LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that there will be no holiday in the state on August 15 this year, which marks the 75th anniversary of the country's independence. Schools, colleges, universities, government institutions, non-government organizations and business centers will remain open in the state on August 15. This is the first time in the country that a state has canceled the holiday on Independence Day.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that special programs will be organized in all the districts on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations. Chief Secretary D.S. Mishra said that a special sanitation drive would be carried out, as is done during the festival of Diwali, and this should be made into a national public movement.