Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh(/ˌʊtərprəˈdɛʃ/UUT-ər prə-DESH;Hindi:[ˈʊtːəɾpɾəˈdeːʃ];abbr.UP) is astateinnorthern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is themost populated statein India as well as themost populous country subdivisionin the world – more populous thanall but four other countriesoutside ofIndia(China,United States,Indonesia, andPakistan)– and accounting for 16.5 percent of the population of India or around 3 percent of the total world population. The state is bordered byRajasthanto the west,Haryana,Himachal PradeshandDelhito the northwest,UttarakhandandNepalto the north,Biharto the east,Madhya Pradesh,ChhattisgarhandJharkhandto the south. It is thefourth-largest Indian state by areacovering 243,286 km(93,933 sq mi), accounting for 7.3 percent of the total area of India.Lucknowserves as thestate capital, withPrayagrajbeing thejudicial capital. It is divided into 18divisionsand 75districts.
Uttar Pradesh was established in 1950 after India had become a republic. It is a successor to theUnited Provinces, established in 1935 by renaming theUnited Provinces of Agra and Oudh, in turn established in 1902 from theNorth-Western Provincesand theOudh Province. Though long known for sugar production, the state's economy is now dominated by the services industry. The service sector comprises travel andtourism,hotel industry,real estate,insuranceand financial consultancies. Theeconomy of Uttar Pradeshis thethird-largest state economyin India, with₹18.63lakhcrore(US$220 billion) ingross domestic productand a per capita GSDP of₹68,810(US$800).TheHigh Courtof the state is located inPrayagraj. The state contributes 80 seats to the lower houseLok Sabhaand 31 seats and the upper houseRajya Sabha.
On 9 November 2000, a new state, Uttaranchal (nowUttarakhand), was created from Uttar Pradesh's western Himalayan hill region. The two major rivers of the state, theGangesand its tributaryYamuna, meet at theTriveni Sangamin Prayagraj, a Hindu pilgrimage site. Other notable rivers areGomtiandSaryu. 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.
Inhabitants of the state are calledAwadhi,Brajwasi, orBundeli, depending upon their region of origin.Hinduismis practised by more than three-fourths of the population, followed byIslam.Hindiis the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state, along withUrdu. Uttar Pradesh was home to most of the mainstream political entities that existed inancientandmedieval Indiaincluding theMaurya Empire,Harsha Empire,Gupta Empire,Pala Empire,Delhi SultanateandMughal Empireas well as many other empires. At the time of theIndian independence movementin the early 20th century, there were three majorprincely statesin Uttar Pradesh – Ramgadi,RampurandBenaresand served as a focal point for the1857 rebellionagainst British rule. The state houses several holy Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres. Along with several historical, natural and religious tourist destinations, includingAgra,Aligarh,Ayodhya,Bareilly,Gorakhpur,Kanpur,Kushinagar,Lucknow,Mathura,Meerut,Prayagraj,Varanasi, andVrindavan, Uttar Pradesh is also home to threeWorld Heritage sites.
Modern humanhunter-gatherers have been in Uttar Pradeshsince between around85,000 and 72,000 years ago. There have also been prehistorical finds in the state from theMiddleandUpper Paleolithicdated to 21,000–31,000 years oldandMesolithic/Microlithichunter-gatherersettlement, nearPratapgarh, 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 theIndus Valley CivilisationandHarappa cultureto theVedic periodand extending into theIron Age.
Out of the sixteenmahajanapadas(lit. 'great realms') oroligarchicrepublicsthat existed in ancient India, seven fell entirely within the present-day boundaries of the state.The kingdom ofKosala, in theMahajanapadaera, was also located within the regional boundaries of modern-day Uttar Pradesh.According to Hinduism, the divine KingRamaof theRamayanaepic reigned inAyodhya, the capital of Kosala.Krishna, another divine king of Hindu legend, who plays a key role in theMahabharataepic and is revered as the eighth reincarnation (Avatar) of the Hindu godVishnu, is said to have been born in the city ofMathura.The aftermath of theKurukshetra Waris believed to have taken place in the area between theUpper DoabandDelhi, (in what wasKuruMahajanapada), during the reign of thePandavaKingYudhishthira. The kingdom of the Kurus corresponds to theBlack and Red WareandPainted Gray Wareculture and the beginning of the Iron Age in northwest India, around 1000 BCE.
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.Following theHuns' invasions that broke the Gupta empire, theGanges-Yamuna Doabsaw the rise ofKannauj.During the reign ofHarshavardhana(590–647), the Kannauj empire reached its zenith.It spanned fromPunjabin the north andGujaratin the west toBengalin the east andOdishain the south.It included parts of central India, north of theNarmada Riverand it encompassed the entireIndo-Gangetic Plain.Many communities in various parts of India claim descent from the migrants of Kannauj.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 Empirefor control of the region.Kannauj was several times invaded by the South IndianRashtrakuta dynasty, from the 8th century to the 10th century.After the fall of the Pala empire, theChero dynastyruled from the 12th century to the 18th century.
Uttar Pradesh was partially or entirely ruled by theDelhi Sultanatefor 320 years (1206–1526). Five dynasties ruled over the Delhi Sultanate sequentially: theMamluk dynasty(1206–90), theKhalji dynasty(1290–1320), theTughlaq dynasty(1320–1414), theSayyid dynasty(1414–51), and theLodi dynasty(1451–1526).
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, includingVaranasiandPrayagraj. Apart from the rulers, the Delhi Sultanate era also saw the growth ofSufismin Uttar Pradesh. Sufi saints, such asNizamuddin AuliyaandQutbuddin 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 MasjidinJaunpur, theJama MasjidinFatehpur Sikri, and theGhiyath al-Din Tughluq's TombinTughlaqabad.
In the 16th century,Babur, aTimuriddescendant ofTimurandGenghis KhanfromFergana Valley(modern-dayUzbekistan), swept across theKhyber Passand founded theMughal Empire, coveringIndia, along with modern-dayAfghanistan, Pakistan andBangladesh.The Mughals were descended from Persianised Central AsianTurks(with significantMongoladmixture). In theMughalera, Uttar Pradesh became the heartland of the empire.Mughal emperors Babur and Humayun ruled from Delhi.In 1540 an Afghan,Sher Shah Suri, took over the reins of Uttar Pradesh after defeating the Mughal King Humanyun.Sher Shah and his son Islam Shah ruled Uttar Pradesh from their capital atGwalior.After the death ofIslam Shah Suri, his prime ministerHemubecame thede factoruler of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and the western parts of Bengal. He was bestowed the title ofHemchandra Vikramaditya(title ofVikramādityaadopted fromVedic period) at his formal coronation took place atPurana Qilain Delhi on 7 October 1556. A month later, Hemu died in theSecond Battle of Panipat, and Uttar Pradesh came under EmperorAkbar's rule.Akbar ruled fromAgraandFatehpur Sikri.
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 inRohillaslosing control ofRohilkhandto the Maratha forces led byRaghunath RaoandMalha 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 Companydefeated the Maratha Empire, much of the region came under British suzerainty.
Starting fromBengalin the second half of the 18th century, a series of battles for north Indian lands finally gave theBritish East India Companyaccession over the state's territories.AjmerandJaipurkingdoms 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.Its capital shifted twice between Agra and Allahabad.
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.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–Marwarregion was merged withRajputanaandOudhwas 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.It was commonly referred to as the United Provinces or its acronym UP.
In 1920, the capital of the province was shifted from Allahabad toLucknow.The high court continued to be at Allahabad, but a bench was established at Lucknow.Allahabad continues to be an important administrative base of today's Uttar Pradesh and has several administrative headquarters.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 UniversityandDarul Uloom Deoband. Nationally known figures such asRam Prasad BismilandChandra Shekhar Azadwere among the leaders of the movement in Uttar Pradesh, andMotilal Nehru,Jawaharlal Nehru,Madan Mohan MalaviyaandGovind Ballabh Pantwere important national leaders of theIndian National Congress. TheAll India Kisan Sabhawas formed at the Lucknow session of the Congress on 11 April 1936, with the famous nationalistSahajanand Saraswatielected as its first president,to address the longstanding grievances of the peasantry and mobilise them against thezamindarilandlords attacks on their occupancy rights, thus sparking the Farmers movements in India.During theQuit India Movementof 1942,Balliadistrict 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.
After India's independence, the United Provinces were renamed "Uttar Pradesh" (lit.'northern province'), preserving UP as the abbreviation of the state's name,with the change coming into effect on 24 January 1950.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-relatedandcommunal violence.In December 1992 the disputedBabri Mosquelocated inAyodhyawas demolished by Hindu activists, leading to widespread violence across India.In 2000, northern districts of the state were separated to form the state ofUttarakhand.
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,but the plains that cover most of the state are distinctly different from those high mountains.The largerGangetic Plainregion is in the north; it includes theGanges-Yamuna Doab, the Ghaghra plains, the Ganges plains and theTerai.The smallerVindhya Rangeand plateau region are in the south.It is characterised by hard rock strata and a varied topography of hills, plains, valleys and plateaus. TheBhabhartract gives place to the terai area which is covered with tallelephant grassand thick forests interspersed withmarshesandswamps.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.The first in theeasterntract consisting of 14 districts which are subject to periodicalfloodsanddroughtsand 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, thecentraland thewestern, are comparatively better with a well-developed irrigation system.They suffer from waterlogging and large-scale user tracts.In addition, the area is fairly arid. The state has more than 32 large and small rivers; of them, theGanga,Yamuna,Saraswati,Sarayu,Betwa, andGhagharaare larger and of religious importance inHinduism.
Cultivationis intensive in the state.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).Thevalleyareas have fertile and rich soil. There is intensive cultivation on terraced hill slopes, but irrigation facilities are deficient.TheSiwalik Rangewhich forms the southern foothills of theHimalayas, slopes down into a boulder bed called 'bhabhar'.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 ragingtorrentsduring themonsoon.
Uttar Pradesh has a humid subtropical climate and experiences four seasons.The winter in January and February is followed by summer between March and May and the monsoon season between June and September.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.The Gangetic plain varies from semiarid to sub-humid.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.Primarily a summer phenomenon, the Bay of Bengal branch of theIndian monsoonis 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 disturbancesand north-east monsoon also contribute small quantities towards the overall precipitation of the state.
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.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 andplateauis subtropical with a mean annual rainfall between 1,000 and 1,200 mm (39 and 47 inches), most of which comes during the monsoon.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 calledlooblow all across Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh has an abundance of natural resources.In 2011, the recorded forest area in the state was 16,583 km(6,403 sq mi) which is about 6.9% of the state's geographical area.In spite of rapid deforestation and poaching of wildlife, a diverse flora and fauna continue to exist in the state. Uttar Pradesh is ahabitatfor 4.2% of all species ofAlgaerecorded in India, 6.4% ofFungi, 6.0% ofLichens, 2.9% ofBryophytes, 3.3% ofPteridophytes, 8.7% ofGymnosperms, 8.1% ofAngiosperms.Several species of trees, large and smallmammals,reptiles, and insects are found in the belt oftemperateupper mountainous forests. Medicinal plants are found in the wildand are also grown inplantations. TheTerai–Duar savanna and grasslandssupport cattle. Moistdeciduoustrees 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 thehabitatof large and small reptiles,amphibians, fresh-water fish, and crabs.Scrublandtrees such as theBabool(Vachellia nilotica) and animals such as theChinkara(Gazella bennettii) are found in the arid Vindhyas.Tropical dry deciduous forests are found in all parts of the plains. Since much sunlight reaches the ground, shrubs and grasses are also abundant.Large tracts of these forests have been cleared for cultivation. Tropical thorny forests, consisting of widely scattered thorny trees, mainlybaboolare mostly found in the southwestern parts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh is known for its extensiveavifauna.The most common birds which are found in the state aredoves,peafowl,junglefowl,black partridges,house sparrows,songbirds,blue jays,parakeets,quails,bulbuls,comb ducks,kingfishers,woodpeckers,snipes, and parrots. Bird sanctuaries in the state includeBakhira Sanctuary,National Chambal Sanctuary,Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary,Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary,Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary, andOkhla Sanctuary.
Other animals in the state include reptiles such aslizards,cobras,kraits, andgharials. Among the wide variety of fishes, the most common ones aremahaseerandtrout. Some animal species have gone extinct in recent years, while others, like the lion from the Gangetic Plain, therhinocerosfrom theTerairegion,Ganges river dolphinprimarily found in the Ganges have becomeendangered.Many species are vulnerable to poaching despite regulation by thegovernment.
Uttar Pradesh is divided into 75 districts under these 18 divisions:
The following is a list of top districts from state of Uttar Pradesh by population, ranked in respect of all India.
Each district is governed by a District Magistrate, who is anIndian Administrative Service(IAS) officer appointedGovernment of Uttar Pradeshand reports toDivisional Commissionerof the division in which his district falls.The Divisional Commissioner is an IAS officer of high seniority. Each district is divided into subdivisions, governed by aSub-Divisional Magistrate, and again intoBlocks. Blocks consists ofpanchayats(village councils) and townmunicipalities.These blocks consists of urban units viz.census townsand rural units calledgram panchayat.
Uttar Pradesh has moremetropolitan citiesthan any other state in India.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.According to the2011 census, there are 15 urban agglomerations with a population greater than 500,000.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.These governed by a mayor and councilors elected from wards.Nagar Palika Parishador Municipal Council, serves medium-sized towns likeBela Pratapgarh,Jalaun, orBisalpurand are governed by a chairperson and councilors.Nagar Panchayatwhich operate in smaller towns and semi-urban areas likeBadlapur, Jaunpur,Bikapur, orChilkana Sultanpur, are governed by a chairman and councilors.There are 14Municipal Corporations,whileNoidaandGreater NoidainGautam Budha Nagar districtare specially administered by statutory authorities under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Act, 1976.
In 2011, state's cabinet ministers headed by the then Chief MinisterMayawatiannounced 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 Partycame to power in the2012 election.
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.It is themost populous state in India, with 199,581,477 people on 1 March 2011.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.The population density is 828 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most densely populatedstatesin the country.It has the largestscheduled castepopulation whereasscheduled tribesare less than 1 per cent of the total population.
Thesex ratioin 2011, at 912 women to 1000 men, was lower than the national figure of 943.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.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.It has a large number of people living below thepoverty line.As per aWorld Bankdocument released in 2016, the pace of poverty reduction in the state has been slower than the rest of the country.Estimates released by theReserve Bank of Indiafor 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.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 Implementationreleased in 2020, the state per capita income is below₹80,000(US$920) per annum.
As per2011 census, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is home to the highest numbers of both Hindus and Muslims.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.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.A report based on aNational Statistical Office(NSO) surveyrevealed 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.
Hindiis the primary official language and is spoken by the majority of the population.Bhojpuriis the second most spoken language of the state,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 includeAwadhispoken inAwadhin central Uttar Pradesh, Bhojpuri spoken inPurvanchalin eastern Uttar Pradesh, andBraj Bhashaspoken in theBrajregion in Western Uttar Pradesh. These languages have also been recognised by the state government for official use in their respective regions.Urduis given the status of a second official language, spoken by 5.4 per cent of the population.Englishis 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).
The state is governed by aparliamentary systemofrepresentative 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).TheLegislative Assemblyconsists of 404 members who are elected for five-year terms. TheLegislative Councilis 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.The state contributes 80 seats toLok Sabha, the lower house of theIndian Parliament, and 31 seats toRajya Sabha, the upper house.
TheGovernment of Uttar Pradeshis ademocraticallyelected body in India with thegovernoras its constitutional head and is appointed by thepresident of Indiafor a five-year term.The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as thechief ministerby 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 Secretaryassists 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 Secretaryor 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.
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.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.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 Policeis 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 Servicemanages the forests, environment, and wildlife of the district, assisted by the officers ofProvincial Forest Serviceand Uttar Pradesh Forest Subordinate Service.
The judiciary in the state consists of theAllahabad High CourtinPrayagraj, theLucknowBench ofAllahabad High Court, district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at thetehsillevel.The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of the Uttar Pradesh judiciary on the advice of theChief Justiceof theSupreme Court of Indiaas well as the governor of Uttar Pradesh.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.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.The Subordinate judicial service (viz. The district court ofEtawahand the district court of Kanpur Dehat) of the judiciary at Uttar Pradesh is controlled by the District Judge.
Politics in Uttar Pradesh has been dominated by four political parties – theSamajwadi Party, theBahujan Samaj Party, theBharatiya Janata Party, and theIndian National Congress. The political landscape of the state is often characterized by intense competition andpolarization, leading tocaste-based tensionsandcommunal conflicts.Critics often suggest that despite Uttar Pradesh's significant political legacy of producing eightPrime Ministers, the state continues to struggle with issues that hinder its overall advancement.
According to theNational Human Rights Commission of India(NHRC), Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states ofencounter killingsand custodial deaths.In 2014, the state recorded 365 judicial deaths out of a total 1,530 deaths recorded in the country.NHRC further said, of the over 30,000 murders registered in the country in 2016, Uttar Pradesh had 4,889 cases.A data fromMinister of Home Affairs(MHA) avers,Bareillyrecorded 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.The state also continues to top the list of states with maximumcommunal violenceincidents. 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.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).Based on sub-national human development index data forIndian statesfrom 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.TheUttar Pradesh Police, governed by theDepartment of Home and Confidential, is the largestpoliceforce in the world.
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.TheUP Transport Departmentreport 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.
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 bombingswere a series of bombings that occurred across theHinduholy city ofVaranasion 7 March 2006. At least 28 people were killed and as many as 101 others were injured.In the afternoon of 23 November 2007, within a span of 25 minutes, six consecutiveserial blastsoccurred in the Lucknow, Varanasi, and Faizabad courts, in which 28 people were killed.Another blast occurred on 7 December 2010, theblastoccurred at Sheetla Ghat in Varanasi in which more than 38 people were killed.In February 2016, a series of bomb blasts occurred at the Jhakarkati Bus Station inKanpur, killing 2 people and injuring more than 30.
In terms ofnet state domestic product(NSDP), Uttar Pradesh is thefourth-largesteconomy in India, with an estimated gross state domestic product of₹14.89 lakh crore(US$170 billion),contributing 8.4% of India's gross domestic product.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.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.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.
With 359 manufacturing clusters, cement is the top sector ofSMEsin Uttar Pradesh.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.The UPFC also provides working capital to existing units with a soundtrack record and to new units under a single window scheme.In July 2012, due to financial constraints and directions from the state government, lending activities were suspended except for State Government Schemes.The state has reported total private investment worth over Rs. 25,081 crores during the years of 2012 and 2016.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.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents (2019–20), Uttar Pradesh's debt burden is 29.8 per cent of theGSDP.The state's total financial debt stood at₹2.09 lakh crore(US$24 billion) in 2011.Uttar Pradesh has not been able to witness double-digit economic growth despite consistent attempts over the years.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 rateincreased 11.4 percentage points, rising to 21.5 per cent in April 2020.Uttar Pradesh has the largest number ofnet migrantsmigrating out of the state.The 2011 census data on migration shows that nearly 14.4 million (14.7%) people had migrated out of Uttar Pradesh.Marriage was cited as the predominant reason for migration among females. Among males, the most important reason for migration was work and employment.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.Due to inadequate infrastructure and a dense population,Eastern Uttar Pradesh(Purvanchal) faces notable socio-economic disparities.For 2021–22 the GDDP for Purvanchal it is ₹5.37 lakh crore, while forWestern Uttar Pradeshit is ₹9.44 lakh crore. For theBundelkhandandCentral Uttar Pradeshregions, 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.
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).Noida,Meerut, andAgrarank as the top 3 districts with the highest per capita income, whereasLucknowandKanpurrank 7th and 9th in per capita income.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.The state's per capita GSDP was₹29,417(US$340), lower than the national per capita GSDP of₹60,972(US$700).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.
The state has the largest railway network in the country but in relative terms has only sixth-highest railway density despite its plain topography and largest population. As of 2015, there were 9,077 km (5,640 mi) of rail in the state.The railway network in the state is controlled by two divisions of theIndian Railwaysviz. North Central Railway and North Eastern Railway. Allahabad is the headquarters of theNorth Central RailwayandGorakhpuris the headquarters of theNorth Eastern Railway.Lucknow and Moradabad serve as divisional Headquarters of the Northern Railway Division.Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi Express, the second fastestShatabdi Expresstrain, connects the Indian capital ofNew DelhitoLucknowwhileKanpur Shatabdi Express, connects New Delhi toKanpur Central. This was the first train in India to get the new GermanLHB coaches.The railway stations ofPrayagraj Junction,Agra Cantonment, Lucknow Charbagh,Gorakhpur Junction, Kanpur Central,Mathura JunctionandVaranasi Junctionare included in the Indian Railways list of 50 world-class railway stations.TheLucknow Metro, along with theKanpur Metro(Orange line), are rapid transit systems that serve Lucknow and Kanpur, respectively.
The state has a large, multimodal transportation system with the largest road network in the country.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.TheUttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation(UPSRTC) was established in 1972 to provide transportation in the state with connecting services to adjoining states.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$1.8 million).Despite its extensive operation, many of UPSRTC buses are now outdated and unreliable, raising concerns about their condition and the impact on passenger safety.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 highwayconstructed byUPEIDA.Uttar Pradesh has the highest road density in India – 1,027 km (638 miles) per 1,000 km(390 square miles) – and the largest surfaced urban-road network in the country – 50,721 km (31,517 miles).
By passenger traffic in India,Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airportin Lucknow andLal Bahadur Shastri Airportin Varanasi, are the major international airports and the main gateway to the state.Another international airport has been built atKushinagar. However, since its inauguration,Kushinagar International Airporthas not yet seen any outbound flights to international destinations.Uttar Pradesh has six domestic airports located atAgra,Allahabad,Bareilly,Ghaziabad,GorakhpurandKanpur.Under the collaboration withcivilian aviation authority, these domestic airports are primarily used by theIndian Air Forcefor operational flexibility, especially during emergencies or natural disasters. TheNoida International Airportis proposed to be built nearJewarinGautam Buddha Nagar, district.
The Noida International Airport
Traditional sports, now played mostly as a pastime, includewrestling,swimming,kabaddi, and track-sports orwater-sportsplayed 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).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 hockeyis popular and Uttar Pradesh has produced top-level players in India, such as Nitin Kumar. and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay.
Recently,crickethas become more popular thanfield hockey.Uttar Pradesh won its firstRanji Trophytournament in February 2006, beatingBengalin the final.Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complexis a newly built international cricket stadium with a capacity of around 20,000 spectators.Wrestling has deep roots in Uttar Pradesh, with manyakharas(traditional wrestling schools) spread across the state.
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.The UPFS participates in sending state teams to compete in all National Football Championships organised by the All India Football Federation.Additionally, the UPFS oversees two Mandal Football Associations: the Aligarh Football Association and the Kanpur Football Association.The Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association is a sports body affiliated toBadminton Association of Indiaresponsible for overseeing players representing Uttar Pradesh at the national level.
TheBuddh International Circuithosted India's inauguralF1 Grand Prixrace on 30 October 2011.Races were only held three times before being cancelled due to falling attendance and lack of government support. The government of Uttar Pradesh consideredFormula Oneto be entertainment and not a sport, and thus imposed taxes on the event and participants.
Uttar Pradesh has a prolonged tradition of education, although historically it was primarily confined to the elite class and religious schools.Sanskrit-based learning formed the major part of education from theVedicto theGupta periods. As cultures travelled through the region they brought their bodies of knowledge with them, addingPali,PersianandArabicscholarship 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 missionariesand theBritish colonial administration.Schools in the state are either managed by the government or by private trusts.Hindiis used as a medium of instruction in most of the schools except those affiliated to theCBSEor the council forICSEboards.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.The pupil/teacher ratio is 39:1,lower than the national average of 23:1.According to theNational Bureau of Economic Research, the state reported the second-highest teacherabsenteeism(31 percent) in rural public schools among 19 surveyed states.According to an answer given by theUnion Education Ministerin 2020 in the Lok Sabha, about 17.1 percent of all elementary teacher posts in government schools in Uttar Pradesh are vacant. In terms of absolute numbers, the figure stands at 210,000.In February 2024, theUttar Pradesh governmentinformedlegislative assemblythat, 85,152 posts of headmasters and assistant teachers are vacant in the state.
Uttar Pradesh has more than 45 universities,including sixcentral universities, twenty eightstate universities, eightdeemed universities, twoIITsinVaranasiandKanpur,AIIMS GorakhpurandAIIMS Rae Bareli, anIIMinLucknowFounded in 1845,La Martinière Girls' Collegein Lucknow, stands as one of the oldest schools in India.Located in Amethi,Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology(RGIPT), provides education and training inSTEMfields, particularly emphasizing the petroleum industry. With deemed university status, the RGIPT awards degrees in its own right.King George's Medical University(KGMU), located in Lucknow, is an institution for medical education, research, and healthcare services.The Integral University, a state level institution, was established by theUttar Pradesh Governmentto provide education in different technical,applied science, and otherdisciplines.TheCentral Institute of Higher Tibetan Studieswas founded as an autonomous organisation by the nationalministry of culture.Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped Universityis the only university established exclusively for the disabled in the world.
As of 2023, the state has 573 public libraries.Established in 1875,Maulana Azad Libraryis one of the oldest and is the largest university library in Asia.Rampur Raza Libraryis a repository of Indo-Islamic cultural heritage established in the last decades of the 18th century.It was established in 1774 by nawabFaizullah Khanand now an autonomous body under theMinistry of Culture.Thornhill Mayne Memorialalso 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 21Arabicmanuscripts.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 ChandraandIndira Gandhi.
Uttar Pradesh ranks first in domestic tourist arrivals among all states of India.Some 44,000 foreign tourists arrived in the state in 2021, and almost 110 million domestic tourists.The Taj Mahal attracts some 7 million people a year, earning almost₹78crore(US$9.0 million) in ticket sales in 2018–19.The state is home to threeWorld Heritage Sites: theTaj Mahal,Agra Fort,and the nearbyFatehpur Sikri.
Religious tourismplays a significant role in the state's economy.Varanasiis a major religious hub and one of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) inHinduismandJainism.Vrindavanis considered to be a holy place forVaishnavism.Sravastigenerally considered as revered sites inBuddhism, believed to be where the Buddha taught many of hisSuttas(sermons).Owing to the belief as to the birthplace ofRama,Ayodhya(Awadh) has been regarded as one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites.Millions gather atPrayagrajto take part in theMagh Melafestival on the banks of the Ganges.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.
Buddhist attractions in Uttar Pradesh includestupasandmonasteries. The historically important towns ofSarnathwhereGautama Buddhagave his first sermon after his enlightenment and died atKushinagar; both of which are important pilgrimage sites forBuddhists.Also at Sarnath are thePillars of Ashokaand theLion Capital of Ashoka, both important archaeological artefacts with national significance. At a distance of 80 km (50 miles) from Varanasi,Ghazipuris famous not only for itsGhatson the Ganges but also for the tomb ofLord Cornwallis, the 18th-century Governor ofEast India CompanyruledBengal Presidency. The tomb is maintained by theArchaeological Survey of India.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.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.
Uttar Pradesh has a mix ofpublicas 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 infrastructureis inadequate to meet the demand for health services in the state.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.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.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.The number of doctors registered with State Medical Councils or theMedical Council of Indiain Uttar Pradesh was 77,549.As of 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.As of December 2023,Out-of-pocket expendituresin Uttar Pradesh is₹60,883 crore(US$7.0 billion), highest in India.
A newborn in Uttar Pradesh is expected to live four years fewer than in the neighbouring state ofBihar, five years fewer than inHaryanaand seven years fewer than inHimachal Pradesh. The state contributed to the largest share of almost allcommunicableand noncommunicable disease deaths, including 48 per cent of alltyphoiddeaths (2014); 17 per cent of cancer deaths and 18 per cent oftuberculosisdeaths (2015).Itsmaternal mortalityratio 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.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.It has the highestchild mortalityindicators,from theneonatal mortality rateto 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.
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 Manasin Varanasi. The festival ofGuru Purnimais dedicated to SageVyasa, and also known asVyasa Purnimaas it is the day which is believed to be his birthday and also the day he divided the Vedas.
Hindibecame the language of state administration with the Uttar Pradesh Official Language Act of 1951.A 1989 amendment to the act addedUrdu, as an additional language of the state.Linguistically, the state spreads across the Central, East-Central, and Eastern zones of theIndo Aryan languages. The major Hindi languages of the state areAwadhi,Bagheli,Bundeli,Braj Bhasha,Kannauji, andHindustani.Bhojpuri, anEastern Indo Aryan language, is also spoken in the state.
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 themedievalperiod, 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.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,Kajarisung during the rainy season, and its singing style is closely associated the Benares gharana.Ghazal,ThumriandQawwaliwhich is a form ofSufi poetryis popular in the Awadh region,Rasiya(especially popular inBraj), which celebrate the divine love ofRadhaandKrishna.Khayalis a form of semi-classical singing which comes from the courts of Awadh. Other forms of music areBiraha,Chaiti,Chowtal,Alha, andSawani.
Kathak, a classical dance form, owes its origin to the state of Uttar Pradesh.Ramlilais one of the oldest dramatic folk dances; it depicts the life of the Hindu deityRamaand is performed during festivals such asVijayadashami.Nautankiis 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.In thegharanadance form, both theLucknowand theBenaresgharanas are situated in the state.Charkulais popular dance of the Braj region.
Chhath Pujais the biggest festival ofeastern Uttar Pradesh.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.Lathmar Holiis a local celebration of the Hindu festival ofHoli. It takes place well before the actual Holi in the town ofBarsananear Mathura.Taj Mahotsav, held annually at Agra, is a colourful display of the culture of the Braj area.Ganga Mahotsav, a festival ofKartik Purnima, is celebrated fifteen days after Diwali.
Mughlai cuisineis a style of cooking developed in theIndian subcontinentby theimperialkitchens of theMughal Empire. It represents the cooking styles used inNorth India, especially Uttar Pradesh, and has been strongly influenced byCentral Asian cuisine.Awadhi cuisinefrom the city ofLucknowconsists of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. It has been greatly influenced by Mughlai cuisine.
Bhojpuri cuisineis 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.