Lucknow turned festive and proud as Uttar Pradesh Day 2026 opened with a grand ceremony that blended celebration, inspiration, and a forward-looking vision for the state. At the heart of the event was the presentation of the prestigious Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman, awarded to five outstanding personalities whose work has shaped India’s future in fields ranging from space exploration and education to agriculture and women’s empowerment.
Held at the newly established Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, the ceremony was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, senior officials, dignitaries, and citizens from across the state. The three-day Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations, beginning January 24, commemorate the state’s foundation while spotlighting its social, cultural, and economic progress.
Shubhanshu Shukla: From Lucknow to the International Space Station
The spotlight of the evening shone brightly on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer and astronaut who has already secured his place in history. A native of Lucknow, Shukla was honoured for his trailblazing journey into space and his role in inspiring a new generation of Indians.
Selected as the lead astronaut for India’s Axiom-4 mission, Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in June 2025. He is only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s iconic mission in 1984.
Accepting the award, Shukla expressed deep pride in being recognised by his home state. He spoke about the importance of such honours in motivating young people to dream big and pursue excellence in science, technology, and national service.
“This recognition is not just for me,” he noted, “but for every young student who looks at the sky and believes that they, too, can reach the stars.”
Celebrating Excellence Across Sectors
Alongside Shukla, four other achievers were honoured for their transformative contributions:
Alakh Pandey, Founder and CEO of Physics Wallah, was recognised for revolutionising affordable education in India and building one of the country’s most successful ed-tech platforms.
Dr. Hariom Panwar, a law professor from Bulandshahr, received the award for his literary works and tireless efforts to expand educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
Rashmi Arya, founder of Shrimat Dayanand Arya Kanya Gurukul, was honoured for her lifelong commitment to women’s empowerment and girls’ education.
Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, an agricultural scientist, was celebrated for his pioneering research on flood-tolerant rice varieties and his contributions to improving farm resilience and productivity.
Together, the awardees reflected the diverse strengths of Uttar Pradesh innovation in classrooms, resilience in fields, courage in space missions, and leadership in social reform.
A Vision for a Rising Uttar Pradesh
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah highlighted what he described as Uttar Pradesh’s remarkable transformation over the past decade. He spoke of the state’s journey from being labelled part of the “BIMARU” belt to emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing economies, projecting that Uttar Pradesh could achieve full-scale development by 2047 as part of the national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Shah also announced and reiterated key initiatives designed to boost growth and global visibility:
The ‘One District, One Cuisine’ scheme, aimed at promoting Uttar Pradesh’s rich culinary traditions worldwide.
The Sardar Patel Industrial Area Scheme, which focuses on phased industrial development across districts to help build a one-trillion-dollar state economy.
He cited several achievements to underline the government’s claims of progress double-digit agricultural growth, a significant share in national food-grain production, large-scale housing for economically weaker families, and pension coverage for millions. According to Shah, the state has also seen substantial reductions in major crimes, alongside a sharp rise in IT and electronics exports and record-breaking investment proposals.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath echoed the message of confidence and momentum, noting that Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations were designed not only to honour the past but also to energise citizens around the state’s future ambitions.
More Than an Award Ceremony
Beyond speeches and statistics, the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman ceremony carried a powerful emotional undertone. For students in the audience, Shukla’s journey from a city in northern India to orbiting Earth symbolised possibility without limits. For teachers, farmers, and social workers, the recognition of educators and scientists affirmed that long-term, grassroots efforts matter.
Cultural performances, exhibitions highlighting district-level innovations, and displays of traditional crafts added colour and warmth to the event, turning the venue into a living showcase of Uttar Pradesh’s heritage and aspirations.
Inspiring the Next Generation
As the first day of Uttar Pradesh Day 2026 concluded, the mood in Lucknow was one of pride and anticipation. The stories of the Gaurav Samman awardees especially astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla served as reminders that progress is built by individuals who dare to challenge limits and communities that nurture talent.
With three days of celebrations ahead, featuring cultural programmes, policy showcases, and citizen engagement events, Uttar Pradesh is using the occasion not only to reflect on how far it has come, but also to declare where it hopes to go.
From classrooms to laboratories, from farms to outer space, Uttar Pradesh Day 2026 stands as a tribute to ambition, resilience, and the belief that the state’s brightest chapters are still being written.
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