Uttar Pradesh: A State Study Guide

The importance of Uttar Pradesh in India’s socio-political firmament is never overstated. That evolves naturally on account of a variety factors, which includes its position as the most populous State in the country and the consequent influence wielded by its people and their leadership in the nation’s polity. Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. Abbreviated as UP, it is the most populous state in the Republic of India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. The densely populated state, located in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent, has over 200 million inhabitants. It was created on 1 April 1937 as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh during British rule, and was renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950.

On 9 November 2000, a new state, Uttarakhand, was carved out from the state’s Himalayan hill region. The two major rivers of the state, the Ganges and Yamuna, join at Allahabad (Prayagraj) and then flow as the Ganges further east. Hindi is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The economy of Uttar Pradesh is the fourth-largest state economy in India with 14.89 lakh crore (US＄210 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of 55,000 (US＄770). Agriculture and service industries are the largest parts of the state’s economy. This panoramic presentation on various facets of Uttar Pradesh will be of immense help and guide to students, teachers, tourists, guides and general readers.