documents coinage from the North Indian region dating from 300 BCE to 300 CE. This is India’s first comprehensive and illustrated study, featuring over 850 coins and representing the country’s largest documented assemblage of indigenous coinage from this period in North India. Authored by historian Devendra Handa, the book provides a detailed look at coins from different states, tribes, and kingdoms after the Mauryan period, covering regions such as Mathura, Kannauj, Panchal, Kaushambi of Ganga–Yamuna doab and other regions in the states of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Plans are afoot to showcase select coins from the collection for public viewing at the Lucknow Museum. The Hinduja Foundation’s numismatic collection today comprises over 34,000 historically significant coins, including around 7,000 from North India and nearly 4,200 from Uttar Pradesh alone. The core aim of the Hinduja Foundation’s book is to comprehensively present the vast wealth of India’s heritage through the collection of its ancient coins, which help students, collectors, and curious minds understand India’s glorious yet often forgotten heritage and history.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said,

Understanding and preserving history is a national responsibility, and I commend the Hinduja Foundation for this remarkable initiative. The book sheds light on the economic, cultural and political fabric of early North India and highlights the importance of preserving the region’s historical heritage for future generations. This book not only chronicles India’s heritage but also underscores the enduring contributions of our civilisation to world history, making it an invaluable resource.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Foundation, said,

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath ji, for unveiling this important volume, and supporting the plan for public display of these coins at the museum in Lucknow. The incursions of foreign influence throughout history across India had disrupted society and led to loss of precious artifacts and historical records and with that the loss of our heritage and cultural roots. With a 110- year legacy rooted in India, the Hinduja family has always seen itself as a custodian of the country’s cultural and civilisational heritage. Thus, through the Hinduja Foundation’s numismatic collection and the book, we are committed to preserving India’s legacy.

Mr. Raman Kalyanakrishnan, CEO, Hinduja Foundation, said,

This publication marks an important step in introducing a significant part of North India’s glorious heritage to the public. By showcasing these coins, we enable scholars, students and the wider public to engage with India’s early civilisations first-hand, while ensuring that this heritage is carried forward for future generations. The Hinduja Foundation is committed to preserving, promoting, and fostering the artistic and cultural heritage of India.

The book features an extraordinary variety of coin shapes, metals, and symbols, with images of gods, temples, and early depictions of deities such as Kārttikeya, Śiva, and Lakṣmī. Drawing on archaeological discoveries and relevant parts of the Hinduja Foundation’s collection, it explains how coins offer clues to trade, power, religion, and daily life, making the subject easy to understand and engaging for anyone interested in India’s early history.

The Hinduja Foundation played a pivotal role in enabling this publication by supporting research, providing access to its extensive collection, and funding the project, with the majority of the featured coins drawn from the Foundation’s collection. Building on the earlier work, this publication reinforces the Foundation’s continued commitment to preserving India’s heritage and promoting scholarship, reflecting the Hinduja Family’s enduring dedication to cultural knowledge across generations.

About Hinduja Foundation:

Since its inception in 1968, Hinduja Foundation, one of India’s oldest philanthropic organisations, has played a crucial role in creating a difference in the lives of the community. Guided by the principles and the vision of proactive philanthropy of the Founder, Shri Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, the Foundation’s purpose is to drive development in the areas of health, education, rural livelihood, promoting arts and multiculture understand and water stewardship. The Foundation’s programmes, achieved through direct implementation, partnerships and grant-making, are enabling a wider social impact across India making a difference to more than 7 million lives.

About Hinduja Group:

The Hinduja Group is one of India’s largest most diversified multinational conglomerates with a distinguished 111-year legacy of nation-building. Operating across automotive, information technology, media, entertainment, and communications, banking and financial services, infrastructure project development, cybersecurity, oil and specialty chemicals, power, real estate, trading, and healthcare in over 38 countries and employs 250,000+ people. Guided by values of integrity and transparency, the Group is committed to business excellence, sustainability leadership and creating meaningful social impact through extensive initiatives in education, healthcare, rural development and skill building.

UP Govt Reveals Plan for India's Largest Startup Incubation Hub in Lucknow

The state government in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh has finally revealed few details about it plan to develop the country’s largest startup in Lucknow. The Yogi Adityanath government in the state first announced about this in September last year.

The state has identified about 40 acres of land near Lucknow Airport, which is on outskirts of the city, for the proposed startup incubation ecosystem comprising data centre, business processes outsourcing (BPO), development centre, training centres etc.

The proposed incubator, which will be up and running in the next 3 years, is touted to be the largest in terms of the carpet area and bench strength.

In the first phase, the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), a central government agency, is likely to invest about Rs 200 million to develop the main complex of the startup hub spread over 2 acres.

UP additional chief secretary (IT & electronics) Sanjiv Saran told a business daily, "It would take 6 months to forge the necessary tie-ups with other stakeholders and partners on board."

For the startup hub, the state department would also tie-up with reputed UP based institutions, such as Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), Banaras Hindu University (BHU) etc as key knowledge partners.

Earlier in September last year, UP government had increased the budgetary allocation for startups from Rs 10 crore to Rs 1,000 crore (~ US$157 Mn) in association with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). About Rs 250 crore had already been allocated for startups in the state.

Besides, SIDBI had launched a financial technology incubator at IIM-L called ‘SIDBI Centre for Innovations in Financial Inclusion’ (SCI-FI), mandated to catering not just the IIM-L, but other institutions as well. SIDBI is keen to support similar incubators in other institutions too.

Earlier this year, Yogi Adityanath announced that the state government will link 60,000 villages of the state with the Start-up India programme.

In 2016, before Yogi Adityanath came to the power of the state, the then Uttar Pradesh government had already introduced Start-up Policy for entrepreneurs and startups in the state.

In last couple of years, the only major startup, which is based out of Uttar Pradesh, that received funding -- and in news -- was education startup EduGorilla which had raised funding in July 2017.

Source of the above news is Business Standard,

UP Govt Reveals Plan for India's Largest Startup Incubation Hub in Lucknow

The state government in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh has finally revealed few details about it plan to develop the country’s largest startup in Lucknow. The Yogi Adityanath government in the state first announced about this in September last year.

The state has identified about 40 acres of land near Lucknow Airport, which is on outskirts of the city, for the proposed startup incubation ecosystem comprising data centre, business processes outsourcing (BPO), development centre, training centres etc.

The proposed incubator, which will be up and running in the next 3 years, is touted to be the largest in terms of the carpet area and bench strength.

In the first phase, the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), a central government agency, is likely to invest about Rs 200 million to develop the main complex of the startup hub spread over 2 acres.

UP additional chief secretary (IT & electronics) Sanjiv Saran told a business daily, "It would take 6 months to forge the necessary tie-ups with other stakeholders and partners on board."

For the startup hub, the state department would also tie-up with reputed UP based institutions, such as Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), Banaras Hindu University (BHU) etc as key knowledge partners.

Earlier in September last year, UP government had increased the budgetary allocation for startups from Rs 10 crore to Rs 1,000 crore (~ US$157 Mn) in association with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). About Rs 250 crore had already been allocated for startups in the state.

Besides, SIDBI had launched a financial technology incubator at IIM-L called ‘SIDBI Centre for Innovations in Financial Inclusion’ (SCI-FI), mandated to catering not just the IIM-L, but other institutions as well. SIDBI is keen to support similar incubators in other institutions too.

Earlier this year, Yogi Adityanath announced that the state government will link 60,000 villages of the state with the Start-up India programme.

In 2016, before Yogi Adityanath came to the power of the state, the then Uttar Pradesh government had already introduced Start-up Policy for entrepreneurs and startups in the state.

In last couple of years, the only major startup, which is based out of Uttar Pradesh, that received funding -- and in news -- was education startup EduGorilla which had raised funding in July 2017.

Source of the above news is Business Standard,

UP Govt Signs MoU With Amazon To Enable Rural Artisans Directly Sell Khadi Products Online

To promote khadi and re-skill the state's artisans in modern designs and technologies, Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amazon India to facilitate online selling of Khadi products manufactured in the state across the country.

As part of an MoU, Amazon India will educate, train and enable rural khadi artisans to directly sell their products to Amazon.in customers across the country under the brand of 'UP Khadi'.

The online portfolio of 'UP Khadi' will include products such as khadi shirts, kurtas, dhotis, towels and gourmet food which has a tremendous potential and demand in urban areas.

Meanwhile, UP khadi & village industries principal secretary Navneet Sehgal noted the tie-up with Amazon offered a big platform to state khadi products and would benefit khadi manufacturing units and artisans.

“The MoU would fetch remunerative returns to these units and do away with middlemen,” he added. So far, 7 UP khadi organisations are onboard and 40 are in the pipeline.

Additionally, the state is also considering creating a comprehensive database/repository comprising a gamut of food and non-food products of the state. The government is seeking private investment in the khadi space, apart from ensuring that resources and infrastructure were optimally utilised.

The above development was first reported in Business Standard.

Through this partnership, Amazon India and Uttar Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board intend to empower and generate livelihood opportunities and income for the rural artisans and boost the economy of the Khadi and Village industry.

By bolstering digital connectivity of the artisans community, this collaboration will help them be a part of and benefit from India’s booming digital economy. With the option of selling products online, rural artisans will be able to expand their reach, fetch an appropriate price for their unique products, which in-turn will help raise their overall standard of living.

Recently, the state government has also massively hiked the fund allocation for startups in the state from Rs 5 crore to Rs 250 crore.

Last month, the state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the state government will link 60,000 villages of the state with the Start-up India programme.

UP Govt Signs MoU With Amazon To Enable Rural Artisans Directly Sell Khadi Products Online

To promote khadi and re-skill the state's artisans in modern designs and technologies, Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amazon India to facilitate online selling of Khadi products manufactured in the state across the country.

As part of an MoU, Amazon India will educate, train and enable rural khadi artisans to directly sell their products to Amazon.in customers across the country under the brand of 'UP Khadi'.

The online portfolio of 'UP Khadi' will include products such as khadi shirts, kurtas, dhotis, towels and gourmet food which has a tremendous potential and demand in urban areas.

Meanwhile, UP khadi & village industries principal secretary Navneet Sehgal noted the tie-up with Amazon offered a big platform to state khadi products and would benefit khadi manufacturing units and artisans.

“The MoU would fetch remunerative returns to these units and do away with middlemen,” he added. So far, 7 UP khadi organisations are onboard and 40 are in the pipeline.

Additionally, the state is also considering creating a comprehensive database/repository comprising a gamut of food and non-food products of the state. The government is seeking private investment in the khadi space, apart from ensuring that resources and infrastructure were optimally utilised.

The above development was first reported in Business Standard.

Through this partnership, Amazon India and Uttar Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board intend to empower and generate livelihood opportunities and income for the rural artisans and boost the economy of the Khadi and Village industry.

By bolstering digital connectivity of the artisans community, this collaboration will help them be a part of and benefit from India’s booming digital economy. With the option of selling products online, rural artisans will be able to expand their reach, fetch an appropriate price for their unique products, which in-turn will help raise their overall standard of living.

Recently, the state government has also massively hiked the fund allocation for startups in the state from Rs 5 crore to Rs 250 crore.

Last month, the state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the state government will link 60,000 villages of the state with the Start-up India programme.