- Uttar Pradesh was born on 24 January, 1950. Unlike other states, Uttar Pradesh government had never celebrated the state day. But when the Yogi Adityanath led BJP government came to power in 2017, it decided to celebrate UP Divas every year on 24 January.
- Keeping its promise Yogi led state government celebrated the first ever ‘Uttar Pradesh Divas’ on 24 January, 2018. It is 68 formation year of Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion, Rs. 24,000 crore projects were announced by 40 state departments.
- On the occasion of UP Divas, the Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the Lucknow Utsav in Lucknow. He said that the State of Uttar Pradesh has to be transformed into ‘Uttam Pradesh’ in terms of development and welfare.
- Uttar Pradesh Utsav was held to present and promote the rich cultural heritage, literary, artistic and craftsmanship of UP.
Why 24 January: Former United Provinces was renamed Uttar Pradesh through United Provinces (alteration of name) Order 1950 and the order was published in the Uttar Pradesh Gazette (extraordinary) dated 24 January 1950.
History of Formation of Uttar Pradesh
- 1775: Nawab Asaf-Ud Daula transfered capital of Awadh from Faizabad to Lucknow.
- 1834: A separate Agra Presidency (as a fourth presidency) was created, earlier it was under Bengal Presidency.
- 1858: Lord Canning formed the North Western Province (NWP) excluding Delhi division with it headquarters in Allahabad.
- 1868: High court shifted from Agra to Allahabad.
- 1877: Awadh was merged and then it was called ‘North Western Provinces and Oudh’.
- 1902: The entire province came to be known as the ‘United Provinces of Agra and Oudh’.
- 1920: First election for the legislative council held.
- 1921: The Legislative council was constituted in Lucknow.
- April 1937: State’s name changed to United Provinces.
- 24 January, 1950: United Provinces was renamed Uttar Pradesh.
