Taj Mahal, Varanasi Ghats, Sarnath, Ayodhya, Fatehpur Sikri, Mathura
Major Festivals
Diwali, Holi, Kumbh Mela, Ram Navami, Eid
Legislative Structure
Bicameral (Vidhan Sabha + Vidhan Parishad)
Lok Sabha Seats
80
Rajya Sabha Seats
31
Governor (2025)
Anandiben Patel
Chief Minister (2025)
Yogi Adityanath
Major Industries
Textiles, Leather, Handicrafts, Sugar, IT services, Tourism
Historical Significance
Center of ancient civilizations and empires like Maurya, Gupta, Mughal
State Nickname
"Heartland of India"
Vehicle Registration Code
UP
Time Zone
IST (UTC +5:30)
S.N.
District Name
District Headquarter
1
Agra
Agra
2
Aligarh
Aligarh
3
Ambedkar Nagar
Akbarpur
4
Amethi
Gauriganj
5
Amroha
Amroha
6
Auraiya
Auraiya
7
Ayodhya
Ayodhya
8
Azamgarh
Azamgarh
9
Bagpat
Baghpat
10
Bahraich
Bahraich
11
Ballia
Ballia
12
Balrampur
Balrampur
13
Banda
Banda
14
Barabanki
Barabanki
15
Bareilly
Bareilly
16
Basti
Basti
17
Bhadohi
Bhadohi
18
Bijnor
Bijnor
19
Budaun
Budaun
20
Bulandshahr
Bulandshahr
21
Chandauli
Chandauli
22
Chitrakoot
Chitrakoot
23
Deoria
Deoria
24
Etah
Etah
25
Etawah
Etawah
26
Farrukhabad
Fatehgarh
27
Fatehpur
Fatehpur
28
Firozabad
Firozabad
29
Gautam Buddha Nagar
Greater Noida
30
Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad
31
Ghazipur
Ghazipur
32
Gonda
Gonda
33
Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur
34
Hamirpur
Hamirpur
35
Hapur
Hapur
36
Hardoi
Hardoi
37
Hathras
Hathras
38
Jalaun
Orai
39
Jaunpur
Jaunpur
40
Jhansi
Jhansi
41
Kannauj
Kannauj
42
Kanpur Dehat
Akbarpur
43
Kanpur Nagar
Kanpur
44
Kasganj
Kasganj
45
Kaushambi
Manjhanpur
46
Kushinagar
Padarauna
47
Lakhimpur Kheri
Kheri
48
Lalitpur
Lalitpur
49
Lucknow
Lucknow
50
Maharajganj
Maharajganj
51
Mahoba
Mahoba
52
Mainpuri
Mainpuri
53
Mathura
Mathura
54
Mau
Mau
55
Meerut
Meerut
56
Mirzapur
Mirzapur
57
Moradabad
Moradabad
58
Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar
59
Pilibhit
Pilibhit
60
Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh
61
Prayagraj
Prayagraj
62
Rae Bareli
Rae Bareli
63
Rampur
Rampur
64
Saharanpur
Saharanpur
65
Sambhal
Bahjoi
66
Sant Kabir Nagar
Khalilabad
67
Shahjahanpur
Shahjahanpur
68
Shamli
Shamli
69
Shravasti
Shravasti
70
Siddharthnagar
Siddharthnagar
71
Sitapur
Sitapur
72
Sonbhadra
Robertsganj
73
Sultanpur
Sultanpur
74
Unnao
Unnao
75
Varanasi
Varanasi
About Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is India’s largest state by population and is located in the northern part of the country. It extends over an area of 2,43,286 square kilometres, which makes it the fourth largest in terms of size. It is also the second most populous state with more than 200 million people according to the 2011 Census, and it has a very complex population. On three sides it borders the states of Uttarkhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan respectively, on the south it borders the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, on the east it borders the state of Bihar and on the north it has an international border with Nepal. Lucknow is the state capital while Kanpur is the largest city. This paper would be inconclusive without mentioning that Uttar Pradesh is a major player in India’s politics, economy and cultural heritage.
Geography and Climate
The topography of Uttar Pradesh comprises of plains, more precisely the Gangetic plains in the central and eastern parts of the state and the Vindhya Hills in the south. These are the Ganges, Yamuna, Ghaghara and Gomti rivers which are essential for agriculture and drinking water and they flow through the state. The climate of Uttar Pradesh is generally subtropical, the summer is hot, the rainfall is during the monsoon and the winter is cold. The temperature is about 25°c-30°c on average and the rain falls between June and September.
Demographics and Language
According to the 2011 Census of India, Uttar Pradesh has 199.8 million people, making it the most populous state in India. The literacy rate is roughly 67.68% and the education system is expanding. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities are found in the state. Hindi is the official language and Urdu is also official to some extent. Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj and Bundeli are also spoken in the state and are used in different areas.
Economy and Industries
Uttar Pradesh has one of the biggest state economies in India, its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is estimated at around $260 billion. Agriculture is the major occupation and dominates the economy of the state and plays a significant role in India's food production. Some of the important crops are wheat, rice, sugarcane and pulses. It is the largest producer of sugarcane in India. Uttar Pradesh is also a major centre for industries like leather products, textiles, handloom and handicrafts. Industrial output is mainly from the cities of Kanpur, Agra and Moradabad. The state has also made progress in information technology and automobile manufacturing; Noida and Greater Noida are new IT and business hubs.
Tourism and Heritage
Some of the India's most iconic and historical religious sites are in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The Taj Mahal in Agra which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World is visited by millions of tourists every year. Among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is a major center of Hindu religion and culture. The Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj (Allahabad) is the largest religious gathering in the world. Some of the other important tourist attractions are the Fatehpur Sikri complex, Ayodhya, Mathura, and Sarnath. The state also has a rich tradition of art, music and dance including Kathak which has its roots in the region.
Infrastructure and Transportation
Uttar Pradesh has well annealed facilities of transportation and has well developed road, rail and air transport. The state is linked by major national highways- Yamuna Expressway and Agra-Lucknow Expressway. The Indian Railways runs several major railway junctions in the state; Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi are key transport hubs. There are multiple international and domestic airports in the state including Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. The development of metro rail projects in large cities like Lucknow and Kanpur has also enhanced the transportation within the cities.
Education and Healthcare
Uttar Pradesh has a rising education sector too, with many universities and research institutions. BHU, AMU, and IIT Kanpur are some of the topmost educational institutions of the country. The state government has also introduced many schemes for the improvement of primary and secondary education. In the healthcare sector, the state of Uttar Pradesh has made important improvements in developing medical facilities; however, the rural healthcare is still a concern. AIIMS Gorakhpur and King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow are two of the best medical colleges in the state.
Flora and Fauna
The state has a rich biodiversity too; it has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Dudhwa National Park, in the Terai region, has Bengal tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary are other conservation areas. The Gangetic dolphin, which is an endangered species, is seen in the river systems of Uttar Pradesh. The state’s Vindhya range forests and its wetlands support diverse flora and fauna.
Challenges and Development Plans
However, there are some problems, including the density of population, rate of unemployment and pollution in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The state government has also implemented a number of development plans like the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme to support local industries. The work is also ongoing to strengthen the law enforcement, the infrastructure and the digital governance. The development of smart cities, expressways and industrial corridors is meant to increase the economic potential of the state.
History of Uttar Pradesh
Ancient Period
Ancient India, goes back to the Vedic period. The region was also an important part of the Indus Valley Civilization and there is evidence of early settlements at Hastinapur. The area is also discovered in the ancient Hindu scriptures such as Rigveda, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Other cities such as Varanasi and Ayodhya are among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. During the later Vedic age there were several Mahajanapadas that were formed in the region and these included Kashi, Kosala and Vatsa which helped in the development of early Indian civilization. The advent of Buddhism and Jainism in the 6th century BCE could not be discussed without referring to Uttar Pradesh as Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon at Sarnath which is not very far from Varanasi.
Medieval Period
During the medieval period of India, Uttar Pradesh was the seat of powerful empires. Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire made the region a Buddhism stronghold and build stupas and monasteries to spread the religion. After the Maurya’s decline the Kushan and Gupta dynasties that ruled the region helped in its cultural and architectural growth. The Gupta period from 4th to 6th century CE is regarded as the classical period of Indian history during which significant progress was made in science, literature and art. Uttar Pradesh was a important region during Islamic rule from 12th century onwards as it was a part of Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire. Art, culture and administration developed and cities like Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Lucknow prospered. The Mughal emperors, especially Akbar and Shahjahan, also contributed in the architectural development of the region and some of their architectures includes Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
Colonial Rule and Freedom Struggle
In the 18th Century the Mughal Empire declined and the British East India Company took control of Uttar Pradesh. The British annexed most of the area and created the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. The state was the epicentre of Indian freedom struggle; the first war of Indian independence or the revolt of 1857, started in Meerut. Revolt spread to other cities like Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi. Participants like Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Pandey, Begum Hazrat Mahal were the icons of the movement against the British rule. In the early twentieth century, Uttar Pradesh continued to be the hub of nationalist movements of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other freedom fighters. In 1942, the people of the state actively supported the Quit India Movement.
Post-Independence and Formation of Uttar Pradesh
After the independence of India in 1947, the former United Provinces were integrated and on the 26th of January in the year 1950, it was so renamed Uttar Pradesh. The state was a major political and economic entity in the newly established republic. It has been a dominant player in national politics for years now, having produced several Indian prime ministers—Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The state has also, in the recent past, witnessed industrialization, urbanization, and growth in infrastructure. But it has also experienced poverty, unemployment, and communal tensions.
Modern Developments and Future Prospects
Over the past few years, Uttar Pradesh has seen a lot of change for the better in areas like education, healthcare and technology. Industrial growth, infrastructure and tourism have been boosted by initiatives taken by the state government. IT and business hubs have emerged in Noida and Greater Noida, and connectivity has been enhanced through expressway projects. Uttar Pradesh still keeps the balance between the ancient and the new, and therefore can claim to play an important role in India’s development.
Geography of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh in northern India is the fourth largest Indian state by area and the most populous state in the country. In terms of area it is the fourth largest state of India with 243,286 square kilometres which is about 7.33% of the total area of India. On the north it has an international border with Nepal and it also has borders with the states of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan to the west, Madhya Pradesh to the south, and Bihar and Jharkhand to the east. The geographical region comprises of vast alluvial plains, dense forests, plateaus and rivers and therefore plays an important role in agriculture and ecology of India.
Topography and Landforms
In the north, it has the Himalayan foothills and the Terai region and is divided into three major regions; central part has the vast Gangetic Plain and the south has the Vindhya Hills and plateau. The ecologically sensitive zone is the Terai region that is bordering Nepal and has marshy lands and dense forests. The Gangetic Plain is the largest geographical feature and occupies a large portion of the state and is productivity in terms of agriculture due to alluvial soil. The southern part of the state, which includes areas like Sonbhadra and Mirzapur, has rocky plateaus and rugged terrain that is part of the Vindhyan Range.
Rivers and Water Resources
Uttar Pradesh is in the rain and Himalayas one of the largest river systems in India. One of the holy and most important rivers of India, the Ganges flows through the heart of the state and supplies irrigation water, drinking water and hydro power. Others are the Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Rapti, Betwa, Ken, and Chambal. On the western boundary, the Yamuna River is famous for passing through Agra and Mathura and the Gomti flows through Lucknow, the capital of the state. The Ghaghara, a major tributary of the Ganges, is also a big plus to the state's irrigation system. Of importance, the rivers of Uttar Pradesh are main sources of irrigation because they support one of the largest irrigation systems in India including the Upper Ganges Canal, the Lower Ganges Canal and the Sharda Canal.
Climate and Weather Patterns
Uttar Pradesh has a tropical monsoon climate with summer, monsoon and winter seasons. Summers are warm, lasting from March to June, and are very hot, sometimes above 45°C (113°F), in areas like Bundelkhand. The rainfall is high in eastern part of the state, where it receives more than 1,000 mm of annual rainfall. Uttar Pradesh is divided into two regions based on rainfall; while western part of the region receives 600-800 mm of rainfall. The temperature drops to below 5°C (41°F) in northern districts like Bareilly, Gorakhpur and Meerut from December to February. Fog is dense during the winter season and this tends to set in from December to March, hampering transportation and agriculture.
Soil Types and Agriculture
The soil is diverse and the state is well marked to support a number of crops The Gangetic Plain is predominantly made up of alluvial soil which is quite fertile and used extensively for growing wheat, rice, sugarcane and pulses. On the other hand, the Bundelkhand and Vindhyan hills are predominantly rocky and have red and laterite soil which is not very fertile and is only suitable for crops like millets, oilseeds and pulses. It is the largest producer of wheat and sugarcane in India and contributes significantly to the food grain reserves of the country. The agricultural productivity has been further enhanced by numerous irrigation projects and hence the state is one of the leading contributors to India's agrarian economy.
Forests and Biodiversity
Uttar Pradesh has a moderate forest cover, 6.1% of its total area is classified as forest land. The tropical dry deciduous forests and moist deciduous forests are the main forest types, with sal, teak, neem and bamboo as significant tree species. The Dudhwa National Park, in the Terai, is a major wildlife sanctuary, with endangered species like the Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, swamp deer (barasingha) and elephants. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary are also significant, for gharials, dolphins, and migratory birds, respectively.
Natural Hazards and Environmental Concerns
Because of geographical diversity, it has various environmental problems. Flooding is also a regular problem in districts like Gorakhpur, Bahraich, and Gonda, and this happens especially during the rainy season when rivers overflow. The Gangetic Plain is most prone to waterlogging and soil erosion because it is generally lowland. Droughts are typical in the Bundelkhand district, which is marked by irregular rainfall that has caused water shortages and agricultural stress. Pollution of air is another major problem, with parts of Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi having a high concentration of particulate matter, mainly from industrial activities, vehicle emissions and crop residue burning.
Urban and Rural Landscape
Uttar Pradesh has a mixed rural and urban population, 77% of whom live in the rural areas of the state. Major industrial, educational and cultural hubs are Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut and Prayagraj. The state has seen a very high rate of urbanization, with enhancing of the infrastructure, highways, and metro projects, mainly in Lucknow and Noida. But the majority of people live in villages and are engaged in farming on the vast Gangetic plains.
