Lucknow: More than 70,000 young people applied for Uttar Pradesh’s free O-Level and CCC computer training programme for the financial year 2026-27, while 31,602 candidates have been selected for training under the state government initiative aimed at improving digital skills and employment opportunities among economically weaker sections of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The scheme, being implemented by the Backward Classes Welfare Department, provides free computer education to eligible OBC youth who meet the prescribed educational and income criteria. The government has allocated ₹40 crore for the programme during the current financial year.
Training for the 2026-27 session began on August 11 through institutions recognised by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT).
24,240 selected for O-Level training
Of the 31,602 trainees participating in the programme, 24,240 are enrolled in O-Level courses, while 7,362 candidates are undergoing CCC training.
The large number of applications reflects the growing demand for affordable digital education among young people seeking employment in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The programme is targeted at economically weaker OBC candidates who have completed Intermediate or a higher level of education. Applicants are also required to meet the prescribed family-income criterion, with annual parental income capped at ₹1 lakh or below.
Training available through 338 institutions
The state has established a network of 338 NIELIT-recognised training institutions to implement the programme.
Of these, 63 institutions offer only O-Level training, 39 conduct CCC courses, and 236 offer both programmes. The network is intended to make computer training accessible to young people in districts, towns and rural areas without requiring them to travel long distances.
Under the scheme, the government provides financial support of up to ₹15,000 per student for O-Level training and ₹3,500 for CCC training, reducing the financial burden on beneficiaries and their families.
Focus on digital skills and employment
The initiative is designed to equip young people with practical computer knowledge and help them adapt to the changing requirements of the job market. By taking digital education beyond major cities and into smaller towns and rural areas, the programme is also aimed at narrowing the digital skills gap.
Officials say that computer proficiency has become an important requirement across sectors, making programmes such as O-Level and CCC training particularly relevant for young people looking for employment, pursuing further education or seeking to become self-employed.
Government stresses youth empowerment
Backward Classes Welfare Director Umesh Pratap Singh said that more than 31,000 candidates are receiving training under the programme this year.
He said the government’s objective is to provide young people with digital knowledge and employment-oriented skills so that they can become more self-reliant. The network of 338 training institutions, he added, has been developed to ensure that a larger number of beneficiaries can access training in or near their local areas.
With 31,602 beneficiaries currently undergoing training against more than 70,000 applications, the scheme has emerged as a significant state-backed effort to expand access to digital education among economically disadvantaged OBC youth in Uttar Pradesh.
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