Uttar Pradesh (UP) is India’s most populous state and a politically crucial, agriculturally productive, and culturally rich region located in the heart of the Indo-Gangetic plain. Its size, population and socio-economic profile make UP central to questions of federal politics, development planning and social policy in India.
Census 2011: Key demographic figures (Source: Census of India, 2011)
- Total population (2011): 199,812,341 (≈ 19.98 crore).
- Male population: 104,480,510; Female population: 95,331,831.
- Population density: 829 persons / km² (area ≈ 240,928 km²).
- Urban / Rural split: Urban 22.27% (44,495,063); Rural 77.73% (155,317,278).
- Sex ratio (females per 1000 males): 912 (overall); urban 894; rural 918.
- Child sex ratio (0–6 yrs): 902 (overall); urban 885; rural 906.
- Literacy rate (overall): 67.68% (male 77.28%; female 57.18%). Urban literacy 75.14%; rural 65.46%.
- Decadal growth (2001–2011): 20.09%.
Geography & physical features of Uttar Pradesh
Extent of Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh lies between 23°52′ and 31°28′ North latitude and 77°3′ and 84°39′ East longitude. It shares borders with Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and an international boundary with Nepal to the north. The state covers an area of approximately 243,290 square kilometres, making it India’s fourth-largest state.
- Physiography: Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain (majority of state), Terai belt (north), Vindhyan uplands (south).
- Major rivers / basins: Ganga and its tributaries (Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Ghaghara/ Saryu), Chambal (south-west).
- Climate: Sub-tropical monsoon (hot summers, cool winters, concentrated monsoon rains).
- Soils: Deep alluvial soils — highly fertile (supporting multiple cropping).
- Forest cover & biodiversity: Limited forest cover concentrated in Terai and southern hills; significant wetlands & riverine ecosystems.
Major cities and urban agglomerations
- Lucknow (state capital; administration, services, culture)
- Kanpur (industrial: leather, engineering)
- Noida / Greater Noida / Gautam Buddh Nagar (NCR satellite; IT, electronics, manufacturing)
- Agra (heritage tourism — Taj Mahal)
- Varanasi (religious tourism, silk weaving)
- Ghaziabad, Meerut, Bareilly, Moradabad, Aligarh, Lucknow, Prayagraj (Allahabad) — other major urban centres.
Economy: overview
- Structure: Large agricultural base + expanding services (IT/ITES, trade, transport) + concentrated industrial pockets (leather, brassware, handicrafts, food processing).
- Agriculture: Major crops — wheat, rice, sugarcane, potato, oilseeds, pulses. UP is a leading state in sugarcane and major contributor to national foodgrain production.
- Services & manufacturing: Rapid growth in IT parks (Noida), expressways/ports/air connectivity encouraging investments (DMIC, Eastern DFC, Yamuna Expressway corridors).
- Health & Nutrition: Mixed indicators; significant inter-district variation, maternal and child health continue to need focus.
- Education: Literacy rising (2011 figures above); gender gap persists. Higher education & skills infrastructure expanding but unevenly distributed.
- Poverty & employment: Large rural workforce in agriculture; underemployment and informal sector predominate in many districts.
- Infrastructure: Major improvement in highways and expressways (Lucknow–Agra, Yamuna, Purvanchal corridors), growing airport connectivity (Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Kanpur proposals).
Major tourist places of Uttar Pradesh
| Place | District / City | Why important |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal | Agra | UNESCO World Heritage; icon of Mughal architecture; major source of tourism revenue |
| Kashi Vishwanath & Ghats | Varanasi | One of the world’s oldest living cities; religious tourism, pilgrimage |
| Sarnath | Varanasi (nearby) | Buddhist pilgrimage; site of Buddha’s first sermon |
| Ayodhya | Faizabad (Ayodhya) | Hindu pilgrimage site; Ram Janmabhoomi — major cultural & political significance |
| Lucknow monuments & Imambara | Lucknow | Nawabi heritage, culture, cuisine |
| Bharatpur (Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary — near border) / Dudhwa NP | Lakhimpur Kheri / Pilibhit | Important for wildlife & bird tourism (Dudhwa NP), eco-tourism |
| Mathura & Vrindavan | Mathura | Krishna temples; major pilgrimage circuit |
| Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri | Agra / Agra | Mughal heritage cluster (Fatehpur Sikri UNESCO) |
Major industrial centres of Uttar Pradesh
| Industrial centre (city/district) | Principal industries / specialisation |
|---|---|
| Kanpur | Leather & footwear (tanneries), engineering, chemical, textile; planned leather park (Ramaipur). |
| Noida / Greater Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar) | IT / ITES, electronics & consumer durables, mobile & component manufacturing, exports (STP). |
| Moradabad | Brassware, metalware & handicrafts (Peetal Nagri) — large exports. |
| Agra | Tourism, leather goods, handicrafts, food processing |
| Varanasi | Silk weaving (Banarasi sarees), tourism, small scale industry |
| Meerut | Sports goods, bicycles, engineering goods |
| Aligarh | Locks, hardware, brassware (Aligarh lock industry) |
| Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar) | Carpet weaving (major global carpet hub) |
| Lucknow | Services, small engineering, handicrafts, administrative hub |
| Sonbhadra / Mirzapur | Mineral-linked industries, power plants (coal / thermal energy presence) |
Note: Several of these are also One-District-One-Product (ODOP) specialities promoted by the state (e.g., Moradabad – brass; Bhadohi – carpets).
Major minerals & producing districts (Sources: UP Mines / State reports / CAG & planning documents)
| Mineral | Major producing districts / areas (UP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | Sonbhadra (Singrauli coalfield extends into Sonbhadra) | Coalfields and thermal power plant clustering |
| Limestone | Mirzapur (Guruma–Kanaach–Basahari), Sonbhadra (Kajrahat) | Cement industry feedstock |
| Bauxite | Banda, Varanasi, Lalitpur | Raw material for aluminium & refractory uses |
| Potash / Potash salts | Prayagraj (Allahabad), Chandauli, Banda, Jhansi, Sonbhadra | Fertiliser raw material potential |
| Dolomite | Bari (Sonbhadra), Banda | Refractory & steel industry inputs |
| Silica / Glass sand | Shankargarh (Prayagraj/Allahabad area), Lohargarh, Aligarh | High-grade silica (Naini / glass sand) |
| Gypsum | Jhansi, Hamirpur (minor occurrences reported) | Cement and chemical industry use |
| Rock phosphate / Phosphorite | Lalitpur (recent exploration & auctioned blocks) | Strategic for fertiliser production (recent auctions). |
| Diamond & Gold (alluvial / lode) | Banda, Mirzapur (diamond); Sonbhadra / Lalitpur (gold occurrences) | Mostly small / exploratory deposits |
| Uranium (prospective) | Lalitpur (prospective occurrences) | Under exploration; strategic mineral listing in reports. |
Policy note: UP’s mineral sector is not as dominant as agriculture, but Vindhya–Sonbhadra belt holds potential (recent auctions & exploration in Lalitpur / Sonbhadra indicate state focus).
Agriculture & allied Activities
- Major crops: Wheat (Rabi staple), rice (Kharif), sugarcane (cash crop – UP is a top sugarcane producer), potato (top producer), oilseeds, pulses.
- Livestock / dairying: Very important — significant milk production and dairy cooperatives.
- Irrigation: Large canal systems and groundwater irrigation; Eastern and Western canal networks support cropping intensity.
Governance & polity
- Government type: Parliamentary system within India; state government headed by Chief Minister and Governor.
- Legislature: Bicameral (Vidhan Sabha — assembly; Vidhan Parishad — council).
- Political significance: Largest number of Lok Sabha seats (influence over national politics); frequent political volatility and coalition dynamics historically.
- Administrative divisions: 18 divisions and 76 districts
Infrastructure & recent strategic development
- Transport corridors: Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDF C), National Expressways (Yamuna Expressway, Agra–Lucknow, Lucknow–Meerut expressways), key for logistics & investments.
- Air connectivity: Expansion of regional airports (Noida International Airport project / Jewar; existing major airports in Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra).
- Power & industry: Large thermal capacity (coal belt), rising renewables investment; industrial corridors attracting FDI and domestic investment.
Challenges & opportunities
Challenges:
- High population pressure on land, services and employment.
- Regional disparities (western & central UP vs. Bundelkhand & eastern UP).
- Female labour force participation & gender gaps in health/education.
- Environmental stress (air/water pollution) in industrial clusters (Kanpur, Noida).
Opportunities:
- Demographic dividend with skills push.
- Industrial corridors and logistics hubs (DMIC, DFC) — manufacturing & exports.
- Religious & cultural tourism (Vaishno Devi-like pilgrim circuits, Kashi–Ayodhya corridor).
- Agro-processing & value chain (potato, sugar, food processing) expansion.
Sources
- Census of India — Uttar Pradesh state profile, Census 2011 (demographics, literacy, sex ratio, urban/rural).
- UP Mines / State planning & CAG Natural Resource Accounts (reports summarising mineral resources & districts).
- Invest UP / ODOP / Noida Authority — industry cluster & promotion pages (Kanpur, Moradabad, Noida).
- Recent state news on mineral auctions (Lalitpur/Sonbhadra) — Times of India report / state press.
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