Uttar Pradesh Launches Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi Portals 2026

By Vikas Sir, Founder & Senior Faculty – Cosmo Classes | 16 July 2026

Uttar Pradesh launched two new digital platforms, Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi, on 15 July 2026 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, during the state-level celebration of World Youth Skills Day 2026. Both platforms were inaugurated by Kapil Dev Aggarwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to make skill training more transparent, paperless and accessible for the youth of the state.

Kaushal Setu is a portal of the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) designed for the online, paperless and transparent registration and empanelment of training partners. Kaushal Sarathi is a platform that offers district-wise information on training centres, courses and training partners, and uses a digital map so that youth can easily locate skill-training facilities in their own district.

During the event, UPSDM signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with KLK Private Limited and Winsome Textile Industries Limited for training and placement opportunities in robotics, artificial intelligence and textiles. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the programme and felicitated 11 skill-trained youth for their achievements in employment and entrepreneurship.

Background & Significance (Added by Cosmo Classes)

Skill development is central to India's demographic-dividend strategy, and Uttar Pradesh — the most populous state — has one of the largest pools of trainable youth. The Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) was set up to coordinate vocational training, certification and placement in the state, aligning with national frameworks such as the National Skill Development Mission (2015) and the Skill India programme. By digitising partner empanelment (Kaushal Setu) and making training centres discoverable on a map (Kaushal Sarathi), the state is trying to reduce middlemen, improve transparency and connect youth directly with industry-linked, job-oriented courses in emerging fields like AI and robotics.

Important Facts for Exams (Exam Facts)

• Launched on: 15 July 2026, at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow.
• Occasion: World Youth Skills Day 2026 (observed every year on 15 July).
• Kaushal Setu: UPSDM portal for online, paperless, transparent registration & empanelment of training partners.
• Kaushal Sarathi: Digital-map based platform giving district-wise info on training centres, courses & partners.
• Nodal agency: Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM).
• MoUs signed with: KLK Pvt Ltd & Winsome Textile Industries Ltd (robotics, AI, textiles).
• CM present: Yogi Adityanath felicitated 11 skill-trained youth.

Practice Questions (अभ्यास प्रश्न)

UPSC / RPSC Relevance

• UPSC Prelims: Government schemes, skill development, e-governance / digital portals.
• UPSC Mains – GS Paper II: Government policies & interventions for development in the social sector; skilling & employment.
• UPSC Mains – GS Paper III: Human resource, demographic dividend, employment generation.
• RPSC / UPPSC / SSC: Current affairs on state schemes and Important Days (World Youth Skills Day).

UPSC Mains Descriptive Question

Q. "Digital skilling platforms can bridge the gap between training and employment only if they address quality and industry linkage." In light of initiatives like Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi, examine how states can strengthen India's skill-development ecosystem. (250 words, 15 marks)

Category (Current Affairs): Government Schemes Current Affairs.

Source: GKToday current affairs (16 July 2026); compiled & expanded for educational purposes by Cosmo Classes.