HBI Staff | Mumbai 
The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has announced plans to recruit school and college students as guides to accommodate the expected surge of international tourists during the Maha Kumbh. The department will collaborate with select schools in Prayagraj to identify students who have completed class 12 and are proficient in spoken English.
According to sources, senior officials will select these students and provide them with free training to prepare them for guiding roles. Selected students will receive an honorarium, a guide’s license, and a certificate of service, offering them the opportunity to explore a future career in tourism.
So far, 100 students have volunteered to serve as guides for the Maha Kumbh. To further enhance their skills, the department plans to bring in experienced guides from Delhi to train the students in foreign languages, including German, French, and Russian, to better communicate with tourists from around the world.
Regional Tourism Officer Aparajita Singh noted that the previous Kumbh in 2019 attracted 25 lakh international tourists out of 24 crore pilgrims. With an even larger turnout expected this time, the initiative aims to ensure adequate guide services for visitors from across the globe.
