Powering Uttar Pradesh’s Green Economy: Jobs, Skills and Entrepreneurship Opportunities

On 27 October 2026, iFOREST launched its report, Powering Uttar Pradesh’s Green Economy: Jobs, Skills and Entrepreneurship Opportunities, in Lucknow. The event brought together senior government officials, industry representatives, skilling institutions and experts to discuss how the state’s growing green economy can create employment opportunities for young people and existing workers.

The report estimates that Uttar Pradesh’s green economy could support approximately 7.8 lakh jobs by 2035 across renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric mobility, the circular economy and nature-based solutions. It highlights the need to align emerging investments with workforce development, address gaps in technical and vocational education, and strengthen pathways from training to employment.

The launch was attended by Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, IAS, CEO, State Transformation Commission; Dr Hari Om, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Shri Mahendra Prasad Agrawal, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change; and Smt. Selva Kumari J, IAS, Director General and Secretary, Department of Technical Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Two panel discussions formed part of the event. The first, on labour market trends and emerging green employment opportunities, brought together representatives from industry, the State Transformation Commission, UPNEDA and ICAR–Central Agroforestry Research Institute. The second focused on policies, institutions and delivery mechanismsfor strengthening green skilling, with participation from training institutions, industry, the National Skill Development Corporation and the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission.

A central focus of the event was the report’s recommendation to establish an Uttar Pradesh Green Jobs and Skilling Mission to connect green investment with education, skills development, apprenticeships and local employment. The report proposes training, upskilling or reskilling at least two lakh people by 2030, with women accounting for at least 30% of beneficiaries.