New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to fill 24 positions in nine sectors with international sports medalists, including those who have won medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, news agency PTI reported.


The state cabinet also approved the start of the UP Legislature's session on May 23.


Speaking to the reporters, UP's Finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said, "The sportspersons, who have a domicile of Uttar Pradesh, and have won medals in international sports events, will be posted on gazetted posts on 24 posts in nine departments."


According to the minister, these athletes will be chosen by a committee headed by the chief secretary.


He believes that this will contribute in the development of a sports culture in the state.


"The nine departments where these appointments will be made are rural development, secondary education, basic education, home department, panchayati raj department, youth welfare department, transport department, forest department, and revenue department," he said. 


The move was described as "historic" by Girish Chandra Yadav, minister of state (independent charge) for Sports and Youth Welfare.


"This will help promote sports in the state, and will give a boost to the sportspersons. The medal winners of the Paralympic Games are also covered under the decision. Similar scheme is currently operational in other states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Bihar," he said.


According to Yadav, athletes who earned medals by September 1, 2020 would be considered for the scheme.


According to the administration, the postings were kept beyond the ambit of the Public Service Commission by the Department of Personnel.


Khanna further stated that the Uttar Pradesh Legislature's session will begin on May 23 and will be determined by the business advisory group.


The UP Cabinet approved 13 recommendations in all.


Ajay Kumar Mishra has been named the next Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh, Khanna informed reporters.


Mishra began practising law in the Allahabad High Court in 1981 and has been at the Supreme Court for the past ten years.


He was appointed as the state's youngest additional advocate general in 1995.


The state Cabinet also approved an agreement with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the development, operation, and administration of minor airports in Aligarh, Azamgarh, Shravasti, Chitrakoot, and Muirpur (Sonbhadra).


"Under the MoU signed with the AAI, we will give Rs 7 crore per airport to them. The MoU is for 30 years," Khanna said.


(With PTI Inputs)