In Yogi's first decision as second term CM, free ration scheme extended

The programme was supposed to expire in March

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R In the first major decision of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, the state cabinet on Saturday decided to extend the free ration scheme initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic by three more months. The programme was supposed to expire in March. A total of 15 crore people are benefiting from the programme in the state, Adityanath said. The programme was an important narrative in the just-concluded assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Yogi Adityanath took oath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for a second time. Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak took oath as deputy chief ministers in the presence of a host of dignitaries at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Friday. Others who swore in on Friday are Suresh Kumar Khanna, Surya Pratap Shahi, Swatantra Dev Singh, Dharampal Singh, Jaiveer Singh and Baby Rani Maurya.

Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath in a ceremony also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national president J.P. Nadda. According to media reports, 85,000 people have attended the swearing-in programme.

Social workers, prominent leaders, writers, litterateurs, doctors, engineers and sages of religious monasteries and temples from across the state were invited for the ceremony. Prominent sages from across the country have also been invited. On Thursday, Adityanath was unanimously elected the BJP legislature party leader in Uttar Pradesh, after which he staked claim to form the government.