LUCKNOW, March 10 -- Initial rounds of meetings have been held even as the higher education department is all set to fast-track implementation of the Rani Laxmi Bai Scooty scheme for meritorious girl students, authorities said, adding that the key details will be finalised in the next few months. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had assured on International Women's Day on Sunday that the scheme would be rolled out soon. "We held a few meetings in the last one year but we have not been able to decide eligibility criteria for beneficiaries of the scheme," said MP Agarwal, principal secretary, higher education. When asked whether it will be the new age e-scooty ( battery operated) or fuel-driven, the principal secretary said, "It has not been decided either whether we will be giving away the battery-driven or fuel-driven scooty." The principal secretary did not mention a time frame for the scheme's rollout. Repeated phone calls and successive WhatsApp messages to higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay did not evoke any response. Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna had announced the scheme in the state budget for 2025-26 but it failed to gain momentum thereafter. In February, Rs.400 crore was allocated in the state budget for 2026-27 for the implementation of the Rani Laxmi Bai Scooty scheme. The promise was made in the BJP's 2022 election manifesto and the issue is gaining traction about a year before the 2027 assembly polls. Under this initiative, meritorious girl students especially from rural backgrounds who want to pursue higher education, were to receive free scooters to support their educational journey and improve access to higher education. Scooties were to be provided to 50,000 female students pursuing higher education with an allocation of Rs 400 crore. The officials claimed that the necessary process was underway and guidelines will be issued soon under which the girls will receive the benefits. On March 18, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government formed panels to roll out the Rani Laxmi Bai Scooty Scheme. A six-member committee, chaired by Shipu Giri, director of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), was set up to define eligibility criteria and outline the selection process for beneficiaries. In a separate order dated March 11, 2025, a four-member technical expert committee was constituted to finalise the specifications of the scooty. Girijesh Kumar Tyagi, special secretary of the higher education department, will head the panel....