India Advancing Strongly Towards Self-Reliance: Rajya Sabha MP Dr Dinesh Sharma

Rajya Sabha MP and former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dr Dinesh Sharma said on Sunday that India is advancing strongly on the path of self-reliance while creating new employment opportunities.

He noted that in the last seven years, the Yogi Adityanath government has set a new record by providing more than eight lakh government jobs in Uttar Pradesh.

Alongside, lakhs of indirect employment opportunities have also been generated, positioning the state’s youth as employment creators rather than mere job seekers.

Employment Mahakumbh Highlights Opportunities

Addressing the Rozgar Mahakumbh at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow, Dr Sharma said he felt proud that the state capital is hosting such a large-scale platform for employment.

He emphasised that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, Uttar Pradesh is transforming into ‘Uttam Pradesh’ with record-breaking job creation.

Commenting on the recent tariffs imposed by the US, Dr Sharma stressed that India is not shaken by the challenge. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that the government will not compromise on the interests of farmers linked with agriculture and animal husbandry.

He said these tariffs would affect only about half of India’s exports to the US, while Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other nations would offset the losses.

“India is now responding with restraint to a superpower like the US while keeping its economy stable,” he added.

He said the country’s export promotion policy and cheap oil imports from Russia strengthened resources that the government is investing in infrastructure development.

Focus on Self-Reliance and Education: Rajya Sabha MP Dr Dinesh Sharma

Dr Sharma underlined that the New Education Policy (NEP) emphasises vocational training, which will enable India’s youth to become job creators. He called this initiative a cornerstone for making the country self-reliant.

He contrasted India’s growth trajectory with the US, where unemployment has surged post-COVID, while India’s economy continues to strengthen.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s rapid transformation, Dr Sharma said:

• People now recognise the state for its expressways and metro connectivity.
• 21 airports are operational across UP.
• Lucknow has emerged as an educational hub, attracting foreign students to state universities. One private university hosts students from over 50 countries.

He noted that these changes have curbed the brain drain and brought unemployment down to below 5%.

According to Dr Sharma, India’s per capita income has risen from ₹86,000 annually in 2014 to over ₹2 lakh in 2025, reflecting the country’s remarkable development journey in the past 11 years.

He credited young people as the key contributors to this growth, with schemes like MUDRA loans and Startup India creating new avenues for entrepreneurship and employment.

Dr Sharma recalled how India once depended on foreign aid, even importing poor-quality wheat from the US.

In contrast, today India provides 10 kg of free ration, PM Awas Yojana housing, free LPG connections, Kisan Samman Nidhi, and disaster relief schemes to its citizens.

He said these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring a bright future for the youth and strengthening India’s self-reliant journey.

Program Director IAS Neha Prakash and Coordinator Abhishek Bharti also attended the event.

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