Uzbekistan Strengthens Youth Social Support Under New Presidential Decree

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree “On Further Improving the System of Social Assistance Through the ‘Yoshlar Daftari’ Funds,” aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of youth support measures.

The decree outlines several priorities, including assisting 16,000 young people registered in the “Yoshlar Daftari” to secure a stable source of income, increasing the share of participants in the “Mutolaa” project who regularly read popular science and literary works, and expanding the number of young people mastering foreign languages under the “Ibrat Farzandlari” initiative.

According to the decree, starting 1 February 2026, social assistance for young members of low-income families included in the registry will be provided exclusively through social contracts.

Recipients are required to meet a set of conditions, including continuous education, achieving positive academic results, participating in volunteer activities, and engaging in the “Five Initiatives” Olympiad projects.

A stepwise accountability mechanism is established for failure to meet social contract conditions. It includes a warning with a 15-day period to correct violations, a 15–30 percent reduction in social assistance, temporary suspension of payments for one to six months, and, in certain cases, termination of assistance for one year or more.

For those who consistently meet social contract requirements at a high level for at least six months, incentive measures are provided. Youth will receive priority social support under preferential conditions, and 1,000 of the most active and successful young citizens will receive an annual cash award equivalent to three times the base calculation amount. Additionally, they will be recommended for various awards aimed at encouraging initiative and social engagement.

Starting 1 February 2026, young people from low-income families will also receive additional benefits. They will have the opportunity to serve free of charge in the mobilization reserve, while the previous subsidy mechanism for this purpose will be abolished.

Through the “Yoshlar Daftari” funds, expenses for driving school training to obtain A, B, D, and DE category licenses will be covered.

The state will also pay up to 50 percent of tuition costs at vocational and higher education institutions depending on compliance with social contract conditions, provided that support does not exceed 50 times the base calculation amount per academic year.

Each individual may access various types of social assistance no more than twice per year.