“The Uttar Pradesh government’s Digi Shakti Portal facilitates the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme, providing free laptops, tablets, and smartphones to over 1 crore students. The portal streamlines e-KYC verification and status tracking, ensuring seamless access to digital education tools for eligible students across higher education institutions.”
Digi Shakti Portal: Revolutionizing Student Empowerment in UP
Overview of the Scheme
Launched under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme, the Digi Shakti Portal (digishakti.up.gov.in) is a flagship initiative by the Uttar Pradesh government to distribute free digital devices—laptops, tablets, and smartphones—to students pursuing higher education. Initiated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the scheme aims to bridge the digital divide and enhance access to online education.
Eligibility Criteria
Students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate, medical, technical, diploma, skill development, or paramedical courses in Uttar Pradesh’s government or private institutions are eligible. The scheme targets students in the 2021-22 academic session and beyond, including those from other states studying in UP. However, students studying outside UP are not eligible.
e-KYC Verification Process
The portal integrates with the MeriPehchaan platform for Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification, mandatory for device distribution. Students access the portal, select their institution, enter their enrollment number, and verify details via OTP. If data mismatches occur, students must contact their institution’s nodal officer to correct records. No separate registration or login ID is required for students.
Device Distribution Mechanism
Institutions upload student data to the portal, which is verified by universities, approved by departments, and locked for distribution. Devices, supplied by OEMs like Samsung, Acer, and Lava, are mapped to students’ enrollment numbers using the DigiShakti Mapper app. Over 40 lakh students’ data has been uploaded, with distribution prioritized for final-year students.
Role of DigiShakti Apps
Two mobile apps complement the portal: DigiShakti Mapper, used by institutions for device mapping via IMEI and QR code scanning, and DigiShakti Adhyayan, pre-installed on devices to deliver academic and career-related content. These apps, developed by Omninet Technologies and maintained by UPDESCO, ensure efficient distribution and content delivery.
Impact on Digital Education
The scheme supports the Digital India initiative by providing free devices to over 1 crore students, enabling access to online courses and digital resources. It promotes digital literacy, enhances employability through IT skills, and fosters e-governance participation, particularly in rural areas.
Recent Developments
As of February 2025, institutions like Asian Law College, Noida, have distributed tablets to students. CMP Degree College announced distributions for May 22-23, 2025. The portal is under maintenance until January 8, 2026, to improve functionality. Students are advised to check official websites or contact institutions for updates.
Challenges and Solutions
Issues like “Data Not Found” or failed e-KYC verifications are common due to mismatches in Aadhaar or institutional records. Students are instructed to submit documents like mark sheets and Aadhaar to their colleges for corrections. Regular updates via SMS and institutional websites keep students informed.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information from official government portals, news reports, and reliable web sources. For the latest updates, visit digishakti.up.gov.in or contact your educational institution.