Uttar Pradesh: Difference between revisions
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Uttar Pradesh (UP) is a state in northern India. With over 241 million people, it is the most populated state in India and also the most populated region in the world. Its population is larger than all countries except China, United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Uttar Pradesh has 16.5% of India’s population and about 3% of the world’s population. | |||
The state is bordered by Rajasthan in the west, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi in the northwest, Uttarakhand and Nepal in the north, Bihar in the east, and Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand in the south. It is the fourth-largest state in India with an area of 243,286 km² (93,933 sq mi), which is 7.3% of India’s total area. Lucknow is the capital, and Prayagraj is the judicial capital. The state has 18 divisions and 75 districts. | |||
Uttar Pradesh was formed in 1950 after India became a republic. Earlier it was called the United Provinces (1935), which came from the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (1902), created from the North-Western Provinces and Oudh Province. | |||
The state was once known for sugar production, but now the economy is led by the service industry, which includes tourism, hotels, real estate, insurance, and finance. Uttar Pradesh has the third-largest economy in India, with a GDP of ₹18.63 lakh crore (US$220 billion) and a per capita income of ₹68,810 (US$810). The High Court is in Prayagraj. Politically, UP sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha and 31 members to the Rajya Sabha. | |||
On 9 November 2000, a new state Uttarakhand (earlier called Uttaranchal) was carved out of UP’s Himalayan hill region. The two main rivers, the Ganga and Yamuna, meet at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, an important Hindu pilgrimage place. Other rivers include the Gomti and Sarayu. The state has 6.1% forest cover, 82% cultivable land, and 68.5% net sown area. | |||
People of the state are called Awadhi, Bagheli, Bhojpuri, Brajwasi, Bundeli, or Kannauji, depending on their region. Most people follow Hinduism, followed by Islam. Hindi is the main language and official language, along with Urdu. | |||
Uttar Pradesh has a long history and was home to great empires like the Maurya, Harsha, Gupta, Pala, Delhi Sultanate, and Mughal Empires. In the early 20th century, during the Indian independence movement, the princely states of Ramgadi, Rampur, and Benares were in UP. The state was also a key place in the 1857 revolt against British rule. | |||
Uttar Pradesh has many Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites, as well as historical, natural, and religious tourist places such as Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Vrindavan. The state also has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. | |||
== Geography == | == Geography == | ||
Uttar Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh, covering 240,928 square kilometres (93,023 sq mi), is the fourth-largest state in India and is roughly the size of the United Kingdom. It is located in northern India and shares a border with Nepal. The Himalayas are to the north, but most of the state is flat plains. The northern part has the Gangetic Plain, which includes the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, Ghaghra plains, Ganges plains, and the Terai region. The southern part has the smaller Vindhya Range and plateau. The state has hills, valleys, plateaus, and hard rock areas. | ||
The Bhabhar area gradually changes into the Terai, which has tall grass, forests, marshes, and swamps. Rivers in the Bhabhar flow slowly through dense vegetation, and the Terai runs parallel to it in a narrow strip. The alluvial plains are divided into three regions: the eastern region has 14 districts prone to floods and droughts and has high population density, leading to less land per person. The central and western regions are better with more irrigation but sometimes face waterlogging. | |||
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. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
Uttar Pradesh | === Prehistory === | ||
Modern human hunter-gatherers lived in Uttar Pradesh between 85,000 and 72,000 years ago. Prehistoric tools and remains from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic period (21,000–31,000 years ago) have been found in the state. Evidence of Mesolithic/Microlithic hunter-gatherer settlements was also discovered near Pratapgarh, dating to around 10,550–9,550 BCE. | |||
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. | |||
== Culture == | == Culture == | ||
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== Economy == | == Economy == | ||
Uttar Pradesh is the fourth-largest economy in India based on net state domestic product (NSDP), with an estimated GDP of ₹14.89 lakh crore (US$180 billion), contributing 8.4% of India’s total GDP. In 2014–15, the state produced 19% of India’s total food grains, and about 70% of the country’s sugar comes from here, making sugarcane the most important cash crop. Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugar-producing state in India. | |||
The state has 359 manufacturing clusters, with cement being the top small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. The Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC), set up in 1954, helps develop small- and medium-scale industries and provides working capital. Private investment in the state between 2012 and 2016 was over ₹25,081 crores. In 2015, the World Bank ranked Uttar Pradesh among the top 10 states in India for ease of doing business, and first among northern states. | |||
Uttar Pradesh’s debt in 2019–20 was 29.8% of its GDP, totaling ₹2.09 lakh crore (US$25 billion) in 2011. The state has not seen double-digit economic growth despite repeated efforts. GDP growth was 7% in 2017–18 and 6.5% in 2018–19. Unemployment rose to 21.5% in April 2020. The state also has the largest number of people migrating out, with nearly 14.4 million (14.7%) leaving according to the 2011 census. Most women migrate due to marriage, while men move for work. | |||
Regional differences are significant. Western Uttar Pradesh is more developed, with higher per capita district income, while eastern districts (Purvanchal) lag due to poor infrastructure and dense population. In 2021–22, the GDDP of Purvanchal was ₹5.37 lakh crore, Western Uttar Pradesh ₹9.44 lakh crore, Bundelkhand ₹99,029.34 crore, and Central Uttar Pradesh ₹3.36 lakh crore. The per capita annual income in eastern districts was ₹12,741, much lower than the state average of ₹17,349. | |||
In 2009–10, the service sector was the largest part of Uttar Pradesh's economy, contributing 44.8% of the state’s GDP. Agriculture, forestry, and tourism contributed 44%, while industry and manufacturing contributed 11.2%. Noida, Meerut, and Agra had the highest per capita incomes, while Lucknow and Kanpur were 7th and 9th, respectively. | |||
During the 11th five-year plan (2007–2012), the state’s GDP grew at an average rate of 7.3%, which was lower than the national average of 15.5%. The per capita GSDP of the state was ₹29,417 (US$350), lower than the national average of ₹60,972 (US$720). Labor efficiency in the state was slightly above the national average. Textiles and sugar refining are major industries employing many workers, and tourism also contributes significantly to the economy. | |||
== Government and Politics == | == Government and Politics == | ||
Revision as of 06:54, 23 August 2025
Uttar Pradesh (UP) is a state in northern India. With over 241 million people, it is the most populated state in India and also the most populated region in the world. Its population is larger than all countries except China, United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Uttar Pradesh has 16.5% of India’s population and about 3% of the world’s population.
The state is bordered by Rajasthan in the west, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi in the northwest, Uttarakhand and Nepal in the north, Bihar in the east, and Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand in the south. It is the fourth-largest state in India with an area of 243,286 km² (93,933 sq mi), which is 7.3% of India’s total area. Lucknow is the capital, and Prayagraj is the judicial capital. The state has 18 divisions and 75 districts.
Uttar Pradesh was formed in 1950 after India became a republic. Earlier it was called the United Provinces (1935), which came from the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (1902), created from the North-Western Provinces and Oudh Province.
The state was once known for sugar production, but now the economy is led by the service industry, which includes tourism, hotels, real estate, insurance, and finance. Uttar Pradesh has the third-largest economy in India, with a GDP of ₹18.63 lakh crore (US$220 billion) and a per capita income of ₹68,810 (US$810). The High Court is in Prayagraj. Politically, UP sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha and 31 members to the Rajya Sabha.
On 9 November 2000, a new state Uttarakhand (earlier called Uttaranchal) was carved out of UP’s Himalayan hill region. The two main rivers, the Ganga and Yamuna, meet at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, an important Hindu pilgrimage place. Other rivers include the Gomti and Sarayu. The state has 6.1% forest cover, 82% cultivable land, and 68.5% net sown area.
People of the state are called Awadhi, Bagheli, Bhojpuri, Brajwasi, Bundeli, or Kannauji, depending on their region. Most people follow Hinduism, followed by Islam. Hindi is the main language and official language, along with Urdu.
Uttar Pradesh has a long history and was home to great empires like the Maurya, Harsha, Gupta, Pala, Delhi Sultanate, and Mughal Empires. In the early 20th century, during the Indian independence movement, the princely states of Ramgadi, Rampur, and Benares were in UP. The state was also a key place in the 1857 revolt against British rule.
Uttar Pradesh has many Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites, as well as historical, natural, and religious tourist places such as Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Vrindavan. The state also has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Geography
Uttar Pradesh, covering 240,928 square kilometres (93,023 sq mi), is the fourth-largest state in India and is roughly the size of the United Kingdom. It is located in northern India and shares a border with Nepal. The Himalayas are to the north, but most of the state is flat plains. The northern part has the Gangetic Plain, which includes the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, Ghaghra plains, Ganges plains, and the Terai region. The southern part has the smaller Vindhya Range and plateau. The state has hills, valleys, plateaus, and hard rock areas.
The Bhabhar area gradually changes into the Terai, which has tall grass, forests, marshes, and swamps. Rivers in the Bhabhar flow slowly through dense vegetation, and the Terai runs parallel to it in a narrow strip. The alluvial plains are divided into three regions: the eastern region has 14 districts prone to floods and droughts and has high population density, leading to less land per person. The central and western regions are better with more irrigation but sometimes face waterlogging.
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.
History
Prehistory
Modern human hunter-gatherers lived in Uttar Pradesh between 85,000 and 72,000 years ago. Prehistoric tools and remains from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic period (21,000–31,000 years ago) have been found in the state. Evidence of Mesolithic/Microlithic hunter-gatherer settlements was also discovered near Pratapgarh, dating to around 10,550–9,550 BCE.
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.
Culture
Uttar Pradesh is often referred to as the "Hindi heartland":
- Classical arts: Kathak dance, Awadhi cuisine, Chikankari embroidery.
- Important festivals: Holi, Diwali, Kumbh Mela, Eid, Ram Navami.
- Spiritual cities: Ayodhya (birthplace of Lord Rama), Mathura (Lord Krishna), Varanasi (city of Lord Shiva).
Economy
Uttar Pradesh is the fourth-largest economy in India based on net state domestic product (NSDP), with an estimated GDP of ₹14.89 lakh crore (US$180 billion), contributing 8.4% of India’s total GDP. In 2014–15, the state produced 19% of India’s total food grains, and about 70% of the country’s sugar comes from here, making sugarcane the most important cash crop. Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugar-producing state in India.
The state has 359 manufacturing clusters, with cement being the top small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. The Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC), set up in 1954, helps develop small- and medium-scale industries and provides working capital. Private investment in the state between 2012 and 2016 was over ₹25,081 crores. In 2015, the World Bank ranked Uttar Pradesh among the top 10 states in India for ease of doing business, and first among northern states.
Uttar Pradesh’s debt in 2019–20 was 29.8% of its GDP, totaling ₹2.09 lakh crore (US$25 billion) in 2011. The state has not seen double-digit economic growth despite repeated efforts. GDP growth was 7% in 2017–18 and 6.5% in 2018–19. Unemployment rose to 21.5% in April 2020. The state also has the largest number of people migrating out, with nearly 14.4 million (14.7%) leaving according to the 2011 census. Most women migrate due to marriage, while men move for work.
Regional differences are significant. Western Uttar Pradesh is more developed, with higher per capita district income, while eastern districts (Purvanchal) lag due to poor infrastructure and dense population. In 2021–22, the GDDP of Purvanchal was ₹5.37 lakh crore, Western Uttar Pradesh ₹9.44 lakh crore, Bundelkhand ₹99,029.34 crore, and Central Uttar Pradesh ₹3.36 lakh crore. The per capita annual income in eastern districts was ₹12,741, much lower than the state average of ₹17,349.
In 2009–10, the service sector was the largest part of Uttar Pradesh's economy, contributing 44.8% of the state’s GDP. Agriculture, forestry, and tourism contributed 44%, while industry and manufacturing contributed 11.2%. Noida, Meerut, and Agra had the highest per capita incomes, while Lucknow and Kanpur were 7th and 9th, respectively.
During the 11th five-year plan (2007–2012), the state’s GDP grew at an average rate of 7.3%, which was lower than the national average of 15.5%. The per capita GSDP of the state was ₹29,417 (US$350), lower than the national average of ₹60,972 (US$720). Labor efficiency in the state was slightly above the national average. Textiles and sugar refining are major industries employing many workers, and tourism also contributes significantly to the economy.
Government and Politics
- 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
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
- Jawaharlal Nehru – First Prime Minister of India
- Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee – Former Prime Ministers
- Amitabh Bachchan – Actor
- Ram Manohar Lohia, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav – Political leaders
See Also
- States and Union Territories of India
- Hindi Belt
- Ganga River
- Indian Politics
- Ayodhya Ram Mandir
- Kumbh Mela