During the new Uttar Pradesh cabinet’s first meeting on Saturday, it was decided to extend the free ration scheme in the state for three months till June 30, 2022, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced at a press conference. This is the first decision taken by him after he was sworn in as the chief minister for a second term on Friday.

“We have decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana from March 31 till June 30. It will benefit 15 crore people of the state,” Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said in Lucknow.

The scheme provides for an additional five kilograms of food grain per household per month. It was first implemented by the Centre in 2020 when the pandemic struck.

On Saturday, CM Yogi Adityanath said, “This is the first decision of the new cabinet, which will be implemented in a transparent manner.”

YOGI ADITYANATH SWORN IN

Yogi Adityanath took oath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second consecutive term on Friday, March 25. The oath was administered by Governor Anandiben Patel.

Yogi Adityanath has become the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh to return to power after completing a full tenure of five years.

Meanwhile, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak also took oath as the deputy chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh. Even though KP Maurya lost the Assembly elections, he has been retained as the deputy CM, while Brajesh Pathak has replaced Dinesh Sharma.