According to Uttar Pradesh Economic Review 2025-26, expenditure on rural development has increased continuously. Employment generation, environmental protection, technological transparency and women’s participation have improved, thereby strengthening development and livelihood opportunities in villages.
Lucknow. According to the economic review of the Government of Uttar Pradesh for the year 2025-26, the expenditure on rural development has been continuously increased to meet the goal of ‘Developed Uttar Pradesh’. In the year 2017-18, Rs 10,508 crore was spent on rural development, which increased to Rs 20,081 crore in 2025-26. Expenditure in this sector has grown at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.43% over the last eight years. This has improved rural infrastructure, employment and livelihood opportunities.
Human Employment Generation UP: UP number-1 in MNREGA employment generation
Uttar Pradesh has been leading in the country in terms of employment generation. In the year 2017-18, 1814.34 lakh man days were generated, which increased to 3363.97 lakh in 2024-25. This represents an increase of approximately 85.41%. In the financial year 2025-26, more than 1805 lakh man employment days have been generated till December 2025, thereby strengthening rural employment.
Rural Employment Schemes: Focus on Livelihood, Infrastructure and Environment
Under the VB-Ji Ram Ji Yojana, works related to livelihood, environmental protection and infrastructure were carried out rapidly to increase employment in rural areas. Under this scheme, 266 types of community and individual beneficial works were implemented, which increased economic activities in the villages.
Digital Transparency Rural Development: Technology and transparency accelerate development
The use of technology has been increased in rural development works. For transparency of works, e-MB module, three-tier geo tagging, online software, Aadhaar based payment, National Mobile Monitoring System App, Area Officer App and drone technology were used. To solve the water crisis in Bundelkhand, 1500 meter stretch of extinct Shahzad river was revived in Birdha block of Lalitpur. This generated employment of 9859 man days and strengthened ground water and irrigation resources.
Rural Employment Families UP: Employment and social security to families
In the year 2024-25, 75.83 lakh workers from 65.26 lakh families got employment. Of these, 6.16 lakh families were provided employment for 100 days. At the same time, in 2025-26, employment has been provided to more than 47 lakh families till October 2025. Uttar Pradesh stood second after Tamil Nadu in terms of providing employment.
Environmental protection, Amrit Sarovar and sports ground construction
Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, 13.54 crore saplings were planted in 2024-25 and 13.23 crore saplings in 2025-26. By November 2025, more than 19 thousand Amrit Sarovars were constructed or renovated, thereby promoting water conservation. Apart from this, construction of 3550 sports grounds and 1706 Anganwadi centers was completed by October 2025, which improved rural facilities.
Increase in women participation and transparency through social audit
Women’s participation in rural development schemes has increased. It was 35% in 2018-19, which increased to 42% in 2024-25. Transparency was ensured through social audit. Audit was completed in 55,991 gram panchayats in 2024-25 and in 51,648 gram panchayats in 2025-26 till December.