On 9 November 2000, a new state, Uttaranchal (nowUttarakhand), was created from Uttar Pradesh's northwestern Himalayan hill region. The two major rivers of the state, theGanges and its tributaryYamuna, meet at theTriveni Sangam in Prayagraj, a Hindu pilgrimage site. Other notable rivers areGomti andSarayu. Most of the state is covered by the Indo Gangetic plain which is intensely farmed. The forest cover in the state is 6.1 per cent of the state's geographical area, mainly in the northern Terai. The cultivable area is 82 per cent of the total geographical area, and the net area sown is 68.5 per cent of the cultivable area.[14]
Uttar Pradesh encompasses several distinct cultural regions, forming a continuum fromBraj andRohilkhand in the west toBundelkhand andAwadh in the centre andPurvanchal in the east.Hindi is the official and most widely-spoken language, withUrdu as an additional official language. The region has been a major centre of political and cultural development throughout Indian history. It was the core area of several dominant Indian dynasties, including theMaurya,Gupta,Vardhana,Pala,Delhi Sultanate, andMughal empires. During the British colonial period, the area contained several princely states, notablyRampur,Benares, and Ramgadi, and played a central role in the Indian independence movement, including theIndian Rebellion of 1857.
Uttar Pradesh is significant for several major world religions. It is home to many of Hinduism’s most important pilgrimage sites, includingVaranasi,Mathura,Ayodhya, andPrayagraj. The state is also important to Buddhism; Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon atSarnath near Varanasi. Several sites in the state are associated with Jainism, and Uttar Pradesh has been an important centre of Islamic culture, architecture, and learning since the medieval period. The state contains threeUNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Out of the sixteenmahajanapadas (lit.'great realms') oroligarchicrepublics that existed in ancient India, seven fell entirely within the present-day boundaries of the state.[23] The kingdom ofKosala, in theMahajanapada era, was also located within the regional boundaries of modern-day Uttar Pradesh.[24] According to Hinduism, the divine KingRama of theRamayana epic reigned inAyodhya, the capital of Kosala.[25]Krishna, another divine king of Hindu legend, who plays a key role in theMahabharata epic and is revered as the eighth reincarnation (Avatar) of the Hindu godVishnu, is said to have been born in the city ofMathura.[24] The aftermath of theKurukshetra War is believed to have taken place in the area between theUpper Doab andDelhi, (in what wasKuru Mahajanapada), during the reign of thePandava KingYudhishthira. The kingdom of the Kurus corresponds to theBlack and Red Ware andPainted 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 theMaurya (320–200 BCE),Kushan (100–250 CE),Gupta (350–600), andGurjara-Pratihara (650–1036) empires.[26] Following theHuns' invasions that broke the Gupta empire, theGanges-Yamuna Doab saw the rise ofKannauj.[27] During the reign ofHarshavardhana (590–647), the Kannauj empire reached its zenith.[27] It spanned fromPunjab in the north andGujarat in the west toBengal in the east andOdisha in the south.[24] It included parts of central India, north of theNarmada River and it encompassed the entireIndo-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'sPala Empire for control of the region.[28] Kannauj was several times invaded by the South IndianRashtrakuta dynasty, from the 8th century to the 10th century.[30][31] After the fall of the Pala empire, theChero dynasty ruled from the 12th century to the 18th century.[32]
The first Sultan of Delhi,Qutb ud-Din Aibak, conquered some parts of Uttar Pradesh, includingMeerut,Aligarh, andEtawah. His successor,Iltutmish, expanded the Sultanate's rule over Uttar Pradesh by defeating the King ofKannauj. During the reign of SultanBalban, 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, includingVaranasi andPrayagraj. Apart from the rulers, the Delhi Sultanate era also saw the growth ofSufism in Uttar Pradesh. Sufi saints, such asNizamuddin Auliya andQutbuddin 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 theAtala Masjid inJaunpur, theJama Masjid inFatehpur Sikri, and theGhiyath al-Din Tughluq's Tomb inTughlaqabad.[35][36]
In the 18th century, after the fall of Mughal authority, the power vacuum was filled by theMaratha Empire, in the mid-18th century, the Maratha army invaded the Uttar Pradesh region, which resulted inRohillas losing control ofRohilkhand to the Maratha forces led byRaghunath Rao andMalha Rao Holkar. The conflict between Rohillas and Marathas came to an end on 18 December 1788 with the arrest ofGhulam Qadir, the grandson of Najeeb-ud-Daula, who was defeated by the Maratha generalMahadaji Scindia. In 1803–04, following theSecond Anglo-Maratha War, when theBritish East India Company defeated the Maratha Empire, much of the region came under British suzerainty.[44]
British India era
Timeline of reorganisation and name changes of UP[45]
Uttaranchal state, now known asUttarakhand, created from part of Uttar Pradesh
Starting fromBengal in the second half of the 18th century, a series of battles for north Indian lands finally gave theBritish East India Company accession over the state's territories.[46]Ajmer andJaipur 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 theIndian Rebellion of 1857;Bengalregiment's sepoy stationed atMeerutcantonment,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 withPunjab Province, while theAjmer–Marwar region was merged withRajputana andOudh was incorporated into the state. The new state was called the North Western Provinces of Agra and Oudh, which in 1902 was renamed as theUnited Provinces of Agra and Oudh.[50] It was commonly referred to as the United Provinces or its acronym UP.[51][52]
In 1920, the capital of the province was shifted from Allahabad toLucknow.[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 theIndian independence movement. The state hosted modern educational institutions such as theAligarh Muslim University,Banaras Hindu University andDarul Uloom Deoband. Nationally known figures such asRam Prasad Bismil andChandra Shekhar Azad were among the leaders of the movement in Uttar Pradesh, andMotilal Nehru,Jawaharlal Nehru,Madan Mohan Malaviya andGovind Ballabh Pant were important national leaders of theIndian National Congress. TheAll India Kisan Sabha was formed at the Lucknow session of the Congress on 11 April 1936, with the famous nationalistSahajanand Saraswati elected as its first president,[56] to address the longstanding grievances of the peasantry and mobilise them against thezamindari landlords attacks on their occupancy rights, thus sparking the Farmers movements in India.[57] During theQuit India Movement of 1942,Ballia district overthrew the colonial authority and installed an independent administration underChittu Pandey. Ballia became known as "Baghi Ballia" (Rebel Ballia) for this significant role in India's independence movement.[58]
Post-independence
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 theUnited 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 theLok 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 ofcaste-related andcommunal violence.[61] In December 1992 the disputedBabri Mosque located inAyodhya 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 ofUttarakhand.[63]
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 largerGangetic Plain region is in the north; it includes theGanges-Yamuna Doab, the Ghaghra plains, the Ganges plains and theTerai.[66] The smallerVindhya 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. TheBhabhar tract gives place to the terai area which is covered with tallelephant grass and thick forests interspersed withmarshes andswamps.[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 theeastern tract consisting of 14 districts which are subject to periodicalfloods anddroughts 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, thecentral and thewestern, 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, theGanga,Yamuna,Saraswati,Sarayu,Betwa, andGhaghara are larger and of religious importance inHinduism.[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] Thevalley areas have fertile and rich soil. There is intensive cultivation on terraced hill slopes, but irrigation facilities are deficient.[76] TheSiwalik Range which forms the southern foothills of theHimalayas, 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 ragingtorrents during themonsoon.[78]
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 theLoo.[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 theIndian 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 thewestern disturbances and north-east monsoon also contribute small quantities towards the overall precipitation of the state.[79][83]
The rain in Uttar Pradesh can vary from an annual average of 170 cm (67 inches) in hilly areas to 84 cm (33 inches) inWestern 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 andplateau 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 calledloo blow all across Uttar Pradesh.[79]
Uttar Pradesh has an abundance of natural resources.[86] 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.[87] In spite of rapid deforestation and poaching of wildlife, a diverse flora and fauna continue to exist in the state. Uttar Pradesh is ahabitat for 4.2% of all species ofAlgae recorded in India, 6.4% ofFungi, 6.0% ofLichens, 2.9% ofBryophytes, 3.3% ofPteridophytes, 8.7% ofGymnosperms, 8.1% ofAngiosperms.[88] Several species of trees, large and smallmammals,reptiles, and insects are found in the belt oftemperate upper mountainous forests. Medicinal plants are found in the wild[89] and are also grown inplantations. TheTerai–Duar savanna and grasslands support cattle. Moistdeciduous 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 thehabitat of large and small reptiles,amphibians, fresh-water fish, and crabs.Scrubland trees such as theBabool (Vachellia nilotica) and animals such as theChinkara (Gazella bennettii) are found in the arid Vindhyas.[90][91] Tropical dry deciduous forests are found in all parts of the plains. Since much sunlight reaches the ground, shrubs and grasses are also abundant.[92] Large tracts of these forests have been cleared for cultivation. Tropical thorny forests, consisting of widely scattered thorny trees, mainlybabool are mostly found in the southwestern parts of the state.[93]
Other animals in the state include reptiles such aslizards,cobras,kraits, andgharials. Among the wide variety of fishes, the most common ones aremahaseer andtrout. Some animal species have gone extinct in recent years, while others, like the lion from the Gangetic Plain, therhinoceros from theTerai region,Ganges river dolphin primarily found in the Ganges have becomeendangered.[101] Many species are vulnerable to poaching despite regulation by thegovernment.[102]
Uttar Pradesh has moremetropolitan cities than any other state in India.[107][108] 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.[109] According to the2011 census, there are 15 urban agglomerations with a population greater than 500,000.[110] 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.[111] These governed by a mayor and councillors elected from wards.Nagar Palika Parishad or Municipal Council, serves medium-sized towns likeBela Pratapgarh,Jalaun, orBisalpur and are governed by a chairperson and councillors.[112]Nagar Panchayat which operate in smaller towns and semi-urban areas likeBadlapur, Jaunpur,Bikapur, orChilkana Sultanpur, are governed by a chairman and councillors.[112] There are 14Municipal Corporations,[113][114] whileNoida andGreater Noida inGautam Budha Nagar district are specially administered by statutory authorities under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Act, 1976.[115][116]
In 2011, state's cabinet ministers headed by the then Chief MinisterMayawati 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 theAkhilesh Yadav–leadSamajwadi Party came to power in the2012 election.[117]
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.[120] It is themost populous state in India, with 199,581,477 people on 1 March 2011.[121] 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.[122] The population density is 828 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most densely populatedstates in the country.[123] It has the largestscheduled caste population, making up 23% of the state's population, whereasscheduled tribes are less than 1 per cent of the total population.[124][125]
Thesex ratio in 2011, at 912 women to 1000 men, was lower than the national figure of 943.[126] The low sex ratio in Uttar Pradesh, is a result of various factors, such assex-selective abortion,female infanticide, and discrimination against girls and women.[127][128] 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.[129][130] It has a large number of people living below thepoverty line.[131] As per aWorld Bank document released in 2016, the pace of poverty reduction in the state has been slower than the rest of the country.[132] Estimates released by theReserve 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.[131][133] 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 theMinistry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released in 2020, the state per capita income is below₹80,000 (US$950) per annum.[134]
Uttar Pradesh is home to the highest numbers of both Hindus and Muslims, who make up roughly 80% and 19% of the population respectively. Hinduism is the predominant religion, and is especially strong in rural areas. Islam is more prominent in urban areas and northwestern parts of the state, where they form a majority in two districts. There are small pockets of Jainism in urban areas in the northwest and in Bundelkhand, while many Sikhs, mainly descendants of refugees from Partition, are settled in northern districts bordering Uttarakhand or Nepal.[135]
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.[136][137] 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.[138] A report based on aNational 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.[139]
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,[140] 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 includeAwadhi, spoken inAwadh in central Uttar Pradesh; Bhojpuri spoken inPurvanchal in eastern Uttar Pradesh; andBraj Bhasha spoken in theBraj 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][141]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 includePunjabi (0.3 per cent) andBengali (0.1 per cent).[141]
Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), the lower house of the bicameral legislature
The state is governed by aparliamentary system ofrepresentative democracy. Uttar Pradesh is one of the seven states in India, where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising two houses: theVidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) and theVidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).[142][143] TheLegislative Assembly consists of 404 members who are elected for five-year terms. TheLegislative 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.[144] The state contributes 80 seats toLok Sabha, the lower house of theIndian Parliament, and 31 seats toRajya Sabha, the upper house.[145][146]
TheGovernment of Uttar Pradesh is ademocratically elected body in India with thegovernor as its constitutional head and is appointed by thepresident of India for a five-year term.[147] The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as thechief 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 theChief 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 anAdditional Chief Secretary or aPrincipal Secretary, who is usually an officer ofIndian 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 theAdditional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary.[148][149]
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.[148][150][151] The administration in each district is headed by aDistrict Magistrate, who is also an IAS officer, and is assisted by several officers belonging to state services.[148][152] 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 theblock. TheUttar Pradesh Police is headed by an IPS officer of the rank ofDirector general of police. ASuperintendent 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 theIndian Forest Service manages the forests, environment, and wildlife of the district, assisted by the officers ofProvincial Forest Service and Uttar Pradesh Forest Subordinate Service.[153]
Allahabad High Court
The judiciary in the state consists of theAllahabad High Court inPrayagraj, theLucknow Bench ofAllahabad High Court, district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at thetehsil level.[148][154] The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of the Uttar Pradesh judiciary on the advice of theChief Justice of theSupreme Court of India as well as the governor of Uttar Pradesh.[148][155] 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.[148][156] 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.[148] The Subordinate judicial service (viz. The district court ofEtawah and the district court of Kanpur Dehat) of the judiciary at Uttar Pradesh is controlled by the District Judge.[148][156][157]
According to theNational Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states ofencounter killings and custodial deaths.[160] In 2014, the state recorded 365 judicial deaths out of a total 1,530 deaths recorded in the country.[161] NHRC further said, of the over 30,000 murders registered in the country in 2016, Uttar Pradesh had 4,889 cases.[162] A data fromMinister of Home Affairs (MHA) avers,Bareilly recorded the highest number of custodial death at 25, followed byAgra (21),Allahabad (19) andVaranasi (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 itshigh population, the actual per capita crime rate is low.[163] The state also continues to top the list of states with maximumcommunal 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.[164][165] According to a research assembled byState Bank of India, Uttar Pradesh failed to improve itsHuman Development Index (HDI) ranking over a period of 27 years (1990–2017).[166] Based on sub-national human development index data forIndian 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.[167][168][169] TheUttar Pradesh Police, governed by theDepartment of Home and Confidential, is the largestpolice force in the world.[170][171][172]
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 ofUnion Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.[173][174] TheUP 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.[175]
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. The2006 Varanasi bombings were a series of bombings that occurred across theHindu holy city ofVaranasi on 7 March 2006. At least 28 people were killed and as many as 101 others were injured.[176][177] In the afternoon of 23 November 2007, within a span of 25 minutes, six consecutiveserial blasts occurred in the Lucknow, Varanasi, and Faizabad courts, in which 28 people were killed.[178][179][180] Another blast occurred on 7 December 2010, theblast occurred at Sheetla Ghat in Varanasi in which more than 38 people were killed.[181][182] In February 2016, a series of bomb blasts occurred at the Jhakarkati Bus Station inKanpur, killing 2 people and injuring more than 30.[183]
Sown saplings ofcommon sunflowers; located in the rich fertileIndo-Gangetic Plain, agriculture is the largest employment generator in the state.
In terms ofnet state domestic product (NSDP), Uttar Pradesh is thefourth-largest economy in India, with an estimated gross state domestic product of₹14.89 lakh crore (US$180 billion),[185] contributing 8.4% of India's gross domestic product.[186] According to the report generated by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in 2014–15, Uttar Pradesh has accounted for 19% share in the country's total food grain output.[187] About 70% of India's sugar comes from Uttar Pradesh. Sugarcane is the most important cash crop as the state is country's largest producer of sugar.[187] As per the report generated by Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), total sugarcane production in India was estimated to be 28.3 million tonnes in the fiscal ending September 2015 which includes 10.47 million tonnes from Maharashtra and 7.35 million tonnes from Uttar Pradesh.[188]
The state has significant reserves of cement-gradelimestone and crystallinemarble, in districts ofMirzapur andSonbhadra, supporting a growing cement and refractory industry. With 359 manufacturing clusters, cement is the top sector ofSMEs in Uttar Pradesh.[189] The Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC) was established in 1954 under the SFCs Act of 1951 mainly to develop small- and medium-scale industries in the state.[190] The UPFC also provides working capital to existing units with a soundtrack record and to new units under a single window scheme.[191] In July 2012, due to financial constraints and directions from the state government, lending activities were suspended except for State Government Schemes.[192] The state has reported total private investment worth over Rs. 25,081 crores during the years of 2012 and 2016.[193] According to a 2015 report by the World Bank on theEase of Doing Business in India, Uttar Pradesh was ranked among the top 10 states and was the first among the northern states.[194] The state is home to over 11,500 leather production units, primarily concentrated in Agra and Kanpur, making it one of India's leading leather manufacturing regions.[195] Uttar Pradesh also contributes around 15 per cent of India's total fabric production and employs nearly 30 per cent of the country's artisan workforce.[196]
According to the Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents (2019–20), Uttar Pradesh's debt burden is 29.8 per cent of theGSDP.[197] The state's total financial debt stood at₹2.09 lakh crore (US$25 billion) in 2011.[198] Uttar Pradesh has not been able to witness double-digit economic growth despite consistent attempts over the years.[197] The GSDP is estimated to have grown 7 per cent in 2017–18 and 6.5 per cent in 2018–19 which is about 10 per cent of India's GDP. According to a survey conducted by theCentre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Uttar Pradesh'sunemployment rate increased 11.4 percentage points, rising to 21.5 per cent in April 2020.[199] Uttar Pradesh has the largest number ofnet migrants migrating out of the state.[200] The 2011 census data on migration shows that nearly 14.4 million (14.7%) people had migrated out of Uttar Pradesh.[201] Marriage was cited as the predominant reason for migration among females. Among males, the most important reason for migration was work and employment.[202] Uttar Pradesh continues to have regional disparities, particularly with the western districts of the state showing higher development indicators such as per capita district development product (PCDDP) and gross district development product (GDDP) compared to other regions.[203] Due to inadequate infrastructure and a dense population,Purvanchal faces notable socio-economic disparities.[204] For 2021–22 the GDDP for Purvanchal it is ₹5.37 lakh crore, while forWestern Uttar Pradesh (including theUpper Doab,Rohilkhand andBraj) it is ₹9.44 lakh crore. For theBundelkhand andAwadh regions, the GDDP remained ₹99,029.34 crore and ₹3.36 lakh crore, respectively. As of 2021–22, the per capita annual income in eastern districts is about one-fourth of the national average at ₹12,741 while the state's average stood at ₹17,349.[205]
IT Parks in Noida, which are known for their infrastructure and services, as well as high-end housing complexes.[206]
In 2009–10, thetertiary sector of the economy (service industries) was the largest contributor to the gross domestic product of the state, contributing 44.8 per cent of the state domestic product compared to 44 per cent from the primary sector (agriculture, forestry, and tourism) and 11.2 per cent from the secondary sector (industrial and manufacturing).[207][208]Noida,Meerut, andAgra rank as the top 3 districts with the highest per capita income, whereasLucknow andKanpur rank 7th and 9th in per capita income.[209] During the 11th five-year plan (2007–2012), the averagegross state domestic product (GSDP) growth rate was 7.3 per cent, lower than 15.5 per cent, the average for all states of the country.[210][211] The state's per capita GSDP was₹29,417 (US$350), lower than the national per capita GSDP of₹60,972 (US$720).[212] Labor efficiency is higher at an index of 26 than the national average of 25. Textiles and sugar refining, both long-standing industries in Uttar Pradesh, employ a significant proportion of the state's total factory labour. The economy also benefits from the state's tourism industry.[213]
The state has a large, multimodal transportation system with the largest road network in the country.[221] It has 42 national highways, with a total length of 4,942 km (3,071 miles) comprising 8.9 per cent of the total national highways length in India.[222] TheUttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) was established in 1972 to provide transportation in the state with connecting services to adjoining states.[223] The UPSRTC's current fleet consists of 11,238 buses operating on 2,762 routes across a total distance of 768,065 km (477,253 mi) throughout the state, generating an average daily income of₹16 crore (US$1.9 million).[224] Despite its extensive operation, many of UPSRTC buses are now outdated and unreliable, raising concerns about their condition and the impact on passenger safety.[225] All cities are connected tostate highways, and all district headquarters are being connected with four lane roads which carry traffic between major centres within the state. One of them isAgra–Lucknow Expressway, which is a 302 km (188 miles)controlled-access highway constructed byUPEIDA.[226] Uttar Pradesh has the highest road density in India – 1,027 km (638 miles) per 1,000 km2 (390 square miles) – and the largest surfaced urban-road network in the country – 50,721 km (31,517 miles).[227]
Traditional sports, now played mostly as a pastime, includewrestling,swimming,kabaddi, and track-sports orwater-sports played according to local traditional rules and without modern equipment. Some sports are designed to display martial skills such as using a sword or 'Pata' (stick).[241] Due to a lack of organised patronage and requisite facilities, these sports survive mostly as individuals' hobbies or local competitive events. Among modern sports,field hockey is popular and Uttar Pradesh has produced top-level players in India, such as Nitin Kumar. and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay.[242]
Recently,cricket has become more popular thanfield hockey.[243] Uttar Pradesh won its firstRanji Trophy tournament in February 2006, beatingBengal in the final.[244]Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex is a newly built international cricket stadium with a capacity of around 20,000 spectators.[245] Wrestling has deep roots in Uttar Pradesh, with manyakharas (traditional wrestling schools) spread across the state.[246]
TheUttar Pradesh football team (UPFS) serves as the governing body for football in Uttar Pradesh. It holds authority over the Uttar Pradesh football team and is officially affiliated with theAll India Football Federation.[247] The UPFS participates in sending state teams to compete in all National Football Championships organised by the All India Football Federation.[248] Additionally, the UPFS oversees two Mandal Football Associations: the Aligarh Football Association and the Kanpur Football Association.[249] The Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association is a sports body affiliated toBadminton Association of India responsible for overseeing players representing Uttar Pradesh at the national level.[250]
TheBuddh International Circuit hosted India's inauguralF1 Grand Prix race on 30 October 2011.[251] Races were only held three times before being cancelled due to falling attendance and lack of government support. The government of Uttar Pradesh consideredFormula One to be entertainment and not a sport, and thus imposed taxes on the event and participants.[252]
Uttar Pradesh has a prolonged tradition of education, although historically it was primarily confined to the elite class and religious schools.[253] Sanskrit-based learning formed the major part of education from theVedic to theGupta periods. As cultures travelled through the region they brought their bodies of knowledge with them, addingPali,Persian andArabic scholarship to the community. These formed the core of Hindu-Buddhist-Muslim education until the rise of British colonialism. The present schools-to-university system of education owes its inception and development in the state (as in the rest of the country) to foreignChristian missionaries and theBritish colonial administration.[254]
Schools in the state are either managed by the government or by private trusts.Hindi is used as a medium of instruction in most of the schools except those affiliated to theCBSE or the council forICSE boards.[255] Under the10+2+3 plan, after completing secondary school, students typically enroll for two years in ajunior college, also known as pre-university, or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with theUttar Pradesh Board of High School and Intermediate Education (commonly referred to as U.P. Board) or a central board. Students choose from one of three streams, namelyliberal arts, commerce, or science. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enrol in general or professional degree programs. In a study done byChild Rights and You (CRY) and the Centre for Budgets, Governance, and Accountability (CBGA), Uttar Pradesh spent ₹9,167 perpupil, which is below the national average of ₹12,768.[256]
The pupil/teacher ratio is 39:1,[b] lower than the national average of 23:1.[257] According to theNational Bureau of Economic Research, the state reported the second-highest teacherabsenteeism (31 per cent) in rural public schools among 19 surveyed states.[258] According to an answer given by theUnion Education Minister in 2020 in the Lok Sabha, about 17.1 per cent of all elementary teacher posts in government schools in Uttar Pradesh are vacant. In terms of absolute numbers, the figure stands at 210,000.[259] In February 2024, theUttar Pradesh government informedlegislative assembly that, 85,152 posts of headmasters and assistant teachers are vacant in the state.[260]
As of 2023, the state has 573 public libraries.[267][268] Established in 1875,Maulana Azad Library is one of the oldest and is the largest university library in Asia.Rampur Raza Library is a repository of Indo-Islamic cultural heritage established in the last decades of the 18th century.[268] It was established in 1774 by nawabFaizullah Khan and now an autonomous body under theMinistry of Culture.[269]Thornhill Mayne Memorial also known as Allahabad Public Library, has an approximate collection of 125,000 books, 40 types of magazines, and 28 different newspapers in Hindi, English, Urdu and Bangla and it also contains 21Arabic manuscripts.[270] A large number of Indian scholars are educated at different universities in Uttar Pradesh. Notable scholars who were born, worked or studied in the geographic area of the state includeHarivansh Rai Bachchan,Motilal Nehru,Harish Chandra andIndira Gandhi.[271]
Uttar Pradesh ranks first in domestic tourist arrivals among all states of India.[272][273] According to theMinistry of Tourism (Government of India), 1.6 million foreign tourists and approximately 317.91 million domestic tourists visited the state in 2023.[274] The Taj Mahal attracts some 7 million people a year, earning almost₹98crore (US$12 million) in ticket sales in 2023-24.[275] The state is home to threeWorld Heritage Sites: theTaj Mahal,[276]Agra Fort,[277] and the nearbyFatehpur Sikri.[278]
Religious tourism plays a significant role in the state's economy.Varanasi is a major religious hub and one of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) inHinduism andJainism.[279][280][281]Vrindavan is considered to be a holy place forVaishnavism.[282][283]Sravasti generally considered as revered sites inBuddhism, believed to be where the Buddha taught many of hisSuttas (sermons).[284] Owing to the belief as to the birthplace ofRama,Ayodhya (Awadh) has been regarded as one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites.[285][286][287] Millions gather atPrayagraj to take part in theMagh Mela festival on the banks of the Ganges.[288] This festival is organised on a larger scale every 12th year and is called theKumbh Mela, where over 10 million Hindu pilgrims congregate in one of the largest gatherings of people in the world.[289]
Jhansi Fort, located in the city ofJhansi, is closely associated with the "First War of Indian Independence", also known as the "Great Rebellion" or theIndian Rebellion of 1857.[292] The fort is constructed in accordance with medieval Indian military architecture, featuring thick walls, bastions, and various structures within its complex. The architecture reflects a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles.[293]
Uttar Pradesh has a mix ofpublic as well as private healthcare infrastructure. Public healthcare in Uttar Pradesh is provided through a grid of primary health centers,community health centers,district hospitals, andmedical colleges. Although an extensive network of public and private sector healthcare providers has been built, the availablehealth infrastructure is inadequate to meet the demand for health services in the state.[294] In 15 years to 2012–13, the population increased by more than 25 per cent. The public health centres, which are the frontline of the government's health care system, decreased by 8 per cent.[295]
Smaller sub-centres, the first point of public contact, increased by no more than 2 per cent over the 25 years to 2015, a period when the population grew by more than 51 per cent.[295] The state is also facing challenges such as a shortage of healthcare professionals, increasing cost of healthcare, a lack of essential medicines and equipment, the mushrooming of private healthcare and a lack of planning.[296] The number of doctors registered with State Medical Councils or theMedical Council of India in Uttar Pradesh was 77,549.[297]
In 2019, the number of government hospital in rural and urban areas of Uttar Pradesh stood at 4,442 with 39,104 beds and 193 with 37,156 beds respectively. The average population served per government hospital stands at 47,782 individuals.[298] As of December 2023[update],Out-of-pocket expenditures in Uttar Pradesh is₹60,883 crore (US$7.2 billion), highest in India.[299]
A newborn in Uttar Pradesh is expected to live four years fewer than in the neighbouring state ofBihar, five years fewer than inHaryana and seven years fewer than inHimachal Pradesh. The state contributed to the largest share of almost allcommunicable and noncommunicable disease deaths, including 48 per cent of alltyphoid deaths (2014); 17 per cent of cancer deaths and 18 per cent oftuberculosis deaths (2015).[295] Itsmaternal mortality ratio is higher than the national average at 285 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births (2021), with 64.2 per cent of pregnant women unable to access minimumante-natal care.[300][301][302] Around 42 per cent of pregnant women, more than 1.5 million,deliver babies at home. About two-thirds (61 per cent) of childbirths at home in the state are unsafe.[303] It has the highestchild mortality indicators,[304] from theneonatal mortality rate to the under-five mortality rate of 64 children who die per 1,000 live births before five years of age, 35 die within a month of birth, and 50 do not complete a year of life.[305]
Several texts and hymns of the Vedic literature were composed in Uttar Pradesh. Renowned Indian writers who have resided in Uttar Pradesh wereKabir,Ravidas, andTulsidas, who wrote much of hisRam Charit Manas in Varanasi. The festival ofGuru Purnima is dedicated to SageVyasa, and also known asVyasa Purnima as it is the day which is believed to be his birthday and also the day he divided the Vedas.[306]
Hindi became the language of state administration with the Uttar Pradesh Official Language Act of 1951.[307] A 1989 amendment to the act addedUrdu, as an additional language of the state.[308] There are numerous language varieties spoken in the state. The north and northwestern parts of the state speakKhadi Boli, the language variety from which Standard Hindi and Urdu developed. In the southwest is spokenBraj Bhasha, seen as the language of Krishna and an important literary language for Krishna Bhakti literature. To the east of Braj and Khadi Boli isKannauji, a transitional dialect between western and eastern Hindi varieties. In the southwest of the state, south of the Yamuna, is spokenBundeli.Awadhi, the language of the Ram Charit Manas, is spoken in the centre of the state with small pockets ofBagheli speakers in the far southeast. East of Awadhi is spokenBhojpuri. Rather than having clean linguistic boundaries, these language varieties form part of one large dialect continuum covering north and east India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In urban areas, Standard Hindi and Urdu are dominant, with Lucknow being a major centre for Urdu literature.[309][310]
With each district of Uttar Pradesh having its unique music and tradition, traditional folk music in Uttar Pradesh has been categorised in three different ways including music transmitted orally, music with unknown composers and music performed by custom. During themedieval period, two distinct types of music began to emerge in Uttar Pradesh. One was the courtly music, which received support from cities like Agra,Fatehpur Sikri, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Varanasi, andBanda. The other was the religious music stemming from theBhakti Cult, which thrived in places like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya.[311]
The popular folk music of Uttar Pradesh includes sohar, which is sung to celebrate the birth of a child. Evolved into the form of semi-classical singing,Kajari sung during the rainy season, and its singing style is closely associated the Benares gharana.[312]Ghazal,Thumri andQawwali which is a form ofSufi poetry is popular in the Awadh region,Rasiya (especially popular inBraj), which celebrate the divine love ofRadha andKrishna.Khayal is a form of semi-classical singing which comes from the courts of Awadh. Other forms of music areBiraha,Chaiti,Chowtal,Alha, andSawani.[311]
Kathak, a classical dance form, owes its origin to the state of Uttar Pradesh.[313]Ramlila is one of the oldest dramatic folk dances; it depicts the life of the Hindu deityRama and is performed during festivals such asVijayadashami.[314]Nautanki is a traditional form of folk theatre that originated in Uttar Pradesh. It typically portrays a variety of themes ranging from historical and mythological tales to social and political commentary.[315] In thegharana dance form, both theLucknow and theBenares gharanas are situated in the state.[316]Charkula is popular dance of the Braj region.[317]
Chhath Puja is the biggest festival ofeastern Uttar Pradesh.[318] TheKumbh Mela, organised in the month ofMaagha (February—March), is a major festival held every twelve years in rotation at Prayagraj on the river Ganges.[319]Lathmar Holi is a local celebration of the Hindu festival ofHoli. It takes place well before the actual Holi in the town ofBarsana near Mathura.[320]Taj Mahotsav, held annually at Agra, is a colourful display of the culture of the Braj area.[321]Ganga Mahotsav, a festival ofKartik Purnima, is celebrated fifteen days after Diwali.[322]
Bhojpuri cuisine is a style of food preparation common in the districts located near the Bihar border. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and tend to be less hot in terms of spices used. The cuisine consists of both vegetable and meat dishes.[324]
^"Appendix-A: Detailed tables, Table (7): Literacy rate (in per cent) of persons of different age groups for each State/UT (persons, age-group (years): 7 & above, rural+urban (column 6))".Annual Report, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (July 2023 – June 2024)(PDF). National Sample Survey Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. 23 September 2024. pp. A-10.
^Confidence limits for the age are 85 (±11) and 72 (±8) thousand years ago.
^Gibling, Sinha; Sinha, Roy; Roy, Tandon; Tandon, Jain; Jain, M (2008). "Quaternary fluvial and eolian deposits on the Belan river, India: paleoclimatic setting of Paleolithic to Neolithic archeological sites over the past 85,000 years".Quaternary Science Reviews.27 (3–4): 391.Bibcode:2008QSRv...27..391G.doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.11.001.ISSN0277-3791.S2CID129392697.
^"Uttar Pradesh – History".Encyclopædia Britannica.Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved12 January 2020.A systematic history of India and the area of Uttar Pradesh dates to the end of the 7th century BCE, when 16 mahajanapadas (great states) in northern India were contending for supremacy. Of those, seven fell entirely within the present-day boundaries of Uttar Pradesh.
^Fergus Nicoll,Shah Jahan: The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Emperor (2009)
^Mayaram, Shail (2003).Against history, against state: counterperspectives from the margins Cultures of history. Columbia University Press.ISBN978-0231127318.
^Bankim Chandra Chatterji (2006).Anandamath. Orient Paperbacks. p. 168.ISBN978-8122201307.Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved26 July 2012.
^Anwar, Shakeel."The Great Plains of India".Jagran Josh. Dainik Jagran. Jagran Prakashan Private Limited.Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved19 May 2020.
^Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh."Average rainfall pattern of Uttar Pradesh". Irrigation Department Uttar Pradesh. Archived fromthe original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved22 July 2012.
^The Forests and biodiversity, in UP are important in many ways."Miscellaneous Statistics". Ministry of Environment and Forests. Archived fromthe original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved22 July 2012.
^"Kaimoor Wild Life Sanctuary".upforest.gov.in. Forest and Wildlife Department Uttar Pradesh.Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved4 February 2017.
^"Inside Okhla Bird Sanctuary".upforest.gov.in. UP Forest and Wildlife Department.Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved4 February 2017.
^Number, Religion."U.P religions by numbers".The Hindu. No. 26 August 2015. N. Ravi. The Hindu Group.Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved29 March 2020.
^"Composition of Rajya Sabha"(PDF).Rajya Sabha. New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Secretariat. pp. 24–25. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved15 February 2012.
^Investment Promotion & Infrastructure Development Cell."Road"(PDF). Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 14 October 2011. Retrieved7 January 2012.
^"About Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi".Official Website of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. 7 November 1985. Retrieved27 October 2025.
^Ragini, Dikshit (10 July 2007). "चित्रकूट: दुनिया का प्रथम विकलांग विश्वविद्यालय" [Chitrakuta: The world's first handicapped university] (in Hindi). Jansatta Express.
^Hawley, John Stratton (2020).Krishna's Playground: Vrindavan in the 21st Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0190123987.
^Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.).India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 176.
^Paramasivan, Vasudha (2009). "Yah Ayodhya Vah Ayodhya: Earthly and Cosmic Journeys in the Anand-lahari". In Heidi R. M. Pauwels (ed.).Patronage and Popularisation, Pilgrimage and Procession. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 101–116.ISBN978-3-447-05723-3.
^Schechner, Richard; Hess, Linda (1977). "The Ramlila of Ramnagar [India]".The Drama Review.21 (3). The MIT Press:51–82.doi:10.2307/1145152.JSTOR1145152.
^Maclean, Kama (2003). "Making the Colonial State Work for You: The Modern Beginnings of the Ancient Kumbh Mela in Allahabad".The Journal of Asian Studies.62 (3):873–905.doi:10.2307/3591863.JSTOR3591863.S2CID162404242.
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_of_Pilibhit_reserve_area.jpg)
_flowers_W_IMG_7050.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
