Lucknow | The Yogi Adityanath-led government added another significant achievement to its record as the Uttar Pradesh Police was honoured with the prestigious SKOCH Award 2025 (Gold Category) at the 105th SKOCH Summit held in New Delhi. The award was conferred for the innovative initiatives of the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) established for Mahakumbh-25 and the UP Police Social Media Centre’s Meta Suicidal Alert system.
The theme of this year’s SKOCH Summit was “Governing Viksit Bharat”. The SKOCH Awards are presented annually to recognise excellence in governance, public service delivery, and the use of technology for social impact.
During the 105th SKOCH Summit, the award was presented to Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna. On his behalf, the award for ICCC Mahakumbh-25 was received by its then in-charge, IPS officer Amit Kumar, while the award for the Meta Suicidal Alert initiative was received by Rahul Srivastava, Public Relations Officer to the DGP, along with Satya Yadav, Director Outreach, South Asia, Meta (Facebook).
With this recognition, UP Police has achieved a unique distinction by becoming the world’s first police agency to use social media platforms innovatively to save human lives. Notably, UP Police also emerged as the only police force in the country to be honoured in two different categories of the SKOCH Awards, highlighting the impact of smart policing and technology-driven governance under the Yogi government.
DGP Rajeev Krishna said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has consistently provided clear direction and resources for building a technology-enabled, sensitive, and citizen-centric police force. In line with the Chief Minister’s vision, the UP Police has prioritised the use of modern technology and artificial intelligence in policing. Receiving the SKOCH Award 2025, he said, is a strong national-level recognition of UP Police’s technological innovations, excellence in public service, and effective efforts in safeguarding lives.
ICCC Mahakumbh-25: A Technology-Driven Nerve Centre
Keeping in mind the safety, convenience, and smooth movement of millions of devotees during Mahakumbh-25, the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) was developed as a central nerve hub. Equipped with artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies, the ICCC played a crucial role in crowd management, disaster response, emergency services, and inter-agency coordination.
Key contributions of ICCC during Mahakumbh-25 included:
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AI-driven systems for crowd estimation, individual safety, and traffic management
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24×7 surveillance, situation rooms, emergency monitoring, and rapid decision-making through the ICCC
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Digital governance tools such as chatbots, mass messaging, and app-based support for devotees
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Enhanced coordination among police, administration, health services, fire services, and disaster management agencies
Meta Suicidal Alert: Saving Lives Through Social Media
The Meta Suicidal Alert initiative was developed by the UP Police Social Media Centre in collaboration with Meta. Under this system, if suicidal content is posted on platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, Meta immediately alerts the UP Police headquarters via email and phone calls.
A dedicated 24×7 desk at police headquarters, integrated with the UP STF server, quickly traces the individual’s location and informs the concerned district. Local police then contact the individual and their family to provide timely assistance, rescue, and counselling.
Between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025, a total of 1,802 alerts were received from Meta, leading to the successful rescue of 1,805 individuals, including 1,389 men and 416 women.
Age-wise breakup of rescued individuals:
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13–18 years: 623
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19–25 years: 905
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26–35 years: 190
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Above 35 years: 87
New Counselling Initiative
While timely police intervention saves lives, preventing recurrence of suicidal thoughts requires sustained support. In a new initiative, the DGP has directed that all suicide attempt cases be linked with Mission Shakti Centres and 1090 tele-counsellors at the district level to ensure continuous and effective counselling of victims.
The SKOCH Award 2025 stands as a testament to the Yogi government’s commitment to smart policing, technological innovation, and public welfare, reinforcing Uttar Pradesh Police’s growing reputation at the national and global level.
