On 12 February 2026, the Uttar Pradesh government issued a directive making an AI course mandatory for all officers and employees across 63 state departments — approximately 17 lakh (1.7 million) civil servants. The mandate operates under Mission Karmayogi Bharat, the central capacity-building framework. Every employee is required to complete three courses on the iGOT Karmayogi portal; the Introduction to AI course is mandatory for all staff, with two further courses also required for completion.
A follow-up review meeting on 13 February 2026 directed all departments to ensure compliance. Officials and employees who fail to complete the mandatory AI course within the prescribed deadline face strict departmental action. Training outcomes are to be linked to promotions and Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), creating a formal career-progression enforcement mechanism. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had previously reviewed Mission Karmayogi progress in January 2026 and specifically urged AI and cyber-security training for all departments.
Who it affects: All 17 lakh officers and employees across 63 Uttar Pradesh state government departments.
What is notably missing: The directive defines minimum completion in terms of specific courses (Introduction to AI + two others) rather than a competency or skills standard. No independent verification or assessment mechanism is described beyond completion of the online modules. The mandate covers all state employees, not only those working directly with AI systems; it does not distinguish between roles based on AI exposure.