Over 6 lakh students have benefited from the UP Pankh Portal, a career guidance platform launched by the Uttar Pradesh government with UNICEF. Targeting classes 9-12, it offers access to 550+ career paths, 2.5 lakh colleges, and scholarships. Recent updates include in-person counseling and enhanced features for girls’ education, helping students make informed career choices.
UP Pankh Portal: A Beacon for Student Career Planning
Launched in September 2022 by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the UP Pankh Portal, developed in collaboration with UNICEF and the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Department, has emerged as a pivotal tool for career guidance. As of 2025, over 6 lakh students from classes 9 to 12 across 27,895 government and aided schools, including Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), have utilized the platform to explore career options. The portal, accessible at uppankh.in, provides comprehensive resources, including information on 550+ career paths, over 2.5 lakh colleges and vocational institutes, and 15,000+ undergraduate and postgraduate programs across India.
The platform’s user-friendly interface, available in Hindi and English, allows students to log in using a unique student ID and password (default: 123456). It offers real-time career counseling through a chatbot, career clubs, activity sheets, and resource booklets. Students can explore entrance exams, scholarships, fellowships, and vocational courses, tailoring their choices to interests and aptitudes. In 2023, statistics revealed a near-equal gender split, with 51.3% girls and 48.7% boys engaging with the portal, highlighting its inclusive reach. Districts like Bareilly, Bulandshahr, Mainpuri, Gorakhpur, and Agra lead in usage.
Recent updates in 2025 have bolstered the portal’s impact, particularly for female students. The Uttar Pradesh government, in partnership with iDreamCareer (iDC), introduced in-person counseling in five districts—Varanasi, Meerut, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Ghaziabad—targeting 14,700 students in grades 10 and 12. A team of 31 counselors provides personalized guidance, aiming to boost enrollment rates by 5-10% and address high dropout rates among girls. The initiative includes career awareness sessions, scholarship information, and a helpline for last-mile support until students secure college or vocational program admissions.
The portal also supports teachers through face-to-face training, career hubs, and online self-paced courses on the Diksha platform. Webinars on diverse streams—science, humanities, commerce, nursing, paramedical, and new-age careers—further enrich the guidance ecosystem. In April 2025, over 56,000 students in Muzaffarnagar alone were reported to be accessing career counseling through the portal, underscoring its growing reach.
Special emphasis on girls’ education has been a cornerstone of recent enhancements. The portal integrates career guidance cards and mind map flexes in schools to foster constructive discussions. Wardens and nodal teachers receive regular training to assist students effectively, ensuring clarity and confidence in career planning. Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh emphasized, “The goal is to provide direction to every girl according to her talent, making them pillars of a self-reliant India.”
The UP Pankh Portal aligns with broader educational reforms in Uttar Pradesh, complementing initiatives like the MY Bharat platform, which offers experiential learning programs for youth. While MY Bharat focuses on practical skill-building, Pankh Portal prioritizes career awareness and counseling, creating a holistic support system for students transitioning from school to higher education or work.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information sourced from reputable news outlets, government announcements, and official portal data. All India Press does not independently verify the data and advises readers to consult official sources like uppankh.in for accurate details. The content is for informational purposes and should not be considered professional career advice.