UP govt to give free laptops to class X, XII pass out students

Lucknow, Jun 23: Uttar Pradesh government today decided to provide free laptops to meritorious students, who passed class X and XII examinations conducted by CBSE, ICSE and the state board.

It was decided that 39,600 meritorious students who passed class X and XII would be given free laptops, an official spokesperson said here. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav here.

Giving details of the decision the spokesperson said, 50 per cent laptops would be for each class X and XII pass outs and it would be distributed among students of different boards according to their results. The list of laptop recipients would have 20 per cent quota for minorities and 21 per cent for SC/CT students, he added.

The Samajwadi Party government had promised free laptops and tablet computers to intermediate and high-school pass outs in its 2012 Assembly election manifesto. While over 15 lakh laptops were distributed to intermediate pass outs, the scheme for distribution of tablets could not see light of the day. The laptop scheme was also discontinued after 2012.

PTI