Lucknow:, Feb. 6 -- The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Wednesday approved the new excise policy for 2025-26 providing for an e-lottery system for allotment of liquor shops across the state.

The cabinet also decided to convene the budget session of the state legislature from February 18. Senior officers of the state government remained unavailable for comment.

Those aware of the development said under the new excise policy, one person would be allowed to submit only one application with a prescribed non-refundable security. One person would not be entitled to get more than two shops allocated and the allotment of shops would be done through e-lottery. No private agency would be engaged in conducting the e-lottery system. The National Informati...