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}} {{Infobox Indian state or territory
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| name              = Uttar Pradesh
| name              = Uttar Pradesh {{Verified}}
| image            = Uttar Pradesh Map.jpg
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By 6000 BCE, people started living in villages with domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats, and also began practicing agriculture. From about 4000 to 1500 BCE, these settlements developed further, starting with the Indus Valley and Harappan culture, then moving into the Vedic period and later the Iron Age.
By 6000 BCE, people started living in villages with domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats, and also began practicing agriculture. From about 4000 to 1500 BCE, these settlements developed further, starting with the Indus Valley and Harappan culture, then moving into the Vedic period and later the Iron Age.
=== Ancient and Classical Period ===
In ancient India, there were sixteen great kingdoms called Mahajanapadas, out of which seven were located in present-day Uttar Pradesh. The Kingdom of Kosala was one of them, with its capital in Ayodhya, where, according to Hindu belief, Lord Rama ruled. Another important city was Mathura, said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a key figure in the Mahabharata. The famous Kurukshetra War is also believed to have taken place near the Upper Doab and Delhi during the time of the Pandava king Yudhishthira. The Kuru kingdom is linked with the beginning of the Iron Age in India around 1000 BCE.
The Gangetic plains were very important for India’s major empires, including the Maurya, Kushan, Gupta, and Gurjara-Pratihara dynasties. After the fall of the Gupta Empire due to Huns’ invasions, the city of Kannauj rose to power. Under Harshavardhana (590–647 CE), Kannauj became very strong, ruling over a large part of north and central India, from Punjab to Bengal and Gujarat to Odisha. However, after his death, the empire broke into smaller kingdoms. Kannauj later came under the control of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, who often fought with the Pala Empire of Bengal. The city was also attacked many times by the Rashtrakutas of South India. Finally, after the fall of the Palas, the Chero dynasty ruled parts of Uttar Pradesh from the 12th to the 18th century.
=== Delhi Sultanate ===
The Delhi Sultanate ruled parts or all of Uttar Pradesh for about 320 years (1206–1526). It was ruled by five dynasties one after another: the Mamluk dynasty (1206–1290), the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414), the Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451), and the Lodi dynasty (1451–1526).
The first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb ud-Din Aibak, captured places like Meerut, Aligarh, and Etawah. His successor Iltutmish expanded power further by defeating the King of Kannauj. Later, Sultan Balban faced many rebellions in Uttar Pradesh but managed to control them. Alauddin Khalji extended his rule to cities like Varanasi and Prayagraj.
This period also saw the rise of Sufism in Uttar Pradesh. Famous Sufi saints like Nizamuddin Auliya and Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki spread their teachings, which influenced the people deeply. During the Sultanate era, many mosques and tombs were built, such as the Atala Masjid in Jaunpur, the Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri, and Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq’s Tomb in Tughlaqabad.
=== Medieval and Early Modern period ===
In the 16th century, Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, came through the Khyber Pass and founded the Mughal Empire, which covered India along with modern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Mughals were of Central Asian Turkish origin with some Mongol ancestry. During their rule, Uttar Pradesh became the heartland of the empire. Mughal rulers Babur and Humayun ruled from Delhi.
In 1540, Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun and took control of Uttar Pradesh. He and his son Islam Shah ruled from their capital at Gwalior. After Islam Shah’s death, his prime minister Hemu became ruler of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Bengal. He was crowned as Hemchandra Vikramaditya at Purana Qila in Delhi in 1556. But a month later, he was killed in the Second Battle of Panipat, and then Akbar took control. Emperor Akbar ruled from Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
=== British India period ===
In the second half of the 18th century, the British East India Company gained control over much of North India, including present-day Uttar Pradesh. This area was first called the North-Western Provinces (NWPA), with its capital shifting between Agra and Allahabad. Later, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which began in Meerut with Mangal Pandey, the British reorganized the regions. Delhi was merged with Punjab, Ajmer with Rajputana, and Oudh was joined with Agra to form the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, renamed in 1902 as the United Provinces (UP).
In 1920, the capital was shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow, but the High Court remained in Allahabad. Uttar Pradesh played a major role in India’s independence movement. Important universities like Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, and Darul Uloom Deoband were founded here. Many freedom fighters such as Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandra Shekhar Azad, and leaders like Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and Govind Ballabh Pant came from this region. The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in Lucknow in 1936 to fight for farmers’ rights. During the Quit India Movement in 1942, the people of Ballia district declared independence and set up their own administration under Chittu Pandey, earning the name “Baghi Ballia” (Rebel Ballia).
=== Post Independence period ===
After India became independent in 1947, the United Provinces was renamed Uttar Pradesh (meaning “northern province”) on 24 January 1950. This name also kept UP as its short form. The new state was created by merging many princely states and territories, including Agra, Oudh, and Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh has given India nine prime ministers, the highest from any state, and it also sends the largest number of seats to the Lok Sabha (India’s parliament). However, despite its political importance, the state has struggled with poor economic growth, weak administration, corruption, and crime, which made it one of India’s backward states.
The state has also faced many problems of caste and communal violence. In December 1992, the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by Hindu activists, leading to riots across India. Later, in 2000, the northern districts of Uttar Pradesh were separated to create the new state of Uttarakhand.


== Geography ==
== Geography ==
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Uttar Pradesh has over 32 rivers, with the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sarayu, Betwa, and Ghaghara being the largest and important in Hinduism. Farming is widely practiced. The state has three main agricultural zones: Middle Gangetic Plains (Zone IV), Upper Gangetic Plains (Zone V), and Central Plateau and Hills (Zone VIII). The valley areas have rich soil, while some hill slopes are farmed with limited irrigation. The Siwalik Range forms the southern Himalayan foothills, sloping into the Bhabhar. The Terai-Bhabhar belt runs along the state, with dense forests and many streams that swell during the monsoon.
Uttar Pradesh has over 32 rivers, with the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sarayu, Betwa, and Ghaghara being the largest and important in Hinduism. Farming is widely practiced. The state has three main agricultural zones: Middle Gangetic Plains (Zone IV), Upper Gangetic Plains (Zone V), and Central Plateau and Hills (Zone VIII). The valley areas have rich soil, while some hill slopes are farmed with limited irrigation. The Siwalik Range forms the southern Himalayan foothills, sloping into the Bhabhar. The Terai-Bhabhar belt runs along the state, with dense forests and many streams that swell during the monsoon.
===Administrative Divisions of Uttar Pradesh===
Uttar Pradesh is divided into 75 districts under 18 divisions: 
* Saharanpur 
* Moradabad 
* Bareilly 
* Meerut 
* Aligarh 
* Agra 
* Devipatan 
* Basti 
* Gorakhpur 
* Kanpur 
* Lucknow 
* Ayodhya 
* Azamgarh 
* Jhansi 
* Chitrakoot 
* Prayagraj 
* Varanasi 
* Mirzapur


== Culture ==
== Culture ==
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The Buddh International Circuit, located in Greater Noida, hosted India’s first Formula One Grand Prix on 30 October 2011. However, races were held only three times before being stopped due to low attendance and lack of government support. The Uttar Pradesh government treated Formula One as entertainment, not a sport, and imposed heavy taxes, which led to its cancellation.
The Buddh International Circuit, located in Greater Noida, hosted India’s first Formula One Grand Prix on 30 October 2011. However, races were held only three times before being stopped due to low attendance and lack of government support. The Uttar Pradesh government treated Formula One as entertainment, not a sport, and imposed heavy taxes, which led to its cancellation.


===Uttar Pradesh
===Transportation===
Uttar Pradesh has the largest railway network in India, but in terms of density, it ranks sixth, even though most of the state is flat and has the highest population. In 2015, the state had 9,077 km (5,640 mi) of railway lines. The network is managed mainly by two divisions of Indian Railways – North Central Railway (headquarters in Prayagraj) and North Eastern Railway (headquarters in Gorakhpur). Lucknow and Moradabad are divisional headquarters of Northern Railway. Fast trains like Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi Express and Kanpur Shatabdi Express connect Delhi with Lucknow and Kanpur. The Kanpur Shatabdi was also the first train in India to get German LHB coaches. Important railway stations like Prayagraj Junction, Agra Cantonment, Lucknow Charbagh, Gorakhpur Junction, Kanpur Central, Mathura Junction, and Varanasi Junction are listed among 50 world-class stations in India. Lucknow Metro and Kanpur Metro provide rapid transit service in those cities.


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The state also has the largest road network in India. It has 42 national highways with a total length of 4,942 km, which is about 8.9% of all highways in the country. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), set up in 1972, operates 11,238 buses on 2,762 routes, covering 768,065 km daily and earning about ₹16 crore (US$1.9 million) per day. However, many buses are old and unsafe. All cities are linked by state highways, and district headquarters are being connected by four-lane roads. The Agra–Lucknow Expressway, a 302 km long controlled-access highway, is one such project. Uttar Pradesh also has the highest road density in India – 1,027 km per 1,000 km² – and the largest surfaced urban-road network (50,721 km).
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In air travel, Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport and Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport are the main international airports. A new international airport was opened in Kushinagar, but it has not yet started international flights. The state also has six domestic airports in Agra, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, and Kanpur, most of which are shared with the Indian Air Force. Another international airport is under construction at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar, called Noida International Airport.
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===Education===
Uttar Pradesh has a long tradition of education, but in earlier times it was mainly limited to the elite and to religious schools. In ancient periods, education was mostly based on Sanskrit. Later, as different cultures came to the region, knowledge in Pali, Persian, and Arabic was also added. This mix of learning continued through Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim traditions until British colonial rule.


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The modern school-to-university system of education in Uttar Pradesh, like in the rest of India, was introduced by Christian missionaries and the British administration. Today, schools in the state are either run by the government or by private trusts. Most schools use Hindi as the medium of teaching, except those affiliated with central boards like CBSE and ICSE, where English is used.


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The state follows the 10+2+3 system. After completing secondary school, students usually study two more years in junior college or higher secondary schools, and then they can choose to go for general or professional degree programs. Students generally pick one of three streams – arts, commerce, or science – at this stage.
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Despite its long educational tradition, Uttar Pradesh faces several challenges. The spending per student is lower than the national average. The student–teacher ratio is also higher than the national average, which means fewer teachers are available for each class. Teacher absenteeism is a major problem in rural areas, and many teaching positions in government schools remain vacant, including a large number of headmaster and assistant teacher posts.
 
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Coordinates: 26.85°N 80.91°E
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uttar Pradesh
State
 
Taj Mahal
 
Sarnath
 
IIT Varanasi
 
Dudhwa National Park
 
Fatehpur Sikri
 
Agra Fort
Official emblem of Uttar Pradesh
Emblem of Uttar Pradesh
Etymology: Northern Province
Motto: Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone triumphs)
The map of India showing Uttar Pradesh
Location of Uttar Pradesh in India
Coordinates: 26.85°N 80.91°E
Country India
Region North India
Previously was United Provinces (1937–1950)
Formation 24 January 1950[1]
Capital
and largest city Lucknow
Largest metro Lucknow
Districts 75 (18 divisions)[2][3]
Government
• Body Government of Uttar Pradesh
• Governor Anandiben Patel[4][5]
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (BJP)
• Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya (BJP)
Brajesh Pathak (BJP)
State Legislature Bicameral
• Council Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (100 seats)
• Assembly Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (403 seats)
National Parliament Parliament of India
• Rajya Sabha 31 seats
• Lok Sabha 80 seats
High Court Allahabad High Court
Area
• Total
243,286 km2 (93,933 sq mi)
• Rank 4th
Dimensions
• Length 650 km (400 mi)
• Width 240 km (150 mi)
Highest elevation (Amsot Peak[6]) 957 m (3,140 ft)
Lowest elevation (Ganges River) 60 m (200 ft)
Population (2021)
• Total
Increase 241,066,874
• Rank 1st
• Density 1,001/km2 (2,590/sq mi)
• Urban 22.27%
• Rural 77.73%
Language
• Official Hindi[7]
• Additional official Urdu
• Official script Devanagari script
GDP[8]
• Total (2022–2023) Increase₹24.39 lakh crore (US$290 billion)
• Rank 2nd
• Per capita Increase₹127,468 (US$1,500) (28th)
Time zone UTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code IN-UP
Vehicle registration UP
HDI (2022) Increase 0.609 Medium[9] (34th)
Literacy (2024) 78.2%[10] (30th)
Sex ratio (2021) 1015 ♀/1000 ♂[11] (19th)
Website up.gov.in
Symbols of Uttar Pradesh
 
Emblem of Uttar Pradesh
Foundation day Uttar Pradesh Day
Bird Sarus crane
Flower Palash
Mammal Barasingha
Tree Ashoka
State highway mark
 
State highway of Uttar Pradesh
UP SH1 – UP SH99
List of Indian state symbols
Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: Uttara Pradēśa, pronounced [ˈʊtːəɾᵊ pɾəˈdeːʃᵊ] UTT-ər prə-DESH; abbr. UP) is a state in northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world – more populous than all but four other countries outside of India (China, United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan)[13] – and accounting for 16.5 percent of the population of India or around 3 percent of the total world population. The state is bordered by Rajasthan to the west, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi to the northwest, Uttarakhand and Nepal to the north, Bihar to the east, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to the south. It is the fourth-largest Indian state by area covering 243,286 km2 (93,933 sq mi), accounting for 7.3 percent of the total area of India. Lucknow serves as the state capital, with Prayagraj being the judicial capital. It is divided into 18 divisions and 75 districts.
 
Uttar Pradesh was established in 1950 after India had become a republic. It is a successor to the United Provinces, established in 1935 by renaming the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, in turn established in 1902 from the North-Western Provinces and the Oudh Province. Though long known for sugar production, the state's economy is now dominated by the services industry. The service sector comprises travel and tourism, hotel industry, real estate, insurance and financial consultancies. The economy of Uttar Pradesh is the third-largest state economy in India, with ₹18.63 lakh crore (US$220 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GSDP of ₹68,810 (US$810).[8] The High Court of the state is located in Prayagraj. The state contributes 80 seats to the lower house Lok Sabha and 31 seats and the upper house Rajya Sabha.
 
On 9 November 2000, a new state, Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand), was created from Uttar Pradesh's western Himalayan hill region. The two major rivers of the state, the Ganges and its tributary Yamuna, meet at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, a Hindu pilgrimage site. Other notable rivers are Gomti and Sarayu. The forest cover in the state is 6.1 percent of the state's geographical area. The cultivable area is 82 percent of the total geographical area, and the net area sown is 68.5 percent of the cultivable area.[14]
 
Inhabitants of the state are called Awadhi, Bagheli, Bhojpuri, Brajwasi, Bundeli, or Kannauji, depending upon their region of origin. Hinduism is practised by more than three-fourths of the population, followed by Islam. Hindi is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state, along with Urdu. Uttar Pradesh was home to most of the mainstream political entities that existed in ancient and medieval India including the Maurya Empire, Harsha Empire, Gupta Empire, Pala Empire, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire as well as many other empires. At the time of the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century, there were three major princely states in Uttar Pradesh – Ramgadi, Rampur and Benares and served as a focal point for the 1857 rebellion against British rule. The state houses several holy Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres. Along with several historical, natural and religious tourist destinations, including Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh is also home to three World Heritage sites.
 
History
Main article: History of Uttar Pradesh
Prehistory
Modern human hunter-gatherers have been in Uttar Pradesh[15][16][17] since between around[18] 85,000 and 72,000 years ago. There have also been prehistorical finds in the state from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic dated to 21,000–31,000 years old[19] and Mesolithic/Microlithic hunter-gatherer settlement, near Pratapgarh, from around 10550–9550 BCE. Villages with domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats and evidence of agriculture began as early as 6000 BCE, and gradually developed between c. 4000 and 1500 BCE beginning with the Indus Valley Civilisation and Harappa culture to the Vedic period and extending into the Iron Age.[20][21][22]
 
Ancient and classical period
 
The Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.
Out of the sixteen mahajanapadas (lit. 'great realms') or oligarchic republics that existed in ancient India, seven fell entirely within the present-day boundaries of the state.[23] The kingdom of Kosala, in the Mahajanapada era, was also located within the regional boundaries of modern-day Uttar Pradesh.[24] According to Hinduism, the divine King Rama of the Ramayana epic reigned in Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala.[25] Krishna, another divine king of Hindu legend, who plays a key role in the Mahabharata epic and is revered as the eighth reincarnation (Avatar) of the Hindu god Vishnu, is said to have been born in the city of Mathura.[24] The aftermath of the Kurukshetra War is believed to have taken place in the area between the Upper Doab and Delhi, (in what was Kuru Mahajanapada), during the reign of the Pandava King Yudhishthira. The kingdom of the Kurus corresponds to the Black and Red Ware and Painted Gray Ware culture and the beginning of the Iron Age in northwest India, around 1000 BCE.[24]
 
Control over Gangetic plains region was of vital importance to the power and stability of all of India's major empires, including the Maurya (320–200 BCE), Kushan (100–250 CE), Gupta (350–600), and Gurjara-Pratihara (650–1036) empires.[26] Following the Huns' invasions that broke the Gupta empire, the Ganges-Yamuna Doab saw the rise of Kannauj.[27] During the reign of Harshavardhana (590–647), the Kannauj empire reached its zenith.[27] It spanned from Punjab in the north and Gujarat in the west to Bengal in the east and Odisha in the south.[24] It included parts of central India, north of the Narmada River and it encompassed the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain.[28] Many communities in various parts of India claim descent from the migrants of Kannauj.[29] Soon after Harshavardhana's death, his empire disintegrated into many kingdoms, which were invaded and ruled by the Gurjara-Pratihara empire, which challenged Bengal's Pala Empire for control of the region.[28] Kannauj was several times invaded by the South Indian Rashtrakuta dynasty, from the 8th century to the 10th century.[30][31] After the fall of the Pala empire, the Chero dynasty ruled from the 12th century to the 18th century.[32]
 
Delhi Sultanate
Uttar Pradesh was partially or entirely ruled by the Delhi Sultanate for 320 years (1206–1526). Five dynasties ruled over the Delhi Sultanate sequentially: the Mamluk dynasty (1206–90), the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414), the Sayyid dynasty (1414–51), and the Lodi dynasty (1451–1526).[33][34]
 
The first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb ud-Din Aibak, conquered some parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Meerut, Aligarh, and Etawah. His successor, Iltutmish, expanded the Sultanate's rule over Uttar Pradesh by defeating the King of Kannauj. During the reign of Sultan Balban, the Mamluk dynasty faced numerous rebellions in the state, but he was able to suppress them and establish his authority. Alauddin Khilji, extended his conquests to various regions in the state, including Varanasi and Prayagraj. Apart from the rulers, the Delhi Sultanate era also saw the growth of Sufism in Uttar Pradesh. Sufi saints, such as Nizamuddin Auliya and Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, lived during this period and their teachings had a significant impact on the people of the region. Sultanat era in the state also witnessed the construction of mosques and tombs, including the Atala Masjid in Jaunpur, the Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri, and the Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq's Tomb in Tughlaqabad.[35][36]
 
Medieval and early modern period
In the 16th century, Babur, a Timurid descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan from Fergana Valley (modern-day Uzbekistan), swept across the Khyber Pass and founded the Mughal Empire, covering India, along with modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.[37] The Mughals were descended from Persianised Central Asian Turks (with significant Mongol admixture). In the Mughal era, Uttar Pradesh became the heartland of the empire.[29] Mughal emperors Babur and Humayun ruled from Delhi.[38][39] In 1540 an Afghan, Sher Shah Suri, took over the reins of Uttar Pradesh after defeating the Mughal King Humanyun.[40] Sher Shah and his son Islam Shah ruled Uttar Pradesh from their capital at Gwalior.[41] After the death of Islam Shah Suri, his prime minister Hemu became the de facto ruler of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and the western parts of Bengal. He was bestowed the title of Hemchandra Vikramaditya (title of Vikramāditya adopted from Vedic period) at his formal coronation took place at Purana Qila in Delhi on 7 October 1556. A month later, Hemu died in the Second Battle of Panipat, and Uttar Pradesh came under Emperor Akbar's rule.[42] Akbar ruled from Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.[43]


In the 18th century, after the fall of Mughal authority, the power vacuum was filled by the Maratha Empire, in the mid-18th century, the Maratha army invaded the Uttar Pradesh region, which resulted in Rohillas losing control of Rohilkhand to the Maratha forces led by Raghunath Rao and Malha Rao Holkar. The conflict between Rohillas and Marathas came to an end on 18 December 1788 with the arrest of Ghulam Qadir, the grandson of Najeeb-ud-Daula, who was defeated by the Maratha general Mahadaji Scindia. In 1803–04, following the Second Anglo-Maratha War, when the British East India Company defeated the Maratha Empire, much of the region came under British suzerainty.[44]
===Healthcare===
Uttar Pradesh has both public and private healthcare services. Public healthcare is provided through primary health centres, community health centres, district hospitals, and medical colleges. Even though the state has built a large network of hospitals and clinics, the facilities are still not enough to meet the needs of its huge population.


British India era
In recent years, the population has grown much faster than the number of health centres. The smaller sub-centres, which are the first contact points for people, have increased only slightly, while the demand for healthcare has gone up a lot. The state also faces problems such as a shortage of doctors and nurses, high cost of treatment, lack of medicines and equipment, and poor planning. Because of this, many private hospitals have come up, but they are often expensive.
Timeline of reorganisation and name changes of UP[45]
1807 Ceded and Conquered Provinces
14 November 1834 Presidency of Agra
1 January 1836 North-Western Provinces
3 April 1858 Oudh taken under British control, Delhi taken away from NWP and merged into Punjab
1 April 1871 Ajmer, Merwara & Kekri made separate commissioner-ship
15 February 1877 Oudh added to North-Western Provinces
22 March 1902 Renamed United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
3 January 1921 Renamed United Provinces of British India
1 April 1937 Renamed United Provinces
1 April 1946 Self rule granted
15 August 1947 Part of independent India
24 January 1950 Renamed Uttar Pradesh
9 November 2000 Uttaranchal state, now known as Uttarakhand, created from part of Uttar Pradesh
Starting from Bengal in the second half of the 18th century, a series of battles for north Indian lands finally gave the British East India Company accession over the state's territories.[46] Ajmer and Jaipur kingdoms were also included in this northern territory, which was named the "North-Western Provinces" (of Agra). Although UP later became the fifth-largest state of India, NWPA was one of the smallest states of the British Indian empire.[47] Its capital shifted twice between Agra and Allahabad.[48]


Due to dissatisfaction with British rule, a serious rebellion erupted in various parts of North India, which became known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857; Bengal regiment's sepoy stationed at Meerut cantonment, Mangal Pandey, is widely considered as its starting point.[49] After the revolt failed, the British divided the most rebellious regions by reorganising their administrative boundaries, splitting the Delhi region from 'NWFP of Agra' and merging it with Punjab Province, while the Ajmer–Marwar region was merged with Rajputana and Oudh was incorporated into the state. The new state was called the North Western Provinces of Agra and Oudh, which in 1902 was renamed as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.[50] It was commonly referred to as the United Provinces or its acronym UP.[51][52]
There are thousands of government hospitals in rural and urban areas, but they serve a very large number of people. On average, one hospital serves nearly fifty thousand people. Out-of-pocket medical expenses in the state are the highest in the country, meaning people have to spend a lot from their own pockets for treatment.


In 1920, the capital of the province was shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow.[53] The high court continued to be at Allahabad, but a bench was established at Lucknow.[54] Allahabad continues to be an important administrative base of today's Uttar Pradesh and has several administrative headquarters.[55] Uttar Pradesh continued to be central to Indian politics and was especially important in modern Indian history as a hotbed of the Indian independence movement. The state hosted modern educational institutions such as the Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University and Darul Uloom Deoband. Nationally known figures such as Ram Prasad Bismil and Chandra Shekhar Azad were among the leaders of the movement in Uttar Pradesh, and Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya and Govind Ballabh Pant were important national leaders of the Indian National Congress. The All India Kisan Sabha was formed at the Lucknow session of the Congress on 11 April 1936, with the famous nationalist Sahajanand Saraswati elected as its first president,[56] to address the longstanding grievances of the peasantry and mobilise them against the zamindari landlords attacks on their occupancy rights, thus sparking the Farmers movements in India.[57] During the Quit India Movement of 1942, Ballia district overthrew the colonial authority and installed an independent administration under Chittu Pandey. Ballia became known as "Baghi Ballia" (Rebel Ballia) for this significant role in India's independence movement.[58]
The health situation in Uttar Pradesh is very serious. A baby born in the state is expected to live fewer years than in most neighbouring states. The state reports the highest share of deaths from diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis, and even cancer. Maternal health is also poor, with many women unable to get proper care during pregnancy. A large number of women still give birth at home, and most of these home deliveries are unsafe.


Post-independence
Child health indicators are among the worst in India. Many children die before the age of five, with a high number dying within the first month or the first year of life.
After India's independence, the United Provinces were renamed "Uttar Pradesh" (lit. 'northern province'), preserving UP as the abbreviation of the state's name,[59][60] with the change coming into effect on 24 January 1950.[1] The new state was formed after the merger of several princely states and territories, including the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, and the Delhi territory. The state has provided nine of India's prime ministers which is more than any other state and is the source of the largest number of seats in the Lok Sabha. Despite its political influence since ancient times, its poor record in economic development and administration, poor governance, organised crime and corruption have kept it among India's backward states. The state has been affected by repeated episodes of caste-related and communal violence.[61] In December 1992 the disputed Babri Mosque located in Ayodhya was demolished by Hindu activists, leading to widespread violence across India.[62] In 2000, northern districts of the state were separated to form the state of Uttarakhand.[63]


Geography
===Tourism===
Main article: Geography of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is the top state in India for domestic tourism. In 2021, around 110 million Indian tourists and about 44,000 foreign tourists visited the state. The Taj Mahal alone attracts around 7 million people every year and earns big revenue from ticket sales. The state has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain, also known as the Northern Plain or North Indian River Plain
A part of the Gangetic Plain
Uttar Pradesh, with a total area of 240,928 square kilometres (93,023 sq mi), is India's fourth-largest state in terms of land area and is roughly of same size as United Kingdom. It is situated on the northern spout of India and shares an international boundary with Nepal. The Himalayas border the state on the north,[64] but the plains that cover most of the state are distinctly different from those high mountains.[65] The larger Gangetic Plain region is in the north; it includes the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, the Ghaghra plains, the Ganges plains and the Terai.[66] The smaller Vindhya Range and plateau region are in the south.[67] It is characterised by hard rock strata and a varied topography of hills, plains, valleys and plateaus. The Bhabhar tract gives place to the terai area which is covered with tall elephant grass and thick forests interspersed with marshes and swamps.[68][69] The sluggish rivers of the bhabhar deepen in this area, their course running through a tangled mass of thick undergrowth. The terai runs parallel to the bhabhar in a thin strip. The entire alluvial plain is divided into three sub-regions.[70] The first in the eastern tract consisting of 14 districts which are subject to periodical floods and droughts and have been classified as scarcity areas. These districts have the highest density of population which gives the lowest per capita land. The other two regions, the central and the western, are comparatively better with a well-developed irrigation system.[71] They suffer from waterlogging and large-scale user tracts.[72] In addition, the area is fairly arid. The state has more than 32 large and small rivers; of them, the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sarayu, Betwa, and Ghaghara are larger and of religious importance in Hinduism.[73]


Cultivation is intensive in the state.[74] Uttar Pradesh falls under three agro-climatic zones viz. Middle Gangetic Plains region (Zone–IV), Upper Gangetic Plains region (Zone–V) and Central Plateau and Hills region (Zone–VIII).[75] The valley areas have fertile and rich soil. There is intensive cultivation on terraced hill slopes, but irrigation facilities are deficient.[76] The Siwalik Range which forms the southern foothills of the Himalayas, slopes down into a boulder bed called 'bhabhar'.[77] The transitional belt running along the entire length of the state is called the terai and bhabhar area. It has rich forests, cutting across it are innumerable streams which swell into raging torrents during the monsoon.[78]
Religious tourism is very important for the state’s economy. Varanasi is one of the oldest and most sacred cities for Hindus and Jains. Vrindavan is a holy place for followers of Vaishnavism. Sravasti is an important Buddhist site, believed to be where Buddha gave many of his teachings. Ayodhya is considered the birthplace of Lord Rama and is one of the top pilgrimage places for Hindus. Prayagraj hosts the Magh Mela every year on the banks of the Ganges River, and every 12 years the larger Kumbh Mela is held there, attracting millions of pilgrims in one of the biggest gatherings in the world.


Climate
The state also has many important Buddhist sites. Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment, and Kushinagar, where he died, are major pilgrimage centres. Sarnath is also home to the famous Ashoka Pillars and the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which is India’s national emblem.
Main article: Climate of Uttar Pradesh
Early monsoon days in Lucknow
Monsoon clouds over Indirapuram
Uttar Pradesh has a humid subtropical climate and experiences four seasons.[79] The winter in January and February is followed by summer between March and May and the monsoon season between June and September.[80] Summers are extreme with temperatures fluctuating anywhere between 0–50 °C (32–122 °F) in parts of the state coupled with dry hot winds called the Loo.[81] The Gangetic plain varies from semiarid to sub-humid.[80] The mean annual rainfall ranges from 650 mm (26 inches) in the southwest corner of the state to 1,000 mm (39 inches) in the eastern and south eastern parts of the state.[82] Primarily a summer phenomenon, the Bay of Bengal branch of the Indian monsoon is the major bearer of rain in most parts of state. After summer it is the southwest monsoon which brings most of the rain here, while in winters rain due to the western disturbances and north-east monsoon also contribute small quantities towards the overall precipitation of the state.[79][83]


Climate data for Uttar Pradesh
Other attractions include Ghazipur, known for its Ghats on the Ganges and the tomb of Lord Cornwallis, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Jhansi Fort, linked to the Revolt of 1857, is another historic site. The fort’s architecture, with thick walls and bastions, shows a mix of Hindu and Islamic styles.
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8) 31.9
(89.4) 35.4
(95.7) 37.7
(99.9) 36.9
(98.4) 31.7
(89.1) 28.4
(83.1) 27.4
(81.3) 29.4
(84.9) 31.4
(88.5) 30.1
(86.2) 28.9
(84.0) 31.6
(88.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8) 12.1
(53.8) 15.8
(60.4) 19.9
(67.8) 22.4
(72.3) 22.9
(73.2) 22.2
(72.0) 21.6
(70.9) 20.8
(69.4) 18.5
(65.3) 14.4
(57.9) 11.5
(52.7) 17.8
(64.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 0
(0) 3
(0.1) 2
(0.1) 11
(0.4) 40
(1.6) 138
(5.4) 163
(6.4) 129
(5.1) 155
(6.1) 68
(2.7) 28
(1.1) 4
(0.2) 741
(29.2)
Average precipitation days 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.1 3.3 10.9 17.0 16.2 10.9 5.0 2.4 0.3 67.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 291.4 282.8 300.7 303.0 316.2 186.0 120.9 111.6 177.0 248.44 270.0 288.3 2,896.34
Source: [84]
The rain in Uttar Pradesh can vary from an annual average of 170 cm (67 inches) in hilly areas to 84 cm (33 inches) in Western Uttar Pradesh.[79] Given the concentration of most of this rainfall in the four months of the monsoon, excess rain can lead to floods and shortage to droughts. As such, these two phenomena, floods and droughts, commonly recur in the state. The climate of the Vindhya Range and plateau is subtropical with a mean annual rainfall between 1,000 and 1,200 mm (39 and 47 inches), most of which comes during the monsoon.[80] Typical summer months are from March to June, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30–38 °C (86–100 °F). There is a low relative humidity of around 20% and dust-laden winds blow throughout the season. In summer, hot winds called loo blow all across Uttar Pradesh.[79]


Flora and fauna
== Government and Administration ==
See also: Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and Dudhwa National Park
Uttar Pradesh is governed through a parliamentary system of democracy. It is one of the seven states in India that has a bicameral legislature (two houses) – the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) with 404 elected members, and the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council) with 100 members, where one-third retire every two years. Uttar Pradesh also sends the largest number of MPs to the Indian Parliament, with 80 seats in the Lok Sabha and 31 seats in the Rajya Sabha.
State symbols of Uttar Pradesh[85][86]
State animal Swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii)
State bird Sarus crane (Antigone antigone)
State tree Ashoka (Saraca asoca)
State flower Palash (Butea monosperma)
State dance Kathak
State sport Field hockey
Uttar Pradesh has an abundance of natural resources.[87] In 2011, the recorded forest area in the state was 16,583 km2 (6,403 sq mi) which is about 6.9% of the state's geographical area.[88] In spite of rapid deforestation and poaching of wildlife, a diverse flora and fauna continue to exist in the state. Uttar Pradesh is a habitat for 4.2% of all species of Algae recorded in India, 6.4% of Fungi, 6.0% of Lichens, 2.9% of Bryophytes, 3.3% of Pteridophytes, 8.7% of Gymnosperms, 8.1% of Angiosperms.[89] Several species of trees, large and small mammals, reptiles, and insects are found in the belt of temperate upper mountainous forests. Medicinal plants are found in the wild[90] and are also grown in plantations. The Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands support cattle. Moist deciduous trees grow in the upper Gangetic plain, especially along its riverbanks. This plain supports a wide variety of plants and animals. The Ganges and its tributaries are the habitat of large and small reptiles, amphibians, fresh-water fish, and crabs. Scrubland trees such as the Babool (Vachellia nilotica) and animals such as the Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) are found in the arid Vindhyas.[91][92] Tropical dry deciduous forests are found in all parts of the plains. Since much sunlight reaches the ground, shrubs and grasses are also abundant.[93] Large tracts of these forests have been cleared for cultivation. Tropical thorny forests, consisting of widely scattered thorny trees, mainly babool are mostly found in the southwestern parts of the state.[94]


Uttar Pradesh is known for its extensive avifauna.[95] The most common birds which are found in the state are doves, peafowl, junglefowl, black partridges, house sparrows, songbirds, blue jays, parakeets, quails, bulbuls, comb ducks, kingfishers, woodpeckers, snipes, and parrots. Bird sanctuaries in the state include Bakhira Sanctuary, National Chambal Sanctuary, Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary, and Okhla Sanctuary.[96][97][98][99][100][101]
The Governor is the constitutional head of the state and is appointed by the President of India for five years. The Chief Minister, chosen from the party or alliance with a majority in the Assembly, runs the government with the Council of Ministers. The Governor acts as a ceremonial head, while the Chief Minister and ministers manage daily work. Each department is led by a minister, assisted by senior IAS officers like the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, and Principal Secretary.


Other animals in the state include reptiles such as lizards, cobras, kraits, and gharials. Among the wide variety of fishes, the most common ones are mahaseer and trout. Some animal species have gone extinct in recent years, while others, like the lion from the Gangetic Plain, the rhinoceros from the Terai region, Ganges river dolphin primarily found in the Ganges have become endangered.[102] Many species are vulnerable to poaching despite regulation by the government.[103]
For administration, the state is divided into 18 divisions and 75 districts. Each division is headed by a Divisional Commissioner (IAS), and each district is led by a District Magistrate (IAS), who is responsible for law and order and public services. At the block level, development is handled by a Block Development Officer (BDO). The Uttar Pradesh Police is headed by a Director General of Police (IPS), while each district has a Superintendent of Police (IPS). Forests and wildlife are managed by a Divisional Forest Officer (IFS).
 
Anandabodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) in Jetavana Monastery, Sravasti
Anandabodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) in Jetavana Monastery, Sravasti
A hybrid nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) showing nectar spur, found mainly in Hardoi district
A hybrid nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) showing nectar spur, found mainly in Hardoi district
An endangered Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) lives in the Ganges river
An endangered Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) lives in the Ganges river
View of the Terai region
View of the Terai region
The threatened Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a large fish-eating crocodilian found in the Ganges River
The threatened Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a large fish-eating crocodilian found in the Ganges River
 
Divisions, districts and cities
Main articles: Administrative divisions of Uttar Pradesh, List of districts of Uttar Pradesh, and List of urban local bodies in Uttar Pradesh
See also: Western Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Central Uttar Pradesh
"Administrative Divisions"
Divisions of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is divided into 75 districts under these 18 divisions:[104]
 
Saharanpur
Moradabad
Bareilly
Meerut
Aligarh
Agra
Devipatan
Basti
Gorakhpur
Kanpur
Lucknow
Ayodhya
Azamgarh
Jhansi
Chitrakoot
Prayagraj
Varanasi
Mirzapur
The following is a list of top districts from state of Uttar Pradesh by population, ranked in respect of all India.[105]
 
Rank (in India) District Population Growth Rate (%) Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males) Literacy Rate (%)
13 Prayagraj 5,954,391 20.63 901 72.32
26 Moradabad 4,772,006 25.22 906 56.77
27 Ghaziabad 4,681,645 42.27 881 78.07
30 Azamgarh 4,613,913 17.11 1019 70.93
31 Lucknow 4,589,838 25.82 917 77.29
32 Kanpur Nagar 4,581,268 9.92 862 79.65
41 Agra 4,418,797 22.05 868 71.58
50 Bareilly 4,448,359 22.93% 887 58.5
Each district is governed by a District Magistrate, who is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed Government of Uttar Pradesh and reports to Divisional Commissioner of the division in which his district falls.[106] The Divisional Commissioner is an IAS officer of high seniority. Each district is divided into subdivisions, governed by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and again into Blocks. Blocks consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities.[107] These blocks consists of urban units viz. census towns and rural units called gram panchayat.[106]
 
Uttar Pradesh has more metropolitan cities than any other state in India.[108][109] The absolute urban population of the state is 44.4 million, which constitutes 11.8% of the total urban population of India, the second-highest of any state.[110] According to the 2011 census, there are 15 urban agglomerations with a population greater than 500,000.[111] Uttar Pradesh has a complex system of municipalities. Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) are urban local bodies in large cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and cities having population more than 4 million.[112] These governed by a mayor and councilors elected from wards. Nagar Palika Parishad or Municipal Council, serves medium-sized towns like Bela Pratapgarh, Jalaun, or Bisalpur and are governed by a chairperson and councilors.[113] Nagar Panchayat which operate in smaller towns and semi-urban areas like Badlapur, Jaunpur, Bikapur, or Chilkana Sultanpur, are governed by a chairman and councilors.[113] There are 14 Municipal Corporations,[114][115] while Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Budha Nagar district are specially administered by statutory authorities under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Act, 1976.[116][117]
 
In 2011, state's cabinet ministers headed by the then Chief Minister Mayawati announced the separation of Uttar Pradesh into four different states of Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Avadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh with twenty-eight, seven, twenty-three and seventeen districts, respectively, later the proposal was turned down when the Akhilesh Yadav–lead Samajwadi Party came to power in the 2012 election.[118]
 
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Uttar Pradesh
See also: List of people from Uttar Pradesh
Religion in Uttar Pradesh (2011)[119]
Hinduism (79.7%)
Islam (19.3%)
Sikhism (0.32%)
Christianity (0.18%)
Buddhism (0.10%)
Jainism (0.11%)
Other (0.01%)
Not stated (0.29%)
Languages of Uttar Pradesh from 2011 census[120]
Hindi (80.2%)
Bhojpuri (10.9%)
Urdu (5.42%)
Awadhi (1.90%)
Punjabi (0.30%)
Bengali (0.10%)
Others (1.19%)
Uttar Pradesh has a very large population and a high population growth rate. From 1991 to 2001 its population increased by over 26 per cent.[121] It is the most populous state in India, with 199,581,477 people on 1 March 2011.[122] The state contributes to 16.2 per cent of India's population. As of 2021, the estimated population of the state is around 240 million people.[123] The population density is 828 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most densely populated states in the country.[124] It has the largest scheduled caste population whereas scheduled tribes are less than 1 per cent of the total population.[125][126]
 
 
The sex ratio in 2011, at 912 women to 1000 men, was lower than the national figure of 943.[127] The low sex ratio in Uttar Pradesh, is a result of various factors, such as sex-selective abortion, female infanticide, and discrimination against girls and women.[128][129] The state's 2001–2011 decennial growth rate (including Uttrakhand) was 20.1 per cent, higher than the national rate of 17.64 per cent.[130][131] It has a large number of people living below the poverty line.[132] As per a World Bank document released in 2016, the pace of poverty reduction in the state has been slower than the rest of the country.[133] Estimates released by the Reserve Bank of India for the year 2011–12 revealed that the state had 59 million (59819,000) people below the poverty line, the most for any state in India.[132][134] The central and eastern districts in particular have very high levels of poverty. The state is also experiencing widening consumption inequality. As per the report of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released in 2020, the state per capita income is below ₹80,000 (US$950) per annum.[135]
 
As per 2011 census, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is home to the highest numbers of both Hindus and Muslims.[136] The literacy rate of the state at the 2011 census was 67.7 per cent, which was below the national average of 74 per cent.[137][138] The literacy rate for men is 79 per cent and for women 59 per cent. In 2001 the literacy rate in the state stood at 56 per cent overall, 67 per cent for men and 43 per cent for women.[139] A report based on a National Statistical Office (NSO) survey[a] revealed that Uttar Pradesh's literacy rate is 73 per cent, less than the national average of 77.7 per cent. According to the report, in the rural region, the literacy rate among men is 80.5 per cent and women is 60.4 per cent, while in urban areas, the literacy rate among men is 86.8 per cent and women is 74.9 per cent.[140]
 
Hindi is the primary official language and is spoken by the majority of the population.[7] Bhojpuri is the second most spoken language of the state,[141] it is spoken by almost 11 per cent of the population. Most people speak regional languages classified as dialects of Hindi in the census. These include Awadhi spoken in Awadh in central Uttar Pradesh, Bhojpuri spoken in Purvanchal in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Braj Bhasha spoken in the Braj region in Western Uttar Pradesh. These languages have also been recognised by the state government for official use in their respective regions. Urdu is given the status of a second official language, spoken by 5.4 per cent of the population.[7][142] English is used as a means of communication for education, commerce, and governance. It is commonly spoken and employed as a language of instruction in educational institutions, as well as for conducting business transactions and managing administrative affairs. Other notable languages spoken in the state include Punjabi (0.3 per cent) and Bengali (0.1 per cent).[142]
 
Governance and administration
Main articles: Government of Uttar Pradesh and Vidhan Bhavan, Lucknow
refer caption
Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), the lower house of the bicameral legislature
The state is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy. Uttar Pradesh is one of the seven states in India, where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising two houses: the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) and the Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).[143][144] The Legislative Assembly consists of 404 members who are elected for five-year terms. The Legislative Council is a permanent body of 100 members with one-third (33 members) retiring every two years. The state sends the largest number of legislators to the national Parliament.[145] The state contributes 80 seats to Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and 31 seats to Rajya Sabha, the upper house.[146][147]
 
The Government of Uttar Pradesh is a democratically elected body in India with the governor as its constitutional head and is appointed by the president of India for a five-year term.[148] The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor, and the council of ministers is appointed by the governor on the advice of the chief minister. The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS). The Secretariat headed by the Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serves as the administrative head of the department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary.[149][150]
 
For administration, the state is divided into 18 divisions and 75 districts. Divisional Commissioner, an IAS officer is the head of administration on the divisional level.[149][151][152] The administration in each district is headed by a District Magistrate, who is also an IAS officer, and is assisted by several officers belonging to state services.[149][153] District Magistrate being the head of the district administration, is responsible for maintaining law and order and providing public services in the district. At the block level, the Block Development Officer (BDO) is responsible for the overall development of the block. The Uttar Pradesh Police is headed by an IPS officer of the rank of Director general of police. A Superintendent of Police, an IPS officer assisted by the officers of the Uttar Pradesh Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues in each district. The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service manages the forests, environment, and wildlife of the district, assisted by the officers of Provincial Forest Service and Uttar Pradesh Forest Subordinate Service.[154]
 
refer caption
Allahabad High Court
The judiciary in the state consists of the Allahabad High Court in Prayagraj, the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court, district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at the tehsil level.[149][155] The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of the Uttar Pradesh judiciary on the advice of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India as well as the governor of Uttar Pradesh.[149][156] Subordinate Judicial Service, categorised into two divisions viz. Uttar Pradesh civil judicial services and Uttar Pradesh higher judicial service are another vital part of the judiciary of Uttar Pradesh.[149][157] While the Uttar Pradesh civil judicial services comprise the Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrates and civil judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate, the Uttar Pradesh higher judicial service comprises civil and sessions judges.[149] The Subordinate judicial service (viz. The district court of Etawah and the district court of Kanpur Dehat) of the judiciary at Uttar Pradesh is controlled by the District Judge.[149][157][158]
 
Politics in Uttar Pradesh has been dominated by four political parties – the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Indian National Congress. The political landscape of the state is often characterized by intense competition and polarization, leading to caste-based tensions and communal conflicts.[159] Critics often suggest that despite Uttar Pradesh's significant political legacy of producing eight Prime Ministers, the state continues to struggle with issues that hinder its overall advancement.[160]
 
Crime and accidents
According to the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states of encounter killings and custodial deaths.[161] In 2014, the state recorded 365 judicial deaths out of a total 1,530 deaths recorded in the country.[162] NHRC further said, of the over 30,000 murders registered in the country in 2016, Uttar Pradesh had 4,889 cases.[163] A data from Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) avers, Bareilly recorded the highest number of custodial death at 25, followed by Agra (21), Allahabad (19) and Varanasi (9). National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2011 says, the state has the highest number of crimes among any state in India, but due to its high population, the actual per capita crime rate is low.[164] The state also continues to top the list of states with maximum communal violence incidents. An analysis of Ministers of State of Home Affairs states (2014), 23 per cent of all incidents of communal violence in India took place in the state.[165][166] According to a research assembled by State Bank of India, Uttar Pradesh failed to improve its Human Development Index (HDI) ranking over a period of 27 years (1990–2017).[167] Based on sub-national human development index data for Indian states from 1990 to 2017, the report also stated that the value of human development index has steadily increased over time from 0.39 in 1990 to 0.59 in 2017.[168][169][170] The Uttar Pradesh Police, governed by the Department of Home and Confidential, is the largest police force in the world.[171][172][173]
 
Uttar Pradesh also reported the highest number of deaths – 41,746 – due to road accidents till December 2022, according to "Road Accidents in India" report of Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.[174][175] The UP Transport Department report also indicates that the primary cause of road accident fatalities was over-speeding, which accounted for 40 per cent of deaths. Drunken driving contributed to 10 per cent of fatalities, while 12 per cent of deaths were due to driving on the wrong side. Additionally, 10 per cent of accident deaths were caused by the use of mobile phones, and 5 per cent resulted from running red lights. The remaining 23 per cent of deaths were attributed to factors such as losing control of the vehicle, drowsiness, poor road visibility, and engineering defects.[176]
 
Between 2006 and 2010, the state has been hit with three terrorist attacks, including explosions in a landmark holy place, a court and a temple. The 2006 Varanasi bombings were a series of bombings that occurred across the Hindu holy city of Varanasi on 7 March 2006. At least 28 people were killed and as many as 101 others were injured.[177][178] In the afternoon of 23 November 2007, within a span of 25 minutes, six consecutive serial blasts occurred in the Lucknow, Varanasi, and Faizabad courts, in which 28 people were killed.[179][180][181] Another blast occurred on 7 December 2010, the blast occurred at Sheetla Ghat in Varanasi in which more than 38 people were killed.[182][183] In February 2016, a series of bomb blasts occurred at the Jhakarkati Bus Station in Kanpur, killing 2 people and injuring more than 30.[184]
 
Economy
 
 
===Transportation===
Uttar Pradesh has the largest railway network in India, but in terms of density, it ranks sixth, even though most of the state is flat and has the highest population. In 2015, the state had 9,077 km (5,640 mi) of railway lines. The network is managed mainly by two divisions of Indian Railways – North Central Railway (headquarters in Prayagraj) and North Eastern Railway (headquarters in Gorakhpur). Lucknow and Moradabad are divisional headquarters of Northern Railway. Fast trains like Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi Express and Kanpur Shatabdi Express connect Delhi with Lucknow and Kanpur. The Kanpur Shatabdi was also the first train in India to get German LHB coaches. Important railway stations like Prayagraj Junction, Agra Cantonment, Lucknow Charbagh, Gorakhpur Junction, Kanpur Central, Mathura Junction, and Varanasi Junction are listed among 50 world-class stations in India. Lucknow Metro and Kanpur Metro provide rapid transit service in those cities.
 
The state also has the largest road network in India. It has 42 national highways with a total length of 4,942 km, which is about 8.9% of all highways in the country. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), set up in 1972, operates 11,238 buses on 2,762 routes, covering 768,065 km daily and earning about ₹16 crore (US$1.9 million) per day. However, many buses are old and unsafe. All cities are linked by state highways, and district headquarters are being connected by four-lane roads. The Agra–Lucknow Expressway, a 302 km long controlled-access highway, is one such project. Uttar Pradesh also has the highest road density in India – 1,027 km per 1,000 km² – and the largest surfaced urban-road network (50,721 km).
 
In air travel, Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport and Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport are the main international airports. A new international airport was opened in Kushinagar, but it has not yet started international flights. The state also has six domestic airports in Agra, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, and Kanpur, most of which are shared with the Indian Air Force. Another international airport is under construction at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar, called Noida International Airport.
 
===Education===
Uttar Pradesh has a long tradition of education, but in earlier times it was mainly limited to the elite and to religious schools. In ancient periods, education was mostly based on Sanskrit. Later, as different cultures came to the region, knowledge in Pali, Persian, and Arabic was also added. This mix of learning continued through Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim traditions until British colonial rule.
 
The modern school-to-university system of education in Uttar Pradesh, like in the rest of India, was introduced by Christian missionaries and the British administration. Today, schools in the state are either run by the government or by private trusts. Most schools use Hindi as the medium of teaching, except those affiliated with central boards like CBSE and ICSE, where English is used.
 
The state follows the 10+2+3 system. After completing secondary school, students usually study two more years in junior college or higher secondary schools, and then they can choose to go for general or professional degree programs. Students generally pick one of three streams – arts, commerce, or science – at this stage.
 
Despite its long educational tradition, Uttar Pradesh faces several challenges. The spending per student is lower than the national average. The student–teacher ratio is also higher than the national average, which means fewer teachers are available for each class. Teacher absenteeism is a major problem in rural areas, and many teaching positions in government schools remain vacant, including a large number of headmaster and assistant teacher posts.


== Government and Politics ==
The judiciary of Uttar Pradesh is headed by the Allahabad High Court in Prayagraj, with a bench in Lucknow. Each district has district and session courts, along with smaller courts at the tehsil level. Judges are appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Chief Justice of India and the Governor. The state judiciary has two levels of service – civil judges and magistrates at the lower level, and civil and sessions judges at the higher level.
* Current Chief Minister: [[Yogi Adityanath]]
* Governing party: [[Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]]
* Bicameral legislature: [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] and [[Legislative Council]]
* Sends the highest number of MPs to the [[Lok Sabha]]


== Tourism ==
Politics in Uttar Pradesh is dominated by four main parties – the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Indian National Congress (INC). The state’s politics is often marked by strong competition, caste-based divisions, and communal tensions. Despite being the home state of eight Prime Ministers, Uttar Pradesh still struggles with many challenges to its development.
Uttar Pradesh is home to world-famous landmarks:
* [[Taj Mahal]], [[Agra Fort]] (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
* [[Fatehpur Sikri]]
* [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]], [[Buddhist Circuit]] (Sarnath, Kushinagar)


== Notable Personalities ==
== Notable Personalities ==
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* [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] – Former Prime Ministers
* [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] – Former Prime Ministers
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] – Actor
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] – Actor
* [[Ram Manohar Lohia]], [[Mayawati]], [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]] – Political leaders
* [[Ram Manohar Lohia]], [[Mayawati]], [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]],[[Akhilesh Yadav]], [[Yogi Adityanath]] – Political leaders


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[States and Union Territories of India]]
* [[States and Union Territories of India]]
* [[Hindi Belt]]
* [[Ganga River]]
* [[Ganga River]]
* [[Indian Politics]]
* [[Ayodhya Ram Mandir]]
* [[Ayodhya Ram Mandir]]
* [[Kumbh Mela]]
* [[Kumbh Mela]]
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