The many names and unchanging borders of Uttar Pradesh, from the 19th century to today

For a century and a half, the fertile plains along the Ganga river that make up modern-day Uttar Pradesh have gone by different names but the region itself has remained a stable geographical and cultural entity.

Several Indian states were transformed under the British and in independent India – especially with the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1956. But Uttar Pradesh, since it came into being on January 24, 1950, has largely been unchanged.

With an estimated population of 240 million, as per projections of the 2011 census, Uttar Pradesh could be the world’s fifth-largest country. The state’s 80 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha make it the largest player in Indian politics.

The outcomes of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh can make or break national political fortunes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 33 seats in Uttar Pradesh, down from 62 in 2019, losing its majority in Parliament. Nine out of 14 Indian prime ministers, including Narendra Modi, were elected from the state.

Uttar Pradesh is also a contentious element that fuels the North-South divide. The state receives the highest share of taxes from the Centre – 17.94% in 2023-’24. This is more than the total received by all southern states, which stands at 15.8%.

Uttar Pradesh…

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