Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath during the TOI Youth Icon Awards in Lucknow on Tuesday
Lucknow: Phones went up, cheers grew louder and crowds gathered around familiar faces for selfies as the Times of India Youth Icons UP Chapter Awards & Summit 2026 turned into a star-studded celebration of achievement, ambition and opportunity on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Uttar Pradesh is a state of immense talent and potential. “Our aim is to create an Uttar Pradesh where young people can turn their aspirations into achievements and contribute to the state’s growth,” he said. Awardees were greeted with applause as they walked up to the stage, while attendees waited for their turn to capture a moment with their favourite personalities. Beyond the selfies and star encounters, the summit became a platform to discuss Uttar Pradesh ’s economic ambitions, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, sports, tourism, culture and the future of its youth. When our youth get the right platform, guidance and opportunities, they can excel in every field. The Times of India Youth Icons Awards recognise the hard work and achievements of young people and inspire others to dream big. In business, Mayank, founder and CEO of ADROSONIC, received the Male Entrepreneur Award, while Mahesh Shukla of PayMe Home of Brands was recognised in the Financial Empowerment category. Ankit Sahani of The Hazelnut Factory received the Young Entrepreneur Award, Rama Krishnan was recognised as Startup Founder, and Mili Malhotra as Women Entrepreneur. In the entertainment category, the winners included actor and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan (Youth Icon of the Year), comedian Harsh Gujral (Creator of the Year), Varsha Shukla (Comedy Icon; Female), Saurabh Pandey (Comedy Icon; Male), and theatre artist Rivva Kishan (Emerging Talent in Entertainment). Meanwhile, the summit also featured a musical performance by singer Suneel Lodhi, who performed songs from the film ‘Hanuman Ansh’.