In an important decision the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday decided to hike the state advisory price (SAP) of sugarcane by Rs 20 per quintal for all varieties of cane for the crushing season 2023-24. The decision was taken during the meeting of the state cabinet held at Lok Bhawan which was chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during which total 8 proposals were passed. Giving detail of the proposal passed by the cabinet, Minister of Sugar Industry and Sugarcane Development Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan said that for the sugarcane purchased by all sugar mills in the state (cooperative sector, corporation, and private sector) for the crushing season 2023–24, the State Advised Price (SAP) has been decided. He said that the SAP for early maturing varieties of sugarcane has been increased from Rs 350 per quintal to Rs 370, for common varieties from Rs 340 per quintal to Rs 360, and for unapproved varieties, the sugarcane price has been increased from Rs. 335 per quintal to Rs 355.
It may be noted that the state government last hiked the cane price by Rs 25 per quintal just before the 2022 assembly elections. The cabinet also approved the much-awaited Semiconductor Policy 2024. In addition, approval was also given for three new universities in the state. A proposal to change the name of Mundera Nagar Panchayat in Gorakhpur to Chauri Chaura was also approved by the cabinet’s approval. During the meeting approval was also granted for three new private universities in the state. Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said that the proposals for setting up of JSS University in Noida, Saroj University in Lucknow and Sharda University in Agra under the private sector have been approved. He said that there has been significant improvement in the quality of higher education under the Yogi government. He said that currently, the state boasts five government and five private universities in the A++ ranking. In addition, there are three universities with A+ ranking. There are further a large number of A-ranking universities in the state. Before the Yogi government, the state had only three universities in the B+ ranking. Upadhyaya said that the role of private universities will prove crucial in making the state a one trillion-dollar economy. “This move is expected to contribute to both the quantity and quality of education in the state,” he said.
The cabinet also gave approval to Semiconductor Policy 2024. In India, this industry is still in its early stages. So far, only Gujarat, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu have formulated policies on it. UP is the fourth state to adopt the Semiconductor Policy 2024, which experts consider to be the best policy. This approval is expected to attract significant investments in the state on a large scale. The policy aims to make UP a leader in the semiconductor manufacturing sector. The Minister said that industrial groups investing in setting up semiconductor manufacturing units will receive a fund of Rs 80,000 crores from the central government, with the UP government contributing 75 percent of this amount. The policy also includes provisions for providing financial incentives to industries and a subsidy of 75 percent on land up to 200 acres in the form of land subsidy. He said that 13 companies have expressed their intention to set up semiconductor manufacturing units in the state so far. Adequate water and uninterrupted electricity will be provided to the industries. Additionally, the UP government will provide Rs 10 lakh for patents at national level and Rs 20 lakh for patents at the international level. Collaboration with the industry will be done under the CM Internship Program to ensure a skilled workforce is available.
Furthermore, arrangements for training related to semiconductor manufacturing will be made in the technical institutes of the state. In another significant decision, the Yogi cabinet has approved the proposal to change the name of Mundera Nagar Panchayat in Gorakhpur to Chauri Chaura. This decision reflects a gesture of respect towards the legacy, marking the centenary year of the famous Chauri Chaura incident during the independence movement. Additionally, approval was also given to make changes in the UP Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Policy to exempt private MSME units and PLEDGE parks from conversion fees for changing the land use of agricultural land under development authorities to industrial. The cabinet also approved a proposal to exempt the Metro Rail, RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System), and all their assets from acquisition under the UP Municipal Corporation Act, 1959.